Ikiru Quotes

Ikiru is a TV show that was first aired in 1970 . Ikiru completed its run in 1970.

It features Sōjirō Motoki as producer, Fumio Hayasaka in charge of musical score, and Asakazu Nakai as head of cinematography.

Ikiru is recorded in Japanese and originally aired in Japan. Each episode of Ikiru is 143 minutes long. Ikiru is distributed by Toho.

The cast includes: Takashi Shimura as Kanji, and Miki Odagiri as Toyo.

Ikiru Quotes

Miki Odagiri as Toyo

• (Miki Odagiri) "All I do is make these little things."
• (Miki Odagiri) "Just making these is so much fun. I feel like I'm making friends with every baby in Japan. Why don't you try making something too?"
• (Takashi Shimura) "What could I possibly make at that office."
• (Miki Odagiri) "Yeah, it's hopeless there. You should quit and go somewhere --"
• (Takashi Shimura) "It's too late; - No; It's not too late. It's not hopeless. Even there, there's something I can do. I just have to find the will."

• (Miki Odagiri) "What help am I?"
• (Takashi Shimura) "You; just to look at you makes me feel better. It warms this; this mummy's heart of mine. And you're so kind to me. No; that's not it. You're so young, so healthy. No; that's not it either -- You're so full of life. And me -- I'm jealous of that. If I could be like you for just one day before I died. I won't be able to die unless I can do that. I want to do something. Only you can show me. I don't know what to do. I don't know how. Maybe you don't know either, but, please -- if you can -- show me how to be like you."

• (Miki Odagiri) "I'll cover for you. I'm not like Carp Windsock."
• (Takashi Shimura) "Carp Windsock?"
• (Miki Odagiri) "Yes, Mr. Sakai is a human carp windsock. His lips are always flapping, but he's just hot air inside. Plus he always acts like such a big shot. He makes 200 yen more a month than I do, so he looks down on me."

• (Miki Odagiri) ""You've never had a day off, have you?" "No." "Why? Are you indispensable?" "No. I don't want them to find out they can do without me.""

• (Miki Odagiri) "After 30 years without an absence, you deserve at least six months off."

Takashi Shimura as Kanji

• (Takashi Shimura) "I can't afford to hate people. I don't have that kind of time."

• (Takashi Shimura) "All these 30 years; what have I been doing there? I can't remember no matter how I try. All I remember; is just being busy; and even then I was bored."

• (Takashi Shimura) "-- I did it all for my son's sake. But as it turned out, my son doesn't seem to give a whit."
• (Miki Odagiri) "But you can't blame it all on your son -- Not unless he asked you to make a mummy of yourself. My mom gives me the same kind of line sometimes. "The things I've suffered for you." And I'm grateful she had me. But it's not my fault I was born --"

• (Takashi Shimura) "Now I remember: I nearly drowned in a pond once when I was a child. I felt exactly the same way then. Everything's going black. I writhe and thrash around, but there's nothing to hold on to; except you."
• (Miki Odagiri) "What about your son?"
• (Takashi Shimura) "Don't talk to me about him. I have no son. I'm all alone."
• (Miki Odagiri) "But --"
• (Takashi Shimura) "No, you don't understand. My son is somewhere far away. Just as my mom and pop were when I was drowning in that pond. Remembering it now, it's even more painful than it was then."

• (Takashi Shimura) "Why are you quitting?"
• (Miki Odagiri) "I'm bored. It's killing me. Every day is like the one before. Nothing new ever happens. I've put up with it for a year and a half, but the only novel thing that's happened was that you took five days off; and now this new hat of yours. That's it."

• (Takashi Shimura) "Dying is very difficult."

• (Takashi Shimura) "How beautiful. Truly beautiful. A sunset. I don't think I've really looked at one in 30 years."

• (Takashi Shimura) "Life is brief / Fall in love, maiden / Before the crimson bloom / Fades from your lips / Before the tides of passion / Cool within you / For those of you / Who know no tomorrow --"

• (Takashi Shimura) "Drinking this expensive sake is like paying myself back with poison for the way I lived all these years."

• (Takashi Shimura) "It's just that I've been such a fool. I'm just so mad at myself. Until a few days ago I had never even bought myself a drink. It's only now that I don't know how much longer I have to live that I've finally begun."
• (Novelist) "I understand. I understand. But drinking now is plain crazy. Besides, does it even taste good?"
• (Takashi Shimura) "No, it doesn't. But for a little while I can forget my cancer and all the other painful things."

• (Takashi Shimura) "Tell me, where do they sell women's stockings?"
• (Miki Odagiri) "You want to buy some? Western clothing stores carry them."

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