2. Shinigami (The God of Death) 死神

3. There are different types of kami (god).

4. Some of them, you would rather not be acquainted with, such as binbogami (The God of Poverty).

5. Main story begins.

6. Hachi is walking as he talks aloud about his wife’s complaints of being poor.

7. I should just die.

8. Hachi starts thinking about different ways of committing suicide to solve all his problems.

9. Do you want me to tell you how to die?
Who is it?
This way.

10. In the tree, there is an old man.
Over eighty-years old, wearing a gray kimono, little hair on his forehead.

11. Who are you?
I am shinigami (God of Death).

12. There is no such thing as shinigami in this world.
So why did you suddenly think about dying under this tree?

13. Go away, I don’t want to die.
You are not going to die yet.
Shinigami disappears from the tree.

14. Mister, mister. It must have been an illusion.
Shinigami appears in front of Hachi.

15. I don’t want to die yet.
You are not going to die for a while, because you still have your jumyo (lifespan).

16. jumyo (lifespan)?
A man cannot die when he still has jumyo.

17. If you jump in a river, you will be saved by a fisherman.
If you try to hang yourself in a tree, the branch will break.
It is all because of jumyo.

18. Why did you appear in front of me?

19. I have been watching you since you were born. I feel close to you.
I don’t want to be your friend.

20. Don’t you want to make money?
Well, I want money.

21. Shall I tell you how to be rich?
Are you asking me to be your assistant?

22. What do you mean by “assistant”?
Such as pushing the back of a person who is about to jump. Pulling legs of of a person who is…
No, that’s not what I have in mind.

23. Become a doctor
A doctor? That’s impossible. I know nothing about being a doctor.

24. But, you can be one.

25. A shinigami always stays with a patient who has been sick for a long time, either by the feet or by the head.

26. If a shinigami is by the patient’s feet, he can recover.
But, if the shinigami is by the patient’s head, nothing can be done.

27. If a shinigami is removed, the patient will recover.
How can a shinigami be removed?

28. A special spell can remove shinigami by a patient’s feet.

29. I will tell you the spell.
If a shinigami is at the patient’s feed, you can remove him, but remember…

30. if the shinigami is at the patient’s head, don’t do anything.
Is this clear?

31. I will tell you just once, so listen carefully.
Ajaraka mokuren kyuraisu, oshamanbe no pa,
and clap your hands twice.

32. Hachi says the spell and claps his hands.
The shinigami disappears.

33. He runs back home, writes “DOCTOR” on a piece of wood, and hangs it by the door.

34. The first visitor soon comes.
But, Hachi thinks the visitor comes to collect money he owes to various stores. (wood, liquor, rice, vegetables, fish…)

35. I am from Sanukiya (name of a company).
My master has been ill for a long time.
Many doctors looked at him, but he shows no sign of recovery

36. A fortuneteller told us to find the first doctor in this direction and ask him.
I would like the doctor to come and examine my master.

37. OK. Let’s go
Thank you. Please inform your doctor to come.

38. I am the doctor.
What?
Yes, I am the doctor.

39. At Sanukiya
I have brought a doctor.

40. Another one of Sanukiya’s servants is suspicious of Hachi.
Doctor, please take a look at my master.

41. Hachi finds a shinigami sitting beside the patient’s feet.
I got lucky.
I practice healing too. Everybody, plese leave the room.

42. Shinigami goes away.
Everybody, come in. The master is cured.
The master says he is hungry.

43. What should I fix for him? Something easy on his stomach?
No, no. something like grilled eel or tempura. Anything that gives him energy.

44. Hachi receives 50 ryo (money) in return.
How about medicine?
Probably not necessary, but I will find something.

45. He goes home.
An errand boy from the store comes for medications. Hachi gives daikon radish leaves as medicine.

46. Similar patients come to Hachi’s home, and Hachi ends up making lots of easy money.
He opens a clinic and builds his reputation as an excellent doctor.

47. He gives half of the money to his wife and child and spends the rest in Kyoto.

48. Hachi runs out of money and comes back to Edo (Tokyo) to restart his career as a doctor.
He reopens his “doctor’s office,” but nobody comes.

49. Even when he does get calls, he ends up finding patients with shinigami sitting at the head.

50. One day, a person from Naniwaya (a large store) comes and asks for Hachi’s help in curing his master.

51. At Naniwaya, Hachi finds a shinigami at the patient’s head.
Naniwaya’s servant and wife try to offer more money to prolong their master’s life.

52. If you can prolong our master’s life by one year, we will offer 1000 ryo.
Can’t do…
How about six months for 1000 ryo?
Still, cannot do…

53. …by the feet…by the feet… …I might be able to help him..
How about three months for 1000 ryo?
…by the feet…by the feet…
…I might be able to help him..

54. I need four strong men, and please leave us alone.
Listen carefully. Sit at each corner of the master’s futon.
On my signal, grab the four ends of the futon, and spin it 180 degrees.

55. Late that night
Shinigami stares at the master throughout night. The master groans in pain.

56. As it gets light outside, shinigami dozes off.
The futon is spun around 180 degrees.
Shinigami is surprised and goes away.

57. Naniwaya is cured.
Hachi receives 1000 ryo, and goes back to his lavish lifestyle.

58. Boy, it was fun to watch the shinigami’s face when he was surprized
Boy, it was fun to watch the shinigami’s face when he was surprized. (laugh)
..hih, hih, hih…

59. Shinigami appears.

60. You fool. Why did you remove the shinigami at the patient’s head?
That was me.

61. I didn’t know that was you.
You all look the same.
I am sorry.

62. Come with me.
Forgive me, please.

63. By tapping the ground with his stick, shinigami creates a hole in the ground.
Enter.

64. Keep　walking.
It’s so dark. I cannot see anything.

65. They suddenly come to a very bright area.
Thousands of candles are in front of them.
What are they?

66. These represent the lives of people.
This long candle is your son.
The next one is your ex-wife.

67. Here is one that is about to go out. This guy is about to die
Here is one that is about to go out. This guy is about to die. Whose candle is this?
That one is YOURS.

68. What? Am I about to die?
You said I haven’t used up my time yet.
Your real life is over there. The one burning strongly. That is your real life.

69. You sold your life to Naniwaya for 1000 ryo.
..sold my life…
That’s why I told you not to touch the shimigami at the patient’s head.

70. You didn’t say that.
You sold your life for 1000 ryo.

71. Please help me. I don’t want to die.
I’ll give you all the money. I beg of you.

72. Well, I’ll help you one more time.
This is the candle of a person who died young.

73. Try to light this with your candle.
If you can do it, it will be your life.

74. You’d better do it quickly, otherwise it’ll go out.