Wakaba/Synopsis

Synopsis By Week

Week 2 (eps 7 thru 12)

In June, Wakaba receives a job offer from a construction company in Kobe which she wishes to work with. She tells this good news to her aunt Shigemi and grandfather Eizo in Kobe and they congratulate her. When Junichi Tani, one of Wakaba’s classmates, hears this news, he visits her at home a few days later and makes a marriage proposal to her suddenly. The next day, Wakaba goes to a study tour of the college seminar she attends. Wakaba realizes again that she wants to work as a gardener in Kobe when she participates in the tour of buildings surrounded by plants and trees. Junichi asks Wakaba to come to Udo Jingu Shrine, which is dedicated for a god of marriage, and asks her for a reply to his proposal. Wakaba tells him that she is determined to go to Kobe. In the late night, Wakaba and her family hears a roaring sound of a motorbike in front of Murakami family‘s house where Wakaba’s family live. Hearing the noise, Wakaba’s younger brother, Hikaru remembers Kobe’s earthquake and has a fit. Wakaba watches him being soothed by their mother Utako in her arms, and realizes he has not fully recovered from emotional injury he suffered from the great earthquake in Kobe. Wakaba is a captain of a cheerleading team but a younger member, Takako loses confidence and tells Wakaba that she is going to leave the team. The date for a local event which aims to boost the development of the area draws near. The team will be performing in the event as a stepping stone to participate in important competitions. On the day, Takako comes to join her team mates. The team’s performance receives warm applause from the audience.

Week 4 (eps 19 thru 24)

In the spring of 2001, though Wakaba is soon to be graduated from the university she still cannot find a job. To save money to go to Kobe, she works at a barn taking care of cows in the morning and at sweet pea fields which belong to Junichi’s parents in the afternoon. Kotaro, her uncle, is worried to see her exhausted both physically and mentally. Hikari, Wakaba's brother, who is also concerned about Wakaba, sends a letter to their grandfather Eizo in Kobe. Eizo asks Kazuyuki Igawa, a gardener who he knows, to employ Wakaba. Wakaba drinks heavily at a cheerleading team’s party to celebrate the graduation and stays in bed for two days. She says thoughtless words to Hikari. Some days later, Wakaba hears from Eizo that she will be employed at Igawa’s. Hearing also from him that Hikari has asked Eizo for the arrangement, she apologizes to Hikari in tears. On the day of her departure, Wakaba receives from Utako her mother, a bank savings book and finds that her mother has saved money for her. On the way to the airport, Wakaba sees Junichi on the roadside to see her off with a bouquet of sweet pea flowers.