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Long ago, on the border between Mino and Hida, where there is much snow,
the legend of a Snow Woman circulated among the people who lived there.
They say that one evening, during a strong snowstorm,
the spirit of snow turned into the terrible Snow Witch,
and she roamed the mountains and the plains. And if a man accidentally set eyes upon her,
the Snow Woman immediately took possession of him.
Common villagers believe in this legend.
KAIDAN YUKI JOROU [Ghost Story of the Snow Woman]
Producer: Ikurou Kubodera Writer: Fuji Yahiro
Cinematography: Chishi Makiura Sound Recording: Yukio Unabara Lighting: Shunji Kurokawa Art Direction: Akira Naito
Music: Akira Ifukube, Editing: Hiroshi Yamada Sound Effects: Kurashima Tooru Stunt Coordinator: Eiichi Kusumoto Assistant Director: Katsuro Atsuhiko Production Chief: Masanori Sanada
Cast:
Shiho Fujimura
Akira Ishihama, Machiko Hasegawa, Taketoshi Nait, Fujio Suga, Masao Shimizu
Mizuho Suzuki, Sachiko Murase, Yoshiro Kitahara, Jutaro Hojo, Sen Hera, Tatsuo Hananuno
Tokio Oki, Jun Fujikawa, Yukio Horikita, Shinya Saitou, Hajime Koshikawa, Kiyoshi Haruta, Eijirou Yamada, Ken'ichirou Imura
Directed by: Tokuzo Tanaka
At last, at last, I've found it!
This tree is remarkable! It looks like a living being.
Truly! It has stood here for many years.
And now... at last we found it, completely by accident.
Thanks! Thanks!
Master, the weather is terrible. What shall we do?
This night will be very severe.
Let us wait here until the night is over. It doesn't matter.
But there will be much to tell about after.
It is a very happy evening: we've found that splendid material for which we searched so long.
And the blizzard's howl sounds to me as if it were a song of celebration.
Yes, we will obtain the permission of the Bailiff,
and out that tree down as soon as possible.
At last, I will begin the work.
My name and work will be known and honored throughout the Mino mountains,
and for thousands of years people will remember the goddess Cannon was made by my hands.
You... so young and so handsome...
I've decided that I will not kill you.
But in return, you mustn't tell anyone about what you saw today!
Not your closest friends...
not even your relatives, children, or your wife.
If you say even one word...
I will kill you.
Keep silent about this!
Swear it!
Yes, yes, I swear!
I will not talk! I will tell no one! I will keep silent, don't kill me, please!
- What's happening? Did you have a nightmare? - It's all right...
I just slept badly.
Are you hiding something from me?
What nonsense! I've got nothing to hide.
I hope so. You see, I know you well.
But I don't understand what caused my husband's death,
and why you've been sick since then.
I just forgot to put wood on the fire, and he froze in his sleep.
The people who brought you home the next day said the same thing.
Well, if you know nothing more, then I should believe their words.
The tree! They brought the tree! The tree, which the master found!
What? My husband?
Heave-ho! Heave-ho! Here is the village! At last!
Here is the tree! They brought it at last!
Bonze!
The Prior of the temple said they'd brought that good raw material,
which the late Shigetomo found.
He said you're the master's successor.
Start work on the goddess Cannon immediately.
But I... What are you saying...
I completely lack the experience for such an important work.
Never mind. The late Shigetomo always praised you...
and the Prior insists that,
despite your youth, your work is noteworthy.
Thank you for such complimentary words.
Yosaku, if you refuse this work, it would be extremely impolite. You should agree.
Yes, I will undertake this work,
which the master desired so much to complete,
although I'm unworthy of the honor.
I have taken advantage of your roof. Please excuse me.
Oh, do come in out of the rain!
If you stay out there, you'll get utterly drenched.
Well, don't hesitate; please, come inside.
No, I don't wish to impose on you...
Why? People should help each other in situations like this.
Let me open the door for you.
It's an old house; there's no need to hesitate.
Thank you very much for your care. It's so unexpected...
