Jun. 1st, 2013 03:12 pm
Amachan: Week 8 Episode Guide (Part 1)
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
earth_colorsWeek 8: "My heart keeps on pounding, neh~" Part 1
"You have infinite possiblities."
Episode Summaries:
(Note: This is quite an awesome week with some really great episodes that, instead of summarizing, I decided to write down many of the dialogue lines.)
Ep. 43. Next morning, Chubee dresses up in a formal kimono to have his funeral picture taken. Aki suggests they all take a family picture later on.
Some of their friends gather at the house to say goodbye. Chubee comments on how few they are. Rokuro: "Can't be helped. We were up drinking late last night at your party." Tamako: "More like a few hours ago." Masamune gives his father-in-law a reversible fleece sweater. Natsu is in her workshop, not wanting to come out even if she is asked to take part in the family photo. Chubee says there's no point to have the photo if Natsu is not in it. "She's the patriarch of the Amano home," he says as he leaves. But Natsu changes her mind. "Take a picture quick." The family plus Masamune finally have their family photo taken. "Don't die, Ojii-chan," Aki says. They both brandish their misanga at each other.
It is December already and the Amano family has put up the Christmas tree at the house... At the train station, Yui waits for Taneichi. She sees him and says she wants to talk to him.
Yui: "What do you think of Aki?"
Taneichi: "Well, I think she's doing her best."
Yui: "I really hate those words! In short, you're not going to reward her, aren't you? You see how hard she's been working and yet all you can say is 'Do your best'? That's not rewarding at all! Why do you think she's been working hard to begin with?! Do you like her or not?!"
Taneichi: "I don't think it's any of your concern."
Yui: "It IS my concern! 'Cause we're JJ Girls. We're in the same lot... What're you looking at?" The last question is for Hiroshi who is nearby, watching them.
Hiroshi: "It should be 'Sharing one's lot with one another.'(1)"
Yui tells him to buzz off, and Hiroshi goes inside the shop. She continues.
Yui: "Aki likes you, Senpai. You pretend you don't notice and just tell her to 'do her best.' I think you're being cruel to her." She goes off to ride the train but Taneichi follows.
Yui: "What?!"
Taneichi: "I'm riding the train, too."
Yui: "I don't wanna ride with you. I'll catch the next ride."
Taneichi: "But this is the last train." Yui has no choice but to ride with him.
Meanwhile, Aki is still in school, taking a practice test for the qualification exam. She does badly, garnering only 3 correct answers. A grumpy Aki misses the last train so she waits for her dad to pick her up at Bar Rias. Hiroshi asks: "When is your exam?" Aki: "January." Takuma, the newcomer, is also there polishing amber along with Ben.
Takuma: "What exam?"
Haruko: "Diver's qualification exam... By the way, who are you?"
She gets introduced to Takuma. She has the same reaction as Yayoi...
Haruko: "Disciple? Suspicious~! Then, he's a fool. I mean is there something he could learn from Ben-san?"
Ben asks Takuma to hand over his business card. Haruko receives it and reads his name. She instantly thinks of a nickname for him.
Haruko: "MizuTaku." They laugh.
Sugawara: "Sounds like something being cooked in water (2)!"
Misuzu asks Takuma if he's single ("Yes") and if he has plans for Christmas. Haruko tells her to leave him alone. "Don't be so desperate."
Misuzu: "If I'm not desperate, I might starve to death."
Takuma: "I'm sorry. I only go out with older women." (Woah, smooth! lol)
He elicits some loud reactions from the rest ("You mean, she looks younger to you?") irritating Aki who is trying to study (she's already feeling frustrated over her low grade in the mock exam). "You're so noisy!" Takuma strikes up a conversation with her.
Takuma: "Say, if you're taking that exam, what would you want to be in the future?"
Aki: "I dunno... Since I'm diving in the sea every year, thought I'd take up the exam."
Takuma: "But aren't you very popular in the internet? And you went on TV, too, right? Amazing for someone who's kinda cute."
Misuzu, seeing Takuma chatting with Aki says jokingly: "Hey rascal, you don't like younger ones right?"
Takuma ignores him: "But you're still 17 aren't you? There are many worlds you haven't seen. You have infinite possibilities."
Aki: "What's with you?... I can't understand anything you're saying."
Sugawara (to Takuma): "Are you into pyramid selling or something?"
Alarmed, Hiroshi gets up and introduces himself as her 'manager,' and gives his card.
Hiroshi: "If you have any questions regarding Aki or Yui, you have to ask through me."
Takuma: "No I just... thought it's a shame since she's kinda cute..."
Haruko: "Hey, what do you mean she's kinda cute? Do you think parents are happy when someone says their child is 'kinda cute'? Parents think their child is extraordinarily cute!"
Ben tells Takuma to continue polishing the amber (in other words "to shut up"). Takuma obediently goes back to the stones. He gets up to throw one in the bin. Ben asks, "Why did you throw that?" Takuma: "Because there's an insect inside." "Jeh!" Ben quickly retrieves it. He is ecstatic to find an ant inside, knowing such a find is very valuable. "This is the first time I've found one in all my 40 years of work!". Just then, Masamune comes in to fetch Aki. Takuma asks who he is. Misuzu: "He's Aki's dad who's separated from Haruko."
