The 44th episode of the NHK Asadora drama "Anpan " starring Mio Imada was broadcast on May 29th. It depicted a conflict between members of the Asada family over an order for dried bread delivered to Asada Pan, drawing much attention from viewers.
In episode 44, Asada Bakery receives an order for hardtack to be delivered to the military. Kamaji ( Kotaro Yoshida) and the others are excited about this honorable task. Nobu (Imada) immediately asks "Yam-on-chan" Kusakichi (Sadao Abe) to bake the hardtack, but he refuses. While Kamaji and the others are puzzled by Kusakichi's stubborn refusal, Ranko (Yuumi Kawai) agrees with Kusakichi, saying, "I think we understand. Making hardtack for the soldiers means they will eat it and fight more, right?"
Hatako (Noriko Eguchi) refuses the request, as she cannot force Kusakichi. However, by refusing the military's order, the Asada family comes under fire. Nobu is scolded by the school principal, Furuyama (Nakao Ryusei), who says, "It's unthinkable to turn down a request from the military!" Hatako is also criticized by Tamie (Ikezu Sachiko), a member of the National Defense Women's Association, who says, "I want to be of help to the fighting families, I want to fight alongside them. I don't understand those feelings at all!"
Nobu tried to ask Kusakichi again, but Ranko stopped him, saying, "Yam-onchan doesn't want to do it, so what do you do?" and "We don't want to be involved in war anymore." Meiko (Nanoka Hara) said with tears in her eyes, "I don't want to go on like this anymore. If we carry on like this, my family will fall apart." Kusakichi was watching them from a little distance away.
On social media, people were saying things like, "This is such a tough development," "The Women's Association is so scary," "The pressure to cooperate with the war...," "There's a turbulent rift in the family... I have a bad feeling about this," "I wonder if they can't make hardtack without Yamu?" and "Asada Pan is put in a difficult position," as well as many expressing concern for Kusakichi, saying things like, "It looks like Yamu is going to disappear...," "Uncle Yamu, please don't leave," and "Thinking about Yamu has had me bawling my eyes out this morning."
