The BEST episodes of Amachan
Every episode of Amachan ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Amachan!
Amachan is the 88th 2013 NHK asadora written by Kankuro Kudo (Tiger and Dragon, Unobore Deka). It's about Amano Aki (Nounen Rena), a 16 year old girl from Tokyo who goes to her mother's former home in Sodegahama, a fishing village in Kitasanriku, Iwate prefecture for the summer break. She falls in love with the sea and its people, and decides to stay on to become an Ama (women divers who fetch clams and sea urchins for tourists) just like her grandmother, Natsu (Miyamoto Nobuko). Her decision is welcomed wholeheartedly by Natsu and the other locals. However, her mother Haruko (Koizumi Kyoko) does not like the idea at first. She has a strained relationship with Natsu, and her extreme dislike of the sea, diving and the countryside is one of the reasons why she left her hometown 24 years ago. Eventually, she decides to stay in Sodegahama with Aki, considering that she is contemplating on getting a divorce anyway and does not want to go back to her husband in Tokyo. She also notices that it might be good for Aki for she seems livelier and happier in Kitasanriku than in Tokyo. The road towards becoming a full-fledged Ama-san is tough for Aki as she encounters tests and hurdles. One day, a video of her as an Ama gets uploaded in the city's tourism website, transforming an ordinary high school girl into an overnight Internet sensation. Suddenly she is called upon to use this opportunity to attract tourists to a city suffering from depopulation..
#1 - I'm going to Tokyo!
Season 1 - Episode 70 - Aired 6/20/2013
Daikichi drives Haruko home where Aki and Yui are waiting. The girls ask where Takuma is. Haruko says he's at the snack bar. She tells Yui that her father had gone home, too. "Where's your Obaa-chan?" Aki: "I dunno. Maybe at the Ama Cafe?" Haruko tells Aki that the two of them will have a talk upstairs. Haruko and Aki are in the 80s room, recalling the time that Haruko told her about her dream on becoming an idol.
#3 - I Want To Be An Idol!
Season 1 - Episode 63 - Aired 6/12/2013
But Aki reminds the Ama-sans that Haruko is strongly against her being in the entertainment field. She mockingly mimics her mother's exact words, making the Ama-sans laugh. Just then, Haruko arrives asking them what was funny. "Oh! Surprise to see you here!" Haruko: "Just thought to have lunch here once in a while... What is it?" Amas: "No, nothing! Welcome, welcome!" Haruko goes inside the Cafe and sits at a table. Natsu asks Aki when will the festival be held. She replies, "Thursday, is it okay?" Natsu: "Sure. Leave it to me." Natsu goes in and asks Haruko if it's ok to borrow Aki on Thursday. Haruko: "Sure, go ahead." Natsu tells her granddaughter that it's a go. Aki: "Oh, no! I can't back out now!" At the Tourism Office, Aki gives them her proposal, "Ama-sonic." "It is for Yui-chan, just a one time thing. Not really a revival of 'Shiosai no Memory' but a quiet event for a limited time, only for the duration of the 'Ama-sonic'." Ikeda: "It HAS to be a grand event, it can't be helped! We'll prepare a special live coverage." Aki tells Hiroshi to invite Yui to the Ama Cafe. They ask if she has asked her mother about this.
#8 - My Battle Without Honor and Humanity
Season 1 - Episode 86 - Aired 7/9/2013
Aki: 'But if we do not persist here, then it'll be dismissal for us. GMT is without name recognition... So with a sense of crisis, we started our promotional activities.' The girls psyche themselves up as they start their own fanmeets. "Let's take the world!" "GMT!" "Let's get outta the Hole!" "GMT!" "Let's quit our part-time jobs! Let's quit getting allowances!... We are... GMT6!" During their events, they'd set up flags and announce the schedule of their fanmeets. They'd sing and dance to AmeJo's "On the Calendar is December" while people pass by, not really interested enough to stop and look. There'd be a few otaku photographers taking their pics. Aki has also asked Anbe to cooperate. She is asked to serve mamebu of course, as well as specialties from the other regions, and to promote it around the Tokyo Edo theater. The girls are happy with the dishes Anbe is serving, like Zunda-mochi of Miyagi; Tebichi (stewed pig's feet) and pig's ears Chiragaa of Okinawa and Saga's Grilled Mutsugoro (blue spotted mudskipper). The girls start offering the food to the guys waiting outside at the theater. "Those who are waiting outside, thanks for the hard work!"
