The sixth episode of the Tuesday drama "Toki Sude ni Osushi!?" (TBS, Tuesdays at 10 PM), starring actress Hiromi Nagasaku, aired on May 12th. A scene in which Motoki Nakazawa Machiyama, played by Motoki Nakazawa, confronts his mother Minato (Nagasaku) with his emotions left a strong impression.
◇The following contains spoilers.
Nagisa, who was training to become a Shinkansen driver, suffered a stress-induced stomach cramp and was rushed to the hospital. She had to recuperate at her parents' home for a while. Minato tried to take good care of her, making porridge, pudding, jelly, and drinks. However, Nagisa was cold and said, "Leave me alone. Please."
The next morning, when Minato woke up, Nagisa was about to leave the house. Worried about being "left behind" by his classmates, Nagisa was trying to go back to the dormitory. When Minato tried to stop him, saying, "Isn't it more important to get better first?", Nagisa retorted angrily, "Is it 'just that'? Would you say the same thing if I was left behind and couldn't become a train driver?"
Minato was shaken by Nagisa's unusual behavior. "I'll always be on your side," she said, and "Protecting you is my only duty as your mother," she said, touching Nagisa's back with her right hand to try and cheer her up. But Nagisa stood up, pushed Minato's hand away, and exploded with emotion, "I've always hated that hand. It felt like you were putting a curse on me, telling me to keep going, keep going."
On social media, comments included: "Parents tend to curse their children without even realizing it. It made me think about a lot of things," "As a mother myself, I was moved to tears," "It was painful to see Minato describe the morning ritual of patting his child on the back as a 'curse,' but I also understand how Nagisa felt, having worked so hard carrying such expectations," "Both Motoki Nakazawa and Nagasaku Hiromi were fantastic in the scene where Nagisa explodes at the front door," and "This episode really hit home."
The drama tells the story of Minato Machiyama (played by Nagasaku), who, having finished raising her children, is bewildered by the "time to herself" that she finally has again at the age of 50, but begins her second life and jumps into a "sushi academy" where she can become a sushi chef in three months.
