It's Not That I Can't Get Married, I Just Don't Do It

Women.

Women who can't find love.

Women who can't find a marriage partner.

All you women who lament about it.

Well, many people say this about me, and I kind of agree, too.

They comment that I'm beautiful, unattainable, and the like.

I wonder.

I'm not sure about it, myself.

From now on, let me teach you the way to get married to your ideal man.

And men...

You, men, who bow to these self-assertive women who say what they like.

This is the time to raise your voices.

Hey, women. You're all mistaken.

But I'm investing in myself.

Not only in terms of money, but realistically, too.

All my life has been about work and making a living,

so I've never thought about having someone to provide for me.

If you really want your happily-ever-after one day,

don't ignore the needs of men.

Learn about the feelings of men, and understand them.

Oh, I've gone a little off-topic. What was it again?

Oh, right. Marriage. Like I said, I'm not really anxious.

When the time comes, it'll happen. If the feeling is mutual.

As for children, I'd hope to let nature take its course.

But I guess it's impossible for me to quit my job to look after my children.

Huh? My age?

I'm 39. Is that a problem?

Hey you, the woman over there.

Your perspective is fundamentally, and thoroughly,

wrong.

The reason why I came here?

It's kind of a long story, but...

I went to a class reunion a month ago.

- Hey. - Long time no see! Sorry that I'm late.

Good afternoon. Let's see what our classmates have been up to lately.

Firstly, from Class 3-A!

Next, we shall give an update of Ms. Miyabi Tachibana!

This is embarrassing.

Since high school, Ms. Miyabi has been regarded as a beauty with great talent.

To the boys in school, she is someone unattainable!

After graduating from medical school, she worked as a clinician in dermatology.

With her experience in cosmetic surgery, she started her own company four years ago.

Currently, she has opened a dermatology clinic in Aoyama.

I believe many of you will be under her care from now on!

- Thank you. - Let us wish her success in her business!

And next.

We have Mr. Yosuke Sakurai.

Unfortunately, Sakurai is not here today.

Currently, he's the head of energy resource development at Mitsuse Corporation.

Right now, he's stationed in Indonesia.

Tachibana!

Thanks, Sakurai.

You're still as beautiful as always.

Nah.

To be honest, I had a crush on you back then.

Really?

I had a crush on her, too.

You're kidding!

Come on, come on. Know your place, you guys.

By the way, are you married?

No, not yet.

Huh?

But... you're currently in a relationship, I guess?

What kind of man are you dating, Tachibana?

No, I'm not dating anyone.

Huh?

Is that so?

But it's fine. After all,

the average age for marriage and childbirth is now higher.

If it was ten years ago, I'd immediately make you a candidate.

It'll be fine, right? Miyabi doesn't settle for just anybody.

It's fine, Tachibana. You still have the qualities.

- It'll be fine. - You're still the best in my eyes.

You can still make it.

- Erm... - It's fine, Tachibana.

She'll be fine, right?

Erm... well... you're all mistaken.

How should I put it?

To me, marriage is not everything to me.

I want to put more interest and concern in myself, and improve as a doctor.

I meet people that way too,

but honestly, I can handle myself,

so it's not that I can't marry,

I don't marry.

[A "Spartan love comedy" between a single woman nearing her 40s and a sharp-tongued man]

- Good evening. - Please have a seat.

- Good evening. - Hello.

This place is by invitation only. It doesn't accept customers who are not friends of regulars.

Hello, Mr. Tokura.

Good evening.

He's cute.

Are you a regular here, Ms. Keiko.

No, it's my second time.

But I like the boldness of such restaurants.

Please take a seat over here.

Huh? Here?

As you can see, we're a group of females. That table would be better.

I'm sorry, but it's reserved.

Look, Chief Editor Yamamoto recommended this place to me.

You know him, right?

I believe your restaurant was featured in his gourmet magazine.

Oh, thank you very much.

Can't help it, then.

Mr. Tokura, I've brought two friends here today.

