Original subtitles

Year 37 of Meiji (1904) New Year's Day

Fukui Prefecture Takefu

Huh? What's that?

Is that a corpse?

Yes, I think I can proceed towards the right cause.

Is that right? Is everything going well at the university?

Yes. Kirizuka Sensei, my adviser, has been helping me out a lot.

I should be ready to start my on-the-job training in the spring.

Nii-yan*, are you going to be a lawyer? (*big brother)

Yes. If I'm going to come back here eventually,

I think that's the best thing to do.

But Nii-yan, you're talking like someone from Tokyo now.

I'm having a hard time switching over.

- Is something wrong? - No...

I was just thinking he was sitting here between us until last year.

Passing through, passing through!

Passing through, passing through!

Isn't Toku Nii-yan coming home anymore?

You'd think they could let him come home for New Year's at least.

What's a person who entered the Buddhist priesthood going to do at home?

But that's a good sign, isn't it?

The fact that Toku-yan isn't coming home must mean he's doing well.

That's right. It means this time,

he finally pulled himself together.

- Master, please. - Well then...

- Last year... - Excuse me!

Master, Madam!

Toku-bon has come back dead! (bon - young master)

Akiyama Tokuzo

But he isn't dead.

Now then, we'll take our leave.

- Just like that? - Pardon me, but what is going on?

- He's been excommunicated. - Excommunicated?!

Osho (head monk) was infuriated this time, and

said he can no longer keep him. Now then...

Please wait. Can you tell us what happened?

The truth is...

I know it's hard for you all to imagine right now, but

this hopeless fellow will subsequently

go over to France and serve his apprenticeship at the Hotel Ritz,

and will go on to eventually to be the Emperor's cook, a world-class chef

entrusted with the Imperial kitchen.

However, that is further down the road.

The year now is 1904.

It was around the time when the patience of

people throughout Japan was wearing thin with the Russian invasion of Manchuria.

Father!

He peed!

Toku Nii-yan's peeing in his pants.

This fellow was merely

trying his father's patience.

Pardon me, but would you mind telling me what I did?

I don't quite remember. When I woke up, I was on the floor here.

- Shutaro. - Yes, sir.

Tokuzo, apparently you drank the temple's sake.

Or so the monks said, but did you?

Yes, I did.

Anyway, it's New Year's, so everyone does it. Everyone.

- Is that right. - Yes~.

And so, when the monk who realized you'd been gone for a long time

went to look for you,

you were apparently going around knocking down the monks' gravestones.

Do you remember doing that?

Monks' gravestones?

You damn rakkyo*! (*small pickled onions)

He said that's what you were yelling.

Rakkyo? Rakkyo...

Ah...yes.

Rakkyo, right?

You know what a monk's gravestone looks like, right?

It looks like an upside down rakkyo, right?

I was wondering how it managed to stay up, so I gave it a little push.

Then...

It fell over?

The thing is, it came back up!

That really got me scared.

Wah~!

And I went "Wah~."

- It was nighttime, too, huh? - You keep quiet!

And when I came around,

I was on the floor at home. What on earth happened?

- Toku-yan, you were kicked out. - What?!

That's to be expected. You went around kicking down the founding ancestor and high priests' gravestones.

The monks said you deserved to be punished by Buddha.

Oh, really... Is that so?

You wretched fool.

When Shutaro was 16, he had already decided to

study law for the future of this country.

- Compared to him, you're... - You shouldn't compare me to Nii-yan.

When you entered the temple,

you said you'd become the head monk no matter how long it took.

Everyone warned you that you weren't suited for it, but you took no heed and renounced the world.

- Isn't that right? - At that time, yes.

In spite of that, you were sent back after only 3 months. Aren't you ashamed of yourself?

I was planning to quit anyway.

Quit?

It's seriously boring at the temple.

Like endlessly copying kanji characters I can hardly read, and sitting still without talking for hours.

And that goes on day after day.

I was contemplating whether I should be wasting my time there when I only have one life to live.

We told you, didn't we?

Everyone told you, remember? That you were totally unsuitable to be a monk.

But you said you were going to do it.

- I thought I could at that time. - You're always like that!

Kendo instructor, soldier, the rice market.

