TENSHIKI
He'd never heard the word "tenshiki."
He should've just asked right away, but this monk...
Akane!
Isn't it time to get up?
You're going to be late!
Oh, crap!
- Akane! - See you later!
FIFTH STORY HER PATH FORWARD
YEAR 3, CLASS 2
All right, I'm going to return your midterms from the other day now.
- Ms. Adachi. - Yes.
- Mr. Uchida. - Yes.
- Mr. Ehara. - Yes.
- Ms. Osaki. - Yes.
- Mr. Ozaki. - Yes.
Thank goodness!
My scores weren't as bad as I thought!
Lisa and Yuka, I owe you one! Thanks!
I mean really, Akane, you were this close to flunking your finals!
The Mom Blowup Incident.
Actually, there's someone even more terrifying than Mom now.
Then wanna go celebrate with sweets?
I'm in! I'm in!
Uh, no. Akane, have you forgotten?
Huh?
CAREER COUNSELING ROOM
Ms. Osaki.
You forgot about your interview today, didn't you?
Oh, well.
You're the only one, you know.
Who hasn't turned in their career path survey.
What? For real?
Don't be so careless.
Right. I'm sorry.
About your mid-term scores...
You put in a lot of effort. Not a single F to be seen.
That's right, I did! I really hit the books this time!
I see.
Meaning you've never hit the books till now?
Oh, no, um... I'm sorry.
These are the colleges you currently have the grades to apply to.
Oh, no need to worry about that.
I'm going to become a Rakugoka.
So I won't be going to college, nor be getting a job.
I see. Very well, then.
All right, let me find which colleges you have a chance
of getting into that also have Rakugo clubs.
- No, but, I just said I'm not-- - Ms. Osaki.
Let me be clear about this.
Neither going to college, nor getting a job
will bring uncertainty into your future.
Not only that, but a career in an obscure profession like Rakugo...
Iwashimizu-sensei, have you ever seen a Rakugo performance?
- No, I haven't. - In that case...
FUTATSUME SHOW - RAKUGO CAFÉ KYOJI ARAKAWA / KENBISHI ARAKAWA
Here. It's tomorrow!
- If you can-- - Ms. Osaki.
What you need to submit is not a flyer for an event, but your career path survey.
B-But I...
Here are the brochures for colleges meeting the criteria I just mentioned.
Take a look at them, and turn in your career path survey by the end of the week.
I'll just be writing in "Rakugoka."
In that case, I'll be happy to offer you one-on-one counseling after class
until you can choose a college.
Whoa, how crazy is this?
Was Iwa-sensei being serious?
She was being serious, all right.
I wouldn't put it past that Ice Lady.
If she wipes out my after-school hours, I'll have no time left for training!
What's that look on your face?
Did Iwa-sensei rip you a new one during counseling?
Is that you, Jumbo?
Did you have an interview, too?
Mine's tomorrow.
I've got club activities now.
Is that right?
Hey, listen.
Both your parents and your master are fine with you choosing Rakugo, right?
Then there's no reason to worry, no matter what anyone says, right?
What's with that face?
Seriously, you grew up to be a wonderful young man, Jumbo!
I can't believe you're that same kid
who used to cry crocodile tears in grade school!
Hey, you! Didn't I tell you to never bring that up?
Starting judo was definitely the right move!
Look, who do you think you are?
Hey, thanks.
You reached out to me out of concern, right?
I'll be just fine.
My becoming a Rakugoka...
I'll get Iwa-sensei to accept it!
Easier said than done.
We're talking about Iwa-sensei, after all.
I wonder how you can convince her?
If I go head-to-head with her, she'll just shoot me down!
Then use your leverage over her to attack.
Scary!
And actually, she's got way too much leverage over me.
Then why don't you cozy up to her instead?
- Great idea, huh? - With the Ice Lady?
Not happening, huh?
That's it! Good one, Lisa!
Knowing your opponent's feelings,
and closing the distance is also attentiveness!
I'll show her the fruits of my training, and then Iwa-sensei and I will become...
besties for sure!