The next day, Aki asks if her father will pick her up again at the Rias. Haruko tells her to ride the train instead because "me and your father will have a talk later." Masamune seems to dread what's about to come.
(1. "Ichiren takushoo" - common destiny; in the same boat)
(2. Mizutaki = fish or chicken cooked in unthickened broth)
Ep. 44. (This is one of my favorite episodes, sad and touching yet told in a clever, quirky way - one of the reasons why I adore this drama...) At Cafe Rias, Aki dreams that Taneichi has confessed to her and attempted to kiss her but as usual the dream turns into a nightmare with Isono-sensei screaming, "Amano, are you okay?!!" She wakes up and tells Yui about it.
Aki: "We were about to ki-ki...kiss!"
Yui (remembering what she told Taneichi): "That's enough! Wake up!"
Aki: "I am awake."
Yui: "Not that. Time is precious."
Aki: "I know! It's just a month before my exam!"
Yui: "Not that. That's also important. But also as the JJ Girls, I think right now is a crucial point for us."
Hibiki who is surfing the internet with his laptop joins in the conversation: "Actually, both your popularity has plateaued, an undeniable sign that people might be getting tired of you."
Yoshida: "Even though both are working hard..."
Hiroshi: "I wonder what caused it?"
Hibiki explains that Jimodoru* and Internet Idols have limitations. "They're no less interesting but once their 'name-recognition' rises, it will settle down, losing their value." He shows comments from some netizens: "It's already over for Miss Kitatetsu." "Aki of the Ama is seriously annoying." "Because she's gotten herself a boyfriend." "Hasn't she become conceited?" "Ugly."
Aki: "I'm not ugly! I don't have a boyfriend! Stop writing those things about me!" She goes over to Hibiki to strangle him.
Hibiki: "I didn't write them!"
Hiroshi: "Naturally, the more you have fans, the more haters you'll have as well."
Yoshida: "Next year will be KitaTetsu's 25th Anniversary. We need to come up with the next hit soon."
Meanwhile at the Amano home, Haruko and Masamune are discussing their divorce, with Daikichi as their mediator (or witness, not sure, lol):
Masamune: "Do you really want a divorce? But I still don't know why you don't like it anymore... What did I do wrong?"
Haruko: "You are a good man. It's me who needs to change. And in order to change, we must part ways. Have to face my mother and old friends and live anew. In order to do that, I must abandon my life in Tokyo."
Masamune: "I too can change, we can change together."
Haruko: "We can't. You know too much about me. You know the real me. So if we live together, I feel the real me is being watched. You know it, right?"
Masamune says he does. "I'm the only one in the world who knows the real you." Daikichi's eyes widen, feeling a sense of alienation and defeat. In his head, he's like: "How come this baby-faced bastard knows more about Haru-chan than me! Wait, wait, wait, he doesn't know Haru-chan's secrets that I know..." But he remembers the other day at the bar. "Oh, no, I already told this pig bastard everything!"
Masamune is about to press his seal on the document but asks if it can wait til Christmas Eve. "I want us to still be a family til then. Please, I'll leave early morning of the 25th." Haruko: "No." Masamune: "What about Santa?"
Cut to the scene at the bar:
Yui: "Aki-chan, are you serious?"
Aki: "Yes! I wrote a letter to Santa-san this year, and as long as I'm a good girl, I'll be getting my present."
Yoshida: "No matter how many letters you write, it's impossible."
Aki: "But when I believe, he always comes to my house. If I don't, then he won't, right?"
Hibiki: "I can't believe that unrealistic statement. Don't be acting so naive. Naturally ugly!" Aki again goes over to throttle him.
Yoshida (to Aki): "Snap out of it! There's no such thing as Santa!"
Aki: "Yes there is!"
Yoshida: "Then have you seen him?"
Aki: "Did too!"
Yoshida: "Then have you seen a kappa (water goblin)?"
Aki: "What? Kappas don't come out!"
Yoshida: "They do, too! Kappa, Tengu (forest goblin), UFOs too!"
Natsu: "I've seen an Umibozu (sea monster)!"
Aki: "Jeh! Seriously?"
Yoshida: "Keep out of this, Obaa-chan."
Hiroshi: "I've seen a spirit photo once."
Yui: "I've never seen anything~." (pouts)
Yoshida: "You don't have to feel bad about that, Yui-chan."
Aki: "What about sleep paralysis?"
Yoshida: "What is this... what happened to the thing we were talking about?"
On Christmas eve, (in an odd, dream-like scene, implicitly told through Aki's half-asleep perspective), "Santa-san" is at the Amano house. He gives Haruko his present. Natsu comes in and is startled to see him. "May I ask who you are?" Natsu asks but Haruko just laughs. "What're you saying..." She turns to him and says thank you. He goes up to Aki's room and puts his present in her stocking. Haruko, who followed him, is sitting outside the door, listening. He tries to leave but Aki in her half-asleep state grabs his scarf...
Aki: "You came this year. Glad you found me even when I moved to the countryside... Thank you."
Santa: (In awkward Japanese) "Your dad asked me to give you a message."
Aki: "What is it?"
Santa: "Your dad and mom have decided to divorce."
Aki: "Mm. It's okay...as long as they're happy."
