Shouwa Monogatari

It's New Year's Eve.

We're about to cross into a new year.

This is my house.

Our house is in a factory where my dad makes pipes and stuff.

This is my dad.

Despite appearances, he's the owner of the factory.

That's what I call good sake!

Try some, Gorou-san.

Thanks, Yuu-san.

Gorou-san, an employee, lives by himself in the neighboring apartment building.

Ryou, how's your work coming along?

I'm already done with the scene, so I'm just going to sit back and drink.

Ryou-san lives in the same apartment building as Gorou-san.

He works on TV mangas and has nothing to do with the factory,

but for some reason, he's here all the time.

Well, I guess he did work here for a little while.

Oh, here it is!

This is Yuuko-neechan, a first-year student in high school.

Thanks for waiting!

Hey, Yuuko-chan, you'll be 17 next year?

Shouldn't you being going out with a couple of boyfriends already?

Come on, I don't have any!

Dad, don't wobble the table!

Whoa, that was close.

Don't you think it's time to get another kotatsu?

Moron, you think these things grow on trees?

Then there's my grandma, who's a bit fussy,

and my mom, who seems to do most of the work around here.

Time for bed. Good night.

Good night. Don't catch a cold.

I also have an older brother, Taichi, who's in college.

But he's out with friends right now.

What's he thinking? He's in college, for God's sake.

Come on. It's New Year's.

It's only when you're young that you can fool around with friends on New Year's Eve.

I didn't send him to college for that!

Then there's me, Yamazaki Kouhei, a fifth grader.

This year, I'll stay awake until the new year...

Nah, scratch that.

A lot has happened this year.

Note: Rikidozan was a famous professional wrestler.

Sad events have occurred, like the Kennedy assassination and Rikidozan's death.

However, there have been some bright spots,

like the opening of Japan's first superhighway,

and the issuing of the new 1000 yen bill.

And now we bid adieu to the 38th year of Showa.

So the year's finally over, huh?

Kouhei, we're about to enter a new year.

Don't you want to be awake for it?

Let him sleep.

Here, Gorou-san.

And here you go, Yuu-san.

Hey, Gorou-san, let me have some of that!

I think you've had enough.

It's fine. You can have some, Ryou-san.

Don't worry, Kano-san. I'll take that.

Join us in the kotatsu.

It's all right. We're going to stop soon.

Kouhei, if you're going to sleep, sleep in your futon.

Hey. Kouhei.

Happy New Year.

This marks the start of Showa 39.

This year, the Olympics will be held in Tokyo...

Mom, is it the new year?

Yes, it is.

Happy New Year.

Note: Otoshidama is a traditional gift of money for the new year.

Where's my otoshidama?

You'll get it in the morning.

Will I actually get one?

You will. Now go to sleep.

TV manga

Showa Monogatari

Showa Year 39

New Year's Day

New Year's Day.

I wonder how many New Year's cards I got.

Gorou-san, Good— I mean...

Happy New Year.

Happy New Year. Is everyone awake?

Yeah. We're about to have our New Year's meal.

Will you be joining us as well?

Of course. I live here for free, and I have no place else to go, even today.

That's right. Before I forget—

What didja say?!

You little...

Yuu-san.

What are you doing, Yuu-san?

He's says he ain't gonna take over the little Mickey Mouse operation I got here, right?!

I didn't say that!

I just said I wanted to work for a major manufacturer once I've graduated.

Whaddaya mean, "major"?

Calm down, Yuu-san.

Then why did you send me to college?

I don't need a degree to take over this factory!

Shaddap!

Enough, you two.

You need to behave yourself, dear. It's New Year's Day, after all.

Honestly, where does he get that attitude from?

May the gods help us.

Taichi.

Is this how we start the new year?

Will you look at that? Why did you have to do that?

Note: Osechi are traditional New Year's foods.

Really, what a waste of good osechi.

It's only because the kotatsu is broken.

No, it's because of your temper.

Yuu-san, I envy a family that has its share of squabbles,

but New Year's Day is not the time for them.

My otoshidama.

This is an emergency.

I won't get my otoshidama at this rate.

I was going to buy some new shounen manga and a plastic model of the Yamato.

Are you going out?

Of course I am!

Do you really want to hang around here?

It might be a little early, but I did promise some friends we'd do the first shrine visit.

Bye!

Ow! Huh?

Mom, I'm leaving! I'll see you!

Ah... an otoshidama!

Here.

All right!

Don't spend it all in one place.

Are you going out?

Yeah.

All right!

What about the kotatsu?

Aw man, everything is closed.

Hi, Kouhei!

Oh, Tohiya.

Happy New Year.

Happy New Year.

Did you come to spend your otoshidama?

Mm-hmm. You too?

Yeah.

But you can see why New Year's Day is so boring.

I thought they'd be open this year.

Oh yeah, the stores by the station might be open.

Let's check 'em out.

Huh, the station?

What?

My mom told me kids aren't supposed to go there alone— ever.

Kids aren't supposed to go across the tracks alone.

That place is filled with kidnappers and gang members.

So you're chicken?

Yuuko! Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Let's have a good year.

Yuuko, you're here pretty early.

We thought we were early, but you beat us.

I had to leave the house really early.

Still, look at the crowd!

Oh, Sawatari-senpai!

You know him. He's the captain of the basketball team!

He's such a hunk!

Ah, it's Ken-chan!

"Ken-chan"?

Tajima Kenji, my neighbor.

He's a year older than me, but we've gone to school together since kindergarten.

So there's a Ken-chan? News to me.

You call your senpai "Ken-chan"? Sounds pretty serious to me.

It's because he's my childhood friend.

Hey, Secchan. Been a while. First shrine visit?

Yeah. You too, Ke— Tajima-san?

Yeah.

Tajima, you know her?

Oh, I know them. I've seen them around school.

You're all first years, right?

I know, let's visit the shrine together.

Yeah, let's go together.

O-Okay.

Although my dad and my brother started the year with a fight,

I hope no other bad things happen.

Also, I hope my grades improve and I get a larger allowance.

Also, I hope I don't grow any taller.

And also, if it can be done, I hope Sawatari-senpai and I...

Actually, never mind.

Anyway, I hope to have a good year.

Yes?

You've been praying for a while.

Did you have that many wishes?

Uh, no.

If you want that much from the Buddha, he'll probably ask for more offerings.

Now, wait...

Just kidding. Honest.

It's just like a packed train here.

Huh? Where are Hiroko, Setsuko, and the the others?

Actually, I lost them a while ago.

Anyway, let's get out of here.

Okay.

I made the wrong choice.

Is that takoyaki tasty?

I don't know. I don't eat this very often.

Really?

I used to like it in Osaka.

They have real good takoyaki there.

I could go for some now... if Osaka wasn't so far away.

Anyway, they'll finish the Shinkansen soon.

Really? In that case, we can get some real takoyaki easily.