Subs by: Miamaw Twitter: @Miamaw2 MiaMaw-subs.com
If you were to expose yourself even just a bit,
it would be easier
to be more empathetic, don't you think?
I would never marry a guy like this.
So what if I've hit my limit!
Pleased to meet you.
I'm Yoshimi Suzukake, pleased to meet you too.
-Are you my arranged match? -Sorry, basically yes.
You are welcome to leave.
Please don't hesitate to reject me.
I want to but I simply can't.
Huh?
It pains me to say but how about tea? At the very least we should go for tea.
Huh?!
Oh really? You're a nurse working in Tokyo Metropolitan Hospital?
-Yes. -And your family,
you only have a mother who is in Hyogo prefecture.
Yes, er, well...
my father died about 5 years ago.
Oh, I see. You must miss him.
What can I get for you?
-I'll have coffee. -Okay.
-I'll have i... iced coffee. -Certainly.
Anyway, you have your back to the wall now.
You have to pretend to be
a thoroughly unpleasant person so as to get rejected.
She's such an unpleasant woman right?
So selfish and egotistical, don't you think?
-Perhaps she's just a man-hater?
-A man-hater? -Yeah.
Maybe she's being like that to purposely put men off.
Maybe it's for the best.
Sorry for the wait, please take your time.
Thank you.
Itadakimasu.
By any chance, have you brought your own chopsticks too?
Ah... yes.
So your father is a professor of French literature,
and your mother is a kimono stylist?
What an amazing family.
Well, I've certainly grown up without inconvenience, I'm grateful for that.
But now I'm an independent, self-reliant adult.
Erm... why are you attending marriage meetings?
-A nice man like yourself… -A nice woman like yourself…
-could surely find someone yourself. -could surely find someone yourself.
Because I haven't been able to meet someone who feels right yet.
I guess because I'm not suitable for marriage.
Not suitable for marriage?
I decided to keep my dream of becoming a bride
tucked away in my heart.
I'm afraid... I can't have children.
I see, people have all sorts of reasons.
I'm sorry for asking such a strange question.
Huh? Why?
Erm... it's really rude of me,
but I need to ask you a question.
What?
I put as my requested condition 'someone who doesn't drink'.
Ginbayashi san, do you drink alcohol?
Yes, well, I do like alcohol to an extent.
I see.
Do you hate men who drink?
No... it's not like that.
Is it because your father who died was an alcoholic?
Yoshimi san, you're so easy to read.
It was meant to be light-hearted,
but your expression looks like I've just thrust you into the abyss.
Ah, I'm sorry, I shouldn't laugh.
I just thought it was cute.
It's okay.
I don't have a dependence on alcohol.
You want to know the reason I haven't been able to get married?
No, it's fine, I won't force you to say.
You're not forcing me at all.
I'm a terrible cook, I can't even break an egg.
The only thing I can make is cup ramen.
Oh really...
So that means you could make cup udon too?
-Huh? -And cup soba.
And recently you can even get cup pasta and cup stew.
Sorry, I'm stating the obvious.
I'm always spoiling things because I can't read the mood.
I'm a terrible guy right?
Feel free to reject me. Excuse me.
Eh... huh? Wait a minute!
Why? Do you not want to see me?
Huh?
What do you like to do on your days off Yoshimi san?
Of course... er... I like to go and visit my friends.
Oh...
Well, I say friends, but I don't have many here yet.
I've only been in Tokyo for about 3 months.
What kind of friends do you have?
Mostly ex-patients.
I got on well with an old lady after she left hospital.
She took me to places like Asakusa
and Togenuki Temple in Sugamo.
Sounds great. Yoshimi san...
Are you not interested in me?
Erm... well...
Don't be so quick
to ask me to reject you.
This is a marriage meeting, let's talk more.
But you're not really feeling any interest in me are you?
Huh?... Well...
I'll find out... if I'm interested in you, I'll find out from here.
I can't make a decision because you haven't told me about yourself yet.
-I guess, but... -Please just sit down.
Okay.
Hey... what did you write?
-For your desired condition on the forms? -Huh?
If I don't meet your requirement, then it will be invalid right?
The match would be made invalid right?
Oh, so, you want it to be invalidated?
No, I didn't mean it like that.
Ah, would you like some more tea?
or maybe even some cake?
Oh, no, I don't want anything.
Okay.
Oh... have you hurt your thumb?
It's probably just a paper cut or something.
It's fine.
But, just to be sure, I'll put a plaster on it.
Could I have your hand a moment?
Excuse me.
Do you consider this match invalid?
Huh?