Santa: "Well... Santa doesn't think so... indeed there are all sorts of happiness--" Aki looks like she has fallen asleep. "Aki-chan? Aki-chan?"
Aki (still sleepy): "I'm awake."
Santa: "Take care of your Mom. And be healthy. If you feel lonely or hurt, you can see me anytime. I'll be waiting."
The dreamy scene ends, and Masamune is praying at the altar. Daikichi asks Haruko why he has to leave in the middle of the night. Haruko says, "Never mind. It'll be a hassle if he changes his mind." Masamune thanks his ex-mother-in-law for everything but she says she has to get some more warm clothes since she's freezing. Daikichi shakes his hand and says, "You can entrust Haru-chan to me." Masamune: "Not really 'entrust' but please do watch over the three of them." Daikichi: "From now on, I'll call you Masa." Masamune: "Well, we won't be meeting anymore anyway." Daikichi: "I'll call you that, in my head."
...And then Masamune bids Haruko a tearful goodbye.
Masamune: "I'm sorry if I wasn't able to make you happy." (T.T)
Haruko: "I'm sorry if I'm such a selfish woman....Somehow I'm crying..."
Masamune: "Please be happy with Aki."
Right after he leaves, Aki wakes up, with her present in her hand, looking for Santa. "He just left on his sleigh." Aki asks her mother if she received her present. She says, "I sure did," hiding the signed divorce papers behind her back, while taking off her wedding ring.
"And with the dawn of the new year," Natsu the Narrator says, "comes the full-fledged winter of Kitasanriku."
(*Jimodoru = "Local idols" who are not well-known nationally but do work hard for their region)
Ep. 45. It is February 2009, and snow has begun to fall on Kitasanriku and will continue on til May. In school, Isono-sensei is announcing the results of those who passed the qualification exam. He calls on those who who failed ("The rest has passed!"). Aki is unaware since she is listening to the portable music player Santa-san had given her. "Huh? What about me?" "You passed, too." "Jejeh... I did it~!!" She runs off leaving Isono-sensei's class without permission. Isono: "Freedom much?" (lol) Aki goes to the pool area to find Taneichi. She is so excited to tell him the good news that she did not notice the deep pool. "Taneichi-senpai I just..." She falls in and disappears. ("Eh? Amano?...Amano?"). Later, dripping wet, she is at the equipment room, being congratulated by Isono and Taneichi. They say she's the first and only woman diver in Iwate who passed the exam in 8 years. "You should be happy!" Aki reminds Taneichi about the deal last December. "Do you remember?" Taneichi does remember. But he also remembers what Yui had told him about not being straightforward to Aki ("I think you're being cruel to her!").
Taneichi: "I remember that there was Ghostbusters, too" (the song that was playing in the background back then).
Aki: "Well, about that... I'm free today."
Taneichi: "Today?"
Aki: "It's for that reason that I worked hard..."
Taneichi, probably feeling guilty says, "It's not something you can just work hard for!"
Aki: "Eh?
Isono (overhearing): "Eh? What's the matter, Taneichi."
Taneichi: "Sorry, maybe next time."
He walks away, leaving behind a soaked and confused Aki.
Meanwhile at the bar, Daikichi is having a crisis of his own. Congressman Adachi Isao has told him that the current Mayor, an advocate of motorization, is pushing through with the closing down of the KitaTetsu. They tell Yoshida and Haruko about it. It seems it's the reason why the Mayor got elected but it's not yet decided, and it's still a proposal included in his agenda. Daikichi: "But what about the elderly who have to go the hospital... the students who go to school?" Isao says, "They can take the bus." Hearing the word 'bus,' Yoshida and Daikichi suddenly feel dizzy. "Bu-Bu-Bus bus bus bus bus"... Isao: "I know it is hard. I want to do something especially that the 25th anniversary is coming up. But we must have a good defense against the Mayor's proposal." Daikichi remembers he heard an idea thought out by two old men in the shop the other day. "What was that again?" Apparently, the two old men were Ben and Isao himself, polishing amber together...
At that time, Daikichi was telling them about coming up with a lively event for the railway.
Isao: "Nice. I like that sort of thing."
Haruko: "Don't encourage him."
Isao: "But it's winter now, with the snow scene. It's no fun..."
Ben: "The KitaTetsu running in the snow is quite good, right?"
Isao: "Oh, right. What about a zashiki* parlor train? Have a train car renovated to include a 'horigotatsu**', and have it run back and forth while a banquet is going on.",
"That's it! A zashiki parlor train!" Daikichi remembers now. Isao: "Wasn't that old man, me?" Yoshida says that idea will cost a lot of money. Daikichi: "We'll call on Yui-chan and Aki-chan to get the customers. It's not all the time we can come up with a good money-making idea for KitaTetsu! Come on!" They whisk the congressman away to the Tourism Office for an emergency meeting.
The two girls and Adachi Isao are at the Office, along with Ikeda the Director, filming the meeting. Regarding the zashiki parlor train concept, Hiroshi proposes, a two hour round trip train ride between Hatano and Kitasanriku, with an all-you-can-drink banquet. The cost is 10,000 yen per person. His father says it's too expensive. Hiroshi: "It will help cover for the renovations and the food and drinks..." Isao: "It should be 5,000 yen." Hiroshi: "Well, then it won't earn." Isao: "Be quiet. I'm the originator of this idea." Meanwhile, Aki is confused about the concept...
