涙そうそう

I dig inflight entertainment. Especially on long flights. This time around, I managed to sample one really good movie during my flight from Tokyo. It's a Japanese movie released in 2006, entitled, "Nada Sou Sou" (i.e. Tears for You).

I initially had no idea who the lead actor and actress were, who by the way are Tsumabaki Satoshi and Nagasawa Masami respectively. Apparently Tsumabaki came from the Waterboys fame, but I didn't watch Waterboys so I didn't know. Anyway, the point is that I think both of them did a really good job in acting out the complex sibling relationship in Nada Sou Sou. Especially Tsumabaki with his role as Yota. The story is quite appropriately paced and the graphics were especially good, the gorgeous blue sky and the whole Okinawan feel. All these factors combined into a moving story which had me reaching for the tissues, even when I was watching the re-runs!

Nada Sou Sou tells about the deep affection between two not-blood-related siblings, elder brother Yota (Tsumabaki Satoshi) and younger sister Kaoru (Nagasawa Masami). Yota's mother remarried when he was 8, to a carefree trumpeter, who has a 3-yr old daughter from his previous marriage. This new dad apparently isn't very responsible and left the Okinawan paradise for the main island of Kyuushu without any explaination whatsoever (what a jerk). This leaves Kaoru under the care of two people who aren't her blood relatives, but fortunately for her, they loved her just as much. Soon, Yota's mother couldn't take the pain of being dumped by her trumpeter husband and died of some illness. At her deathbed, she made Yota promise her that he would protect Kaoru and take care of her with all his heart. It was a promise Yota took to heart and for the years after his mother's death, Yota was fiercely protective of Kaoru.

However, as they turn into young adults, they began to realize that they meant the world to each other. So much that Kaoru did not simply see Yota as a protective brother anymore, but as an individual whom she truly loves with all her heart. Similarly, while Yota had protected Kaoru all his life as a sister, he soon discovers that she meant the world to him. Yota's sacrifices for Kaoru was very well played out by Tsumabaki. My favorite scene is when Kaoru packed her bags and left their little hut even though she knew well she didn't want to leave. When Yota failed to suppress his tears from her thanking him for his sacrifices, I started to bawl my eyes out.

This is one movie I recommend for great acting, tropical setting and soothing theme song. The song performed at the end of the movie by Natsukawa Rimi, also titled Nada Sou Sou, is an Okinawan folk song so beautiful it lasted in my playlist for weeks. It's one movie I think you should check out, and it's even better if you understand Japanese. The Okinawan slang is pretty endearing!

Nada Sou Sou theme song - 涙そうそう -
Performed by Natsukawa Rimi

古いアルバムめくり　ありがとうってつぶやいた
いつもいつも胸の中　励ましてくれる人よ

晴れ渡る日も　雨の日も　浮かぶあの笑顔
想い出遠くあせても
おもかげ探して　よみがえる日は　涙そうそう

一番星に祈る　それが私のくせになり
夕暮れに見上げる空　心いっぱいあなた探す

悲しみにも　喜びにも　想うあの笑顔
あなたの場所から私が
見えたら　きっといつか　会えると信じ　生きてゆく

晴れ渡る日も　雨の日も　浮かぶあの笑顔
想い出遠くあせても
さみしくて　恋しくて　君への想い　涙そうそう

会いたくて　会いたくて　君への想い　涙そうそう

Official site 涙そうそう
Lyrics from Encyclopedia Knowledge

～みはる～