Jun. 24th, 2013 10:29 pm
Amachan: Week 13 (Episode Guide) Part 1
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earth_colorsSTART OF PART 2: "TOKYO ARC"
Week 13. "I fell in a 'naraku'*!" (*hell or theater basement) Part 1
"For the meantime... we will have to train real hard in this place called the Hole..."
Episode Summaries:
(Part 2 has now started; there are plenty of new characters [Character Guide has been updated btw!], and many new things being explained to Aki so naturally, this week's episode guides took me a longer time to write than usual; Again thanks to danburi who explained to me a lot about the stuff that went on here...^^)
Ep. 73. This episode opens with flashbacks of young Haruko arriving in Tokyo in 1984. As Aki the Narrator reveals (presumably from her mom's letter that she will read later on): 'My mother Amano Haruko arrived at Ueno Station. Ueno is the entrance to Eastern Tokyo. But the Tohoku Shinkansen has not yet been extended (up to Ueno) and so she seemed to have used a local train from Ohmiya Station.' Haruko is seen having a commemorative photo taken of her arrival, with the street sign "Ameyoko(1)" behind her. 25 years later, as soon as she lands in the same place, Aki eagerly does the same thing but with her cellphone camera.
Aki the Narrator goes on to explain how she got from Kitasanriku to Tokyo by train. 'You use the KitaTetsu going to Miyako Station. Then transfer to Yamada Line to go to Kamaishi Station. Then transfer to Minami (South) Sanriku Line to go to Sakari Station. Then transfer to Ofunato Line to go to Kesennuma Station. Then transfer to Kesennuma Line to go to Ishinomaki Station. Then transfer to Ishinomaki Line to go to Sendai Station... And from there take the Shinkansen... (In other words) coming here is really a bothersome trip.' Aki carrying her bags walks a bit along Ueno until she reaches "Tokyo Edo Theater," the Ueno theater where Ameyoko Jogakuen Geino Course(2) is based. From up the stairs, talent scout and now GMT47 manager, Takuma is waiting for her at the entrance. At first he welcomes her warmly, asks if she has eaten, and politely takes her bags. Then he notices that someone is missing. "Where is Yui-chan?" Aki asks him if he had received her email. He takes out his phone and reads Aki's message: "Yui-chan's father had collapsed ( ' j ' )/"...
Takuma drops Aki's bags and blurts out, "Je-... jeh... jeh... Yui-chan's not coming? Seriously... I told the people in the company... That the candidate for the Center(3) is arriving today from Iwate."
Aki: "'Center'..?"
Takuma: "It's Yui-chan, of course. It's been decided that it'll be Yui-chan!"
Aki: "I'm sorry. But I wanted her to come..."
Takuma snaps: "Of course, we wanted her to come, too!... I'm sorry. It's no use complaining to you but..."
Dismayed, he proceeds inside the theater, not helping Aki anymore with her bags. According to Aki the Narrator, Takuma repeated the words 'It's no use complaining to you' a total of 23 times on this day. 'I also felt more sorry 23 times, too.'
Takuma shows Aki around the Ueno office. "Our headquarters is in Shibuya but the staff related with Ameyoko Jogakuen are stationed here." Aki is told to greet the AmeJo staff in a loud voice. Aki greets them still using her Sodegahama accent: "Good morning! I'm Amano Aki!" She is introduced to AmeJo's chief manager, Kawashima Kosaku. Kawashima asks Takuma: "Areh? Weren't there supposed to be two?" Takuma: "Due to circumstances, she'll be arriving at a later date." Kawashima: "Is she (Aki) the cute one?" Takuma: "No, she's the one with the accent" (oh god lol).
Aki asks where Futomaki is. Takuma says he seldom shows up, and he points to her where his office is. There is also a whiteboard where weird 'teachings'(4) from Futomaki are posted: "You'll get rolled and rolled to get stronger;" "Get rolled in to become big (grand or famous);" "Let the big things roll you in (If someone big tells you to do something, do it)".
At the guard station, the guard also asks if Aki is the 'cute one.' Again, Takuma says she is 'the one with the accent.' Aki is given her nameplate that says, "Amano Aki GMT (Iwate)." Takuma shows her where she should place her nameplate. "You must turn this over(5) before you go home." The nameplate board shows the hierarchical system of the idols in the agency, with of course members of the AmeJo belonging in the pyramid. The four top tiers of the pyramid are for the regular members of the group. At the peak is current Center, Arima Meg, followed by a second tier of 7 other members. Takuma says these 8 topmost ranking members are called by the fans as "AmeJo Hakkenden(6)" (loosely translated as "Lives of 8 Wise AmeJo"). The last tier are for 'reserves,' 'beyond,' 'vintage'... which are basically graduates of AmeJo. And finally, placed unceremoniously down below the pyramid are for the members of GMT. Aki looks at it in dismay. Her nameplate is placed along with five other nameplates in the GMT section.
Then two members of AmeJo walk by, looking obviously younger than Aki. Since they're her senpai, Aki is prompted by Takuma to greet them properly. Aki: "Good evening." The two girls wearing their idol uniforms, greet back with their irritatingly (grrr! srsly hearing them makes me wanna punch a wall) high-pitched, cutesy-cutesy voices, and standardish signature idol lines:
Arisa: "Ameyoko Jogakuen, No. 36 member! I'm an exchange student from a one-sided love star. If my love becomes mutual, I'll die~! I'm here for everyone, Takahata Arisa, 13 yo! Nice to meet you pyon~!"
Aki: "Jeh... 13?!"
The other girl Rina, gets going with their AmeJo standard cheer...
Rina: "What is the 'A' in 'AmeJo'?"
Others: "'A' as in 'Ai' (love)."
Rina: "What is the 'Me' in 'AmeJo'?"
Takuma: "'Me' as in 'Melon'."
Rina: "What is the 'Jo' in 'AmeJo'?"
Takuma: "'Jo' as in 'Jōcho fuantei' (emotional instability)." (omg whaaattt?)
Rina: "Good job! Ah, who am I?"
Takuma: "Narita Rina!"
Rina: "When you read from the top..."
Takuma: "Narita Rina!"
Rina: "When you read from the bottom..."
Takuma: "Narita Rina!"
Rina: "Narita Rina, No. 37 member, 14 yo. Oooh-Wow~!"
The girls excuse themselves and go back to their practice. Aki just could not believe what she had just witnessed (and heard). Aki narrates, 'I wanna go home. That's what I seriously thought. It was still two hours after arriving in Tokyo, and having received baptism by my young senpais... I already felt I wouldn't be able to go on."
Takuma next shows her the stage. Aki goes with him to a dark theater with a lit up stage where members of AmeJo are practicing their song and dance. Takuma: "Weekday show starts at 7:30. Saturday and Sunday has 2 shows each. We do AmeJo shows in this place. Their idol goods are sold next door, Idol café 'Futomaki'." Aki is impressed by it and takes a pic with her cellphone cam, saying she'll be sending it to Yui. "If she sees what a wonderful stage we'll be standing on, she'll be amazed." But Takuma corrects her. "You can't perform on it... It's only for full members of AmeJo. Of course, it won't be that easy. Everyone must have at least one year of training before you get on stage." Aki: "Sorry... So what about the GMT?" Takuma explains that GMT members will be the shadow or understudy. "When a regular member is injured or suddenly falls ill, or has TV work or resting, you'll get to dance in their place. I do need you to learn their moves though." Aki: "Then, I won't be able to perform unless someone hurts herself?" Takuma: "Having said that, don't resort to putting thumbtacks in their shoes, okay?" Aki says in her head, 'Ah-Areh? The image I had of this was somewhat very different.'
Aki is next shown the way down to the basement of the theater where they will receive their training. Takuma calls it 'the Hole' or 'naraku'(7). They find only two members of the GMT hanging out at the Hole, Iruma Shiori and Endo Mana. Takuma asks where the others are. They tell him (both with their own hometown accents) that the two other girls went out to buy something while one went to her part-time job. Takuma introduces Aki to them.
Shiori (The heck, Kudo Kankuro. Of all the many names in the world, why name her 'Shiori' when there's already a character named Shiori in Kitasanriku?): "Eh... Where's the cute girl?"
Takuma: "She didn't come."
Shiori: "EH!! So then who will be the Center?"
Takuma: "Be quiet. Hurry up and introduce yourselves."
Shiori does her signature self-introduction with gestures, in a half-hearted, monotonous manner: "We don't have an ocean(8) but we do have a dream. Saitama resident, Idol 'No Ocean' of liveliness, Iruma Shiori. Riding on the Tōbu Tōjō Line again today, I'm full zip~."
Takuma: "Try to put more energy into it."
Shiori laughs and apologizes. She calls on Mana from Fukuoka, who has a slight cough...
