February 21, 2015
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Massan Plot Summaries - Week 21
#121 1943 - Ema has graduated and is working at a factory sewing uniforms for soldiers. Massan continues to work at the proper blending of his whiskey. The soldiers don't really care about the blend, but Massan is thinking twenty years ahead. Toshio says that he should also be thinking of a successor, namely a husband for Ema. The Navy pays a visit and requests that Massan make wine. They don't really want it to drink but for some by-product that will make for better radio reception. Toshio doesn't really get it, and neither do I. Anyway, Kazuma says he will do it. Ellie's hairstyle has become more matronly. Is this because it is wartime or to show that she is aging? Ema's fellow factory workers complain that she is not working fast enough because she is not putting her pacifist heart into it. Does she still think that war is foolish like she did in school? She gives them the answers they want to hear. She comes back and confides in Kazuma, telling him that she wants to have the dreams of her father and the courage of her mother. She also complains that her parents treat her like a kid, but Kazuma tells her that she has become a young lady. Cheered up, Ema goes up to her room to find Ellie cleaning her room down to the inside her desk drawers and uncheerfully chases Ellie out. Ellie is shocked to her foundations. Yep, her daughter is growing up.
#122 The next morning Ema apologizes to Ellie, but says that from now on she will clean her room herself. Ema goes off to work at the uniform factory. A guy is hanging around outside. Is Ellie still being watched? Massan talks to Ellie about training a whisky blender to take over for him when he is no longer able to do it. Satoru, Massan's nephew in Hiroshima wants to study brewing. and might be right for the job. Ellie suggests hardworking Kazuma. Meanwhile at the factory, the other girls think that Ema's lunch is too extravagant for wartime. She is spoiled and her foreign mother doesn't understand that extravagance is the enemy. Defense and bucket brigade practice are coming up. You'll be there, won't you? (no immediate answer) You're a traitor. Ema comes home and complains to Kazuma about not having the courage to say what she thinks. She is not good at anything or useful to anyone. Kazuma says he is the same. All of his friends have gone to war. He wishes his draft notice would come, but what if going to war means his death? He never told this to his father or sister and tells Ema to pinky swear not to tell Massan, either. Did I see a few sparks flying?
#123 Kazuma has been working on the wine byproduct that the navy has requested. Every day Ema comes home and goes straight to Kazuma's lab to "observe his work." Massan and Ellie poo-poo the idea that Ema is stalking Kazuma, but Kazama's father Morino asks how many girls show that much interest in distilling. That night Kazuma escorts Ema the stone's throw home from the lab, and she confesses her feelings. She tells her parents that she wants to quit the factory and work at the brewery. With Kazuma. She loves him, but she doesn't know what he thinks. Ema goes up to her room and does the Dear Diary thing. Ellie says that Ema is too young for this at seventeen, what are we gonna do? (Um... NO COMMENT HERE! LOLOL) The next day Massan asks Kazuma his intentions. Kazuma just says that he realizes that Ema is Massan's daughter and his own position. One of the girls at the uniform factory notices Ema's wonderful mood. She is in LUV!!
#124 Ema is in LUV with Kazuma! Morino thinks that it is a good match since Massan is thinking of having Kazuma as his successor anyway. Ellie is so upset that she can't even discuss it. Ema is too young for this and knows nothing about the outside world. She is in love with love, not Kazuma. When Ema gets home Ellie gives her a good talking to, and now Ema hates Ellie. Ellie has no idea of what Ema is going through for her foreign mother's sake, and she can never measure up to Perfect Ellie, either. Ellie says that no one cares more about Ema's happiness than she does, but Ema isn't having it. Massan still thinks the match makes good sense. He says it is natural for youngsters to fall in love, but Ellie isn't having it. The gossipers at the barbershop think that Ellie has a severe case of cabin fever that is addling her judgement. Ellie sits staring at flowers in a vase for some reason that I must have missed. That guy is still hanging around outside.
#125 Ellie wants the best for Ema and that does not include romance yet. Massan says that is for him to decide, but Ellie says that she knows everything about Ema and will not allow a boyfriend yet. Ellie is staring at the pink flowers again. She storms over to the brewery, suspicious guy in tow. She tells Ema to come back to the house and learn how to run it. Love will have to wait until she is able to be independent. Ellie tells Kazuma that Ema is too young for all this. Massan still thinks that the romance is not a problem and tells Ellie to let the youngsters be. Kazuma tells Ema that she should stop hanging around and won't give her an answer when she asks if he loves her. She calls him a coward and storms back home to find Ellie looking at her diary. (Is she able to read it?) Ellie remembers her first love (He gave her pink flowers like the ones in the vase.) and how he went to war and died. She wants to protect Ema from having the same pain. It is a matter of time before Kazuma gets his draft notice.
#126 Ellie is opposed to the romance between Ema and Kazuma not only because she thinks Ema is too young, but also because in 1914 Ellie had been engaged to a fellow named George who died in WWI She was left with nothing but a locket with his picture. She has never told Massan about this. Now Ema finally understands what her mother is worried about, but asks if Ellie would stop loving Massan if he had a terminal illness. Ellie is sorry about the diary thing. Huggy huggy. Ema wants to continue the life is an adventure thing even if there is danger involved. Ellie finally consents to the romance. Later she fesses up to Massan about George. She had decided never to love again until she met Massan, a present from God. George died, her father died... Who knows what would have happened if they hadn't met? Ellie reminds Massan that she made him promise not to die before her. More huggy. Toshio breaks in upon the scene. Kazuma has gotten his draft notice.
