This summary turned really long and detailed O_o Anyhow here's part 1. I'll write up the second half tomorrow.
Jan 2, 2003 Otemachi, Tokyo
The reporter narrates in the beginning saying "If I was asked do want to win? I believe they would all give the same answers. The important part is not winning. I just want to pass the school ribbon to the next runner. Only for that. What do you get for receiving the ribbon? How important is the burden? For that answer, I think only those who have competed in the relay race will understand. But it's like pushing yourself from looking at them from behind, rushing forward with all their might. The deeply moved viewers watches. They don't wonder why are they running with all their might? What do you gain from running like that? I learned the answer from a runner. Yes, it's that guy who made me understand. Beside everyone, there must be someone you can trust. Only that way can you become stronger."
Beginning words say "To Daisuke in Heaven, dedicated to the deceased Sato Daisuke who participated in the Hakone stationn relay competition."
The reporter Yohei is talking to his gf. He's suppose to show up to watch the relay race with his gf and her family and meet her family for the first time. But he's busy cuz he has to work. She's complaining she's not thinking of her situation and he says he is.
He narrates saying at the time he's working for a newspaper company, totally different from his (daisuke) world. He's busy from morning til night interviewing for news. He only got to know Daisuke later on.
Half a year later he got into trouble. He wanted to cover a big story and said he was getting proof. His superior was against it. He talks to his coworker in the cafeteria saying talking about attending a wedding. Yohei said doesn't trust anyone and the co-worker was saying his gf is nice and everyone thought he would get married next. He said he doesn't intend to get married. Co-worker says he should get married. They've been dating for 7 years, but he prefers to be free.
Back in the office, a co-worker gave him some papers he researched but Yohei threw it in the garbage. Later he calls up his gf saying he can't make it. Yohei gets into trouble next day because he was harrassing the politician's family (for information). He's been transferred to the sports department. He gets assigned to report on the relay race. His gf thinks its great but he doesn't think so. He thinks baseball or soccer would be better and goes on to degrade the relay race.
At the office, the guy tells him to choose one out of 3 universities to report on the runner's preparation for the race. He randomly picks one. The guy suggests Sato Daisuke in 4th yr representing his school running 4th district. Yohei goes off to look for him. The guy told him to take the camera man with him but he refuses saying he'll do it himself. He left the profile of Daisuke on the table.
He arrives on the track and introduces himself as a reporter to one of the teenagers and ask where Daisuke is. The kid says over there stretching. When he talks to the guy stretching, he finds out the guy who he first talked to was Daisuke. He remembers seeing him before at the race. Yohei tells Daisuke he was rude. Daisuke says he was the rude one. He should at least have researched on the runner's name and photo. Yohei walks off upset saying he's not going back.
Yohei is gambling at the horse race and bumps into Daisuke and a girl. He asks if Daisuke doesn't have to practise and Daisuke says he only practises in the morning on Saturdays. Most universities are like that. As a reporter he should know that. The girl introduces herself as a manager. The girl asks about him and he says he's not originally in the sports dept. He's a journalist. Daisuke says "so...you got demoted huh? You came to the races to relieve boredom?" LOL While sitting down Yohei is saying how Daisuke can't win the race alone. That's why they have several runners. Daisuke says he's ignorant. ^^; The relay race isn't for relying on others but to pass on to compete. Don't mistake it. Then Daisuke admires the horses' leg muscles.
Later Daisuke rushes off to school leaving the girl with Yohei. While Yohei and the girl are strolling, Yohei asks if that was considered a date, meeting at the races and she says yes they usually date at the races but sometimes she would ask him to go shopping with her. Yohei says that's typical date. They would eat after then. But she says Daisuke already ate. The hot dog. Daisuke has to control his food intake. Sometimes I eat and drink a lot infront of him. He's really poor. That's why we eat hotdog as our dinner. Yohei asks what she likes about him. She replies when he runs. He's really cool. I guarantee you, if you get to know Daisuke you will like him too.