It's a spring rain already; nevertheless, it's cold.
Here, please drink this hot beverage.
No, thank you. I will continue on my way soon.
But you can't go now, can you?
Where are you headed?
To the city of Gudze, in the province of Katiman.
So far?
Such a young girl, in such rain!
I wish you only good things. Please spend tonight here.
Mistress, this girl has gotten soaked.
Oh, forgive me! You must change into dry clothes immediately.
Please, this way.
Here is clothing, if you please...
Ah, you're so beautiful! I look at you and envy you!
It looks like the hand of a living person!
Is this the hand of the goddess Cannon?
Just a trial run.
It's a very complex work, and I'm very inexperienced;
- I must repeat it 10 more times. - It turns out well!
My master was an outstanding craftsman.
The hand is very bad.
It's beautiful...
I would like to have such beautiful hands.
Your hands are beautiful!
I was entrusted to carve the main sacred statue for our local temple.
To obtain such work is a great honor for any master of Buddhist statues.
But I'm not sure that I have the ability for this, so I worry very much.
Don't worry. Surely, everything will be all right.
You're very gifted.
I undertook this work, risking my life,
because my master could not make it, but I...
Surely, you will complete it!
Thank you. I don't know why, but it seems to me that I lack courage...
It is late already. Good night.
No, I would like to watch a bit longer.
If I won't disturb you, that is...
Of course not...
Everything is all right now. You saved me.
Don't worry.
Mistress, what is the matter?
I felt heaviness in my sleep at night.
But Miss Yuki looked after me, so everything's okay now.
I see. Excuse me, I slept like a log.
Never mind. You worked very hard, and got very tired.
Miss Yuki's parents were doctors.
- She recognized all my symptoms right away. - Really?
There is an excellent medicine for this illness. I will go for it later.
Where?
There's an herb. I believe it grows somewhere hereabout.
Here is the herb. A medicine. There's a lot of it here!
Really. And over here.
Miss Yuki... Are you in a hurry to leave?
Couldn't you stay in our house, until the mistress gets well?
Someone is waiting for you, probably?
Me... I have no one.
Really? Neither do I.
You, too?
I didn't know my parents.
My late master saved me and reused me as his son.
I see...
But as for you, Miss Yuki... Do you have a fiancé?
- Really? - And have you already a wife?
Nonsense! Who would marry me?
Indeed?
Miss Yuki!
What impudence! I don't care that you're just children, I will show you no mercy!
Bailiff!
Children, what did you do?
Are these your children?
They scattered logs!
- It hurts! Forgive me, please! - Such impudence!
- Mistress! - Take that! And that!
Hey, get out of here!
- Mistress! - Who are you?
I am Yosaku; I once asked you for permission to fell a tree.
- I'm Master Shigetomo's apprentice. - Master Shigetomo? - Yes.
- Mistress! - Mistress!
My horse!
Mistress!
I'll punish you later. Just wait!
Go!
I'm... dying...
- Mistress! - Hold on!
Miss Yuki, your arrival here... was no accident.
I beg you: take care of Yosaku!
Yes.
Yosaku will surely become a Master...
but someone should help him.
Miss Yuki, please, marry Yosaku!
Yes... But...
I beg you!
It's an imposition... but if you wish...
Thanks! Ah...
- Mistress! - Mistress!
- What? The old woman died? - Yes. You need not punish her now.
It's enough! But what about the woman?
- The woman? - The woman.
I ask you, what became of that girl?
She married Yosaku,
fulfilling the dying request of the old woman.
Do you like me?
Yes, I do. Since the first time I saw you.
Me, too.
Really?
Yuki...
Why is your body so cold?
Yuki? Yuki?
Where did you disappear to? Oh! Your face is turning blue!
- I don't feel very well... - What happened? Is everything okay?
Yes... It's better already.
- Let's return home. - Yes, let's.
Are you all right? Let me give you a hand.
Oh, it's the Bailiff! What an unexpected visit!
What happened? Some pressing matter?
