As a maid, one must rise with the sound of birds...
and clean, even the places no one can see.
Even if it's just a small apartment tucked away in a corner of Japan.
All right!
Did I lock up?
I did!
CHYUN GUIDE ALL OF JAPAN
Let's see... It should be around here.
There it is!
TAIYAKI
According to the guidebook, sea bream is eaten on special occasions.
Hello!
A maid?
I'd like one taiyaki, please.
It'll take a little while...
I'll wait!
I wonder how Master is doing...
YESTERDAY
I haven't been to Japan since I was little, so I don't remember a thing.
I'm a bit nervous.
Hello, this is Suzume.
Yes, I've arrived safely.
How are things over there?
Master? Is something wrong?
Suzume, I need you to stay calm and listen.
The mansion has collapsed, so I want you to stay in Japan for a while.
It's collapsed?
Yes. The plan was to build a rooftop pool...
Anyway, we're lucky no one was injured.
They said it'll take a year to rebuild, but don't worry.
Suzume, are you there?
EEK!
Just thinking about it gives me the chills!
This was supposed to be a short vacation.
I never expected it to turn out like this.
I've got no choice but to make my own way here for about a year
while the mansion is being rebuilt.
Am I going to be okay?
Miss! Your taiyaki is ready!
Coming!
It really is shaped like a fish!
How cute!
It's adorable!
Now let's try it.
When you eat taiyaki...
is it okay to start with the head?
MENACING...
MENACING
I'm going to start with the tail.
Let's eat!
The thin, crispy crust with the red bean paste...
It's just the right level of sweetness!
Wow, a maid.
That reminds me... The guidebook said
that taiyaki comes in different varieties.
Oh well!
Chyun! There are two main types of taiyaki!
The first is "farmed" taiyaki.
These are made with a large mold that produces many at one time.
Because it's difficult to control the heat,
the result is usually a thick, chewy crust.
The other kind is "wild-caught" taiyaki.
With these, each fish is cooked by hand individually.
The cook constantly flips the heavy mold to distribute the heat.
ABOUT 2 KG
It's difficult, time-consuming work...
But it allows for precise heat control, resulting in taiyaki
with a crispy crust and anko packed all the way to the tail!
I wonder which kind this is.
It's wild-caught!
The edges are especially crisp.
I feel like they taste different. They're delicious!
The beans in the paste just melt in your mouth...
It's so nice and warm!
All that's left is the head.
MENACING
TAIYAKI
That was delicious!
Oh? The guidebook had instructions on how to eat it.
Let's see... "How-You-Eat-Taiyaki Fortunes"?
"If you start with the tail..."
"You're a timid soul who can't quite take the first step."
CHYUN GUIDE
Master... I will try my very best!
Grandma!
Suzume!
It's been too long, Grandma!
It's great to see you here, Suzume. Have you been well?
Yes! How is Grandpa?
Disappointed he's missing seeing his darling granddaughter
today because he had some business to see to.
Anyway, look at all that stuff you're carrying!
These are all souvenirs for you, Grandma!
All of them?!
Rest assured, I shall carry them to your place for you!
That's all right, dear. I'll be taking a taxi home.
Since you've come all the way to Japan, I want you to accompany me today.
Of course! I would love to!
COIN LOCKERS
First, let's stow all that in a locker.
Okay...
I couldn't resist after smelling it!
Me too! It's just too good!
Care to try some?
Huh?
I'm pretty sure it's around here somewhere...
I've never had any before either, so I'm curious too.
Be honest.
I'd love to try it!
Very well.
TAKO EBESU
TAKOYAKI
This is amazing!
We can watch them being made!
Look, Grandma!
I'd like an order of six with sauce and no aonori.
And four toothpicks, please.
Grandma, is this really your first time?
Huh? What is that?
It's a takoyaki pick.
The balls formed like magic!
Here comes the best part.
Huh? What do you mean—
Oil?
The oil around the takoyaki is sizzling and popping...
I-It can't be!
That's right.
By first cooking them until fluffy and lightly frying them after,
they achieve a crisp exterior with a soft, luscious inside!
Grandma, you must be a regular here after all, right?!
Look at the dancing bonito flakes!
Let's eat!
Suzume, you go first.
Go on.
Okay.
So good!
Suzume, let me show you something.
PERFECTLY ROUND
Grandma, what is it that you're doing there?!
Chyun! By using two toothpicks,
you can maintain their perfectly round shape as you eat them!
Me too! I want to try that too!
Be careful, now. They're hot.
Okay.
TAKO EBESU
TAKOYAKI
Do you do it like this?
Yes, just like that.
THAT WAS DELICIOUS!
That was delicious!
My tummy feels warm.
I'm glad to see you doing well.
Do you think you'll be all right living in Japan?
I think I'll be just fine!
Be honest.
Sure, I do have some worries.
I've lived in the UK for so long.
I'm also worried about the mansion...
It'll be okay.
You're my granddaughter, Suzume.
If you find a good place, make sure you tell me all about it.
Of course!
Master... There are things I'm concerned about, but for now,
I'd like to enjoy living here the best I can!
Let's see. This one... and this one too.
Okay! All set!
FULL
Suzume, if you find a good place, make sure you tell me all about it.
I'm going to surprise Grandma with this!
Let's see.
The seasonal hot spots are...
Master, it's the height of spring in Japan right now.
The cherry blossoms are in full bloom!
Chyun! There are many varieties,
but the one most commonly seen across Japan is called the Yoshino cherry.
These Yoshino cherries are propagated as clones,
so they share genes and growth times.
When they explode into bloom
varies based on temperature by region,
which is how we can predict when they'll blossom in each area. Chyun!
It must be so cool to see it from outer space.
