Jun. 1st, 2013 03:10 pm
Amachan: Week 7 Episode Guide
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earth_colorsWeek 7. "My mom has a history"
"Did you give up on being an idol because you had me?"
Episode Summaries:
Ep. 37. Everyone tries to ignore what Chubee said by continuing on with the singing. But Haruko turns off the music and declares that the party's over. But Aki keeps asking everyone what Chubee meant regarding her mom wanting to be an idol. Haruko tells her to quit it. "Can't you see no one wants to talk about it?!" She says people in the countryside like to pretend that everything is fine even if, so to speak, there is an elephant in the room. With the mood ruined, the party goers call it a night. (Feel so sorry for Aki T.T)
In bed, Aki who couldn't sleep, is counting uni. She couldn't wrap her head around the notion that her mom who used to be a Sukeban, had also wanted to be an idol? But then, things her mom said before - her prejudice against the "idol life"... Could it be something had happened in the past? Next day in school, Aki realizes she had never heard her mom ever sing before, not even a lullaby. Yui says she had asked her father about it. "Dad said your mom had joined and won singing contests before." So after school they go to Yui's house to do some investigating. Adachi Isao shows Aki old pics of her mom winning singing contests from around the prefecture when she was young. And at the Co-op, they show Aki the karaoke machine they used when Haruko would sing on the eve of her father's departure. Katsue: "She was a sweet girl when she was singing... but sometimes she and Natsu would have their differences." By then, Aki is convinced that her mom definitely wanted to be an idol. But why did everyone kept it a secret from her? Aki wakes up late and rushes for school while her family eats breakfast. Haruko, irritated by the presence of her husband, keeps asking him to go home. Chubee meanwhile mentions he will go and have his annual medical check-up. In school, Aki sees that Taneichi has bought a similar misanga for himself, prompting Isono-sensei to assume they are a couple, and proceeds to tell everyone about it ("Scoop! Scoop!"). Yui arrives telling Aki she has found out something new. Her dad told her that Haruko had auditioned before. "There used to be a photo studio near the train station, and your mom had her pictures taken there. Maybe it's still in your house?" So Aki goes straight to the 80s room looking for those audition photos. But then, a voice says, "Perhaps this is what you're looking for?" She turns around to see Haruko holding up what looks like an album folder.
Ep. 38. Haruko shows her audition pictures to Aki. "Lame, isn't it?" (Actually, they were really cute) Aki says it's not lame but that the idea of her mom, an 80s country girl wanting to be an idol is "kinda itai" (painful; trying too hard). Haruko: "Why say such a word?... Well, It wasn't that I was keeping this a secret, I just feel there's no reason to talk about it." But she says now is the right time to tell her, considering Aki and Yui have become popular lately. Haruko tells her about "Those days... unlike now, idols back then would do everything~!..." She talks about the 70s idol groups, Candies and Pink Lady. "Say mom, isn't almost time to go to your shift?" Aki tries to remind her, hoping she would hurry up to her OWN life story. Haruko, who's really getting into it, says it's fine, that she'd ask the others to take over for her for today. Then, Haruko gets some beer for herself as she prepares to talk about her favorite, THE "idol of idols" Matsuda Seiko (the one on her poster). Haruko would record her songs using the audio cassette recorder, sang and pretended to be her, and even had her hair cut the same style as Seiko-chan's. "I really got a big scolding by my mother about that hair thing!" But it made her even more determined to realize her dream, and so she made an audition tape and portfolio. Meanwhile, Chubee comes back from somewhere and asks about Aki. Natsu: "They're upstairs having a girl talk so don't disturb." She asks him if he wants a drink. "Nah, not today," he refuses, and sits quietly, which is a bit unusual. At the shop, Masamune who had earlier been helping out at the bar is now being intimidated by Daikichi, Sugawara and Yoshida. "Don't you know? He's a cool city dude, who doesn't say things like 'Jejejeh'!" But Masamune just listens, and goes "Heh~", irritating the three even more. "What do ya mean 'Heh~'!! Ya bastard!!" Annoyed, Yayoi throws peanuts at them, "Will you guys take it outside!" Hiroshi tries to cool things down and introduces himself to Aki's father. Masamune is at the bar because he too wanted to ask about his wife's past history. At home, Haruko reveals that she took singing lessons and paid for it using her own money she earned from being an Ama. Aki: "What?! You were an Ama?" Cut to Yayoi-san. "But she did not dive like Aki, only sang and waited on customers." Sugawara says she was really serious about singing, recalling that she even made a demo tape for a talent show called "Even You Can Become a Star!" and that Haruko made several copies of it for everyone. "You keep that," she said when she gave a copy to Daikichi during that time, "It'll fetch a high price someday once I become famous." Haruko finds a copy at home, too. "You want to hear it?" she asks Aki. After hesitating for a moment, she finally puts it inside the cassette player. She nervously presses the 'play' button and... "Too bad! Time is up," says Natsu, the Narrator. "15 minutes is short, ne? Let's continue listening to it tomorrow~!"