13 years old

14 years old

15 years old

16 years old

You're quick to jump in and out.

Where's your perseverance!

One should not persevere in cases like that.

- Huh?! - If you persevere and continue doing boring things,

you'll end up spending your life doing boring things.

Father, please calm down!

Please calm now. Now, now...

Damn it.

I see you're persevering.

Aniue-sama (formal way of saying big brother). I knew you'd come.

Quick, let me down.

I wonder if he'll end up as a yakuza.

Huh?

With that disposition of his, he won't last long anywhere.

I'm afraid people like him will have no means to make a living

and end up being a yakuza.

I know he's a bit dense (noku tee ko).

noku tee ko = stupid child

Recently, they've been calling him

Nokuzo in the village.

They say, that's not Tokuzo, but Nokuzo the fool.

- I thought that was pretty clever. - He's not Nokuzo.

He's Tokuzo!

Basically, Father's worried about you.

I know. But that aside, can you untie me?

Then why can't you have a little more perseverance?

Nii-yan, aren't there times you want to quit too?

Studying law is hard, isn't it?

There are times I feel like giving up, but

if I don't persevere, there's no moving forward.

That's what I don't understand.

Why go through all that...

This country has established laws, but

they're far from functioning properly in a lot of ways.

As a man, it's only natural to want to render my service to our country.

Then perhaps this is what it means.

I have yet to find something to make me feel that way

I guess you're not completely stupid.

Huh?

I hope you find that something soon.

I know, but...

Hey, Nii-yan?

Wait, untie me!

Persevere, you hear?

Nii-yan. Hey!

Untie me, damn it! Damn brother. You brute!

That may be our last resort.

To make him mend his ways.

What's that?

That.

Are you sure?!

Thank you so much!

We are much obliged.

How can you not get tired of doing the same thing every day?

You know Nii-yan will be succeeding the business anyway.

Toku-yan. Later, okay?

Hey, you should be calling me Nii-yan.

Then why don't you act like a brother once in a while, huh?

- What're you doing! - Get out of my way!

- The least you can do is stay out of my way! - Say what?!

I swear, there's a serious lack of parental discipline.

Ready...

Go, go, go, go, go!

Hey, Koshiro.

Let me see that for a minute.

- It's Nokuzo! - Huh?

Don't touch me. I don't want your stupidity to wear off on me.

What did you say, you brat?

Anyone who's 16 and still pees in his pants is stupid!

He's spreading his stupidity. Run, run.

Hey!

I swear, there's a serious lack of parental discipline.

Tokuzo.

Do you have minute?

Yes?

Marry into a family?!

That's right. Matsumae-ya, the store that sells kombu-kelp in Sabae.

They have a daughter who's the same age as you.

But... I don't need a wife yet.

- The wedding will take place in 10 days. - Wait a minute.

- What about my feeling... - What meaning is there to a feeling

of a guy who can't stick to anything for more than 3 months.

Mother, this is not the time to laugh.

- But... - Anyway,

I'm having you move out of this house.

Hereafter, you belong to another household. I'm not feeding you or

giving you a sen of allowance. Be prepared.

- Father. Wait, please. At least... - What?

like...this lady's face...

- Face? - It's only natural

to be curious, isn't it?

Just be grateful that

they're willing to take a lazy bum like you!

Tokyo

Kanda

Be quiet, you guys! Quit fighting!

Right~?

- Bye then. - Have a good day.

Ryuun-kan Proprietress

Okichi

Fukui Prefecture Sabae

What are we doing all the way at Sabae?

We're going to take a look at my bride.

Secretly, mind you. Secretly.

Woah! Well, well.

Now then, Father, I'm going.

Father?!

- Shall we go now? - Yes.

We'll see you later.

Is that her?

She's sure pretty.

So she's my bride...

- Did you hurt your back or something? - You must be joking, Haha-ue (mother, formally)

Haha-ue...?

Now that I'm taking a bride, I should get my act together.

- (She) was so pretty. - What was so pretty?

Stop that, will you? Oh, Chichi-ue (father, formally).

today, by coincidence,

I was granted audience with the countenance of my future wife.

Isn't he mistaking her for someone else?

What are you talking about?

Toshiko-san isn't homely, but

I don't think she's quite someone to get so excited about.

