Memories of Home
Atsu: I used to help Father weed the training ring. Pulling these used to give me a rash. There. Much better.
Atsu: Father’s bamboo stand. Maybe I can fix it. He used this to test his new blades. Clean cuts. Just like Father’s.
Atsu: I could improve my katana here. I just need more metal.
Atsu: Painting brushes… Father used to take me places to practice. I remember we went to a little island west of here.
Atsu: These stones… Jubei spent a whole summer collecting them. Jubei stacked them up. And I knocked them down. Steady… He wanted them to be as tall as Mount Yōtei. How did Jubei lift these? There you go, Brother.
Atsu: Mother’s garden… There’s nothing left.
Atsu: I remember the first blade Father let me help him with…
Kengo: Are you sure you’re ready for this?
Young Atsu: Of course I am. (Groans) I’m sweating.
Kengo: (Chuckles) You’ll enjoy the heat come winter.
Young Atsu: It doesn’t look right.
Kengo: We have only just begun.
Atsu: Mother’s toro lantern. We used to take turns lighting it each night.
Atsu: Father was so patient with me…
Kengo: Strike the metal like I showed you.
Young Atsu: Quick but controlled. I heat the metal like this?
Kengo: You know what to do, Atsu — don’t second guess yourself. You are improving.
Young Atsu: I guess.
Kengo: Consistency over perfection, Atsu.
Atsu: Father and I worked so hard, I heard the hammers in my sleep…
Kengo: Is your arm still sore?
Young Atsu: I’m getting used to it. You never told me who we’re making this for.
Kengo: An old friend.
Young Atsu: It’s almost there.
Kengo: Mm. But now, we rest.
Atsu: When we finished that first blade, I’d never felt so proud…
Kengo: Today might be the day we finish this blade.
Young Atsu: It is. I know it.
Kengo: Soon, you won’t need my help. You will forge a blade on your own.
Young Atsu: Really?
Kengo: That is a blade we can both be proud of. Hanbei will love it.
A Memory of Faith
Atsu: I remember this view.
Young Atsu: Why are you standing around?
Kengo: (Chuckles) We’re enjoying the view.
Yone: We were there once – to the top of Mount Yōtei. Up a path marked by a small ginkgo tree. I was still pregnant with you and your brother.
Kengo: By the time we reached the summit, your mother’s poor feet were so swollen I couldn’t take off her shoes.
Young Atsu: Why would you make such a climb?
Yone: At the summit, stands a shrine.
Kengo: Your mother offered a song. And I gave my best hammer and favourite ink brush.
Yone: Then we asked the priests to make omamori for you and your brother.
Young Atsu: Can I see them?
Kengo: We had them keep the charms for you at the shrine.
Yone: When you are old enough, you and Jubei will make the climb yourselves and earn the blessings of the mountain.
Atsu: I wonder if the shrine is still there…
Atsu: That small ginkgo tree… This is the path up Mount Yōtei, the one Mother and Father took. It’s so… quiet up here. The trail has broken down over the years. Father said the priests carved these. The spirits of the mountain, keeping a watchful eye over Ezo. I wonder if Mother and Father stopped here to rest. Or enjoy the view. No one’s been here in a while. Another part of Ezo lost to time. Maybe Father and Mother’s charms are still up here. I see them. Two omamori. I made it, everyone. I’m here.
A Memory of Treasure
Young Atsu: We’re having whale soup tonight… with more vegetables than meat. Why are you putting money in a hole?
Jubei: Keep it down. (Sigh) I am saving up to buy armour. You can’t tell anyone. Swear it.
Young Atsu: If Father finds out, he is not going to like it.
Jubei: He’ll change his mind when I become a proper samourai.
Young Atsu: That’s why he won’t like it.
Jubei: All I want to do is protect the people of Ezo.
Young Atsu: (Sigh) Then be quick. Father will be back soon. He’s finally taking me to the stables.
Jubei: Because you wouldn’t stop whining about it.
Atsu: I wonder if the money Jubei buried is still here… You would have made a good samurai, little brother.
A Memory of Pride
Atsu: I remember Jubei’s little nemesis.
Jubei: Damn bird. Give it back!
Young Atsu: What’s wrong with you?
Jubei: It’s that bird again. It stole my headband and hid it on the roof.
