{04} Ohisama
It's either there's more things happening these past few weeks, or I want to fit in all the details, because I've been writing essays for these weekly summaries. Week 13 is probably the longest by far because there's so many loose ends to tie up now that the war is over. While it's inevitable that people lose their lives fighting in the front lines, I'm glad many more made it back home. I think it would be interesting to see how they start to rebuild their lives the next couple of weeks.
Because I couldn't pick between these two photos, I'm using both of them. LOL.
Summaries from the earlier weeks:
Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10
Week 11 | Week 12
Week Thirteen: Return Home 帰家
Ryoichi returns to Matsumoto after his factory in Nagoya closed. Yoko was happy to have her father back. Michio proposed having him stay with them, but Yoko interjects, saying her father probably wants to go back home to Azumino to be close to her mother. Yoko also returns to Azumino for the first time in a long while to be with her father. Ryoichi asks Yoko if she knows of the future of the house. Ryoichi tells her it's Haruki's dream to open a doctor's office there.
However, later they are interrupted by Machiko's arrival with the mail. One of the letters she delivers is a postcard from Shigeki. He informs them of Haruki's death. Yoko is numb from hearing the news. She recalls memories from her childhood with Haruki reading her favourite poem, 'Kokoro ni Taiyou wo Motte'. Ryoichi tells Yoko that Haruki was jealous of her, since she was already born with the sun. He tells her not to be sad anymore, as they should be proud of him.
Tokuko tells Yoko she doesn't need to push herself so hard, but she says she's done crying over it. Ikuko visits Yoko at school to check up on her. Both of them worry about Machiko and decide to stop by her house. Yoko tells Machiko that Haruki visited Matsumoto before leaving for the war and hands over the letter he entrusted to her. Yoko tells her that it was his one and only selfish request. Machiko starts to tear up. Ikuko wonders why there's so much sadness in their lives and tells them that all three of them will be together until they grow old.
August 1945. The principal announces in the staff room that Hiroshima had just been bombed and the entire city was wiped out. Yoko holds onto Natsuko as she starts to cry. Natsuko screams that she needs to go to Hiroshima and as Yoko holds onto her, she faints. When she wakes up later, Yoko asks her to stay with her family since Natsuko lived by herself. However, Natsuko was hopeful that he would come see her, so she refused the request. Yoko's voiceover said that he never came and that Natsuko never married.
A news announcement broadcasted on the radio on August 15 officially ended the war. Japan had lost. The end of the war brought back memories from over the years. As Yoko stepped onto the streets and noticed the lights back on for the first time, she finally realized the war was over.
The new school semester started. The principal announced that all the textbooks they've been using up to that point can no longer be used. Yoko imagines one of her students calling her a liar because she told them Japan would win. She felt torn knowing that everything she's taught up to that point no longer had any meaning. Finally the next day she asks her student to open up their textbooks and cross out all the mistakes. Yoko apologizes to her students, saying it was her fault she taught them the wrong things. Seeing them erase the lines from the book, Yoko believed she was no longer capable of remaining as a teacher.
Later on Natsuko and Yoko were discussing their futures. Even though it'll be hard, Natsuko says she won't quit. She asks Yoko to think of the children and of their role as a teacher. She tells Yoko not to give up.
As Yoko is teaching, she sees the principal accompanied by an American military man. All the teachers are summoned to the staff room. He asks if it was the principal who determined the education policy for teachers. Natsuko says they had no choice but to follow orders. The American berates them, saying they should have refused the government orders if they felt it was wrong. The American also asked who became a teacher after the school was nationalized. Yoko's name was called. Kotarou, who was there to assist as a translator, quickly came to Yoko's defense. Yoko was grateful to him for saving her job.
In October, Shigeki returns home. As Ryoichi and Yoko sit beside him at the table, Shigeki apologizes and says it's embarrassing he returned alive. He recalls the conversation he had with Haruki, with Haruki telling him he's not ready to die. Haruki asked if he felt the same way. Shigeki says that he had already prepared himself from the start. However, he regrets not sharing his true feelings with Haruki. He says that he should have died instead of him. Ryoichi tells him that's enough. He says that his life is precious not just to him, but to everyone else. Ryoichi tells him it's enough to have him back. Shigeki replies with a 'tadaima'.
Takeo returns to Azumino and rushes to see Yoko. Yoko asks if he's been back home yet, but he says he wanted to see her first. He tells her there's been something he's wanted to say for a long time now. It was his sole purpose of coming back alive. Takeo drops on his knees and asks her to marry him. Yoko doesn't know how to break it to him that she's already married...
Back in Matsumoto, Yoko is sweeping the leaves outside when she starts to imagine what it'd be like to see Kazunari again. She practices greeting him when he returns, oblivious to Tokuko who is watching in the background. As she's bending down to pick up a newspaper, Kazunari suddenly appears in front of her...