At the track and field. Daisuke says he thought he wouldn't come back. Yohei said he thought he wouldn't come back either. Daisuke ask why he changed his mind. Yohei says cuz she's cute. just joking LOL Daisuke ask if iidasan (yohei) is married. Yohei said he was joking. Although he's not married he has a gf. Daisuke ask if he has a friend he can rely on. Yohei asks why he asks that. Daisuke says nothing. Just wanna ask. Yohei says I'm the one interviewing. Daisuke said many people says that one person can't achieve anything. At first I thought like you too about the relay race. My goal is the Olympics. Hakone is just a stepping stone, like a jumping board. That's how I felt. But at this year's competiton I couldn't receive the ribbon. Do you know what's called last minute ribbon? Yohei says yes. The previous runner who takes too much time running will be given one. Daisuke says that's it. There's no school name. Nothing is written on it. It's only a ribbon. I was at the 4th district start line waiting for the team to arrive. There wasn't any time left, that's why I was given the last minute ribbon. I couldn't believe it myself. I would feel so bad about it. Although I ran, I felt it was useless. He kept apologizing. His own record or pride, they weren't important. He was angry because he couldn't pass the ribbon directly to me. He said he was really sorry. It was then that I realized the important burden of receiving the ribbon. That is more important to me than winning gold at the Olympics. Now I feel proud to run in the Hakone race. Who knows what will happen tomorrow. Yohei asks him what he means. are you trying to comfort me? ^^; He says he's being pitied by a kid 10 yrs younger than him ^^; Daisuke said he's not. He suddenly just wanted to tell him. He said he wonders why. Maybe cuz they're a like, like when he was that time. ^^;
At the tracks, Yohei meets Daisuke's dad. He comes to visit with a watermelon and bags of stuff. Apparently they live nearby. Iida-san asks if Daisuke has been running since he's a kid. At lunch, they're playing with the ribbon/sash. The coach said they will write all the names of the runners on it so no matter who is running, the whole team would be able to participate.
Iida-san interviews various people regarding their views on the race but he still can't understand why people do it.
Time passes by until Hakone race begins again. Looking at the Billboard his coworker says he doesn't see Sato's name and Iida-san said maybe he's under 7th or 8th district.
Race starts and Daisuke's school ends up in #9 rank.
At dinner, the girl's mom brags about her daughter's husband covering the story for the race and things turn quiet. The daughter says he's not her husband and the dad says it's about time. She says he's just her bf and he's only temporarily working at the sports dept. He's going back to journalism soon and tells her family not to babble to the neighbours. (yohei is feeling uneasy cuz he isn't ready for marriage). The brother questions him what his intentions were for dating her sister. He says if it's to fool around he won't forgive him.
At the races, they're saying if he can get the passed ribbon, they can go to next year's Hakone race. While running, Yohei notices Daisuke keeps hitting his leg. Daisuke is slowing down. In order for them to get into Hakone's race next year he has to finish the race fast. Iida-san notices his running is not like normal but doesn't know what's wrong with him. Daisuke barely finishes his race and passes the ribbon to his team mate before he collapses.
At the celebration party, Daisuke crys and apologizes. His team mate says they got in, there's no need to apologize.
At the tracks, Daisuke apologizes for his previous behavior and Iida-san says he owes him one. He tells Daisuke he can show what his potential when he starts working. Daisuke comments he'll be graduating soon. Iida-san says next time he runs he won't be a student anymore but an occupational worker. Daisuke said he will remember all he's learned from Hakone race to other competitions like olympics. He mentions he read Iida-san's report and he was really moved. Iida-san said he didn't know what to write and didn't write it well. It was the first time. But after the few months of interviewing him, although he was still unclear but at least he now understands the burden of passing the ribbon. He said he doesn't know how to describe how he feels but it feels like he can't really breath. He still doesn't understand why Daisuke thinks passing the ribbon is more important than winning gold at the olympics. Nor what motivates him to run with so much strength. Daisuke tries to explain that passing on the ribbon is not relying on someone but supporting each other. The more supportive they are, the stronger they become. The burden of the ribbon is when you think you can't go on, it's the inner strength to make you surpass your normal abilities. Every runner has a log of their limits but it's when you pass the ribbon, you release your inner strength. There's a lot of people believing in me waiting for me. When you think like that, you already give up on the competition. It will just let you just run until you fall until you can't stand up. That's the so called feeling towards running for someone.
Iida-san narrates saying he understood what Daisuke meant, but believing what he said would mean discarding all his own belief. The things he chased after. So he pretended not to understand. He said he didn't have the courage to take a new step forward.
