Original subtitles

It can't be...

It can't be true!

Shinjiro didn't have much time left to live...

The next Sunday...

We're ready for you...

Hurry and get out here.

Ready? Smile!

Smile!

Smile!

It's a family picture...

Never mind. Just get in here.

You too, Hei-san.

Are we ready?

Smile!

Asa ga Kita

Final Week "A Soft Heart" Episode 152

Original Story: Chieko FURUKAWA

Screenwriter: Mika OMORI

Music by: Yuuki HAYASHI

Theme Song: "365 Nichi no Kamihikouki" Sung by: AKB48

Narrator: Keiko SUGIURA

Asa Shirooka: HARU

Shinjiro Shirooka: Hiroshi TAMAKI

Kisuke: Hiroki MIYAKE

Ume: TOMOCHIKA

Eizaburo Shirooka: Akito KIRIYAMA

Chiyo Shirooka: Fuuka KOSHIBA

Miwa: Sumika NONO

Heijuro Yamazaki: Shigeo TSUJIMOTO

Kazu: Yasuko TOMITA

Jirosaku: Ginnojo YAMAZAKI

Shinjiro turned over the reins to Keisuke.

Keisuke not only worked for Kano Bank but also for

Yodogawa Life Insurance and Kano Trading...

The newspapers are filled with nothing but cries

for war right now.

Mr. Narusawa's reporter friend was against that trend, and

quit the newspaper.

Negotiations with Russia still aren't going well.

It looks like another war is about to start, doesn't it?

We'll have to think about what our policies are

going to be for Yodogawa Life Insurance, won't we?

My husband...

Is it time for a break already?

Are you feeling okay?

Actually, I have a gift for you...

A gift?

Shinjiro... He's here.

GARDENER KAZUTOMI ISHIKAWA

Thank you for your business.

Did you know that it's almost 40 years since we got married?

40 years? No wonder we're getting old.

Isn't it? So to commemorate it, I thought we'd plant a tree.

Shall I plant it in the middle of the garden so it'll stand out?

Please do.

But if you stick it right in the middle, won't it look strange?

No... It's better if it stands out.

What kind of tree are you planting?

I'll have her choose.

Your husband wanted you to choose the tree.

Is it okay?

Of course.

Which one should I choose?

I'm going to brace the tree with bamboo so it doesn't fall over.

As it got colder, Shinjiro didn't leave the house.

It's been a while, hasn't it?

I brought you something.

You heard from Hei-san, didn't you?

I wonder who it was.

Rumors that Shinjiro was laid up in bed spread

in no time, and a lot of people stopped by to

see how he was.

It's just that it's troublesome to go out when it's cold...

You didn't have to worry so much.

Maybe I should come down with something.

Someone else is here to see the advisor.

Who is it this time?

Hurry and let me in.

That voice!

Get out of my way!

That hurts!

Boss!

FORMER COAL MINE BOSS JIROSAKU

It's Kisuke!

It brings back memories.

Who are you?

What are you saying?

FORMER COAL MINE MANAGER GENKICHI MIYABE

I know who you are.

Mr. Miyabe!

I've been writing to Kisuke and his family all this time,

and he told me that you were laid up in bed, so

I was so surprised.

At my age, you shouldn't be at all surprised.

You, too, Kisuke. That was unnecessary.

I was worried, but my wife was more worried.

That's right... After we were indebted to you for such a

long time, when I said I'd have to come and see

how you're doing, the boss insisted on coming along.

It's so troublesome.

Be quiet.

Thank you. After we let the coal mines go,

I heard that you and your family moved away from the mountain...

That's right... His sons are working now.

My neglecting my health during my youth finally

caught up with me.

I can't get my body to move the way I want.

What are you saying?

You should just be grateful that you're alive.

You're in such good health.

That's because I wanted to see the mistress.

Thank you.

But I feel as though I learned about

running a business from that coal mine...

Ever since I made up my mind to go into the

coal mining business, I've been looking forward to

coming to this coal mine.

Asa Shirooka wins!

In today's terms, I'd say that the mountain was my youth.

Youth...?

I was shocked at your pistol, but

I was more surprised when you came up there in

that magnificent palanquin.

I heard Chikuho and Yahata are very prosperous now.

They sure are.

The manufacturers just keep coming, so it's getting awful...

I wonder what will happen to Japan from now on.

Big news!

I have news of the big battle.

At the beginning of the new year, diplomatic

negotiations between Russia and Japan had broken down,

and the Russo-Japanese war broke out.

People are seeing the convenience of

subscribing to wartime insurance now.

As an insurance company, we have to keep pace.

We have to decide what we're going to do about it.

President...

From now on, Yodogawa Life Insurance should

keep the number of new contracts to a minimum

and go into protection mode.

But that'll reduce the number of contracts.

We may take a loss but we'll be able to protect

the people we have insured now.

This is on a different scale from the Sino-Japanese War.

We don't know what's going to happen in

the future, but we have to protect the people

who had faith in us and bought our insurance.

Our insured are the most important.

You mustn't forget that.

What a surprise.

You've always been the aggressor, so for you

to take that stance now.

We were saved in a lot of way from the wartime

economy, but I still hate war...

If possible, I wish we wouldn't get involved.

In that sense, you haven't changed since the past.

But right now, we can't be saying things like that.

If we win this war like the newspapers are saying,

I'm sure an even bigger war will start right away.

When that happens, what's important isn't having the

bigger weapon, it's business.

By making our country's economy prosper,

we have to increase the power of our diplomacy.

In order to do that, Kano-ya has to build up their own resources.

That's all this nagging old lady has to say.

I'll leave the rest to all of you.

I made up my mind that as of today,

I'm going to wash my hands of the business.

What do you mean?

I'm quitting the bank, the life insurance and the trading company.

You're quitting?

I can't imagine you quitting the business.

You mustn't do that.

It's too early.

That's right. You still have so much spirit left.

But up until now, I haven't been a good wife, have I?

Well...

Come to think of it... You haven't been...

What are you saying?

Thank you.

There's nothing I can do about it now.

But...

I want to stay by my husband's side.

Without thinking about anything else.

I want to be by his side.

Mother...

Please...

...let me stay by his side.

All right.

Don't worry about Kano-ya from now.

We'll nurture Keisuke to be someone who will surpass you.

Asa...

Please take good care of my brother.

Thank you... I have faith in all of you.

From now on, please get along and do your best.

You quit the business?

Why? Why did you quit, Mom?

Everyone will quit someday...

But for someone who loves to work like you...

It's strange. Why are you doing it?

Chiyo! Please give Keisuke lots of

support, and help Sachi, and protect the Kano-ya name.

I don't have to worry about Keisuke anymore.

Our business is modernized now.

From now on, it's time to turn the reins over to the young ones.

About Kisuke...

No! You can't!

I won't allow it.

I won't let you quit the business you love so much for my sake.

Is it because if I'm around, you won't be able to

buy any new tea ceremony utensils?

Don't be ridiculous!

What am I supposed to do now without Shinjiro and the mistress?

By any chance, are they students from the women's university?

Is Asa Shirooka here?