A Word in Your Eye

a.k.a. surprise, surprise, surprise

Fumie was hanging clothes on her bamboo clothes line. The mailman called from the gate, "Murai? You've got mail." Fumie thanked him and took the little bundle of letters and cards. She glanced at them and said, "Another one?"
( Guess who's coming to visit? )
He straightened up, and there was a long squeal of escaping gas. Shigeru said, "That was a good sound. Maybe from the tanuki dance hall?" Fumie said, "No, that was a wedding sound." Then Shigeru looked thoughtful. "You know, what if there was a ninja who didn't throw an exploding ball and escape in smoke, but just made gas?" Fumie chuckled. "I guess that would be funny." Shigeru nodded. "I think it could be."

<To be continued>

a.k.a. who is this guy?

OK, I looked up the names. Shuhei Murai is the father of the artist, Kinuyo Murai is the mother, and Shigeru Murai is the artist. There's also two brothers in the family, Yuichi and Mitsuo.

Today's episode started with Shuhei Murai (the father) and Kinuyo Murai (the mother) leaving their house in the morning, carrying the Boston bag. A neighbor sees them, and asks where they are going. Shuhei says Tokyo, and explains that they are going to see his son, Shigeru, who draws manga. There's a bit of talk -- I think the mother said he's drawn 10s of books, and father added but none are published yet. There's a brief shot of Shigeru working on a drawing in a rather run down apartment. And mother fussing at father about you didn't have to mention that he hasn't been published...
( Who needs to eat? )
Meanwhile, Fumie is reading manga. Her brother brings in a pile of manga magazines, borrowed from someone. They dig through them, looking for Shigeru's work. Which ones are his?

And a clip of the artist busily working again. Voice over says they won't find his work yet...

To be continued.

So we have a starving artist and a very pushy mother.