Taiyo Wa Shizumanai

Episode One

The opening scene takes place at a school hall where students are practising kendo. A sensei can be seen coming out of the hall, looking quite agitated. He looked around the hall, as if looking for someone. Frustrated at not being to find the person that he was looking for, he threw the paper envelope he was holding onto the ground.

Elsewhere, a group of kendo students are cycling happily to a grocery store. Upon reaching the grocery store, each of them took a grocery basket and rushed into the store. Once inside, Masaki Nao (Takizawa Hideaki) and his friends started piling their grocery baskets with different varieties of snacks and fireworks. Meanwhile, a girl, Isetani Ami (Yuka) can be seem standing at a corner, looking at them.

Before long, Masaki Nao starts to narrate why they were at the grocery store, it seems that his friends and him were angry that day because the annual fireworks festival which was supposed to held, was cancelled. The fireworks festival was cancelled due to the poor performance of the kendo members. Rather than giving in to the decision of the Kendo club, Nao and his friends decided on having their own fireworks celebration.

A while later, Ami accidently bumps her grocery basket against some boxes of oranges, causing the oranges to tumble down onto the ground. Since Nao was nearby, he helped her in picking up the oranges. To Nao's surprise, Ami knew who he was and that she had been at the kendo's tournament the year be. But before, they could converse more, Nao was called over by Kashino Kooda (Makino Kooji), his best friend.

Looking very worried, Koota opened up a brown clutch bag and showed Nao what he had found. There were 30 thousand yen in it. It seems that Nao and his friends had taken the fund for the fireworks festival without consulting their sensei. Nao tried to calm Koota down by placing his arms around his shoulder and telling him that there was nothing for them to be worried about. Besides, they deserved the fireworks festival since that they had worked so hard for the kendo club. However, Koota was still in doubt about their doings.

While on the way back to the camp with his friends, Nao starts contemplating about what they had done. He felt that they are not in the wrong, even though they had got the the money through underhanded method. Nao felt that they deserved some freedom and a chance to relax and have fun, without feeling any restraint from others. Since they had worked so hard for their kendo club, taking that 30 thousand yen without the knowledge of their sensei, was not a big deal anyway.

Upon reaching the main entrance of the camp, Nao and his friend found a police car stationed at the main entrance. It seems that their sensei had called the police regarding the loss of the 30 thousand yen, even though he knew that it was them who took it. As a punishment, Nao and his friend were make to kneel down on their knees in the main hall. Subsequently, their sensei came in and started lecturing them about their preposterous behaviour. For his part in the alleged theft, Nao was given a week suspension.

The next day, Nao's mother, Masaki Teruko (Takeshita Keiko) arrived at the kendo's club, having travelled 4 hours from Tokyo. Upon meeting Nao's sensei, she apologised to him on what had happened, blaming herself for not disciplining Nao. She had even bought along some hometown snacks for the sensei and other members of the Kendo club. While this was going, Nao looked scornfully at his mother who was bowing at his sensei. Stalking off, Nao sat on the pavement and started listening to some music.

Shortly after, Teruko came out and told Nao that every thing will be fine since she had apologied to his sensei on his behalf. Ignoring her, Nao picks up his stuff and told her that she was a very foolish person, for apologising to his sensei. Having said that, Nao walked off leaving Teruko by herself. Astonished by what Nao had said, Teruko chased after him and in the process, slipped when the heels of her sandals came off.

While at the bus stop, Teruko in an effort to lighten up the tense situation with Nao. Started telling Nao that he will be having a cut in his allowances so that she can get herself a new pair of sandal. Annoyed, Nao replied that she shouldn't have wore the sandal in the first place, and that she wouldn't have apologised to his sensei if she knew what kind of person he was. When Teruko tried to defend her actions, Nao shut her up by telling her to stop being a nag. Tired of arguing with Nao, Teruko sat down on a nearby bench.

Just then, Nao sees Ami running towards him. She thanked him for his help the day before and offered to give Teruko and him a ride to the train station, as a show of her appreciation. Though Nao was reluctant, he finally gave in when Teruko insisted that they will not be able to catch the train back to Tokyo if they continued waiting at the bus stop. At that moment in time, Nao thought that this is the last time that he wil be seeing Ami and her mother, Isetani Aikiko (Ito Ran).

