Fifty years ago,
a woman was seen as incomplete unless she married and bore children.
I think that's still the case today.
Yes, that's true.
But I never imagined I'd get married at that point in my life.
After all, Kazusa had only been open for a year.
Did you find hotel management more enticing than owning a club?
Are you married, Kawatani?
Oh, unfortunately, I haven't found the one yet.
I wonder when she'll show up.
And have you gotten married?
Oh, yes, you could say that.
Oh?
In the end, marriage is driven more
by momentum than logic, don’t you think?
I agree.
Hey, are you hungry?
Yes, well...
Let's have lunch.
I'll serve you my best dish.
Oh, we couldn't possibly!
Thank you so much for your hospitality.
Oh, what is your best dish?
Oyakodon.
Kazuko.
Yes?
To be honest...
this is my first time.
For starters,
let's lie under the covers.
Okay.
- Go ahead. - No, you first.
That was amazing.
What are your plans tomorrow, Marohiko?
What?
Tomorrow.
What are your plans?
Oh.
I have to pay courtesy visits
to the local bank, government office, and other places.
I see.
I want to pay them a visit too.
Hey, I can come with you, right?
Of course.
I need to formally introduce you to everyone.
Um...
What is it?
Can we do it one more time?
Huh? She's still asleep?
Yeah, what a carefree life.
Yeah.
Really?
Good morning, Young Madam.
Good morning. Where's Marohiko?
If you'll excuse me.
Good morning, Kazuko.
Mother, I apologize for oversleeping.
It's fine. You must've been tired.
Now, have some breakfast.
Sorry, where's Marohiko?
He went to work.
I promised I'd help him with work.
There is no need for that.
Now, please eat.
Matsue, how could you make the Young Madam work?
My apologies, Young Madam!
Young Madam!
We sincerely apologize.
But please don't do this.
It is our job to do all of this.
I'm sorry.
Kazuko, a moment?
The kanji for "wife" and "house" are combined to write "bride."
You have married into our family.
The Mita family is a distinguished family, living here for over 12 generations.
Your role is to ensure the family line continues.
Do you understand?
Right...
Hey, Kazuko.
How many kids do you want?
It was lonely for me without any siblings.
So I want a big family.
Enough for a baseball team, if possible.
Marohiko.
You know,
I want to help you with the work you're about to start.
I met a lot of respectable politicians
and finance people in Ginza, right?
I'm sure it'll be of use to you.
Remember? You said we'd chase after our dreams together...
Kazuko.
Having children comes first.
Okay?
Now, come here.
Our eggs are delicious, aren't they?
We've had freshly laid eggs every day for generations.
They're a symbol of the Mita family's prosperity.
Mother.
Yes, Kazuko?
Um...
Could you please assign me some kind of work?
Even cleaning or laundry is fine.
I'm good at cooking.
So I could prepare meals for you and Marohiko--
The housemaids do everything for us.
But if I don't do anything, my body will grow sluggish.
In that case,
maybe you can take care of the chickens.
We feed them three times a day.
Please change their water out each time.
We let them out of the coop from two to four
and clean during that time.
Madam will scold you if the coop isn't kept clean.
Okay, I'll be thorough.
Sorry to make you do this, Young Madam.
Oh, it's fine.
It'll be a nice change of pace.
They keep popping them out one after the next.
Okay, come on out.
Come on, that's the wrong way.
Ugh, you guys. No, go outside.
Kazuko.
Yeah?
What are you doing?
Hurry over.
I'm going to the restroom for a bit.
Hello? This is Kazusa.
Hisao?
Kazuko!
How's the club? Everything okay?
Going swimmingly.
All the customers miss having you here.
Do they?
How about you? Are you doing okay?
Well...
I guess so.
Oh, right.
Please don't make long-distance calls for useless chitchat.
Your husband is waiting in the bedchamber.
There.
I was their caretaker when I was a kid.
Cute, aren't they?
- Marohiko? - Yeah?
It seems your granduncle in Mishima has just passed away.
Granduncle? I see.
Was he at the wedding?
No, he had been bedridden for a while.
Stop dillydallying and get ready.
Oh, right.
Mother, my mourning dress is--
Your presence isn't needed.
- I'll be back soon. - Have a safe trip.
Obviously, from Madam's perspective,
she's too embarrassed to show that woman.
She might be an affluent woman from Ginza,
but that whore had the nerve to say she wants to help the Young Master.
Well, after she births an heir, we won't need her anymore.
Yeah.
Madam's probably gonna kick her out.
You got that right.
Was it true the Young Master said he'd die if he couldn't marry her?
Yeah.
He's so sheltered. He let her seduce him.
But still, she has it so easy.
- She just needs to have a baby. - Yeah.