Week Fourteen: Preparing for Happiness 幸せの準備
Kazunari returns home. Seeing him for the first time, Yoko says she grateful he came back to her. Kazunari in turn thanks Yoko for waiting for him. Inside the restaurant, Kazunari's parents have a tearful reunion with him. When they notice Yoko sitting down on a chair, she embarrassingly tells them she hurt her back outside. Everyone laughs at her. Tokuko also teases her, asking if she welcomed Kazunari the way she was practicing earlier. Michio asks him what the first thing Yoko ended up saying to him was, Kazunari says, "My back..."
In their room together at night, Kazunari looks around and says that Yoko's been there the entire time waiting for him. Finally they can be together. He tells her he wants to start building their happiness. As they're sleeping, Kazunari tosses and turns. Seeing him so agitated, Yoko embraces him from behind. When he wakes up abruptly, Yoko tells him she's there for him and will always be by his side.
The household is full of laughs the next morning as Tokuko continues to tease Yoko, saying she no longer has to talk to Kazunari's picture any more. As they all fight together, Kazu notices how well everyone gets along. Tokuko says it's because Yoko became her daughter long before Kazu and Yoko were together as husband and wife. She jokingly warns him that if he does anything to betray Yoko, she won't hesitate to kick him out of the house.
Yoko brings Kazunari back to Azumino to meet Ryoichi and Shigeki. Kazu and Shigeki have a heart-to-heart talk upstairs. They share their feelings on the war and how hard it feels knowing they came back alive when others lost their lives. Shigeki wonders if there's any purpose to his life. Kazu believes there's definitely more things to come his way. When Yoko delivers tea to their room, Shigeki tells her she married a good man.
In December, Kazunari started working at an electric factory. At school, the principal announces a new curriculum. Yoko hands out the new text to the students. Everyone starts criticizing the pages. Ichiro recalls the conversation he had with Ikuko, promising her that he would protect Yoko. He stands up to fend off the other students. As the fight gets out of hand, Yoko gets knocked over. Later both her students apologizes to her. Yoko tells them it's alright, as they're still children afterall.
In the classroom, Kyoko tells her that she and Chizuko will be returning to Tokyo. Even though she wants to stay by her side, they don't have a choice. At night, Yoko takes them home and they share one last evening together. Yoko gives Kyoko a copy of the poem Haruki read to her as a kid. Kokoro ni taiyou wo mote...Kyoko finishes reading and cries on Yoko's shoulder.
Finally it's New Years Showa 21. Outside the restaurant, Yoko says she hopes she doesn't have to go through a year like last year. However, Yoko says she's grateful for the life she has now, since Kazu returned home. Kazunari tells her that she shouldn't be satisfied by having him back, as there will be more happiness coming their way.
Back in Azumino, Shigeki is outside burning his books. He recalls playing with paper planes as a kid and stares at the one he has in his hand. He lowers it into the fire, slowly letting go of his past. Inside the house, Soma is having a lively conversation with Ryoichi. He tells him he plans to open a new company and start over from scratch. Ryoichi tells him that while he's glad the war is over, he doesn't share the same sentiments as Soma. Soma says he understand.
Machiko and Ikuko make a visit to Matsumoto to see Yoko. Kazunari tells them to talk upstairs, but Ikuko insists that he joins them. Upstairs, all three girls crowd around him, making him extremely uncomfortable. Machiko asks him what he likes the most about Yoko. Kazunari awkwardly excuses himself from the room as the girls burst out laughing. As they continued their talk, Machiko says she lost her job at the post office. She tells them she found a new job at a silk factory, much to the displeasure of her father. Ikuko says she's going to study hard and go back to Tokyo properly.
Even though the war was over, not everything was as happy as it should be. When Yoko returns home from school, she sees Keiko and her son outside the restaurant. A man delivering a letter to Keiko calls out her name. As he leaves, Keiko trembles as she tears open the letter. Seeing the death notice for her husband, she sobs as she slumps to the floor. Yoko tries to console her, but no one could find the right words to say. Yoko's voiceover says that Keiko and her son when back to her hometown not long after.
In April, the restaurant reopened. Although there was still a shortage of ingredients, it made a big impact on Michio as it allowed him to finally return to the kitchen. There was a big change at school as well, with the arrival of a new principal. The new principal asked if Yoko and Natsuko would resign, as there would be more teachers coming back now that the war was over. As Yoko is visiting her old house in Azumino, a woman appears carrying her sick child, asking for directions to the Sudo Hospital...
Week Fifteen: The Day to Become a Mother 母になる日
A woman comes looking for the Sudo Hospital. Ryoichi recognizes her as the women whose child Haruki treated in Nagoya. She tells them she came to Azumino to express her gratitude to Haruki. When she asks about him, Ryoichi regretfully tells her he died in the war. She apologizes for her visit, but Ryoichi tells her he's sure Haruki would be happy knowing that somebody remembered him. Yoko asks the child her name. She tells her it's Hiroko, which is the same as her mother. Hiroko says she wants to be a nurse when she grows up so she can save people like Haruki.
Later on the three of them are sitting together outside. Shigeki is the first to speak. He says that even though Haruki's gone, he'll never be able to come out from his shadow. Shigeki asks Yoko what he can do to stand out. Yoko says he should just be himself. Shigeki tells her it's a typical response from an elementary school teacher. As they argue, Ryoichi envisions them singing on stage together. He bursts out laughing, but refuses to tell them the reason. As they're all laughing together, Yoko's voiceover says she thinks the three of them will be alright.
