Original subtitles

Rather than a purveyor,

Year 12 of Taisho (1923) Late September

something like the secrets of the Imperial Family...

Toshiko-chan, what's wrong?

Are you all right? Do you want to take a rest?

I'm all right. I just had a slight pain in my chest.

Sorry, Shujiro.

I'm fine now.

- I'm back. - Hi.

How was the classroom observation?

Ichitaro did well.

I'm glad to hear that.

After the earthquake,

Kirizuka Sensei was kind enough to let us stay at his house.

Students who lost their lodging were also staying there.

- Another helping, please. - Me too, please.

Hey, hey. Remember, two bowls per person is the limit.

So, you're taking on all the mending too?

It's not easy to go shopping these days.

You look like you've lost some weight. Are you eating properly?

You too, Tokuzo-san.

Well, I guess everyone's losing weight under these circumstances.

Yes.

The Imperial Household Ministry in those days

was understaffed due to absences of

those who lost their family and those who were injured in the earthquake.

In that midst, Tokuzo-san was kept extremely busy

having to continue with relief activities

in addition to his normal duties.

For my part, I was kept busy looking for our new residence and taking care of various procedures,

and with the shortage of midwives,

I had no time whatsoever to stay still.

I'm sure it was that way for everyone in the capital.

And in the meantime...

Take this over, please.

Year 3 of Taisho (1924) January 26

the new year rolled in, Year 3 of Taisho.

Go!

In consideration of the national sentiment,

the marriage ceremony of the Crown Prince, which had been postponed, was held.

Everyone was enlivened by the good news.

A celebratory feast is great, isn't it?

It puts us in a good mood too.

Yes, indeed.

Head Master Chef Akiyama, do you have a minute?

- Sure. - We caught a scoundrel

trying to sneak into the palace by taking advantage of the commotion of the wedding.

Who is this impertinent fellow!

Dude!

Dude...Dude!

Is he someone you know?

I'm terribly sorry!

You sure eat a lot.

- I'm sorry. - That's okay.

Japanese rice is the best, isn't it?

Another helping, please.

Shintaro-san, are your paintings worth 300 yen now?

Didn't you say you weren't come back until then?

The thing is, I felt as if I was being called back.

Called back?

I figured a lot of paintings must've got burned in the aftermath of the earthquake.

I felt as if Japan was telling me to come back.

- Here you go. - Thanks.

Did you know Oyaji-san at Banzai-ken?

I'm Akiyama's wife.

If I remember correctly, he should know Oyaji-san.

Then, would you mind drawing a picture of Oyaji-san for O'ume-san?

Did Oyaji-san die in this earthquake?

No, he passed away long before that, but

I heard all his pictures were destroyed in the earthquake.

I see...

Could that perhaps be a business opportunity?

Like, let me replicate your memory of the deceased.

What in the world are you thinking!

Listen. If that business of yours was to work out,

it means that person has passed away.

How can you try to make money taking advantage of people's misfortune.

Don't you have a heart?!

It's not heart that he doesn't have.

He doesn't have any brain.

He's a hardy man, isn't he?

His ability to survive is like that of a cockroach.

Are you off to do your midwife work now?

There's an expectant mother who could give birth any minute, so

I'll go see how she's doing.

You're always working so hard.

Don't overexert yourself, okay?

Okay.

I was happy.

My family made it safely through that earthquake disaster.

How blessed can I be.

I was happy.

Year 2 of Showa (1927) Early in the New Year

Are you all right?

Yeah. I'm going then.

Yes. Have a good day.

- Then he went today without any trouble? - Yes, more or less.

The new year's greeting cards went to waste, huh?

I knew from the announcement that His Majesty wasn't doing well, but

I never thought he'd take his leave before year end.

Hey! What are you doing!

If you want to eat, pay your rent first. You still owe me rent from last year.

Rent has taken its leave as well.

What kind of nonsense is that! I swear!

Funeral service will be held at the funeral hall at Shinjuku Gyoen from the evening of February 7th.

Subsequently, on the 16th,

His Majesty is planning to invite ambassadors and envoys from various countries and their spouses

to join him at a luncheon at Homeiden.

