Eh?
Look at this.
Isn't that Doumoto-san's husband?
Which one?
This one! The farthest on the right. You can only see half of him, though.
The headline reads: 'As They Lower Their Heads in Apology...'
Ah, it is him!
The headline reads: 'As They Lower Their Heads in Apology...'
It appears his company went bankrupt.
The headline reads: 'As They Lower Their Heads in Apology...'
But, why is he the only one who isn't bowing?
The headline reads: 'As They Lower Their Heads in Apology...'
I wonder...
The headline reads: 'As They Lower Their Heads in Apology...'
Doumoto
So, a month later...
Doumoto
Mr. Doumoto was still unemployed.
Please, Darling... You can't go and cover for me.
Don't be a nuisance!
You just stay here and relax,
and I'll take care of the people at the shop.
Anyway, I'll be back.
I wonder if it'll be okay.
I wonder where he's off to...
They used to say he was quite the able man, while in his company.
But in truthfullness, he was an extremely proud man.
Eh? Why this one?
Jeeze, Tenchou... Tenchou means 'shop manager'.
You've searched for an employee, right?
B-But I've already hired her...
I is Atcharaa Soupon Panitto.
I don't understand Japanese.
And to make matters worse, we're so busy, and she can't even communicate.
I'm sorry.
But...
Atcharaa-san is an exchange student from Thailand.
She needs this to pay her school fees...
Also, the caretaker at her dorm asked us to do this...
You're allowed to say 'no', you know!
Seriously, why do you have to be such a wimp?
Ahh, looks like it's time for us to go home.
Doumoto-san, our replacement, is late.
Ah, Doumoto-san caught a cold. She called in sick earlier...
Is Tenchou-san here?
U-Umm... I am the Tenchou, is there something I can help you with...?
Ah, I see.
I'm Doumoto.
I am here to work part-time, to cover for my foolish wife.
Part-time?
T-Thank you so much for your assistance.
Don't mention it.
If I recall, at that moment...
That's when the battle lines were drawn.
Okay, Tenchou. We'll be heading out.
We're off.
Bye!
Tenchou.
Y-Yes?
I was with the same company for over 30 years, so I don't have experience with anything else, but...
I have every intention of devoting myself entirely to our company.
Feel free to tell me to do anything you want.
I-I see.
So...
Have you had cooking lessons before?
No.
U-Umm...
I don't understand.
Moving on to service... Good luck.
No sooner said than done.
This place has delicious side dishes.
Customers!
Umm...
This shop is open, isn't it?
Yup.
I don't understand.
Umm, I'm so terribly sorry, ma'am.
Welcome to our store.
Is there something I can help you with?
Thank you very much!
I-I don't know if these two will cut it...
Tenchou.
That was incredible.
You've shown me the light.
'Welcome to our store'?
I won't fail on the next customer!
I'm like, sooo hungry.
Hey, how about this shop?
Here? This place's karaage is like, so amazing. Karaage is a Japanese version of fried chicken.
For real?
What's with that old man? He's like, staring at us so much!
It's like, giving me the creeps.
Come on in!
Aren't you going to come in?
That's strange...
It's around this time the students always start coming in.
Eww, he's creepy.
He's really creepy.
Oh well.
They just passed by.
U-Umm... Doumoto-san...
Can't you loosen up a little?
Like this?
Ah, that's even scarier than before.
So Darling, did you do well at work?
More or less.
Doumoto-san, can't you loosen up a little?
Special training!
Hohoemiya Handmade Side-dishes and O-bentou (Pun on the words 'hohoemi' meaning "smile", 'mi' meaning "taste", and 'ya' meaning "store". O-bentou = lunchboxes)
He worked very hard.
Welcome to our store.
Welcome to our store!
What's he doing?
Super creepy!
What a loser!
Mr. Doumoto worked hard to improve his poor customer relations.
But why?
Did I cut these alright?
Please, work at the register.
It was because the kitchen and him really didn't get along together.
Tenchou, have you ever worked as a salaryman? A salaryman is a very typical job for Japanese men. It's when a man works in a Japanese corporation.
Ah, a long time ago, I worked for 1 or 2 years, but I was fired.