Mana: "Fukuoka Tenjin... (coughs)... Uh, sorry... Oyafuko Dolls, representing Yuzu-koshō (citron-based pepper paste condiment), I'm Endo Mana."
Aki greets them and asks why is there only 5 GMT members so far. They tell her that there were many reasons, like "Some parents came and took their daughters back home." Mana: "Seems that gathering 47 members is a bit impossible." The two girls discuss where Iwate is located and what it is known for. They mention everything they know about Tohoku region without hitting anything right. "Is it somewhere above Niigata?... What is it known for? Itako? Mt. Osora?... Kiritanpo?... Date Masamune?... No! I know, Namahage!" Finally, Aki answers, "Ama-san." She looks around and realizes Takuma had left her. She turns back to the girls and asks if he told them anything about her (Aki) and Yui. Shiori: "He confirmed that the 'cute one' will be the Center... About the 'one with the accent'... (Asking Mana) Did he say anything...?" Mana doesn't answer.
Aki (looking dejected): "Never mind..."
The two girls try to console her. Mana: "No, but he said your character is very strong!..." Shiori: "It may not work on most but... for some 'maniacs' (fanatics), it'll be great."
Aki (confused): "What're you saying...?" (lol)
Just then, the other girls have arrived, Kyan Ellen of Okinawa and Onodera Kaoruko of Sendai. They are introduced to Aki. Aki is delighted to hear Kaoruko's Tohoku accent, and remembers her from the Beef Tongue Girls music video of "Zunda, Zunda." Kaoruko gives her special self-introduction: "I'm Onodera Kaoruko of Sendai Beef Tongue Girls, 14 yo!" The others inform her that the remaining girl (the Tokushima girl) went to her part-time job. They ask her where will Aki be staying. Aki: "I have a home in Setagaya." Then, hearing a song from up the stage, the girls suddenly stand up to dance and sing. Aki watches them follow AmeJo's dance routine, as she narrates: 'For the meantime, GMT is the little sister unit of Ameyoko Jogakuen, and is treated like second string players. Our turn may come suddenly so in order to prepare for it, we will have to train hard in this place called 'the Hole'.'
Aki goes home to Setagaya. As she is walking carrying all her bags, she reaffirms her hatred of Tokyo. 'I know it wouldn't be so easy but... I didn't expect it to be THIS hard... Mom, Natsu-bappa, what will I do?... Yui-chan, please hurry and come here soon.'
At the hospital in Kitasanriku, Yui is waiting at the lobby along with Hiroshi. Her phone rings, and Hiroshi tells her to tone it down. "We're in a hospital." Yui reads Aki's message along with a picture of AmeJo on stage: "Yui-chan, I arrived in Tokyo safely. The theater of AmeJo is amazing! Wish I can stand on this stage with you soon! I'll be waiting." Then, their mom calls for them to come inside the the doctor's office.
Aki arrives at her Dad's apartment in Setagaya. It is her first time to come home in a year. She sounds the doorbell, and tells her Dad through the intercom that she has arrived. Masamune opens the door but does not let her in. He just looks at her and says, "Yo."
Aki: "Sorry for arriving outta the blue."
Masamune: "No prob, no prob... What is it?"
Aki: "Have you heard from Mom?"
Masamune: "No, I didn't... I didn't hear from her... Well, what was it about?"
Aki: "Can I come in?" She tries to force her way in.
But Masamune holds the door firmly: "No no no..."
Aki tells him he's acting strange. Masamune: "Who? Me? I'm not doing anything strange."
But through the door, Aki sees a woman inside the apartment. She is drying her wet hair with a towel while wearing a bathrobe. Masamune, realizing he got caught, utters "Jesus" in English...
(1. Ameyoko = a bustling market street near Ueno station)
(2. "Ameyoko Jogakuen Geino Course = the idol group's complete name; it literally translates as "Ameyoko All-Girls School Entertainment Course")
(3. Center = top-ranking member that is given the center position during live performances and in most photo shoots)
(4. Btw, since his nickname is 'Futomaki' which literally means 'big or fat roll,' his 'teachings' has words like 'roll' and 'grand' or 'big')
(5. If the nameplate's pink side is facing forward, then its owner is inside the office; If the blue side is showing, it means she has not yet arrived, went home, absent or stepped out)
(6. A reference to "Nansō Satomi Hakkenden", which is a tale of 8 Guardian Dogs - thanks to danburi for the tip!)
(7. 'Naraku' = a slang term for the place under the theater or "understage" and it also means 'hell,' 'underworld' or 'abyss'; For these episode guides, I will call it 'the Hole')
(8. Saitama is landlocked and so it has 'No Ocean,' which is the name of Shiori's idol group)
Ep. 74. The woman inside his dad's apartment goes in one of the rooms. But before that, she asks Masamune, "Who is it?" He answers, "Daughter..." The woman does not say anything and closes the door behind her. Still not letting her in, Masamune asks Aki why she is in Tokyo. Aki: "Sorry." Masamune: "No, I'm not mad... I was just wondering why you came." Then Aki's phone rings. It is Haruko.
"Listen, you..." Haruko says from the Rias shop in Kitasanriku. "Why didn't you call me? I was worried! Did you read my letter? Have you eaten? Where are you right now? Setagaya? Eh? You went there already?" Aki explains that since she's gonna be busy soon, she thought to get the greetings over with already. Haruko: "I see. What's your Dad doing? Still the same?"
Aki looks over at her father standing quietly by the door. "Yeah. He's doing REALLLYYY well~!!" Masamune goes over and glares at his daughter. Aki continues on the phone: "The usual... He's fine as usual."
Haruko: "Hmm, I see..." She then asks her if she heard any news from Yui, and Aki answers no.
Meanwhile at the hospital, the doctor explains Isao's condition to his family, using xray images of his brain. "Even if he regains consciousness, the after-effects may remain. Since it is a brain disease, there'll be speech disorder and paralysis of limbs..." While hearing such devastating news, Yui unknowingly crushes her Shinkansen ticket in her hand.
Back at the Rias, Daikichi and Sugawara talk about how ironic things turned out to be. Daikichi: "To think that Yui-chan was the one who wanted to go, and then this happened." Sugawara: "Yeah... Aki-chan was originally reluctant to go... It's like she only went to escort Yui-chan. (Turns to Haruko) Any news from Aki?" Haruko: "Hmm... I smell something fishy... That girl might be hiding something."
Back in Setagaya, Aki asks her Dad about her old room. "It's still the same when you left." Aki: "Can I come in? Since I'm attending school in September, I want to take some stuff that I'll be needing."
Masamune lets her in. Aki goes inside the apartment, staring at the room where that woman is. She gets inside her room, and flips out. 'This is the worst! To think I came here to be consoled, so stupid!' Aki gets more bags and packs more stuff into them while Masamune, racked with guilt, try to desperately explain it to her. He says the woman he's apparently living with is divorced, a daughter of an owner of a liquor store that's been turned into a convenience store. They used to go to the same junior high school, and worked in a book committee. "Anyway, your mom and I divorced at the end of last year. We met at a class reunion on January 4, so that means, there wasn't a second nor a minute that I committed adultery!" Aki just looks at her father, and says "Sorry for disturbing," and leaves.
'I don't even wanna know my Dad's secrets, and left with even more luggage.' Aki aimlessly wanders around Tokyo streets, feeling depressed. 'Mom, Yui-chan... I want to see you. Natsu-bappa, I wanna go diving in the sea. I don't like the land. I'm fed up with the city.' Just then, a girl calls her name. It was her former high school classmate in Tokyo (recall flashback scene in Ep. 5). Aki remembers her as a major culprit in a bullying group, and that she said some bad things about Aki behind her back. The girl greets her "Long time no see." Aki politely greets back. But the girl calls on her friends and tells them she saw in the internet that "here Kurokawa Aki is popular in the Tohoku region. Did you know she's an idol?" They swarm around her, asking rude questions ("Seriously? Akiba type? Or gravure type?") and trying to take her picture with their cellphone cam. Feeling uncomfortable, Aki hurries up and leaves. The girl calls out to her, "Hey, I didn't say you can go cocky on me!" Aki hears them laughing derisively as she runs away. "Was that really an idol? hahahaha!"...
Next thing we see, Aki is crying. She is with Takuma who apparently had taken her to where the GMT members are staying. He asks her what happened but Aki does not say anything. He takes her bags this time, and tells her to follow him inside a sort of compound. He says they're in Yanaka, the dormitory camp of GMT...
Inside, Aki sees the other member, the one who went to her part-time job earlier, eating some cup noodles in the living room. Takuma scolds her for eating late at night, and she says sorry. He asks her to introduce herself to Aki. Looking tired, the girl begrudgingly gets up. She lets out a sigh, and puts on a grin and goes, "Yatto sa! Yatto! Yatto! Yes! Miyashita Ayumi, 19 yo, leader of idol group from Tokushima Prefecture, 'Whirlpool 7'(1)! Yatto-sa~!" Her smile disappears quickly, turns her back, and returns to her cup noodles (I like her!).
