Brought to you by Gifted Ones www.giftedones.net
Please do not stream or make profit from these subtitles.
Episode 208
Stop playing and help!
- Watch out. - Ouch!
Come on. Help me clean up!
I don't know how much you make,
but this house is too luxurious for us!
- You're still talking like that? - I don't blame her.
First, you start selling fish to the regiment.
Then you open a kamaboko factory.
Now you even have a military garment factory!
And now, we have a big house. We are all worried.
I'm not being reckless.
It takes money to run a big business,
but your profits are a lot bigger, too.
There are no guarantees that we will succeed.
But we can't go bankrupt as long as we keep selling to the military!
And the way things are,
Japan will never be without a military even if the war ends.
So just stick by me.
By the time you graduate from college,
I'll have our family business all built up for you!
I have a student exemption from the service now,
but who knows what will happen after I graduate.
You're only in your second year of high school.
You have five more years before you graduate from college.
- The war can't last that long. - That's true.
It has to end soon, or Japan won't be able to keep going.
I'm sure the government knows that.
But of course, we make a living off the war.
Stop saying such terrible things.
It's because of the war that we get to live in a big house like this.
The house is for military officers,
but we got it since there were no takers.
- What about the rent? - I pay the regiment.
We owe this house to the military?
Who is the real owner? He must be rich.
He works for the military, too. He is in Korea now.
Then he'll be coming home one day...
We'd better take good care of the house.
I hear he's going to settle there in Pyongyang.
Maybe he'll put the house up for sale.
We could buy it if you like. We'll have the money soon enough.
I can't relax in a big mansion like this...
You're too used to being poor!
I like a house with a garden...
- Father! - Yes?
The bath is ready. Let's take a bath together.
Yuu, join us.
- I'll wash your back. - I'll be right there.
Father sure sounds confident.
He's a man after all... He used to ask for my advice.
But lately, he goes ahead and makes all the decisions now.
He yells at me if I say anything. He has changed...
It's all right.
Everything used to be on your shoulders,
so you can relax now.
I guess so...
I remember how I'd given up on him,
and decided that you and I would just make it on our own.
Now he's proven himself to be an entrepreneur.
I just don't like being so dependent on the military.
You can't say that.
Father is just being a good businessman.
Besides, he is not doing anything wrong.
He's just doing his part.
As he says, he's serving his country.
Businesses are all being geared to serve the war effort.
And he's taking a lead in the effort!
I guess it's all in how you look at it, isn't it?
The times require it. One must serve the military.
Father realizes that.
Just follow his lead.
I'll go, and wash his back.
Aren't you glad?
I have your change of clothes ready.
Mother can feel safe with you being here.
I will do all I can to take care of the chores.
You should find time to read books, too.
Books can teach you more than school.
I have books I would like you to read.
I want you to be a wealth of knowledge.
People are losing a sense of themselves these days.
Reading can prevent that.
What about dinner?
I've already eaten. I have sugar, miso and matches.
This much? These are all rationed items.
I gave away some tempura cooking oils, and I got these things in return.
You shouldn't be giving away oil from the factory.
Everything is fine as long as I produce my quota for the military.
The leftover oil is all ours!
Some people have more sugar than they need,
but they lack cooking oil. This isn't black marketing.
We traded items out of friendship. That's all.
You're making illegal use of military supplies.
What if people find out?
Everyone is doing it.
And everybody is careful. Nobody will ever know.
I don't like it... It's as if we were profiteers.
Oh, come on!
We'd starve if we only depended on rationed items.
They're going to start rationing charcoal,
and soon, even rice will be rationed.
Rice, too?
But the military will help us out with that, too.
Is the bath ready?
- No bath today. - Again?
I told you not to be stingy about using firewood, didn't I?
The neighbors will talk if they see that we make our bath everyday.
They can see the smoke!
Tonight, the neighborhood committee's having a meeting.
Shall I attend?
I'll go. Get my clothes out.
Good. I was worried.
I'm sure this isn't just a bunch of ladies having tea.
What is this committee all about?
It's a local governing body.
So that we can fully cooperate with the government.
The committee keeps tabs on all war resisters.
Are we all required to join?
Of course! This is a time of national emergency.
We all have to take part. As a service.
So it's not just a neighborhood thing, is it?
We operate under government orders.
- Hatsuko. - Yes?
- May I come in? - Yes, please.
You're reading?
- What is it? - The Man'yoshu Poems.
I've never heard of it.
It's a collection of ancient verses.
Yuu gave me the book.
Yuu reads books like these?
He's studying more than I realize.
He can probably outthink me now.
It's pretty hard for me to understand, too.
But I can sense why Yuu wants me to read it.
He wants me to be able to understand
how the people of old used to think.
That's nice.
Did you want something?
I got your mother some fabric. It's real cotton.
And I have some sugar to send her, too.
You don't have to...
I can't do much, but she wanted you home.
But since we're keeping you here, I want to make it up to her.
Let's help each other out.
Yes, we'll all work together.
It's so late. What was the meeting about?
It was our first meeting.
Not everybody knew what the committee is all about.
I had a hard time explaining things to them.
You must have worked very hard.
I'll be leading the committee from now on.
I'm busy, but I couldn't say no. I've taken on another task.
You're being much too nice!
The people trust me because they know I work with the military.
This new task will give me a lot of power.
It's a big job with big benefits!
We won't regret helping other people!
Oshin was disappointed in Ryuzo.
It was just a small neighbor- hood committee after all.
She was afraid for him.
How far will Ryuzo go before he was satisfied?
It sent a chill up her spine.
Translation: UTB Channel
Thanks to Avallac'h and XrayMind at D-Addicts.