Jun. 12th, 2013 11:17 pm
Ama-chan: Week 11 Episode Guide (Part 1)
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earth_colorsWeek 11. "I want to be an idol!" Part 1
"This time, you should sing and dance for yourself."
Episode Summaries:
Ep. 61. As Natsu the Narrator says, "Yui's Operation Tokyo ends up as a failure." Rokuro asks Daikichi if the blockade should be lifted, and Daikichi says yes. Then the Amas, awakened by the ruckus, have arrived as well. "What the heck is going on?" they ask. Takuma says to all of them, "I'm sorry for tricking you... Yes, I'm a talent scout from the leading talent agency Heartful." He says that he lied about being an archeological student and that he has no interest whatsoever in amber. "I don't even understand what's so interesting about it at all." Ben shouts at him, "You bastard~!" and is held back by the others. Isao asks Takuma to explain in detail but Haruko says there's no need since it's obvious anyway. She assumes that he saw Yui and Aki on the internet, seeing that they're kinda cute and popular, he thought of offering them to debut as idols. "And you probably thought that country folks are naive and that you can make your way easily in here. Something like that, right?" Takuma does not deny it, "There's really no excuse for what I did. I'm truly sorry!" He bows down to them. Misuzu who is heartbroken, cries out, "You SHOULD be, you fool!" Haruko says to him, "So in short, you thought that us country folks are stupid, didn't you?" Takuma: "No, I didn't." "Is that right?" Haruko pushes him into the angry "mob." The Amas are so mad they want to cook MizuTaku in water ('mizutaki') and eat him "along with ponzu sauce and yuzu pepper!" Daikichi: "Until a year ago, Haru-chan had been living in Tokyo, you know!" Takuma: "I know. (To Haruko) You aimed to be a singer, right? It's a common sense among scouts that such a parent is the most bothersome of all. On the other hand, there are many mothers who wish to entrust their failed dreams to their daughters. If you can put yourself on her side, you will become a strong ally and--" Haruko panics, not liking where the topic is going and interrupts: "YOU'RE the enemy! Saying things like he knows it all!" Aki tells her mom to calm down. Takuma assures her that Aki is not willing to go and that it was only Yui that he was taking to an audition. "It's for the audition of GMT47, a new unit gathering local idols nationwide." Natsu: "It's no good. I can't follow what he's saying." Yayoi: "Natsu-bappa, don't give up so easily!" Takuma: "The concept is 'Let's make an energetic Japan starting from the regionals'... Idols from each of the 47 prefectures... it'll be like the Koshien* (mecca) of idols." Yayoi (yawning): "Wake me up when he's done" (Just love it when it suddenly becomes funny when it's supposed to be serious). Natsu asks Daikichi if he gets it. Daikichi: "Well, I get the rough outline." Others: "Wow~." Daikichi, Yoshida and Sugawara point out to Takuma that Yui-chan is the savior of a struggling town like Kitasanriku and that they will fight anyone who will take her away. The others applaud but Yui who has been silent all this time, shouts, "Are my feelings not important?! My wanting to go to Tokyo, my childhood dream to become an idol, don't they get to be heard? Is 'machi-okoshi' that important? That's why I didn't want this... Becoming Miss Kitatetsu, somehow I knew this would happen. Whatever becomes of the railway or this town, it doesn't matter to me! I don't give a damn!" Hiroshi tells her to quit it. "But it's true!" Yui continues. "Of course I like everyone, and I'm not saying that the countryside is stupid... But more than that, I hate being made into a sacrifice. Living my whole life in a place like this, it's impossible!" She runs out followed by her mother. Isao apologizes to everyone, too, before leaving. Natsu calls it a night, asking the others to go on home. But she stops to give Haruko a rare compliment. "That was cool of you, I'm glad. Never thought I'd hear you say, 'Don't make fools of us country folks'." Haruko is embarrassed and tries to deny it: "Eh? Stop it, you got it wrong..."
After that night, Yui has started holing herself up in her room and refuses to come out. Even when Aki and Takuma paid her a visit. Outside her door, Takuma tells her that he's going back to Tokyo for the meantime to handle some work. "You also should have a proper discussion with your parents, and try to hang in there til you graduate... I'll be waiting." Yui does not say anything as he and Aki leave. At the Rias shop, Sugawara says that Heartfull has got to be a suspicious company. But Hiroshi and Haruko say it's already an established firm with an exclusive theater already being built in Ueno. Haruko, noticing Daikichi is quiet, asks what's wrong. He says he couldn't forget what Yui had said. "She reminded me of you when you ran away 25 years ago." Haruko: "Me, too. She reminded me of my old self so much I couldn't breathe." Sugawara says they were so focused on their machi-okoshi that it completely ate up a 17 year old's dream. Daikichi: "You can only live your youth once." Yoshida asks "So should she go to Tokyo then?" to which they replied, "Of course not!" Yoshida: "The heck?" Next, Aki brings Takuma to the Ama-sans at their shop. Takuma tells them he's leaving today. They tell him if he's looking for Misuzu, she's at the beach. "You going to her?" But Takuma says no and to just give her his sincere regards. Aki asks him if he's going home by car. Takuma: "I'm riding the train. 'Cause I betrayed her, right? At least I should ride it once before I leave." Aki: "Promise me you'll take care of that thing with Yui-chan!" Takuma nods and leaves. At the station, despite what happened, Ben is there to bid him goodbye. Takuma apologizes to him again. Ben hands him a piece of amber but Takuma tries to refuse it. Ben: "Just take it! This was originally resin. When you polish and polish it, its value comes out. Same with your work? No matter how rough it is, if you just try to polish it, it'll become a gem." Takuma: "Ah..." Ben: " 'Ah' he says... You understand?" Takuma says it's already time and gets his backpack and excuses himself. However, Misuzu arrives and calls his name. She's wearing her Ama clothes, still wet from diving in the sea. She approaches Takuma slowly, with a crowbar in her hand. "Ta-Taku-chan... You're going? You're leaving me behind?" She realizes she's holding the crowbar she uses for prying uni off the rocks and puts it down. She suddenly gives Takuma a long tight hug, and releases him. "Yess~! I've already gotten over it. If I were younger, I would've eloped with you in a heartbeat but I don't do such useless things anymore! Next time then. Thank you. I had fun. Goodbye." Takuma says she's "cool~" as she walks away. After he leaves, Ben sees the amber he gave Takuma, sitting on the bench. "That bastard! He left and forgot it!" (Poor Ben-san, srsly how could they not love amber?)
