Shōwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjū Ep 8 recap

Shisho Yakumo VIII visited Yotaro for the first time in Yota's rental room

Yotaro was sad because not many people came to his show; he thought it was because of his tattoo photo. But Matsuda-san said it was because of the pouring rain (which was indeed intense). Yota being Yota, he just decided to open his kimono and danced around, offending some traditional viewers who then left. Yota apologised to Yakumo, who – despite saying that Yota was indeed stupid – actually asked to see Yota’s tattoo. Bewildered, Yota showed his shisho the tattoo. He was even more surprised that Yakumo wasn’t offended by the tattoo. Shisho instead said something soothing that made Yota shed grateful tears. As Yota left in gratitude, Konatsu looked at Yakumo, bewildered with his unexpected open-mindedness.

Mangetsu visited Yota who was spirited again and was training his rakugo. Mangetsu seemed to suggest that Oyabun (a Yakuza boss who used to employ Yotaro) was the father of Konatsu’s baby.

Konatsu visited Oyabun in O-ei’s restaurant. Next door to their room, the old Yamada Haruhiko, I mean Yakumo was sitting alone, listening. Yota narrated his past where he had to sacrifice his freedom for the Oyabun. Yota then said he’d marry Konatsu. Oyabun responded by throwing Yota into a pond outside. Everyone including Yakumo was surprised, but Yota fought back verbally.  Yakumo smiled and sat again, enjoying the drama. Somehow, Oyabun let Yota go. Next door, Yakumo smiled again.

Wouldn't be surprised if Yakumo turned out to be Yamada Haruhiko's grandfather...

Yep, Yamada Haruhiko's grandfather alright!

Later, Yota left with Konatsu. Yakumo emerged from his room and talked to Oyabun, but I have no idea what transpired.

Down to all these secret meetings with the Yakuza boss...

Konatsu eventually agreed to marry Yotaro, which made him very happy. But then Yota said something that made Konatsu slapped him again. バカ！アホ！

During the next Rakugo performance, Yotaro’s audience returned. Happy, Yota announced that next week he’d change his name to Sukeroku III.

Then we see Yakumo playing shamisen again (a long time after Ep 1). It was snowing outside despite it was spring.

Back to his old shamisen and his old glasses...

Yakumo went to Konatsu’s room and, since she was sleeping, fixed her a blanket. Suddenly, Konatsu stirred in her sleep and grabbed Yakumo’s hand, basically slamming the frail Yakumo on the floor. Since Konatsu didn’t let Yakumo’s hand go, he then laid down and caressed Konatsu’s hair. Then, we were shown a scene were Suke caressed little Konatsu’s hair as Miyo watched them.

Later, Konatsu woke up with a surprise. When she demanded why Yakumo was there, the latter told her that she basically didn’t let his hand go. Agog, Konatsu stopped being aggressive. Yakumo then said that Konatsu always wanted to kill him and he at times wished she’d do that. The girl replied that she still wanted to do it now, but if she does, her baby wouldn’t be able to hear Yakumo’s Rakugo. She then said she was afraid (perhaps of her childbirth). She spoke of her parents, which made Yakumo remember the HOT kiss he shared with Miyokichi and the fateful moment when Suke and Miyo died. Shisho snapped out of his reverie, blinked his tears back and left Konatsu.

Later on Yakumo visited the surprised Yota in his boarding room for the first time. IINM, the room where Yota stayed might have been the room where the Shinigami shisho (who taught Kikuhiko Shinigami) stayed. At least, Yakumo said something along this line:

「なずかし、昔、死神の習った、まだ菊比古自分だ。」
Nazukashi, mukashi, shinigami no naratta, mada Kikuhiko ga jibun da.

Yota: 'Shoot, Shisho! And I haven't cleaned up my room!'

In Yota’s room, Yakumo taught Yota the complete Shibahama, one of Sukeroku’s trademark stories. Then, as the spring snow fell, Yakumo walked home accompanied by Sukeroku’s spirit.

Armed with Yakumo’s teaching of Shibahama, Yota performed Shibahama during his first performance as Sukeroku III to Konatsu’s surprise. Mangetsu (who was visiting and was paying respect to Shisho) was also surprised. Konatsu felt like she was looking at Suke’s Shibahama and she remembered the happy days with her parents (yes, including Miyo, who was happy with her family). Meanwhile, Yakumo closed his eyes, enjoying the Shibahama.

Just after the performance, Konatsu had her contraction. Mangetsu, Yota and Matsuda-san drove her to the hospital. As Konatsu struggled to deliver the baby, Yakumo (who remained in the yose) performed a story to no one but Suke’s old fan, basically praying for Konatsu and the baby.

Not the best shot of the scene where Yakumo prayed for
Konatsu & baby, but it'll do for now!

After the baby was born, Konatsu asked Yota to marry her. Yota happily accepted, of course. Afterwards, in the Yakumo residence, he told Yakumo (who remained stoic) and Matsuda-san (who cried bucket loads of tears). Then Yota returned to the hospital.

In the hospital, Konatsu was visited by O-ei-san. Konatsu asked O-ei to tell her the truth about what happened during the night her parents died. This scene was superimposed with the scene of Matsuda-san asking Yakumo whether it would now be the time to tell Konatsu the real event pertaining to her parents’ death. Both Yakumo and O-ei-san didn’t say anything.

Episode 9 will have Konatsu and Yotaro’s wedding and Yakumo collapsing because of a heart attack…(NOOOOOOOOO!!!  )

Then afterwards, we will have Episode 10 as the last episode… can’t believe how quickly this drama is wrapping up…


Comments:

It was a slow-building episode today, but that’s fine. Next episode will have more tempo IMO, which might end with Yakumo collapsing… or perhaps ending with Yota learning the true story behind Sukeroku’s and Miyokichi’s death.

I love it that Yakumo almost always conversed with Suke in important moments. I also appreciate it that there were times that Miyo was actually happy with Suke and Konatsu. Yes, I'm a Miyokiku fan, but I also appreciate that she tried to be happy with Suke. Something happened along the line that made her and Suke 'break up' the marriage (were they ever married?)... but at least both tried to make it work.

Oh, and Yakumo’s expression when he recalled his kiss with Miyo and the subsequent shinjū afterwards was amazing. It was such a painful recollection that Yakumo snapped out of it and got up immediately…

(and I do think Yakumo’s expression while he was listening to the conversations between Oyabun, Konatsu and Yotaro was eerily like that of Yamada Haruhiko’s!)

So, WHO IS THE FATHER OF KONATSU'S BABY??? I cannot catch it in this episode, but it’s either because of my elementary Japanese or because it was never truly mentioned! But if Oyabun wasn’t the father, why would Konatsu bother to visit Oyabun?