She's a cute little thing.

She's very much like me in my younger days.

I wonder if he's not mistaking her for someone else.

Isn't this a bit too long? Is it all right?

We can get it fixed.

Wouldn't it be better to have one made brand new?

We can get it fixed.

Toku-yan, you look handsome!

But it's amazing they even found someone to take him.

They probably went all the way to Sabae to keep his true character a secret.

I bet he'll be back in 3 months again.

We are grateful to you for this great opportunity.

Takahama Harue

Takahama Kinnosuke

Not at all.

Thank you in advance for taking care of our Tokuzo.

Not at all.

Toshiko is a girl you can count on. You can set aside your worries.

This house is full of women, huh?

Stop that.

Toku-yan, I bet you couldn't sleep last night.

Stop that, I said.

It's the bride.

Takahama Toshiko

I'm Toshiko. I'm pleased to meet you.

Mitsuko. You're late.

I couldn't decide on the kanzashi (hair ornament).

You're not the bride, you know.

Is she...your sister?

Yes.

Really?

Oh... really.

Yes.

We were mistaken.

About what?

I know.

Toku-yan, give up. Resign yourself!

This marriage cannot be. It cannot be no matter what.

You have nowhere to go now.

Ouch.

Father, now!

What are you doing? Father!

What is that?!

I've been had.

- Did you mend that for me? - Yes.

- Here you go. - Thank you.

If you'd like, shall I decline this marriage?

Oh, I'm sorry!

I'm sorry.

Uh... how did you know?

I'm used to being compared to my sister.

Ah...

I'm compared to my Nii-yan all the time too.

It's not good to compare, is it?

This is this, and that is that.

Oh...I did you wrong.

I mean...

you should smile more often.

Why don't you smile?

I...can't do it.

It makes me uncomfortable to put on a fake smile.

Don't you find it funny?

How do you do that?

Excuse me?

I'm a boring person, so

I'd like to learn as many funny tricks like that as possible.

Really?

Yes.

Is that right!

First, do this to your lower lip.

Yes, and the tongue...

This is the hard part.

Focus on this part of the tongue.

Yes, yes, that's right!

- Did I do it? - You did it!

Now then,

let me go over it again.

Toshiko-san...

Can we do that later?

Starting today,

we're husband and wife, right?

Oh, my. Now they're all cuddly.

- Huh? - Yes.

I wonder if it went well.

- Shall we go ahead and start? - I guess so.

Father, Mother, Mitsuko-chan, Suzuko-chan, Shizuko-chan.

- Good morning! - Good morning.

We're sorry for making you wait.

I hope he's not causing any trouble.

Shall I go take a look?

He belongs to another family now. Don't bother.

Have this Kichiji, the head clerk, teach you about business.

- Yes, sir! - Good answer.

Who did this? It's wasteful.

I'm sorry.

Listen now. It's this kind of thing that makes us lose the god of money.

- Ah, yes. - How many times do I have to tell you?

I'm terribly sorry. I'll be more careful from now on.

Excuse me, but are you going to use that as a butt wipe or something?

Huh? Straw ropes are good enough for that.

Envelops are turned inside out and reused as envelops!

Oh...

Goods procured at the beach are stored here temporarily.

- What's the difference between all these? - They come from different regions.

These are from Rishiri, these are from Rausu. And, Hidaka.

- I see. - It will take a while to be able to tell them apart.

Can you tell by the smell?

I have a pretty keen sense of smell.

- Is something the matter? - Oh, uh...

When Tokuzo-kun sorted these out by their smell, we found different varieties mixed in.

And that was happening here, there, and everywhere.

I tell you, Wakadan-san (young master) has an amazing nose.

It smells like the sun.

I think...I might be suited for this job.

My Nii-yan who's in Tokyo

told me before to find a job that I can say "this is it."

In my case, maybe this is it.

This is it?

Rather than having aspirations or whatever,

I feel that I can work hard if I think I'm doing it for my wife.

We're wasting oil.

It's this kind of thing that makes us lose the god of money.

We should sleep at night!

Come here! How's this....

Back then,

it appeared to me that Tokuzo-san was enjoying work in his own way...

- Me too! I want to do it too. - Then...

