Shōwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjū Ep 3 recap

Miyokichi (Omasa Aya) helped applying Kikuhiko's (Okada Masaki) make up

It’s not a smooth streaming tonight AT ALL, which is annoying because it’s THE Miyo-Kiku episode! On the plus side, I have a lot of Miyo-Kiku screen shots!

(now I've watched the uploaded ver in Pandora, hence I can piece the story better)

Kiku n Hatsutaro now lived outside Master Yakumo’s house. Kiku worked at a restaurant at daylight but he also did Rakugo at night. Hatsutaro was the star, but Kiku was far from being jealous. If anything, he was more of rather disheartened by his own lack of progress.

Kiku watching Suke's excellent 'Kuma' Rakugo

While Hatsuta's Rakugo solidified into his own, Kiku was still struggling with his Rakugo. One night, the audience were so captivated by Hatsuta's Rakugo (it was the Kuma story) that two guests quarrelled because they thought each of them disturbed another. Hatsuta (or, rather, Sukeroku) diffused the quarrel in a genius way (I think he incorporated the quarrel into the story) that Kiku was just mesmerised.

However, when it was Kiku's turn, his Rakugo didn't captivate the audience that much that some of them were leaving (oh that was a terrible feeling!). One guest even snored!

Kiku was perplexed and lost his story there. Good thing that a woman gently woke up the snoring guest.  That woman was Miyokichi. She looked up and smiled to Kiku.

Later, Kiku remembered his brief encounter with Miyokichi. He recognised her as the person who wanted to see Shisho that night.

Kiku also had a talk with Shisho Yakumo VII where IINM Shisho said he liked Kiku’s performance, but Kiku needed to relax more. Shisho said that Kiku had to find his own Rakugo. Shisho then took Kiku (and Suke) to a restaurant where Suke danced gleefully with the geisha there. There, Kiku met Miyokichi. Having too much sake, Kiku seek refuge outside in the veranda when Miyo came to see him and leaned on him. Kiku asked Miyo to let go of his hand. Miyo said how sad it is to sit there alone. Kiku then hurried to the privy cos he wanted to throw up, which surprised Miyo.

Suke asked Kiku to perform Shika Shibai together, Kiku hesitated. Kiku then asked abut Miyokichi in Manchuria. I think Suke said that when he met Shisho again in Manchuria, Miyo was already there, crouching next to a fire with a coat, trying to warm herself. Shisho introduced Suke to Miyo. I think Suke described how pitiful Miyo looked in the cold night.

Thus Kiku then remembered what Miyo said that night. I think she said that committing suicide alone is sad.

Kiku started to meet Miyo n helped her with her dances. Kiku was a strict teacher, though. He slapped her hand when she did the wrong move, she said it hurts (duh!). But then she asked Kiku to play the shamisen while she sang and chatted with Kiku. Then, just like in the manga, she leaned on Kiku, but Kiku fell on the floor. Miyo laughed and said that he should have secured her, but he couldn't do that because he was surprised. Miyo gigged and said Kiku was a very interesting person.

She also said the time spent with him had been very nice. When Kiku fled in a hurry,  she asked him to come again.

Kiku still practiced his Rakugo diligently well into the night. One night, Suke came home with some women, which irked Kiku for the former disrupted his practice. Suke's women left in displease because they were told Kiku would be receptive to them. Then Kiku ranted; how God was so unfair. Suke didn't have to practice a lot, but yet he got the amazing Rakugo talent within him. Whereas Kiku, he had to practice hard, yet he hadn't got his Rakugo right. Suke told Kiku to keep ranting, for the former boarded the latter's house for free anyway, hence he can take Kiku's rants.

One night, Miyo ran into the rain to catch up with Kiku who was walking in the rain in angst because of the Shika Shibai dilemma and preparation. Miyo helped Kiku getting through his doubts about his Shika Shibai with Suke and with Rakugo in general.

Most importantly, when Kiku was wondering about his place in Rakugo, Miyo advised him as such: "If you cannot find your place, why don't you create your own place?"

Stunned, Kiku was silent for a while. Miyo then asked what the play was, and when she knew it was 'Benten Kozō', she was excited about it and told him she could help with the make up.

And that was what she did before the show. Miyo came and helped Kiku applying his make up. She also hugged and kissed Kiku when he got cold feet before entering the stage. She also nodded an encouragement when he glanced again at her as he walked into the stage.

And supported him as he was about to walk into the stage...

...down to the first few seconds of Kiku's performance
(Kiku glanced at Miyo here, she nodded her support)

The show was actually a success, partly thanks to Miyo injecting some self-confidence to Kiku.

(by the way, if you're curious how Haiji's Himesama looked like in Ningen Gowasan, Kiku's Benten came close to that!)

I accidentally caught this screen shot of Kiku being greeted by an excited Suke
for his performance. Funny how Kiku was still disgruntled despite his success here

Miyo wanted to congratulate Kiku afterwards, but somehow she changed her mind when she saw Kiku and Suke were taking the classical Shika Shibai photo. Suke saw Miyo leaving and he dashed to talk to her. Miyo politely declined Suke's offer to walk her home.

(Kiku, why didn’t you say thank you???)

However, when Kiku performed his rakugo once more, Miyo kept coming for support. Shinagawa Shinjū was performed, and Kiku found his Rakugo while Miyo shedding tears at the back seat for his success.

Kiku performing Shinawaga Shinjū brilliantly...

... while Miyo shed her tears of pride at the back seat...

(Kudos to Aya for showing Miyo's deep love for Kiku, though I still want to kick Kiku for not giving her the attention she deserved! Masaki's Rakugo was really good though in the last scene! I laughed several times though I only knew the story thanks to the English ver of Manga)

On Ep 4, we’ll see a bit more of Miyo and Kiku’s love.... then their separation :-(

I think Suke will be expelled from school in Ep 4 and he'll hook up with Miyo. I’m sad cos I really dig Miyo and Kiku.


Update:

After watching Ep 3, I finished reading the manga chapters related to Ep 2-3. I like Omasa Aya’s Miyokichi better than the one in Ch 3 manga. NHK Miyo is more vulnerable and she didn't hide her vulnerability in a facade like in the manga.

I like it that the NHK Miyo actually advised Kiku to find his own place in Rakugo. I also like it that she hugged and kissed Kiku before the Shika Shibai (and he was stunned with gratitude there) and that she actually came to see Kiku’s Shinagawa Shinjū (she didn't do so in the manga). I also like it that Kiku didn’t just send Miyo off after Shika Shibai; she just left on her own (but still, Kiku should’ve looked for her!). I like it too that Kiku was the first person who saw Miyo coming to see Shisho in Ep 2 (in the manga, that person was Matsuda-san).

IMO till now NHK fleshes out Miyo-Kiku story better.