This is a tale from long ago.
Benedict Franklin,
Mirko Tesla,
and Ryuzo Yashima...
The geniuses of electricity had all died young.
KYOTO, 36TH YEAR OF THE MEIJI ERA
But steam technology advanced at an astonishing rate worldwide.
This is a story from the Meiji Era.
THE 20TH CENTURY ELECTRICAL CATALOG
Hey, Kihachi.
What now, Big Brother Seiroku?
Don't give me that.
You just copied everything I said.
I want you to think up your own bold ideas worthy of the 20th century.
Write about things that will lead to the Age of Electricity.
I can't think of anything. Just saying "the Age of Electricity" doesn't help.
You can do it.
- Believe in yourself! - What are you doing?!
Observe the world around you!
Then something will come to you!
It'll help you get over being such a scaredy-cat too!
Put me down!
THE 5TH NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY EXHIBITION
What's the big deal about turning on some lights?
It's a big deal if Seiroku says so.
Probably.
This is amazing, Big Brother Seiroku.
So many different machines!
But they're all just steam inventions.
Even with this many people, this elevator...
Kihachi, wait here.
What?
I'll be right back. Try not to be a scaredy-cat.
Wait, Big Brother Seiroku!
I don't want to.
- Damn it! - Be careful!
Hey, wait!
Hey!
- Sorry, Seiroku. - It's going to work.
Trust me.
- We're lighting it! - Yes, sir!
It's amazing.
Yeah.
It's wonderful!
There they are! It's them!
You bastards, what are you doing?
This is bad! You go ahead. I'll catch up!
Kihachi, this is the 20th century! The power of electricity!
Electricity...
Its current is still faint,
but with the 20th Century Electrical Catalog,
we'll create the Age of Electricity together!
Let's do it, Big Brother Seiroku!
SPARKS OF TOMORROW
CHAPTER ONE: THE ELECTRIC BOY
KYOTO, 40TH YEAR OF THE MEIJI ERA
- Get your steamed buns! - They're going to vanish like steam!
Behold!
- Rare steam-engine toys. - Is that so?
They're made by the best store in Kyoto, Mizoe Firm, and they're quite valuable.
Come on. You're not a coward.
It's your lucky day.
- Something for the grandchildren? - Well...
- You don't fool me! - What?!
It's very difficult to make small steam engines.
- What are you doing, brat? - See? Look!
Nothing but springs and hot water!
So you were lying! Weren't you?
Stop making such a fuss!
What a liar.
Four years passed. The Age of Electricity has not arrived.
He took the catalog and went to war.
He never came back.
"We'll create the Age of Electricity together."
He broke that promise.
He fooled me.
We're almost there, Inari!
Gracious Deity.
I pick up trash in the city every day.
I haven't broken a bowl this week.
I try hard not to break my shamisen strings.
I also do as my father tells me.
I'll do more good deeds too.
My faith is unwavering.
I believe in your teachings, Gracious Deity!
So, I humbly ask you.
Please let me talk to my mother in Paradise.
Gods of Takamanohara!
Honoring Kamurogi and Kamuromi as imperial ancestors,
Izanagi performed a purification ritual at Awakihara, by the inlet of Tachibana...
A kagura?
Could it be...
Gracious Deity!
Have you descended to us?
Are you here, Gracious Dei...
- Hey! Are you okay? - Gracious Deity!
- Gracious Deity Akubi. - What's wrong with you?
- Don't chant prayers at people! - What?
You're not a gracious deity?
Who are you calling a deity?
Quit talking nonsense...
Wait, are you a con artist?
You won't fool me.
There is no such thing as deities.
If you doubt the Gracious Deity, you'll be cursed!
The Gracious Deity is real!
Can't you hear the kagura... Wait.
It's stopped?
Don't tell me you...
You thought I was a deity because of this?
I'm good at believing in stuff.
It's my only talent.
What?
I mean, it does sound like a real kagura.
- What's your name? - Huh? My name?
Speak into this.
My name is Inako Momokawa.
My family runs Momokawa Brewery in Fushimi.
The school I go to is the Third Girls' High School...
You don't have to say all that.
My name is Inago Momokawa.
My voice is coming from the machine?
It sounds like "Inago."
Wow! I must be dreaming!
Exactly!
I just recorded your voice on a new wax cylinder.
Your words are engraved into grooves. It's called "recording."
This latest model can record over two minutes on a single cylinder.
- I'm on my way to return-- - That's enough! Please stop!
Here.
"We repair machinery at Horai Buddhist Altar Shop."
"Kihachi Sakamoto"?
Come see me if something breaks down.
No, I won't.
Suit yourself, Inago.
It's Inako! No way I'll visit your shop!
What a weirdo.
HORAI BUDDHIST ALTAR SHOP
Hey, Kihachi. Here's today's repair work.
Only two?
Why not find a job that pays better?
I can't let a good-for-nothing like you live here forever for free.
You're not turning down work, are you, Uncle Bunshichi?
Give it a rest.
I can kick you out whenever I like!
I'll finish this in no time.
Mornin', Yajiro.
Good morning, Kihachi.
Making something today?
Well, I don't have much repair work to do.
Maybe I'll make Paradise.
Paradise?
Setting off.
So you like this boy you met yesterday so much
that your mind went walking during class?
You mean "wandering."
No way. He was such a weirdo.
It's stopping at your house.
Nice to meet you, Inako Momokawa.
I'm Yosuke Mizoe.
Welcome, Branch Manager.
I heard your eldest daughter is engaged.
I came by to celebrate.