At the same time, Takeo visits the restaurant in Matsumoto. Kazunari asks if he's Takeo and he awkwardly answers with a chuckle. Takeo then starts unloading all the vegetables off his cart. As he turns to leave, Tokuko grabs him and tells him he has to stay for a cup of tea. Chatting inside, Tokuko asks him if he was there by Yoko's side when her mother passed away. Takeo says that ever since then, he's wanted to stay by her side to protect her. He turns to Kazu and asks him to do the same. As he leaves, he runs into Yoko on the streets and tells her she married a good man.
At night Yoko writes Takeo a letter, thanking him for always being there ever since she moved to Azumino. Even though she's far away now, she's certain she'll find her own happiness. Takeo's eyes were filled with tears.
In her sleep Yoko keeps having the same recurring dream. She sees her mother talking to her, but can't seem to understand what she's saying. The next morning, Setsuko brings over a dish for breakfast, asking if it's still edible. As everyone sniffs at it, Yoko suddenly feels unwell and excuses herself from the table. Tokuko goes to check on her and asks her if she's been feeling a little different. When she pats her on her stomach, Yoko suddenly recalls what her mother has been telling her in her dreams...
Before they return to the table, Tokuko tells Yoko to keep it quiet until they can confirm her pregnancy. However, Yoko can't keep smiling at the table, which causes Setsuko to ask if she's expecting. Yoko looks to Tokuko for cues, but she confirms the news to Kazunari. Later Tokuko takes Yoko to visit Saki-san at the clinic. Yoko is nervous sitting outside, but Tokuko tells her that Saki is a good midwife.
Outside the restaurant, Kazunari is pacing nervously. When he sees Yoko and Tokuko approaching, he quickly asks Yoko how it went at the clinic. Yoko smiles and pats her stomach. Kazunari grabs her hands and thanks her for carrying their child.
Yoko and Kazunari visit Azumino to relay the good news to Ryoichi and Shigeki. Yoko kneels in front of her mother's photo first and thanks her for watching over her. When everyone is seated at the table, Yoko tells them she's expecting. Ryoichi and Shigeki are both thrilled, however Shigeki teases Yoko, wondering if she is mature enough to raise a child. Kazunari says he feels grateful for coming back alive. While they've lost a lot of people in the war, this child can now be born in their place.
Back in Azumino, Tokuko tells Setsuko that Yoko lost her mother at such a young age. She can imagine how hard it must have been growing up in a family of men. Tokuko says she wishes she could tell her that everything will be alright. Tokuko prays that the baby will be healthy.
Yoko continues to spread the good news to everyone. She tells Natsuko at school, then write letters to Machiko and Ikuko. Both of them visit the restaurant in Matsumoto to congratulate Yoko. Everyone looked forward to welcoming the baby. Yoko believed her child would mark the beginning of a new era.
As the time shifts to the fall of 1946, Yoko is already eight months pregnant. Early in the morning, Michio takes off in search for soba while Kazunari continued to work at the factory. Tokuko alone managed the restaurant. Yoko recalled seeing fields of soba during her first meeting with Tokuko. With food still in shortage, they haven't been able to find any soba to run the restaurant. Michio says it can't be helped, but Kazunari thinks it would be great if they can grow their own soba field.
At the restaurant one day, Setsuko rushes over with the newspaper to show Yoko. Yoko reads that her grandfather has passed away. Yoko says she hasn't received any news from her grandmother ever since she told her she was expecting. Inside the restaurant everyone discusses her. Yoko tells them she's a truly amazing person. However as they continue talking, they fail to realize she's actually standing outside. Yoko says that her grandmother can be a little scary at times. Fujiko looks upset until she hears how much Yoko loves and respects her.
As Setsuko rushes out, she nearly bumps into Fujiko. Setsuko runs back inside the restaurant in a panic. The women are too busy engaged in conversation to realize she has stepped inside. She tells everyone to be quiet. Everyone stares in shock at her arrival. Fujiko tells them she came to congratulate Yoko on her baby. After delivering a present to them, Fujiko turns to head back to Tokyo. Yoko stops her in mid-stride, angrily telling her she can't return yet. Fujiko tells her that Yoko can be scary when she's angry. Yoko says it's because she's her granddaughter. At that time Yoko decided she had another favour to ask of her...
Week Sixteen: The Era for Women 女たちの時間
As Fujiko is sitting inside, Yoko drags Kazunari and Tokuko out to discuss about her grandmother. Yoko tells them her can't return home. Tokuko tells her she can stay the night, but Kazunari realizes she means to stay with them until the baby is born. Yoko worries it would be troublesome, but Tokuko strongly agrees to her suggestion. However, they realize that Fujiko would be hard to persuade. Kazunari comes up with a plan to have her stay the night...
As Fujiko is preparing to leave, her chauffeur Kamikura suddenly feints an illness. However he over-exaggerates with his acting, so they quickly take him upstairs. Kazunari teases him later for his bad acting. Kamikura says it's his first time lying to her. However, he feels good about it.