Ep. 39. "I'm Amano Haruko, high school sophomore student, 17 years old. Please listen to my song, 'Hatsukoi' (First Love)*." Haruko covers her face in embarrassment as she and Aki listen to her 17 year old self. She remembers recording this song in her room using the cassette recorder and the Fishery's karaoke machine. At the shop, Daikichi, Masamune and the rest listen to the same copy of that tape. Daikichi had been listening to that tape throughout the years ("kept it in the fridge to preserve it"), believing that he is her "First Love" in the song. Anyway, he told of how Haruko sent the tape to the show, and that she passed. She was told to go to NYBS TV Studio in Tokyo for the singing contest, July 7, Saturday but... Haruko tells what happened 24 years ago when she told her mother about it (Btw, the singing contest has a weekly round of 10 weeks. She would have to keep winning every round in order to be declared the ultimate winner). As she expected it, Natsu refused. "What happens if you pass, will you keep leaving for Tokyo every Saturday (since she still has to go to school in Kitasanriku)?" Haruko: "It'll be fine. Because it's impossible for me to make it in the 10th round anyway. Of course I could win in the 1st or 2nd round but 10..." What Natsu said surprised her. "If you think you'll lose, then why bother going to Tokyo!... Ask yourself, are you gonna be serious about it or just play around? Zero or 10... Which is it!" Haruko: "...10." Natsu said she can go and that she will persuade the Co-op president about it. But then, he and the Mayor arrived, asking her to be at the beach as an Ama during the opening of KitaTetsu. "Media people from Tokyo will come! They'll also be covering the Amas, it's gonna be a rare opportunity!" After they left, Natsu went to sleep and did not talk about the matter anymore... "Cruel of her, right?" Haruko says, "...changing her mind just like that. So I decided it myself to leave for Tokyo... She did not even go after me. So up to now, I don't know what she was feeling at that time. Did she want to cheer for me or did she want me to stay?" Aki: "Either one is okay. Like I'd feel lonely if you leave but also, I'd wish you the best, too." Haruko: "What if it were you?" Aki says she's not sure since "I wouldn't have been born if you did not leave...Or is it better if I wasn't born?" Haruko: "Why say such a stupid thing?" Aki: "Because did you give up on being an idol because you had me?" Haruko: "Of course not. I had you when I was 25." Aki: "Then why did you give it up?" Haruko: "Well, there were all sorts of things... But it's not because of you." The two finish their talk. As they go down to the dining room, Chubee tells them to sit for he has an announcement to make. "I will be retiring and won't be leaving on board the ship this Sunday..." He attributes it to his age, and that he wants to be with his family, and enjoy his second life on land. "I thought of finding myself a job, too." However, Natsu whispers to Haruko in the kitchen. "I'm afraid the result of his regular check-up was not so good." Haruko: "Eh?"