Goodness.
Thank you.
Noriko, we have a guest!
Welcome to...
Congratulations on your engagement.
Please, come inside.
Big Sis, is he a guest?
Can I help--
Inako!
You're clumsy. Don't bother coming in.
Okay.
What is this?
It's just as it says.
According to this contract,
the funds I lent you are to be paid back in full today.
Father!
This is ridiculous.
Previously you said you would wait a full year.
Previously?
Come now, the contract is right here, isn't it?
I can't pay on such short notice!
To think a distinguished family like Momokawa can't keep a promise.
How regrettable.
I suppose it can't be helped.
With the current state of Momokawa Sake Brewery's finances...
So...
The truth is, I have a proposal for you, Momokawa.
A proposal?
Yes.
The Mizoe Firm?
They're the number one zaibatsu in the steam engine industry.
That man is Yosuke Mizoe, heir to the Mizoe Firm.
It's boiling!
It's hot!
Inako, if you carry on like that,
you won't become a fine person like your mother.
I'm sorry.
What? A marriage?
Between my Inako and you, Yosuke Mizoe?
You'd... go so far as to...
If you give me a favorable response,
I can be lenient with your debt, Momokawa.
A good deal for both of us, don't you think?
I accept.
Father!
That's great!
Most pleasing.
- Now we're family. - What are you doing?
- Please excuse us. - What? "Excuse you"?
Don't mind me.
I'm simply doing as I please in my own house.
Inako! What are you doing?
I thought I'd get the cooling machine out.
I'm sorry. I broke it.
But I might know someone who can fix it.
He has chestnut hair...
It said "Kihachi Sakamoto" on his flyer.
But he was a bit weird, so maybe it's a bad idea.
- Kihachi Sakamoto? - Huh?
Inako, please, go to him now.
What? Now?
Yes, right now. And take this.
A letter box?
Give this to Sakamoto!
"Electrical... Catalog"?
Big Sis, do you know him?
Please, Inako!
It's very important.
You have to deliver it!
TRADEMARK - MOMO
I'm heading out!
Let's hurry, Inari.
Kengo!
Oh, Inako?
- Running an errand? - Yes.
My sister told me to hurry.
I see. Take care.
Thank you very much.
WE REPAIR MACHINERY ENTER IN BACK
I wonder if it's okay to go in.
Hello?
Yajiro,
did you finish painting Paradise?
Almost.
Excuse me!
A customer?
There's a knack to coming in this way.
It's that girl?
Please, wait!
It's awfully noisy today.
Please give me a rag.
Yes, ma'am.
What are you trying to do? Please stop this nonsense!
It's not here?
Just when I thought I might not see you, here you are tidying up.
May I take a look?
Get away from Noriko!
I don't need your help.
That's Noriko for you.
Oh, Yosuke?
He's my eldest daughter's fiancé.
Kengo Kuga, I presume.
You know each other?
Hey! Where is the Electrical Catalog?
Electrical Catalog?
Electrical...
Yosuke,
the young lady of the house who just went out had it with her.
WE REPAIR MACHINERY
I'm about done,
but she's still asleep.
Leave her be.
Let's get started.
Okay.
Where am I?
I can't see.
I came to get the cooling machine repaired,
and then I was crushed by something.
I must have died.
Then this place is...
Could it be hell?
Oh, no.
I was always causing trouble for my father and my sister.
Someone clumsy like me could never get into Paradise.
If I was going to die anyway,
I wish I could have seen my mother.
Huh? What was that?
She's praying.
Talk about excessive devotion.
This place...
I've reached Paradise.
Mother.
Watch out! Get out of the way!
- You did it! - Incredible!
- It's so dark! - Mother?!
What's going on? Sakamoto?
Sakamoto, are you from Paradise?
First I'm a deity, and now I'm from Paradise?!
You really do believe anything.
I died earlier!
And there was a Buddha over there... Huh?
It was a slideshow.
A slideshow?
HORAI BUDDHIST ALTAR SHOP
So this is a slide projector?
Wow! It's so small but so intricate!
Did you draw it?
Huh?
What's your name?
That's Yajiro Yagura.
He's the son of this house.
And I'm a freeloader at this Buddhist altar shop.
How did you light up the slide projector without any gas?
It's electricity.
See the wire connected to the light bulbs?
If you run electricity from a generator through it,
the filament creates electrical resistance,
which generates heat and light.
The projector uses the light
to project the picture drawn on the cellophane!
This is the first time I've seen light like this!
It's the century's greatest invention!
The century's...
This is the 20th century! The power of electricity!
Filaments made of paper burn out quickly,
so the light bulb's light doesn't last long.
This is just child's play.
It's not the invention of the century.
That's not true.
That slide projector really made me think I was in Paradise!
I was so happy I got to see my mother!
You won't fool me.
I'm not fooling you.
You have a talent for electricity, Sakamoto.
I believe that!
What's with you?
You believe in people you don't know a thing about!
My talent is believing!
Is that even a talent?
Everyone just throws their words around.
He didn't even come back with the catalog.
Catalog... Wait!
What now?
My older sister told me to give this to you.
What? Your older sister?
What's inside?
Well, if I remember right, it said "Electrical Catalog" on it.
"Electrical Catalog"?
Impossible. That can't be right.
It must be some kind of mistake.
There's no way it could've been at her house...
THE 20TH CENTURY ELECTRICAL CATALOG
How did...
How did it get there?
- Smells like incense. - What's happening?
Found you, my wife.
What the hell?!
Subtitle translation by: Daisy Savage