Shiori: "It's going to be a running zashiki parlor train to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Kitasanriku Railways."
Aki: "A running zashiki room?"
Shiori: "No. It's a renovated tatami-matted train car."
Aki: "Is there someone going to live in the train?"
Shiori: "Huh? Think calmly, Aki-chan. That's not it."
Yui: "It's a zashiki-warashi***. A running zashiki-warashi, right?"
Aki to Shiori. "Is that the one?"
Shiori (to the others): "My explanation wasn't that hard, was it?"
The girls are told they are planning a fan gathering in March inside the parlor train. "We want your absolute cooperation on this." Ikeda says they're going to record the preparation stage of the project. Yui asks the part on "tatami room" be cut out. Daikichi mentions that since they are high school girls, alcohol will not be served. Isao: "So boring!"
Hiroshi: "Instead, the guests will have a meal, and you two 2 girls will..."
Yui and Aki (strike their pose): "We are the JJ Girls!"
Hiroshi: "We'll be grateful for the support from the JJ Girls..."
Yui (to Aki): "Is 'JJ Girls' lame?"
Aki: "Why you think that?"
Yui: "Because when Onii-chan said it out loud, it sounds really lame."
Aki: "What about 'Uni Musume'?" (Sea Urchin Daughter)
Yui: "Nice. Then, it's UniMus for short--"
Hiroshi: "Fine, whatever!"
Yui (to Hiroshi): "Why, did I tick you off?"
Hiroshi: "No you didn't tick me off." (quoting a gag by a certain comedian)
Yui: "Sure I did!"
Isao: "Stop it! Please do that sort of thing back home."
Hiroshi (to Yui): "Just because you became a little popular, you can use that tone on me. Ugly!"
Yui: "What?! You're horrible! A manager calling his talent ugly?! I won't forgive you!"
Isao: "Knock it off! You guys are brother and sister!"
Yui: "Sorry."
Hiroshi (mockingly): "I'm sorryyy~"
Yui: "That's NOT AN APOLOGY AT ALL!"
Isao: "Told you to stop it!"
Meanwhile, Daikichi is emotional, saying he's so happy that everyone is helping to prevent the railway line from being scrapped. "The future of my people lies on this parlor train!" Yui (muttering): "Heavy..." Daikichi (to the girls): "So we'll be grateful if you could sing one song..." Aki and Yui: "Eh?"
"Sing?... Aki?" Haruko hears of the idea at the shop. Daikichi: "It would be a blast if the two could sing a song at the end." Yoshida: "Anything will do," and proceeds to sing to the tune of Morning Musume's Love Machine... ♬ ~Kitasanriku Railway is... Wow, wow, wow---♬ Yui: "I really hate that kind of thing!" Yoshida (to Hiroshi): "Does she hate me?" Hiroshi: "Who knows. She's always like that at home." Yui: "You're so annoying over there..." Yoshida: "She really does hate me."
Daikichi (back to Haruko): "Nice idea, isn't it?" Haruko says it is up to Aki "but you have to keep your promise... that no matter how many tourists come to see them, you'll be putting a stop to all her promotional activities by March." Daikichi hesitatingly says "Okay... The parlor train will be Aki's graduation and that..." Aki suddenly interrupts, rather annoyed. "Hey!! I just passed the Diver's Exam. No one has congratulated me yet!" Hiroshi: "Congratulations." Aki: "Too slow!" Hiroshi: "Sorry." They ask if no one greeted her. Aki: "No one!" Haruko: "Not even Taneichi-kun?" Aki's frown suddenly disappears and she giggles silly, "He did greet me!" Hiroshi suddenly looked gloomy.
Aki brings back the topic of the song. She has a copy of "Shiosai no Memory in her music player. Haruko: "You have it?" Aki: "I downloaded it from Yui's computer." Yui: "I got it from the internet. It was the theme song of a movie, wasn't it?" Daikichi: "Yeah. I was 20 around that time, already working at the train. Huh? Who was the lead actress?" Haruko: "Suzuka Hiromi?" Hiroshi: "Oh, that!" Daikichi: "Wasn't it a movie about an Ama-san?" Hiroshi: "Who was the singer?" Haruko: "Suzuka Hiromi!" Hiroshi: "Oh, that !" The "that" in question is Suzuka Hiromi, a respected and talented star that made her debut around a quarter of a century ago as a pure and innocent actress. "Shiosai no Memory" was her first single. Aki asks if there is a DVD copy of the movie but Haruko tells her there's none. "By the way, if that is the song you'll be singing, it will not be an easy one. Besides, I haven't heard you sing since your elementary school play, I didn't even hear most of it since you hardly opened your mouth." Yoshida: "Oh, no. Guess we hadn't thought about that part..." Aki: "I will sing!" Aki goes on the karaoke stage and starts singing the song. Her voice is, um, well... let's just say she rendered the audience speechless - and not in a good way.
(*Zashiki = a lounging room with tatami matted floor)
(**Horigotatsu = low, covered table placed over a hole in the floor of a Japanese-style room)
(***Zashiki-warashi = a house-dwelling spirit in the form of a little girl)
Next: Week 8 (Part 2)
Previous: Week 7
Episode Index: Link
Character Guide: Link
"You have infinite possiblities."