Sh-She's on fire!
Yes?
Excuse me!
Oh, Iwashimizu-sensei!
Are you just about to have lunch?
What is it, Ms. Osaki?
Would it be all right if I joined you?
Wow!
Your lunch is gorgeous!
Do you make your lunches yourself?
- Yes. - That's amazing! You're a good cook!
Do you have like, a specialty dish?
Simmered dishes, perhaps.
Really?
That was a good meal!
That was fast.
So, do you have a hobby?
I wouldn't call it a hobby, exactly, but I'm fond of reading.
Oh, I love reading, too!
Books are great, don't you think?
Reading them on my smartphone is nice,
but the feel of paper and the smell of ink...
Is that right?
Have you read anything you found interesting lately?
Oh, crap. All I read are manga or Rakugo books.
Um...
KENJI MIYAZAWA: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION VOLUME 12
Kenji Miyazawa!
Like, that was really good!
Which one of Kenji's books?
Huh? Let's see.
Night on the Galactic... Railroad? And stuff.
Which part of that story did you find interesting?
Oh, uh, the railroad... on a galactic night...
going boooo! And so on.
What did you think of Giovanni's feelings for Campanella?
Huh? Giovan... Huh? Huh?
So you haven't read it.
No, I'm sorry.
Ms. Osaki, you like Rakugo, don't you?
Yes! I like it!
Is Rakugo that alluring?
Well, of course!
Being able to create a whole world armed with just a seat cushion and your words...
All kinds of characters appear,
and you have them move around, one after another like magic.
The awesomeness of being able to make people laugh, cry, and get drawn in!
The characters who appear in Rakugo are all ordinary people just like us.
That's why even if it's an ancient classic or a different era, you can empathize.
Everything we think or feel in our daily lives can be used in Rakugo.
Or rather, everything in our daily lives becomes Rakugo training!
- That aspect is also... - I see.
Everything you've just done was part of your plan
to get me to accept that you want to be a Rakugoka, right?
Let me be clear.
It's useless to try to appease me.
B-Beast you?
As I informed you yesterday,
the deadline for turning in your career path survey is the end of this week.
I ask that you respect the deadline.
So you went for broke, and broke, huh?
She's got "boulder" in her name.
No, more like partial self-destruction.
Before we could get close, I started blabbing on and on about Rakugo.
What are you going to do?
Should we come up with another plan?
No.
At this point, I'll stop with the cheap tricks.
I'll undergo her career counseling every single day until she accepts it!
- Are you sure? - Yeah.
CAREER COUNSELING ROOM
Mr. Ozaki, I see that you've been offered a judo scholarship.
I'll be training under Coach Saito at Shuei University.
Yes, that's right.
Then let's move forward with that.
Mr. Ozaki, you've known Ms. Osaki since grade school, right?
Oh, that's right.
I saw you two talking after her interview yesterday.
Did she seem depressed to you?
Well, maybe a little.
But you don't have to worry. She'll be fine.
Is that right?
Still, I was a little too harsh on her.
She was acting strangely all day today,
so I should probably have another proper talk with her.
Iwashimizu-sensei, are you against Akane becoming a Rakugoka?
That's of no concern to you.
I know it's not.
But it bugs me since she and I aren't strangers.
That's true.
At the very least, she's the sociable type.
But she's always zoning out during class,
and I see her muttering some gibberish and then smirking to herself.
To be honest, I'm worried.
That idiot!
I come across them once in a while.
Students who myopically decide on their career paths on a whim.
Most likely, she's one of them.
So I have to guide her, even if it's somewhat forceful.
Hey, you're going to become a Rakugoka?
But your dad...
I've made up my mind.
I've already made up my mind!
FUTATSUME SHOW - RAKUGO CAFÉ KYOJI ARAKAWA / KENBISHI ARAKAWA
Did you get that flyer from Akane?
I wouldn't say that I got it.
It was more like she pushed it onto me.
Iwashimizu-sensei, would you like to go to that event with me?
No, thank you.
Spending time with a male student outside of school
would damage my social standing.
