Late Spring (1949)

Chishû Ryû: Shukichi Somiya

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Quotes 

• Shukichi Somiya : Marriage may not mean happiness from the start. To expect such immediate happiness is a mistake. Happiness isn't something you wait around for. It's something you create yourself. Getting married isn't happiness. Happiness lies in the forging of a new life shared together. It may take a year or two, maybe even five or ten. Happiness comes only through effort. Only then can you claim to be man and wife.

• Noriko Somiya : I want us to stay as we are. I don't want to go anywhere. Being with you is enough for me. I'm happy just as I am. Even marriage couldn't make me any happier. I'm content with this life... I just want to be by your side. I'm so fond of you. Being with you like this is my greatest happiness. Please, father, why can't we stay just as we are? I know marriage won't make me any happier.

  Shukichi Somiya : That's not true. You'll see. I'm 56 years old. My life is nearing its end. But your life as a couple is just beginning. You're starting a new life, one that you and Satake must build together. One in which I play no part. That's the order of human life and history.

• Jo Onodera : It's good she's finally marrying. She'll make a good wife, no doubt about it.

  Shukichi Somiya : Better to have a son, though. It's pointless to have a daughter. You raise them and then off they go. If they're unwed, you worry. Yet if they do marry, you feel let down.

  Jo Onodera : But didn't we marry other men's daughters?

  Shukichi Somiya : You have a point.

  [both laugh] 

• Noriko Somiya : Father, for your loving care these many years, I thank you.

  Shukichi Somiya : Be happy and be a good wife. Be happy.

• Jo Onodera : Which way is Tokyo?

  Shukichi Somiya : Tokyo, that way.

  Jo Onodera : So east is this direction?

  Shukichi Somiya : No, that direction.

  Jo Onodera : Has it always been that way?

  Shukichi Somiya : Absolutely.

  [they both laugh] 

• Shôichi Hattori : Here it is. "Friedrich List." You're right, there's no Z. L-I-S-T.

  Shukichi Somiya : That's what I thought. Liszt was the musician.

• Shukichi Somiya : Your aunt sent some pickles. They're in the bag.

• Masa Taguchi : How can you know how she feels deep inside?

  Shukichi Somiya : Maybe you're right.

  Masa Taguchi : I am. That's how the younger generation is.

• Shôichi Hattori : Young people have changed so much since our day. Take that bride last night. She comes from a good family, yet she plowed into the food and even drank sake. Gobbling up sashimi with that big painted mouth. I was shocked.

  Shukichi Somiya : Of course she ate. Food was scarce for so long.

  Shôichi Hattori : At my wedding, I was too filled with gratitude to eat a single rice ball.

• Masa Taguchi : Maybe some detail is bothering her?

  Shukichi Somiya : Like what?

  Masa Taguchi : Like his - name.

  Shukichi Somiya : Kumataro Satake?

  Masa Taguchi : Kumataro - "Bear Boy."

  Shukichi Somiya : What's wrong with it? It sounds tough. If anybody's old fashioned, it's you. That wouldn't bother her.

  Masa Taguchi : But doesn't it make you think of hairy chests and things? That bothers young ladies more than you imagine. And what should I call him if they get married? "Kumataro" sounds like a mountain bandit, "Kuma-san" is used for common bumpkins, and "Kuma-chan" sounds like "baby bear."

  Shukichi Somiya : Well, we have to call him something.

  Masa Taguchi : That's the point. I think I'll call him "Ku-chan."

  Shukichi Somiya : "Little Vacuum"?

• Shukichi Somiya : The last time I went to Kodai Temple, the bush clover was splendid.

• Shukichi Somiya : Kyoto I so nice and relaxing. Nothing like this in Tokyo. Just clouds and dust!

• Shukichi Somiya : Thank you all for your efforts.

• Shukichi Somiya : Another drink, Aya-chan?

  [lifts the sake tokkuri] 

  Aya Kitagawa : This is my third. I can handle five. I once drank six and then fell down.

• Shôichi Hattori : It was raining a bit last night. I was worried.

  Shukichi Somiya : Fortunately the weather cleared.

• Shukichi Somiya : Just be happy. You'll try, won't you?

• Shukichi Somiya : How time flies. One minute we arrive, and the next we're leaving.

  Noriko Somiya : But I loved it here in Kyoto.

  Shukichi Somiya : I'm glad we came, but a day in Nara would've been nice too. Why didn't we do this more often? This is our last trip together.