(*"Hatsukoi" = 1983 song by Murashita Kōzō; Actress Koizumi Kyoko (Haruko) is really the one singing in the tape)
Ep. 40. Chubee and Natsu go to the Co-op to inform them of his retirement. "The doctor has said his long-term fishing had affected his body and heart." They wish him well and that maybe it is for the best. Chubee also asks them if there is any available work around for him. At the shop, Masamune and Daikichi learn of the news from Haruko. Haruko: "But it's gonna be hard to find work for a 67 year old." Masamune suggests an ad he'd read and shows it to them. "It says 'No experience necessary, and no age requirement'..." Then Daikichi notices it. "Hey why are you looking through job ads in Kitasanriku?!" Masamune reveals that he IS looking for a job as a cab driver in the city and that he has to go now for an interview. So it means he is planning to stick around, after all... After he leaves, Haruko tells Daikichi about her talk with Aki (which is not really important lol so moving on...) At school, Aki also tells Yui all about it. "Sounds complicated huh?" Yui comments. "But do you think she's jealous of you? That her daughter was able to became popular in the internet and went on TV?" Aki thinks that idea is just too absurd. Then Yui asks Aki to choose: "Which name do you want for our idol unit? 'JJ Girls' (JJ for Jejeh) or 'AMMA'? We must have a name once they've decided to make us regulars for the show." Yui excitedly explain all about it, even coming up with a "J" pose. Taneichi interrupts to tell Aki that it's time to go to the pool. "That's not 'J'," he notices the reverse 'J' pose they're making. "That's 'し' (shi)." Meanwhile, Chubee and Natsu are in a supermarket, checking out a job prospect for the retiring fisherman. It was a task of manning the sales counter of sashimi at a supermarket. "It's not so hard is it, Ojii-chan?" says the supervisor. "You are well-versed on types of fish, right?" Chubee has a hard time accepting to be called "Ojii-chan" and seems confused over how things work, particularly, his salary terms. "Sorry about that," Natsu apologizes for him. "He has no sense of the value of money since he's been in a fishing boat all his life." Aki and Yui go to the shop after school. Aki asks her mom to go off somewhere so she and Yui can have a private talk. Begrudgingly, Haruko sits at a distance from them but still listens to their conversation anyway. Aki proceeds to tell Yui that she had asked Taneichi to go out with her. Yui: "But even if you go out with him, he'll be leaving for Tokyo soon, right?" But she adds: "You can go back to Tokyo and date him there. You can live with your Dad, too. Then after I graduate, I'll go there and we'll both become idols together in Tokyo!" At this point, Haruko butts in of course to voice out her objections but Masamune arrives to say he has gotten the taxi driver job. "Well, there goes the plan for Tokyo," Yui says. Chubee and Natsu also arrive to say that Chubee had gotten the supermarket job. So from then on, the new life of the family of five has begun. The two men, Chubee and Masamune go off to their respective new jobs, while Aki leaves for school. However, nothing has changed between Natsu and Haruko as the two still (lovingly?) bicker over little things. Haruko says the number of people in the house keeps on increasing. Natsu: "Five in six months. It'll be 25 after one year." Haruko: "Don't joke like that!" Natsu: "If you don't like it, the three of you can leave." Haruko: "That'll be bothersome 'cause I won't help you with the shop, Aki won't be in the Ama club..." Natsu: "Who cares? It won't bother me at all. I'll just retire. All I want is to be with my man." Haruko: "Fine... (Gets up and leaves) I'm going to the pachinko~." Natsu: "Haruko!"
Ep. 41. At the shop, the others are happy that things are fine back at the Amano home. Though Yayoi says Masamune is not a bad fella but there are times he can be annoying that she wants to knock him out. Natsu tells how Chubee has started his job at the supermarket. "Never thought that I'd be the loving wife making packed lunches past the age of 60." They are also making plans to go to an onsen next month. As they were talking, there is a new quiet customer at the shop, sitting next to Ben. They take notice and ask to be introduced. "He's what you may call my disciple," Ben says, proudly. He is Mizuguchi Takuma, who suddenly came to visit him last night and "we ended up chatting about the charm of amber til morning." Takuma says he is studying archeology in a university. However, Yayoi says she finds him suspicious. "You're a spy aren't you? From Hachinohe? Did you come to get 'machi-okoshi' ideas from here?" Yoshida: "Even if he's a spy what merit will he get by being near Ben?" Of course, Yayoi laughingly says she was joking and Takuma nods and smiles. Meanwhile, Chubee wakes up early in the morning to fish, have his breakfast and goes to work. Haruko who went shopping, goes to see how her father is doing at the supermarket. She sees him arguing with the supervisor. Chubee does not want to put 'time sale' seals on a special kind of tuna. Boss: "If we don't sell these with the same dates, and the same price, customers will complain!" Chubee: "But when they eat them, they will know the difference!" Boss: "That'll be too late! They won't even try it because it's not half-priced!" Chuubee: "But if you half the price, fishermen will cry!" Boss: "This is a supermarket! Set aside your feelings as a fisherman and do your job properly. What a troublesome Ojii-chan!" Haruko backs away from the scene, feeling sorry for her father. That night, Haruko does not mention the incident to Chubee and leaves for her night shift. Aki asks her Grandpa to help her with her English homework since he's been all around the world. (If you want to know what he said, it's: "You know, among the English-speaking countries, Canadian women are the most assertive. You wanna see the letters I got from Canada?") The next day at the shop, while planning to choose which onsen to go to with her husband, Natsu gets a phonecall from the supervisor. She is told her husband left during breaktime and hadn't come back. She apologizes profusely and promises to find him. Aki learns about it and calls her mom who happens to be at a pachinko parlor. Haruko manages to find him right away for he is also in the same place as she is, playing pachinko. At home, everyone tries to talk with Chubee about it. They ask what is wrong. Was the job too hard? Doesn't he like working with too many people? Does he want to rest for awhile? "No, no, the work was easy...it's just...it's just..." Chubee could not give a clear answer but Natsu says it for him. "He does not want to rest. It is obviously the opposite. He wants to go back on his ship." Chubee sighs, resignedly. "Natsu-san truly knows me well..." But they are against it because of what the doctor said about his health. Since there is a ship set to leave soon for India, Haruko asks, "So, are you gonna leave Mom? You might not come back alive!... Leave if you want, but at least take Mom to an onsen!" Chubee: "No, it'll be harder to say goodbye." During the talk, Natsu has stood up and went outside to be alone. Aki checks to see if she's okay..."Bappa?"
