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'nother Mike ([personal profile] mbarker) wrote2010-04-21 11:22 am

Ge-ge-ge no nyobou 4/20

a.k.a. Watch out for the little cups of sake!

Today's episode started with a  repeat of Shigeru making gas with a squeal. And the audience reaction. But this time after frantic fanning, his mother, Kinuyo, whacked Shuhei with her fan. He looked surprised, then made a loud, rather long speech about the history of passing gas, and laughed. Even as Kinuyo whacked him again. Shigeru looked sheepish, and apologized more politely to Fumie.

Bring in the theme.

One of the guests offers Shigeru some sake. He looks a little hesitant, but let's the guest fill his little sake cup. The guest tells him just drink it down, it's best that way. So Shigeru chugs it. And the guest refills his cup. Fumie leans over and says, will you be OK? Don't drink just because... Shigeru says it's OK, just this once, I think.

Kinuyo and Shuhei are watching from across the room. Kinuyo makes an X with her arms, trying to tell Shigeru not to drink.

Fumie says, well, don't overdo it. And another guest turns up to fill Shigeru's cup.

[Note: circulating and pouring drinks for the other person is a very common party behavior in Japan. The polite thing to do is to let the other person fill your glass or cup, then drink. But the "never-empty" cup can quickly make you drunk if you aren't used to it. One trick is to start filling the other person's cup. And beware of the friendly "chug it" recommendations! Sipping is fine.]

Genbee and Miyako are sitting down with Shuhei and Kinuyo, talking. Shuhei makes a long speech.

And Shigeru now is pretty drunk. He's having trouble setting his soup bowl down. He says, "Excuse me," and starts to stand up, staggering. Just then, Genbee stands up and starts to make a speech, thanking everyone for coming. Shigeru sits back and listens. Then Genbee sings.

Fumie's brother says that's the first time he has heard Genbee sing. Yukie, Fumie's sister, says she has heard him before. Fumie remembers (flashback) when Miyako was sick, and Genbee sang with her. At the wedding party, Fumie has tears running down her cheeks as Genbee sings. Applause from everyone as he finishes.

But Shigeru gets up, staggers out, and collapses in the doorway. Everyone rushes over. He is mumbling about water. Several women fan him.

As the party breaks up, one of the guests says, "I didn't know he didn't drink. I shouldn't have given him so much sake." Teruko (the aunt) grumbles about I told them this was a bad idea, and Yukie (Fumie's sister) says, "Leave her alone."

As they pack up in the changing room, Miyako asks Fumie, "Will you be okay?" Fumie answers, "You know, he's not a bad guy. He waited while Genbee sang, waited until Genbee finished, even though he wanted to leave before."

And, outside, at the car, the Murai family folds Shigeru into the back seat, then faces the Iida family. Fumie says, "Itekimasu." (traditional word meaning I'm going, but I'll be back). She looks at Shigeru, pale-faced and sweating with his eyes closed in the back seat of the car.

[Note: I noticed at this point that Shuhei and Shigeru are dressed in tuxedos -- western style. While Genbee and his family are wearing hakama and kimono -- old style Japanese clothing. Fumie also wears a western-style dress most of the time. Although Kinuyo also wears old-style Japanese clothes. Not sure, but I think they are doing something subtle with the clothing styles. Shuhei and his family are progressive?]

Next, at the Murai house, Shigeru is sitting with his head on the table. Then he gets up and staggers out into the hallway. Shuhei and Fumie look around the room, avoiding looking at each other. Kinuyo bustles in, saying you must be hungry, with a heap of sweet potatoes. Shuhei looks at it, and says, Don't we have some real food? Kinuyo says this is enough. She says that when Shigeru was a kid, he loved sweet potatoes. Then she digs into her apron and gets out an old card. She shows it to Fumie, explaining that Shigeru sent this from the war. It's the card with a sketch of a man in uniform without an arm. Shuhei says they didn't know if Shigeru would come back alive or not.

Then Kinuyo says, "Please take care of him. And be friends with us." And she bows, flattening herself on the floor.

Fumie returns the compliment, saying that she hopes they will help. And she flattens herself.

Kinuyo backs up a bit, and grovels. Fumie does the same.

Shuhei says, Both of you, stop it and get up.

They laugh. Kinuyo says, "Eat up."

to be continued.