A short moment of awkward silence passes. Aki suddenly puts down her bags. With cheeks still stained with tears, she comes up with her own albeit lame self-introduction (This moment alone will erase any doubts you may have on whether Nounen Rena is perfect for this role). Complete with holding-her-breath-underwater hand gestures, she goes, "Coming from Kitasanriku City, Iwate prefecture, I'm Aki of the Ama, Amano Aki!"
Ayumi just looks at her and nods. But Takuma is surprised, saying, "Areh? Doesn't it look like... somehow?" (I'm guessing he's surprised that she is okay now considering she was just crying a while back)
Aki giggles, looks around, and asks, "So everyone gets to live here?"
Takuma: "Generally those who came from their hometowns."
Ayumi: "And those who were deserted by their parents. And there's no bath here, so you have to use the public bath. Or you can use the shower room at the theater. (Points at the kitchen) And we'll all be sharing the refrigerator. (To Takuma) Who will she share a room with?"
Since it's late and probably the girls are already sleeping, Takuma says to Aki, "I'll assign you a room tomorrow. For the meantime, you can sleep in my room for today. (Noooo!) You can put your bags here. (Goes to his room) This way..."
Aki turns to Ayumi, and asks confusedly, "'My room'?" Again, Ayumi just looks at her and continues eating her noodles. Aki nervously sees Takuma laying out the futon for her IN HIS ROOM. He proceeds to change into his pajamas (Uwaah~ I'm sooo jealous! lol)
Later, inside his dark room, Takuma lies sleeping on his bed while on the floor, Aki is lying on the futon (I was literally screaming adsrfegdydhjsk while watching this scene)...
She is trying to get some sleep but Takuma's presence makes her uneasy. 'Natsu-bappa, I'm in a scandalous situation. A man who is not my Dad is sleeping in the same room as I am, only 30-40 cms. away. Although it's not really scandalous, I'm in big trouble. What should I do if he suddenly attacks me?' She thinks such an idea is too laughable and blurts out loudly, "No way, no way!" She goes back to 'fantasizing,' 'Even as joke, I'm an upcoming idol... Even someone like Mizuguchi-san wouldn't make a move on a precious commodity, I'm sure...' She looks over at him as he changes position on his bed. She continues imagining if he DOES make a move on her. "No, no, no!" 'Mizuguchi-san is a healthy man before a company man... I'm sure he has that kind of desire too... He may lose his sense of reason and become a beast...' The idea was just too much for her and she blurts out loud, "No, no, no! For Mizuguchi-san, it's only--"
Takuma wakes up, annoyed. "You're so noisy. Stop mumbling there, and go to sleep already."
Aki says sorry and starts imagining uni and counting them like she always does when she can't sleep. '1 uni... 2 uni... 3 uni... 4 uni...' But she starts counting them out loud. "5 uni... 6 uni... 7 uni... Uwahh~ Too many to count!"
Takuma: "Amano, you're making me angry."
Aki says sorry again. This time, for some reason, she imagines multiple happy Ben-san clones peacefully polishing amber inside the Rias, and counts each one aloud. "1 Ben-san, 2 Ben-san, 3 Ben-san..."
Takuma bolts up on his bed. "I told you to be quiet!" But snoring softly, Aki is already sound asleep.
The next morning, Aki wakes up to find the girls fixing breakfast. She asks Shiori if she's making miso soup. Shiori: "Yeah, since my family back home sent me some green onions. (Points at Kaoruko) The rice is from Onodera-chan's family, it's a Sasanishiki(2). Kaoruko explains she's from a family of rice farmers. Mana also shows off her hometown delicacy Mentaiko(3). But Ellen has the most with shallots, bitter gourd, and Chiragaa(4), all from Okinawa. Aki exclaims "Jejeh!" while looking at all the food.
Shiori asks her why she says 'Jejeh,' and Aki explains it to all of them what it's all about. They like it and find it fun, and even start using it, too.
Then, Takuma enters announcing Aki's room assignment. "Amano, you'll be sharing Room 1 with Iruma Shiori and Onodera Kaoruko."
The girls protest. Shiori: "Jeh? Isn't it supposed to be only 2 people per room?" Ayumi: "We have plenty enough rooms, let's keep having 2 people per room." Takuma reminds them that there'll be more and more girls coming in. He also asks Shiori why she's staying in the dorm anyway.
Takuma: "Don't you have a family home (in Tokyo)?"
Shiori: "Because, I'm the leader." (Meaning: She wants to stay close to the girls or else they might get close without her)
Takuma: "If you're gonna live here, then give back the transportation money we gave you, you thief."
He gives some AmeJo CDs and DVDs to Aki. "Afterwards, Amano, you watch these and memorize their songs and dance moves. Keep listening to "Watery-eyes September," "On the Calendar is December," and the most popular B-track, 'My Penpal is in Vancouver.'" (Again, reference to Canada! Something tells me Kankuro might have a Canadian friend; Either that or he just wants to rhyme all the song titles with '-er').
Shiori asks whose shadow will Aki be. Takuma: "Futomaki will decide that." Aki the Narrator explains: 'If a regular member is sick or injured, her shadow will come out and take her place. It's also known as a pinch hitter.'
Takuma tells Aki before leaving, "Since no one will be using the Hole, go (and practice) over there after eating."
A cheerful Aki goes to the theater by bike, greeting shoppers and passers-by. But her cheerfulness dissipates as she looks at the AmeJo CDs and DVDs, probably wondering if she's really cut out for this. She goes down to the Hole getting ready to practice but she hears a man singing from the dance studio. She takes a look and sees Futomaki, wearing an all-black work-out clothes, dancing in front of the mirrored wall. He seems to be coming up with a new dance step for the hit song he wrote for Amejo. ♬~"On the calendar is December... But my heart is a survivor"~♬. Aki recognizes him and exclaims, "Jejeh!" Futomaki looks at her, crosses his arms with his thumbs sticking out (his signature pose), and says, "Good morning." Then, he resumes back to what he was doing.
Aki narrates: 'No matter how ignorant you are of show business, you WILL recognize him intuitively. The producer of Ameyoko Jogakuen, president of Heartful, Aramaki Taichi, commonly known as Futomaki-san, the head honcho of the company... Yui-chan, I'm in a troubling situation. I'm not quite a full member yet, and shouldn't meet with Futomaki-san but for some reason, the two of us are alone together in the Hole.'
She tries to leave but Futomaki calls her. "Say, girl!"
(1. Idol group 'Whirlpool 7" is named after the Naruto whirlpools, which are "tidal whirlpools in the Naruto Strait, a channel between Naruto in Tokushima and Awaji Island in Hyōgo, Japan" ~wiki)
(2. Sasashiniki = Japanese rice from Sendai)
(3. Mentaiko= marinated roe of cod or pollack)
(4. Chiragaa = Okinawan dish of pork meat and skin from the pig's face, smoked and seasoned)
Ep. 75. "Yes!" Aki responds nervously. Futomaki shows her two dance moves, and then asks, "Which one is good?" Aki: "Eh?" He shows it again. "Which one do you like?" Aki is speechless, wondering if he was testing her. 'Is he trying to see if I have potential as an Idol? Yui-chan, please tell me what to do!" Futomaki finally says, "Well, either one is okay (giggles)." He goes back to dancing. But Aki goes over and shows him instead a rather awkward, stiff dance step she came up with. "I think this one is good." He looks at her silently, so she repeats it again. But Futomaki, holds his chin, and just stares at her, still not saying a word. 'Shoot! I made him mad!"
Just then, a lovely tall girl from up the stairs, greets them a good morning. "Jeh!" Aki looks at the girl who's wearing a silver show costume and descending the spiral staircase like a some outer space goddess. 'So pr-pretty! And she has long legs!' Futomaki calls her by her pet name. "Mamerin, starting today we will change the step in the B Melo(1)." He proceeds to teach her the new step. Aki is surprised to see that it was the dance step she had shown earlier to him (Whyyyy?). The girl got it right away, and Futomaki tells her to teach it to the other members. While the girl continues to practice the step, Futomaki asks Aki if this is the first time they met. Aki: "Well, yes in person... I'm the Ama with too much accent..." Futomaki instantly remembers her. "Oh, right! You sang 'Shiosai no Memory'. Where's the other girl?" Aki: "Due to family circumstances, Yui-chan will be coming a little late." The pretty girl asks Futomaki if she can go back to her group. He introduces her to Aki. "Do you know her? She's Arima Meg. Nickname 'Mamerin'. She's Amejo's Center." Aki: "Jejeh!" 'She's the Center? No wonder she's pretty.' Then, Futomaki asks if she has already been assigned as somebody's shadow. Aki: "Not yet." Futomaki: "Not yet? Then, you'll be Mamerin's shadow. (To Meg) It's okay, right?" (again, whhhhyyyy?) Aki in her head says 'I was so surprised I could not even utter a 'Jeh!'' Meg seems also surprised and did not say anything. Instead, she smiles and says, "Excuse me" and leaves. But going up the stairs, she sourly looks at them as they continue with the dance step.
