Bheela’s Blog-003
19 December 2020
Episode 2 — Recap
Kei decides to look for his missing grand-ma Oshin. He remembers something after seeing the Kokeshi Doll in Oshin’s room and takes a train to North. He is able to spot her and they both laugh.
Recap of characters we have seen so far:
Oshin — Grand elderly lady, 83 years old, vice president of Tanakura company owning chain of superstores
Hitoshi — Oshin’s second son, president of the company, runs the business
Michiko — Hitoshi’s wife
Tei — Oshin’s daughter
Takeshi — Tei’s husband, also works closely with Hitoshi in the Tanakura company
Nozomi — Oshin’s adopted son –a widower, elderly person, enjoys making Pottery, not involved in the Tanakura business
Kei — Nozomi’s college going son, Oshin’s favorite grandson
Hatsuko — Oshin’s adopted daughter, not married, she often visits Nozomi, as both are Oshin’s adopted children
Episode 3 –
Oshin laughs together with Kei. She observes that only one of her so many relatives look for her and finds her, and that is her grandson, Kei. He finds her in the far northern area famous for its Hot Springs, near the unknown little mountain. Both Kei and Oshin come to the hotel room as it is very cold outside. Oshin starts to chat with the boy, suggesting him to take bath in one of the surrounding Hot springs. She asks him to take with him Yukata (a cotton Kimono, Japan’s national dress), a Tanzen (a padded Kimono worn during winters), and a towel. Kei laughs off, declines, and says that the towel will flow off in the hot spring.
Oshin fusses over Kei asking him for breakfast and rest, not talking on the disappearance topic. Kei catches her and questions her. Oshin says she was under the impression that no one knew about this place as she thinks she never discussed her past with any of the family members.
Oshin also guesses rightly that while Kei got curious to know the history of Kokeshi dolls, she must have told him about this place also, where she has now arrived running away from her home. (Kokeshi dolls are simple wooden dolls with no arms or legs that have been crafted for more than 150 years as a toy for children. These are Japanese dolls, originally from the north-eastern region (Tōhoku-chihō) of Japan. Source: Wiki)
Kei then reminds her that normally Oshin is not attached to any material items, yet she cared a lot about the doll and he was curious to know the history. She had told Kei about the Ginzan Thermal Waters
Oshin had also told Kei at that time that she had gone to this place with her Mom who bought her this doll. Oshin accidentally had told Kei that she wanted to go Ginzan before she died.
(Ginzan Onsen is a hot spring area in Obanazawa , Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. Its name means “silver mine hot spring”. Ginzan Onsen’s economy took off thanks to its booming silver production and eventually transitioned over to tourism when it opened up dozens of hot spring resorts along the central river that runs through the town. The mountains that surround this town yield rich hot spring water that is used both in private hotels and public baths in the city center. Ginzan Onsen became nationally famous as it was featured in the popular television drama Oshin. Each year this village sees hundreds of thousands of domestic Japanese visitors. Source: Wiki)
Kei and Oshin talk and it is so cold, they cover themselves with blankets. Oshin serves him Tea. (I mentioned earlier — arrangement of tea is kept handy in Japan, in homes as well as in Hotel rooms).
Kei says he remembers all of this including the name Ginzan because Oshin said that she holds something very special in her heart about this. Kei, therefore, took a chance and headed for this place. He was also a bit doubtful about his guess, but when he spotted his grandma at the bridge, at first, he couldn’t believe it.
Oshin fondly chides him for following her. Kei tells her everyone is so worried as you are 83 years old and disappear suddenly. Oshin questions him about who all were worried (It seems things were not going good between Oshin and her son Hitoshi).
Oshin shares her feelings with Kei, and explains that the company will not crumble in her absence, she also feels that people will rather be relieved that the old person is not there to interfere. Kei argues about her absence being a big issue especially on the opening day of the 17th store. Oshin knows that it would have been embarrassing for Hitoshi and others to explain her absence.
Kei also challenges her by stating the as she is growing older, she is now more self-centered and this is the reason that she ran away from home. Oshin clarifies that she is aware of the limitations of her elderly body.
Oshin gets worried if others at home know about Kei coming over to this place. Kei says no. It is quite clear that folks at Hitoshi’s place do not take Kei seriously as he is still in college.