So she's the same as our chickens.
You're right.
She's a chicken!
Ladies.
You've been dismissed.
No, that's...
Are you ignoring the Master's wife?
The Master's wife?
You need the Madam's approval.
Shut your trap and get lost!
Huh?
What are they doing? They even left the gate open.
Yeah.
Huh?
It's pitch-black.
What's going on here?
Is anyone here?
Kazuko?
Kazuko!
Huh?
Kazuko, what have you done?
Gross.
Chickens that only lay eggs are worthless.
The meat's from a rooster.
It's firm and delicious.
I'm sorry.
But it served them right.
Yeah, it served them right.
That's incredible.
I knew you'd resonate with this story.
Huh?
Your ex-husband, who was also your editor,
said you have no talent
and that you should give up on writing to focus on being a mom.
But you said, "Hell no," and divorced him.
You can't hide anything from me.
You hate me, don't you?
A book about Kazuko Hosoki is beneath you, and you don't want to write it.
But you're desperate to release a second book.
If you miss this chance, your life as an author is over.
Right?
Minori Uozumi.
Born July 12, 1969, under the Martian Minus.
Your Great Calamity Period ended last year.
Your luck will continue to grow.
Minori.
Yes?
My life is an interesting one.
I'll tell you everything.
Write a masterpiece and slap it in your worthless ex-husband’s face.
Now, dig in.
Let's eat.
- Let's eat. - Let's eat.
That's delicious!
WAKABA NURSERY SCHOOL
- Bye-bye! - Bye-bye!
- Goodbye! - Goodbye.
Hello?
It's me. I got some urgent work this weekend.
Sorry, but can Reina stay over next week instead?
You're the one canceling, so just skip the visit this month.
But Reina's looking forward to it.
Those are the rules.
I'll tell Reina. Bye.
Minori.
What?
I heard you're writing Kazuko Hosoki's book.
Who told you?
Apparently she's bragging about it to everyone.
Why are you writing stuff like that?
Is it for money?
I told you I can pay more for child support.
Don't be stubborn. It's okay to accept help from others.
- Mommy! - Hey.
Reina.
Yeah?
Mommy's gonna work hard, okay?
I'm writing a masterpiece.
Okay.
Do your best, Mommy.
I'll do my best!
We're going through the tunnel!
Do your best, Mommy!
Yeah!
- Mommy, do your best! - Yeah!
When I came back to Tokyo,
everywhere was in a rush to finish construction for the Olympics.
It was so loud that the quietness at the Mita house felt unreal.
But I didn't hate it one bit.
Seeing the city being reborn got me excited.
I forgot about the Mitas quickly
and was motivated to run toward my next goal.
ACCEPTING DONATIONS FOR THE OLYMPICS
TOKYO, OUR HOME LET'S MAKE NEXT YEAR'S OLYMPICS A SUCCESS
Come in.
Thank you.
I can't believe you came back after a week.
Cut your losses early. It's an iron rule of business.
Cut your losses, huh? That's just like you, Kazuko.
It seems I'm more suited for business after all.
That's why you're opening two more places in Ginza right after coming back?
Yeah.
People are visiting Tokyo from all over the world next year.
Ginza is at the heart of Tokyo.
I can't let the Olympic boom slip by me.
Kazuko, you bounce back so fast.
Kazuko, why don't you see a fortune teller first?
This one's eerily accurate.
You're still saying that stuff?
Fortune-telling is obviously a sham.
Mom, all you do is simmer oden in this back alley every day.
You're out of touch with reality.
That was harsh.
You didn't have to say it like that.
Sorry. I went too far.
I can understand your concern, Mine.
But now is definitely a good time to open a shop.
Actually, a bank contacted me,
asking me to borrow money from them.
But I'd prefer if you invested in me, Mr. Nakazono.
I've made a lot of money thanks to you.
I'd be happy to invest.
Thank you so much.
In my last fortune, you said my daughter would find success in her work.
She will find success... No, great success.
Oh, is that so?
Did I say anything else last time?
You said her greed may swallow her whole.
Huh?
Yes?
Thank you.
Excuse me.
The underboss of the Dainihon Kosei-kai is here.
He's here about a protection fee.
Excuse me for a moment.
Thank you for waiting. I'm the owner.
I'm Isezaki.
Starting this month, this establishment is on our turf.
You'll be paying us a monthly fee.
How much will that be?
Twenty.
That's ten times more than before.
You're making good money, right?
I heard you're opening two more in Ginza.
The walls have ears, huh?
Isn't 20 a month considered unlawful?
My hand slipped.
My apologies.
We will only pay a reasonable amount.
Stop acting stuck-up, bitch! Just pay what we say!
I'll call the cops.
You can call them if you'd like.