(*Koshien Stadium = the mecca of young aspiring baseball players)
Ep. 62. It was the second day of August, and Yui is still not coming out of her house nor showing up for her TV work. A replacement reporter is doing her segment. Haruko, Hiroshi and Yoshida are at the Rias shop, watching Katsue, Yayoi, and Aki being interviewed for their popular segment called "Ama Cafe Situation." Katsue smiles and talks well to the camera, prompting Yoshida to comment, "Four-eyed Accountant Old Biddy has gotten used to being on TV, huh?" But Yayoi is still stammering nervously(1) ("While Noisy Old Biddy is still the same lol"). Then, the reporter asks Aki to say some encouraging words of 'good luck' to Yui who might be watching on TV. But Aki says Yui does not like that kind of thing ("Do your best"). Instead, she said, "I always think she'll be back some day. So when that time comes, please give her a warm welcome..." Yui who WAS watching in the living room at her home, turns off the TV. She goes back to her room, ignoring her mom. "Yui? You wanna eat something? Yui!" At the Rias, Daikichi comes in to ask if the Ama Cafe segment is over. They tell him yes and that Yui is still absent. Daikichi: "I see. I'm worried..." Haruko: "About KitaTetsu?" Daikichi: "About Yui-chan, of course!" He says the railway is not the only thing he thinks about but the others tease him about it. Yoshida: "Yeah. He thinks of erotic stuff, too." Such as " 'If I were an invisible man, should I look inside women's bath'?" or " 'What will happen if I confess to Kei-chan and Mie-chan(2)'?" or " 'I get excited when the train leaves on time or gets delayed'?"... Daikichi tells them to quit it ("Is this Tsuruko's Radio show(3)?"). He insists, rather strongly, that he also thinks of Yui-chan's welfare. Haruko is taken aback by Daikichi's strong reaction to their teasing that she says in a purring way, "Stop it~." Yoshida: "Ah, she turned pale." Haruko (turning serious): "No, stop it." Yoshida and Daikichi: "There, she said it again. So cute~." Now it is Haruko's turn to get mad when they start teasing HER. "You guys are stupid! Train fools! You're almost old, you know!" She turns to Hiroshi's direction. "Do you guys even know what that 'Tsuruko' thing is?" Hiroshi: "What do you mean 'you guys--'...Oh!" He realizes Shiori is sitting next to him, staring at him. Shiori (to Haruko): "I know right?... It's not within our consciousness... Even Pink Lady, I barely know about it..." Yoshida says to her and Hiroshi: "You two are still continuing, right?" Hiroshi (looking uncomfortable): "Wait, what do you mean 'continuing'?" Shiori: "Yeah, right?.. Well, it's not over yet. If it is, I will pretty much know about it. It'll be in the air. All my relationships came to a natural end. Well, this time, we do work in the same department so... I don’t think it'll end so easily. (omg pls tell me she's talking about Sugawara lol jk) Aki tries to see Yui at her home but she refuses to come out of her room as usual. Yoshie asks Aki if she could join her for a meal since all the other family members are out. "The food doesn't taste good when you eat alone." Later, at the table, she tells Aki about the recent fight that they had. Aki: "She told you she doesn't want to be like you? What did she mean?" Yoshie: "She misunderstood, thinking I withdrew in the countryside after getting married. The truth is I didn't intend to be an announcer. Just so happens an Iwate TV station offered me a job after I graduated from junior college. I grew up in the city longing for the countryside." Aki: "Same as me. Honestly, I don't understand why Yui-chan is so particular about Tokyo." Yoshie: "She doesn't know Tokyo so... Once she’s there, I think she will learn... It's not a dreamland like she think it is. That's why I’m not against it. If she doesn't make it, she can come home. If she can make her dream come true, then go for it. I just want to welcome my children with open arms when they come home. With delicious food and a smile." After hearing that, Aki realizes what a kind and gentle mom she is and that it is wrong for anyone to bad-mouth her. They notice that Yui is nearby. She had been listening to their talk for sometime. She calls on Aki to follow her to her room. Yui tells her not to believe what her mom says about feeling content living in the countryside. "Since we have no neighbors nor does she have any tea-chatting friends, all she does are household chores, crafts, and watching reruns of Korean dramas... There's no way she could be happy about THAT." She shows Aki the new webpage of GMT47, featuring a map of Japan. Aki reads, " 'Let's make an energetic Japan, starting from the regionals!... Idol group concept, GMT47'... What are these red ones?" She points at the red areas in the country's map. Yui: "They have already scouted idols in those prefectures." Aki reads the said areas: "'Miyagi, Saitama, Tokushima'... How about Iwate?" Yui says "Not yet. But if we're not careful, it'll turn red soon. Try clicking one." She clicks on the Miyagi part. Out comes a video of a three girl group. "Good evening! Appearing like a comet from the City of Trees, Sendai! We are... The BEEF TONGUE GIRLS(4)!" Aki: "Jejeh! What the heck?" (lmao) Yui: "They're an idol unit based in Sendai." In the video, the center girl, most likely the leader says, "Here is our debut song only heard here at the GMT47 website... Please listen well. It's the Beef Tongue Girls' 'Zunda, Zunda'." The group starts singing their song to the tune of Blue Hearts' "Linda Linda Linda." Yui: "By the way, 'zunda' is a local delicacy of Miyagi Prefecture. It's crushed green soybeans... SHUT UP!" Yui shuts off the girls' repetitive singing by slamming shut her laptop. She goes to her bed and flops lifelessly on the mattress. Aki: "Have you been looking at the website all throughout the time you've been holed up in here?" Yui says miserably: "Because... if no one had interrupted my plans, the Iwate area might have been red by now..." Aki feels even more worried, seeing Yui like this. She also sees that Yui had been keeping tabs on the local idol groups that are vying for(?) positions in GMT47(5). There were pictures as well of the parlor train event on her wall. Aki tells the guys at the Tourism Office that she's worried about Yui growing more and more into a hikikomori. Sugawara says maybe she needs a distraction that can make her get out of her room. Shiori suggests a 2-3 day vacation in Tokyo but Aki says she might never come back. Ikeda, who is also there, says viewers have been asking for Yui to return, and that they wish both her and Aki would appear together again. "Like a revival of Shiosai no Memory?" Aki says it's no good since Haruko made it clear she forbids Aki to become an idol. Sugawara: "What if Yui-chan takes a part-time job at the Ama Cafe? There's a stage there right? She can sing and perform over there. Like a revival of 'Shiosai no Memory'." But Aki recalls Haruko's scary threat to her the other day (If you go flighty on me, I will never EVER forgive you!!). Not feeling optimistic about it, Aki does tell the others she'll have to ask first. At the Ama Cafe, Aki concocts a plan to entice Yui to get out of her room, and that plan is an 'Ama Festival.' She tells the Ama-sans about it. "It's where Ama-sans can sing and dance... an Ama Matsuri!" She explains it's to cheer up a gloomy Yui. Tamako suggests a name, "Ama Summer Fest, 'Ama-Sonic'!" Aki likes the name. The others don't understand it but say it's sounds good. Yayoi says if it's good for Yui AND their business, then she's all for it. She then starts practicing a song she'd hope to sing in the Festival, "Yoitomake no Uta(6)."