Then we can go separately.
Decide whether she's being myopic after you've seen her Rakugo.
You certainly seem concerned about Ms. Osaki.
It's not like that, really.
It's just that I've known her since grade school.
So I think I know how much weight Akane's decisions carry.
You're implying something, aren't you?
If it bothers you, then go see her first.
Besides making up your mind without even seeing her perform?
Isn't that what it means to be myopic?
Years ago, there was a student in my homeroom
who said his dream was to become a comedian.
Yes, yes, I hear you.
Oh, it's cold.
IS IT OK IF WE COME OVER TO YOUR HOUSE??
I was supportive of his dream.
I quit the comedians' training school after six months,
and I'm a part-timer now.
You know, that thing you call talent...
I didn't have any, after all.
Cold.
What could I have done?
Career paths are chosen by the students themselves.
But I should've done something else other than just be supportive.
Even if it meant clashing, I could've told him how I felt.
As a teacher, I take responsibility for what I say.
RAKUGO CAFÉ 5F
That's what I've decided.
It seemed a little sketchy, being in a multi-tenant building.
But it looks more proper than I thought.
And there's quite a crowd here.
Oh, my! Are you Akane's friend?
Uh, yes.
So Mr. Ozaki's here, too.
Ma'am, we're ready now.
Okay!
- You have yourself a good time! - Thank you.
Does Ms. Osaki know the manager of this café?
Both Ms. Osaki and Mr. Ozaki were insistent about this event.
What is it that they want to show me?
AKANE
Ms. Osaki?
My name is Akane.
Please join me for a story.
How can this be?
Her name's not on the flyer.
Isn't this a professional gig?
So this is an old story.
There was once a monk at a Buddhist temple who wasn't feeling well,
and he had the doctor make a house call.
As the doctor was leaving, "Osho, do you have any tenshiki?"
That's the question he asked the monk.
Now this monk had never heard of the word "tenshiki."
He should've asked right away, "What is this 'tenshiki' you speak of?"
But this monk was quite pretentious.
Tenshiki. Ah, tenshiki.
No, I have no tenshiki.
"Tenshiki."
The monk is too proud to admit that he did not know what tenshiki was.
He sends his apprentice, Chinnen, to find the meaning of "tenshiki" in his place.
My medicine should be ready by now.
Go over to the doctor's to pick it up.
Oh, and while you're there, be sure to ask the doctor.
"What exactly is 'tenshiki'?"
Now, no need to say anything like, "The monk told me to ask."
Ask him the question as if it came straight from your belly.
Got that? Now run along!
Yes, sir! I'll be on my way.
Hello? Doctor, are you here?
Yes, yes. Ah, it's you, Chinnen.
Right, the medicine is ready.
Have the monk take two measures of this mixed in with one measure hot water.
Right, thank you very much.
Oh! Excuse me, Doctor.
What is "tenshiki"?
Well, that question certainly came straight from your belly.
Well, "tenshiki," you see...
In other words, it means "flatulence."
Huh? You mean those things you use to spread putty around?
No, those are spatulas. That's not what I mean.
See, what I'm talking about is farts.
I haven't seen Akane's Rakugo in a while,
but she's worked on it like crazy since then!
"Tenshiki" is written with the characters "to lose your spirit and fall over."
Well, I guess he felt uncomfortable asking the monk if he'd been farting.
I was sure that a learned monk like him would...
What do you think? That's great footage, right?
- It sucks. - Huh?
- Just look at that! - Farting?
Farting, you mean like what comes out of your butt?
I don't think it comes out from your mouth much.
A-And it's all yellow?
Well, I wouldn't know about the color.
See? Chinnen's gaze is all over the place.
But it should still be okay, right?
It's not okay.
The audience will be relying on Chinnen's gaze
to picture the doctor's height, and the distance between them.
This is no good at all.
It all looks so different when you're being watched!
- One more time! Just one last time! - Sure thing.
If I were Akane, I probably would've ended up hating Rakugo.
That uproar over Akane's dad getting expelled made the news, as well.
