March 14, 2015
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Massan Plot Summary - Week 24
#139 The year is 1948. Tokyo Boogie Woogie is playing on the radio. Ellie is leading a quiet life reading English books that Massan has gotten for her. Ema is working for the US occupation forces as a typist and translator. Massan is admiring his 15 year old whiskey, Super Doukah. The factory finances are stable thanks to sales to the US forces. Massan hires soldiers back from the war who have lost everything and are thankful to have full stomachs and a roof over their heads. They work so hard that Toshio can't keep up with them. Investors Watari and Nonomura show up from Osaka, and say that Massan must start making 3rd class whiskey that can compete on the soon to be free market. No one can afford the real thing. Massan tries the stuff containing only 5% whiskey, and declares it as only a phony beverage to get drunk on. There is sudden rejoicing as Massan's nephew from Hiroshima, Satoru Okazaki returns from the war and shows up at the brewery.
#140 Massan's nephew Satoru has returned from Siberia. He has been missing for three years. (Many Japanese soldiers fighting in Manchuria were captured by the Russians and taken to Siberia where they were forced to labor under severe conditions. Many did not return. DH's father was one of the lucky ones who came back.) Sotoru and the other captured soldiers cut down frozen forests every day from morning 'til night to make railroad ties for the Russians. Satoru is offered a bedroom, but says that he prefers to sleep with the rest of the returned soldiers working at the factory. He is haunted by bad dreams. Next morning, Toshio shows Satoru the blending lab but Satoru doesn't care about the difference between first class and third. Booze is booze. Who is to say what is real and what is fake? During the past three years, Satoru has had bigger problems to deal with, like survival. Ema's (new actress) dedication to her work gets her a chance to work as a translator in America. Ellie urges her to pursue her dreams and than asks Satoru what his dreams are, but realizes that he is still dealing with his nightmares. That night the fellow in the next bunk misplaces his dead father's pocket watch and assumes that Satoru has stolen it. A fight breaks out, but the watch is discovered between the sheets of the owner's bed. The fight resumes when the accuser doesn't apologize sufficiently. Massan drags Satoru out and asks him what happened in Siberia. Satoru says that he has seen Hell.
#141 Satoru tells Massan about some of what he experienced in Siberia. The food that he was given was so undigestable that he washed his own excrement and ate it again. Many died from the cold and forced labor. The Japanese soldiers were treated worse than animals. Satoru gave everything to his country, but the Russians told the Japanese captives that they could return to Japan sooner if they criticized the actions of their homeland. This caused strife in the Japanese ranks. When Satoru was finally free to return to Japan, third class whiskey was there to welcome him home, and he felt that he had never tasted anything so delicious. It gave such comfort to his heart that Massan should not disrespect it. What is the real thing, anyway? Massan is enlightened, and realizes that some who suffered in the war have no hope for the future. There is a real need for cheap whiskey and he decides to make both 1st and 3rd class. Later he tells Ellie that the entomological roots of the word "whisky" mean "water of life." Massan starts researching all of the cheap stuff on the market. Satoru comes in amd Massan thanks him for giving him a new vision for his work. Massan smells the 3rd class stuff and analyzes it using nothing but his nose. Satoru is amazed that Massan can identify both the ingredients and brewing processes simply from the scents, and Toshio says that Massan has a better nose than a dog. Massan invites Satoru to try sniffing, and he begins to take interest in what may become his future career.
#142 Sotoru is surprised that Massan didn't get angry at him for his defense of 3rd class whiskey, but Ellie tells him that Massan likes challenges and adventures. Massan's sister and father appear from Hiroshima to take Satoru back to Hiroshima and the family sake brewery. Massan gives his pleased father a tour of the factory. Father Masashi says that they need more workers in the Hiroshima brewery, and asks Massan how his business is going. Massan says that Satoru enlightened him to 3rd class whiskey. How's Ema? She has passed her test and will be going to America to study interpreting. Satoru says that he wants to stay in Hokkaido for awhile. Whatever he learns from Massan's nose will be of use in Hiroshima. Back in the lab, Massan has finished his survey of the competition's 3rd class stuff and determines to include no artificial coloring or flavoring in his new product. Toshio doesn't think that is possible and is upset that they have wasted time analyzing the competion. Can Massan solve the new whiskey art conflict and save the day?
#143 Massan is back in the lab working on third class whiskey, but isn't having much luck. Toshio sneers that they are gonna have to stop wasting time and use artificial flavoring. Massan asks his father's advice. Masashi tells him to work on one thing at a time, good rice, good water, good malt. Next morning, he tastes tests for the best central flavor in the youngest barrels. The whiskey in the younger barrels whiskey has the strongest smokey flavor left. He finally finds what he is looking for in a barrel whose malt came from the wheat that Kazuma (who died in the war) bred. The strong smokey flavor will stand up to any diluting! Toshio cries over the barrel to the tune of Auld Lang Syne. Kazuma entrusted his dream to Massan and it has come to fruition! Oh, someone please give me another hankie.
#144 Massan finally makes cheap third class whiskey Yoichi no Uta (Song of Yoichi) and invites wholesalers to a sampling party. Everyone agrees that it has a great aroma, and no one believes that it is actually third class and made without artificial ingredients. The wholesalers love it! A fellow from a bank in Osaka, a Mr. Sawada praises the good smokey flavor and tells Massan that he has changed. He has gone from being a dreamer to one who has been able to make the best whiskey in Japan, a whiskey to be passed down to future generations. Sawada wants to sell the whiskey in department stores. Massan receives a big round of applause. Father Masashi and sister Sumire are packing to return to Hiroshima and tell Satoru (Can someone please get this boy something to wear other than his battered uniform?) to get ready to go, but Satoru asks to stay on in Yoichi and be Massan's successor. His grandfather Masashi give him permission. Ema completes her oral interview for study abroad in the US.