Once at the train station, Nao walked off without saying anything and went straight to the train cabin, leaving Teruko a bit awkward. After thanking Ami and her mum for the ride, she went in search of Nao. Having found him, Teruko asked him what was wrong and if he wanted to eat an orange which she had bought. Ignoring her, Nao stood up and found another place to sit.

No matter how hard Nao tries, he cannot erase the images of Teruko apologising to his sensei..........her friendly attitude towards Ami and her mother............ wearing updated clothes and shoes...........putting on faded nail polish and cheap perfumes. It seems that whatever Teruko do, it will only made Nao detest her more. Just as Nao was glancing out the train, he saw the sun setting down. Not knowing that, the week after - on 13th April, Teruko passed away.

At the Masaki residence, on 13th April, 7.30 am.

Teruko asked Nao's elder sister, Yuko (Sato Hitomi)) to wake Nao up because he has to attend school that day. As Yuko was in a hurry for a job interview, she left the house without waking Nao up. It seems that Nao was still angry with Teruko and has not spoken to Teruko since. Since Nao's father, Masaki Shiro (Pito Isao)was already up. Teruko asked him to wake Nao up, but he gave the excuse that he was having a stomach-ache from the curry that he had eaten the night before, before walking off in search for some medicines. Indignant, Teruko questioned him if it was the curry that she had cooked the night before, the cause for his stomach-ache.

Just then, a smashing sound could be heard. Wondering who had broken something, Teruko turned around and found Yuna (Inoue Yuna)) standing in the kitchen. Yuna had accidentally broken one of Teruko's porcelain bowl, when she was helping Teruko out with the household chores.Afraid that Yuna might cut herself, Teruko told her to stand aside while she cleared away the broken pieces.

By this time, Nao had already woken up and was ready for school. But before he could step out of the house, Teruko told him that she had bought his favourite red bean cakes and that he could have them when he gets back from school. She also informed him that she will be there for the PTA meeting which was held that afternoon. Nao ignored Teruko throughout the entire one-sided conversation. Not wanting to give up, Teruko kept on shouting Nao's name while he was about to ride off on his bicycle. Tired of her nagging, Nao told her to stop bothering him and that she was being very irritating. Still, Teruko put on a warm smile and gave Nao a big goodbye wave.

Back at the Masaki residence, Teruko gave Shiro some medicine for his stomach-ache and told to take good care of the okonomiyaki store when she goes to the beauty palour in the afternoon. She also reminded him to buy the porks and cabbages for the okonomiyaki. Shiro grumbles a bit before walking off when Teruko asked him to repair the faulty lantern outside the store. After which, Teruko took the family dog out for a walk.

Nao and his friends can be seem coming out their class as their lessons had ended. Nao's classmate, Yosida Mari (Komine Rena) approached Nao and dragged him away to a corner. Ami had asked Mari to pass a message to Nao, saying that she will be waiting for him at the school main gate after lessons had ended. Mari told Nao to go meet Ami since that there was no kendo practice for that day. When enquired by Nao on who Isetani Ami was, Mari told Nao that she do not know who Ami was, and that she was only just doing a favour for a friend of hers who knows Ami.

After that, Nao and his friends were having their lunch at the rooftop, when they started discussing on what they want to do after their graduation. When asked, Nao replied that he hoped to leave Tokyo after graduation because he was very tired of his family and the way he is living right now. The discussion was interrupted halfway when Nao's friends spotted Ami standing at the school main gate. Curious, Nao's friends started debating among themselves on who Ami was waiting for and were surprised and in awe of Nao when he told them that she was waiting for him.

Nao went down and thanked Ami for the ride to the train station. Looking very happy to see Nao, Ami took a brochure out of her bag and showed it to Nao. It was a brochure to a photograph exhibition and she was wondering if Nao was interested in going with her to the photograph exhibition, since today was the last day. Though Nao was surprised by her invitation, he agreed to accompany her to the exhibition.

Back at the okonomiyaki store, Shiro was puzzled as to why Teruko was not back yet from bringing the family dog out for a walk since morning. But he had to put aside his worries when customers started arriving at his okonomiyaki store.

