Oct. 7th, 2014 09:33 pm
Ginnikan Ep 8: Drama Notes
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
earth_colorsEp. 8 "I have been chasing the past"
Episode Synopsis.
Matsukichi had come back to Ikawaya after finally creating a firmer agar, thus fulfilling his promises to Maho and to her father's memory. The new agar had also brought even more profit to Ikawaya, also partly due to Wasuke's crafty business acumen. Now that things seem better, Umekichi finally leaves Ikawaya to take over the Yamshiroya couple's shop, and have a family of his own. Osaki too has finally accepted that Matsukichi is not meant for her and decides to move on... Hanbee who was being threatened by someone from his former employment, had been forced to close his agar production site in his village. Accepting a donation of ginnikan from Ikawaya, he had set off to find good quality seaweed, and a place to build a new agar factory... Meanwhile, as promised, Maho and Matsukichi continue to not see each other. Moreover, Ohiro's sickness has been getting worse... Then one day, a man came to Ikawaya. He asks to see "Tsurunosuke", and introduces himself as Tatebe Genbu, the samurai who killed Matsukichi's father many years ago. Wasuke reminds Genbu that he had already sold off his revenge for the amount of gin 2 kan, and had promised to not come near Matsukichi again. However... "The revenge..." Genbu says, "is not worth as much..."
Drama Notes:
Takada Kaoru (author). Takada Kaoru is a Japanese author of period novels, born in 1959 in Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture. She graduated from law school at Chuo University. Her short story, "Shino no Sakura" won the Mayor's Award in the "4th Kita Prefecture Uchida Yasuo Mystery Literary Award" of 2006. The following year, her short story "Shusse Hana" won the 2nd Novel NON Short Story-Period Novel Prize Award. In 2008, under the same title, she debuted as a published author of a book of short stories, under Shodensha. She is also the author of "Mi wo tsukushi Ryōri chō" series of novels, which is about a girl from Osaka who overcomes odds to becoming a chef in Tokyo (also adapted into TV specials by TV Asahi). Her novel Ginnikan was published in 2009 and had won the 1st Osaka Book One Project.
(info: ja.wiki)
The fires of Osaka Tenmangu. Throughout the Edo Period, the Tenjin-sha (shrine) (now known as Tenman-gu) was destroyed by fire for a total of 7 times, (and had been rebuilt 7 times as well): 1686, 1724, 1768, 1777, 1792, 1837, and 1846. It still suffered damages and destruction during the Meiji Era due to fire, flood and the World War II air raids of 1945. The shrine is considered the heart and soul of Osaka businessmen, that is why they would readily donate big sums of money for its rebuilding. According to the ledger of the shrine during the Edo period, money received reportedly amounted to 500 monme to gin 1 kan per donation.
(info/pic: osaka-noren100, nhk)
Hikimayu. Before the Meiji era, women practice hikimayu or shaving eyebrows when she gets married or gives birth. Samurai wives or those of a higher status would also darken their teeth in a practice known as ohaguro.
(info: wiki)
Osouji. End-of-the-year cleaning of a house, school or workplace, a way to welcome the new year with a clean slate. Unpaid accounts are ideally settled as well in an effort to have a clean and an orderly start of the New Year.
(info: gojapan)
Shogunate Reforms. During this time period, the Tokugawa Shogunate tried to institute series of reforms to address concerns of malcontent among farmers and peasants due to a failing economy and poor harvests. There were uprisings staged by farmers who were fed up by these conditions, plus natural calamities, and the growing gap between the ruling class and the common man. These reforms included practicing frugality and humility. That is why when Hikosaka Kazuma, Matsukichi's father learned about the misuse of public funds in their village, he was outraged. If an official is found guilty of corruption and misuse of funds, he will most likely be condemned to death or banished.
(info: A History of Japan: 1615-1867)
The Tencchan Appreciation Semi-Post.
Tencchan is the "kyogenmawashi" [狂言回し] or an indispensable supporting character who often plays the role of narrator or storyteller, and sometimes gives commentary about the story events as it progresses. Tencchan is voiced by Osaka actor, comedian, and entertainer, Yamaguchi Tomomitsu. As for the Shiba inu playing Tencchan, his name is kept unknown. But he was reportedly scouted during a dog show. (info/pix: tsujicho, hayashi kento's hp)
Here are some pix and gif of Tencchan's adorable moments on the set of the drama:
Ginnikan Episode Index: (link)
Episode Synopsis.