As you know, I was invited to the capital by the high court Official.
I only arrived this morning.
Fortunately, there I met this man.
Who is he?
His name is Gyokei, he is a Master of Buddhist statues in the capital.
He belongs to the school of Unkei. He is a very famous Master.
Let me introduce myself. Gyokei.
By the way, he was the one I wished to talk to you about.
I heard that your temple needed a main sacred statue.
Please, entrust the production of it to Gyokei.
I'm very grateful for your proposal,
but I have already entrusted it to Yosaku, Shigetomo's apprentice.
I understand! If Shigetomo made the statue, it would be another story,
but this is too great an honor for an unknown youth.
Besides, I've heard that five years have already passed...
since you entrusted him with it.
Five years have passed already, and he has done nothing!
May I speak?
I've heard that it requires 4-5 years to dry the material for the statue.
Yosaku is probably waiting until the material is ready.
I understand that! But I say you entrusted...
an unknown Master with producing the main sacred statue for the state temple.
What will you do if he doesn't finish it?
He hasn't started his work yet, so let Gyokei also do it.
We will compare their works, and select the best.
Do you have any objections?
Well, it sounds very convincing. I will agree to it.
I am so happy, because I've got a good wife!
I feel the same about you.
In addition, you are a marvelous mother.
I hope... my son also thinks so...
You're a good mother. Moreover, you're still as beautiful as you were before.
Gyokei, he is your competitor.
Yosaku, Gyokei is a very famous Master.
We have decided just now that he will also produce a main sacred statue for the temple.
But this work was entrusted to you, wasn't it?
Show us what you are capable of.
- That woman... - What?
I've hunted for women in the capital for five years,
but among them are none to compare with her.
She's even more beautiful than she was before.
The Bailiff supports Gyokei.
But I will not lose to him! I have changed in these five years.
Now, now, near the small brook behind the house,
a snake lived before, and a tortoise lives now.
A common tortoise, but it kidnaps people.
Yesterday it took four people,
and today - five more. A family of nine in all.
And these kidnapped people disappeared...
Taro doesn't sing! Don't you know this song?
Then don't bother us!
Oh-oh! His mom! She'll punish us. Let's run!
Taro!
Everything's okay; your mom's here. Are you injured?
Mom, teach me to sing this song!
You're too young, it's difficult for you.
- No. Teach me. - Will you be able to memorize it?
- Yes. - Yes?
Now, now...
near the small brook behind the house
a snake lived before, and a tortoise lives now.
A common tortoise. But it kidnaps people.
Yesterday it took four people,
and today five more.
A family of nine in all.
And these kidnapped people disappeared...
Now, now, now!
Mom!
You must surely win, otherwise I will lose my honor.
You are the famous Gyokei. You'll produce such a splendid statue,
Yosaku will not be able to compete with you.
Villagers usually know nothing of high society.
Yes, that is so. They are like frogs that live in the well.
Yosaku competes with you, but there are boundaries, and he doesn't know his place.
It seems to me he's poor, and has too low a position for this kind of work.
But he's very self-confident.
By the way, his wife doesn't suit him either.
Don't worry, everything will be okay.
This is unfair: Gyokei has many apprentices,
but you have to do everything yourself.
Yosaku! ls Yosaku home?
Oh, Official!
What are you doing?
We're arresting him for cutting down a tree on the Bailiffs land. Do not resist!
This is unbelievable! He gave me permission to out it down!
Shut up! The Bailiff says he knew nothing about it.
What are you waiting for? Take him away!
Wait!
My husband obtained a commission from the state temple!
He must carry out this work! You cannot take him away!
We're taking him away, regardless. Take him!
Wait!
The Bailiff is a merciful person.
If you want to save your husband, you should serve the Bailiff.
What?
The Bailiff likes you. You will obtain glory and wealth.
Villain!
What? You don't accept? Well, fine!
Then pay me the penalty for illegal felling: three gold coins.
What did you say?
I will sell you that tree for three gold coins.
But if not, we'll take away Yuki, and she'll not return while she lives.
