October 3, 2014
-
Massan Plot Summaries - Week 1
#1 I just watched the first NHK Morning Drama episode of Massan, about Scottish lady, Ellie Cowan Kameyama, who came to Japan in 1920 with her husband who became a famous whiskey maker. I have a built in monitor - When she arrives at his hometown in Hiroshima no one is staring at her, and she understands the Hiroshima dialect (and Japanese in general) too well for a newcomer. She goes in the house with her shoes on (and gets told this is a no-no - How did I know that was going to happen?) and is rejected on the spot by her MIL. Hubby Masaharu knows that MIL does not approve of his choice, but has hidden this from Ellie. She also learns that women are not allowed in Sumo rings or breweries.
#2 The poor girl's Mother in Law hates her already. Her hubby's sister was fitting her for a kimono and complained that it was too short because Ellie is too tall, but Ellie is the same height as the sister. And Ellie needs to learn to control her show of emotion and stop hugging people. Masaharu has a plan to present Ellie to the extended family at an upcoming Buddhist memorial service for approval by the local priest. Ah, so much for young love to overcome.
#3 MIL refuses to "set a place at the table" for Ellie, and Masaharu leaves the dining room with Ellie in tow, vowing to her that he will somehow get MIL to accept the marriage. MIL instructs the servant not to perform room service. Ellie has been told on both sides of the ocean that she can never be Japanese, which is correct. She will just have to find her own way. Gotta be tough. (^-^)
#4 Masaharu and Ellie's marriage is rejected on both sides of the ocean. They had some hope at Ellie's debut at the family Buddhist memorial service. Masaharu has Ellie rehearse a speech of greeting for the priest (Futsutsuka na mono desu ga...) But at the memorial service her feet fall asleep and when she gets up she takes a tumble in the direction of the family Buddhist altar and just about ends up in the old priest's lap. She failed the chopsticks test (picking up slippery beans) but stopped a couple of kids from fighting and passed the good heart test. I must say the priest was a bit nasty at testing Ellie's chopstick dexterity when she came up to politely pour him a cup of sake. He embarrassed her in front of the entire family and told here that she could never be Japanese. He redeemed himself a bit by declaring that she did have a good heart. But MIL still chased her out anyway. (Sniff) I understand MIL's reservations, but MIL should take time into consideration. Ellie has a great attitude and she will learn the little things given a year or two or ten.) MIL did not appreciated Ellie telling the kids that the popular Hotaru no Hikari song is actually Auld Lang Syne.
#5 MIL says that Ellie can stay as a "kept woman" and Masaharu can then have a "real wife." Masaharu has a Sumo match with his dad in the brewery for some real man to man communication. MIL tells Ellie that if she cares for Masaharu at all she will go back to Scotland.
#6 MIL tells Ellie that she doesn't hate her because she is not Japanese, but that the marriage is something that both Ellie and Masaharu will learn to deeply regret. Ellie can see that MIL is speaking out of a deep love for her son, packs her bag and gets on the first truck out. Masaharu chases the truck, heads it off at the pass, just about gets run down and sings Auld Lang Syne. He tells Ellie that in Japan a wife has to listen to her husband so she had better get off that truck pronto.