More than anything else, I was having so much fun myself that

I did not notice what one might call

Tokuzo-san's calling.

Year 37 of Meiji (1904) April

Is that boy being of any use to you?

He's doing very well.

It's hard to believe that he was known as Nokuzo.

Oh dear, you knew?

I just pretended to believe what the go-between told us.

Then why on earth did you...

You have a great tendency to bear boys, right?

Now that you mention it, I guess so.

One after another, they're all boys.

I have a great tendency to bear girls.

My husband wants a boy no matter what.

So that was the reason.

But I'm glad he married into our family.

He's a hard worker, and

more than anything, Toshiko is smiling a lot more these days.

He's quite a character, isn't he?

Boring.

Just between you and me,

my husband is such a cheapskate,

we were having difficulty finding someone to marry into our family.

We had given up all hope for Toshiko's marriage.

Mother. Thank you for coming.

I'm the one who should thank you. For making him mend his ways.

Oh, I haven't told her. About Tokuzo-san.

About Tokuzo-san?

Shall I take this opportunity to reveal Tokuzo's childhood stories?

Yes, please!

Sabae Army Infantry 36th Regiment

I'm from Matsumae-ya. I'm here to deliver the merchandise.

Excuse me...

Sabae Army Infantry 36th Regiment

Cook Sergeant

Tanabe Yukichi

Oh. Ah...you're from Matsumae-ya, huh?

You're not the usual guy so I didn't realize who you were.

Uh...what are you doing with that?

I'm beating the meat to tenderize it.

Meat, as in...

Meat from a cow.

- Did you say cow? - Yes, cow meat.

Cows are four-legged animals.

Oh, I forgot. People around here don't eat beef yet, huh?

But it's good for you. Gives you strength.

Oh...is that right.

In Tokyo, it's already common practice.

Oh, in Tokyo...

Do you want to have a taste?

No, no. It's okay. It's okay.

If you're dealing with food,

shouldn't you know what meat tastes like?

Really, no thank you.

Oh! You can't tell anyone, okay?

I don't want it then!

What the heck is that?

It smells good.

It doesn't just smell good.

It's good.

All right. Go ahead and eat.

Go ahead.

How is it?

Hold it!

It's even better with this.

What is this?

What the heck is this!

- It's cutlet. - Cut...let?

Yes, cutlet.

Well, the worst time was when

he came up with the idea of becoming a rice market speculator.

Speculator?

That must've been when he was about 15. My sister married into a family in Osaka.

When she came for a visit here,

she talked about a speculator who made a huge amount of money in the rice market.

Then on the night my sister went home, Tokuzo went missing.

There was quite a commotion that "He's gone missing!"

We managed to catch him at the train station, but

a normal kid would give up after that, right?

But a month later, he ran away from home again.

This time, he wracked what little brain he had, and

got on the train going the opposite direction.

And he succeeded in going to Osaka.

It must have been hard on you.

He has a real bad habit of easily getting absorbed in things.

Just recently too, he got it in his head that

monks were cool, but he got kicked out in 3 months.

What's the matter, Toshiko?

Nothing. Uh...

I didn't realize he was that kind of a person.

But I hear he's working normally now.

Yes, he's working diligently.

But it's not like he's completely absorbed in it...

Even when he was totally absorbed in something, it never lasted very long for him.

Don't you think being absorbed and a long-lasting job are two different things?

In Tokyo, it's already common practice.

How was that koromo (batter)...

Which koromo (clothes)?

I was thinking I should pull out the summer koromo (clothes).

Isn't it too early yet?

- Where did Tokuzo-san go? - He said he wanted to expand the business

so he's making the rounds from today to promote sales.

That's admirable of him.

Yes, isn't it?

Tanabe-san!

Can I have the cutlet again?

Of course, I don't mean for free.

- Oh, I'm not making that today. - What?

Is that so.

What are you doing with those potatoes?

I'm making curry today.

Curry?

We put in potatoes, carrots, green onions, and leftover bits and pieces from yesterday's meat in a pot

and simmer it with this thing called roux.

Then let me eat that!

That's okay with me, but it's going to take a while.

I'll help then!

Put your thumbs over each other.

Use your wrist and peel it in one go.

- Why don't you take it easy and just wait? - No, I'll do it.