At the standing lounge area of the office, the GMT girls gossip about Futomaki. Shiori says he used to be a dancer, and the others are surprised to hear it. "You mean like a member of ZOO (a singing group with dancing members)?" Shiori says he was one of those back-up dancers for Toshi-chan (see Week 9). She further reveals, "That is why, he is a 'dance moves first' kind of guy."
Others: "What do you mean, 'Dance moves first'?"
Shiori: "For example, if you're a 'Lyrics First' person, you think of the lyrics first, then come up with the melody to match it. A 'Melody First' person will come up with the melody first, then come up with the lyrics to match it..."
Kaoruko: "So a 'Dance moves first'..."
Shiori: "...Will think of the dance step first. When he makes songs, he'll think of a dance step, and then come up with the melody and lyrics to fit it."
Aki and the girls are impressed. "Jejejeh!"
Through the glass walls of Futomaki's office, the girls can see their boss inside, dancing and concentrating on new dance moves (and probably a new song). "He's amazing~." Shiori: "Even without music, he can dance really well."
Just then, a delivery guy from a sushi shop called 'Burai Sushi' comes in. "Thank you for waiting! 10 servings of special sushi have arrived!" The GMT girls gather around him, looking at the expertly prepared sushi. "Looks so good!" The delivery guy says, "Today, we've got hon-maguro, nakatoro, and sea urchin from Sanriku! Please go ahead." But Futomaki calls the guy over. He then announces to the AmeJo girls that their sushi has arrived. The AmeJo girls chirpily go up the stairs with the delivery guy to eat their sushi while the GMTs can only look on longingly. The girls explain to Aki that Futomaki always orders sushi, but only for the regular members, of course.
That night, Haruko talks to her ex-husband on the phone about Aki's plans to be an idol. "So from now on, she'll be studying there for one year... By the way, can I talk to you some other time? I'm setting up shop right now."
Masamune (who is having a break eating a sandwich in some Tokyo park): "Which is more important to you? The shop or your daughter? And a thing like an idol... It's not so practical!"
Haruko: "Yeah, we discussed it already. We went through that enough last week."
Masamune: "Last week? I didn't know... Why wasn't I told about this?"
Haruko: "We made a decision already about that so don't worry about it.."
Masamune: "You don't care do you... Coming here outta the blue to visit me."
Haruko: "Wait... did you turn her away?"
Masamune: "N-no, I didn't... At any rate, should we be calm about it? This show business can somehow be..."
Haruko: "It'll be fine. The president is Futomaki."
Masamune: "Futomaki...? (realizing something) Futomaki?!"
Haruko: "Heh~, you know him, huh?"
Masamune: "Do I know him...? That's not good, isn't it!"
Aki comes back to the dorm, while talking with Natsu on the phone. Natsu is at home in Sodegahama, grilling squid on the hearth with Yayoi. Aki goes inside the room she shares with Kaoruko (Seems Shiori already went home) while telling her grandma what happened on that day, including Futomaki acknowledging the dance step she came up with for one of the songs.
Natsu: "That's great! You'll be the Center, or the one in the middle."
Aki: "No, Natsu-bappa. I'll be the Shadow, it's like the substitute only. I will only get to dance in place of the Center when she's absent or has an injury."
Natsu: "I see, I see."
Aki: "Do you really understand, Bappa?"
Natsu: "The most important thing is you're doing well."
Aki: "Yeah, well... How is everyone?"
Natsu: "You know, Yayoi's false tooth went missing LOL!"
Aki: "Jejeh!"
Yayoi (gets on the phone to explain it to Aki): "You see, there was a secret spot I never told anyone. There were tons of sea urchins everywhere! When I said 'Jeh!' my post crown flew out. I realized that it sunk to the bottom of the sea. No matter how long I looked for it, I couldn't find it... A tooth worth 200,000, all gone LOL!"
While Aki is laughing at Yayoi's story, she reads some graffiti on the wall of her room, probably written by former AmeJo trainees, who used to stay in the dorm ("We are A-Me-Jo!!" "Friendship, take care of your comrades"). Aki remembers something. "Oh, by the way, can you please send wakame and nori. 'Cause I'll be putting them in our miso soup."
When she was done with the call, she apologizes to Kaoruko who is taking the upper bunk bed. "Sorry, was I too noisy?" Kaoruko: "I miss hearing the Tohoku accent." Aki: "Is the Iwate accent different from Miyagi's?" Kaoruko: "They're both from the North so it's very similar. But we don't say 'Jejeh!'." Aki: "I see. Well, I taught myself the accent, you know."
Later, it's lights out and both girls are on their beds. Aki narrates: 'One way or another, I'm full of anxieties but for the meantime, having a room to sleep in, food to eat, and a roommate with an accent... I'm able to feel secure.' Even while in bed, she is still listening to the AmeJo song using her headphones, and memorizing the dance steps. "♬~Forever lalalala, Greed, greed...~ Ah!" She remembers something and suddenly gets up to get it. It was her mother's letter that she forgot to read. She goes down to the living room to read it...
Haruko: 'Aki, by this time, you are probably headed from Miyako to Sendai, somewhere in the middle or maybe you're already in the Shinkansen.'
Aki: "Sorry Mom, I'm already in Tokyo. I had a lot of adjusting to do."
Haruko: 'I do feel bad somewhat... about raising my hand to you twice... Around that time... No, maybe much earlier... Back when you started to dream of becoming an idol... I knew I had to tell you this someday... This is the story of a few years of my life that I told no one...'
Haruko's Tokyo story starts when she arrives at Ueno station. She goes straight for the TV studio where she is set to compete in an amateur singing contest called "You Too Can Become a Star!".
The show starts with the hosts introducing young Haruko as "the 7th challenger hailing from the Northeastern block... a high school student from Kitasanriku City, Iwate Prefecture, Amano Haruko-kun! Singing Matsuda Seiko's song 'Kaze Tachinu' (Btw, actress Arimura Kasumi is lipsynching to Koizumi Kyoko's actual singing voice)."
Haruko goes on stage and performs. Her singing is impeccable and the audience's response seem positive. There are male dancers garbed in 80s wear, who are backing up her song. At her right, sits the reigning winner on her 'throne' like a queen, complete with a crown and cape.
Haruko's song ends and it is time for the reigning 9-time winner to perform. She sings Judy Ongg's "Miserarete" while also being backed up by the male dancers. Haruko is standing on the champion's right side, swaying to the song. However Haruko notices something fishy: one of the head judges' headphone cord is not connected and he seemed only pretending to listen.
Then, afterwards, the tabulation of scores are finally announced, and it is no other than Haruko who got the higher score of 62 over 38. She receives her crown and trophy, and is truly happy. However, the host also makes a startling announcement. "So will our new reigning champion, Amano Haruko be able to keep her crown next week? ... Well, that's what we want to say but... we have a very sad announcement to make... Actually, today is the last broadcast of 'You, Too Can Become a Star!'. Thanks for watching us for the past 7 years!" As they wave goodbye, the female host says that the show will be re-entitled as 'Impersonator, You Too Can become a Star!'. Haruko is so surprised at the sudden turn of events. She feels like she was "finally able to go to heaven, only to suddenly fall into a bottomless pit."
After the show, she asks the producer what will happen to her next. The man asks if she can do impersonations, "Such as Iyo-chan(2)?" but Haruko answers no.
Feeling down, Haruko walks away with her trophy and flowers. Along the corridor, one of the male back-up dancers from the show is also asking the producer about the change in the program. "Forget that. Can you do impersonations?" The dancer replies that he did back up dancing to Toshi-chan. The producer says, "It's an impersonation contest, you understand? If you can't do impersonations, then you're fired." The male dancer who happens to be a young Futomaki (still played by Arata Furuta) looks worried, and mumbles to himself, 'Impersonation, impersonation... I can't do any impersonation..." Both feeling depressed, Futomaki and Haruko do not notice that they are walking towards each other. Their sides bump and Haruko's bouquet falls. He picks it up for her and says sorry. Both continue on their own way, without looking back.
This time Haruko's voice is heard as the narrator. 'At that time, I did not even think that that person will change my fate.'
(1. "B Melo" = Part of a song structure; it comes after "A Melo" or first verse, building up to the chorus or 'sabi')
(2. Matsumoto Iyo = another pop idol who also sported the Seiko-chan hairstyle of the 80s)
Next: Week 13 Part 2
Previous: Week 12 (Part 2)
Episode Index: Link
Character Guide: Link
Week 13. "I fell in a 'naraku'*!" (*hell or theater basement) Part 1
"For the meantime... we will have to train real hard in this place called the Hole..."
