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26 Aug 2010

Satoshi Kon's last words

filed under: journal  :: anime  :: japanese culture  :: modern life

Satoshi Kon, the director of anime movies Perfect Blue, Tokyo Godfathers, Millenium Actress and Paprika, as well as the TV series Paranoia Agent, died on Tuesday, August 24th, 2010 at the age of 46. (NY Times obituary.) He left behind a rambling but extraordinary document, which his family has posthumously posted on his blog.

They're the last words of a supremely talented artist who knows he is dying very soon, with work left unfinished. It's been the talk of the Japanese internet, and it struck me deeply.

There is no official translation into English of the text, so I have translated it in its entirety, trying to keep the spirit and tone of the original. It is indeed rather long and rambling - he wrote it like that. I'm sure he didn't sit down to outline it before he wrote it. It's not authorized in any way, and if I receive objections from interested parties or see a formal translation up somewhere I'll take this down. (Note: as of April 2012 this hasn't happened, so chances are this is the only English version you'll ever see.) In any case, these are the words of a dying artist, waiting for his flight to come and transport him away.

Soon after I posted this translation, it was linked to by many sites worldwide. Several people translated it into other languages; you can find a list of the versions I know of at the bottom.

Translation notes:

  • I've taken the liberty of translating the name of the film he was working on, Yume Miru Kikai, as Dreaming Machine, since it has no formal English title.
  • He often refers to himself in the third person, as Satoshi or Satoshi Kon. I've left those in there. Otherwise I inserted 'I' 'we' where appropriate. As you may know, Japanese people don't use pronouns much when talking about themselves.
  • Tanabata is an annual event in Japan called the "star festival", normally a day of joy. Tanabata on Wikipedia.
  • Madhouse is the name of the animation studio that produced Satoshi Kon's movies. Official site.
  • The last sentence, his farewell, in Japanese is お先に (o-saki ni). This is something people say when they are leaving a place before other people - if you're going home from the office while people are still working for instance, you might say o-saki ni shitsurei shimasu (excuse me for leaving before you). So, he is essentially saying to the reader, "I have to go now, I'm leaving this world before you."

Added: Further language and cultural notes.

Added: 100 movies chosen by The Dreaming Machine team, one of the last things he posted.

Added: If you do a translation into another language based on my English text, please let me know so I can link to you on this page. Links to versions in other languages are at the bottom of this page.

=====================================

Sayonara (Goodbye)

How could I forget, May 18th of this year.

I received the following pronouncement from a cardiovascular doctor at Musashino Red Cross Hospital.

"It's the latter stages of pancreatic cancer. It's metastasized to several bones. You have at the most half a year left to live."

My wife and I listened together. It was a fate so unexpected and untenable, that the two of us together could barely take it.

I used to honestly think that "I can't help it if I die any day." Still, it was so sudden.

To be sure, there were some signs. 2 to 3 months before that I'd had strong pains in several places on my back and in the joints of my legs; I'd lost strength in my right leg and found it hard to walk, and I'd been going to an acupuncturist and a chiropractor, but I wasn't getting any better. So after having been examined in an MRI and a PET-CT and such advanced machinery, came the sudden pronouncement of the time I had left.

It was as if death had positioned itself right behind me before I knew it, and there was nothing I could do.

After the pronouncement, my wife and I researched ways to prolong my life. It was literally a life or death situation. We received the support of staunch friends and strong allies. I rejected anti-cancer medication, and tried to live with a view of the world slightly different from the norm. The fact that I rejected what was "expected (normal)" seemed to me to be very much like me.

I've never really felt that I belonged with the majority. It was the same for medical care, as with anything else. "Why not try to keep living according to my own principles!" However, as is the case when I'm trying to create a work [a film], ones willpower alone didn't do the job. The illness kept progressing day by day.

On the other hand, as a member of society, I do accept at least half of what society in general holds to be right. I do pay taxes. I'm far from being an upstanding citizen, but I am a full member of Japanese society. So, aside from the things I needed to do to prolong my life from my own point of view, I also attempted to do all the things necessary to "be ready to die properly". I don't think I managed to do it properly though. (But) one of the things I did was, with the cooperation of 2 friends that I could trust, set up a company to take care of things like the measly number of copyrights that I hold. Another thing that I did was, to insure that my wife would take over any modest assets that I had smoothly by writing a will. Of course, I didn't think there would be any fighting over my legacy or anything, but I wanted to make sure that my wife, who would remain behind in this world, would have nothing to worry about - and besides, I wanted to remove any anxiety from myself, the one who was going to take a little hop over there, before I had to leave.

