Huh?
Was it always this yellow here?
I remember it being greener...
Take a closer look.
A closer look?
That's rice, you know.
This is rice?!
Really?
YUP, THAT'S RIGHT
Yup, that's right!
Come to think of it, someone gave me some new rice that I'm soaking right now.
Let's cook it when we get home.
Hooray!
So that yellow stuff turns into this?
There's a lot that goes into it, but it's always made with care.
All right. Now we add some rice and water into the clay pot.
Without measuring?!
I rely on my intuition honed over the years.
Chyun!
Start with about 500 milliliters of water for two cups of rice,
although you can adjust this to your taste.
Of course, intuition honed over the years helps too!
Huh? But wait...
We're not using a rice cooker?
We're using a clay pot today.
This delicious rice needs to be cooked a different way than usual.
Could you move that to the stove?
Sure!
Careful now.
Next, place a wet cloth over it...
This helps seal it better.
Does it look that funny to you?
It's like a twisted headband!
Put it on medium heat.
Listen to the sound carefully.
The sound?
SIMMER
BUBBLE
It sounds different!
Okay, it's boiling.
Turn it down to low and simmer for fifteen minutes.
And now, we wait.
Let's have the rest of the plum juice.
Hooray!
SIMMER
BUBBLE
SIMMER
BUBBLE
After fifteen minutes, cut the heat and let it sit for another ten.
Okay!
By the way, Suzume,
do you know the song with tips for cooking rice?
Yes! I think I read it in a book somewhere.
It's like a spell, right? Um...
Elohim, Essaim... Elohim, Essaim... Elohim, Essaim... Elohim, Essaim...
Hold on, what are you trying to summon?
Huh?
Go back, chyun!
It goes like this. "First gently, then rapidly..."
"Don't lift the lid even if the baby cries."
Oh, so it does sound like a spell.
Well, that's how you cook rice in an iron pot,
so it doesn't really apply this time.
Grandma...
FIRST GENTLY, THEN RAPIDLY WHEN IT SIZZLES AND BOILS OVER, PULL BACK THE FIRE BURN A HANDFUL OF STRAW DON'T LIFT THE LID EVEN IF THE BABY CRIES
Chyun!
This song is said to have existed in the Edo period.
"First gently" means you start on low heat.
And "then rapidly" means you crank the heat after a while.
Once it's boiling vigorously, you cut it back again.
Then add a handful of straw to return it to high heat.
To finish off, let it sit for a while.
And make sure you don't take the lid off, no matter what!
Chyun!
All right, let's open it.
Wow! It's pure white!
Beautiful, isn't it?
All right, fluff it up!
Be gentle so you don't mash it.
Oh? It feels like there are some hard bits...
Ah, you noticed.
Let me show you.
Here you go.
What? I get to taste it?!
The first taste is a cook's privilege.
Let's give it a try!
Amid the fluffy sweetness of the rice, there's a fragrant, crispy crunch!
That's the scorched rice.
That was the hard part you felt earlier.
It's the ultimate reward for cooking rice in a clay pot.
Each grain is perfectly distinct, and the flavor and aroma are wonderful!
It came out great.
I'm back.
Hey, I smell freshly cooked rice.
But I'm curious...
What's the main dish?
Completely forgot.
But why?
This white rice is delicious all by itself!
Is summer...
really gone?
All right! Let's get started!
First, I'd like to thank you all for coming.
What's about to start, exactly?
Everyone! Have you noticed your walks have gotten more pleasant lately?
I guess we'll see what happens.
I-It has gotten cooler, hasn't it?
It's not hot anymore, so I can go outside without minding what time it is.
Totally!
You can hear the fall insects at night too, right?
It's fun to see the gradual change in products offered at the store too.
Huh? Not sure what to make of that face...
What are you trying to express?
It's autumn and it feels really nice...
But now I'm torn between my excitement for autumn
and my sadness over summer ending.
I feel like I'm stuck between them like a sandwich!
AUTUMN
SUMMER
That sounds tough.
