Igaiga, we'll be arriving in Kagoshima soon.
-I'm getting nervous. -Yeah.
What is it?
I was just remembering.
The first time I took this ferry to Hinoshima, your hometown.
Were you nervous?
Nervous? More like anxious, I’d say.
What a place.
Nothing but mountains and sea. I've sure traveled far.
When we first met, you were so startled that you fell down
When I first saw you, I thought you were a boy
That’s so mean
I was really looking forward to your arrival
Just like yourself, the people on this island are full of personality.
At first, your grandpa seemed scary. I didn't like him very much.
But Grandpa Gon was always looking out for you.
My tea is murky.
His eyes are a dull grey.
Ichiga Igarashi
Iga-Iga
Yes, over here
That’s me
By the way, it’s Kazuyoshi Igarashi
Oh, so you’re Igaiga.
Aunt Setsu was kind from the start, right?
She was. Come to think of it,
Aunt Setsu was the first person to call me Igaiga.
And the breakfast she made me was so good
Here you are.
I've brought the museum director.
Oh.
The director is technically my superior,
but I was so relieved by how approachable he was.
-What’s his name again? -It's Kento Hidaka, of course
-Oh, right. -Do you remember Bunpei's full name?
Bunpei... Bunpei... Tarou
Osamu Fumihira Don't forget
What did you think when you first met Yoko?
Her? Oh, well, I...
-Hi Yoko. -Keep driving, Bunpei
-Takuma, too. -I'll stop the bleeding.
Let’s play soccer
The police officer, the teacher, Wataru, and Yuma.
You got along with everyone right away.
-Even though you have a scary face -You were the fastest to fit in
Don't forget the island's wildlife
Those beautiful sunset-red feathers.
And goats were just walking around
And that insect
You got stung on the butt
It was so unbelievably itchy
The creatures on the island are amazing
Red fur, Tokara horses, goats, giant eels, Bunpei, and that insect
Wait. Did you include Bunpei in that list?
Bunpei?
But the most surprising thing
was the island's incredible golf course
What?
What the heck is this?
Amazing
They used the natural coastal terrain to create a full-on links course
The islanders built it for their own enjoyment
There's a headwind today.
I'm taking the shot
She grips the club like a baseball bat.
This really is just for fun.
She has an extreme open stance, facing directly towards the sea.
For a shot like this, you need to hit a low, strong draw.
But she uses a thin three iron for it.
For a girl, it's quite a long, stiff club.
I guess she's expecting a big slice.
Go
Like a swallow before the rain, slipping under the wind
What was that follow-through?
There it goes
I did it
I'd never seen a kid play like you did.
I thought you must be a monster
A monster? That's so mean
No, it's a compliment
-It means you left a big impression -Don't call me a monster
What was your first impression of me, Tonbo?
Well, you’ve got a scary face.
A really scary face.
Your face is really scary, Igaiga.
Okay, next topic.
At first, I didn't understand anything about you.
You refused to leave the island.
I’m staying.
I'm staying on this island forever
I’m not going anywhere
Look
This is the pride of the island.
It feels like time has stopped here.
I wonder which ones are my mom and dad?
They say people turn into stars when they die.
I understood the reason you learned to play golf with a three iron.
I remember you cried then.
It was just the starlight stinging my eyes.
-Is that so? -Of course
Sorry, I got carried away.
What will you do about high school?
There’s only a middle school on the island.
I’m not going to high school.
I’m staying on the island.
I tried all kinds of ways to show you a new world.
Yeah You gave me a wedge
It was my first club besides the three iron
The grip contained your father’s memories.
I bet you'd like to try it, right?
Yeah
Since you have the wedge,
I’ll teach you something that you can’t do with a three iron.
I wanna try too
Amazing.
Isn’t it beautiful?
It's like the sun is melting into the sea.
Putting a bench here was a great idea.
Playing golf with you and watching the sunset from that bench was wonderful.
Right?
It reminded me how fun golf can be, as obvious as it may be.
But you said something really harsh after that.
Tonbo, what you’re doing isn’t golf.
It's not golf?
I wanted to challenge you and your play style.
Challenge?
That's right And boy did you ever
Tsubura
-Yoko’s niece. -Tsubura Adaniya
Tsubura was completely different from anyone I had played golf with before.
She was so good that for the first time, I felt all jittery about playing.
Yes. She really gave you the challenge you needed.
A three-quarter shot with a driver?
I did it
Nice.
Tsubura only swings from here to here.
And you still send it
I always use a three-quarter swing.
That's how I'll become Japan's best.
Japan?
Yeah.
The coach told me that if I master the three-quarter shot,
I can be the best in Japan.
After that, I can learn a full shot when I aim to conquer the world.
Amazing.
She's Tonbo's age and already taking on the world.
I... I don't want to lose
Tsubura seemed half impressed and half astonished by your golf.
Maybe the one-legged stance was too much.
What was that?
I don't get it
She opened the club face
What are you going to do next, Tonbo?