The reporter narrates in the beginning saying "If I was asked do want to win? I believe they would all give the same answers. The important part is not winning. I just want to pass the school ribbon to the next runner. Only for that. What do you get for receiving the ribbon? How important is the burden? For that answer, I think only those who have competed in the relay race will understand. But it's like pushing yourself from looking at them from behind, rushing forward with all their might. The deeply moved viewers watches. They don't wonder why are they running with all their might? What do you gain from running like that? I learned the answer from a runner. Yes, it's that guy who made me understand. Beside everyone, there must be someone you can trust. Only that way can you become stronger."
Beginning words say "To Daisuke in Heaven, dedicated to the deceased Sato Daisuke who participated in the Hakone stationn relay competition."
The reporter Yohei is talking to his gf. He's suppose to show up to watch the relay race with his gf and her family and meet her family for the first time. But he's busy cuz he has to work. She's complaining she's not thinking of her situation and he says he is.
He narrates saying at the time he's working for a newspaper company, totally different from his (daisuke) world. He's busy from morning til night interviewing for news. He only got to know Daisuke later on.
Half a year later he got into trouble. He wanted to cover a big story and said he was getting proof. His superior was against it. He talks to his coworker in the cafeteria saying talking about attending a wedding. Yohei said doesn't trust anyone and the co-worker was saying his gf is nice and everyone thought he would get married next. He said he doesn't intend to get married. Co-worker says he should get married. They've been dating for 7 years, but he prefers to be free.
Back in the office, a co-worker gave him some papers he researched but Yohei threw it in the garbage. Later he calls up his gf saying he can't make it. Yohei gets into trouble next day because he was harrassing the politician's family (for information). He's been transferred to the sports department. He gets assigned to report on the relay race. His gf thinks its great but he doesn't think so. He thinks baseball or soccer would be better and goes on to degrade the relay race.
At the office, the guy tells him to choose one out of 3 universities to report on the runner's preparation for the race. He randomly picks one. The guy suggests Sato Daisuke in 4th yr representing his school running 4th district. Yohei goes off to look for him. The guy told him to take the camera man with him but he refuses saying he'll do it himself. He left the profile of Daisuke on the table.
He arrives on the track and introduces himself as a reporter to one of the teenagers and ask where Daisuke is. The kid says over there stretching. When he talks to the guy stretching, he finds out the guy who he first talked to was Daisuke. He remembers seeing him before at the race. Yohei tells Daisuke he was rude. Daisuke says he was the rude one. He should at least have researched on the runner's name and photo. Yohei walks off upset saying he's not going back.
Yohei is gambling at the horse race and bumps into Daisuke and a girl. He asks if Daisuke doesn't have to practise and Daisuke says he only practises in the morning on Saturdays. Most universities are like that. As a reporter he should know that. The girl introduces herself as a manager. The girl asks about him and he says he's not originally in the sports dept. He's a journalist. Daisuke says "so...you got demoted huh? You came to the races to relieve boredom?" LOL While sitting down Yohei is saying how Daisuke can't win the race alone. That's why they have several runners. Daisuke says he's ignorant. ^^; The relay race isn't for relying on others but to pass on to compete. Don't mistake it. Then Daisuke admires the horses' leg muscles.
Later Daisuke rushes off to school leaving the girl with Yohei. While Yohei and the girl are strolling, Yohei asks if that was considered a date, meeting at the races and she says yes they usually date at the races but sometimes she would ask him to go shopping with her. Yohei says that's typical date. They would eat after then. But she says Daisuke already ate. The hot dog. Daisuke has to control his food intake. Sometimes I eat and drink a lot infront of him. He's really poor. That's why we eat hotdog as our dinner. Yohei asks what she likes about him. She replies when he runs. He's really cool. I guarantee you, if you get to know Daisuke you will like him too.