Young Atsu: It’s spring, Jubei. They probably took it to make a nest. Let them have it—Mother can always make you a new one.
Jubei: Sure. Take the bird’s side.
Young Atsu: (Chuckles) I have to go help Mother with Master Heijiro.
Jubei: More shamisen lessons?
Young Atsu: What do you think?
Atsu: I wonder if Jubei ever got his headband back. It’s still here. Jubei let the bird have its nest.
A Memory of Spring
Atsu: I remember that tree. Jubei and I used to play here.
Jubei: Why don’t you plant Mother’s seeds here?
Young Atsu: No one is going to see the flowers there! I’ll put them…at the top of that cliff.
Jubei: No way you can make that climb.
Girl: It doesn’t look very safe.
Boy: She did eat five bowls of soba that one time.
Jubei: Don’t encourage her.
Young Atsu: I make it up there, you have to call me… sensei. For a week. If I don’t—
Jubei: You clean Father’s forge for two weeks.
Young Atsu: One and a half.
Jubei: Deal.
Girl: You can do it, Atsu!
Young Atsu: Keep your eyes on me!
Boy: Wow!
Young Atsu: Did you see that?
Boy: That was amazing!
Jubei: Mother will be mad you got your clothes dirty.
Young Atsu: Mother will be mad, ‘Sensei’.
Jubei: Ugh.
Young Atsu: The perfect spot. With these seeds, we thank Ezo for a good spring.
Atsu: Flowers of gratitude. You’ve grown well.
A Memory of Impressions
Atsu: Father and I used to paint here.
Kengo: Atsu, they had a fresh batch of ink at the inn. Come, paint with me. What shall our subject be today?
Young Atsu: The ginkgo tree.
Kengo: Ah. A worthy choice. Now, remember —
Young Atsu: Be mindful of my posture. Control my breathing.
Kengo: I’ll grind the ink. It’s not enough to see the ginkgo tree. Feel the deepness of its roots. Its resilience. Channel that energy with each stroke. Decisive, precise. Like wielding a sword.
Young Atsu: It’s done.
Kengo: I can sense the strength of the ginkgo tree, unyielding to storm and strife. You’ve improved, little wolf.
Young Atsu: I still have a long way to go.
Kengo: I think you are ready for something a bit more challenging. Would you like to try painting me?
Young Atsu: I—I’ve never done that.
Kengo: All the more reason to try. I’d like to see myself in my daughter’s eyes. It’s not about capturing what you see. It’s about impressions, how others leave a mark in our lives.
Young Atsu: If you don’t like it—
Kengo: I am honoured. To be seen by you, little wolf. Let’s hang these up in the house — as a surprise to Yone and your brother.
Young Atsu: I know the perfect spot.
Atsu: I wonder if my paintings survived… My paintings. Even Father’s portrait. He had such kind eyes.
A Memory of Mother
Atsu: Mother used to love playing zeni hajiki.
Yone: Atsu. You’re finished with your chores already?
Young Atsu: Most of them. I’m too old to be making pinwheels.
Yone: (Laugh) Is that so? Why not play a game with your mother then? One with … real stakes? Whoever loses at zeni hajiki has to…convince your father and brother to make the pinwheels.
Young Atsu: Hmm. Only if we play with your special coins.
Yone: It’ll be a proper duel. You really think you can win?
Young Atsu: You taught me. And you always say I learned from the best.
Yone: Flattery will get you nowhere. Soon you’ll be old enough to choose a trade. Do you know what you’ll do?
Young Atsu: Maybe… forge swords like Father?
Yone: You don’t sound too sure. Why not do something you can call your own?
Young Atsu: Maybe I should gamble my way to riches.
Yone: Your father would be furious. I see you need more of a challenge.
Young Atsu: I am just that good. I think I’d like to do something with horses. Build a nice stable. Train them, care for them. Lend them to farmers for a good price.
Yone: You would be wonderful at it. No chances of you being a musician like your mother?
Young Atsu: I would never inflict that upon the world.
Yone: (Chuckle) No bad. You will be swindling all of Ezo in no time.
Young Atsu: Who says I’m not already?
Yone: (Chuckle) Let’s convince your father and Jubei to make those pinwheels. I left the paper inside the house.