Kei grabs the phone to inform people back home that he found Oshin, but Oshin resists. She says that she would have told everyone after she calms down. She also distracts him by asking him to take meals. Kei says he took 2 ekebins. (Ekebin is a box meal usually served in trains or long-distance buses)
Kei once again pesters her to give reason for her leaving home. Oshin replies that she has to visit many places and there are some other reasons, something which she cannot speak freely.
They are disturbed by a hotel staff who enquires about Kei. Oshin says, he will stay with me tonight and will return tomorrow. Oshin insists that Kei should return home. She gets ready to leave as the Taxi has arrived for her day trip.
But Kei does not listen, he makes grandma stop and tells her that he will make the call. Oshin reluctantly allows him.
Kei calls up Nozomi and informs him that he found grandma and he ensures not to speak about their location. Oshin does not speak even to Nozomi although he asks the reason for her leaving home. Kei informs his Dad that he will remain with grandma and will return soon.
Meanwhile, Hatsuko visits Nozomi and talks about Kei finding her grandma. Nozomi informs the family members about Kei being with grandma. Hatsuko wanted to speak to Oshin but Nozomi avoids the question. Hatsuko is running some business of knitting sweaters and she informs that she has an exhibition. Both Nozomi and Hatsuko are puzzled about how Kei found his grandma. Hatsuko is worried that now the family will blame Kei for knowing where grandma had gone yet he did not tell anyone.
She is also worried for Nozomi that Hitoshi and his family will have severe misunderstanding due to Kei finding grandma and not informing them first. She thinks that Hitoshi and Tei’s families are jealous of Kei as he is grandma’s favorite and goes to a fine college. Nozomi though is quite calm, he reminds her that Hitoshi, Tei, Hatsuko, and himself were together in the hard times that the family went through, they even shared their meals from a single plate.
Hitoshi, Kei, Takeshi, and Michiko are talking about Kei finding grandma. They are hurt that Oshin did not talk to Hitoshi directly, instead, Kei informed Nozomi. Michiko particularly is unhappy that everyone will blame her that she did not take good care of her mother-in-law and hence she left home. Tei already says the same. Hitoshi keeps a calm front although he seems disturbed. He says that let Oshin do what she wants, she does not have many years left to fulfill her wishes. Michiko continues to speak in a hurtful way that Oshin need not come back home. Michiko feels that she served Oshin for 30 years but she still thinks Nozomi and Hatsuko to be her real children, so if she comes back, she can stay with them. Michiko is clearly hurt.
Oshin and Kei are eating lunch at a restaurant. Kei once again picks up the topic and asks Oshin reason for leaving home. He suggests if Oshin left because of Michiko’s behavior. To this, Oshin laughs a lot and tells him that he should have known that she is not such a person. Besides, Michiko is Hitoshi’s wife so it is up to him to deal with Michiko. Kei continues to ask her if her reason for leaving home was that she did not approve of buying the 17th store. To this Oshin says, if she ran away on the day of opening, she would not have won anything.
Kei tries to bring her to state the reason again by asking if she wanted to meet someone or see some specific places, but she does not reply and runs to grab the taxi, but Kei quickly runs after her somehow finishing his meal. He tells Oshin that he will stick to her and she will have no escape from him.
Oshin and Kei reach the bridge on the river. It has snowed so much that the whole area including the pathway on the bridge is covered with snow. The guide informs that Taxis cannot be driven on the bridge. The village she wants to visit is not accessible by vehicle. Oshin suggests that we can walk the rest of the way as she is familiar with the place. The guide tells them that proper gear is required for walking on snow-covered roads. Moreover, he informs that no one lives in that village anymore, it has become inhabitable due to harsh winter. Oshin is saddened to hear that she will not find anyone in the village. However, they contemplate returning the next day with snow boots and fully equipped to cross the bridge on foot.
Oshin is looking around and she reminiscences events of the past. She says who would imagine that now the bridge has become so strong, it used to be a frail bridge. She used to think that if a strong wind blows, the bridge would collapse. She tells Kei that it used to snow so much in her time that even strong young people could not walk. So, at her age to walk will be a challenge. Kei by looking at her thoughtful troubled face understands that Oshin will go at any cost. He decides that he will carry her on his back and walk across the bridge where she wants to visit so desperately. Oshin says you are too skinny to carry me, but Kei disagrees and informs her of his mountaineering experience at school.
Why does Oshin want to go there so desperately? Kei did not know. But he was sure that he will do this for his grandma.
Coming soon Episode 4… We will know more…