(1. By the way, Yayoi always had trouble with English words; Here, Katsue is trying to explain the nutrients one gets from kelp, and Yayoi is probably trying to say 'minerals' but ends up saying 'Mine-, mine-, mine-...')
(2. Members of 70s idol group Pink Lady: Nemoto Mitsuyu [Mie-chan] and Masuda Keiko [Kei-chan])
(3. "Shōfukutei Tsurukō's All Night Nippon" = a 70s-80s midnight radio show that featured rakugo artist Shofutei Tsuruko; known for its erotic jokes and puns)
(4. "Ushi Tongue Girls" = Sendai is the beef capital of Japan, and beef tongue is one of their popular delicacies)
(5. Pics of local idols pinned on Yui's bedroom wall: Gifu Castle Town Girls; Aomori Apple Girls; Shizuoka Hot Water Supply Cuties = Shizuoka is famous for tea therefore, 'hot water supply' to make tea)
(6. "Yoitomake's Song" by Miwa Akihiro; Yoitomake means day laborer, that is why Yayoi is making 'heave-ho' gestures while singing)
Ep. 63. (This is a hilarious episode that deserves "a longer than usual" post) But Aki reminds the Ama-sans that Haruko is strongly against her being in the entertainment field. She mockingly mimics her mother's exact words, making the Ama-sans laugh. Just then, Haruko arrives asking them what was funny. "Oh! Surprise to see you here!" Haruko: "Just thought to have lunch here once in a while... What is it?" Amas: "No, nothing! Welcome, welcome!" Haruko goes inside the Cafe and sits at a table. Natsu asks Aki when will the festival be held. She replies, "Thursday, is it okay?" Natsu: "Sure. Leave it to me." Natsu goes in and asks Haruko if it's ok to borrow Aki on Thursday. Haruko: "Sure, go ahead." Natsu tells her granddaughter that it's a go. Aki: "Oh, no! I can't back out now!" At the Tourism Office, Aki gives them her proposal, "Ama-sonic." "It is for Yui-chan, just a one time thing. Not really a revival of 'Shiosai no Memory' but a quiet event for a limited time, only for the duration of the 'Ama-sonic'." Ikeda: "It HAS to be a grand event, it can't be helped! We'll prepare a special live coverage." Aki tells Hiroshi to invite Yui to the Ama Cafe. They ask if she has asked her mother about this. But Aki says she will... as soon as she gets home. When she got home, Aki is about to tell Haruko about it. "Mom, can I talk with you for a while?" However, she catches her seated in front of the TV, sniffling and weeping. "What is it?" Haruko asks, turning off the TV and wiping away her tears. "Say it quickly." Aki: "No, it's okay. Maybe later." Haruko stands up to go to the kitchen to prepare their meal. Feeling curious, Aki checks the video player to see what her Mom was watching. It was the copy of "Shiosai no Memory." "Crying? You mean Haru-chan, the so-called cold-blooded woman of the North?" Daikichi and the guys are surprised after Aki told them about it. Yoshida: "Well, if you see 'Shiosai no Memory' you will surely cry." Daikichi and Sugawara agree. Hiroshi asks Yoshida if he lent Haruko the video. "Yeah, I recorded it a long time ago when it was shown on TV." Aki: "How does the movie go?" Yoshida: "You want me to tell you?" He looks at the camera as he gets ready to tell the story but Natsu the Narrator says, "Unfortunately, due to copyright laws, we cannot show you footages from the film, and instead we'll present you an animation, featuring a faltering commentary by assistant train station master Yoshida. Enjoy" (Haha, Kankuro is a freaking genius!)...
Yoshida: "The setting was... somewhere in Niigata? Or Tottori Prefecture... a fictional island called 'Suzuka Island'." In a poor fishing village of fi... fishermen... A young girl, Hiromi, a daughter of maybe a factory worker... meets a young man from another poor village, who's name was Shiiiiinichi? Or was it Shinyoshi. It was summer for the 17 year old or 18 year old Hiromi."
Aki says there are so many details he isn't sure about, "it's annoying!" Yoshida says of course he's having a hard time since he's suddenly asked to describe the story.
Daikichi: "I don't think it was Niigata nor Tottori."
Ben: "The correct one is Matsushima Prefecture."
Sugawara: "Wasn't it Miyagi?"
Yoshida: "Is it true, Ben-san? Are you positive? Final (answer) Ben-san?"
Ben: "Yes. And I'm sure that Hiromi's mom was an Ama."
Yoshida: "Okay! (faces the camera again) Hiromi's mother, Ritsuko, was an Ama. Having lost her husband, she had raised Hiromi alone... It was her dream to see her daughter marry into a distinguished family from the mainland... so she was in favor of the marriage proposal from Goda Zaibutsu."
Daikichi: "Doing good, Yoshida. You're right on track!"
Yoshida: "Ritsuko says (with women's voices doing the dialogue), 'You can't go, Hirome. You will marry Goda-sama.' Hiromi says, 'No! I love Shinichi-san or Shinkichi-san or something!"