The paperwork and research necessary for these tasks, which neither my wife nor I were good at doing, were taken care of speedily by wonderful friends. Later on, when I developed pneumonia and was at death's door, and put my final signature on the will, I thought that if I died right then and there, it couldn't be helped.

"Ah...I can die at last."

After all, I'd been brought by ambulance to the Musashino Red Cross Hospital 2 days before that; then brought back again to the same hospital by ambulance the day after. Even I had to be hospitalized and undergo many examinations. The result of those examinations: pneumonia, water in my chest, and when I asked the doctor [straight out], the answer I received was very businesslike, and I was in a way grateful for that.

"You may last 1 or 2 days...even if you survive this, you probably have until the end of the month."

As I listened, I thought "It's like he's telling me the weather forecast", but still the situation was dire.

That was July the 7th. It was a rather brutal Tanabata for sure.

So, I decided right there and then.

I wanted to die at home.

I might inconvenience the people around me, but I asked them to see how I could escape and go back home. [I was able to do so] thanks to my wife's efforts, the hospital's cooperation despite their position of having given up on me, the tremendous help of other medical facilities, and the coincidences that were so numerous that they only seemed to be gifts from heaven. I've never seen so many coincidences and events falling into place so neatly in real life, I could barely believe it. This wasn't Tokyo Godfathers after all.

While my wife was running around getting things in place for my escape, I was pleading with doctors "If I can go home for even half a day, there are things I can still do!", then waiting alone in the depressing hospital room for death. I was lonely, but this was what I was thinking.

"Maybe dying won't be so bad."

I didn't have any reasons for it, and perhaps I needed to think like that, but I was surprisingly calm and relaxed.

However, there was just one thought that was gnawing away at me.

"I don't want to die here..."

As I thought that, something moved out from the calendar on the wall and started to spread around the room.

"Oh dear, a line marching out from the calendar. My hallucinations aren't at all original."

I had to smile at the fact at my professional instincts were working even at times like this, but in any case I was probably the nearest to the land of the dead that I'd ever been at that point. I really felt death very close to me. [But] with the help of many people, I miraculously escaped Musashino Red Cross and came back home, wrapped up in the land of the dead and bedsheets.

I should emphasize that I have no criticism of or hatred for Musashino Red Cross Hospital, so don't misconstrue me.

I just wanted to go home to my own house. The house where I live.

I was a little surprised that, when I was being carried into my living room, as a bonus, I experienced that deathbed experience everyone is familiar with of "looking down on your body being carried into the room from a place high above". I was looking down on myself and the scene around me from a position several meters above ground, through a wide-angle-ish lens and flash lighting. The square of the bed in the middle of the room seemed very large and prominent, and my sheet-wrapped body was being lowered into the middle of the square. None too gently it seemed, but I'm not complaining.

So, all I had to do was to wait for death in my own home.

However.

It seems that I was able to overcome the pneumonia.

Eh?

I did think like this, in a way.

"I didn't manage to die! (laugh)"

Afterwards, when I could think of nothing else but death, I thought that I did indeed die once then. In the back of my mind, the word "reborn" wavered several times.

Amazingly, after then my life-force was rejuvenated. From the bottom of my heart, I believe this is due to the people who helped me; first and foremost my wife, and my supportive friends, the doctors and nurses, and the care managers.

Now that my life-force had been restarted, I couldn't waste my time. I told myself that I'd been given an extra life, and that I had to spend it carefully. So I thought that I wanted to erase at least one of the irresponsibilities that I'd left behind in this world.

To be truthful, I'd only told the people closest to me about the cancer. I hadn't even told my parents. In particular, because of various work-related complications, I couldn't say anything (to people) even if I wanted to. I wanted to announce my cancer on the internet and report on my remaining life, but if Satoshi's death was scheduled, there might be some waves made, however small. For these reasons, I acted very irresponsibly towards some people I know. I am so sorry.

There were so many people that I wanted to see before I died, to say even one word of greeting to. Family and relatives, old friends and classmates from elementary and middle and high school, the mates I met in college, the people I met in the manga world, with whom I exchanged so much inspiration, the people in the anime world whose desks I sat next to, went drinking with, with whom I competed on on the same works, the mates with whom I shared good and bad times. The countless people I was able to know because of my position as a film director, the people who call themselves my fans not only in Japan but around the world, the friends I'd made via the web.

There are so many people that I want to see at least once (well there are some I don't want to see too), but if I see them I'm afraid that that the thought that "I can never see this person again" will take me over, and that I wouldn't be able to greet death gracefully. Even if I had recovered, I had very little life force left, and it took a lot of effort to see people. The more people wanted to see me, the harder it was for me to see them. What irony. In addition, my lower body was paralyzed due to the cancer spreading to my bones, and I was prone on my bed, and I didn't want people to see my emaciated body. I wanted most of the people I knew to remember me as the Satoshi that was full of life.