Gentlemen. I look forward to your continuing support in the new year too!

We ask for your support as well.

For us, who were responsible for preparing His Majesty's meals,

last year's year end turned out to be very disheartening.

Let's not forget that disappointment and

put more effort into thinking about

His Majesty's meals from the standpoint of his health as well.

Oh, Miyamae-san.

- Do you have a minute? - Certainly.

It's about the luncheon at Homeiden.

I appreciate all your help.

It's the first luncheon party given by Okami, but

since we're also in mourning,

I wasn't quite sure how to handle it.

Do you think you'll be able to come up with a good menu?

I'll try my best.

Is there something else?

Actually, I'm thinking about

retiring at the end of March.

But I can't do anything if you're not around.

I only recall you doing whatever you please.

That's because...

I hate to leave, but

unfortunately, I'm getting hard of hearing

and I find myself talking louder.

Please create a new kitchen

that's suitable for the new Okami.

I'll do that.

Oh, so that's what happened.

The big reason I felt reassured was because Miyamae-san nagged and kept me in check.

From now on, I'll have to keep myself in check.

But still, it's going to be unnerving.

When someone who was always there suddenly disappears.

Toshiko?

Hey, Toshiko, what's wrong? Toshiko! Toshiko!

- What happened? - I'll go get the doctor so watch your mother...

Father, you stay here. I'll go get the doctor.

Toshiko. Toshiko... Toshiko!

Heart failure...

It's a heart condition that causes pain in the chest and shortness of breath.

I'm sure she's had several symptoms before too.

There were no symptoms at all...

She was running around energetically all this time.

Then she must've been suffering in silence for quite some time.

At any rate, please make sure that she's strictly confined to bed from now on.

Is Mother all right?

She's all right.

She'll just have to rest for a while.

Come on. Go to bed.

- I'll take my leave now. - Thank you.

I wish you had told me, Toshiko.

How much pain were you enduring?

Tokuzo-san, I'm sorry. I'll do it. Please sit down and...

Stay in bed, you procrastinator!

If you thought something wasn't right, why didn't you go to the hospital right away?

Are you stupid!

You collapsed.

You collapsed, we called the doctor,

and we were told to keep you strictly confined to bed!

Is that...what happened to me?

You caused quite a stir, you know. Ichitaro had to go get the doctor in the middle of the night.

So until the doctor says it's okay,

you're not allowed to do anything.

Now that you know, go back to bed.

Okay~.

- Bed! - I'll just be watching.

Just make sure you're just watching.

Here you go.

Father, you're a pretty good cook.

Thank you for the compliment.

Mother, are you all better now?

It pays to get sick once in a while, doesn't it?

Make sure you stay in bed during the day, okay?

You're not allowed to do any household chores, understand?

I made lunch and left it in the kitchen so you won't have to move around.

Eat that, okay?

Are you sure you got that?

Of course.

But that aside, what did you do

to get this fish to broil so perfectly?

Mother, aren't you going to clean house or do the laundry today?

No, I'm not.

Really? You're not going to, huh?

No, I'm not~.

Babysit Shujiro?

Please.

I don't think Toshiko can get any rest if no one's watching Shujiro.

But it's so sudden...

I have the restaurant too.

There he is!

Hey.

Shujiro, a funny man's here to see you.

Then thanks in advance.

Matsui-san?

I'm starting today as your babysitter in exchange for meals.

I told you the same thing before already.

Are those ears of yours just decoration?! Huh?!

I'm sorry.

Is something worrying you?

No, nothing in particular.

Distress in your heart

can very well lead to distress in the meals for Okami too.

My wife is...um...slightly...

Slightly?

Slightly sick right now.

Then until things settle down,

we'll take care of the meals here.

Head Master Chef, you just concentrate on planning the menu.

- But... - If only at the end,

I'd like to see what it's like to be the head master chef.

What's going on?

I think you're better than Father.

Oh, you're home.

Why is Usami-san...

O'ume-san told Usami-san about the situation

when he went to the restaurant, so he came to help out.

Usami-san, I'm sorry. I'll do that.

- Stay out of my way. - Stay out?