Sugawara: "Just choose one or the other."
Yoshida: "Hiromi says, 'I'm sure Shinkichi-san feels the same way about me, too!'"
Daikichi: "Right! Right! So an example of a scene is when he 'jumps over the fire'!" (Yoshida gives a look that says 'no') "Eh? It's wrong?"
Ben: "Before that, Shinsuke had a fever."
Sugawara: "'Shinsuke'...that's it!"
Yoshida: "Are you sure? Final Ben-san?"
Ben: "Final Ben-san. But when Shinsuke had a fever, Hiromi carried him on her back and tried to take him to a hospital in the mainland..."
Yoshida: "But they got shipwrecked!"
Sugawara asks if Aki is following the story so far, and Aki says, "Yes, kinda!"
Daikichi: "Alright, here it comes! They got drifted to an uninhabited island... and that's where they'll do it! The jumping across the bonfire thing! 'Shinsuke, come and jump over the fire!' (But Yoshida again gives him the 'no' look) Th-The hell. My energy level suddenly went down."
Yoshida: "That's because there is no such scene. (Others are shocked and ask him why) I was surprised too when I watched it after 20 years, there was no 'jumping over the fire' scene."
Others: "Jejejeh!"
Aki: "There's none? (Yoshida says none. She turns to Ben) Final Ben-san?"
Ben: "Final Ben-san. It seems you guys are confusing your memories of the movie with Mishima Yukio's novel 'Shiosai'(1)."
Daikichi: "That can't be! What about the lyrics, 'Come jump over the fire'?"
Yoshida: "There WAS one jumping scene though but... (He was asked what it was) Hiromi says 'Come jump over it!... Shinsuke, if you love me, come and jump over the snake!'"
Others: "A SNAKE?! Jejejeh!"
Sugawara: "Somehow, it sounds anti-climactic."
Yoshida: "Even the director thought so, too, about the ending..." (They show a ridiculous alternative ending of Hiromi prompting a frightened Shinsuke to jump over a hill of fire).
Aki: "It's a tearjerker movie, right?"
Yoshida: "You WILL cry. You will cry when you see it."
Aki: "I wonder if that is true."
The others to Aki: "It IS true. It's THE idol movie of the '80s!"
Aki: "Well, I'll try to see it for the meantime."
Natsu the Narrator says, "The movie, with its absurd story and innovative production became a hot topic and a huge hit, with Suzuka Hiromi sweeping that year's famous movie awards. Especially that last scene featuring the figure of Hiromi, standing against the backdrop of the raging sea and sunset behind her... It gave you a feeling that a huge newcomer is born." Aki has finished watching the movie at home with headphones on. She couldn't stop crying. Natsu comes home to find her in such a state. "What's wrong, Aki? Are you sick?" Aki: "Natsu-bappa... I wanna be a movie actress!... That person," points at the TV, "I wanna be like that!" Natsu: "Mizuno Haruo(2)?" "No!" Aki shows a poster of Suzuka Hiromi. "This one!" Aki enjoyed the movie so much she talks about it to the Ama-sans. "I was really crying! And that actress was so cool! She has... whatchucallit..." Yayoi: "Is it 'aura'?" Aki: "Her aura sure is different." Katsue, surprised to hear Yayoi is able to say an English word correctly: "Arereh? Yayoi-san, you got it right today?" Yayoi: "Well. I've been drinking black vinegar(3) every morning. It has vitamins, amino acids, glu--, glu--, glu--(4)... Ka-Boom!" She drops to the floor. Tamako: "Ah, she self-destructed lol!" Just then, Hiroshi comes in with the billboard display of Yui and Aki. They try to put it inside and onto the stage but it would not fit through the door.
Aki takes Yui by the hand and leads her to the Ama Cafe. Yui sees the billboard at the entrance and is pulled towards the stage. Aki tells her she will sing there.
Aki: "We'll sing together!"
Yui: "No good... I was promised to debut, right?"
Aki: "You won't be able to debut if you're holed up in your room. Sorry. But this is my honest opinion. An idol's job is to help energize everyone, and right now, you've given up that job."
Natsu (coming in from somewhere): "I think so too."
Yui: "Natsu-bappa..."
Natsu: "During that time, it was for the town and the KitaTetsu. Now, do it for yourself. This time, you should sing and dance for yourself."
Katsue (also showing up suddenly): "I think so, too."
Yui: "Four-eyed Accountant Old Biddy..." (XD)
Katsue: "I don’t know what's so great about Tokyo but... You should become much more famous here first. Kitasanriku and Yui-chan, both will become much more famous and... Those producer people I guess... You shouldn’t go to Tokyo until those people come here personally and beg you to come!"
Yui: "But..."
Hiroshi: "No 'buts'! (appearing suddenly, too) These guys are doing this for you! Do it! Sing! Stop whining (or feeling sorry for yourself)! If you really don't like this, there! (points at the billboard) Just go back to the train station!"
Aki (at Hiroshi): "Cool~!" (Woo-hoo! At last, points for Hiroshi-kun!)
Katsue (finally realizing something): " 'Four-eyed Accountant Old Biddy'?"
Yui (recalling Takuma's question on what makes her different from the other idol wannabes): "Alright... I will sing. Let's sing, Aki-chan!"
The others rejoice. Natsu: "Alright... We'll do the Ama-- what was that? -Sonic! It's exciting, huh!"
They leave while Katsue is left behind, still wondering...
Katsue: "What does that mean, 'Four-eyed Accountant Old Biddy'? Hey, what was that? Is everyone calling me that? Are you guys avoiding me? Are you walking away?"
(1. The bonfire scene is actually from 'Shiosai'; I asked danburi about this and this is how it went: Hatsue and Shinji had agreed to meet up at a shack. It began to rain, he arrives first and falls asleep by the fire; He wakes up to see her naked, drying her clothes; She asks him to do the same so it won't feel too embarrassing that she's the only one naked; Then, she asks Shinji to "Come to me, jump over the fire or I will..." He does it and they um embrace but nothing happens even if they're naked lol but instead promise to wait until they are married)
(2. Mizuno Haruo = late movie critic and TV personality)
(3. Kurosu = believed to be health tonic in Japan and China)
(4. She's probably trying to say 'Glutamine' a kind of amino acid)
Next: Week 11 Part 2
Previous: Week 10
Episode Index: Link
Character Guide: Link
"This time, you should sing and dance for yourself."