Downstairs, Fujiko has changed into a robe. Yoko tells her she thinks Kamikura will be alright, but Fujiko tells them she saw through the lie. Yoko and Tokuko apologizes and Yoko finally asks Fujiko to stay with them. Fujiko recalls the conversation she had with Yoko when she was still a student, saying they could never be together. However, Yoko tells her she already forgot about what they had discussed. Tokuko also asks her if she wants to stay to meet her great-grandchild. Fujiko finally agrees to their request and asks them to look after her while she lives with them.
However, things don't go well at first when Fujiko accidentally kicks Michio out of the house at night. Later in the morning, Fujiko insists on preparing breakfast for them, but she uses a week's worth of ingredients for one meal. Fujiko apologizes for her carelessness, but slowly adapts to life with the Maruyama family.
Fujiko ends up helping out at the restaurant. Ikuko is surprised when she is greeted by her at the door. Inside the restaurant Ikuko tells Fujiko she was in Tokyo during the war. Fujiko is surprised to hear that Yoko and Machiko went to Tokyo after the bombing to bring her back. Ikuko asks her what Tokyo has become after the war. Fujiko tells them not to worry, if Tokyo can rise from the ashes, then there is hope for Japan to be reborn.
Upstairs in her room, the three girls catch up with each other. Ikuko asks Yoko if it's scary having a life inside of her. Yoko says it is. She says it makes her have greater appreciation for all the mothers in the world. Later she turns the questions onto Ikuko and Machiko. Machiko tells them she received a proposal from someone at work. However, she doesn't think the timing is right for it. Yoko tells her that she's happy for her if she decides to get married, regardless of who the person is. Machiko believes that when the time comes, she will be ready to love again.
When the floor turns to Ikuko, she seems a little embarrassed to tell them her story. Ikuko tells them her father has found a potential suitor for her. However, she's not interested in finding a husband right now as she's still prepared to return to Tokyo. However there is something she looks forward to at home. She turns to Yoko and tells her baby to hurry up and come out to the world.
Downstairs again, Kazunari stares at the kitchen full of women. Tokuko thinks he looks sad being the only male in the room. Kazunari jumps up when he sees Shigeki walking in the door. Tokuko and Ikuko introduce themselves to Shigeki for the first time. Ikuko tells him she's heard a lot about him from Yoko, most of which were bad things. Fujiko also sees her grandson for the first time after the war. As they're all chatting away, Shigeki turns to Yoko and takes a good look at her belly. He tells her she looks like a tanuki wearing a kimono. When Shigeki and Kazunari starts laughing, Yoko gives Kazunari a stern look. Kazunari apologizes to Yoko, but she turns away as everyone comments on how horrible he was.
Kazunari turns to Michio for help as he returns home. Michio drops his bags off in the kitchen and pulls out a sack of soba. Everyone looks forward to having noodles for dinner. At the table, they all praise Michio's cooking. However, Shigeki accidentally lets out that he likes udon as much as soba, which makes Michio upset. After the meal, Shigeki, Machiko and Ikuko head back to Azumino. Yoko tells Shigeki to look after them on the way back. Ikuko teases him saying she'll make sure he gets home safely.
At school, Yoko teaches her last class before her maternity leave. The principal worries that it would be too hard on her to return after having the baby, hinting that she should just resign. However she assures him she will manage. Natsuko says she'll be lonely without Yoko, but she'll be waiting for Yoko to return. In the classroom, Yoko tells her students to listen to their new teacher. She also tells them to work hard and stay healthy and to not forget her while she's gone. The students ask if they can say a few words to the baby. As they all line up and whisper to her belly, Yoko thinks how lucky her child is to be loved by so many people.
Finally in November 1946, Yoko is nearing her last weeks of her pregnancy. She sees Kazunari out the door as he leaves for work. Later, Michio and Tokuko take Fujiko to explore the sights in Matsumoto. Tokuko worries whether it would be alright to leave Yoko by herself, but Yoko assures her she can manage on her own.
In Azumino, Shigeki is upstairs in his room reading through Haruki's old medical textbooks. He flips through the pages staring at all the foreign letters, then closes the book in exasperation. Reading the paper downstairs, Ryoichi is interrupted by Ikuko's timely arrival. Ikuko greets Ryoichi and Shigeki-kun and tells them she's been asked by Yoko to check up on them. Shigeki scoffs at her remarks, but Ikuko tells him he's just like a child.
Back at the restaurant, Yoko is watching the clock as she suddenly feels a slight tug on her stomach. The front door opens and she's surprised to see Kazunari back home. Kazunari tells her he came to check up on her. As they're sitting there talking, Yoko says she has to push a little more because everyone is waiting for the child to be born. Kazunari tells her that regardless of whatever hopes others have placed on the child, she only needs to focus on herself and the baby. She doesn't have to worry about what others think because this child only belongs to the two of them.
Kazunari also mentions naming the baby and he asks Yoko to listen to his suggestion. He thinks that Yoko should be the one to name their child, since it was Yoko's mother who came up with her name. Yoko is a little hesitant, since the baby will be the first grandchild in the household, but Kazunari asks her to listen to his request. Yoko finally agrees.