Saute the vegetables.

It's important to remove the scum frequently.

Then we add the roux that's been prepared,

and simmer it some more.

Remember, don't tell anyone.

Okay.

What the heck is this~.

Tanabe-san, how did you learn to cook unusual dishes like this?

Did you learn it in the Army?

I used to be a "kokku" (cook) at a restaurant called Taiseiken in Tokyo.

Kokku...meaning?

It's the equivalent of an "itamae" (Japanese food cook) for Western cuisine.

Itamae.

Anyway, things happened and

I ended up quitting Taiseiken and joined the Army.

Although I'm still doing the same thing.

Tanabe-san, can I

come help tomorrow again?

That's okay with me, but what about the store?

I'll do something about that.

Tanabe-san, I!

had fun...today. A lot of fun.

Oh yeah?

Yes~!

Peel it in one go.

Use the wrist and peel it in one go.

Use the wrist and peel it in one go...one go.

- I'll see you later! - Have a good day.

Then on the night my sister went home, Tokuzo went missing.

He has a real bad habit of easily getting absorbed in things.

Onee-yan!

- Oh, yes? - Since this is a special year,

Kechi nosuke-san (kechi=cheapskate) said we can have a new yukata made.

Kechinosuke-san? You mean Father.

Hurry. The man from the kimono shop is already here.

I like this one.

Onee-yan, aren't you going to look some more?

I think it suits you well.

He'll look good in this.

Toshiko, those over there are expensive, you know.

I'll give you a good deal.

May I get this? I won't get one for myself.

Yeah, that's it...

Hi again!

When you start running out, turn it around like this.

Year 37 of Meiji (1904) June

I'm heading out now.

Have a good day.

Do you think the young master is really going around promoting sales?

I know it's not easy finding new customers, but

it's been 2 months and he hasn't found a single new customer...

- Are you saying that he's messing around somewhere? - Ah, no...

- Yasuke. - Yes, sir.

Listen. While you're out on delivery,

can you drop these off at our regular customers as a token of our appreciation?

Yes, sir. I'll be on my way now.

Thanks.

Tanabe-san, I'm done.

- Then... - We're boiling them, right?

Tokuzo-kun, you're a quick learner.

What are you doing there?

You'll see when it's done.

Is this shellfish?

Well, I guess it's something like that.

I'm going to help myself then.

Is it good?

What is this shellfish called?

In France, it's called escargot.

Japanese name would be ri-mu-tsu-ta-ka (read backwards is ka-ta-tsu-mu-ri, snail)

Oh, rimutsutaka...

This time of the year, you can find them around here too.

Is that right? I've never seen them before.

Really? Look, there's one.

Rimutsutaka...

Rimutsu...

Don't worry. It's been cooked.

Really, you're okay.

You even said it was good.

But by golly,

there are all kinds of food, huh?

With French cuisine, they cook things like calf's brain and kidney, pig and duck blood, rabbits and frogs.

They also eat pigeons.

Even things like that, huh?

What's the matter?

There must be tons of good food in this world that I don't know about.

The cutlet was so delicious, it was out of this world.

Why don't you go to Tokyo?

If you want to learn about Western cuisine, Tokyo's the place.

Yes, but I have work at the store.

Can't you just quit that job?

Not really. I married into the family.

Huh? What? Really?

- You're not a sales clerk? - No.

So you have a wife too.

At that age.

Is that so?

Wakadan-san?

Ouch.

Onee-yan, we have a problem. Hurry, hurry.

So does that mean you weren't working at all

and all this time you were learning to cook at the regiment?

I'm sorry.

For the time being, you work in the store starting tomorrow.

Don't go out.

Can't I work every other day?

I'll work twice as hard on those days.

Can you engage in your pastime on your day off?

Pastime...

That's nothing more than a pastime that doesn't bring in a sen, isn't it?

But in reality, the store is operating just fine without me, right?

There's no real inconvenience either.

You don't have to be such a cheapskate.

Cheapskate?

Did you say cheapskate?

I'm even paying wages even though you're family.

But because I'm family, my pay is comparable to an allowance.

In spite of that, expecting me to work full time doesn't make sense...

You're going to eventually inherit this store, aren't you?