Episode Summaries:
(Part 2 has now started; there are plenty of new characters [Character Guide has been updated btw!], and many new things being explained to Aki so naturally, this week's episode guides took me a longer time to write than usual; Again thanks to danburi who explained to me a lot about the stuff that went on here...^^)
Ep. 73. This episode opens with flashbacks of young Haruko arriving in Tokyo in 1984. As Aki the Narrator reveals (presumably from her mom's letter that she will read later on): 'My mother Amano Haruko arrived at Ueno Station. Ueno is the entrance to Eastern Tokyo. But the Tohoku Shinkansen has not yet been extended (up to Ueno) and so she seemed to have used a local train from Ohmiya Station.' Haruko is seen having a commemorative photo taken of her arrival, with the street sign "Ameyoko(1)" behind her. 25 years later, as soon as she lands in the same place, Aki eagerly does the same thing but with her cellphone camera.
Aki the Narrator goes on to explain how she got from Kitasanriku to Tokyo by train. 'You use the KitaTetsu going to Miyako Station. Then transfer to Yamada Line to go to Kamaishi Station. Then transfer to Minami (South) Sanriku Line to go to Sakari Station. Then transfer to Ofunato Line to go to Kesennuma Station. Then transfer to Kesennuma Line to go to Ishinomaki Station. Then transfer to Ishinomaki Line to go to Sendai Station... And from there take the Shinkansen... (In other words) coming here is really a bothersome trip.'
Aki carrying her bags walks a bit along Ueno until she reaches "Tokyo Edo Theater," the Ueno theater where Ameyoko Jogakuen Geino Course(2) is based. From up the stairs, talent scout and now GMT47 manager, Takuma is waiting for her at the entrance. At first he welcomes her warmly, asks if she has eaten, and politely takes her bags. Then he notices that someone is missing. "Where is Yui-chan?" Aki asks him if he had received her email. He takes out his phone and reads Aki's message: "Yui-chan's father had collapsed ( ' j ' )/"...Takuma drops Aki's bags and blurts out, "Je-... jeh... jeh... Yui-chan's not coming? Seriously... I told the people in the company... That the candidate for the Center(3) is arriving today from Iwate."
Aki: "'Center'..?"
Takuma: "It's Yui-chan, of course. It's been decided that it'll be Yui-chan!"
Aki: "I'm sorry. But I wanted her to come..."
Takuma snaps: "Of course, we wanted her to come, too!... I'm sorry. It's no use complaining to you but..."
Dismayed, he proceeds inside the theater, not helping Aki anymore with her bags. According to Aki the Narrator, Takuma repeated the words 'It's no use complaining to you' a total of 23 times on this day. 'I also felt more sorry 23 times, too.'
Takuma shows Aki around the Ueno office. "Our headquarters is in Shibuya but the staff related with Ameyoko Jogakuen are stationed here." Aki is told to greet the AmeJo staff in a loud voice. Aki greets them still using her Sodegahama accent: "Good morning! I'm Amano Aki!" She is introduced to AmeJo's chief manager, Kawashima Kosaku. Kawashima asks Takuma: "Areh? Weren't there supposed to be two?" Takuma: "Due to circumstances, she'll be arriving at a later date." Kawashima: "Is she (Aki) the cute one?" Takuma: "No, she's the one with the accent" (oh god lol).
Aki asks where Futomaki is. Takuma says he seldom shows up, and he points to her where his office is. There is also a whiteboard where weird 'teachings'(4) from Futomaki are posted: "You'll get rolled and rolled to get stronger;" "Get rolled in to become big (grand or famous);" "Let the big things roll you in (If someone big tells you to do something, do it)".
At the guard station, the guard also asks if Aki is the 'cute one.' Again, Takuma says she is 'the one with the accent.' Aki is given her nameplate that says, "Amano Aki GMT (Iwate)." Takuma shows her where she should place her nameplate. "You must turn this over(5) before you go home." The nameplate board shows the hierarchical system of the idols in the agency, with of course members of the AmeJo belonging in the pyramid. The four top tiers of the pyramid are for the regular members of the group. At the peak is current Center, Arima Meg, followed by a second tier of 7 other members. Takuma says these 8 topmost ranking members are called by the fans as "AmeJo Hakkenden(6)" (loosely translated as "Lives of 8 Wise AmeJo"). The last tier are for 'reserves,' 'beyond,' 'vintage'... which are basically graduates of AmeJo. And finally, placed unceremoniously down below the pyramid are for the members of GMT. Aki looks at it in dismay. Her nameplate is placed along with five other nameplates in the GMT section.
Then two members of AmeJo walk by, looking obviously younger than Aki. Since they're her senpai, Aki is prompted by Takuma to greet them properly. Aki: "Good evening." The two girls wearing their idol uniforms, greet back with their irritatingly (grrr! srsly hearing them makes me wanna punch a wall) high-pitched, cutesy-cutesy voices, and standardish signature idol lines:
Arisa: "Ameyoko Jogakuen, No. 36 member! I'm an exchange student from a one-sided love star. If my love becomes mutual, I'll die~! I'm here for everyone, Takahata Arisa, 13 yo! Nice to meet you pyon~!"
Aki: "Jeh... 13?!"
The other girl Rina, gets going with their AmeJo standard cheer...
Rina: "What is the 'A' in 'AmeJo'?"
Others: "'A' as in 'Ai' (love)."
Rina: "What is the 'Me' in 'AmeJo'?"
Takuma: "'Me' as in 'Melon'."
Rina: "What is the 'Jo' in 'AmeJo'?"
Takuma: "'Jo' as in 'Jōcho fuantei' (emotional instability)." (omg whaaattt?)
Rina: "Good job! Ah, who am I?"
Takuma: "Narita Rina!"
Rina: "When you read from the top..."
Takuma: "Narita Rina!"
Rina: "When you read from the bottom..."
Takuma: "Narita Rina!"
Rina: "Narita Rina, No. 37 member, 14 yo. Oooh-Wow~!"
The girls excuse themselves and go back to their practice. Aki just could not believe what she had just witnessed (and heard). Aki narrates, 'I wanna go home. That's what I seriously thought. It was still two hours after arriving in Tokyo, and having received baptism by my young senpais... I already felt I wouldn't be able to go on."
Takuma next shows her the stage. Aki goes with him to a dark theater with a lit up stage where members of AmeJo are practicing their song and dance. Takuma: "Weekday show starts at 7:30. Saturday and Sunday has 2 shows each. We do AmeJo shows in this place. Their idol goods are sold next door, Idol café 'Futomaki'." Aki is impressed by it and takes a pic with her cellphone cam, saying she'll be sending it to Yui. "If she sees what a wonderful stage we'll be standing on, she'll be amazed." But Takuma corrects her. "You can't perform on it... It's only for full members of AmeJo. Of course, it won't be that easy. Everyone must have at least one year of training before you get on stage." Aki: "Sorry... So what about the GMT?" Takuma explains that GMT members will be the shadow or understudy. "When a regular member is injured or suddenly falls ill, or has TV work or resting, you'll get to dance in their place. I do need you to learn their moves though." Aki: "Then, I won't be able to perform unless someone hurts herself?" Takuma: "Having said that, don't resort to putting thumbtacks in their shoes, okay?" Aki says in her head, 'Ah-Areh? The image I had of this was somewhat very different.'
Aki is next shown the way down to the basement of the theater where they will receive their training. Takuma calls it 'the Hole' or 'naraku'(7). They find only two members of the GMT hanging out at the Hole, Iruma Shiori and Endo Mana. Takuma asks where the others are. They tell him (both with their own hometown accents) that the two other girls went out to buy something while one went to her part-time job. Takuma introduces Aki to them.
Shiori (The heck, Kudo Kankuro. Of all the many names in the world, why name her 'Shiori' when there's already a character named Shiori in Kitasanriku?): "Eh... Where's the cute girl?"
Takuma: "She didn't come."
Shiori: "EH!! So then who will be the Center?"
Takuma: "Be quiet. Hurry up and introduce yourselves."
Shiori does her signature self-introduction with gestures, in a half-hearted, monotonous manner: "We don't have an ocean(8) but we do have a dream. Saitama resident, Idol 'No Ocean' of liveliness, Iruma Shiori. Riding on the Tōbu Tōjō Line again today, I'm full zip~."
Takuma: "Try to put more energy into it."
Shiori laughs and apologizes. She calls on Mana from Fukuoka, who has a slight cough...
Mana: "Fukuoka Tenjin... (coughs)... Uh, sorry... Oyafuko Dolls, representing Yuzu-koshō (citron-based pepper paste condiment), I'm Endo Mana."