Oji-san doesn't work in the kitchen anymore so he wants to cook for us today.

But still...

What the heck are you doing! How many times did I tell you to...

Usami-san's cooking for us.

We can't be using everyday dishes...

Hey, Toshiko...Toshiko. Toshiko!

Ichitaro, medicine!

Toshiko...Toshiko!

I'm sorry.

Actually, I did go see a doctor once before.

It was right after the earthquake, and at that time I was told that it was just fatigue.

So I thought my heart was prone to fatigue.

I beg you, please, stay still from now on.

- You promised, you know. - Promised?

You promised, remember? That you'd live longer than me.

Yes.

Hm~. Does this... go here?

No, not there.

Is she all right?

At least she seems to have an appetite.

Father.

Once she loses her appetite, she'll just continue to get weaker.

I'll try to come up with different ways to make food for her.

Tokuzo-san, I'll live longer than you.

First and foremost, rest.

And thus began

the days of dietary treatment for me and Tokuzo-san.

- Out with the demons! In with good fortune! - Let me in~.

Out with the demons! Out with the demons! Out with the demons!

Here you go. Enjoy.

How pretty.

This is called Creme Choiseul.

It's lentil soup that's easy on your stomach.

And this is called Timbale au Legume...

May I have it?

Okay, you can take this now.

According to the doctor, barley's supposed to be good for your health.

So we're talking about incorporating it into Okami's meals too.

Is that right?

Was it too much?

No, I'll be fine after I rest a bit.

Oh, yeah?

I'm sorry.

Even this makes you choke, huh?

It's gone.

Look, it came back.

Mother, may I come in for a minute?

Oh...sure.

I have to write an essay on my dream for the future or what I want to be, but...

Mother?

Oh, sorry. And?

There are several that I like, but

I'm having a hard time deciding.

Your father wanted to be all kinds of things, but

he never finished anything he started.

He even renounced the world to become a monk.

- Really? - Really.

And he was severely chided by everyone around him.

Then he tried cooking,

and he finally realized that was his dream.

It may be that

until you do it, you won't realize what that is.

Sorry we're so shorthanded.

Not at all. We're doing good business thanks to the designation of purveyor to the Imperial Household Ministry.

If you'd like, shall I go help out at your house too?

If you don't take a breather once in a while, you're gonna go down too.

Thank you.

Mother, do this for me.

- Isn't that your homework? - They're not going to find out anyway.

Hatsue, don't you like needlework?

I don't think you'll find anyone who likes it.

At your grandfather's store in Sabae,

when I was a child,

I often had to mend happi coats and aprons.

Everyone really appreciated it.

I wasn't fond of needlework, but

I liked being helpful.

That's not my style.

Rather than being helpful,

I want people to say they want to be of help to me.

That's fine too, but

it really makes you happy when you can be of help to others, you know.

If you don't know that feeling,

I think you're missing out.

Year 2 of Showa (1927) December 31

The burdock for hishihanabira (Japanese confectionery) is 4 sun 2 bu (approx. 12.72 cm). 4 sun 2 bu.

Doing this makes me realize that the new year is approaching.

I know, right? This year too...

Head Master Chef. I'll finish this up.

It's the same every year.

Hey, Toshiko! I'm home!

Toshiko? Hey, Toshiko! What's the matter?

Toshiko!

I'm sorry.

I couldn't cough up the phlegm.

All I do...

is cause trouble for you.

If you think so, will you please hurry up and get well?

I'm going to make soba now.

Let's all eat it together, huh?

I'll go get started on it then.

Take time off from work?

Yes.

What about having the hospital take care of her?

I think she's at a point where someone has to be with her all the time.

That's not possible even at a hospital, right?

Won't I do?

Of course not, huh?

But you've been a great help.

Really, with everything...

Mother.

Mother.

Mother. Mother...

Mother, what are you doing?

You sounded like you were down.

Soba's ready.

- Hai~. - Hai~.

It's soba time, it's soba time.

- It's gonna be good~. - Looks good.

Man~, it's good. The soba that I made.

Oji-san, you were just standing there.

That may be how I appeared, but I was actually doing a lot.

Mother, shall I feed you?