Ep. 42. "Times like this, I regret I got married to a fisherman," Natsu says, not knowing that Chubee is behind her. "He just can't sit still. Why can't he just relax for awhile..." Her husband apologizes to her. "I guess I am not old as I thought I was. I really want to stay on land but if I do, I'll really become really old. Natsu-san, if you stay with an old geezer, you'll become an old biddy, too. I can't allow that. I can't allow Natsu-san to become an old biddy." (T.T) Natsu turns to him and says, pretending to be furious, "I'm already an old biddy! Better off without you. If you continue to be around, I'm gonna suffocate in this house... Everyday, washing your clothes, making your lunch, fixing your drink... I'm gonna be the first one to die..." She tells Haruko to contact the photo studio and to have them take a new funeral portrait of her husband. "I'm sorry, Natsu-san," Chubee apologizes again. "This year is gonna be the last." Natsu: "That's what you said last year. And the year before that. Hurry up and go to India! Don't ever come back again." "That's what you said last year." Chubee says with a rueful chuckle. "And the year before that." He and Natsu smile knowingly at each other. So everyone holds a goodbye party for Chubee at Bar Rias that night. Chubee asks everyone to watch over his family while he's away. Afterwards, they all say goodbye to him outside the shop while inside, Haruko asks her mom if she's really okay with it. "Aren't you lonely?" Natsu reiterates her favorite saying, "Those who leave will not be pursued." Haruko: "You do say that but even so, you ARE lonely when they leave, right?" Natsu: "Don't go saying stuff as you please. This fool!" Haruko, still hinting about what happened 24 years ago, says, "Even those who leave, you would want to send them off properly, right?" Chubee well-wishers go back inside, this time with Congressman Adachi and Takuma. Takuma asks Ben if it's okay he joins the party considering he doesn't have anything to do with it. "It's okay. Neither do I," Ben assures him, chuckling. Outside, Aki and Yui talk to Chubeeabout his life on the sea. "Why do you still go if it's not really all that fun?" Chubee says when he's out in the sea, he doesn't need to think of unnecessary things. "As long as you are on land, you are Japanese and are bounded by its social norms. But the sea all around the world are connected. A bird in China does not speak Chinese. A tuna fish in America does not speak English, right? A tuna is a fish. A sea gull is a bird. (So out there) I am not Japanese, I am a human being." Aki says he's a cool Grandpa. She decides to give him a gift so she buys him a misanga. "It's an amulet. If it naturally falls off from your wrist, your wish will come true." Chubee: "Well, I don't have any particular wish." Yui: "Then, remember your family whenever you look at it." Then, Masamune calls for them to get inside the shop. "Hurry! Your mom is gonna sing!" Chubee sits next to his wife as everyone gingerly gather around to hear Haruko sing. Masamune plays the song again that he chose for her the other night... At last Aki gets to hear the singing voice of her mother. ♬~Come to me, Come jumping over the fire... I write on the sand, 'I miss you'...~♬ She notices that when Haruko sings, she looks so different from the usual boorish, cranky mom that she knows. "So cool~"... ♬~I'm going back to the north, without seeing anyone... Heading to the north, riding on a storm... Tell him I still like him... Tell Johnny he owes me 1,000 yen... Memory of the sea's roar... A 17-year old is as strong as the ocean waves...♬
Next: Week 8 (Part 1)
Previous: Week 6
Episode Index: Link
Character Guide: Link
"Did you give up on being an idol because you had me?"
