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| INNOCENCE@ LOST Snow danced in the midsummer uZashiki Warashiv present Story
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| Mr. Takeru Sakura (Sakura-san) has once again failed to go home. After long hours at the office, followed by a drinking session with his colleagues, he has rented a room for the night. During a restless night he dreams. His dreaming begins with him seeing his friends and colleagues appear as ghost-like figures. They appear suddenly as villagers of a past era taking part in a festival. He moves among them, but is invisible to them. The main event of the festival is the sumo bout. At its conclusion the villagers experience a great fright when they hear the pattering of footsteps of a child. Its meaning is clear; the sea will get rough and a death will occur. Sakura-san then finds himself fighting for his life in a stormy sea. Zashiki Warashi appears and saves him by making the waters disappear. Sakura-san wants to thank the child for rescuing him and goes in search of the child. In his quest he passes his house and sees his wife and children waiting for him to come home. They then decide to look for him and make their way to the city. City life is as ever ? busy, busy, busy!! People are rushing to work! For the first time in his life Sakura-san is able to observe his daily life routine from the outside. He wishes people could stop and have time for each other. His wish is fulfilled when Zashiki Warashi appears and stops the people in their mad rush. Sakura-san pulls his children from the crowd, wanting to be close to them, but they seem distant to his needs. The spell is broken and the fast paced city life returns. A mysterious interviewer appears in the midst of the rushing people and asks people their opinion of Sakura-san. Sakura-san can only listen in dismay at what people think of him. Suddenly, Sakura-san finds himself in his office. Everything looks familiar, but after the president of the company makes his rounds, it all changes. The secretary is singing, and the lady who serves tea and the cleaners are dancing. He never knew that they harbored this secret love for singing and dancing. He always thought that such things were for children. Could he be wrong? Zashiki Warashi appears and takes the office workers back to their childhood. Sakura-san himself is trying to discover the innocence of play, but whenever he tries to join a group to play the group leaves him and he is left wandering alone. He ends up going in circles; seemingly unable to find a way out. He is joined by other trapped souls who could not escape their busy existence. As the trapped souls close in on Sakura-san to claim him for their hell, he realizes his mistakes and struggles to get out. He feels he has failed his family and is prepared to die (to be buried). Zashiki Warashi appears and knowing his regret, embraces him and leads him to his family. His neighbors and friends are astonished to see him with his wife and children and give him a herofs welcome. They arrange a concert in his honor. At the end of the concert he is asked to come on stage and his neighbors and friends applaud him and bid him farewell. Finally, Zashiki Warashi leads him back to his room, lays him back to rest, and bids him farewell. When Sakura-san wakes up will he recognize that Zashiki Warashi is among us? Will he recognize this or will he remain blind? |
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