Since you're getting this store, it's a given that you'd only get an allowance.

How greedy can you get.

Greedy...

- In the first place, I'm... - Why don't you leave it at that?

I'm your savior, you know.

Let's stop right here. Tokuzo-san, you can go now.

I want you to know

that I wanted a financially responsible cheerful son-in-law!

But that go-between told us persistently that Akiyama

is a family that bears boys and that we didn't even have to pay marriage allowance.

I figured something was up, so I did some checking, and guess what?

I heard you were a famous good-for-nothing in Takefu.

But if I took good care of you,

I thought you'd mend your ways, so I manned up and took you in.

I...

What?

- I... - Huh? Speak up!

I don't want it anyway!

I don't want it, I don't want it, I don't want it...

I don't want this house!

Did I ask you? Did I ever ask you?

Did you hear me say one word about wanting this house!

I didn't come here because I wanted to. If you don't like me,

go ahead and kick me out!

Were you listening...

So that's how this marriage came about.

Toshiko.

Mother.

I'm not the pitiable one here.

I've gone and done it.

What kind of food did you make today?

What kind of food did you make today?

Snails roasted in butter.

Aren't you surprised?

I heard once that people eat them in some regions as a cough suppressant.

But it was a surprise to me.

When I found out that there's a country in this world that makes snails taste good,

I was flabbergasted.

This sergeant, his name is Tanabe-san, but

at Tanabe-san's place, all kinds of things I've never tasted are served, and

everything I've had there is delicious.

I started wanting to cook like that too,

and I got totally absorbed in it.

So that's what happened.

Then on the night my sister went home, Tokuzo went missing.

I...

Yes?

I can't help myself.

When I get fired up about something, I can't see anything else.

Yes.

I know.

Just as your father said,

a thing like this is just a pastime.

I know that.

Tokuzo-san, what have you learned to cook?

Cutlet.

Rice curry.

Oh, and crab croquette made with snow crab.

Now, that was exquisite.

It's easier to talk this way.

What's a cutlet?

Oh...cutlet is

meat that's been dipped in batter and fried in oil, but

that batter's made of...

Why don't you go to Tokyo?

If you want to learn about Western cuisine, Tokyo's the place.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

Get the store employees to look around!

- That place he was hanging out at. - You mean the regiment?

Yeah, that's it. And get in touch with his family in Takefu!

Onee-yan, are you all right?

I couldn't finish it in time.

Nokuzo did it again...

- Jo... - Jo?

Jo...jo ya zaa~!

Tokyo Shinbashi Station

Excuse me, but how do I get to Kanda...

People in Tokyo haven't been taught any manners.

Mister, mister. You going to Kanda?

- You wanna ride? - Y...yes~.

What's that they're wearing on their head?

They're called Panama hats. You never heard of them?

What about that hairstyle?

That's called kagetsumaki.

I tell you, all kinds of things are the trend now.

Stop! Stop!

They're cracking down on socialists.

Anything and everything is Tokyo.

Excuse me. Do you know a boarding house called Kanda Ryuun-kan...

People in Tokyo haven't been taught manners at all.

"Niko ki"?

Ow.

Hey, wait a minute.

I said wait, you big oaf!

Go, little fella!

Go, big fella. Go, go, go!

Tokuzo... Tokuzo! What are you doing?

Huh?

I see. The character for "come" is read "rai" so the name is read "Nikorai."

Tokyo's full of witty ideas.

By the way, what on earth is Nikorai?

So you want to be a cook, but do you have a place in mind?

For the time being, I was planning to go to the restaurant that Tanabe-san used to work at.

Therefore, Onii-sama, if you would allow me to stay at your boarding house for a while...

You told the Takahama Family that you were coming, didn't you?

I did.

Tokuzo. This time is completely different from the time you went to Osaka.

Do you understand what it means to run away from the family you married into?

The Takahama Family must be infuriated, and Father's in a difficult situation.

Your wife must be crying too, right?

See? I knew you were going to lecture me.

Who'd announce you're leaving when you know you'd be lectured.

No one would.

All you ever do is rationalize.

But Nii-yan, you told me to find that something, remember?

- Well, yeah. - This time for sure,

I have a feeling I found that something.

This time for sure, I've come here with an unwavering resolve.

