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Episode 209
In the spring of 1941,
Hitoshi and Nozomi both entered middle school.
And although the rest of Japan was suffering from wartime shortage,
the Tanokuras were fortunate that they faced no such difficulties.
One day, they had an unexpected visitor.
Shoji!
It's you, Oshin?
What a surprise!
Why didn't you let me know you were coming?
I saw the name on your door,
but I couldn't believe this was your house!
I'm so glad to see you.
Please come in!
Have a drink.
You sure have come up in the world...
We're always talking about you,
because you send us goods that are hard to get.
You live in a mansion!
It's a rental. We'd never be able to buy it.
What does your husband do for a living?
He handles goods for the military.
No wonder... I guess some people profit from the war.
We're still poor as ever...
How is Yuu?
He lives in Kyoto.
He'll be in his third year at the high school there this spring.
What a difference between Yuu and my son...
My son is nothing but a poor sharecropper's son.
He left home when he was 15
to join the military's junior flight program to help out the family.
Sadakichi enlisted?
We managed only to get him through primary school.
But he beat out middle school boys to win enlistment.
That's great... He's with the Navy at Kasumigaura?
No. He's in the army. At a new flight school.
He will be a pilot, and an officer, won't he?
That's what we thought...
But without going through Officers' Candidate School,
he can't get commissioned.
Besides, they said he wasn't fit to be a pilot, so he was transferred to be a mechanic.
So what! Mechanics are important, too...
What's so good about it?!
Sharecroppers' kids can never get ahead!
He is 19, but he still looks like a kid.
He's going to Fukuoka, so I wanted to see him.
Did you see him?
Yes, in Fukuoka.
I figured it might be the last time I'd see him...
He smiled as he left for war...
He said he was going to fight for the Emperor!
He saluted me...
Sure. As a Japanese male, it is an honor.
Now I'm a father of a son of war...
He's the same age as Yuu.
He went through a lot as a sharecropper's son.
He even enlisted because we were poor...
I'm so sick of being a farmer...
I hear your brother is here!
This is my older brother.
I'm Ryuzo. I'm pleased to meet you.
I'm sorry to barge in on you like this.
We're so glad you came! Let's all go out to dinner.
He's a special guest.
Oshin, you come too. You must have a lot to talk about.
We'll treat you to some good fish.
Oshin, you sure are lucky to have a good husband.
I really had a good time tonight!
It's the first time I've been to a restaurant like that.
He's finally gone to sleep.
He's so happy. Thank you for everything.
Give him some goods to take home.
And if it's not too rude, give him some money, too.
I feel so badly for him... His son is in the army,
and he's the same age as our son, Yuu.
I know money won't solve all his problems,
but we should do all we can.
Thank you.
Shoji left the next day.
He seemed pitiful, and Oshin no longer hated him.
Through Shoji, Oshin first realized
how close the war had come to the people of Japan.
December 8th, began like any other morning.
Morning!
- Good morning. - Morning.
Hurry, or you will be late for school.
We have exams today. We stayed up until 2 a.m. studying.
This is a special news bulletin from Army and Navy Headquarters.
Our naval and land forces have engaged
the United States and its Allies in the Western Pacific.
We are now in a state of war with the United States,
and England in all theaters of operation.
I'm home!
- Yuu! - You're home!
I was going to stay at school to study over the vacation,
but there's no heat in the buildings!
They say Kyoto is very cold in the winter.
- Don't be a weakling! - But I can't complain.
Our soldiers in Manchuria are having a much harder time.
We might all be called up for war soon.
Yuu...
Why are you digging up the garden?
- We want to plant some vegetables. - But is a rental property!
Your father is buying the house from the owners.
- It must have been expensive. - I don't know,
but the seller has decided to settle in Pyongyang.
What will you do with the crops you raise?
Vegetables are in short supply, so we want to be self-sufficient.
That's true. Since we're at war with America.
Just concentrate on your studies. That is your job.
I'm ready to enlist at any time.
If I could, I'd like to fight now.
What are you saying...
Boys my age are all in the service.
I can't just sit back and do nothing.
Don't be silly!
What about those midget sub- marines that attacked Pearl Harbor!
Those guys really showed the Yamato spirit.
It's a must for a Japanese male!
Are you serious?!
A woman could never understand how patriotic a man can be.
I'm ready to go out, and sink American ships!
[Hong Kong Surrenders]
Thou Shalt Not Die (Kimi Shinitamou Koto Nakare / 君死にたもうこと勿れ) by Yosano Akiko (与謝野 晶子 - 1848-1942)
This is an old book. Why did you keep it?
I got it from a certain man when I was a child.
Now I'm giving it to you.
You can read it, and realize why I've kept it for so many years...
My younger brother, I love you so.
Yet, they have placed a weapon in your hands to kill.
At age 24, they told you to kill and then die.
You are to run our family business in Sakai.
So, do not go and die...
Oshin was afraid for Yuu. He was glorifying war.
All boys his age were being educated to praise war,
and to fight for their country.
But Oshin wanted her son to know how she felt about it...
Translation: UTB Channel
Thanks to Avallac'h and XrayMind at D-Addicts.