And there was a whole barrage of criticism aimed at that old geezer.
Meanwhile, Issho Arakawa's Rakugo started getting tons of attention.
Ethics are no match for emotion.
That criticism morphed into approval and acclaim,
and some even lauded the expulsion uproar as legendary.
That even pissed me off.
Even still, Akane chose to become a Rakugoka.
She wasn't being myopic at all.
Hey, I know!
Why don't I give him some false information?
Yeah, I will!
Master! I'm back from the doctor's!
Ah, Chinnen. Thanks for your hard work.
Did you ask him the meaning of "tenshiki"?
Oh, yes, I asked him all right!
I found out that by "tenshiki," he meant a sake cup!
Sake cup? Sake cup.
Really?
Oh, I see.
If you write "mouth" under the character "heaven,"
it does become the character "to drink."
"Shi" must be "shu," or "sake."
"Ki" would be "vessel."
A vessel for drinking sake. Tenshiki!
Oh, now I see.
Now look here, Chinnen, I'm sure that I once taught you that word.
Every day, I stand in front of the classroom, so I understand.
How nervous you feel speaking in front of others.
How hard it is to convey something to others.
Doctor, thanks to your medicine, I feel much better now!
Ah, is that right? I'm very glad to hear that.
With only her voice and body, and only through speech...
I'm embarrassed to say this, but I happen to love tenshiki, you see.
Y-You love it? Tenshiki?
Making her audience laugh.
It's not an art that can be mastered overnight.
Today, I'd like to show you some of this temple's cherished tenshiki.
Uh, no! Th-That won't be necessary!
I had just assumed that this goal of becoming a Rakugoka
was only a fleeting whim.
That she, too, was a relentless dreamer.
My, my. What magnificent sake cups these are.
No, no, they're just some shabby tenshiki!
...making up your mind without even seeing her perform?
Isn't that what it means to be myopic?
You were absolutely right, weren't you?
Chinnen! Telling me such a lie.
Aren't you ashamed of yourself?
No.
It's just a fart in a windstorm to me.
I have a long way to go myself.
CAREER COUNSELING ROOM
I see.
CAREER PATH SURVEY RAKUGOKA
So you're being true to your word.
Yes! I'm ready to undergo as many hours of counseling as you want!
- Don't you have any misgivings? - Misgivings?
Merely lacking a college degree will narrow down
your options when you're searching for a job.
The path that you chose so you can realize your dream
might one day end up making you suffer.
Can you still tell me it doesn't matter, and that you have zero misgivings?
Yes! It's just a fart in a windstorm.
A foolish question on my part, I see.
I will accept your career path survey form.
- Don't forget to thank Mr. Ozaki later. - Huh?
Your Rakugo yesterday broadened my horizons.
Hey, I knew it!
You were there at the Rakugo Café yesterday!
This is a flyer for a student Rakugo competition.
It had been sent to our school, as well.
It never hurts to have achievements under your belt.
Would you like to take part in it?
KARAKU CUP
This year's head judge will be...
none other than Issho Arakawa.
NEXT EPISODE TERAKOYA
Akane Small Talk!
You have to think about the height of your gaze, too?
Rakugo sure is tough.
Oh, not really.
Once you learn the rules, it's actually easy!
The rules?
For example, in Rakugo, you look to the right or left when you talk, right?
That's called "Kamishimo wo Kiru."
Someone who comes up to you is on this side, and they speak facing this way.
The person inside the house,
in other words, the person meeting you at the door, speaks facing this way.
That's the rule.
Really? That's how it works?
If you look at a kabuki stage, it's clear.
From the audience's perspective,
the hanamichi is on the left side, which is the "shimote,"
and there are buildings on the right side, the "kamite."
The person who enters always comes from the shimote,
while the person meeting them is on the kamite side.
I get it.
So you can convey all kinds of things with your face or gaze.
Right!
Whether that person is inside the house, or outside,
or if they're taller or shorter than the other, and also...
Straight above?
When would you look that way?
When I lose track of my material!
Hey, you gotta memorize that stuff!