Episode Summaries:
Ep. 37. Everyone tries to ignore what Chubee said by continuing on with the singing. But Haruko turns off the music and declares that the party's over. But Aki keeps asking everyone what Chubee meant regarding her mom wanting to be an idol. Haruko tells her to quit it. "Can't you see no one wants to talk about it?!" She says people in the countryside like to pretend that everything is fine even if, so to speak, there is an elephant in the room. With the mood ruined, the party goers call it a night. (Feel so sorry for Aki T.T)
In bed, Aki who couldn't sleep, is counting uni. She couldn't wrap her head around the notion that her mom who used to be a Sukeban, had also wanted to be an idol? But then, things her mom said before - her prejudice against the "idol life"... Could it be something had happened in the past? Next day in school, Aki realizes she had never heard her mom ever sing before, not even a lullaby. Yui says she had asked her father about it. "Dad said your mom had joined and won singing contests before." So after school they go to Yui's house to do some investigating. Adachi Isao shows Aki old pics of her mom winning singing contests from around the prefecture when she was young. And at the Co-op, they show Aki the karaoke machine they used when Haruko would sing on the eve of her father's departure. Katsue: "She was a sweet girl when she was singing... but sometimes she and Natsu would have their differences." By then, Aki is convinced that her mom definitely wanted to be an idol. But why did everyone kept it a secret from her? Aki wakes up late and rushes for school while her family eats breakfast. Haruko, irritated by the presence of her husband, keeps asking him to go home. Chubee meanwhile mentions he will go and have his annual medical check-up. In school, Aki sees that Taneichi has bought a similar misanga for himself, prompting Isono-sensei to assume they are a couple, and proceeds to tell everyone about it ("Scoop! Scoop!"). Yui arrives telling Aki she has found out something new. Her dad told her that Haruko had auditioned before. "There used to be a photo studio near the train station, and your mom had her pictures taken there. Maybe it's still in your house?" So Aki goes straight to the 80s room looking for those audition photos. But then, a voice says, "Perhaps this is what you're looking for?" She turns around to see Haruko holding up what looks like an album folder.Ep. 38. Haruko shows her audition pictures to Aki. "Lame, isn't it?" (Actually, they were really cute) Aki says it's not lame but that the idea of her mom, an 80s country girl wanting to be an idol is "kinda itai" (painful; trying too hard). Haruko: "Why say such a word?... Well, It wasn't that I was keeping this a secret, I just feel there's no reason to talk about it." But she says now is the right time to tell her, considering Aki and Yui have become popular lately. Haruko tells her about "Those days... unlike now, idols back then would do everything~!..." She talks about the 70s idol groups, Candies and Pink Lady. "Say mom, isn't almost time to go to your shift?" Aki tries to remind her, hoping she would hurry up to her OWN life story. Haruko, who's really getting into it, says it's fine, that she'd ask the others to take over for her for today. Then, Haruko gets some beer for herself as she prepares to talk about her favorite, THE "idol of idols" Matsuda Seiko (the one on her poster). Haruko would record her songs using the audio cassette recorder, sang and pretended to be her, and even had her hair cut the same style as Seiko-chan's. "I really got a big scolding by my mother about that hair thing!" But it made her even more determined to realize her dream, and so she made an audition tape and portfolio.
Meanwhile, Chubee comes back from somewhere and asks about Aki. Natsu: "They're upstairs having a girl talk so don't disturb." She asks him if he wants a drink. "Nah, not today," he refuses, and sits quietly, which is a bit unusual. At the shop, Masamune who had earlier been helping out at the bar is now being intimidated by Daikichi, Sugawara and Yoshida. "Don't you know? He's a cool city dude, who doesn't say things like 'Jejejeh'!" But Masamune just listens, and goes "Heh~", irritating the three even more. "What do ya mean 'Heh~'!! Ya bastard!!" Annoyed, Yayoi throws peanuts at them, "Will you guys take it outside!" Hiroshi tries to cool things down and introduces himself to Aki's father. Masamune is at the bar because he too wanted to ask about his wife's past history. At home, Haruko reveals that she took singing lessons and paid for it using her own money she earned from being an Ama. Aki: "What?! You were an Ama?" Cut to Yayoi-san. "But she did not dive like Aki, only sang and waited on customers." Sugawara says she was really serious about singing, recalling that she even made a demo tape for a talent show called "Even You Can Become a Star!" and that Haruko made several copies of it for everyone. "You keep that," she said when she gave a copy to Daikichi during that time, "It'll fetch a high price someday once I become famous." Haruko finds a copy at home, too. "You want to hear it?" she asks Aki. After hesitating for a moment, she finally puts it inside the cassette player. She nervously presses the 'play' button and... "Too bad! Time is up," says Natsu, the Narrator. "15 minutes is short, ne? Let's continue listening to it tomorrow~!"Ep. 39. "I'm Amano Haruko, high school sophomore student, 17 years old. Please listen to my song, 'Hatsukoi' (First Love)*." Haruko covers her face in embarrassment as she and Aki listen to her 17 year old self. She remembers recording this song in her room using the cassette recorder and the Fishery's karaoke machine.