While on the bus, Ami told Nao that she was worried that Nao might get in trouble for skipping his lessons, in order to accompany her to the photograph exhibition. But Nao assured her that there was nothing to be afraid of since he has played truant for quite a number of times. From their conversation, Nao found out that this was the first time that Ami has ever skipped a lesson and that she was younger than him by a year, and was a second year high school student. (In the background, an ambulance can be heard driving pass them.)

At the photograph exhibition, Nao was astonished to find a photograph of him crying, on display. The photograph was taken the year before when Nao had lost the kendo tournament. Nao was bewildered as to who had taken that photograph without his knowledge. It was then that a woman answered him. It turned out that the woman Kirino Setsu (Matsuyuki Yasuko), had taken that photograph when she was at the kendo tournament. Without saying a word, Nao walked off and went into the elevator, followed by Ami. It happens that Setsu also entered the elevator, and started asking Nao if he was being angry with her for taking a photograph of him looking despondent after hehad lost. She also commented that Ami was a cute looking girl and wondered if she was Nao's girlfriend.

By this time, Nao has become quite annoyed with Setsu and told her that she did not have any right in taking his photograph. To Nao's surprise, it turned out that Setsu know him and that his family runs a ZZZ okonomiyaki store, and that she has seen his family and him for quite a number of times. It seems that she works at the office above the pachinko palour near Nao's house. Setsu askd Nao to look her up whenever he is free, and that she will treat him to a meal as a sign of her apology.

While strolling on the street, Ami told Nao that her friends who had accompanied her to the Kendo tournament the year before, all thought that it was a very brillant tournament, fought by him kendo club. That was why she had remembered his name and how he looked like. Inspite of his defeat, she felt that he was a winner, and that was why she started to like him. Dumbstruck for a moment, Nao did not know what to say while Ami continued talking. She told that she knew that his family runs a okonomiyaki store and that it is one of her favorite food. Touched, Nao replied that all of friends thought that the tournament was great too but she was the only one who feels that he is the winner, and he thanked her.

At one of Nao's friend's room, Nao and his friends were gathered together and they are pestering Nao for details on his date with Ami. They did not believe Nao when he told them that he just sent her off at the train station after the photograph exhibition. Wanting a chance to meet her, they asked Nao if he had fixed a second date with her and were disappointed when Nao replied that he had forgotten about it. They also chided Nao for being an ungrateful and selfish fellow. It seems that Nao was pulling their legs, and told them that he has already arranged for a date to introduce Ami to them. Upon hearing that, Nao's friends cheered boisterously, Nao then suggested that they go out for ramen for celebration.

By this time, everyone at the Masaki's residence were getting worried as they have not heard of any news from Teruko for the entire day. Shiro tried making a few phone calls but to no avail. No one had seen or heard from Teruko. When Nao returned home, a worried Yuko told what had happened but Nao appeared unconcerned and told his sis that Teruko will be back soon. Just as Nao was about to go to his room, Shiro asked Nao if Teruko had spoken to him on where she was going this morning, but Nao said no and went went straight to his room.

Elsewhere, in an operation room. Teruko can be seen laying down, wearing a surgical cap over her head and a breathing tube attached to her mouth. So, that was the reason why on one has seen or heard from her the entire day. She has met with an accidnt.

The next morning, Nao was woken up by Yuko who told him that they will be going to Shoei Sogo hospital. Through Yuko, Nao learnt that a tv announcement was made that morning, informing the public that an unidentified woman in her 40s was found and sent to the hospital. Though Yuko was positive that the unidentified woman wasn't Teruko. Shiro still insisted on making a trip to the hospital. Having arrived at the hospital, Shiro had made a call back home and asking them to come to the hospital immediately. Right at that moment, Nao felt that somethinng must be amissed.

Upon reaching the hospital, the three of them started to look anxiously for Shiro. A nurse, Takahashi Hitomi, (Kitayama Shizuko) approached them and told them to follow her once she learnt that they were the family memBers of Masaki Shiro. When they entered the room, they were introduced to Minami Estushi, the sensei who had performed the operation on Teruko. Upon seeing them, Estushi informed them that he had did his best, but before he could carried on with what he was saying. Hitomi interrupted him and asked them not to blame Shiro. It was at that moment that Nao,Yuko and Yuna, learnt that Teruko had passed away and that Shiro blamed himself for causing her death. Isetani Keizo, the chief surgeon then explained that Teruko had died from heart failure which was commonly resulted from stress and overwork. Nao, Yuko and Yuna, were so shocked that to hear about Teruko's death that they were rendered speechless.