- I will pay! - Yuki!
You'll pay?
Well, we'll give you five days, okay? Five days!
Yes, that's fine.
If you don't pay in five days...
The Bailiff will be waiting for you impatiently...
Five days, five days...
You... How could you make this promise?
This is illegal... How can such unscrupulous people live in this world!
Yes, it's illegal, but the Bailiff has a higher position than we have.
But isn't there someone above him, too?
The Bailiff has a patron.
He occupies an important position in Mino City.
I see... A patron...
You can't personally present an application! You must pass it through the Bailiff.
But I can't. That's why I'm here in person. Please, allow me!
It's impossible! The master is away now.
Then allow me to give it to his wife. I think we'll understand each other...
It's impossible! Madam is busy now, because her child unexpectedly fell ill.
Her child?
Is it true? Can you cure him?
If something happens to him before the Master returns...
I... I cannot go on living!
May I report? There's a woman at our gates who says she's the daughter of doctors.
She asks permission to examine the child.
This way, please.
Will you be able to cure him? Will my child get well?
I have a child of the same age as yours.
I relate to your misfortune as if to my own.
I'll save him, even at the cost of my life!
Thank you! I trust you.
She's only a woman! She's not a specialist and won't be able to cure him!
We were also unable, though we've tried all possible means and methods.
It's very difficult to cure this illness;
I've never seen such a terrible fever at his age.
If we could cure his fever, he'd be saved.
Now, now, near the small brook behind the house
a snake lived before,
and a tortoise lives now...
When did you return? Where have you been?
You... Why do you look so pale?
If I can cure the child of the patron, then I will obtain a reward.
- Therefore, you... - I will cure him for sure!
I cannot care for you now, but, be patient a little, please.
I'm okay. I'm okay. But you're so pale...
Don't worry. It's because of the work.
I have to go now... Care for Taro, please.
I cooked dinner for you.
Yuki!
- Where is your wife? - She went out.
And you let her go?
Well, good... You now have only three days.
If you don't pay, you know what will happen.
Yes, I know.
Well, that's good.
This is your goddess? Poor work.
Looks like a doll!
You won't be able to win.
You're just the frog, that lives in the well.
I repeat: three days. Is that clear?
- He arrived! - He arrived!
Wife! Is it true that our son's at death's door?
Does he still breathe? Is he alive?
- Yes. - Oh, thank goodness! He's alive!
Son!
- Sir! - Son!
- So good, so good! - What happened?
Everything's all right.
She saved our son, when even the doctors proved powerless.
Thank you very much for saving our child.
Thank you! I'm so grateful that you saved him!
Please, accept this reward as a token of our gratitude!
Gyokei said he will deliver his statue to the temple tomorrow.
Tomorrow?
But what about you? Is it not ready yet?
I have almost finished, but...
I still cannot come up with the face...
What? The face?
I've wracked my brains, but I can devise nothing.
Yosaku, what are you saying?
The Bailiff requires that you present your work.
I know. That is why I...
Yosaku, what happened?
No, I can't...
- Oh, Bailiff. - Yosaku!
Have you forgotten? Pay me my three gold coins!
But I...
You can't? Do you understand at last?
- Take him! - Aye!
What are you doing? Yosaku has important work!
That's not important!
- You? - Take the money and depart, please.
Yuki!
Taro!
- Forgive me. I'll never leave you again. - Don't leave me again!
Of course not.
But then other men will come to take away my father.
No. No one will take him away...
Your dear father...
That's it! The face!
My face?
Now I know how to sculpt the face of the goddess. Here it is!
This work is remarkable.
We expected it, from a Master known in all of Japan!
Don't you like it?
Look at her face attentively.
In my opinion, the face, which shines in gold, is too bright.
Really, both bright and beautiful.
YES!
That's fine, but it's not enough.
It needs something more.
Something more? What could that be?
- Compassionate heart. - Compassionate heart?
Look at her face attentively. Do you see compassion in her eyes?
It's a pity, but it's impossible to pray to it.