She's a dermatologist, and she's a financial planner.

Hello.

Chef, please give us a table the next time round, okay?

Remember the three beauties, alright?

What are you talking about?

Japanese wine?

Today's recommendation is "Koshi no Kaze" from Niigata.

Sorry, but I'd like shōchū*, please. I'm avoiding sugary drinks.

If it's shōchū, you can take a look here.

She's a goddess of beauty, indeed.

And no white rice for me, please.

- Cheers to our reunion! - Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

It's delicious!

I was like this all the time.

If you don't smile, they'll think that a successful woman like you is putting on airs.

Before dipping the soba into the sauce, please enjoy its scent first.

So, did anyone try to hook up with you?

You saw Ikeda?

Let's see...

It's a pity about Ikeda.

By the way, what's with his tie? He looks like a hillbilly host.

What's he working as?

Real estate industry, former baseball player. Lives with his parents.

What? Even at 39? How sad!

F-First enjoy the scent...

He said, "Let's go have a drink. I've always wanted to ask you out".

What, is that his pick-up line?

He thinks he's on "I Shall Grant Your Wish".

I know that TV show!

It's delicous!

The food is wonderful, Chef.

I'm sorry to disturb you in the middle of your enjoyment,

but allow me to say this.

We import ingredients by air every day, and each one has a "voice" that we hope you can slowly "converse" with.

For soba, you first enjoy the scent, then its taste, and lastly, the sauce.

Don't overlook this process with your useless and barren talk. It's a huge waste!

Useless and barren?

Certainly, it may be enjoyable to you.

To laugh and tease at the guy you met, and make him the clown of your girls' talk.

Doing that can maintain your pride, and build a strong bond with your female comrades.

But at the same time, you're losing something important.

- That is, the possibility of getting that man. - Excuse me?

Who knows, that man is not the type who cheats on you.

He may be a really kind person,

who generously buys gifts for the one he loves.

In fact, he may be a friend of Yutaka Takenouchi's*.

He may be a relative of Yutaka Takenouchi's.

If you look closely, he may even miraculously look like Yutaka Takenouchi.

What's he talking about?

This is none of your business.

However, this woman downplays the "value" of that man.

"This woman"?!

You fail to see the good side of men, and repeatedly judge them from that high pedestal of yours.

That train of thought has become routine, and no one can make your heart flutter.

So you end up dashing across Loser Street at a speed of 300 kmph.

One day, you'll be old and lonely, and even if you jump into the Tamagawa Waterway, no one else is more pathetic than you.

Continue wandering alone at Love Marketplace.

Alone, like that wrinkled sushi on the conveyor belt.

- Look... - Who do you think you are?

You know nothing about us.

You're the perfect example of a woman who can't marry.

Look, it's not that I can't marry. I don't!

No, you can't marry.

- I don't! - You can't!

Let me say this again.

I'm not bothered enough to be anxious to go marriage-hunting.

I see. From what I see,

- you are certainly beautiful. - My, is that so?

I believe you're serious in your job, and have worked hard to come this far.

Yes, that's true.

But right now, in the eyes of society,

"beauty", "career", "forties"... You're a loser in love with this triple handicap.

- Loser in love?! - Aren't these first-class qualities?

Wrong. These are all demerit points in love.

If you continue to turn your nose up and look down on men,

I'll stick a macaron up your nose and make you suffer.

But listen.

I will never fall for you.

- What did you say? - No matter how pretty or independent you are,

and even if you're interested in me,

I will never fall in love with you.

Who's falling in love with who?

It's the same with other men! No man would fall in love

with a woman like you who belittles and judges other men.

In other words, you're a loser.

Thank you for the food!

Thanks to you, I'm fired up.

Marriage? I can do it if I want to.

I'll make men fall for me. For sure.

But before that, those values you hold,

why do you think all women want to get married?

Do you feel secure if you think that way?

Instead of listening to the "voice" of soba, why don't you first look inside yourself

and correct your stereotype of women and your superiority complex?