Episode Summaries:
Ep. 61. As Natsu the Narrator says, "Yui's Operation Tokyo ends up as a failure." Rokuro asks Daikichi if the blockade should be lifted, and Daikichi says yes. Then the Amas, awakened by the ruckus, have arrived as well. "What the heck is going on?" they ask. Takuma says to all of them, "I'm sorry for tricking you... Yes, I'm a talent scout from the leading talent agency Heartful." He says that he lied about being an archeological student and that he has no interest whatsoever in amber. "I don't even understand what's so interesting about it at all." Ben shouts at him, "You bastard~!" and is held back by the others. Isao asks Takuma to explain in detail but Haruko says there's no need since it's obvious anyway. She assumes that he saw Yui and Aki on the internet, seeing that they're kinda cute and popular, he thought of offering them to debut as idols. "And you probably thought that country folks are naive and that you can make your way easily in here. Something like that, right?" Takuma does not deny it, "There's really no excuse for what I did. I'm truly sorry!" He bows down to them. Misuzu who is heartbroken, cries out, "You SHOULD be, you fool!" Haruko says to him, "So in short, you thought that us country folks are stupid, didn't you?" Takuma: "No, I didn't." "Is that right?" Haruko pushes him into the angry "mob." The Amas are so mad they want to cook MizuTaku in water ('mizutaki') and eat him "along with ponzu sauce and yuzu pepper!" Daikichi: "Until a year ago, Haru-chan had been living in Tokyo, you know!" Takuma: "I know. (To Haruko) You aimed to be a singer, right? It's a common sense among scouts that such a parent is the most bothersome of all. On the other hand, there are many mothers who wish to entrust their failed dreams to their daughters. If you can put yourself on her side, you will become a strong ally and--" Haruko panics, not liking where the topic is going and interrupts: "YOU'RE the enemy! Saying things like he knows it all!" Aki tells her mom to calm down. Takuma assures her that Aki is not willing to go and that it was only Yui that he was taking to an audition. "It's for the audition of GMT47, a new unit gathering local idols nationwide." Natsu: "It's no good. I can't follow what he's saying." Yayoi: "Natsu-bappa, don't give up so easily!" Takuma: "The concept is 'Let's make an energetic Japan starting from the regionals'... Idols from each of the 47 prefectures... it'll be like the Koshien* (mecca) of idols." Yayoi (yawning): "Wake me up when he's done" (Just love it when it suddenly becomes funny when it's supposed to be serious). Natsu asks Daikichi if he gets it. Daikichi: "Well, I get the rough outline." Others: "Wow~." Daikichi, Yoshida and Sugawara point out to Takuma that Yui-chan is the savior of a struggling town like Kitasanriku and that they will fight anyone who will take her away. The others applaud but Yui who has been silent all this time, shouts, "Are my feelings not important?! My wanting to go to Tokyo, my childhood dream to become an idol, don't they get to be heard? Is 'machi-okoshi' that important? That's why I didn't want this... Becoming Miss Kitatetsu, somehow I knew this would happen. Whatever becomes of the railway or this town, it doesn't matter to me! I don't give a damn!" Hiroshi tells her to quit it. "But it's true!" Yui continues. "Of course I like everyone, and I'm not saying that the countryside is stupid... But more than that, I hate being made into a sacrifice. Living my whole life in a place like this, it's impossible!" She runs out followed by her mother. Isao apologizes to everyone, too, before leaving. Natsu calls it a night, asking the others to go on home. But she stops to give Haruko a rare compliment. "That was cool of you, I'm glad. Never thought I'd hear you say, 'Don't make fools of us country folks'." Haruko is embarrassed and tries to deny it: "Eh? Stop it, you got it wrong..."
After that night, Yui has started holing herself up in her room and refuses to come out. Even when Aki and Takuma paid her a visit. Outside her door, Takuma tells her that he's going back to Tokyo for the meantime to handle some work. "You also should have a proper discussion with your parents, and try to hang in there til you graduate... I'll be waiting." Yui does not say anything as he and Aki leave. At the Rias shop, Sugawara says that Heartfull has got to be a suspicious company. But Hiroshi and Haruko say it's already an established firm with an exclusive theater already being built in Ueno. Haruko, noticing Daikichi is quiet, asks what's wrong. He says he couldn't forget what Yui had said. "She reminded me of you when you ran away 25 years ago." Haruko: "Me, too. She reminded me of my old self so much I couldn't breathe." Sugawara says they were so focused on their machi-okoshi that it completely ate up a 17 year old's dream. Daikichi: "You can only live your youth once." Yoshida asks "So should she go to Tokyo then?" to which they replied, "Of course not!" Yoshida: "The heck?" Next, Aki brings Takuma to the Ama-sans at their shop. Takuma tells them he's leaving today. They tell him if he's looking for Misuzu, she's at the beach. "You going to her?" But Takuma says no and to just give her his sincere regards. Aki asks him if he's going home by car. Takuma: "I'm riding the train. 'Cause I betrayed her, right? At least I should ride it once before I leave." Aki: "Promise me you'll take care of that thing with Yui-chan!" Takuma nods and leaves. At the station, despite what happened, Ben is there to bid him goodbye. Takuma apologizes to him again. Ben hands him a piece of amber but Takuma tries to refuse it. Ben: "Just take it! This was originally resin. When you polish and polish it, its value comes out. Same with your work? No matter how rough it is, if you just try to polish it, it'll become a gem." Takuma: "Ah..." Ben: " 'Ah' he says... You understand?" Takuma says it's already time and gets his backpack and excuses himself. However, Misuzu arrives and calls his name. She's wearing her Ama clothes, still wet from diving in the sea. She approaches Takuma slowly, with a crowbar in her hand. "Ta-Taku-chan... You're going? You're leaving me behind?" She realizes she's holding the crowbar she uses for prying uni off the rocks and puts it down. She suddenly gives Takuma a long tight hug, and releases him. "Yess~! I've already gotten over it. If I were younger, I would've eloped with you in a heartbeat but I don't do such useless things anymore! Next time then. Thank you. I had fun. Goodbye." Takuma says she's "cool~" as she walks away. After he leaves, Ben sees the amber he gave Takuma, sitting on the bench. "That bastard! He left and forgot it!" (Poor Ben-san, srsly how could they not love amber?)(*Koshien Stadium = the mecca of young aspiring baseball players)
Ep. 62. It was the second day of August, and Yui is still not coming out of her house nor showing up for her TV work. A replacement reporter is doing her segment. Haruko, Hiroshi and Yoshida are at the Rias shop, watching Katsue, Yayoi, and Aki being interviewed for their popular segment called "Ama Cafe Situation." Katsue smiles and talks well to the camera, prompting Yoshida to comment, "Four-eyed Accountant Old Biddy has gotten used to being on TV, huh?" But Yayoi is still stammering nervously(1) ("While Noisy Old Biddy is still the same lol"). Then, the reporter asks Aki to say some encouraging words of 'good luck' to Yui who might be watching on TV. But Aki says Yui does not like that kind of thing ("Do your best"). Instead, she said, "I always think she'll be back some day. So when that time comes, please give her a warm welcome..." Yui who WAS watching in the living room at her home, turns off the TV. She goes back to her room, ignoring her mom. "Yui? You wanna eat something? Yui!"
