"Anpan" Episode 63: Nobu and Taka reunite for the first time in four years, 11-and-a-half minute two-person play receives positive response

The 63rd episode of the NHK Asadora drama "Anpan " (General TV, Monday to Saturday at 8:00 am and others), starring Mio Imada , was broadcast on June 25th. It depicted the reunion of Nobu (Imada) and Takashi ( Takumi Kitamura) for the first time in four years, which became a hot topic among viewers.

In the 63rd episode, Taku appears in front of Nobu, who is standing alone in the ruins of a burnt school after an air raid, and the two are reunited. Taku tells Nobu that he quit his job as a teacher after hearing from Kamaji (Kotaro Yoshida) that Jiro (Ayumu Nakajima) has died.

Nobu expresses her regret, "We... did irreparable things to those children. It was us that sent those children to war," and then bursts into tears, saying, "I'm still alive, shall we watch a movie?"

Taku, who had been listening quietly to Nobu's story, replies, "There is no life that deserves to die." As Nobu worries about what he should have done, Taku says, "I've been thinking about that too, but I don't know. I think I'll just have to keep asking myself that question from now on. Even in a new world... I'll just have to keep asking. There is no such thing as a just war. It's an illusion. So many people, enemies, allies, and comrades, died because of that illusion of justice. Chihiro (Motoki Nakazawa) too... The last words he said have always stuck in my head. 'If only there hadn't been this war, I would... want to live for the people I love.'"

Nobu sheds tears at Taka's words. Taka encourages Nobu, saying, "That's why... you shouldn't believe in justice. That kind of thing can be easily overturned. But if there is such a thing as justice that can't be reversed... it's justice that makes everyone happy. I want to find it. For Chihiro's sake, I believe that's the only thing I can do. No matter how many years, how many decades it takes, I want to make everyone happy. When I thought that... I felt a surge of hope in my life. I can't afford to despair. So I'm going to live. For Chihiro, for everyone, and for Nobu-chan, please live. For Jiro-san, and for the children you love."

The two-person play between Imada and Kitamura, which ran for about 11 and a half minutes before and after the opening credits, drew comments on social media such as, "A two-person play comparable to Takumi and Chihiro's final conversation," "An episode that left a deep, lingering impression," "Is this a Asadora? It's like watching a movie," "I was drawn into the acting," and "The varied acting by Takumi Kitamura and Mio Imada is amazing."