Episode Summaries:
(Note: This is quite an awesome week with some really great episodes that, instead of summarizing, I decided to write down many of the dialogue lines.)
Ep. 43. Next morning, Chubee dresses up in a formal kimono to have his funeral picture taken. Aki suggests they all take a family picture later on.
Some of their friends gather at the house to say goodbye. Chubee comments on how few they are. Rokuro: "Can't be helped. We were up drinking late last night at your party." Tamako: "More like a few hours ago." Masamune gives his father-in-law a reversible fleece sweater. Natsu is in her workshop, not wanting to come out even if she is asked to take part in the family photo. Chubee says there's no point to have the photo if Natsu is not in it. "She's the patriarch of the Amano home," he says as he leaves. But Natsu changes her mind. "Take a picture quick." The family plus Masamune finally have their family photo taken. "Don't die, Ojii-chan," Aki says. They both brandish their misanga at each other. It is December already and the Amano family has put up the Christmas tree at the house... At the train station, Yui waits for Taneichi. She sees him and says she wants to talk to him.
Yui: "What do you think of Aki?"
Taneichi: "Well, I think she's doing her best."
Yui: "I really hate those words! In short, you're not going to reward her, aren't you? You see how hard she's been working and yet all you can say is 'Do your best'? That's not rewarding at all! Why do you think she's been working hard to begin with?! Do you like her or not?!"
Taneichi: "I don't think it's any of your concern."
Yui: "It IS my concern! 'Cause we're JJ Girls. We're in the same lot... What're you looking at?" The last question is for Hiroshi who is nearby, watching them.
Hiroshi: "It should be 'Sharing one's lot with one another.'(1)"
Yui tells him to buzz off, and Hiroshi goes inside the shop. She continues.
Yui: "Aki likes you, Senpai. You pretend you don't notice and just tell her to 'do her best.' I think you're being cruel to her." She goes off to ride the train but Taneichi follows.
Yui: "What?!"
Taneichi: "I'm riding the train, too."
Yui: "I don't wanna ride with you. I'll catch the next ride."
Taneichi: "But this is the last train." Yui has no choice but to ride with him.
Meanwhile, Aki is still in school, taking a practice test for the qualification exam. She does badly, garnering only 3 correct answers.
A grumpy Aki misses the last train so she waits for her dad to pick her up at Bar Rias. Hiroshi asks: "When is your exam?" Aki: "January." Takuma, the newcomer, is also there polishing amber along with Ben.Takuma: "What exam?"
Haruko: "Diver's qualification exam... By the way, who are you?"
She gets introduced to Takuma. She has the same reaction as Yayoi...
Haruko: "Disciple? Suspicious~! Then, he's a fool. I mean is there something he could learn from Ben-san?"
Ben asks Takuma to hand over his business card. Haruko receives it and reads his name. She instantly thinks of a nickname for him.
Haruko: "MizuTaku." They laugh.
Sugawara: "Sounds like something being cooked in water (2)!"
Misuzu asks Takuma if he's single ("Yes") and if he has plans for Christmas. Haruko tells her to leave him alone. "Don't be so desperate."
Misuzu: "If I'm not desperate, I might starve to death."
Takuma: "I'm sorry. I only go out with older women." (Woah, smooth! lol)
He elicits some loud reactions from the rest ("You mean, she looks younger to you?") irritating Aki who is trying to study (she's already feeling frustrated over her low grade in the mock exam). "You're so noisy!" Takuma strikes up a conversation with her.
Takuma: "Say, if you're taking that exam, what would you want to be in the future?"
Aki: "I dunno... Since I'm diving in the sea every year, thought I'd take up the exam."
Takuma: "But aren't you very popular in the internet? And you went on TV, too, right? Amazing for someone who's kinda cute."
Misuzu, seeing Takuma chatting with Aki says jokingly: "Hey rascal, you don't like younger ones right?"
Takuma ignores him: "But you're still 17 aren't you? There are many worlds you haven't seen. You have infinite possibilities."
Aki: "What's with you?... I can't understand anything you're saying."
Sugawara (to Takuma): "Are you into pyramid selling or something?"
Alarmed, Hiroshi gets up and introduces himself as her 'manager,' and gives his card.
Hiroshi: "If you have any questions regarding Aki or Yui, you have to ask through me."
Takuma: "No I just... thought it's a shame since she's kinda cute..."
Haruko: "Hey, what do you mean she's kinda cute? Do you think parents are happy when someone says their child is 'kinda cute'? Parents think their child is extraordinarily cute!"
Ben tells Takuma to continue polishing the amber (in other words "to shut up"). Takuma obediently goes back to the stones. He gets up to throw one in the bin. Ben asks, "Why did you throw that?" Takuma: "Because there's an insect inside." "Jeh!" Ben quickly retrieves it. He is ecstatic to find an ant inside, knowing such a find is very valuable. "This is the first time I've found one in all my 40 years of work!". Just then, Masamune comes in to fetch Aki. Takuma asks who he is. Misuzu: "He's Aki's dad who's separated from Haruko."