At the shop, Daikichi, Masamune and the rest listen to the same copy of that tape. Daikichi had been listening to that tape throughout the years ("kept it in the fridge to preserve it"), believing that he is her "First Love" in the song. Anyway, he told of how Haruko sent the tape to the show, and that she passed. She was told to go to NYBS TV Studio in Tokyo for the singing contest, July 7, Saturday but... Haruko tells what happened 24 years ago when she told her mother about it (Btw, the singing contest has a weekly round of 10 weeks. She would have to keep winning every round in order to be declared the ultimate winner). As she expected it, Natsu refused. "What happens if you pass, will you keep leaving for Tokyo every Saturday (since she still has to go to school in Kitasanriku)?" Haruko: "It'll be fine. Because it's impossible for me to make it in the 10th round anyway. Of course I could win in the 1st or 2nd round but 10..." What Natsu said surprised her. "If you think you'll lose, then why bother going to Tokyo!... Ask yourself, are you gonna be serious about it or just play around? Zero or 10... Which is it!" Haruko: "...10." Natsu said she can go and that she will persuade the Co-op president about it. But then, he and the Mayor arrived, asking her to be at the beach as an Ama during the opening of KitaTetsu. "Media people from Tokyo will come! They'll also be covering the Amas, it's gonna be a rare opportunity!" After they left, Natsu went to sleep and did not talk about the matter anymore... "Cruel of her, right?" Haruko says, "...changing her mind just like that. So I decided it myself to leave for Tokyo... She did not even go after me. So up to now, I don't know what she was feeling at that time. Did she want to cheer for me or did she want me to stay?" Aki: "Either one is okay. Like I'd feel lonely if you leave but also, I'd wish you the best, too." Haruko: "What if it were you?" Aki says she's not sure since "I wouldn't have been born if you did not leave...Or is it better if I wasn't born?" Haruko: "Why say such a stupid thing?" Aki: "Because did you give up on being an idol because you had me?" Haruko: "Of course not. I had you when I was 25." Aki: "Then why did you give it up?" Haruko: "Well, there were all sorts of things... But it's not because of you." The two finish their talk. As they go down to the dining room, Chubee tells them to sit for he has an announcement to make. "I will be retiring and won't be leaving on board the ship this Sunday..." He attributes it to his age, and that he wants to be with his family, and enjoy his second life on land. "I thought of finding myself a job, too." However, Natsu whispers to Haruko in the kitchen. "I'm afraid the result of his regular check-up was not so good." Haruko: "Eh?"(*"Hatsukoi" = 1983 song by Murashita Kōzō; Actress Koizumi Kyoko (Haruko) is really the one singing in the tape)
Ep. 40. Chubee and Natsu go to the Co-op to inform them of his retirement. "The doctor has said his long-term fishing had affected his body and heart." They wish him well and that maybe it is for the best. Chubee also asks them if there is any available work around for him.