I'd like to use this space to apologize to my relatives, friends and acquaintances, for not telling you about my cancer, for my irresponsibility. Please understand that this was Satoshi's selfish desire. I mean, Satoshi Kon was "that kind of guy". When I envision your faces, I only have good memories and remember (your) great smiles. Everyone, thank you for all the truly great memories. I loved the world I lived in. Just the fact that I can think that makes me happy.

The many people that I met throughout my lifetime, whether they were positive or negative, have helped to shape the human being that is Satoshi Kon, and I am grateful for all of those encounters. Even if the end result is an early death in my mid 40s, I've accepted this as my own unique destiny. I've had so many positive things happen to me after all.

The thing I think about death now. "I can only say, it's too bad." Really.

However, even though I can let go of many of my irresponsible actions [by not telling people], I cannot help regretting two things. About my parents, and about Madhouse [founder] Maruyama-san.

Even though it was rather late, there was no choice but to come clean with the whole truth. I wanted to beg them for forgiveness.

As soon as I saw Maruyama-san's face when he came to see me at home, I couldn't stop the flow of tears or my feeling of shame. "I'm so sorry, for ending up like this..." Maruyama-san said nothing, and just shook his head and gripped both my hands. I was filled with thankfulness. Feelings of gratitude and joy, that I'd been lucky enough to work with this person, came over me like a landslide. It may be selfish, but I felt as though I had been forgiven in that instant.

My biggest regret is the film "Dreaming Machine". I'm worried not only about the film itself, but about the staff with whom I was able to work with on the film. After all, there's a strong possibility that the storyboards that were created with (our) blood, sweat and tears will never be seen. This is because Satoshi Kon put his arms around the original story, the script, the characters and the settings, the sketches, the music...every single image. Of course there are things that I shared with the animation director, the art director and other staff [members], but basically most of the work can only be understood by Satoshi Kon. It's easy to say that it was my fault for arranging things this way, but from my point of view I made every effort to share my vision with others. However, in my current state I can only feel deep remorse for my inadequacies in these areas. I am really sorry to all of the staff. However, I want them to understand, if only a little bit. Satoshi Kon was "that kind of guy", and, that's why he was able to make rather weird anime that was a bit different. I know this is a selfish excuse, but think of my cancer and please forgive me.

I haven't been idly waiting for death, even now I'm thinking with my weak brain of ways to let the work live even after I am gone. But they are all shallow ideas. When I told Maruyama-san about my concerns about "Dreaming Machine", he just said "Don't worry. We'll figure out something, so don't worry."

I wept.

I wept uncontrollably.

Even with my previous movies, I've been so irresponsible with the productions and the budgets, but I always had Maruyama-san figure it out for me in the end.

This time is no different. I really haven't changed.

I was able to talk to my heart's content with Maruyama-san. Thanks to this, I was able to feel, at least a little, that Satoshi Kon's talents and skills were of some value in our industry.

"I regret losing your talent. I wish that you were able to leave it for us."

If Madhouse's Maruyama-san says that, I can go to the netherworld with a little bit of self-pride after all. And of course, even without anyone else telling me this, I do feel regret that my weird visions and ability to draw things in minute detail will be lost, but that can't be helped. I am grateful from the bottom of my heart that Maruyama-san gave me the opportunity to show the world these things. Thank you, so very much. Satoshi Kon was happy as an animation director.

It was so heartbreaking to tell my parents.

I'd really intended to go up to Sapporo, where my parents live, while I was still able to, but my illness progressed so unexpectedly and annoyingly fast that I ended up calling them on the telephone from the hospital room as I was closest to death.

"I'm in the late stages of cancer and will die soon. I was so happy being born as a child to you, Father and Mother. Thank you."

They must have been devastated to hear this out of the blue, but I was certain I was going to die right then.

But then I came back home and survived the pneumonia. I made the big decision to see my parents. They wanted to see me too. But it was going to be so hard to see them, and I didn't have the will to. But I wanted to see my parents' faces one last time. I wanted to tell them how grateful I was that they brought me into this world.

I've been a happy person. Even though I must apologize to my wife, my parents and all the people that I love, that lived out my life a bit too faster than most.

My parents followed my selfish wishes, and came the next day from Sapporo to my house. I can never forget the first words out of my mother's mouth when she saw me lying there.

"I'm so sorry, for not bringing you into this world with a stronger body!"

I was completely speechless.