Suddenly Yoko feels another painful tug on her side. Kazunari asks her if she's about to have the baby as she squeezes his hand in pain...
Because I couldn't pick between these two photos, I'm using both of them. LOL.
Summaries from the earlier weeks:
Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10
Week 11 | Week 12
Week Thirteen: Return Home 帰家
Ryoichi returns to Matsumoto after his factory in Nagoya closed. Yoko was happy to have her father back. Michio proposed having him stay with them, but Yoko interjects, saying her father probably wants to go back home to Azumino to be close to her mother. Yoko also returns to Azumino for the first time in a long while to be with her father. Ryoichi asks Yoko if she knows of the future of the house. Ryoichi tells her it's Haruki's dream to open a doctor's office there.
However, later they are interrupted by Machiko's arrival with the mail. One of the letters she delivers is a postcard from Shigeki. He informs them of Haruki's death. Yoko is numb from hearing the news. She recalls memories from her childhood with Haruki reading her favourite poem, 'Kokoro ni Taiyou wo Motte'. Ryoichi tells Yoko that Haruki was jealous of her, since she was already born with the sun. He tells her not to be sad anymore, as they should be proud of him.
Tokuko tells Yoko she doesn't need to push herself so hard, but she says she's done crying over it. Ikuko visits Yoko at school to check up on her. Both of them worry about Machiko and decide to stop by her house. Yoko tells Machiko that Haruki visited Matsumoto before leaving for the war and hands over the letter he entrusted to her. Yoko tells her that it was his one and only selfish request. Machiko starts to tear up. Ikuko wonders why there's so much sadness in their lives and tells them that all three of them will be together until they grow old.
August 1945. The principal announces in the staff room that Hiroshima had just been bombed and the entire city was wiped out. Yoko holds onto Natsuko as she starts to cry. Natsuko screams that she needs to go to Hiroshima and as Yoko holds onto her, she faints. When she wakes up later, Yoko asks her to stay with her family since Natsuko lived by herself. However, Natsuko was hopeful that he would come see her, so she refused the request. Yoko's voiceover said that he never came and that Natsuko never married.
A news announcement broadcasted on the radio on August 15 officially ended the war. Japan had lost. The end of the war brought back memories from over the years. As Yoko stepped onto the streets and noticed the lights back on for the first time, she finally realized the war was over.
The new school semester started. The principal announced that all the textbooks they've been using up to that point can no longer be used. Yoko imagines one of her students calling her a liar because she told them Japan would win. She felt torn knowing that everything she's taught up to that point no longer had any meaning. Finally the next day she asks her student to open up their textbooks and cross out all the mistakes. Yoko apologizes to her students, saying it was her fault she taught them the wrong things. Seeing them erase the lines from the book, Yoko believed she was no longer capable of remaining as a teacher.
Later on Natsuko and Yoko were discussing their futures. Even though it'll be hard, Natsuko says she won't quit. She asks Yoko to think of the children and of their role as a teacher. She tells Yoko not to give up.
As Yoko is teaching, she sees the principal accompanied by an American military man. All the teachers are summoned to the staff room. He asks if it was the principal who determined the education policy for teachers. Natsuko says they had no choice but to follow orders. The American berates them, saying they should have refused the government orders if they felt it was wrong. The American also asked who became a teacher after the school was nationalized. Yoko's name was called. Kotarou, who was there to assist as a translator, quickly came to Yoko's defense. Yoko was grateful to him for saving her job.
In October, Shigeki returns home. As Ryoichi and Yoko sit beside him at the table, Shigeki apologizes and says it's embarrassing he returned alive. He recalls the conversation he had with Haruki, with Haruki telling him he's not ready to die. Haruki asked if he felt the same way. Shigeki says that he had already prepared himself from the start. However, he regrets not sharing his true feelings with Haruki. He says that he should have died instead of him. Ryoichi tells him that's enough. He says that his life is precious not just to him, but to everyone else. Ryoichi tells him it's enough to have him back. Shigeki replies with a 'tadaima'.
Takeo returns to Azumino and rushes to see Yoko. Yoko asks if he's been back home yet, but he says he wanted to see her first. He tells her there's been something he's wanted to say for a long time now. It was his sole purpose of coming back alive. Takeo drops on his knees and asks her to marry him. Yoko doesn't know how to break it to him that she's already married...
Back in Matsumoto, Yoko is sweeping the leaves outside when she starts to imagine what it'd be like to see Kazunari again. She practices greeting him when he returns, oblivious to Tokuko who is watching in the background. As she's bending down to pick up a newspaper, Kazunari suddenly appears in front of her...
Week Fourteen: Preparing for Happiness 幸せの準備
Kazunari returns home. Seeing him for the first time, Yoko says she grateful he came back to her. Kazunari in turn thanks Yoko for waiting for him. Inside the restaurant, Kazunari's parents have a tearful reunion with him. When they notice Yoko sitting down on a chair, she embarrassingly tells them she hurt her back outside. Everyone laughs at her. Tokuko also teases her, asking if she welcomed Kazunari the way she was practicing earlier. Michio asks him what the first thing Yoko ended up saying to him was, Kazunari says, "My back..."