I wanted to make something summery
to wrap up all these feelings...
Something delicious, no matter what you put in it!
That's right!
I'm going to make a farewell to summer curry!
Farewell to summer curry?
I was expecting something special, but this is just your typical curry.
The ingredients are special!
I already did the shopping!
Well...
Don't you think three's a bit of a crowd in this kitchen?
You're right...
Well, I'm going to help.
Since I don't trust you...
You can go ahead and relax over there!
Seriously?
Seriously...
NOTHING HERE
Nothing here.
Sorry to keep you waiting!
Here's the farewell to summer curry!
TOMATO, OKRA, CORN, EGGPLANT, ZUCCHINI, EDAMAME
Chyun!
Curry originated in India,
but Japanese curry is actually the British-style curry
that traveled from India to the UK,
then to Japan in the Meiji era!
Oh, I see!
It's all summer veggies!
So we're eating everything up before the season ends.
Thanks!
BA-DUMP BA-DUMP BA-DUMP
Ba-dump, ba-dump, ba-dump, ba-dump, ba-dump.
Now then, let's eat!
It's delicious!
What a relief!
Nothing beats curry made for you!
The colors of the veggies are beautiful!
I see you sauteed them and added them on top.
Oh, I know! I brought beer from home earlier.
Huh?
And some water...
Here's your water.
Wait, hold on!
Let's eat together!
You made it feel so natural that I was just going along!
I got into maid mode for some reason.
Same with me.
That was hardcore!
It's fun being able to taste different flavors in one dish.
The acidity from the tomato is delightful.
The subtle curry kick makes the veggies seem sweeter.
It's really nice.
I taste summer!
You're really savoring it.
Well, autumn's got lots to offer too.
Let's enjoy it.
Yes!
Goodbye, summer!
Oh? Is this beer a seasonal autumn release?
It is!
I've never seen that before!
This is supposed to be a farewell party for summer, but autumn snuck in.
Well, think of it like this. We're saying goodbye to summer and hello to autumn.
THAT WAS DELICIOUS!
Next on Grandma's errand list...
I just have to stop by the pharmacy and...
Stone-roasted sweet potatoes!
I can hear singing coming from this direction.
Roasted sweet potatoes!
STONE-ROASTED SWEET POTATOES
Stone-roasted sweet potatoes!
ROASTED SWEET POTATOES
They're fresh!
Sweet potatoes?
SWEET
POTATO
STONE-ROASTED SWEET POTATOES
I-I'm curious to try them!
They're hot and fresh!
But I have to get these errands done...
Grandma always says it's not like food will run away! That's right!
It's gone!
Oh no... It was just here a minute ago.
So there are times food runs away!
Then I have no choice.
ZIIING
It's time to use my maid ear!
Allow me to explain!
Maid ear is a skill
of seasoned maids who never fail to hear their master's orders.
It went that way!
Excuse me!
Hey there!
I'd like one...
I'd like one, please!
Y-You're out of breath! You okay?
Yes! I've just been searching around for you.
*THE SKILL LEVEL OF MAID EAR VARIES FROM MAID TO MAID
Chyun!
I noticed you watching when I was on the other side of the station.
Sorry you had to go looking for me.
These weren't selling well today, so I decided to relocate.
Here, I'll give you the biggest one I have!
Thank you very much!
Careful, it's hot.
Wow, it's so warm— H-Hot! That's h-hot!
It's a hefty one!
Will it be easy to break open?
What a sweet aroma!
Let's try it!
It's loaded with thick, syrupy sweetness!
I didn't know sweet potatoes could get this sweet!
Chyun!
Roasted sweet potatoes have long been loved as a snack
since the Edo period for being cheap, delicious, and filling!
HEARTH BAKING
Back then,
they were sold in shops using methods like hearth baking or jar roasting.
I'd like one!
The familiar style of mobile vendors got its start around the 1950s.
At first, they were sold from carts pulled by hand!
By the way, this is how stone-roasting works!