Because I don't meet your condition of not drinking,
the general assumption would be that it was invalid right?
Yoshimi san, could you not register it as invalid,
so that I could meet you again?
So, what did you write as your required condition?
Ah, unfortunately, the condition I wrote
was a measure of how I feel personally,
the executives don't feel able to properly judge the evidence.
I see.
And what did you write?
Something like an annual income of more than 100 million yen,
would perfectly invalidate it.
Me too..
My condition was also rejected because the executives were unable to assess my personal feelings.
-Really? -Yeah.
What?! You exchanged contact details with a beautiful woman like that?!
Yeah, though not sure why...
What?! How?!
Well, it was kind of the natural flow.
I'm sorry.
It's okay if you still want to reject me.
-I told you to wait didn't I? -What good will waiting do?
Because we'll never meet again anyway.
Who said we'll never meet again?
Then you want to meet me again?!
I do. We're supposed to meet again, aren't we?
Let's exchange contacts.
She's obviously reached her limit.
Do you think?
That must be it. Tacchan, look at this.
'Lottery matchmaking limit criminal case.' What is this?
The woman had already rejected twice,
The man sensed she'd reached her limit so he threatened her to marry him.
However, the police found out and he was arrested for stalking.
-Something like that really happened? -Yeah, there are others,
A woman in a marriage match who had reached her limit
has been accused of bribing the man for a large amount of money.
I get it, it's likely that this Nana woman
got spooked by these stories on the net.
If you sense she's at her limit, she fears she could face a similar threat.
I wouldn't do anything like that.
I don't know about her being spooked,
but it's pretty likely she exchanged contacts because she's reached her limit.
I guess so.
It'd be better for the rejection to come from me so I can avoid suffering over it.
Tacchan, you seem unhappy about it.
My condition was also rejected because the executives were unable to assess my personal feelings.
It's not that I'm happy or unhappy about it,
there's something worrying me.
Why can't I marry such a beautiful woman by myself?
What's with this abuse of power that is the arranged marriage lottery?
I want to learn more.
I see.
The beautiful woman could also be one of the victims of this bill.
Hey hey hey... this one is a lottery matchmaking fraud case.
-Fraud case? -Yeah, a proxy scam.
A beautiful woman at her limit
paid an ugly woman to stand in
so the man would reject her.
-Cases like this just keep coming. -Eh.
There are no photos attached to the report.
Nothing leaking out about the substitute either.
How much did the beautiful woman pay the ugly one?
-Shall I find out? -Please?
'Ugly', 'proxy', 'price.'
It would have been good if you'd have used a method like that right?
What?!
I'm sorry but, I don't have that kind of rotten personality.
I'd never do something as cowardly as hiring a proxy.
Anyway, why did you even come back?
You're such a boring man.
You think I'm an boring nerdish loser right?
-Huh? -I've been studying in magazines and on the net
but I'm not very good at doing this.
Study what?
Things like, on a date, women appreciate being escorted smartly.
Regarding men's attire,
fashion sense doesn't matter as long as it's expensive.
-That's pointless study. -Yes, it is for me.
That's not what I meant.
You're just being manipulated by mass media.
If you really like someone,
you don't have to order fancy wine.
It doesn't matter if you take the person you like to a cheap beef bowl restaurant.
I don't know if there are other women
-who feel like that, but at least I do. -I didn't expect that.
Although it's never been like that with anyone.
Why is that?
Everyone has always been convinced that it should be a fancy restaurant,
so I never said anything.
Oh, this is a lovely place.
I really like it here.
It's good to be able to use a private room, when you want to talk about important things.
Talk about important things?
Excuse me.
Thank you.
As usual, I'll have the lunch course.
Would you like a beer with that?
-I won't today. -Certainly.
I'm sorry, you're just doing that for my sake.
No, it's justified seeing as you didn't register the match as invalid.
Anyway,
I think it's admirable that you're working as a nurse so far away from home.
I don't see it that way.
Are you sending money to your mother?
Huh?
She's alone and you're her only child,
so do you plan to return at some point?
Or even invite her to Tokyo?
Absolutely not! She has a decent pension and is living a life of leisure.
She owns her own home
and has a strong affection for the local area,
and she has many friends.
She hasn't considered coming to Tokyo at all.
If I get married, I have no plan to invite her to Tokyo to live together so you don't have to worry.
Naturally I also have no desire
to return to my hometown. Honestly...
Please excuse me while I go the the toilet.
Okay.
Hey, that suit... by any chance
did you buy it at a marriage meeting sale?
-Yes. -I knew it.
Overreaching like that will only expose you in the end.