Aki greets them and asks why is there only 5 GMT members so far. They tell her that there were many reasons, like "Some parents came and took their daughters back home." Mana: "Seems that gathering 47 members is a bit impossible." The two girls discuss where Iwate is located and what it is known for. They mention everything they know about Tohoku region without hitting anything right. "Is it somewhere above Niigata?... What is it known for? Itako? Mt. Osora?... Kiritanpo?... Date Masamune?... No! I know, Namahage!" Finally, Aki answers, "Ama-san." She looks around and realizes Takuma had left her. She turns back to the girls and asks if he told them anything about her (Aki) and Yui. Shiori: "He confirmed that the 'cute one' will be the Center... About the 'one with the accent'... (Asking Mana) Did he say anything...?" Mana doesn't answer.
Aki (looking dejected): "Never mind..."
The two girls try to console her. Mana: "No, but he said your character is very strong!..." Shiori: "It may not work on most but... for some 'maniacs' (fanatics), it'll be great."
Aki (confused): "What're you saying...?" (lol)
Just then, the other girls have arrived, Kyan Ellen of Okinawa and Onodera Kaoruko of Sendai. They are introduced to Aki. Aki is delighted to hear Kaoruko's Tohoku accent, and remembers her from the Beef Tongue Girls music video of "Zunda, Zunda." Kaoruko gives her special self-introduction: "I'm Onodera Kaoruko of Sendai Beef Tongue Girls, 14 yo!" The others inform her that the remaining girl (the Tokushima girl) went to her part-time job. They ask her where will Aki be staying. Aki: "I have a home in Setagaya." Then, hearing a song from up the stage, the girls suddenly stand up to dance and sing. Aki watches them follow AmeJo's dance routine, as she narrates: 'For the meantime, GMT is the little sister unit of Ameyoko Jogakuen, and is treated like second string players. Our turn may come suddenly so in order to prepare for it, we will have to train hard in this place called 'the Hole'.'
Aki goes home to Setagaya. As she is walking carrying all her bags, she reaffirms her hatred of Tokyo. 'I know it wouldn't be so easy but... I didn't expect it to be THIS hard... Mom, Natsu-bappa, what will I do?... Yui-chan, please hurry and come here soon.'
At the hospital in Kitasanriku, Yui is waiting at the lobby along with Hiroshi. Her phone rings, and Hiroshi tells her to tone it down. "We're in a hospital." Yui reads Aki's message along with a picture of AmeJo on stage: "Yui-chan, I arrived in Tokyo safely. The theater of AmeJo is amazing! Wish I can stand on this stage with you soon! I'll be waiting." Then, their mom calls for them to come inside the the doctor's office.
Aki arrives at her Dad's apartment in Setagaya. It is her first time to come home in a year. She sounds the doorbell, and tells her Dad through the intercom that she has arrived. Masamune opens the door but does not let her in. He just looks at her and says, "Yo."
Aki: "Sorry for arriving outta the blue."
Masamune: "No prob, no prob... What is it?"
Aki: "Have you heard from Mom?"
Masamune: "No, I didn't... I didn't hear from her... Well, what was it about?"
Aki: "Can I come in?" She tries to force her way in.
But Masamune holds the door firmly: "No no no..."
Aki tells him he's acting strange. Masamune: "Who? Me? I'm not doing anything strange."
But through the door, Aki sees a woman inside the apartment. She is drying her wet hair with a towel while wearing a bathrobe. Masamune, realizing he got caught, utters "Jesus" in English...
(1. Ameyoko = a bustling market street near Ueno station)
(2. "Ameyoko Jogakuen Geino Course = the idol group's complete name; it literally translates as "Ameyoko All-Girls School Entertainment Course")
(3. Center = top-ranking member that is given the center position during live performances and in most photo shoots)
(4. Btw, since his nickname is 'Futomaki' which literally means 'big or fat roll,' his 'teachings' has words like 'roll' and 'grand' or 'big')
(5. If the nameplate's pink side is facing forward, then its owner is inside the office; If the blue side is showing, it means she has not yet arrived, went home, absent or stepped out)
(6. A reference to "Nansō Satomi Hakkenden", which is a tale of 8 Guardian Dogs - thanks to danburi for the tip!)
(7. 'Naraku' = a slang term for the place under the theater or "understage" and it also means 'hell,' 'underworld' or 'abyss'; For these episode guides, I will call it 'the Hole')
(8. Saitama is landlocked and so it has 'No Ocean,' which is the name of Shiori's idol group)
Ep. 74. The woman inside his dad's apartment goes in one of the rooms. But before that, she asks Masamune, "Who is it?" He answers, "Daughter..." The woman does not say anything and closes the door behind her. Still not letting her in, Masamune asks Aki why she is in Tokyo. Aki: "Sorry." Masamune: "No, I'm not mad... I was just wondering why you came." Then Aki's phone rings. It is Haruko.
"Listen, you..." Haruko says from the Rias shop in Kitasanriku. "Why didn't you call me? I was worried! Did you read my letter? Have you eaten? Where are you right now? Setagaya? Eh? You went there already?" Aki explains that since she's gonna be busy soon, she thought to get the greetings over with already. Haruko: "I see. What's your Dad doing? Still the same?"
Aki looks over at her father standing quietly by the door. "Yeah. He's doing REALLLYYY well~!!" Masamune goes over and glares at his daughter. Aki continues on the phone: "The usual... He's fine as usual."
Haruko: "Hmm, I see..." She then asks her if she heard any news from Yui, and Aki answers no.
Meanwhile at the hospital, the doctor explains Isao's condition to his family, using xray images of his brain. "Even if he regains consciousness, the after-effects may remain. Since it is a brain disease, there'll be speech disorder and paralysis of limbs..." While hearing such devastating news, Yui unknowingly crushes her Shinkansen ticket in her hand.
Back at the Rias, Daikichi and Sugawara talk about how ironic things turned out to be. Daikichi: "To think that Yui-chan was the one who wanted to go, and then this happened." Sugawara: "Yeah... Aki-chan was originally reluctant to go... It's like she only went to escort Yui-chan. (Turns to Haruko) Any news from Aki?" Haruko: "Hmm... I smell something fishy... That girl might be hiding something."
Back in Setagaya, Aki asks her Dad about her old room. "It's still the same when you left." Aki: "Can I come in? Since I'm attending school in September, I want to take some stuff that I'll be needing."
Masamune lets her in. Aki goes inside the apartment, staring at the room where that woman is. She gets inside her room, and flips out. 'This is the worst! To think I came here to be consoled, so stupid!' Aki gets more bags and packs more stuff into them while Masamune, racked with guilt, try to desperately explain it to her. He says the woman he's apparently living with is divorced, a daughter of an owner of a liquor store that's been turned into a convenience store. They used to go to the same junior high school, and worked in a book committee. "Anyway, your mom and I divorced at the end of last year. We met at a class reunion on January 4, so that means, there wasn't a second nor a minute that I committed adultery!" Aki just looks at her father, and says "Sorry for disturbing," and leaves.
'I don't even wanna know my Dad's secrets, and left with even more luggage.' Aki aimlessly wanders around Tokyo streets, feeling depressed. 'Mom, Yui-chan... I want to see you. Natsu-bappa, I wanna go diving in the sea. I don't like the land. I'm fed up with the city.' Just then, a girl calls her name. It was her former high school classmate in Tokyo (recall flashback scene in Ep. 5). Aki remembers her as a major culprit in a bullying group, and that she said some bad things about Aki behind her back. The girl greets her "Long time no see." Aki politely greets back. But the girl calls on her friends and tells them she saw in the internet that "here Kurokawa Aki is popular in the Tohoku region. Did you know she's an idol?" They swarm around her, asking rude questions ("Seriously? Akiba type? Or gravure type?") and trying to take her picture with their cellphone cam. Feeling uncomfortable, Aki hurries up and leaves. The girl calls out to her, "Hey, I didn't say you can go cocky on me!" Aki hears them laughing derisively as she runs away. "Was that really an idol? hahahaha!"...
Next thing we see, Aki is crying. She is with Takuma who apparently had taken her to where the GMT members are staying. He asks her what happened but Aki does not say anything. He takes her bags this time, and tells her to follow him inside a sort of compound. He says they're in Yanaka, the dormitory camp of GMT...
Inside, Aki sees the other member, the one who went to her part-time job earlier, eating some cup noodles in the living room. Takuma scolds her for eating late at night, and she says sorry. He asks her to introduce herself to Aki. Looking tired, the girl begrudgingly gets up. She lets out a sigh, and puts on a grin and goes, "Yatto sa! Yatto! Yatto! Yes! Miyashita Ayumi, 19 yo, leader of idol group from Tokushima Prefecture, 'Whirlpool 7'(1)! Yatto-sa~!" Her smile disappears quickly, turns her back, and returns to her cup noodles (I like her!).