While they were being shown to where Teruko body was being held. Nao starts to reminise about the past. The year that he was born in, was a very bad one. Shiro had met with an accident and had lost his job. Thus, in order to survive, both Shiro and Teruko had set up the okonomiyaki store. Since then, Teruko worked from day to night, helping out in the store. Serving their customers with a smile on her face, while carrying the infant Nao on her back. Regardless of how tired she was, Teruko made no compliants. It seems that she has been working all life in the okonomiyaki store for the entire family, without having any time for a rest.

Shiro was already at the obituary room when they arrived. Too devastated to say anything, Shiro just sat on the chair looking grief-stricken. Nao walked slowly toward Teruko's body and started drawing down the white sheet, coming to terms with the harsh fact of Teruko's death. While Yuko became hysteric and started crying.

When Teruko's funeral ceremony was held the following evening, it was raining heavily. Holding an umbrella while going to work, Setsu accidentlly overheard some housewives commenting that Teruko had fallen down when she was bringing the family dog out for a walk. It appears that they felt Teruko had worked too hard at the okonomiyaki store while Shiro did nothing to assist her. Setsu felt sad upon hearing about Teruko's death and walked away silently.

As for Nao, he felt as though as if he was in the midst of a dream or a movie. Desperately, he wished that he was playing a computer game, because all he had to do was to press a reset button, and everything would be back to normal. It seems that Nao still cannot accept the fact that Teruko is dead and will not be by his side anymore.

The next day, at the crematorium. Mari told Nao that she and her mother had to leave early because her mother cannot bear to see Teruko being cremated, knowing that it would bring back sad memories. But before she left, she told Nao that Teruko will always be like the sun shining brightly. After they had left, Yuna asked Nao why Teruko had to die and was she the reason that Teruko had died. Was it because she had broken Teruko's favourite porcelain bowl. With tears in her eyes, Yuna told Nao that she had actually wanted to help Teruko in the household chores and that she did not mean to break the bowl intentionly, and that she should have treated Teruko more nicely and helped her more often with the household chores. At a loss for words, Nao pulled Luna close to him and hugged her tight.

For some strange reason, Nao felt very depressed knowing that Teruko had died from stress and overwork. At that moment in time, Nao and his famy truly believed the medical vedict that Estushi sensei had given over Teruko's death. Until.................something quite unexpected was found in Teruko's ashes. When Nao was putting Teruko's ashes into a urn, he was shocked to find a burned scapel among her remains. Likewise, each of his family members were shocked but before Nao could say anything. Shiro snatched the scapel away from Nao and told him not to disclose this to anyone. Nao looked questionably at Shiro who had already walked off.

Back at the Masaki's residence, Nao was pestering Yuko for the name of the doctor who had performed the surgery on Teruko, he was anxious to hear the explanation from Estushi on why a scapel was found among Teruko's ashes. Looking on, Yuko and Shiro saw Nao make the call to the hospital. When asked to speak to Estushi, Nao was informed by a nurse that Estushi had gone home and if there was anything she assist him in.

When Nao told her that a scapel was found among Teruko's remains, she went speechless for a while and then told Nao that he must have made a mistake, and that someone at the crematorium might have misplaced the scapel with Teruko's ashes. Nao was fuming with anger when he heard this and asked her what did she meant by that. But all she said was that the hospital will look into the matter and since that Estushi was not around, she would have to call him back later. With that, she hung up the phone. Sensing that something was terribly wrong, Nao got up and went straight to the police station. Yuko tried stopping him but to no avail.

While at the Isetani residence, Ami asked Aikiko if she remembered Nao, and Aikiko replied that she did. Just then, a cellphone starts to ring. Ami picked up the cellphone and passed it to her dad who turned out to be Isetani Keizo. The caller was Hitomi, who informed Keizo that Nao had called up the hospital inquiring about the operation that Estushi had performed on Teruko. Knowing the seriousness of the matter, Keizo told her that he will be there immediately and left the house. Aikiko next asked Ami if she has met with Nao since that day, and found out that Ami and her friends will be having a gathering with Nao and his friends.