At the Rias, Daikichi comes in to ask if the Ama Cafe segment is over. They tell him yes and that Yui is still absent. Daikichi: "I see. I'm worried..." Haruko: "About KitaTetsu?" Daikichi: "About Yui-chan, of course!" He says the railway is not the only thing he thinks about but the others tease him about it. Yoshida: "Yeah. He thinks of erotic stuff, too." Such as " 'If I were an invisible man, should I look inside women's bath'?" or " 'What will happen if I confess to Kei-chan and Mie-chan(2)'?" or " 'I get excited when the train leaves on time or gets delayed'?"... Daikichi tells them to quit it ("Is this Tsuruko's Radio show(3)?"). He insists, rather strongly, that he also thinks of Yui-chan's welfare. Haruko is taken aback by Daikichi's strong reaction to their teasing that she says in a purring way, "Stop it~." Yoshida: "Ah, she turned pale." Haruko (turning serious): "No, stop it." Yoshida and Daikichi: "There, she said it again. So cute~." Now it is Haruko's turn to get mad when they start teasing HER. "You guys are stupid! Train fools! You're almost old, you know!" She turns to Hiroshi's direction. "Do you guys even know what that 'Tsuruko' thing is?" Hiroshi: "What do you mean 'you guys--'...Oh!" He realizes Shiori is sitting next to him, staring at him. Shiori (to Haruko): "I know right?... It's not within our consciousness... Even Pink Lady, I barely know about it..." Yoshida says to her and Hiroshi: "You two are still continuing, right?" Hiroshi (looking uncomfortable): "Wait, what do you mean 'continuing'?" Shiori: "Yeah, right?.. Well, it's not over yet. If it is, I will pretty much know about it. It'll be in the air. All my relationships came to a natural end. Well, this time, we do work in the same department so... I don’t think it'll end so easily. (omg pls tell me she's talking about Sugawara lol jk) Aki tries to see Yui at her home but she refuses to come out of her room as usual. Yoshie asks Aki if she could join her for a meal since all the other family members are out. "The food doesn't taste good when you eat alone." Later, at the table, she tells Aki about the recent fight that they had. Aki: "She told you she doesn't want to be like you? What did she mean?" Yoshie: "She misunderstood, thinking I withdrew in the countryside after getting married. The truth is I didn't intend to be an announcer. Just so happens an Iwate TV station offered me a job after I graduated from junior college. I grew up in the city longing for the countryside." Aki: "Same as me. Honestly, I don't understand why Yui-chan is so particular about Tokyo." Yoshie: "She doesn't know Tokyo so... Once she’s there, I think she will learn... It's not a dreamland like she think it is. That's why I’m not against it. If she doesn't make it, she can come home. If she can make her dream come true, then go for it. I just want to welcome my children with open arms when they come home. With delicious food and a smile." After hearing that, Aki realizes what a kind and gentle mom she is and that it is wrong for anyone to bad-mouth her. They notice that Yui is nearby. She had been listening to their talk for sometime. She calls on Aki to follow her to her room. Yui tells her not to believe what her mom says about feeling content living in the countryside. "Since we have no neighbors nor does she have any tea-chatting friends, all she does are household chores, crafts, and watching reruns of Korean dramas... There's no way she could be happy about THAT." She shows Aki the new webpage of GMT47, featuring a map of Japan. Aki reads, " 'Let's make an energetic Japan, starting from the regionals!... Idol group concept, GMT47'... What are these red ones?" She points at the red areas in the country's map. Yui: "They have already scouted idols in those prefectures." Aki reads the said areas: "'Miyagi, Saitama, Tokushima'... How about Iwate?" Yui says "Not yet. But if we're not careful, it'll turn red soon. Try clicking one." She clicks on the Miyagi part. Out comes a video of a three girl group. "Good evening! Appearing like a comet from the City of Trees, Sendai! We are... The BEEF TONGUE GIRLS(4)!" Aki: "Jejeh! What the heck?" (lmao) Yui: "They're an idol unit based in Sendai." In the video, the center girl, most likely the leader says, "Here is our debut song only heard here at the GMT47 website... Please listen well. It's the Beef Tongue Girls' 'Zunda, Zunda'." The group starts singing their song to the tune of Blue Hearts' "Linda Linda Linda." Yui: "By the way, 'zunda' is a local delicacy of Miyagi Prefecture. It's crushed green soybeans... SHUT UP!" Yui shuts off the girls' repetitive singing by slamming shut her laptop. She goes to her bed and flops lifelessly on the mattress. Aki: "Have you been looking at the website all throughout the time you've been holed up in here?" Yui says miserably: "Because... if no one had interrupted my plans, the Iwate area might have been red by now..." Aki feels even more worried, seeing Yui like this. She also sees that Yui had been keeping tabs on the local idol groups that are vying for(?) positions in GMT47(5). There were pictures as well of the parlor train event on her wall. Aki tells the guys at the Tourism Office that she's worried about Yui growing more and more into a hikikomori. Sugawara says maybe she needs a distraction that can make her get out of her room. Shiori suggests a 2-3 day vacation in Tokyo but Aki says she might never come back. Ikeda, who is also there, says viewers have been asking for Yui to return, and that they wish both her and Aki would appear together again. "Like a revival of Shiosai no Memory?" Aki says it's no good since Haruko made it clear she forbids Aki to become an idol. Sugawara: "What if Yui-chan takes a part-time job at the Ama Cafe? There's a stage there right? She can sing and perform over there. Like a revival of 'Shiosai no Memory'." But Aki recalls Haruko's scary threat to her the other day (If you go flighty on me, I will never EVER forgive you!!). Not feeling optimistic about it, Aki does tell the others she'll have to ask first. At the Ama Cafe, Aki concocts a plan to entice Yui to get out of her room, and that plan is an 'Ama Festival.' She tells the Ama-sans about it. "It's where Ama-sans can sing and dance... an Ama Matsuri!" She explains it's to cheer up a gloomy Yui. Tamako suggests a name, "Ama Summer Fest, 'Ama-Sonic'!" Aki likes the name. The others don't understand it but say it's sounds good. Yayoi says if it's good for Yui AND their business, then she's all for it. She then starts practicing a song she'd hope to sing in the Festival, "Yoitomake no Uta(6)."(1. By the way, Yayoi always had trouble with English words; Here, Katsue is trying to explain the nutrients one gets from kelp, and Yayoi is probably trying to say 'minerals' but ends up saying 'Mine-, mine-, mine-...')