ODANGO
FRESH FRUIT
WE HAVE ODANGO
THEY'RE DELICIOUS
Speaking of dango...
There's a Japanese saying related to cherry blossoms: "dango over flowers."
It means to choose the practical over the elegant.
Flowers... Dango...
Dango... Oh!
Aww! Dango, dango...
BIG SMILE
Pure white dango with brilliant golden sauce!
Let's eat!
This sticky-sweet sauce with chewy, satisfyingly springy mochi...
The lightly charred parts have a toasty aroma.
I can't stop eating!
I wonder how you're supposed to eat the ones in the middle of the skewer...
Method 1: just chomp!
DANGEROUS
That's dangerous!
Method 2: bite down, then pull!
WILD
How wild!
Does the Chyun Guide say?
Leave this to me, Chyun!
For formal occasions like tea ceremonies, proper etiquette says
to use a skewer or pick to remove the dango from the stick before eating.
But if it's not a formal setting...
First eat a third from one side,
then turn it over so you can get to the rest.
This way, you can eat it all neatly!
Dango over flowers, huh?
This may be selfish of me...
But I like having cherry blossoms and dango together!
By the way, if you take more than a third in the first bite...
They can fall apart, so be careful!
THAT WAS DELICIOUS.
convenience store
SALTED RED SALMON
CHICKEN AND MIXED RICE
I've run out of the food I brought from the UK,
so I tried to prepare breakfast at home.
Except I had no idea I wouldn't be able to use the stove right away!
But even on days like this...
They're open bright and early!
WET WIPES
SALTED RED SALMON
CHICKEN AND MIXED RICE
You can buy onigiri and wet wipes in one stop!
Japan is incredible!
First, let's try...
Chicken and mixed rice!
Oh, wait.
I need to clean my hands with the wipes first.
Now let's eat!
Chicken, burdock root, bamboo shoot, carrot, shiitake...
The texture is delightful!
The moist seaweed pairs really well and accents the flavors nicely.
Delicious!
Next up...
SALTED RED SALMON
SALMON
The salmon!
How do I open this?
Oh! It says on the bottom.
Hey, this is fun.
I did it!
MESSY...
Now then...
The seaweed is crispy! Completely different from earlier!
I see... Since it's wrapped right before eating it,
the seaweed doesn't get moist from the rice.
SALTED RED SALMON
Chyun!
This wrapper is called cut-tape packaging.
It was developed in 1986 and revolutionized the onigiri world!
The rice in this one is tightly packed, too!
The salmon is salted beautifully, so it goes great with the white rice!
I'll use the rest of the seaweed that was left in the wrapper somehow.
Right...
By the way, if you peel off the ingredient label first, it'll open more cleanly!
THAT WAS DELICIOUS!
That was delicious!
When breakfast is delicious, it feels like the whole day will be wonderful.
A
A cat!
CAT
I've been blessed with a wonderful encounter!
I... I want to pet it!
But Grandma once told me I can't feed cats just anything.
And I don't have any toys to play with...
Oh, I've heard that with animals,
it's best to get down on their eye level.
I don't think anyone will see me doing this at this hour.
If I go to bed now, I can get three hours' shut-eye.
Then I'll get back to work...
Here, kitty...
Come here, come here.
A CAT A MAID
ON THE GROUND EARLY MORNING
A cat? A maid? On the ground? First thing in the morning?
A cat...? And a maid...?
Excuse me... Pardon me...
I'm done for.
I didn't see her!
And she's my neighbor!
I missed my chance to introduce myself!
I'm more tired than I thought...
I better get to bed.
No matter how many times I check...
There's a maid at my front door.
Yes?
N-Nice to meet you!
My name is Suzume Tachibana.
I'm very sorry it took me this long to introduce myself.
I come from the UK, and I'll be living here for about a year.
It's a pleasure to finally meet you.
H-Hello.
Um... I'm sorry that you had to see me behaving so strangely the other day.
So it wasn't my imagination.
JIICHIRO
So, if you'd like...
Oh, baumkuchen.
Oh, is that what this is?
Just checking, but you got that for me, right?
Oh, actually...
I-I'm sorry.
JIICHIRO
I wasn't sure what to bring for this kind of thing.
So I had my grandma prepare something for me and I just brought it...
She closed the door?!
I-I-I-I'm so sorry!
JIICHIRO
You've never had this baumkuchen before, right?
Here, take one.
Th-Thank you very much!
Well, see you.
Oh, excuse me! May I ask your name?
It's Komatsu.
Oh yeah, I forgot to ask her about the maid outfit.
Well, I guess that's just what you get when you do what you love
and don't worry what others think.
Okay, time for some tea.
Yes?
It was delicious!
I couldn't wait and opened it right away.
Let's eat!
It was fluffy! Oh, so fluffy!
It was fluffy and moist at the same time!
It also had a subtle and refined sweetness!
The sugar on the outside was nice and crunchy
with a sweetness different from the cake,
and they were even better together!
Before I knew it, I'd eaten the whole thing!
MENACING
Oh no. I think I might have messed up...
Hold on a sec!
You ate it that fast and now you're giving me a review already?
Then what was that face for?
I was trying to keep cool, but you got me.
My stomach hurts from laughing.
That's the most I've used my facial muscles in a while.
U-Um... Well...
What a weird girl.
It's Nana.
Like the number seven in Japanese?
That's my name. Nana Komatsu.
I didn't give you my full name before.
And... thanks for the gift.
Suzume! I'm Suzume! Suzume Tachibana!
You told me earlier...
Baumkuchen is said to symbolize "layering happiness." Chyun!
Do you want another one?
Oh, no, that's okay! But if you insist...
I love taking walks in Japan. They're so fun.
I contemplate the cherry blossoms as they fall.
That ice cream! Where are they selling it?