Thank you. But

I just want to watch you all eat.

Mother will be eating her special soba later on, so it's okay.

I want to eat that too!

A kid who wets his bed doesn't have the right to eat that.

Oji-san, that's none of your business.

Oh...it's starting.

(The sound of "Joya no Kane," bell rung 108 times starting on New Year's Eve and continuing on into the New Year.)

Mother.

Happy New Year.

Happy New Year, Mother.

Mother.

Mother...

Happy...New Year.

Mother.

Yes?

I ask for your continued support in the new year too.

It looks delicious.

It's still too hot.

I'm afraid I'm making the children worry.

It's impossible to tell them not to worry.

Pretty.

I kneaded spinach and carrots into the buckwheat.

What a lucky woman I am.

To have His Majesty's cook

go through all that trouble for me.

What happened? Did it come off?

Do you know what these bells are?

Hm? They're bells from your wallet, right?

They're bells that were on the amulet you gave me long time ago.

That's what they were, huh?

I couldn't get myself to throw them away and

I kept them with me all this time.

Now,

they're like a part of me.

You mean they're a part of your wallet.

Okay, it should be just right.

Tokuzo-san.

There's just one thing that worries me.

- Tell me after you take a bite. - I'm...

worried about your short temper.

In your case, that may lead to

a terrible situation for you at work.

So please,

keep these bells in your pocket from now on, and

when you hear the bells ring,

remember what I said and...

Take a bite already! It's getting cold!

How much time and effort do you think went into making this.

Oh...

Ah...this is what you meant, huh?

I'm sorry.

Me too.

That was uncalled for. I'm sorry.

May I have a bite?

What is je t'aime?

You wrote it in your letter long time ago...

It means to eat.

Today, tomorrow, and the day after.

I'm going to live longer than you.

That's what it means.

Good morning~.

Hey, Dude. You're up today.

That's an impressive letter. Who's it from?

It's from Oomiya-sama (Empress Dowager).

Here. This is from me.

Oh, are you going out?

- So where did he go? - Don't know...

And you left the house empty?

Aren't the kids coming home soon?

What are you thinking? Go back right away.

Oh, just a minute.

- Is the dinner for Akiyama-san's family ready? - Yup.

Welcome. We're a bit busy right now.

Aoyama Detached Palace

My heartfelt condolences to you and your family.

Thank you...

Thank you for the letter of condolence.

Unfortunately, Oomiya-sama is with a guest.

Then...

please convey my thanks to her.

I certainly will.

And one more thing.

She wanted me to give this to you.

May I open it?

It's my wife who passed away...

This is what she wished me to give you.

Bells are unbearable, Toshiko...

I don't want to do this anymore~.

What are you doing?

Hi, Father. You're going back to work tomorrow, right?

You had a hole in your sock.

Mother said being of help to others will make me happy.

You'd better be grateful.

Usami-san...

Usami-san, it's okay. I'll do it.

Stay out of my way.

Ichitaro, what are you doing...

You won't know what you want to be until you try it.

That's what Mother said.

So Usami-san's teaching me.

Your wife was quite a woman.

Her sincere heart

is alive in these children's heart.

It will live forever.

Did I mess up?

Father.

Watch carefully, Ichitaro.

What did you learn to make, Tokuzo-san?

Don't ever come into my life again.

O'ume-san, we're going straight upstairs.

Tokuzo-san, I'll live longer than you.

So please, feel at ease.

It was a cold winter.

Cold enough to bring shivers to your body and soul.

Doyajaa...

But

it was, in some way, a warm snow.

Doyajaa...

All right...

Let's go, Toshiko.

If you'll excuse me.

Excuse me...

That doll

was her way of telling me to take good care of my children, wasn't it?

I have no way of knowing what her intention was.

Please send her my regards.

Is that right?

Is that what Akiyama said?

Yes.

I see.

It is estimated that 3,000 people will be

attending the celebration of His Majesty the Emperor's accession to the throne.

Let's pull ourselves together

and do our best!

With renewed determination,

the era is Showa.

As a cook, this fellow would soon find himself

fighting through turbulent times

with a single kitchen knife as his weapon.