The far-infrared heat radiated from the hot stones
slowly cooks the sweet potato from the inside.
Because it's heated gradually while retaining its moisture,
its starches are converted into sugar,
yielding a sweet, melt-in-your-mouth potato!
Chyun!
Were you even listening to me?
GULP
Gulp.
I guess she was the only customer here.
I'll relocate again in a bit.
Excuse me...
Hey! I want three! I'll eat three of them!
I'd like one roasted sweet potato please.
I'd like three, please.
R-Really?
So can you give me and my mom some?
Th-Th-Thank you very much.
We'll take six! We'll take six of them!
Here you go.
Thank you.
Please enjoy.
But what happened all of a sudden?
Ah!
ROASTED SWEET POTATOES
Sir!
That was delicious.
Thank you very mu—
Say, miss!
Do you want a part-time job?
All you have to do is eat.
There's paper growing from trees...
This isn't how paper is made, is it?
They're grapes! How beautiful!
The paper's wrapped around them like an outfit. So cute!
Can I help you, dearie?
Is this your house?!
I-I-I-I'm so sorry!
I've never seen grape trees before...
Are you the one who grew them?
That's right. Raised them myself.
My husband planted them when we built this house.
They produce grapes every year.
Wow! How lovely.
I didn't know you could grow grapes at home.
This is fascinating!
You can take a few home, if you'd like.
These grapes will be happy to be eaten by someone who thinks they're beautiful.
So you heard that...
I'm back!
There.
This is more than just a few!
I'm tickled.
All right!
TIME TO EAT!
It's time to eat!
Chyun!
Bagging the grapes helps protect them from rain, wind, and disease.
Now, let's try some!
They're so sweet!
When they're this juicy, I feel like I'm getting properly hydrated too!
She put those little outfits on each and every bunch.
The grapes must've turned out so good because of her tender loving care.
That was delicious.
Actually, I'll have seconds!
My arm's too short...
WHERE'S THE CAT?
Where's the cat?
WHERE AM I?!
Where am I?!
I lost the cat...
And I'm lost...
MEAT DAY
MENCHI KATSU
MEAT DAY
Let's try it!
It's so crispy and juicy!
The richness of the fat is too good!
THE ORIGIN OF THE NAME "MENCHI KATSU"
Chyun!
It's said that the name "menchi katsu" originated from
a mishearing of "minced meat."
By the way, "menchi" means "to glare" in the Kansai dialect,
but it has nothing to do with menchi katsu!
Chyun!
MEAT DAY
It's fun to take a different route sometimes.
That was wonderful.
MEAT DAY
Um, excuse me... Which way to the station?
I'm finally home— Huh?!
Hey, where did you come from?
Humans love to pet me.
My arm's too short...
Strange girl.
If your arm were a little longer, you could've felt my fine winter coat.
What a pity.
Okay, fine.
Follow me.
I'll guide you through my amazing territory. Just for you, strange girl.
This is the path with lots of trees.
It's fun to jump into piles of fallen leaves.
Sometimes there are bugs in them.
This path is full of small humans in the morning and late afternoon.
It's funny when I keep just enough distance from them that they all go crazy.
This is the spot where you can see lots of human heads.
Is that white thing on your head your ears?
And over here...
This is the spot where humans often lose me.
WHERE'S THE CAT?
Where's the cat?
WHERE AM I?!
Where am I?
Man, I get a kick out of that.
Guess it's about time I go get her.
Hey, strange girl.
What?! She's eating something!
Where's mine?
You didn't get one for me?
That was wonderful.
Whatever. I'll head back to my sleeping spot.
Hey, you're back!
C'mere, you!
Came back to see me, didja?
Or not?
Stop! I want food!
Food, eh?
Okay, I'll forgive that strange girl for eating something without my permission.
I'm finally home— Huh?!
Hey, where did you come from?
Hey, strange girl.
Next time, I'll deign to eat whatever it is you're having.
The autumn leaves are absolutely breathtaking.
The season has so many offerings!
My appetite is through the roof!