A short moment of awkward silence passes. Aki suddenly puts down her bags. With cheeks still stained with tears, she comes up with her own albeit lame self-introduction (This moment alone will erase any doubts you may have on whether Nounen Rena is perfect for this role). Complete with holding-her-breath-underwater hand gestures, she goes, "Coming from Kitasanriku City, Iwate prefecture, I'm Aki of the Ama, Amano Aki!"
Ayumi just looks at her and nods. But Takuma is surprised, saying, "Areh? Doesn't it look like... somehow?" (I'm guessing he's surprised that she is okay now considering she was just crying a while back)
Aki giggles, looks around, and asks, "So everyone gets to live here?"
Takuma: "Generally those who came from their hometowns."
Ayumi: "And those who were deserted by their parents. And there's no bath here, so you have to use the public bath. Or you can use the shower room at the theater. (Points at the kitchen) And we'll all be sharing the refrigerator. (To Takuma) Who will she share a room with?"
Since it's late and probably the girls are already sleeping, Takuma says to Aki, "I'll assign you a room tomorrow. For the meantime, you can sleep in my room for today. (Noooo!) You can put your bags here. (Goes to his room) This way..."
Aki turns to Ayumi, and asks confusedly, "'My room'?" Again, Ayumi just looks at her and continues eating her noodles. Aki nervously sees Takuma laying out the futon for her IN HIS ROOM. He proceeds to change into his pajamas (Uwaah~ I'm sooo jealous! lol)
Later, inside his dark room, Takuma lies sleeping on his bed while on the floor, Aki is lying on the futon (I was literally screaming adsrfegdydhjsk while watching this scene)...
She is trying to get some sleep but Takuma's presence makes her uneasy. 'Natsu-bappa, I'm in a scandalous situation. A man who is not my Dad is sleeping in the same room as I am, only 30-40 cms. away. Although it's not really scandalous, I'm in big trouble. What should I do if he suddenly attacks me?' She thinks such an idea is too laughable and blurts out loudly, "No way, no way!" She goes back to 'fantasizing,' 'Even as joke, I'm an upcoming idol... Even someone like Mizuguchi-san wouldn't make a move on a precious commodity, I'm sure...' She looks over at him as he changes position on his bed. She continues imagining if he DOES make a move on her. "No, no, no!" 'Mizuguchi-san is a healthy man before a company man... I'm sure he has that kind of desire too... He may lose his sense of reason and become a beast...' The idea was just too much for her and she blurts out loud, "No, no, no! For Mizuguchi-san, it's only--"
Takuma wakes up, annoyed. "You're so noisy. Stop mumbling there, and go to sleep already."
Aki says sorry and starts imagining uni and counting them like she always does when she can't sleep. '1 uni... 2 uni... 3 uni... 4 uni...' But she starts counting them out loud. "5 uni... 6 uni... 7 uni... Uwahh~ Too many to count!"
Takuma: "Amano, you're making me angry."
Aki says sorry again. This time, for some reason, she imagines multiple happy Ben-san clones peacefully polishing amber inside the Rias, and counts each one aloud. "1 Ben-san, 2 Ben-san, 3 Ben-san..."
Takuma bolts up on his bed. "I told you to be quiet!" But snoring softly, Aki is already sound asleep.
The next morning, Aki wakes up to find the girls fixing breakfast. She asks Shiori if she's making miso soup. Shiori: "Yeah, since my family back home sent me some green onions. (Points at Kaoruko) The rice is from Onodera-chan's family, it's a Sasanishiki(2). Kaoruko explains she's from a family of rice farmers. Mana also shows off her hometown delicacy Mentaiko(3). But Ellen has the most with shallots, bitter gourd, and Chiragaa(4), all from Okinawa. Aki exclaims "Jejeh!" while looking at all the food.
Shiori asks her why she says 'Jejeh,' and Aki explains it to all of them what it's all about. They like it and find it fun, and even start using it, too.
Then, Takuma enters announcing Aki's room assignment. "Amano, you'll be sharing Room 1 with Iruma Shiori and Onodera Kaoruko."
The girls protest. Shiori: "Jeh? Isn't it supposed to be only 2 people per room?" Ayumi: "We have plenty enough rooms, let's keep having 2 people per room." Takuma reminds them that there'll be more and more girls coming in. He also asks Shiori why she's staying in the dorm anyway.
Takuma: "Don't you have a family home (in Tokyo)?"
Shiori: "Because, I'm the leader." (Meaning: She wants to stay close to the girls or else they might get close without her)
Takuma: "If you're gonna live here, then give back the transportation money we gave you, you thief."
He gives some AmeJo CDs and DVDs to Aki. "Afterwards, Amano, you watch these and memorize their songs and dance moves. Keep listening to "Watery-eyes September," "On the Calendar is December," and the most popular B-track, 'My Penpal is in Vancouver.'" (Again, reference to Canada! Something tells me Kankuro might have a Canadian friend; Either that or he just wants to rhyme all the song titles with '-er').
Shiori asks whose shadow will Aki be. Takuma: "Futomaki will decide that." Aki the Narrator explains: 'If a regular member is sick or injured, her shadow will come out and take her place. It's also known as a pinch hitter.'
Takuma tells Aki before leaving, "Since no one will be using the Hole, go (and practice) over there after eating."
A cheerful Aki goes to the theater by bike, greeting shoppers and passers-by. But her cheerfulness dissipates as she looks at the AmeJo CDs and DVDs, probably wondering if she's really cut out for this. She goes down to the Hole getting ready to practice but she hears a man singing from the dance studio. She takes a look and sees Futomaki, wearing an all-black work-out clothes, dancing in front of the mirrored wall. He seems to be coming up with a new dance step for the hit song he wrote for Amejo. ♬~"On the calendar is December... But my heart is a survivor"~♬. Aki recognizes him and exclaims, "Jejeh!" Futomaki looks at her, crosses his arms with his thumbs sticking out (his signature pose), and says, "Good morning." Then, he resumes back to what he was doing.
Aki narrates: 'No matter how ignorant you are of show business, you WILL recognize him intuitively. The producer of Ameyoko Jogakuen, president of Heartful, Aramaki Taichi, commonly known as Futomaki-san, the head honcho of the company... Yui-chan, I'm in a troubling situation. I'm not quite a full member yet, and shouldn't meet with Futomaki-san but for some reason, the two of us are alone together in the Hole.'
She tries to leave but Futomaki calls her. "Say, girl!"
(1. Idol group 'Whirlpool 7" is named after the Naruto whirlpools, which are "tidal whirlpools in the Naruto Strait, a channel between Naruto in Tokushima and Awaji Island in Hyōgo, Japan" ~wiki)
(2. Sasashiniki = Japanese rice from Sendai)
(3. Mentaiko= marinated roe of cod or pollack)
(4. Chiragaa = Okinawan dish of pork meat and skin from the pig's face, smoked and seasoned)
Ep. 75. "Yes!" Aki responds nervously. Futomaki shows her two dance moves, and then asks, "Which one is good?" Aki: "Eh?" He shows it again. "Which one do you like?" Aki is speechless, wondering if he was testing her. 'Is he trying to see if I have potential as an Idol? Yui-chan, please tell me what to do!" Futomaki finally says, "Well, either one is okay (giggles)." He goes back to dancing. But Aki goes over and shows him instead a rather awkward, stiff dance step she came up with. "I think this one is good." He looks at her silently, so she repeats it again. But Futomaki, holds his chin, and just stares at her, still not saying a word. 'Shoot! I made him mad!"
Just then, a lovely tall girl from up the stairs, greets them a good morning. "Jeh!" Aki looks at the girl who's wearing a silver show costume and descending the spiral staircase like a some outer space goddess. 'So pr-pretty! And she has long legs!' Futomaki calls her by her pet name. "Mamerin, starting today we will change the step in the B Melo(1)." He proceeds to teach her the new step. Aki is surprised to see that it was the dance step she had shown earlier to him (Whyyyy?). The girl got it right away, and Futomaki tells her to teach it to the other members. While the girl continues to practice the step, Futomaki asks Aki if this is the first time they met. Aki: "Well, yes in person... I'm the Ama with too much accent..." Futomaki instantly remembers her. "Oh, right! You sang 'Shiosai no Memory'. Where's the other girl?" Aki: "Due to family circumstances, Yui-chan will be coming a little late." The pretty girl asks Futomaki if she can go back to her group. He introduces her to Aki. "Do you know her? She's Arima Meg. Nickname 'Mamerin'. She's Amejo's Center." Aki: "Jejeh!" 'She's the Center? No wonder she's pretty.' Then, Futomaki asks if she has already been assigned as somebody's shadow. Aki: "Not yet." Futomaki: "Not yet? Then, you'll be Mamerin's shadow. (To Meg) It's okay, right?" (again, whhhhyyyy?) Aki in her head says 'I was so surprised I could not even utter a 'Jeh!'' Meg seems also surprised and did not say anything. Instead, she smiles and says, "Excuse me" and leaves. But going up the stairs, she sourly looks at them as they continue with the dance step.