(2. Members of 70s idol group Pink Lady: Nemoto Mitsuyu [Mie-chan] and Masuda Keiko [Kei-chan])
(3. "Shōfukutei Tsurukō's All Night Nippon" = a 70s-80s midnight radio show that featured rakugo artist Shofutei Tsuruko; known for its erotic jokes and puns)
(4. "Ushi Tongue Girls" = Sendai is the beef capital of Japan, and beef tongue is one of their popular delicacies)
(5. Pics of local idols pinned on Yui's bedroom wall: Gifu Castle Town Girls; Aomori Apple Girls; Shizuoka Hot Water Supply Cuties = Shizuoka is famous for tea therefore, 'hot water supply' to make tea)
(6. "Yoitomake's Song" by Miwa Akihiro; Yoitomake means day laborer, that is why Yayoi is making 'heave-ho' gestures while singing)
Ep. 63. (This is a hilarious episode that deserves "a longer than usual" post) But Aki reminds the Ama-sans that Haruko is strongly against her being in the entertainment field. She mockingly mimics her mother's exact words, making the Ama-sans laugh. Just then, Haruko arrives asking them what was funny. "Oh! Surprise to see you here!" Haruko: "Just thought to have lunch here once in a while... What is it?" Amas: "No, nothing! Welcome, welcome!" Haruko goes inside the Cafe and sits at a table. Natsu asks Aki when will the festival be held. She replies, "Thursday, is it okay?" Natsu: "Sure. Leave it to me." Natsu goes in and asks Haruko if it's ok to borrow Aki on Thursday. Haruko: "Sure, go ahead." Natsu tells her granddaughter that it's a go. Aki: "Oh, no! I can't back out now!"
At the Tourism Office, Aki gives them her proposal, "Ama-sonic." "It is for Yui-chan, just a one time thing. Not really a revival of 'Shiosai no Memory' but a quiet event for a limited time, only for the duration of the 'Ama-sonic'." Ikeda: "It HAS to be a grand event, it can't be helped! We'll prepare a special live coverage." Aki tells Hiroshi to invite Yui to the Ama Cafe. They ask if she has asked her mother about this. But Aki says she will... as soon as she gets home. When she got home, Aki is about to tell Haruko about it. "Mom, can I talk with you for a while?" However, she catches her seated in front of the TV, sniffling and weeping. "What is it?" Haruko asks, turning off the TV and wiping away her tears. "Say it quickly." Aki: "No, it's okay. Maybe later." Haruko stands up to go to the kitchen to prepare their meal. Feeling curious, Aki checks the video player to see what her Mom was watching. It was the copy of "Shiosai no Memory." "Crying? You mean Haru-chan, the so-called cold-blooded woman of the North?" Daikichi and the guys are surprised after Aki told them about it. Yoshida: "Well, if you see 'Shiosai no Memory' you will surely cry." Daikichi and Sugawara agree. Hiroshi asks Yoshida if he lent Haruko the video. "Yeah, I recorded it a long time ago when it was shown on TV." Aki: "How does the movie go?" Yoshida: "You want me to tell you?" He looks at the camera as he gets ready to tell the story but Natsu the Narrator says, "Unfortunately, due to copyright laws, we cannot show you footages from the film, and instead we'll present you an animation, featuring a faltering commentary by assistant train station master Yoshida. Enjoy" (Haha, Kankuro is a freaking genius!)...Yoshida: "The setting was... somewhere in Niigata? Or Tottori Prefecture... a fictional island called 'Suzuka Island'." In a poor fishing village of fi... fishermen... A young girl, Hiromi, a daughter of maybe a factory worker... meets a young man from another poor village, who's name was Shiiiiinichi? Or was it Shinyoshi. It was summer for the 17 year old or 18 year old Hiromi."
Aki says there are so many details he isn't sure about, "it's annoying!" Yoshida says of course he's having a hard time since he's suddenly asked to describe the story.
Daikichi: "I don't think it was Niigata nor Tottori."
Ben: "The correct one is Matsushima Prefecture."
Sugawara: "Wasn't it Miyagi?"
Yoshida: "Is it true, Ben-san? Are you positive? Final (answer) Ben-san?"
Ben: "Yes. And I'm sure that Hiromi's mom was an Ama."
Yoshida: "Okay! (faces the camera again) Hiromi's mother, Ritsuko, was an Ama. Having lost her husband, she had raised Hiromi alone... It was her dream to see her daughter marry into a distinguished family from the mainland... so she was in favor of the marriage proposal from Goda Zaibutsu."
Daikichi: "Doing good, Yoshida. You're right on track!"
Yoshida: "Ritsuko says (with women's voices doing the dialogue), 'You can't go, Hirome. You will marry Goda-sama.' Hiromi says, 'No! I love Shinichi-san or Shinkichi-san or something!"
Sugawara: "Just choose one or the other."