Tell Yosaku, I'm waiting for his work.
Certainly, I will tell him.
Yuki! Yuki, let's go to the holiday ritual. Get ready!
To the holiday ritual?
I cannot come up with eyes for the goddess.
My last chance is to ask the gods for help. Let us go together.
Yes... But...
I heard the Prior said that the goddess must have a compassionate gaze...
But I cannot visualize this gaze.
Apparently, I need to ask the gods for help.
Yes.
I've almost finished my work. If you'll accompany me, let's ask the gods together.
Yes. Let us go together.
And let's also take Taro. Taro! Taro!
- Bubbles in the boiling water! - Taro! Taro!
Where's Mom?
At last, my desire will be satisfied.
Don't be afraid. You're even more beautiful when you're afraid.
You have such white skin.
I've never seen a woman with such skin.
I've dreamed of undressing you for so long!
Do you tremble? It's very nice!
Now, remove your kimono and show me your beautiful skin! Well?
Do you cry? You shouldn't.
You! You!
Snow Woman!
I must kill anyone who has seen my true appearance.
I am guilty! I am guilty! I... I...
- Where's Mom? - Well, she's probably back home already.
Yes. She's probably already back.
Sir! Sir!
Snow Woman!
Mom returned!
Have you finally returned? We searched for you for so long.
Mom, where have you been?
Mom, what happened?
What happened, Yuki? Yuki!
Yuki!
Today I must finish my work at all cost...
But I can't, because I see a dark shadow.
- Shadow? - Why does this strange shadow follow me?
You see, I've almost finished everything.
- The Bailiffs been killed! - They say his servants are also dead!
This was a strange death!
Yuki, they said the Bailiff has been killed.
What? I didn't catch it...
No, I heard well. They said the servants are also dead.
Let's go and see.
It's not necessary to look. I've already seen everything with my eyes.
Really? Who killed the Bailiff?
I saw you five years ago.
What are you saying to my wife?
You are a ghost!
I recognized you that previous time.
And I saw you again yesterday evening.
You killed the Bailiff in the little house near the temple.
It was not a simple death.
It was done by a ghost.
You did it!
Vile ghost!
Shaman! I will not allow such violence In my house! Get out!
It is your ghostly wife who must leave!
- Ghost? - Yes! I will prove it to you!
There's a soar on her arm,
from the boiling water I splashed on her five years ago. Look!
Hey! Get out! Get out!
I will not spare you, despite your being a shaman!
Traitor!
Yuki!
Don't be afraid! I will not allow even one finger to touch you!
You are my only wife. And Taro's dear mother.
No one can break our happiness!
Yuki, it seems to me that my soul was cleansed just now...
and I can complete the work.
- Really? - Yes.
But this dark shadow remains nevertheless...
- Yuki! - Yes.
Yuki...
The shaman said you are a ghost. I do not believe this.
She also said there is a five-year old soar on your arm,
but I don't believe in such nonsense either.
But I recalled an event just now, which occurred before our wedding.
When I look at your kind face,
I can't believe it ever happened at all.
But I still fear to recall that terrible evening...
Yuki, I have one very bad memory,
which I've never told anyone about.
It was five years ago.
There was a terrible snow-storm that night.
I saw the terrible Snow Woman, who killed my master.
Yuki...
It was me.
You?
Despite everything, you finally spoke of it.
You shouldn't have done that.
Through all these years, I've prayed for your silence so many times.
I...
Since becoming your wife, I've learned human happiness.
And when Taro was born, we lived happily together, the three of us.
And I prayed only to that end, not to lose this happiness.
But finally you...
You spoke about this!
Yuki!
Now... I must kill you.
You've broken your promise!
I will kill you.
Take care of Taro now, instead of me!
And complete your work, and let it be excellent.
Yuki...
Mom!
Yuki!
Mom! Where are you going? Don't leave! Mom! Mom!
Oh! Compassionate gaze...
Mom!
Mom! Mom! Don't leave! Don't leave! Mom! Mom!
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