I'm going to be the best cook in the Empire of Japan!

"Dear Father"

"Today at approximately 12:00 pm,"

"I captured Tokuzo who was fighting on the street of Kanda."

"He tells me that he's going to be the best cook in the Empire of Japan."

"I considered sending him back immediately, however..."

"knowing Tokuzo, there's no telling what he may do."

"It wouldn't be so bad if he found work as a live-in help at some diner,"

"but it's also possible that he may give in to some unscrupulous allurement."

"I did not have the courage"

"to turn my back to my brother and as a result, turn him loose."

"The way I see it,"

"he's been caught by a fever as usual."

"This too shall pass in a month or so."

"It is my sincere hope that"

"you can pretend you sent him on a trip for a month and hold off on your judgment until then."

"That being said, what Tokuzo did"

"is fundamentally inexcusable."

"I believe he is prepared to accept a severe punishment."

"Shutaro"

I would like to leave all decisions in your hands.

I am truly sorry.

Even so,

this matter cannot be settled by divorce alone.

Toshiko has been ruined.

The poor girl has been crying her eyes out every day.

You're crying in your heart, aren't you? Huh?

You're crying. You're just holding it in. Your father can tell.

- No, uh... - Toshiko-san, I'm really sorry for what our stupid son did.

This isn't a matter that can be resolved with money, but

only money can resolve it at this point.

How much would appease you?

- Well, let's see... - Excuse me!

Isn't it because

we're getting a divorce that I'll be considered ruined?

If we don't get a divorce, there shouldn't be a problem...

Don't be silly. I need you to marry a successor.

- There's Mitsuko and Suzuko too. - I can't entrust the store to those unreliable girls.

For the time being,

why don't we wait and see?

He may come back in a month.

Are you okay with that?

Hey.

I...

I had a good time when I was with Tokuzo-san.

But that was probably because he's the kind of person who would do something like this.

Desiring too much

would incur divine punishment.

Nihon University Law School

So what did your brother decide to do?

He said he was going to eat at Taiseiken on Ningyo-cho today

and went out wearing my best suit.

Oh, to eat.

Nihon University Law School Professor

Kirizuka Shogo

Not to ask for a job, eh?

Yes. Saying he should first check out

that restaurant's taste before becoming an apprentice there, or something to that effect,

like he knows what he's talking about.

I'm not sure if that's the right attitude.

Here I go.

Good afternoon.

Table for one!

This way please.

This is beef consomme soup.

Oh, this?

I use this, right?

Here's your order.

This is beef cotelette.

- Cutlet... - At our restaurant, we call it by its proper name, cotelette.

Oh, is that right?

Sir...Sir.

If you can keep the noise down a little.

Shall I have it cut for you?

I'm fine.

- We'll get you treated immediately. - It's all right.

- I said it's all right! - But...

But I can't believe you serve tough meat like this to your customers.

Did you guys fight again?

It doesn't pay to be short-tempered, they say.

Actually, it wasn't such a great restaurant.

They were pretentious, but the food wasn't as good as it looked.

But Western cuisine is pretentious to start out with...

To start out with? That's what's wrong with it.

Why use those tedious and annoying utensils when you can just eat with chopsticks.

One can't even enjoy the taste.

Didn't this Tanabe-san teach you any etiquette?

You eat, it's good. That's all that's important.

That's what I think.

Tokuzo.

That's how you always are.

You refuse to learn.

When you run into things you can't do, you try to force your own way.

You throw a temper tantrum, and in the end, you say what you can't do is boring.

- You reason against reason. - I don't do such a thing.

Be it speculator or monk,

there are lots of people who stick to their job without considering it boring.

Did all those people stick with it because it's their natural vocation?

I don't think so.

They may not always like it, but

they endure and make an effort.

In doing so, they find something of interest to them. That's what I think.

With the way you are, even interesting jobs end up being boring.

Isn't that your set up?

If you can't change the way you are,

you'd better go home.

No one there would be so tough on the young master of a major store.

Damn cat...

Shit!

Closed

I guess I'll go around to the back.

Excuse me. I want to be a cook. Won't you please hire me?

You're talking to the wrong person.

- Hey, what's going on here? - Chief, this man wants to...