Yoshida: "Hiromi says, 'I'm sure Shinkichi-san feels the same way about me, too!'"
Daikichi: "Right! Right! So an example of a scene is when he 'jumps over the fire'!" (Yoshida gives a look that says 'no') "Eh? It's wrong?"
Ben: "Before that, Shinsuke had a fever."
Sugawara: "'Shinsuke'...that's it!"
Yoshida: "Are you sure? Final Ben-san?"
Ben: "Final Ben-san. But when Shinsuke had a fever, Hiromi carried him on her back and tried to take him to a hospital in the mainland..."
Yoshida: "But they got shipwrecked!"
Sugawara asks if Aki is following the story so far, and Aki says, "Yes, kinda!"
Daikichi: "Alright, here it comes! They got drifted to an uninhabited island... and that's where they'll do it! The jumping across the bonfire thing! 'Shinsuke, come and jump over the fire!' (But Yoshida again gives him the 'no' look) Th-The hell. My energy level suddenly went down."
Yoshida: "That's because there is no such scene. (Others are shocked and ask him why) I was surprised too when I watched it after 20 years, there was no 'jumping over the fire' scene."
Others: "Jejejeh!"
Aki: "There's none? (Yoshida says none. She turns to Ben) Final Ben-san?"
Ben: "Final Ben-san. It seems you guys are confusing your memories of the movie with Mishima Yukio's novel 'Shiosai'(1)."
Daikichi: "That can't be! What about the lyrics, 'Come jump over the fire'?"
Yoshida: "There WAS one jumping scene though but... (He was asked what it was) Hiromi says 'Come jump over it!... Shinsuke, if you love me, come and jump over the snake!'"
Others: "A SNAKE?! Jejejeh!"
Sugawara: "Somehow, it sounds anti-climactic."
Yoshida: "Even the director thought so, too, about the ending..." (They show a ridiculous alternative ending of Hiromi prompting a frightened Shinsuke to jump over a hill of fire).
Aki: "It's a tearjerker movie, right?"
Yoshida: "You WILL cry. You will cry when you see it."
Aki: "I wonder if that is true."
The others to Aki: "It IS true. It's THE idol movie of the '80s!"
Aki: "Well, I'll try to see it for the meantime."
Natsu the Narrator says, "The movie, with its absurd story and innovative production became a hot topic and a huge hit, with Suzuka Hiromi sweeping that year's famous movie awards. Especially that last scene featuring the figure of Hiromi, standing against the backdrop of the raging sea and sunset behind her... It gave you a feeling that a huge newcomer is born."
Aki has finished watching the movie at home with headphones on. She couldn't stop crying. Natsu comes home to find her in such a state. "What's wrong, Aki? Are you sick?" Aki: "Natsu-bappa... I wanna be a movie actress!... That person," points at the TV, "I wanna be like that!" Natsu: "Mizuno Haruo(2)?" "No!" Aki shows a poster of Suzuka Hiromi. "This one!" Aki enjoyed the movie so much she talks about it to the Ama-sans. "I was really crying! And that actress was so cool! She has... whatchucallit..." Yayoi: "Is it 'aura'?" Aki: "Her aura sure is different." Katsue, surprised to hear Yayoi is able to say an English word correctly: "Arereh? Yayoi-san, you got it right today?" Yayoi: "Well. I've been drinking black vinegar(3) every morning. It has vitamins, amino acids, glu--, glu--, glu--(4)... Ka-Boom!" She drops to the floor. Tamako: "Ah, she self-destructed lol!" Just then, Hiroshi comes in with the billboard display of Yui and Aki. They try to put it inside and onto the stage but it would not fit through the door. Aki takes Yui by the hand and leads her to the Ama Cafe. Yui sees the billboard at the entrance and is pulled towards the stage. Aki tells her she will sing there.
Aki: "We'll sing together!"
Yui: "No good... I was promised to debut, right?"
Aki: "You won't be able to debut if you're holed up in your room. Sorry. But this is my honest opinion. An idol's job is to help energize everyone, and right now, you've given up that job."
Natsu (coming in from somewhere): "I think so too."
Yui: "Natsu-bappa..."
Natsu: "During that time, it was for the town and the KitaTetsu. Now, do it for yourself. This time, you should sing and dance for yourself."
Katsue (also showing up suddenly): "I think so, too."
Yui: "Four-eyed Accountant Old Biddy..." (XD)
Katsue: "I don’t know what's so great about Tokyo but... You should become much more famous here first. Kitasanriku and Yui-chan, both will become much more famous and... Those producer people I guess... You shouldn’t go to Tokyo until those people come here personally and beg you to come!"
Yui: "But..."
Hiroshi: "No 'buts'! (appearing suddenly, too) These guys are doing this for you! Do it! Sing! Stop whining (or feeling sorry for yourself)! If you really don't like this, there! (points at the billboard) Just go back to the train station!"
Aki (at Hiroshi): "Cool~!" (Woo-hoo! At last, points for Hiroshi-kun!)
Katsue (finally realizing something): " 'Four-eyed Accountant Old Biddy'?"
Yui (recalling Takuma's question on what makes her different from the other idol wannabes): "Alright... I will sing. Let's sing, Aki-chan!"
The others rejoice. Natsu: "Alright... We'll do the Ama-- what was that? -Sonic! It's exciting, huh!"
They leave while Katsue is left behind, still wondering...
Katsue: "What does that mean, 'Four-eyed Accountant Old Biddy'? Hey, what was that? Is everyone calling me that? Are you guys avoiding me? Are you walking away?"
(1. The bonfire scene is actually from 'Shiosai'; I asked danburi about this and this is how it went: Hatsue and Shinji had agreed to meet up at a shack. It began to rain, he arrives first and falls asleep by the fire; He wakes up to see her naked, drying her clothes; She asks him to do the same so it won't feel too embarrassing that she's the only one naked; Then, she asks Shinji to "Come to me, jump over the fire or I will..." He does it and they um embrace but nothing happens even if they're naked lol but instead promise to wait until they are married)
(2. Mizuno Haruo = late movie critic and TV personality)
(3. Kurosu = believed to be health tonic in Japan and China)
(4. She's probably trying to say 'Glutamine' a kind of amino acid)
Next: Week 11 Part 2
Previous: Week 10
Episode Index: Link
Character Guide: Link
