田 Chiritotechin
 田 Week 9: "Where is this? Am I no good?" Episode 49
I'm going to be a "rakugo" performer.
Beat me first.
Thank you for joining us again today.
I was finally accepted as Master Sojaku's apprentice.
I'm going to become a "rakugo" performer.
It's the beginning of 1993, and I'm about to become a
member of the Tsurezuretei "rakugo" group.
Thank you for taking our daughter as your apprentice.
She may to be unworthy, but please take care of her.
It's my pleasure.
I hope you don't think we're being rude,
but please accept this as a token of our appreciation.
Wakasa flounder?
No... It's Echizen crab.
Crab?
You didn't have to do this.
Not at all. After all, it's Kiyomi you're
taking on as an apprentice.
It's no ordinary feat to try to make her into a "rakugo" performer.
The flay will definitely come when you'll wonder
why you took her on.
When that day comes, just remember that we brought
you Echizen crab on the day you took her in, and try
to bear with it.
Hey!
It all depends on her whether she becomes a full-fledged
"rakugo" performer or not.
Is that right?
Don't look so disappointed.
I'm not.
Don't mind her... Go ahead and put the crab away.
Thank you very much.
Take this to the other room.
Thank you!
Hey!
I'm sorry... They haven't had much to eat for New Year's.
Be sure you train hard.
I will.
In order to buy all that crab, Dad made lacquered chopsticks
without sleeping at night, Grandma had to go around giving
shamisen lessons, and Shohei worked at the post office
part time during his school break...
Kojiro painted seashells that he picked up on the beach
and sold them on the street and I had to act as the
dummy purchaser.
Don't talk about how we got the crab.
Shall we give it back?
No... go ahead, and eat it.
But when I think about how much it'll cost...
Stop it!
Master Sojaku...?
How much do we have to pay for tuition?
You don't have to pay any tuition.
Really?
Then do you charge a certain price for
each "rakugo" story that you teach her?
No, I don't charge anything.
Then the entrance fee must be huge.
Don't make it sound like this is a school.
I know! It'll cost millions for the golden "haori" coat
you need when you join the Tsurezuretei "rakugo" group.
That's enough!
She's doing a two-man "manzai" comedy routine with a "rakugo" performer.
What a mother.
You seem to have a basic misunderstanding about
what it is to train to be a "rakugo" performer...
Kii-ko! Why didn't you explain it to them?
You don't charge a monthly fee...?
You mean you didn't know?
For the first three years, she'll be a live-in
apprentice, in other words, it's like a probation period.
Up until now, she was a lodger here, so she was
paying rent to stay here, but if she's my apprentice,
she doesn't have to pay rent.
Really? Why didn't you tell us that sooner?
Why didn't you tell us about that sooner, Kiyomi?
Not you, also, Dad!
And for the "rakugo" lessons...
You don't have to pay for that either.
It's the same no matter what master you train under.
Even though you're teaching her "rakugo"?
"Rakugo" belongs to everyone.
It's been passed down for hundreds of years from
many "rakugo" performers verbally from one "rakugo"
performer to the next.
There's no way I can accept any money to teach it.
That was very generous of him, wasn't it?
But when you think about it my dad did the same thing.
He took Hideomi, who was a complete stranger, into our home,
fed him, and taught him how to make lacquered chopsticks.
Mom often used to say that Hideomi was like a son to them, didn't she?
Which means from now in, Master Sojaku will be
Kiyomi's father, doesn't it?
Let's take her home.
Stop it!
Kiyomi...
What has she gotten herself into?
If everything is free, what are we supposed to live on?
Let Kosojaku pay for everything.
Are you crazy?
You've been an unfilial son all this time,
it's not much to ask!
Don't rely on your little brother apprentice's money.
You're only my little brother apprentice
when it's convenient for you!
Stop fighting!
Eventually, we'll all pay you back a little bit at
a time, so lend us some money.
I'm sorry.
You haven't done anything wrong, Kiyomi.
Why are you just standing there with those plates?
I'm sorry!
You...!
Never mind. She won't start as a live-in
apprentice until tomorrow.
Just watch carefully what Shiiso does today.
Shiiso... I mean Brother Shiiso?
What's been Shiiso's job as the youngest apprentice
will be your job from tomorrow.
What are you doing?
I'm cutting up the crab.
You don't call that cutting...
You're slaughtering the crab!
Maybe you shouldn't follow his example, after all.
Kii-ko... Did you quit your part-time job?
I did... But during the New Year's holidays, Natsuko
went home to her family.
I thought I'd go to see her on my next day off.
Day off?
You have a visitor, Kiroku.
Pardon the intrusion.
Natsuko! What are you doing here?
I just arrived in Osaka, and I came straight over.
You're going to be busy from now on, aren't you?
It's really cold. Let's eat.
Sorry to bother you when you're eating.
You can join us if you like.
I'd love to...
Natsuko...
Thank you for everything.
It was my pleasure.
When I think that I won't be working for you,
I feel a bit sad.
Natsuko!
Will you miss me that much?
It's such a relief to think that I won't have to pay
your salary anymore...
Is that why...?
But when I thought that she had hired me when
she couldn't afford to... I was so grateful.
Master Sojaku...?
Is it all right if I stop by here once in a while?
What for?
A female 'rakugo" performer is quite unusual...
I want to do a story on it.
Without this person, this book would not exist.
Master Kiyomi!
You're jumping the gun!
What a wonderful future waiting for me!
Should we let it go?
It's just for today.
That night, I ate my fill of crab sukiyaki,
and fell asleep dreaming of my future as a female "rakugo' performer.
Hey!
Hey!
Kii-ko!
Brother Soso? Good morning.
How long are you going to sleep?
It's time to get up!
But it's only 5 o'clock...
Your job as a live-in apprentice starts with cleaning.
Start by cleaning the yard and the entry.
Be sure to sprinkle water at the entry.
After you finish that, prepare breakfast.
Are you listening?
Yes, I am.
I don't have time to make breakfast if I have to
clean that huge yard.
Breakfast is ready!
Sit down, Master Sojaku and Brother Soso!
Is that any way to call us?
Master Sojaku... May I come in?
Come in.
Excuse me.
Good morning.
Breakfast is ready.
Master... what time do we start our lessons?
Do you think I should wear a kimono?
I think I have some back in Obama.
What do you think I should do?
Hey!
Thank you for the meal.
Are you going for a walk?
Enjoy your walk.
Take out my navy blue pongee.
Here it is.
Wait a minute.
That's his summer kimono.
I'm sorry!
Why are you putting out his shoes?
Get his slippers.
Master! Give me a lesson.
"There were two bungling 'taikomochi' in Minami,
"Osaka named Ippachi and Shigehachi..."
What are you doing?
I thought I'd watch...
Did you finish the cleaning and the laundry already?
I clean, cook, clean and do the laundry...
I'm not a "rakugo" performer.
I'm their mother!
Kiyomi!
Listen to this, Brother Sogen...
Is that any way to hang the laundry?
They're all wrinkled.
Pill it out like this and slap it!
Look at this window glass!
You haven't cleaned the corners at all.
Clean it thoroughly from corner to corner!
Cleaning where you can't see is the proper way to clean.
Next is the bath...
Can I take a bath now?
I meant... Clean the bath.
I never mind the monthly fee...
They should be paying me a salary.
As I wondered why I had to do the housework
to become a "rakugo" performer anyway...
My first day as a live-in apprentice ended.
Hurry and fix dinner, Kii-ko!