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Episode 199
Ever since the Marco Polo Bridge Incident that took place on July 7, 1937,
Japan was embroiled in a bitter war in China.
The horror of war had not yet struck home to Oshin.
She was too busy raising her five children.
Toward the end of that year,
Ryuzo's brother, Kamejiro, a major in the army came to visit.
Oshin felt uneasy. She had a bad premonition,
not knowing the reason for Kamejiro's visit.
Our mother in Saga is very happy. She says Oshin has been very kind.
I just send her fish from our shop from time to time.
- I can't do much. - We're all the same.
We all have to find for ourselves first.
I'm in Kokura, so I don't visit home often.
But on my last visit,
I was told you were running a fish store here in Ise.
I've neglected to write to you...
It's the same for me, too.
Mother was worried about how you were doing.
She's too old to come out here to see for herself.
Oshin has been writing to her to tell her that we're fine.
As your mother, she still worries.
She told me to go to see for myself.
I just happened to be visiting a regiment here,
- so I stopped by. - Is that so?
I thought you might have come here on business...
Yes. I do have business!
- Welcome home. - I'm home.
You're late today.
I had a kendo match at school.
- Where's Father and Mother? - We have a visitor.
Our uncle is here. He's an Army Major!
We were told to play outside.
It's Uncle Kamejiro. He's a major?
I'm home!
This is Yuu.
So this is Yuu.
I'm very pleased to meet you.
We've met before. When you were just a toddler!
How old are you?
I'm in my third year of middle school.
He's a fine young man! You must both be so proud of him.
My second son entered Officers' Candidate School this year.
- What will Yuu do? - I haven't decided yet.
He'll sell fish. He doesn't have to continue school.
Besides, we haven't the money to send him to school...
What a waste!
He can get into a prefectural school. He must be smart.
Be an officer.
You can take your exams in your fourth year of school.
The country will pay for his education.
Now is the time for all military men.
- Hurry, and change. - Excuse me.
I must mind the store. Please spend time with your brother.
I can't stay. I'm meeting people for dinner.
You won't be staying over?
They've arranged a place for me to stay at.
I do need to talk to you before I leave.
Mother, a customer.
Excuse me.
Yuu, give me a hand. They have business to discuss.
- Hurry up. - Okay...
Welcome! Sorry to keep you waiting.
What's good for cooking in a pot?
- I have good mackerel. - I'll take that.
I need to ask Uncle some questions...
- Get the fish for the lady! - I'll be glad to help...
Please make dinner!
Okay.
Welcome!
I'm not saying it's wrong to be a fish dealer, but I'm shocked!
You only make a little here and a little there.
And you have to cater to all your customers.
You wrap fish and sell them... How much can you make doing that?
You'll be working for the rest of your life!
Business is like that... It's not easy.
The seven of us in the family is eating. That's enough.
And you call yourself a man?
You'll never be able to educate all your children
by being a fish vendor in a town like this.
As a father, think of your children!
Selling fish is all right. Just do it on a bigger scale.
Thank you!
I've come for Major Tanokura!
I'll be in the area for a couple more days.
So think it over.
I don't want you to make that boy sell fish!
Sorry to stop by so suddenly.
We couldn't do much for you...
Send me word at the local regiment.
You won't regret it.
It's great being an officer!
What did he say?
May I help you?
Please rest now.
- Oshin... - Yes?
We'll never get ahead working like this.
Your brother said something to you?
I am satisfied being a fish dealer.
We built this business up together.
We have regular customers. We are doing well.
Yes, but we're always so busy.
I know you work very hard.
You buy fish, take orders, and even make deliveries.
I'm not complaining about the work.
I want us to make more money easier.
Sure, but we sell fresh fish for less.
That's why customers come to us!
Is there an easy way to make money?
My brother wants us to sell fish to the regiment.
He says he'll open doors for me.
Become the purveyor of fish for the regiment?
I'm sure the competition is great, even with my brother's backing.
We'll have to put in bids.
But the military will be impressed with my family background
because of my brother, I can get in.
We don't have to do all that... We're managing to get by.
We won't have to go out and get small orders.
We'll be dealing with the military.
They won't pay top money, but we'll sell in volume!
We could make more profit.
That's dangerous. Besides, we're not losing money now.
Why do we have to beg the military to buy our fish?
The military holds the power now!
We'll never starve working with the military!
Is that what your brother said?
Japan is going to fight the war to the fullest.
We don't know it yet, but Japan is ready to go all out.
But why do we have to cater to them?
We won't be... We'll just be doing business with them.
We will be helping our country, too.
I don't want to aid in the war effort!
Japan is at war! It's our duty to help.
Ryuzo!
You always talk badly about war.
You'd better be careful of what you say from now on!
No matter how you feel about it,
we all have to support our country until we win the war.
By supporting the military, we'll have a better life.
If this war continues, the economy will be strained.
But if we sell to the military, we'll never be in financial trouble.
Your brother told you that, too?
My brother is concerned for us.
If it were just the two of us, I wouldn't care.
But we can't let the kids suffer.
It's our responsibility as parents!
We'll be helping the military and our country.
And our lives will be better, too!
- But... - Enough!
I'll make the decisions this time. It's nothing a woman should decide!
That night, Oshin couldn't sleep.
She was caught up in the turbulence of the war without knowing it.
Oshin remembered Shunsaku,
the deserter she'd met as a child in the mountains.
He'd taught her that war was horrible.
That nobody should ever fight again.
Oshin was afraid that things were getting
beyond her control too quickly.
She realized that a woman could do only so much...
Translation: UTB Channel
Thanks to Avallac'h and XrayMind at D-Addicts.