Tsubura seemed truly shocked by the way you played.
She was holding her head.
I was just doing things like I always do.
Tsubura will be your rival someday.
I’m convinced of that.
I wonder what Tsubura thought?
Same as me.
She wanted you to keep playing golf.
That’s why she said some harsh things to you, too.
Yeah
Let’s keep going
What’s your dream, Tonbo?
Dream?
What do you want to become?
What are you aiming for?
I want to stay on the island.
Forever?
What will you do?
What do you mean?
You're just going to stay here?
Is that your dream, Tonbo?
That sounds kind of boring.
Your life will be empty.
This island has everything I need.
Flying fish and red-bearded deer
It’s not boring at all.
I’m fine here.
I’m going to live here for the rest of my life.
Are you sure you’re not just convincing yourself of that?
Maybe you’re just avoiding the fact that there’s a whole world out there?
There may be even more beautiful sights.
I was shocked at first when she said that,
but after that,
I learned about Tsubura's true passion for golf.
He's been driving the same old truck for years.
My father, that is.
It's all rusted.
And the bed is full of holes.
Letting your kid play golf can be expensive.
I'm going to get really good at golf.
I'm going to buy my dad a new truck.
And there's something I want you to have, Tonbo.
I was so surprised when she gave me that club.
I was convinced.
-That Tsubura would be your rival-- -You already said that.
Take care of it and use it all up.
This was the idea of the person who designed the course.
He figured it would create a six-hole course.
Didn’t everyone on the island design that course together?
They built it, yes.
But the design was done by Mr. Kuta alone.
Let’s go see him.
The person who designed the course.
Let’s go together, Tonbo.
Me too?
At first, I was really scared.
I promised to never leave the island, but you took me to Akureki Island.
Scarier than my face?
You're hesitating?
But you know,
I was surprised when you talked about yourself.
Yes.
I knew I had to tell you.
I used to be a professional golfer.
Used to be?
I lost golf, my family,
and most of all my pride as a pro.
But still, humans need to eat, you know.
It’s kind of funny.
I want you to learn more about golf, Tonbo.
I was surprised by your tears.
I’m sure it took a lot of courage for you to talk about that.
That's when I realized I had to be courageous, too.
Tonbo, you're...
We went to meet Mr. Kuta on Akureki Island.
He lived in such an incredible place.
The path to his front door was like an animal's trail
Is this really Mr. Kuta's house?
Looks like it.
St. Andrews at sunset.
Or maybe it was sunrise.
I've seen it countless times on TV, but this leaves a different impression.
Who's there?
I heard you built a small course on this island.
Is that true?
-Yes, I think so. -Please
Would you let Tonbo play there?
What a beautiful course
It’s totally different from Hinoshima
You had told me, Igaiga.
You said the course was... What was it?
"Supper difficult"
No Super difficult
"Supper" doesn't make any sense
Go Flying fish ball
Flying fish, turn
Climb, climb
I did it
Mr. Kuta's single-hole course was so much fun.
And supper difficult.
Super
You’re saying that on purpose
Alright
What did you think of the island?
Playing a new hole, and the fastest green you've ever seen
How was it?
It was fun.
It was so fun.
Taking you to Akureki Island was the right decision.
I truly believe so.
You know,
I think I finally understand all the things you’ve been telling me, Igaiga.
Oh? And what did I tell you?
Um...
Okay, let's move on then
Hey
Now I’ve got four clubs.
Igaiga, Tsubura.
Mr. Kuta, too And of course...
Mom and Dad.
I've made a big decision.
I’ve made my choice.
Next spring, I’m leaving the island.
Here's your diploma, Tonbo.
You grew so much from the end of summer to graduation.
Next thing I knew you were in uniform.
What’s wrong, Igaiga?
It was such a joy to watch you grow up.
They say you get more emotional as you get older.
You may have gotten bigger, but I don't like a kid like you telling me that
Stop making that scary face while crying
Don’t oversleep tomorrow.
Right.
On this last night, I didn't know what to say.
Even though there were so many things I wanted to talk about.
It was Grandpa Gon who always pushed me forward and supported me.
That’s right.
No one in the world cares about you more than Grandpa Gon.
You've all made me who I am today
Thank you
I’m off
I won’t forget you
I'm your grandpa and you're my granddaughter
-Grandpa Gon. -Anytime
You can come back anytime
If things get tough, come back to your old gramps
You can always return to this island
Grandpa Gon. Grandpa Gon
I’m off
Grandpa Gon
Take a good look, Tonbo.
That island is your hometown.
It’s where your story began.
It's a home you should be proud of.
Take a good look.
Tonbo, this is just the beginning.
Yeah.
It’s finally happening.
Look You can see Kagoshima
Wow, the lights are incredible
-How about we get some good food? -Yay
You can treat me to an all-you-can-eat meal
What? Wait just a minute, Tonbo.
Go
So those are the eyes of someone raised only looking at the horizon?
Here comes Tonbo.
On the next Oi Tonbo
Tonbo's Course Debut