At the track and field. Daisuke says he thought he wouldn't come back. Yohei said he thought he wouldn't come back either. Daisuke ask why he changed his mind. Yohei says cuz she's cute. just joking LOL Daisuke ask if iidasan (yohei) is married. Yohei said he was joking. Although he's not married he has a gf. Daisuke ask if he has a friend he can rely on. Yohei asks why he asks that. Daisuke says nothing. Just wanna ask. Yohei says I'm the one interviewing. Daisuke said many people says that one person can't achieve anything. At first I thought like you too about the relay race. My goal is the Olympics. Hakone is just a stepping stone, like a jumping board. That's how I felt. But at this year's competiton I couldn't receive the ribbon. Do you know what's called last minute ribbon? Yohei says yes. The previous runner who takes too much time running will be given one. Daisuke says that's it. There's no school name. Nothing is written on it. It's only a ribbon. I was at the 4th district start line waiting for the team to arrive. There wasn't any time left, that's why I was given the last minute ribbon. I couldn't believe it myself. I would feel so bad about it. Although I ran, I felt it was useless. He kept apologizing. His own record or pride, they weren't important. He was angry because he couldn't pass the ribbon directly to me. He said he was really sorry. It was then that I realized the important burden of receiving the ribbon. That is more important to me than winning gold at the Olympics. Now I feel proud to run in the Hakone race. Who knows what will happen tomorrow. Yohei asks him what he means. are you trying to comfort me? ^^; He says he's being pitied by a kid 10 yrs younger than him ^^; Daisuke said he's not. He suddenly just wanted to tell him. He said he wonders why. Maybe cuz they're a like, like when he was that time. ^^;
At the tracks, Yohei meets Daisuke's dad. He comes to visit with a watermelon and bags of stuff. Apparently they live nearby. Iida-san asks if Daisuke has been running since he's a kid. At lunch, they're playing with the ribbon/sash. The coach said they will write all the names of the runners on it so no matter who is running, the whole team would be able to participate.
Iida-san interviews various people regarding their views on the race but he still can't understand why people do it.
Time passes by until Hakone race begins again. Looking at the Billboard his coworker says he doesn't see Sato's name and Iida-san said maybe he's under 7th or 8th district.
Race starts and Daisuke's school ends up in #9 rank.
At dinner, the girl's mom brags about her daughter's husband covering the story for the race and things turn quiet. The daughter says he's not her husband and the dad says it's about time. She says he's just her bf and he's only temporarily working at the sports dept. He's going back to journalism soon and tells her family not to babble to the neighbours. (yohei is feeling uneasy cuz he isn't ready for marriage). The brother questions him what his intentions were for dating her sister. He says if it's to fool around he won't forgive him.
At the races, they're saying if he can get the passed ribbon, they can go to next year's Hakone race. While running, Yohei notices Daisuke keeps hitting his leg. Daisuke is slowing down. In order for them to get into Hakone's race next year he has to finish the race fast. Iida-san notices his running is not like normal but doesn't know what's wrong with him. Daisuke barely finishes his race and passes the ribbon to his team mate before he collapses.
At the celebration party, Daisuke crys and apologizes. His team mate says they got in, there's no need to apologize.
At the tracks, Daisuke apologizes for his previous behavior and Iida-san says he owes him one. He tells Daisuke he can show what his potential when he starts working. Daisuke comments he'll be graduating soon. Iida-san says next time he runs he won't be a student anymore but an occupational worker. Daisuke said he will remember all he's learned from Hakone race to other competitions like olympics. He mentions he read Iida-san's report and he was really moved. Iida-san said he didn't know what to write and didn't write it well. It was the first time. But after the few months of interviewing him, although he was still unclear but at least he now understands the burden of passing the ribbon. He said he doesn't know how to describe how he feels but it feels like he can't really breath. He still doesn't understand why Daisuke thinks passing the ribbon is more important than winning gold at the olympics. Nor what motivates him to run with so much strength. Daisuke tries to explain that passing on the ribbon is not relying on someone but supporting each other. The more supportive they are, the stronger they become. The burden of the ribbon is when you think you can't go on, it's the inner strength to make you surpass your normal abilities. Every runner has a log of their limits but it's when you pass the ribbon, you release your inner strength. There's a lot of people believing in me waiting for me. When you think like that, you already give up on the competition. It will just let you just run until you fall until you can't stand up. That's the so called feeling towards running for someone.
Iida-san narrates saying he understood what Daisuke meant, but believing what he said would mean discarding all his own belief. The things he chased after. So he pretended not to understand. He said he didn't have the courage to take a new step forward.