What kind of clothes do you normally wear?
Normal trousers and a workplace jacket.
It's okay to dress in everyday clothes.
I think it's better to not come across
as desperate to look cool.
Anyway, we can relax more easily in everyday clothes.
Just the act of being extremely nervous in itself is terribly unattractive.
You should be more confident,
otherwise I'll never be able to marry you.
-Sorry. -'I'm sorry'?
Apologising so easily is a waste of time. It's unbecoming of a man.
Okay.
What am I telling you for? Even I can't get married.
You could get married by your own effort.
-If all you need is to learn how to cook, you could do it. -Huh?
-Shall we have a go?... At cooking. -What?
Mum
Hello?
Ah, Yoshimi? It's your day off today, are you at home?
No, I'm out. I'm sorry Mum,
I'm in the middle of something right now.
My back is in so much pain, it's intolerable.
It was good when you were at home
because you'd often massage it.
I sent you a pack of really good compresses yesterday,
you should receive them in the morning.
When you stick them on, they're really effective. Okay mum?
Okay, well, I'll call you later.
I'm sorry.
I thought you might be lying.
You're not the kind of person who could neglect their mother.
The way you spoke with such force back then, it just felt like a lie.
Why did you feel you had to lie?
Because...
I think a woman who takes care of her parents is a wonderful thing.
Welcome, this way please.
Sorry, would it be possible to have this spatula washed?
Ah, okay. This way please.
Excuse me.
Why did you buy a spatula?
Because it was so sudden, I do have one at home.
That's not what I meant. Can't you use a spatula that's not yours?
I'm sorry.
Please watch closely, it's really easy.
Is this what you meant by cooking?
First, use the spatula to mix the ingredients,
then flatten it out to about 2-3cm, and arrange in in shape.
If the pork slices are cooked, please place them on top.
Ah, I think they're already done.
It's quite hard to flip over.
The knack is to flip the wrist.
I'll just go for it and do it quickly.
Here I go.
Okay, so now, could you break an egg,
please.
Oh, there's some shell, there, there...
Shell... shell... it's there.
Please go ahead.
Mmm, it's tasty!
I'm glad.
Ah, you've got some round your mouth... sauce.
-Huh? Yeah, here.
Your backpack is like Doraemon's pocket.
Do you like working as a nurse?
Yes. It's really good for your well-being
that feeling of being able to help people.
I put my whole heart into this job, though I still have a way to go.
I feel like I'll be a trainee till I die.
Oh... what am I saying?
Sorry, we've only just met and I'm saying such strange things to you.
No, I think it's great.
I'm really glad you can talk so freely.
Really?
-You know... -Yeah.
The moment I met you I felt nostalgic.
-Nostalgic? -You remind me of a woman I was dating
when I first started working.
Just like you, she was putting her heart and soul into her work.
Did you break up with her?
Yeah, well... it's been a long time now.
I see.
Where would you like to go next?
Huh? Next?
Next is monjayaki.
-It's ready. -Itadakimasu.
Mmm.
-Clean-freak kun. -Huh?
-You should stop that sort of thing. -No... but... erm...
It's already properly sterilised. See, eat it.
No... ah...
How is it? Are you going to be sick?
See? It's nothing more than an irrational fear.
If you can't use chopsticks or a restaurant fork
then you'll never be able to kiss me... here.
-It's delicious. -Isn't it?
-Some more? -Yeah.
Hot.
When the surface is cooked, place the bean paste on top.
Ah, those are walnuts. -I know.
I've really overdone the carbs today,
And then dessert as well, A bean paste roll, it's the worst.
It's nice once in a while though isn't it?
-Tomorrow I'll work out at the gym. -That's stoic of you.
Do you like it? Air on a G string?
-You know this song? -It was incidental music in an anime.
Anime again. I really like this song.
Why do you like the song so much Nana san?
Huh?
That's not important.
So, It's done right?
At least I can say I can cook this much, it's an easy win.
Next time can I teach you to make miso soup. It'll taste just like your mum's.
I... don't know what my mum's tasted like.
My mother died when I was 6 years old.
I don't remember much.
Really?
Sorry, that was really inconsiderate of me.
Don't worry.
The beautiful woman
could also be one of the victims of this bill.
I see, so he's a good enough man that you would give up your condition
of somebody who doesn't drink and you'll go out with him.
Yes.
Someone good has appeared in front of me,
I don't want to waste this chance.
I'm even willing to lie to the executives about it.
I'm being dishonest though, aren't I.
You're just being human.
Think of it as good fortune.
It's fine to just consider yourself lucky and push ahead with it.