I could only spend a short time with my parents, but that was enough. I had felt that if I saw their faces, that it would be enough, and it really turned out that way.

Thank you, Father, Mother. I am so happy that I was born into this world as the child of the both of you. My heart is full of memories and gratitude. Happiness itself is important, but I am so grateful that you taught me to appreciate happiness. Thank you, so very much .

It's so disrespectful to to die before ones parents, but in the last 10 plus years, I've been able to do what I want as an anime director, achieve my goals, and get some good reviews. I do feel regret that my films didn't make a lot of money, but I think they got what they deserved. In these last 10 plus years in particular I've felt as though I've lived more intensively than other people, and I think that my parents understood what was in my heart.

Because of the visits by Maruyama-san and my parents, I feel as though I've taken a big burden off my shoulders.

Lastly, to my wife, about whom I worry the most, but who has been my support until the end.

Since that time-left pronouncement, we drowned ourselves in tears together so many times. Every day was brutal for both of us, physically and mentally. There are almost no words for it. But the reason why I was able to survive those difficult days was because of the words that you said to me right after we received the news.

"I'll be at your side [run with you] until the end."

True to those words, as though you were leaving my worries in the dust, you skillfully directed the demands and requests that came rushing towards us like a landslide, and quickly learned how to take care of your husband. I was so moved, watching you deal with things so efficiently.

"My wife is awesome."

No need to keep saying that now, you say? No no. You are even more awesome now than you ever were - I truly feel this. Even after I have died, I believe that you will send Satoshi Kon to the next world with grace. Ever since we got married, I was so wrapped up in "Work, work" that I was only able to spend some time at home after the cancer - such a shame.

But you stood close to me, you always understood that I needed to immerse myself in my work, that my talent was there. I was happy. Truly happy. During my life, and as I wait for death, I just can't express my gratitude to you enough. Thank you.

There are so many things, countless things, that I worry about, but everything needs an end. Lastly, to Doctor H who agreed to see me to the end in my home, even though it's something not done these days, and his wife and nurse, K-san, I would like to express my deepest gratitude. Medical care in a private home is very inconvenient, but you patiently dealt with the numerous aches and pains that cancer brings on, and endeavored to make my time until the final goal called death be as comfortable as possible. I can't say how much you helped me. And you didn't just deal with this difficult and arrogant patient as if it were just your jobs, but communicated with me as human beings. I cannot say how much of a support you were to me, and how much you saved me. I was encouraged by your qualities as human beings several times. I am deeply deeply grateful.

And, this is really the last thing, but from shortly after I received that pronouncement in mid-May until now, I've been lucky to have the cooperation, help and mental support, both personally and in business, from 2 friends. My friend T, who has been a friend since high school and is a member of KON'Stone Inc, and producer H, I thank you both from the bottom of my heart. Thank you so much. It's hard for me with my measly vocabulary to express my gratitude adequately to you both. My wife and I have both received so much from you.

If you two hadn't been there for us, I am sure that I'd be anticipating death while looking at my wife here as she sits by my side with considerably more trepidation and worry. I am really in your debt.

And, if I may ask you for one more thing - could you help my wife send me over to the other side after my death? I'd be able to get on that flight with my mind at rest if you could do that for me. I ask this from my heart.

So, to everyone who stuck with me through this long document, thank you. With my heart full of gratitude for everything good in the world, I'll put down my pen.

Now excuse me, I have to go.

Satoshi Kon

=======================


Other language versions, based on my English translation

This list may be out of date.


(After 300+ comments, comments are now closed. Thanks, everyone.)

Comments on this post:

Thank you so much for

Thank you so much for translating this. I wrote a piece to mark this great artist's untimely passing for the online section of The Guardian newspaper in the UK. I hope you don't mind that I placed a link to this page in the comments, I have heard from a lot of people that they have been reading it and getting something out of your translation of his inspirational final words. Well done and thanks again. Here's the link to my article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2010/aug/26/anime-satoshi-kon-ja...

Crying. So horribly sad right

Crying. So horribly sad right now. he will be missed.

Thank you kindly for

Thank you kindly for translating this.
Satoshi Kon's works have revolutionized the way I look at animation, have been igniting my brain, turning it in an explosion of ideas, with every watch, have allowed me to gaze into the most fascinating and puzzling aspects of the human mind. I am tremendously grateful to this man, and will always remember him dearly.

Thanks for the translation. I

Thanks for the translation.
I am so moved after reading this letter. Wahou, it's difficult to say he is gone. He was an artist, a creator for who I'll have respect and admiration forever.
Thank you M. Kon for all the think you' made, and all the emotions that you made us feel !
Farewell M. Kon, farewell...