The next day, Aki asks if her father will pick her up again at the Rias. Haruko tells her to ride the train instead because "me and your father will have a talk later." Masamune seems to dread what's about to come.
(1. "Ichiren takushoo" - common destiny; in the same boat)
(2. Mizutaki = fish or chicken cooked in unthickened broth)
Ep. 44. (This is one of my favorite episodes, sad and touching yet told in a clever, quirky way - one of the reasons why I adore this drama...) At Cafe Rias, Aki dreams that Taneichi has confessed to her and attempted to kiss her but as usual the dream turns into a nightmare with Isono-sensei screaming, "Amano, are you okay?!!" She wakes up and tells Yui about it.
Aki: "We were about to ki-ki...kiss!"
Yui (remembering what she told Taneichi): "That's enough! Wake up!"
Aki: "I am awake."
Yui: "Not that. Time is precious."
Aki: "I know! It's just a month before my exam!"
Yui: "Not that. That's also important. But also as the JJ Girls, I think right now is a crucial point for us."
Hibiki who is surfing the internet with his laptop joins in the conversation: "Actually, both your popularity has plateaued, an undeniable sign that people might be getting tired of you."
Yoshida: "Even though both are working hard..."
Hiroshi: "I wonder what caused it?"
Hibiki explains that Jimodoru* and Internet Idols have limitations. "They're no less interesting but once their 'name-recognition' rises, it will settle down, losing their value." He shows comments from some netizens: "It's already over for Miss Kitatetsu." "Aki of the Ama is seriously annoying." "Because she's gotten herself a boyfriend." "Hasn't she become conceited?" "Ugly."
Aki: "I'm not ugly! I don't have a boyfriend! Stop writing those things about me!" She goes over to Hibiki to strangle him.
Hibiki: "I didn't write them!"
Hiroshi: "Naturally, the more you have fans, the more haters you'll have as well."
Yoshida: "Next year will be KitaTetsu's 25th Anniversary. We need to come up with the next hit soon."
Meanwhile at the Amano home, Haruko and Masamune are discussing their divorce, with Daikichi as their mediator (or witness, not sure, lol):
Masamune: "Do you really want a divorce? But I still don't know why you don't like it anymore... What did I do wrong?"
Haruko: "You are a good man. It's me who needs to change. And in order to change, we must part ways. Have to face my mother and old friends and live anew. In order to do that, I must abandon my life in Tokyo."
Masamune: "I too can change, we can change together."
Haruko: "We can't. You know too much about me. You know the real me. So if we live together, I feel the real me is being watched. You know it, right?"
Masamune says he does. "I'm the only one in the world who knows the real you." Daikichi's eyes widen, feeling a sense of alienation and defeat. In his head, he's like: "How come this baby-faced bastard knows more about Haru-chan than me! Wait, wait, wait, he doesn't know Haru-chan's secrets that I know..." But he remembers the other day at the bar. "Oh, no, I already told this pig bastard everything!"
Masamune is about to press his seal on the document but asks if it can wait til Christmas Eve. "I want us to still be a family til then. Please, I'll leave early morning of the 25th." Haruko: "No." Masamune: "What about Santa?"
Cut to the scene at the bar:
Yui: "Aki-chan, are you serious?"
Aki: "Yes! I wrote a letter to Santa-san this year, and as long as I'm a good girl, I'll be getting my present."
Yoshida: "No matter how many letters you write, it's impossible."
Aki: "But when I believe, he always comes to my house. If I don't, then he won't, right?"
Hibiki: "I can't believe that unrealistic statement. Don't be acting so naive. Naturally ugly!" Aki again goes over to throttle him.
Yoshida (to Aki): "Snap out of it! There's no such thing as Santa!"
Aki: "Yes there is!"
Yoshida: "Then have you seen him?"
Aki: "Did too!"
Yoshida: "Then have you seen a kappa (water goblin)?"
Aki: "What? Kappas don't come out!"
Yoshida: "They do, too! Kappa, Tengu (forest goblin), UFOs too!"
Natsu: "I've seen an Umibozu (sea monster)!"
Aki: "Jeh! Seriously?"
Yoshida: "Keep out of this, Obaa-chan."
Hiroshi: "I've seen a spirit photo once."
Yui: "I've never seen anything~." (pouts)
Yoshida: "You don't have to feel bad about that, Yui-chan."
Aki: "What about sleep paralysis?"
Yoshida: "What is this... what happened to the thing we were talking about?"
On Christmas eve, (in an odd, dream-like scene, implicitly told through Aki's half-asleep perspective), "Santa-san" is at the Amano house. He gives Haruko his present. Natsu comes in and is startled to see him. "May I ask who you are?" Natsu asks but Haruko just laughs. "What're you saying..." She turns to him and says thank you. He goes up to Aki's room and puts his present in her stocking. Haruko, who followed him, is sitting outside the door, listening. He tries to leave but Aki in her half-asleep state grabs his scarf...
Aki: "You came this year. Glad you found me even when I moved to the countryside... Thank you."
Santa: (In awkward Japanese) "Your dad asked me to give you a message."
Aki: "What is it?"
Santa: "Your dad and mom have decided to divorce."
Aki: "Mm. It's okay...as long as they're happy."
Santa: "Well... Santa doesn't think so... indeed there are all sorts of happiness--" Aki looks like she has fallen asleep. "Aki-chan? Aki-chan?"