Atsu: Mother put those pinwheels somewhere in here. That could be the pinwheels. We used to put these on the cliffside. To catch the wind. Now I’ll hear spring coming, Mother.
A Memory of Guidance
Atsu: Ainu children used to camp here.
Ainu: Come on, we know you can do it! (Laughter) Iran —
Young Atsu: Iran —
Child: —karapte.
Young Atsu: Irankarapte.
Child: (Laughs harder) Now you can … kind of greet our elders properly.
Young Atsu: You promised if I learned —
Child: All right, all right. I’ll show you what I found. This way! Have you ever heard of a kamuy?
Young Atsu: Hmm. I know kotan means village.
Child: (Chuckels) The elders say kamui live in most things around us. Some guard ainu mosir, our land. Some will guide hunters to gifts.
Young Atsu: And you found one?
Child: Crawl under there and maybe you’ll see. Go on. It’s past the bushes.
Young Atsu: There’s nothing here!
Child: (Laughs)
Young Atsu: Hey, no fair!
Child: Those twigs look good on you. This way!
Young Atsu: Is that a nest?
Child: You can’t tell anyone. It’s a secret.
Young Atsu: What are you going to do?
Child: Take care of them. When they grow up, maybe the kamuy will guide me to something wonderful.
Atsu: You came back home too? You want to show me something? Is that your gift? Thank you, little kamuy.
A Memory of Games
Atsu: This place seems familiar…
Child: Unarpe! Over here! Are you here to play ku-e-shinok with us?
Atsu: I’m a bit old to play with children.
Child: Aykor says grown ups should always find time to play. So come! The game’s this way, unarpe!
Atsu: I’ve been here before…
Young Atsu: Father?
Kengo: Yes, Atsu?
Young Atsu: One of the kids said we could play with them.
Aykor: You think you are up for the challenge?
Jubei: I’m a quick learner.
Young Atsu: And I’m quicker. Can we, Father?
Aykor: Children aren’t children for long.
Kengo: All right. But just until Aykor and I finish our business.
Young Atsu: We won’t be long.
Jubei: I’m first.
Young Atsu: Nice try. You’re always first.
Jubei: Fine. Try not to embarrass yourself.
Young Atsu: They said we can play.
Child: Let’s see what you can do.
Jubei: How do you play?
Child: It’s easy. Some rings are hung from trees. Some rings are tossed. Shoot through three rings, you win. Shoot all six and maybe I’ll be impressed.
Young Atsu: Easy enough.
Child: (Laughs) Big talk, menokopo. Everyone! Get ready! Here comes a ring!
Young Atsu: Yes!
Jubei: Better not lose focus.
Young Atsu: I know what I’m doing.
Child: Ring incoming!
Young Atsu: Bet you couldn’t do that.
Jubei: I prefer a sword anyway.
Child: That’s all the rings! Not bad.
Jubei: I’ll do better.
Young Atsu: It’s harder than it looks.
Child: Aykor says that’s all right, as long as it’s fun.
Aykor: What are you doing? Children, step back.
Child: Aykor, I asked her to come.
Atsu: Aykor…? It’s you.
Aykor: Have we met?
Atsu: “Children aren’t children for long.” You said that to my father a long time ago.
Aykor: Kengo’s little girl? We all thought… (Clears throat) I barely recognised you.
Atsu: That’s all right. I haven’t been that girl for a long time.
Aykor: Maybe you can revisit her. Come. Play with us. Time to see how much you’ve improved.
Atsu: Pass the arrows.
Aykor: Take your time.
Child: Here comes a ring! Tossing another!
Aykor: The children seem entertained. They want you to have this. A trinket, so you’ll play with them again.
Atsu: Thank you, but I don’t know about playing again. This is a game for children.
Aykor: To some, maybe. But not to me. Do you know why I teach these children ku-e-shinok?
Atsu: Torture?
Aykor: (Laughs) Every day the world grows more unkind to them. To my people. Playing helps them remember where they came from. To find connection.
Atsu: I remembered something today… A part of me I thought I’d lost.
Aykor: Sometimes, we must give ourselves a moment to brethren, and remember who we are.
Atsu: I’ll try and remember that. Thank you for the game, Aykor.
Aykor: Huna he, my friend.