Matsukichi had come back to Ikawaya after finally creating a firmer agar, thus fulfilling his promises to Maho and to her father's memory. The new agar had also brought even more profit to Ikawaya, also partly due to Wasuke's crafty business acumen. Now that things seem better, Umekichi finally leaves Ikawaya to take over the Yamshiroya couple's shop, and have a family of his own. Osaki too has finally accepted that Matsukichi is not meant for her and decides to move on... Hanbee who was being threatened by someone from his former employment, had been forced to close his agar production site in his village. Accepting a donation of ginnikan from Ikawaya, he had set off to find good quality seaweed, and a place to build a new agar factory... Meanwhile, as promised, Maho and Matsukichi continue to not see each other. Moreover, Ohiro's sickness has been getting worse... Then one day, a man came to Ikawaya. He asks to see "Tsurunosuke", and introduces himself as Tatebe Genbu, the samurai who killed Matsukichi's father many years ago. Wasuke reminds Genbu that he had already sold off his revenge for the amount of gin 2 kan, and had promised to not come near Matsukichi again. However... "The revenge..." Genbu says, "is not worth as much..."
Drama Notes:
Takada Kaoru (author). Takada Kaoru is a Japanese author of period novels, born in 1959 in Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture. She graduated from law school at Chuo University. Her short story, "Shino no Sakura" won the Mayor's Award in the "4th Kita Prefecture Uchida Yasuo Mystery Literary Award" of 2006. The following year, her short story "Shusse Hana" won the 2nd Novel NON Short Story-Period Novel Prize Award. In 2008, under the same title, she debuted as a published author of a book of short stories, under Shodensha. She is also the author of "Mi wo tsukushi Ryōri chō" series of novels, which is about a girl from Osaka who overcomes odds to becoming a chef in Tokyo (also adapted into TV specials by TV Asahi). Her novel Ginnikan was published in 2009 and had won the 1st Osaka Book One Project.
(info: ja.wiki)
The fires of Osaka Tenmangu. Throughout the Edo Period, the Tenjin-sha (shrine) (now known as Tenman-gu) was destroyed by fire for a total of 7 times, (and had been rebuilt 7 times as well): 1686, 1724, 1768, 1777, 1792, 1837, and 1846. It still suffered damages and destruction during the Meiji Era due to fire, flood and the World War II air raids of 1945. The shrine is considered the heart and soul of Osaka businessmen, that is why they would readily donate big sums of money for its rebuilding. According to the ledger of the shrine during the Edo period, money received reportedly amounted to 500 monme to gin 1 kan per donation.
(info/pic: osaka-noren100, nhk)
Hikimayu. Before the Meiji era, women practice hikimayu or shaving eyebrows when she gets married or gives birth. Samurai wives or those of a higher status would also darken their teeth in a practice known as ohaguro.
(info: wiki)
Osouji. End-of-the-year cleaning of a house, school or workplace, a way to welcome the new year with a clean slate. Unpaid accounts are ideally settled as well in an effort to have a clean and an orderly start of the New Year.
(info: gojapan)
Shogunate Reforms. During this time period, the Tokugawa Shogunate tried to institute series of reforms to address concerns of malcontent among farmers and peasants due to a failing economy and poor harvests. There were uprisings staged by farmers who were fed up by these conditions, plus natural calamities, and the growing gap between the ruling class and the common man. These reforms included practicing frugality and humility. That is why when Hikosaka Kazuma, Matsukichi's father learned about the misuse of public funds in their village, he was outraged. If an official is found guilty of corruption and misuse of funds, he will most likely be condemned to death or banished.
(info: A History of Japan: 1615-1867)
The Tencchan Appreciation Semi-Post.
Tencchan is the "kyogenmawashi" [狂言回し] or an indispensable supporting character who often plays the role of narrator or storyteller, and sometimes gives commentary about the story events as it progresses. Tencchan is voiced by Osaka actor, comedian, and entertainer, Yamaguchi Tomomitsu. As for the Shiba inu playing Tencchan, his name is kept unknown. But he was reportedly scouted during a dog show. (info/pix: tsujicho, hayashi kento's hp)
Here are some pix and gif of Tencchan's adorable moments on the set of the drama:
Ginnikan Episode Index: (link)