But what happens next?
Uncle...
Hey.
Isezaki.
Are you doing this knowing I'm a regular here?
No, sir. I didn't know.
Get the hell out of here.
My apologies.
Let's go.
I apologize for the fuss. You can relax now.
We apologize.
- We apologize. - We apologize.
We haven't met before, but thank you for helping me.
I'm Takiguchi.
I heard about a hotshot club owner here.
Wow, business is booming.
I'm sorry you couldn't stay longer.
Please continue to frequent Shinzan.
Dahlia and Kazusa too.
All right then. I'll drop by again.
Thank you.
I'm gonna check on Dahlia.
Yes, Ma'am.
Take care.
CLUB DAHLIA
I had a great time tonight.
Thank you. Watch your step.
Rei and Hana were cute too.
Thank you so much.
Please continue to frequent Dahlia.
Shinzan and Kazusa too.
Okay, all right. Thanks for the good time.
- Thank you. - Thank you.
I'll go show my face at Kazusa. Take over for me.
Okay.
CLUB KAZUSA
Oh, I'm sorry.
No, I'm sorry.
Is something the matter?
Oh, it's nothing.
Hey, Kazuko!
Oh, Mr. Iizuka!
I just stopped by Shinzan.
- But the seats were all taken. - Oh, my.
I couldn't get into Dahlia the other day either.
I'm sorry, those two just recently opened.
Come right this way to Kazusa.
Man, with three businesses, it's like you're the Queen of Ginza.
You're always picking on me, Mr. Iizuka.
I'm not picking on you.
There's not a person in Ginza who doesn't know your name!
Welcome back.
Thanks.
- Take this. - Yes, ma'am.
Please keep the change.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
That first-timer ordered Hennessy.
Did you get his business card?
He owns a real estate business. The economy's doing well.
I had fun tonight. A thank-you gift.
I'm so happy. Thank you, Mr. Sudo.
Thank you so much.
- Promise you'll come again. - Okay.
I'll go say hello.
I apologize for the late greeting.
I'm Kazuko, the owner.
I'm Sudo.
- We met the other day-- - Oh, excuse me.
Thank you.
We're having a sale on the 22nd and 23rd.
How about it?
We're having a sale.
There's still time. Come visit.
- Hello. - Good evening.
Oh, hello. May I take your jacket?
One moment please.
Thank you.
Welcome.
I'm happy you came to visit again, Mr. Sudo.
Now, right this way.
Oh, um...
Yes?
Can I request Miyuki and Megumi?
Of course.
Thank you. We look forward to your next visit.
Please keep the change.
Thank you, as always.
Thank you.
Here.
Thank you.
Thanks.
Thank you as always.
Looks like he really likes those two.
Huh?
Are you getting jealous, Kazuko?
You idiot.
After a few more nights of sleep
New Year's is here
Whoa!
Good work today.
Have a good night.
You worked hard. Let's keep it up next year.
- Yes, sir. - Happy New Year.
- Yes, Happy New Year.
Get home safely.
Where should we eat?
There's a place...
It's been a packed year, but business has been good.
We have the Olympics next year.
The economy's gonna soar.
Shinzan and Dahlia are doing well too.
Should we open a few more next year?
Right...
But I want to buy a bigger home soon.
And start a new business too.
Huh? A business?
You can only get so far using women as a selling point.
I want to start something bigger.
Wow, you really are greedy, Kazuko.
Mr. Sudo.
I'm sorry. We're closed for today.
At the moment, I'm working on subdivisions in Karuizawa.
Yes.
But I've run into some trouble.
Trouble?
I suddenly need to prepare 500,000 yen by tomorrow.
Usually, I'd consider that a paltry sum, but the year is almost over.
The banks are closed, and I can't get in touch with my contacts.
I'm embarrassed to ask this, but please.
Lend me 500,000 yen.
I understand.
Please wait one moment.
Don't do it. This smells fishy.
It's a request from a valued customer.
He was giving out money for this very moment.
He spent about 300,000 until now, right?
He'll have made 200,000 yen.
Who would put all that effort into making just 200,000 yen?
Thank you. I'm truly grateful.
Please don't mention it.
But this is the first time we've had a proper conversation.
You always acted distant.
Well...
To be honest,
I became a regular because I wanted to meet you.
What?
The moment I bumped into you here,
it was love at first sight.
I didn't know you were such a smooth talker.
No wonder it's getting so cold.
Well, I'll excuse myself now.
Okay.
Thank you very much.
Happy New Year!
Are you sure it's not some new scam?
Even if it is, I don't mind.
That cold end to the year,
I was all alone, acting delirious.
Something was bound to begin in the new year.
That was the feeling I had.
Subtitle translation by: Chul Woong Kim