At the shop, Masamune and Daikichi learn of the news from Haruko. Haruko: "But it's gonna be hard to find work for a 67 year old." Masamune suggests an ad he'd read and shows it to them. "It says 'No experience necessary, and no age requirement'..." Then Daikichi notices it. "Hey why are you looking through job ads in Kitasanriku?!" Masamune reveals that he IS looking for a job as a cab driver in the city and that he has to go now for an interview. So it means he is planning to stick around, after all... After he leaves, Haruko tells Daikichi about her talk with Aki (which is not really important lol so moving on...) At school, Aki also tells Yui all about it. "Sounds complicated huh?" Yui comments. "But do you think she's jealous of you? That her daughter was able to became popular in the internet and went on TV?" Aki thinks that idea is just too absurd. Then Yui asks Aki to choose: "Which name do you want for our idol unit? 'JJ Girls' (JJ for Jejeh) or 'AMMA'? We must have a name once they've decided to make us regulars for the show." Yui excitedly explain all about it, even coming up with a "J" pose. Taneichi interrupts to tell Aki that it's time to go to the pool. "That's not 'J'," he notices the reverse 'J' pose they're making. "That's 'し' (shi)." Meanwhile, Chubee and Natsu are in a supermarket, checking out a job prospect for the retiring fisherman. It was a task of manning the sales counter of sashimi at a supermarket. "It's not so hard is it, Ojii-chan?" says the supervisor. "You are well-versed on types of fish, right?" Chubee has a hard time accepting to be called "Ojii-chan" and seems confused over how things work, particularly, his salary terms. "Sorry about that," Natsu apologizes for him. "He has no sense of the value of money since he's been in a fishing boat all his life." Aki and Yui go to the shop after school. Aki asks her mom to go off somewhere so she and Yui can have a private talk. Begrudgingly, Haruko sits at a distance from them but still listens to their conversation anyway. Aki proceeds to tell Yui that she had asked Taneichi to go out with her. Yui: "But even if you go out with him, he'll be leaving for Tokyo soon, right?" But she adds: "You can go back to Tokyo and date him there. You can live with your Dad, too. Then after I graduate, I'll go there and we'll both become idols together in Tokyo!" At this point, Haruko butts in of course to voice out her objections but Masamune arrives to say he has gotten the taxi driver job. "Well, there goes the plan for Tokyo," Yui says. Chubee and Natsu also arrive to say that Chubee had gotten the supermarket job. So from then on, the new life of the family of five has begun. The two men, Chubee and Masamune go off to their respective new jobs, while Aki leaves for school. However, nothing has changed between Natsu and Haruko as the two still (lovingly?) bicker over little things. Haruko says the number of people in the house keeps on increasing. Natsu: "Five in six months. It'll be 25 after one year." Haruko: "Don't joke like that!" Natsu: "If you don't like it, the three of you can leave." Haruko: "That'll be bothersome 'cause I won't help you with the shop, Aki won't be in the Ama club..." Natsu: "Who cares? It won't bother me at all. I'll just retire. All I want is to be with my man." Haruko: "Fine... (Gets up and leaves) I'm going to the pachinko~." Natsu: "Haruko!"Ep. 41. At the shop, the others are happy that things are fine back at the Amano home. Though Yayoi says Masamune is not a bad fella but there are times he can be annoying that she wants to knock him out. Natsu tells how Chubee has started his job at the supermarket. "Never thought that I'd be the loving wife making packed lunches past the age of 60." They are also making plans to go to an onsen next month. As they were talking, there is a new quiet customer at the shop, sitting next to Ben. They take notice and ask to be introduced. "He's what you may call my disciple," Ben says, proudly. He is Mizuguchi Takuma, who suddenly came to visit him last night and "we ended up chatting about the charm of amber til morning." Takuma says he is studying archeology in a university. However, Yayoi says she finds him suspicious. "You're a spy aren't you? From Hachinohe? Did you come to get 'machi-okoshi' ideas from here?" Yoshida: "Even if he's a spy what merit will he get by being near Ben?" Of course, Yayoi laughingly says she was joking and Takuma nods and smiles.