Meanwhile at the police station, Nao was having a hard time convincing the police constable that he has found a scapel among Teruko's remain. The police constable tried to calm Nao down, asking him to give a call to the hospital and to have a nice talk with the person in charge. Nao stalked off when he saw that it was pointless arguing with the police constable who did not not believe what he had said.

Back home, Nao starts grumbling to Yuko that it must be the fault of the hospital that caused Teruko's death because who would want to put a scapel among her remains. Yuko finally spoke up and asked Nao if he ever felt depressed over Teruko's death, and that she can still remembered that Nao was calm and unworried over Teruko when the rest of them were worried on why she wasn't back from the walk with the family dog. Asking Nao, she wondered if he understood how Shiro felt when he asked Nao not to disclose the scapel incident to anyone. It seems that everyone at the funeral, indirectly insulate that it was Shiro who had caused Teruko to die from overwork. For that reason, what Shiro wants to do now is to give Teruko a peaceful departure, with no worries at all. So that was why Yuko will be leaving all matters concerning with Teruko to Shiro.

Next, Nao went to the kitchen and found the burned scapel and a glass of sake on the table. Having heard some noise outside the house, Nao went out and found Shiro trying to repair the faulty lantern, Shiro was very clumsy in his attempts to repair the lantern because he was already a bit drunk. Nao asked Shiro why was he repairing the lantern at this time of the night and learned that repairing the lantern was the last thing that Teruko had instructed him. Finally, Shiro broke down and the tears that he had been holding started pouring out. Nao tried pleading with Shiro to stop repairing the lantern and in a struggle, both of them stumbled onto the ground.

Holding the Shiro by the shoulder, Nao told him that it wasn't his fault that Teruko died, and that didn't he found it strange that a scapel was found among her ashes? Nao explained that it could be the fault of the hospital that caused Teruko's death. Shiro just sat on the ground looking dazed while Nao continued. Nao believes that a mishap must had happened during the operation and implored Shiro to investigate the matter with him because he is very positive that Teruko did not die from overwork. Still assuming that it was entirely his fault, Shiro pushed Nao away before staggering back into the house. Refusing to give up, Nao shouted that he will look into Teruko's death, no matter what it takes.

Shortly after, Setsu came by and passed a bouquet of yellow flowers to Nao and asked if he could placed it at Teruko's altar on her behalf. Setsu knew Teruko and had often seen her bringing the family dog out for its walk. Even though they were not acquainted with each other, Teruko always greeted Setsu with a warm smile every time she sees her. That was why Setsu had such a deep impression of Teruko. Grabbing the bouquet of flowers from her, Nao admonished her for being an annoying person, and that it delights her to see people in their most desolate moments.

Setsu defended herself by telling Nao that she did not took his photograph for fun. She took it because she was deeply attracted by Nao's expression when he lost the tournament. Setsu asked Nao what he hoped to gain from finding out the truth regarding Teruko's death. Unlike a kendo match, no one will praise him for performing well in the game. Instead, winning will be very painful because, even if he finds out the truth, Teruko will not be coming back.

Perplexed, Nao asked Setsu why she was saying all these things to him. But all Setsu said was that she had mentioned earlier that she was working above the office at the pachinko palour. Shortly after, Nao went to the pachinko palour and found to his surprise that it was a lawyer office above the pachinko palour, meaning that Setsu was a laywer. Immersed in his thoughts, Nao stood there for a while before walking back home.

Back home, Nao starts rationalising what Setsu had said to him, and just as he was picking up the bouquet of flowers that Setsu had left, the telephone rang. It was Ami, who had called up wanting to know when his friends and him could meet up with her friends, and if they could meet up at his family okonomiyaki store where Teruko can prepare okonomiyaki for them. Pausing for a while, Nao informed her that Teruko had died and that she will not be here anymore. Ami was shocked to learn that Teruko had died and asked how it did happened.

But Nao hung up the telephone without saying a word, and started crying with his mouth covered with one hand. While the other hand held the broken sandals and the red apron which Teruko always wore, tightly to his chest. All these while, Nao has been acting as if he was very strong but in reality, he was very sad over Teruko's death, and remorseful for not treating her nicely in the past.