In their room together at night, Kazunari looks around and says that Yoko's been there the entire time waiting for him. Finally they can be together. He tells her he wants to start building their happiness. As they're sleeping, Kazunari tosses and turns. Seeing him so agitated, Yoko embraces him from behind. When he wakes up abruptly, Yoko tells him she's there for him and will always be by his side.
The household is full of laughs the next morning as Tokuko continues to tease Yoko, saying she no longer has to talk to Kazunari's picture any more. As they all fight together, Kazu notices how well everyone gets along. Tokuko says it's because Yoko became her daughter long before Kazu and Yoko were together as husband and wife. She jokingly warns him that if he does anything to betray Yoko, she won't hesitate to kick him out of the house.
Yoko brings Kazunari back to Azumino to meet Ryoichi and Shigeki. Kazu and Shigeki have a heart-to-heart talk upstairs. They share their feelings on the war and how hard it feels knowing they came back alive when others lost their lives. Shigeki wonders if there's any purpose to his life. Kazu believes there's definitely more things to come his way. When Yoko delivers tea to their room, Shigeki tells her she married a good man.
In December, Kazunari started working at an electric factory. At school, the principal announces a new curriculum. Yoko hands out the new text to the students. Everyone starts criticizing the pages. Ichiro recalls the conversation he had with Ikuko, promising her that he would protect Yoko. He stands up to fend off the other students. As the fight gets out of hand, Yoko gets knocked over. Later both her students apologizes to her. Yoko tells them it's alright, as they're still children afterall.
In the classroom, Kyoko tells her that she and Chizuko will be returning to Tokyo. Even though she wants to stay by her side, they don't have a choice. At night, Yoko takes them home and they share one last evening together. Yoko gives Kyoko a copy of the poem Haruki read to her as a kid. Kokoro ni taiyou wo mote...Kyoko finishes reading and cries on Yoko's shoulder.
Finally it's New Years Showa 21. Outside the restaurant, Yoko says she hopes she doesn't have to go through a year like last year. However, Yoko says she's grateful for the life she has now, since Kazu returned home. Kazunari tells her that she shouldn't be satisfied by having him back, as there will be more happiness coming their way.
Back in Azumino, Shigeki is outside burning his books. He recalls playing with paper planes as a kid and stares at the one he has in his hand. He lowers it into the fire, slowly letting go of his past. Inside the house, Soma is having a lively conversation with Ryoichi. He tells him he plans to open a new company and start over from scratch. Ryoichi tells him that while he's glad the war is over, he doesn't share the same sentiments as Soma. Soma says he understand.
Machiko and Ikuko make a visit to Matsumoto to see Yoko. Kazunari tells them to talk upstairs, but Ikuko insists that he joins them. Upstairs, all three girls crowd around him, making him extremely uncomfortable. Machiko asks him what he likes the most about Yoko. Kazunari awkwardly excuses himself from the room as the girls burst out laughing. As they continued their talk, Machiko says she lost her job at the post office. She tells them she found a new job at a silk factory, much to the displeasure of her father. Ikuko says she's going to study hard and go back to Tokyo properly.
Even though the war was over, not everything was as happy as it should be. When Yoko returns home from school, she sees Keiko and her son outside the restaurant. A man delivering a letter to Keiko calls out her name. As he leaves, Keiko trembles as she tears open the letter. Seeing the death notice for her husband, she sobs as she slumps to the floor. Yoko tries to console her, but no one could find the right words to say. Yoko's voiceover says that Keiko and her son when back to her hometown not long after.
In April, the restaurant reopened. Although there was still a shortage of ingredients, it made a big impact on Michio as it allowed him to finally return to the kitchen. There was a big change at school as well, with the arrival of a new principal. The new principal asked if Yoko and Natsuko would resign, as there would be more teachers coming back now that the war was over. As Yoko is visiting her old house in Azumino, a woman appears carrying her sick child, asking for directions to the Sudo Hospital...
Week Fifteen: The Day to Become a Mother 母になる日
A woman comes looking for the Sudo Hospital. Ryoichi recognizes her as the women whose child Haruki treated in Nagoya. She tells them she came to Azumino to express her gratitude to Haruki. When she asks about him, Ryoichi regretfully tells her he died in the war. She apologizes for her visit, but Ryoichi tells her he's sure Haruki would be happy knowing that somebody remembered him. Yoko asks the child her name. She tells her it's Hiroko, which is the same as her mother. Hiroko says she wants to be a nurse when she grows up so she can save people like Haruki.
Later on the three of them are sitting together outside. Shigeki is the first to speak. He says that even though Haruki's gone, he'll never be able to come out from his shadow. Shigeki asks Yoko what he can do to stand out. Yoko says he should just be himself. Shigeki tells her it's a typical response from an elementary school teacher. As they argue, Ryoichi envisions them singing on stage together. He bursts out laughing, but refuses to tell them the reason. As they're all laughing together, Yoko's voiceover says she thinks the three of them will be alright.