Meanwhile, Chubee wakes up early in the morning to fish, have his breakfast and goes to work. Haruko who went shopping, goes to see how her father is doing at the supermarket. She sees him arguing with the supervisor. Chubee does not want to put 'time sale' seals on a special kind of tuna. Boss: "If we don't sell these with the same dates, and the same price, customers will complain!" Chubee: "But when they eat them, they will know the difference!" Boss: "That'll be too late! They won't even try it because it's not half-priced!" Chuubee: "But if you half the price, fishermen will cry!" Boss: "This is a supermarket! Set aside your feelings as a fisherman and do your job properly. What a troublesome Ojii-chan!" Haruko backs away from the scene, feeling sorry for her father. That night, Haruko does not mention the incident to Chubee and leaves for her night shift. Aki asks her Grandpa to help her with her English homework since he's been all around the world. (If you want to know what he said, it's: "You know, among the English-speaking countries, Canadian women are the most assertive. You wanna see the letters I got from Canada?") The next day at the shop, while planning to choose which onsen to go to with her husband, Natsu gets a phonecall from the supervisor. She is told her husband left during breaktime and hadn't come back. She apologizes profusely and promises to find him. Aki learns about it and calls her mom who happens to be at a pachinko parlor. Haruko manages to find him right away for he is also in the same place as she is, playing pachinko. At home, everyone tries to talk with Chubee about it. They ask what is wrong. Was the job too hard? Doesn't he like working with too many people? Does he want to rest for awhile? "No, no, the work was easy...it's just...it's just..." Chubee could not give a clear answer but Natsu says it for him. "He does not want to rest. It is obviously the opposite. He wants to go back on his ship." Chubee sighs, resignedly. "Natsu-san truly knows me well..." But they are against it because of what the doctor said about his health. Since there is a ship set to leave soon for India, Haruko asks, "So, are you gonna leave Mom? You might not come back alive!... Leave if you want, but at least take Mom to an onsen!" Chubee: "No, it'll be harder to say goodbye." During the talk, Natsu has stood up and went outside to be alone. Aki checks to see if she's okay..."Bappa?"Ep. 42. "Times like this, I regret I got married to a fisherman," Natsu says, not knowing that Chubee is behind her. "He just can't sit still. Why can't he just relax for awhile..." Her husband apologizes to her. "I guess I am not old as I thought I was. I really want to stay on land but if I do, I'll really become really old. Natsu-san, if you stay with an old geezer, you'll become an old biddy, too. I can't allow that. I can't allow Natsu-san to become an old biddy." (T.T) Natsu turns to him and says, pretending to be furious, "I'm already an old biddy! Better off without you. If you continue to be around, I'm gonna suffocate in this house... Everyday, washing your clothes, making your lunch, fixing your drink... I'm gonna be the first one to die..." She tells Haruko to contact the photo studio and to have them take a new funeral portrait of her husband. "I'm sorry, Natsu-san," Chubee apologizes again. "This year is gonna be the last." Natsu: "That's what you said last year. And the year before that. Hurry up and go to India! Don't ever come back again." "That's what you said last year." Chubee says with a rueful chuckle. "And the year before that." He and Natsu smile knowingly at each other.
So everyone holds a goodbye party for Chubee at Bar Rias that night. Chubee asks everyone to watch over his family while he's away. Afterwards, they all say goodbye to him outside the shop while inside, Haruko asks her mom if she's really okay with it. "Aren't you lonely?" Natsu reiterates her favorite saying, "Those who leave will not be pursued." Haruko: "You do say that but even so, you ARE lonely when they leave, right?" Natsu: "Don't go saying stuff as you please. This fool!" Haruko, still hinting about what happened 24 years ago, says, "Even those who leave, you would want to send them off properly, right?" Chubee well-wishers go back inside, this time with Congressman Adachi and Takuma. Takuma asks Ben if it's okay he joins the party considering he doesn't have anything to do with it. "It's okay. Neither do I," Ben assures him, chuckling. Outside, Aki and Yui talk to Chubeeabout his life on the sea. "Why do you still go if it's not really all that fun?" Chubee says when he's out in the sea, he doesn't need to think of unnecessary things. "As long as you are on land, you are Japanese and are bounded by its social norms. But the sea all around the world are connected. A bird in China does not speak Chinese. A tuna fish in America does not speak English, right? A tuna is a fish. A sea gull is a bird. (So out there) I am not Japanese, I am a human being." Aki says he's a cool Grandpa. She decides to give him a gift so she buys him a misanga. "It's an amulet. If it naturally falls off from your wrist, your wish will come true." Chubee: "Well, I don't have any particular wish." Yui: "Then, remember your family whenever you look at it." Then, Masamune calls for them to get inside the shop. "Hurry! Your mom is gonna sing!" Chubee sits next to his wife as everyone gingerly gather around to hear Haruko sing. Masamune plays the song again that he chose for her the other night... At last Aki gets to hear the singing voice of her mother. ♬~Come to me, Come jumping over the fire... I write on the sand, 'I miss you'...~♬ She notices that when Haruko sings, she looks so different from the usual boorish, cranky mom that she knows. "So cool~"... ♬~I'm going back to the north, without seeing anyone... Heading to the north, riding on a storm... Tell him I still like him... Tell Johnny he owes me 1,000 yen... Memory of the sea's roar... A 17-year old is as strong as the ocean waves...♬Next: Week 8 (Part 1)
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