The third episode of the NHK Asadora drama "Bakebake " (General TV, Monday to Saturday 8:00 AM and others), starring Akari Takaishi , was broadcast on October 1st, and viewers expressed concern over the disturbing final scene, in which Toki's ( Miharu Fukuchi) father, Tsukasanosuke(Takashi Okabe), starts a business selling rabbits.
In the third episode, Tsukasanosuke, who has been avoiding work due to his samurai pride, is introduced to Kanenari Hatsuemon (Tanaka Hosaki), an acquaintance from his time working at the castle, and starts a business selling rabbits.
Kanari explains that rabbits with unusual fur and color are all the rage, and that the business of breeding them and selling them at high prices is all the rage. His mother, Fumi (played by Chizuru Ikewaki), is skeptical, saying, "That sounds too suspicious," and "Such a good story, I can't believe it," but Kanari replies that once he started, he made a surprising amount of money.
His grandfather Kan'emon (Fumiyo Kohinata) is angry that Tsukasanosuke is starting a business, but Toki and Fumi support Tsukasanosuke, who is beginning to change.
Tsukasasuke sold the Tsukasanosuke and made 200 yen in a month. He said he needed money for Toki as well, and said, "I decided to borrow as much as I could from a moneylender while the market was good and put in the effort."Tsukasanosuke was enthusiastic and said, "I'm going to become the richest rabbit owner in Matsue!"
Thanks to the sale of the rabbit, the family dinner table becomes luxurious. Toki visits a festival with Tsukasanosuke and has a great time, but sees a woman being sold into prostitution to pay off a debt. Tsukasanosuke explains to Toki that Matsue is divided by the Ohashi River, with the castle side being a prestigious samurai town and the other side being a town of merchants and poor people. Toki witnesses a man who looks very similar to Kannari being forcibly taken to the other side of the river.
In the final scene, Tsukasanosuke leaves the house saying, "I'm just going out for a bit," and never returns that day. The third episode ends with a shot of Tsukasanosuke standing on what appears to be an island in the river.
On social media, people were expressing their concern, saying things like, "Has there ever been such an unsettling ending before?", "Kanari-san was caught... so does that mean his father is in trouble too...", "The ending is like having one foot on the other side of the river...", "Looks like from tomorrow they'll be living a life drowning in debt", "I was thinking this is no good... it's definitely no good... and sure enough, something really bad has happened", and "Ahh... it's scary. It's an ending that makes your heart churn."