Graceful last days given as a

Graceful last days given as a gift to all.

thank you for translating and

thank you for translating and posting this.

he was a great director, and it's very humbling reading his last words.

Some people do a lot in a

Some people do a lot in a short time, and his work passes to eternity...Some people live a lot, and do nothing, and nobody will remember it.

Rest in peace Satoshi.

A last brilliant work of

A last brilliant work of writing from a man who has inspired me for many years and become a small part of who I am now. My heart breaks for his wife, his staff, and for Satoshi himself. I pray that I live in a world where death is not as cruel of fate as it seems, and there is a bright existence where our souls find respite.

Makiko, without this I could not find closure to his passing, thank you so much.

De très grands films et

De très grands films et maintenant une grande leçon de vie. Merci Satoshi Kon.

Thank you for the

Thank you for the translation,;I cried while reading this, how could I not?

I'm so glad he was at some peace when he left, and got to be in his home, that's more than most get to have. Though the idea of leaving the world before you finished what you've set out to do is scary, I'm happy his friends assured him they'd find a way to complete what was left behind.

Please rest peacefully Satoshi Kon, feel everyone's love around the world for you and smile.

Thank you for posting this. A

Thank you for posting this. A brilliant man!

I was so sad when I've heart

I was so sad when I've heart that Satoshi-kun was gone, but still he left so much of his work as a legacy and never will be trully gone...

Thanks a lot for the full

Thanks a lot for the full translation Makiko.

Satoshi Kon's humanity shines

Satoshi Kon's humanity shines through every word of this piece, just as it did through all the work he did. He is irreplaceable.

Thank you so much for translating this - you can see from all these comments, and the many more no doubt to come, how this work has touched and inspired us.

Thank you so much for

Thank you so much for translating this, i cried through the whole thing but i'm glad i got to read it. Heres to a brilliant man.

Thanks for translate and post

Thanks for translate and post this, in first place. That's what Kon deserves.
I would like to ask permission for use your text as traslation base to do the portuguese version. I'll put all the credits and link for your site, of course, to those who wants to read the original version. Lots of brazillian anime fans would be interested in this document. I'll be writing a post to the site that is in the Homepage field of this comment, too.
Thanks and regards,

You did the author a great

You did the author a great service with your beautiful, balanced, thoughtful translation.

DGI

Thank you por letting us read

Thank you por letting us read this.

Thank you for giving us the

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to read this. I really am grateful.

Thank you so very much for

Thank you so very much for posting this. Satoshi Kon has been a big influence on my life, and if I ever get off my lazy butt to write something I would want to write it so he would approve of it lovingly. It's been days since the announcement of his death, and part of me still can't believe it. The universe has lost someone with the greatest and weirdest imagination ever, and I still cry whenever I think that. And a tremendous thank you to Satoshi Kon, from me, a long time fans of yours. God bless you and may you rest in peace.

Thank you very much. You

Thank you very much. You don't know how grateful I am that you translated this message. It's Kon's last gift, and you help convey it (to me, at least).

Thank you. The world has

Thank you.

The world has lost someone wonderful and special.

I'm not the most familiar

I'm not the most familiar with Kon, though I know his work. I expected to just read this as a curiosity and yet it was so moving that I have tears in my eyes. Thank you for translating this.

Makiko-san, I am very

Makiko-san, I am very grateful for your translation of this stunning document. Kon-sensei was a brilliant artist and filmmaker, to be sure; but this document reveals he was a very compassionate and humane person as well.

His art will live forever, so in that respect part of him remains with us. "Good-bye, Kon Satoshi! You've made the world a better place." Thank you, Makiko-san, for helping us more fully understand this great artist.

Hearts,blood,sweat and

Hearts,blood,sweat and tears...Things this man has gone through in his life will forever be engraved inside my soul.I just hope peace will guide his soul to serenity.Rest in peace. Your movies made a difference to people.

Thank you for translating his

Thank you for translating his last memoir
Chronicle of life shall resume is tears as it loses ,yet, one of its talents...

Thank you for the

Thank you for the translation.
Lucky of us who had Satoshi Kon talent in our lives.
Lucky of Satoshi Kon to been able to have a proper departure.
I will celebrate his life by rewatching his loved work.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I can't thank you enough for

I can't thank you enough for translating this. I've been very saddened to hear of his early death, especially as I have an uncle who was claimed by this horrible disease as well. This is a profoundly touching letter to the world and you've done a wonderful job translating it. Thank you so very much for your hard work.

Thank you so much for posting

Thank you so much for posting this. I would have not known Satoshi's last words if you have not graciously took the time to translate them.

Thank you again! Keep up the good work.

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