At the same time, Takeo visits the restaurant in Matsumoto. Kazunari asks if he's Takeo and he awkwardly answers with a chuckle. Takeo then starts unloading all the vegetables off his cart. As he turns to leave, Tokuko grabs him and tells him he has to stay for a cup of tea. Chatting inside, Tokuko asks him if he was there by Yoko's side when her mother passed away. Takeo says that ever since then, he's wanted to stay by her side to protect her. He turns to Kazu and asks him to do the same. As he leaves, he runs into Yoko on the streets and tells her she married a good man.
At night Yoko writes Takeo a letter, thanking him for always being there ever since she moved to Azumino. Even though she's far away now, she's certain she'll find her own happiness. Takeo's eyes were filled with tears.
In her sleep Yoko keeps having the same recurring dream. She sees her mother talking to her, but can't seem to understand what she's saying. The next morning, Setsuko brings over a dish for breakfast, asking if it's still edible. As everyone sniffs at it, Yoko suddenly feels unwell and excuses herself from the table. Tokuko goes to check on her and asks her if she's been feeling a little different. When she pats her on her stomach, Yoko suddenly recalls what her mother has been telling her in her dreams...
Before they return to the table, Tokuko tells Yoko to keep it quiet until they can confirm her pregnancy. However, Yoko can't keep smiling at the table, which causes Setsuko to ask if she's expecting. Yoko looks to Tokuko for cues, but she confirms the news to Kazunari. Later Tokuko takes Yoko to visit Saki-san at the clinic. Yoko is nervous sitting outside, but Tokuko tells her that Saki is a good midwife.
Outside the restaurant, Kazunari is pacing nervously. When he sees Yoko and Tokuko approaching, he quickly asks Yoko how it went at the clinic. Yoko smiles and pats her stomach. Kazunari grabs her hands and thanks her for carrying their child.
Yoko and Kazunari visit Azumino to relay the good news to Ryoichi and Shigeki. Yoko kneels in front of her mother's photo first and thanks her for watching over her. When everyone is seated at the table, Yoko tells them she's expecting. Ryoichi and Shigeki are both thrilled, however Shigeki teases Yoko, wondering if she is mature enough to raise a child. Kazunari says he feels grateful for coming back alive. While they've lost a lot of people in the war, this child can now be born in their place.
Back in Azumino, Tokuko tells Setsuko that Yoko lost her mother at such a young age. She can imagine how hard it must have been growing up in a family of men. Tokuko says she wishes she could tell her that everything will be alright. Tokuko prays that the baby will be healthy.
Yoko continues to spread the good news to everyone. She tells Natsuko at school, then write letters to Machiko and Ikuko. Both of them visit the restaurant in Matsumoto to congratulate Yoko. Everyone looked forward to welcoming the baby. Yoko believed her child would mark the beginning of a new era.
As the time shifts to the fall of 1946, Yoko is already eight months pregnant. Early in the morning, Michio takes off in search for soba while Kazunari continued to work at the factory. Tokuko alone managed the restaurant. Yoko recalled seeing fields of soba during her first meeting with Tokuko. With food still in shortage, they haven't been able to find any soba to run the restaurant. Michio says it can't be helped, but Kazunari thinks it would be great if they can grow their own soba field.
At the restaurant one day, Setsuko rushes over with the newspaper to show Yoko. Yoko reads that her grandfather has passed away. Yoko says she hasn't received any news from her grandmother ever since she told her she was expecting. Inside the restaurant everyone discusses her. Yoko tells them she's a truly amazing person. However as they continue talking, they fail to realize she's actually standing outside. Yoko says that her grandmother can be a little scary at times. Fujiko looks upset until she hears how much Yoko loves and respects her.
As Setsuko rushes out, she nearly bumps into Fujiko. Setsuko runs back inside the restaurant in a panic. The women are too busy engaged in conversation to realize she has stepped inside. She tells everyone to be quiet. Everyone stares in shock at her arrival. Fujiko tells them she came to congratulate Yoko on her baby. After delivering a present to them, Fujiko turns to head back to Tokyo. Yoko stops her in mid-stride, angrily telling her she can't return yet. Fujiko tells her that Yoko can be scary when she's angry. Yoko says it's because she's her granddaughter. At that time Yoko decided she had another favour to ask of her...
Week Sixteen: The Era for Women 女たちの時間
As Fujiko is sitting inside, Yoko drags Kazunari and Tokuko out to discuss about her grandmother. Yoko tells them her can't return home. Tokuko tells her she can stay the night, but Kazunari realizes she means to stay with them until the baby is born. Yoko worries it would be troublesome, but Tokuko strongly agrees to her suggestion. However, they realize that Fujiko would be hard to persuade. Kazunari comes up with a plan to have her stay the night...
As Fujiko is preparing to leave, her chauffeur Kamikura suddenly feints an illness. However he over-exaggerates with his acting, so they quickly take him upstairs. Kazunari teases him later for his bad acting. Kamikura says it's his first time lying to her. However, he feels good about it.