Aki (still sleepy): "I'm awake."
Santa: "Take care of your Mom. And be healthy. If you feel lonely or hurt, you can see me anytime. I'll be waiting."
The dreamy scene ends, and Masamune is praying at the altar. Daikichi asks Haruko why he has to leave in the middle of the night. Haruko says, "Never mind. It'll be a hassle if he changes his mind." Masamune thanks his ex-mother-in-law for everything but she says she has to get some more warm clothes since she's freezing. Daikichi shakes his hand and says, "You can entrust Haru-chan to me." Masamune: "Not really 'entrust' but please do watch over the three of them." Daikichi: "From now on, I'll call you Masa." Masamune: "Well, we won't be meeting anymore anyway." Daikichi: "I'll call you that, in my head."
...And then Masamune bids Haruko a tearful goodbye.
Masamune: "I'm sorry if I wasn't able to make you happy." (T.T)
Haruko: "I'm sorry if I'm such a selfish woman....Somehow I'm crying..."
Masamune: "Please be happy with Aki."
Right after he leaves, Aki wakes up, with her present in her hand, looking for Santa. "He just left on his sleigh." Aki asks her mother if she received her present. She says, "I sure did," hiding the signed divorce papers behind her back, while taking off her wedding ring.
"And with the dawn of the new year," Natsu the Narrator says, "comes the full-fledged winter of Kitasanriku."
(*Jimodoru = "Local idols" who are not well-known nationally but do work hard for their region)
Ep. 45. It is February 2009, and snow has begun to fall on Kitasanriku and will continue on til May. In school, Isono-sensei is announcing the results of those who passed the qualification exam. He calls on those who who failed ("The rest has passed!"). Aki is unaware since she is listening to the portable music player Santa-san had given her. "Huh? What about me?" "You passed, too." "Jejeh... I did it~!!" She runs off leaving Isono-sensei's class without permission. Isono: "Freedom much?" (lol)
Aki goes to the pool area to find Taneichi. She is so excited to tell him the good news that she did not notice the deep pool. "Taneichi-senpai I just..." She falls in and disappears. ("Eh? Amano?...Amano?"). Later, dripping wet, she is at the equipment room, being congratulated by Isono and Taneichi. They say she's the first and only woman diver in Iwate who passed the exam in 8 years. "You should be happy!" Aki reminds Taneichi about the deal last December. "Do you remember?" Taneichi does remember. But he also remembers what Yui had told him about not being straightforward to Aki ("I think you're being cruel to her!"). Taneichi: "I remember that there was Ghostbusters, too" (the song that was playing in the background back then).
Aki: "Well, about that... I'm free today."
Taneichi: "Today?"
Aki: "It's for that reason that I worked hard..."
Taneichi, probably feeling guilty says, "It's not something you can just work hard for!"
Aki: "Eh?
Isono (overhearing): "Eh? What's the matter, Taneichi."
Taneichi: "Sorry, maybe next time."
He walks away, leaving behind a soaked and confused Aki.
Meanwhile at the bar, Daikichi is having a crisis of his own. Congressman Adachi Isao has told him that the current Mayor, an advocate of motorization, is pushing through with the closing down of the KitaTetsu. They tell Yoshida and Haruko about it. It seems it's the reason why the Mayor got elected but it's not yet decided, and it's still a proposal included in his agenda. Daikichi: "But what about the elderly who have to go the hospital... the students who go to school?" Isao says, "They can take the bus." Hearing the word 'bus,' Yoshida and Daikichi suddenly feel dizzy. "Bu-Bu-Bus bus bus bus bus"... Isao: "I know it is hard. I want to do something especially that the 25th anniversary is coming up. But we must have a good defense against the Mayor's proposal." Daikichi remembers he heard an idea thought out by two old men in the shop the other day. "What was that again?" Apparently, the two old men were Ben and Isao himself, polishing amber together...
At that time, Daikichi was telling them about coming up with a lively event for the railway.
Isao: "Nice. I like that sort of thing."
Haruko: "Don't encourage him."
Isao: "But it's winter now, with the snow scene. It's no fun..."
Ben: "The KitaTetsu running in the snow is quite good, right?"
Isao: "Oh, right. What about a zashiki* parlor train? Have a train car renovated to include a 'horigotatsu**', and have it run back and forth while a banquet is going on.",
"That's it! A zashiki parlor train!" Daikichi remembers now. Isao: "Wasn't that old man, me?" Yoshida says that idea will cost a lot of money. Daikichi: "We'll call on Yui-chan and Aki-chan to get the customers. It's not all the time we can come up with a good money-making idea for KitaTetsu! Come on!" They whisk the congressman away to the Tourism Office for an emergency meeting.
The two girls and Adachi Isao are at the Office, along with Ikeda the Director, filming the meeting. Regarding the zashiki parlor train concept, Hiroshi proposes, a two hour round trip train ride between Hatano and Kitasanriku, with an all-you-can-drink banquet. The cost is 10,000 yen per person. His father says it's too expensive. Hiroshi: "It will help cover for the renovations and the food and drinks..." Isao: "It should be 5,000 yen." Hiroshi: "Well, then it won't earn." Isao: "Be quiet. I'm the originator of this idea." Meanwhile, Aki is confused about the concept...