At the standing lounge area of the office, the GMT girls gossip about Futomaki. Shiori says he used to be a dancer, and the others are surprised to hear it. "You mean like a member of ZOO (a singing group with dancing members)?" Shiori says he was one of those back-up dancers for Toshi-chan (see Week 9). She further reveals, "That is why, he is a 'dance moves first' kind of guy."
Others: "What do you mean, 'Dance moves first'?"
Shiori: "For example, if you're a 'Lyrics First' person, you think of the lyrics first, then come up with the melody to match it. A 'Melody First' person will come up with the melody first, then come up with the lyrics to match it..."
Kaoruko: "So a 'Dance moves first'..."
Shiori: "...Will think of the dance step first. When he makes songs, he'll think of a dance step, and then come up with the melody and lyrics to fit it."
Aki and the girls are impressed. "Jejejeh!"
Through the glass walls of Futomaki's office, the girls can see their boss inside, dancing and concentrating on new dance moves (and probably a new song). "He's amazing~." Shiori: "Even without music, he can dance really well."
Just then, a delivery guy from a sushi shop called 'Burai Sushi' comes in. "Thank you for waiting! 10 servings of special sushi have arrived!" The GMT girls gather around him, looking at the expertly prepared sushi. "Looks so good!" The delivery guy says, "Today, we've got hon-maguro, nakatoro, and sea urchin from Sanriku! Please go ahead." But Futomaki calls the guy over. He then announces to the AmeJo girls that their sushi has arrived. The AmeJo girls chirpily go up the stairs with the delivery guy to eat their sushi while the GMTs can only look on longingly. The girls explain to Aki that Futomaki always orders sushi, but only for the regular members, of course.
That night, Haruko talks to her ex-husband on the phone about Aki's plans to be an idol. "So from now on, she'll be studying there for one year... By the way, can I talk to you some other time? I'm setting up shop right now."
Masamune (who is having a break eating a sandwich in some Tokyo park): "Which is more important to you? The shop or your daughter? And a thing like an idol... It's not so practical!"
Haruko: "Yeah, we discussed it already. We went through that enough last week."
Masamune: "Last week? I didn't know... Why wasn't I told about this?"
Haruko: "We made a decision already about that so don't worry about it.."
Masamune: "You don't care do you... Coming here outta the blue to visit me."
Haruko: "Wait... did you turn her away?"
Masamune: "N-no, I didn't... At any rate, should we be calm about it? This show business can somehow be..."
Haruko: "It'll be fine. The president is Futomaki."
Masamune: "Futomaki...? (realizing something) Futomaki?!"
Haruko: "Heh~, you know him, huh?"
Masamune: "Do I know him...? That's not good, isn't it!"
Aki comes back to the dorm, while talking with Natsu on the phone. Natsu is at home in Sodegahama, grilling squid on the hearth with Yayoi. Aki goes inside the room she shares with Kaoruko (Seems Shiori already went home) while telling her grandma what happened on that day, including Futomaki acknowledging the dance step she came up with for one of the songs.
Natsu: "That's great! You'll be the Center, or the one in the middle."
Aki: "No, Natsu-bappa. I'll be the Shadow, it's like the substitute only. I will only get to dance in place of the Center when she's absent or has an injury."
Natsu: "I see, I see."
Aki: "Do you really understand, Bappa?"
Natsu: "The most important thing is you're doing well."
Aki: "Yeah, well... How is everyone?"
Natsu: "You know, Yayoi's false tooth went missing LOL!"
Aki: "Jejeh!"
Yayoi (gets on the phone to explain it to Aki): "You see, there was a secret spot I never told anyone. There were tons of sea urchins everywhere! When I said 'Jeh!' my post crown flew out. I realized that it sunk to the bottom of the sea. No matter how long I looked for it, I couldn't find it... A tooth worth 200,000, all gone LOL!"
While Aki is laughing at Yayoi's story, she reads some graffiti on the wall of her room, probably written by former AmeJo trainees, who used to stay in the dorm ("We are A-Me-Jo!!" "Friendship, take care of your comrades"). Aki remembers something. "Oh, by the way, can you please send wakame and nori. 'Cause I'll be putting them in our miso soup."
When she was done with the call, she apologizes to Kaoruko who is taking the upper bunk bed. "Sorry, was I too noisy?" Kaoruko: "I miss hearing the Tohoku accent." Aki: "Is the Iwate accent different from Miyagi's?" Kaoruko: "They're both from the North so it's very similar. But we don't say 'Jejeh!'." Aki: "I see. Well, I taught myself the accent, you know."
Later, it's lights out and both girls are on their beds. Aki narrates: 'One way or another, I'm full of anxieties but for the meantime, having a room to sleep in, food to eat, and a roommate with an accent... I'm able to feel secure.' Even while in bed, she is still listening to the AmeJo song using her headphones, and memorizing the dance steps. "♬~Forever lalalala, Greed, greed...~ Ah!" She remembers something and suddenly gets up to get it. It was her mother's letter that she forgot to read. She goes down to the living room to read it...
Haruko: 'Aki, by this time, you are probably headed from Miyako to Sendai, somewhere in the middle or maybe you're already in the Shinkansen.'
Aki: "Sorry Mom, I'm already in Tokyo. I had a lot of adjusting to do."
Haruko: 'I do feel bad somewhat... about raising my hand to you twice... Around that time... No, maybe much earlier... Back when you started to dream of becoming an idol... I knew I had to tell you this someday... This is the story of a few years of my life that I told no one...'
Haruko's Tokyo story starts when she arrives at Ueno station. She goes straight for the TV studio where she is set to compete in an amateur singing contest called "You Too Can Become a Star!".
The show starts with the hosts introducing young Haruko as "the 7th challenger hailing from the Northeastern block... a high school student from Kitasanriku City, Iwate Prefecture, Amano Haruko-kun! Singing Matsuda Seiko's song 'Kaze Tachinu' (Btw, actress Arimura Kasumi is lipsynching to Koizumi Kyoko's actual singing voice)."
Haruko goes on stage and performs. Her singing is impeccable and the audience's response seem positive. There are male dancers garbed in 80s wear, who are backing up her song. At her right, sits the reigning winner on her 'throne' like a queen, complete with a crown and cape.
Haruko's song ends and it is time for the reigning 9-time winner to perform. She sings Judy Ongg's "Miserarete" while also being backed up by the male dancers. Haruko is standing on the champion's right side, swaying to the song. However Haruko notices something fishy: one of the head judges' headphone cord is not connected and he seemed only pretending to listen.
Then, afterwards, the tabulation of scores are finally announced, and it is no other than Haruko who got the higher score of 62 over 38. She receives her crown and trophy, and is truly happy. However, the host also makes a startling announcement. "So will our new reigning champion, Amano Haruko be able to keep her crown next week? ... Well, that's what we want to say but... we have a very sad announcement to make... Actually, today is the last broadcast of 'You, Too Can Become a Star!'. Thanks for watching us for the past 7 years!" As they wave goodbye, the female host says that the show will be re-entitled as 'Impersonator, You Too Can become a Star!'. Haruko is so surprised at the sudden turn of events. She feels like she was "finally able to go to heaven, only to suddenly fall into a bottomless pit."
After the show, she asks the producer what will happen to her next. The man asks if she can do impersonations, "Such as Iyo-chan(2)?" but Haruko answers no.
Feeling down, Haruko walks away with her trophy and flowers. Along the corridor, one of the male back-up dancers from the show is also asking the producer about the change in the program. "Forget that. Can you do impersonations?" The dancer replies that he did back up dancing to Toshi-chan. The producer says, "It's an impersonation contest, you understand? If you can't do impersonations, then you're fired." The male dancer who happens to be a young Futomaki (still played by Arata Furuta) looks worried, and mumbles to himself, 'Impersonation, impersonation... I can't do any impersonation..." Both feeling depressed, Futomaki and Haruko do not notice that they are walking towards each other. Their sides bump and Haruko's bouquet falls. He picks it up for her and says sorry. Both continue on their own way, without looking back.
This time Haruko's voice is heard as the narrator. 'At that time, I did not even think that that person will change my fate.'
(1. "B Melo" = Part of a song structure; it comes after "A Melo" or first verse, building up to the chorus or 'sabi')
(2. Matsumoto Iyo = another pop idol who also sported the Seiko-chan hairstyle of the 80s)
Next: Week 13 Part 2
Previous: Week 12 (Part 2)
Episode Index: Link
Character Guide: Link