-Is that him? -Yes.
-Well, go for it! -Okay.
No subject
Next, I'll take you to a lovely Thai restaurant
It's quite hard to get there so I'll pick you up.
Yes.
Kitakaze kun, I wasn't expecting you, is something wrong?
Sometimes I just feel like having a drink with someone.
When I get out of hospital, I'll take my grandson to the amusement park.
Sounds good. I'm done.
-Please tell me if anything happens. -Thank you.
Are you okay?
Can you stand up?
Excuse me, I'm so sorry!
Today of all days,
a nurse on the day shift was off sick so I've been covering.
I've literally just finished. I'll get ready right away.
Shall we go for Thai another time?
Today, I'll cook something for you.
No... that's...
I'll go and buy some ingredients, okay?
Tacchan, do you like that beautiful woman?
I told you before, it's not that I like her
rather I'm worried about her.
-There's something about her that I feel I can't ignore. -Oh.
Also, when I'm with Nana san, I don't feel my OCD impulse as much.
Because she's quite a powerful force.
It doesn't mean that I'm cured though.
-But you have taken a step forward. -Yeah.
Next time can I teach you to make miso soup. It'll taste just like your mum's.
Yuk.
I can't make it.
Sorry, that was really inconsiderate of me.
You do that so skillfully.
I do it often
because I live alone.
Putting soy sauce in the soup,
is that from your mother's recipe?
My mother was a busy person.
The housekeeper would make it, this is her recipe.
Money was fine and I had no inconvenience in life,
but to tell the truth, I was lonely.
Oh, I see.
That was the reason for my desired condition,
'someone who has a strong sense of motherhood.'
From the first time I met you
I sensed a strong feeling of motherhood from you.
That's what I like about you.
I like you.
-Here. -Thanks.
You know Tacchan?
-I'm one of the victims too. -Huh?
I am...
gay.
I always had an awareness that I was more interested in boys.
It became more clear when I was in high school.
When my close male friend got a girlfriend, I was in shock.
Until that point, I just thought of him as dear friend.
but then I started to think things like
I want to be with you all the time and I want you all to myself.
Every day was painful.
Saying all those things about romance denial, I was just trying to hide it.
So that's why.
Anyway, isn't marriage for love
just a waste of energy?
I don't feel the need for things like romance and marriage.
My friends and I are suffering because of this marriage lottery bill.
It has been arbitrarily decided that marriage is between members of the opposite sex.
And we are forced to take part.
Those who have already 'come out',
have to confess to their marriage partner in the hope of being rejected.
But for people like me who haven't come out, it's impossible.
Supposing the rumour spread, it could affect me at work.
It could hurt me and my family, I'm afraid of the consequences.
Kitakaze kun, you work for the Imperial Chemistry and Physics Research Laboratory right?
Do you feel you can't reveal the truth because they're a strict company?
It's a company with a lot of history,
it has a very traditional sense of values.
My parents are so proud of the fact I went to Tokyo University,
I don't want to even broach the subject for fear of disappointing them.
Because they're expecting you to lead an elite life?
That's right. That's why I reluctantly attend these meetings over and over,
and try to force them to turn me down for other reasons.
It's not just gay people,
the LGBT community and other sexual minorities are also victims.
Why are you telling me?
After seeing your blog,
I thought you might understand.
-Today... I felt my limit. -Your limit?
Yes. Today was my third match.
I'm sorry but... would you be able
to reject me?
Why is that?
I...
am only able to love women.
I wanted to say 'I'm gay too, so I simply can't'
but I just couldn't say it.
She's in the same position as me, she's been suffering for so long, I know what she's going through.
So, for the first time,
I called the executives myself.
I gave the reason to be personality mismatch.
You said this is a typical phrase used.
It's a handy but deceptive word.
It's not a personality mismatch, it's a gender mismatch.
The government is fully aware of this issue.
8% of Japanese people are LGBT or sexual minorities.
That's one in thirteen people who are a sexual minority.
One in thirteen people?
It's about the same number as left-handed people
or those with AB blood type.
So many...
There's no excuse for this.
This law is hurting so many young people,
there is simply no excuse.
I am one of the victims.
Because I'm a Korean in Japan,
We are excluded
You're right Kitakaze kun.
There's no excuse for hurting people like this.
Absolutely no excuse at all.
Does that mean you've lost the courage to carry out justice?
Can you really keep on living like this?
I want to regain the courage to carry out justice.
No, I absolutely must regain it.
I have decided.
Subs by: Miamaw Twitter: @Miamaw2 MiaMaw-subs.com
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