Shiori: "It's going to be a running zashiki parlor train to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Kitasanriku Railways."
Aki: "A running zashiki room?"
Shiori: "No. It's a renovated tatami-matted train car."
Aki: "Is there someone going to live in the train?"
Shiori: "Huh? Think calmly, Aki-chan. That's not it."
Yui: "It's a zashiki-warashi***. A running zashiki-warashi, right?"
Aki to Shiori. "Is that the one?"
Shiori (to the others): "My explanation wasn't that hard, was it?"
The girls are told they are planning a fan gathering in March inside the parlor train. "We want your absolute cooperation on this." Ikeda says they're going to record the preparation stage of the project. Yui asks the part on "tatami room" be cut out. Daikichi mentions that since they are high school girls, alcohol will not be served. Isao: "So boring!"
Hiroshi: "Instead, the guests will have a meal, and you two 2 girls will..."
Yui and Aki (strike their pose): "We are the JJ Girls!"
Hiroshi: "We'll be grateful for the support from the JJ Girls..."
Yui (to Aki): "Is 'JJ Girls' lame?"
Aki: "Why you think that?"
Yui: "Because when Onii-chan said it out loud, it sounds really lame."
Aki: "What about 'Uni Musume'?" (Sea Urchin Daughter)
Yui: "Nice. Then, it's UniMus for short--"
Hiroshi: "Fine, whatever!"
Yui (to Hiroshi): "Why, did I tick you off?"
Hiroshi: "No you didn't tick me off." (quoting a gag by a certain comedian)
Yui: "Sure I did!"
Isao: "Stop it! Please do that sort of thing back home."
Hiroshi (to Yui): "Just because you became a little popular, you can use that tone on me. Ugly!"
Yui: "What?! You're horrible! A manager calling his talent ugly?! I won't forgive you!"
Isao: "Knock it off! You guys are brother and sister!"
Yui: "Sorry."
Hiroshi (mockingly): "I'm sorryyy~"
Yui: "That's NOT AN APOLOGY AT ALL!"
Isao: "Told you to stop it!"
Meanwhile, Daikichi is emotional, saying he's so happy that everyone is helping to prevent the railway line from being scrapped. "The future of my people lies on this parlor train!" Yui (muttering): "Heavy..." Daikichi (to the girls): "So we'll be grateful if you could sing one song..." Aki and Yui: "Eh?"
"Sing?... Aki?" Haruko hears of the idea at the shop. Daikichi: "It would be a blast if the two could sing a song at the end." Yoshida: "Anything will do," and proceeds to sing to the tune of Morning Musume's Love Machine... ♬ ~Kitasanriku Railway is... Wow, wow, wow---♬ Yui: "I really hate that kind of thing!" Yoshida (to Hiroshi): "Does she hate me?" Hiroshi: "Who knows. She's always like that at home." Yui: "You're so annoying over there..." Yoshida: "She really does hate me."
Daikichi (back to Haruko): "Nice idea, isn't it?" Haruko says it is up to Aki "but you have to keep your promise... that no matter how many tourists come to see them, you'll be putting a stop to all her promotional activities by March." Daikichi hesitatingly says "Okay... The parlor train will be Aki's graduation and that..." Aki suddenly interrupts, rather annoyed. "Hey!! I just passed the Diver's Exam. No one has congratulated me yet!" Hiroshi: "Congratulations." Aki: "Too slow!" Hiroshi: "Sorry." They ask if no one greeted her. Aki: "No one!" Haruko: "Not even Taneichi-kun?" Aki's frown suddenly disappears and she giggles silly, "He did greet me!" Hiroshi suddenly looked gloomy.
Aki brings back the topic of the song. She has a copy of "Shiosai no Memory in her music player. Haruko: "You have it?" Aki: "I downloaded it from Yui's computer." Yui: "I got it from the internet. It was the theme song of a movie, wasn't it?" Daikichi: "Yeah. I was 20 around that time, already working at the train. Huh? Who was the lead actress?" Haruko: "Suzuka Hiromi?" Hiroshi: "Oh, that!" Daikichi: "Wasn't it a movie about an Ama-san?" Hiroshi: "Who was the singer?" Haruko: "Suzuka Hiromi!" Hiroshi: "Oh, that !" The "that" in question is Suzuka Hiromi, a respected and talented star that made her debut around a quarter of a century ago as a pure and innocent actress. "Shiosai no Memory" was her first single. Aki asks if there is a DVD copy of the movie but Haruko tells her there's none. "By the way, if that is the song you'll be singing, it will not be an easy one. Besides, I haven't heard you sing since your elementary school play, I didn't even hear most of it since you hardly opened your mouth." Yoshida: "Oh, no. Guess we hadn't thought about that part..." Aki: "I will sing!" Aki goes on the karaoke stage and starts singing the song. Her voice is, um, well... let's just say she rendered the audience speechless - and not in a good way.
(*Zashiki = a lounging room with tatami matted floor)
(**Horigotatsu = low, covered table placed over a hole in the floor of a Japanese-style room)
(***Zashiki-warashi = a house-dwelling spirit in the form of a little girl)
Next: Week 8 (Part 2)
Previous: Week 7
Episode Index: Link
Character Guide: Link