A salaryman is a very typical job for Japanese men. It's when a man works in a Japanese corporation.
So, I moved on to the service industry.
Oh?
Ah, it's a bit embarassing.
To be talking about this when you worked so hard, Doumoto-san...
But there's no denying the fact that I am out of that job.
But, I'm totally fine with that.
You know, this bentou really does taste good.
You must have been blessed with the talent to make it.
Eh? Is that so?
That makes me happy.
But even though it tastes so good...
...why isn't it selling?
Why, that's because you're scary!
Oh, how the Tenchou wished he had the guts to say that.
Thank you very much.
Mr. Doumoto was his same-old clumsy self, but...
...gradually he grew accustomed to the customers.
He sure is awkward.
He just sat there like an executive on a board.
...grew accustomed.
But then, one day...
Hey, Ken-chan, don't get hurt!
Jeeze, Shou-chan!
Welcome to our store.
Hmm, how about...
HEY! You there!
What do you think you're doing?!
W-W-What's happening?
Tenchou.
W-What's with this man?!
We're just customers!
That's supposed to include our kids too, right?!
Learn to discipline your children!
Gah...
I'm so terribly sorry.
You idiot!
What the hell are you apologizing for?!
The nerve...
Let's go home.
I wish that the Tenchou would learn to discipline him.
Thank you very much.
Discipline?
Me discipline this man?
Justice will be served.
And yet the Tenchou, who thought he could take no more, said nothing and regretted it.
What are you going to do, Tenchou?
Aren't we going to lose all our customers?
I wonder if Doumoto-san's wife isn't all better by now?
T-That's it!
He is just acting as her pinch-hitter!
If we can just get her to come back...
Then, definitely... definitely...
Tenchou.
Last night, my wife was admitted into the hospital.
It seems that she's come down with a touch of pneumonia.
So, until she is discharged, I'll help you with every ounce of strength I have!
My shop is in a big pinch.
I arrive here.
Tenchou-san, hello.
Doumo-san, hello.
Hi, Atcharaa-san.
Tenchou, I arrive here.
T-That is it!
Doumoto-san, from today on, I have a new job for you.
Okay, what is it?
That's it! That's the only way!
The indecisive Tenchou, who could never make a stand about anything,
what could he possibly be up to?
Welcome to our store!
Eh? That strange old man isn't here.
Welcome to our store!
Maybe he'll show up?
But, I wonder what country that girl is from...
Good question...
Welcome to our store. You young girl are pretty.
Me? Me?
Hmm, I think I might have the karaage.
I'll have the croquette.
Ah, things are sure looking up.
Tenchou, karaage and croquette.
Tenchou-san!
I'm here!
Young girl, thank you very much.
Persons from Japan are pretty, huh?
Yes, the customers are back.
Tenchou!
Yes?
Is this to your liking?
Big Bargain on Fried Oysters.
He's not scary!
He is scary!
I-I never thought he'd actually wear it.
I go to Japanese language school.
I do part-time job in izakaya. An izakaya is a small local bar, not an o-bentou shop.
Wow, that must be a lot of work.
An izakaya is a small local bar, not an o-bentou shop.
But, Atcharaa-san's rapid growth is quite surprising.
She always shows something new.
Ah, it's true! That old man is gone.
Thank goodness. Because it tastes so good I've wanted to shop here again.
It's those low-class families again.
Welcome to our store.
Let's see... The special karaage...
They never learn!
Thank you very much!
I'll wrap them for you.
We don't really need those, though...
I don't understand Japanese.
Thank you very much!
Jeeze, Ken-chan! I can't believe you made us buy this!
Don't let it happen again!
Atcharaa-san, you've shown me the way.
Of course, Doumo-san.
Tenchou...
By telling me to wear this, you've shown me the spirit.
Now I understand.
I wish to study these techniques of customer service.
Well if you say so...
He sure has enthusiasm, this man.
Are you okay, Tenchou?
I just slipped in some oil.
Tenchou, have you lost weight?
You've been doing all the cooking by yourself, right, Tenchou?
And ever since Doumoto-san stopped working the register,
the customers have been coming back.
You're wearing yourself out.