Downstairs, Fujiko has changed into a robe. Yoko tells her she thinks Kamikura will be alright, but Fujiko tells them she saw through the lie. Yoko and Tokuko apologizes and Yoko finally asks Fujiko to stay with them. Fujiko recalls the conversation she had with Yoko when she was still a student, saying they could never be together. However, Yoko tells her she already forgot about what they had discussed. Tokuko also asks her if she wants to stay to meet her great-grandchild. Fujiko finally agrees to their request and asks them to look after her while she lives with them.
However, things don't go well at first when Fujiko accidentally kicks Michio out of the house at night. Later in the morning, Fujiko insists on preparing breakfast for them, but she uses a week's worth of ingredients for one meal. Fujiko apologizes for her carelessness, but slowly adapts to life with the Maruyama family.
Fujiko ends up helping out at the restaurant. Ikuko is surprised when she is greeted by her at the door. Inside the restaurant Ikuko tells Fujiko she was in Tokyo during the war. Fujiko is surprised to hear that Yoko and Machiko went to Tokyo after the bombing to bring her back. Ikuko asks her what Tokyo has become after the war. Fujiko tells them not to worry, if Tokyo can rise from the ashes, then there is hope for Japan to be reborn.
Upstairs in her room, the three girls catch up with each other. Ikuko asks Yoko if it's scary having a life inside of her. Yoko says it is. She says it makes her have greater appreciation for all the mothers in the world. Later she turns the questions onto Ikuko and Machiko. Machiko tells them she received a proposal from someone at work. However, she doesn't think the timing is right for it. Yoko tells her that she's happy for her if she decides to get married, regardless of who the person is. Machiko believes that when the time comes, she will be ready to love again.
When the floor turns to Ikuko, she seems a little embarrassed to tell them her story. Ikuko tells them her father has found a potential suitor for her. However, she's not interested in finding a husband right now as she's still prepared to return to Tokyo. However there is something she looks forward to at home. She turns to Yoko and tells her baby to hurry up and come out to the world.
Downstairs again, Kazunari stares at the kitchen full of women. Tokuko thinks he looks sad being the only male in the room. Kazunari jumps up when he sees Shigeki walking in the door. Tokuko and Ikuko introduce themselves to Shigeki for the first time. Ikuko tells him she's heard a lot about him from Yoko, most of which were bad things. Fujiko also sees her grandson for the first time after the war. As they're all chatting away, Shigeki turns to Yoko and takes a good look at her belly. He tells her she looks like a tanuki wearing a kimono. When Shigeki and Kazunari starts laughing, Yoko gives Kazunari a stern look. Kazunari apologizes to Yoko, but she turns away as everyone comments on how horrible he was.
Kazunari turns to Michio for help as he returns home. Michio drops his bags off in the kitchen and pulls out a sack of soba. Everyone looks forward to having noodles for dinner. At the table, they all praise Michio's cooking. However, Shigeki accidentally lets out that he likes udon as much as soba, which makes Michio upset. After the meal, Shigeki, Machiko and Ikuko head back to Azumino. Yoko tells Shigeki to look after them on the way back. Ikuko teases him saying she'll make sure he gets home safely.
At school, Yoko teaches her last class before her maternity leave. The principal worries that it would be too hard on her to return after having the baby, hinting that she should just resign. However she assures him she will manage. Natsuko says she'll be lonely without Yoko, but she'll be waiting for Yoko to return. In the classroom, Yoko tells her students to listen to their new teacher. She also tells them to work hard and stay healthy and to not forget her while she's gone. The students ask if they can say a few words to the baby. As they all line up and whisper to her belly, Yoko thinks how lucky her child is to be loved by so many people.
Finally in November 1946, Yoko is nearing her last weeks of her pregnancy. She sees Kazunari out the door as he leaves for work. Later, Michio and Tokuko take Fujiko to explore the sights in Matsumoto. Tokuko worries whether it would be alright to leave Yoko by herself, but Yoko assures her she can manage on her own.
In Azumino, Shigeki is upstairs in his room reading through Haruki's old medical textbooks. He flips through the pages staring at all the foreign letters, then closes the book in exasperation. Reading the paper downstairs, Ryoichi is interrupted by Ikuko's timely arrival. Ikuko greets Ryoichi and Shigeki-kun and tells them she's been asked by Yoko to check up on them. Shigeki scoffs at her remarks, but Ikuko tells him he's just like a child.
Back at the restaurant, Yoko is watching the clock as she suddenly feels a slight tug on her stomach. The front door opens and she's surprised to see Kazunari back home. Kazunari tells her he came to check up on her. As they're sitting there talking, Yoko says she has to push a little more because everyone is waiting for the child to be born. Kazunari tells her that regardless of whatever hopes others have placed on the child, she only needs to focus on herself and the baby. She doesn't have to worry about what others think because this child only belongs to the two of them.
Kazunari also mentions naming the baby and he asks Yoko to listen to his suggestion. He thinks that Yoko should be the one to name their child, since it was Yoko's mother who came up with her name. Yoko is a little hesitant, since the baby will be the first grandchild in the household, but Kazunari asks her to listen to his request. Yoko finally agrees.
Suddenly Yoko feels another painful tug on her side. Kazunari asks her if she's about to have the baby as she squeezes his hand in pain...