Can you please hire me? I'll do anything.

- You're that... - I'm sorry!

- He's the guy who caused trouble today. - I'm sorry I lost my temper.

- What's more, he said the food wasn't good. - That was in the heat of the moment.

I suggest you get trained at a better restaurant. Go away.

- Wait a minute, please. - Go, go, go, go.

I'll do anything. Please hire me.

"Thankfully, Toshiko-san is willing to wait for Tokuzo."

"Hopefully, you can somehow persuade him to come back."

"Preferably in the near future."

"I believe Tokuzo will be going back in the not so distant future..."

What happened now?

- Where did you go? - I went to look for a job.

Oh...

"From your father"

Looks like he left already.

It's not like I'm totally ignorant.

Tanabe-san, who used to work here...

- Tanabe? - Yes~.

Sergeant Tanabe Yukichi of the Sabae Regiment... - Look,

Tanabe flirted around with the chief cook's woman.

Wait...

Wait! That has nothing to do with me.

And so, is your brother going there everyday?

Yes. Come rain or wind.

But I would think he can get his training at some other restaurant.

I think maybe he's just being obstinate.

Hm? What's the matter?

Ah...

It just occurred to me that this might be the first time

my brother exhibited such strong will.

Actually,

I know of a job for him.

Excuse me.

"From your father"

How much would you like?

Two Oumi beef chuck roasts, 3 beef tongues,

One 2 and a half kan (approx. 9 kg) piglet, and 10 pork loins.

- Can you get them delivered by the 30th? - The 30th?

But Nii-yan, you told me to find that something, remember?

I'd appreciate it if you can. I want to get a head start on the preparation.

I'll try. Uh...about the piglet...

Tokuzo.

Be gone.

He keeps on repeating be gone, be gone, like a fool.

Right?

Nii-yan, what are you doing here today?

Are you doing this because you're being obstinate?

Well, there's that, but...

I don't get bored.

I get to see all kinds of things sitting by the back door.

Like the vendors and cooks talking.

I can hear the cooks talking to each other too.

I can learn a lot of things from that.

Like the fact that meat is best 7 to 10 days after the animal is slaughtered.

But for soups, fresher meat is better.

When you boil potatoes, adding salt makes it less likely to fall apart.

Apparently, vegetables have looks too.

They were talking about how this one's good-looking and that one's ugly.

Like you have to pick the good looking ones.

Even by eavesdropping,

you can pick up quite a bit of knowledge by listening.

I'm going to be the best cook in the Empire of Japan!

Father, I'm sorry.

Tokuzo.

Does it have to be this restaurant?

To get your training.

Huh?

Kirizuka Sensei who's my adviser

is the legal counsel for this place called Kazoku Kaikan (Peers Club).

Kazoku Kaikan?

It was originally the Government's social gathering place called Rokumeikan, but

now, it's been turned into a club for the aristocracy, and

they serve authentic Western cuisine.

However, you're going to start out as a scullion. Okay?

Thank you so much, Nii-yan.

Thank you!

Woohoo!

- Hey, kid. - I...

I'm working here starting today. My name is Akiyama Tokuzo.

Ah...

So you're...

uh...you're Akiyama Tokuzo-kun?

Yes, sir! I am.

Oh, Kirizuka Sensei. Do you know him?

Kirizuka Sensei?

Kazoku Kaikan Lobby

This is where the guests are served.

Usami-san, your red wine sauce

was very delicious.

It had a very gentle flavor.

- We added butter to it. - Is that right?

That's Usami-kun, the chief cook.

He prepares his food meticulously.

Kirizuka Sensei, how have you been?

This is Akiyama Tokuzo-kun who will be under your care.

I'm Akiyama Tokuzo. Pleased to meet you.

Kazoku Kaikan Head Chef

Usami Shoichi

Pleased to meet you too.

I wonder if I can ever be like him.

That depends on your attitude, don't you think?

In that case, I'm sure I can.

As far as attitude goes, I'm confident I can beat anyone.

Tokuzo-san was in high spirits, but

becoming the Emperor's cook

was much, much

much, much further down the road.

In order to get there,

there awaited a long journey.

For example,

just one step ahead...

awaited a cruel world

that far surpassed what he had expected.

Kitchen