I figure, while Doumoto-san is learning the job,
Atcharaa-san could help me in the kitchen.
Well, if that's what you want.
Thank you for waiting.
Thank you very much!
Mr. Doumoto worked hard day and night.
Brought
To
You
By
Live
eviL
Fan
subs.
Thank you very much.
Alright, I think with one more day of special training tomorrow...
...I'll be ready to return to the cash register.
But...
I need a 15 piece karaage bentou.
And hurry it up.
Thank you very much!
15 piece karaage bentou!
Okay!
Man, we're so busy, so busy.
Hey, senpai! Senpai refers to his school upperclassman.
I just put in my order for karaage bentou.
Senpai refers to his school upperclassman.
Eh? You wanted curry bentou?
Look, it's your karaage bentou.
Hey, didn't I say curry?
W-What?!
It's karaage.
I said curry.
Now change it to curry bentou!
Umm, what's the problem here?
This girl screwed up the order!
But...
It's karaage!
Stay out of this!
Isn't this girl a friggin' gaijin?! A gaijin is a derogatory term meaning 'foreigner'. It's sort of like a racial slur.
She fucked up her Japanese!
A gaijin is a derogatory term meaning 'foreigner'. It's sort of like a racial slur.
But since we already made this...
Can't you take a hint?! I don't need this!
You idiot!
W-What the hell?
Have you no shame?! Shame!
Doumoto-san, that's enough...
But, Tenchou! This bastard...
Because I don't want any more trouble,
please accept this...
I'm terribly sorry about that.
Tenchou, don't you wish you had done something about that?
Because you were intimidating me...
I always bowed my head to you.
I've reached my limit.
As long as you're in my shop...
Doumoto-san,
you're...
...fired!
I can't say it.
I did nothing wrong.
But, it seems that I am being a nuisance to Tenchou.
If I go in early and apologize...
Because Tenchou can't speak up for himself, how about we say it for him?
That we want Doumoto-san to quit his job, right?
As long as he's here, he's nothing but a useless annoyance.
Doumo-san! Hello.
Oh, Atcharaa-san.
Thank you for yesterday.
Are you going to the shop?
Nope, I'm not going there any more.
Why not?
Atcharaa-san, you're great, aren't you?
I'm no good.
I worked over 30 years in that company...
I used to really like my job.
I used to carry great pride.
I thought I could go through life without ever having to apologize to anyone.
So, after I lost my job, I was devastated.
Why did I have to be like that?
But...
I thought that I would have to get used to my new life.
Oh, how wrong I was.
But...
I can't change!
It's not that easy to just up and change!
Doumo-san...
Sorry about that. I ran off about such boring things.
Doumo-san was crying.
Were you always fighting through this?
Did you give it your all?
You were great, weren't you?
Thank you very much.
Doumo-san, are you still sad?
No, I just needed to get that off my chest.
Thanks for listening to me.
I don't understand Japanese.
But, he sure tried hard.
He'd grab the fryer and throw it like this!
Are you talking about him again?
Well, what are you going to do?
Don't you want to fire him?
When you put it like that, but...
Tenchou.
D-D-Doumoto-san!
I am terribly sorry for everything I did to you.
D-Doumoto-san...
That doesn't seem like you at all.
Tenchou, I want to apologize to you from the bottom of my heart.
Don't ever bow to someone who refuses to apologize!
But, after all, no one is perfect, and Tenchou was amused by his mistakes.
Sorry about that.
I put such a burden on you guys.
It's okay...
Shortly after that,
his wife returned to her job, and Mr. Doumoto left.
Usa-pyon (Rabbit)
A few months later...
Mr. Doumoto found a new job at a small accounting firm.
What are you doing here?
I know you're disappointed. Atcharaa-san is out on a date.
Then, I'll have a potato bentou.
One potato bentou!
Okay!
Every once in a while, he goes and buys bentou just for fun.
I died at age 90. I was doing so well, too.
I was out of memories. It was a good life.
I'm revived! Now, I can fly through the air; what happened to me?!
There's definitely a higher purpose for all this.
Yes! To live out my life, I must seek out this purpose.
On the next Rumic Theater: One Hundred Years of Love.
See you there!