#9 - My Heart Keeps on Pounding, Neh
Season 1 - Episode 48 - Aired 5/25/2013
One week to go before the thanksgiving fanmeet of KitaTetsu, Yui, and Aki, to take place inside the new parlor train. Meanwhile at the shop, Daikichi has decided to take on a more assertive approach towards Haruko now that her divorce has been finalized. "You know, the parlor train will have a trial run tonight." Haruko: "Is that so?" Daikichi: "Not anyone can go onboard yet but if you like..." Yoshida comes in to tell him the trial run has been cancelled because they could not remove the image of a mouse (on the train). And lately, Hiroshi and Shiori have been getting along well. They're at Bar Rias with Shiori showing off her "mahjong" manicure to him, annoying Sugawara who is sitting nearby. "Don't bring your office romance to the bar. You're making the liquor taste sour. Right, Misuzu-san?" While Misuzu is infatuated with Takuma who gives her an amber bracelet. Ben-san, knowing that Misuzu has a history of eloping with guys, is irritated by them, too.
#10 - My Heart Keeps on Pounding, Neh
Season 1 - Episode 47 - Aired 5/24/2013
Promotions for the opening of KitaTetsu's parlor train have started. Tickets worth 5,000 yen each are sold out in just a few hours. The official name of the girls' group was also decided as "Shiosai no Memory." The trainmasters and the Tourism Office are hopeful this could save the railway from closure, as Ikeda the director documents every step. Daikichi: "This is like... like... 'Spartan X.' " Ikeda: "You mean 'Project X.'" Daikichi: "Yeah, yeah! Like Project A (1)." Yoshida (to Ikeda): "Sorry, he belongs to the Jackie Chan generation." Hiroshi and Shiori arrive late and they apologize. The men explain towards the camera how the event will go. There'll be 2 round trips, each leaving Kitasanriku Station, stopping at Hatano for a 30 minute stop-over (toilet break and picture-taking) and return again to the main station. Meanwhile, Yoshida teases Hiroshi and Shiori, asking if they are dating since both came in suspiciously late at the same time. Hiroshi says "That's not important right now." Shiori: "Not important?" Yoshida: "Yep, not important, huh~!" At the shop, Aki and Yui continue to practice their singing. Yui is trying but her mind seems to be somewhere else while Aki has not improved at all. Haruko: "Aki, do something about showing the whites of your eyes. Those who see it might get scared!" Takuma is also there, watching the two practice. Afterwards Aki and Yui are outside the shop, waiting for the next train ride. Yui is exhausted and frustrated that her singing has not been going well. Aki is more cheerful, saying it's fun that they'll get to sing, eat on a moving train while watching the beautiful scenery. "And I wish Taneichi-senpai will come and see us. I wish I can I go (with him) but you know he'll surely come back because he says he likes it here." Yui, hearing Aki go on and on about Taneichi, loses her temper. "I'm not playing here! For you, this may be your way of making memories of high school life but this is a starting point for me! It's my
#11 - My Heart Keeps on Pounding, Neh
Season 1 - Episode 45 - Aired 5/22/2013
It is February 2009, and snow has begun to fall on Kitasanriku and will continue on til May. In school, Isono-sensei is announcing the results of those who passed the qualification exam. He calls on those who who failed ("The rest has passed!"). Aki is unaware since she is listening to the portable music player Santa-san had given her. "Huh? What about me?" "You passed, too." "Jejeh... I did it~!!" She runs off leaving Isono-sensei's class without permission.
#12 - My Mom Has a History
Season 1 - Episode 37 - Aired 5/13/2013
Everyone tries to ignore what Chuubei said by continuing on with the singing. But Haruko turns off the music and declares that the party's over. But Aki keeps asking everyone what Chuubei meant regarding her mom wanting to be an idol. Haruko tells her to quit it. "Can't you see no one wants to talk about it?!" She says people in the countryside like to pretend that everything is fine even if, so to speak, there is an elephant in the room. With the mood ruined, the party goers call it a night. (Feel so sorry for Aki T.T) In bed, Aki who couldn't sleep, is counting uni. She couldn't wrap her head around the notion that her mom who used to be a Sukeban, had also wanted to be an idol? But then, things her mom said before - her prejudice against the "idol life"... Could it be something had happened in the past? Next day in school, Aki realizes she had never heard her mom ever sing before, not even a lullaby. Yui says she had asked her father about it. "Dad said your mom had joined and won singing contests before." So after school they go to Yui's house to do some investigating. Adachi Isao shows Aki old pics of her mom winning singing contests from around the prefecture when she was young. And at the Co-op, they show Aki the karaoke machine they used when Haruko would sing on the eve of her father's departure. Katsue: "She was a sweet girl when she was singing... but sometimes she and Natsu would have their differences." By then, Aki is convinced that her mom definitely wanted to be an idol. But why did everyone kept it a secret from her? Aki wakes up late and rushes for school while her family eats breakfast. Haruko, irritated by the presence of her husband, keeps asking him to go home. Chuubei meanwhile mentions he will go and have his annual medical check-up. In school, Aki sees that Taneichi has bought a similar misanga for himself, prompting Isono-sensei to assume they are a couple, and proceeds to tell everyone about it ("Scoop! Scoop!"). Yui arrives telling
#13 - I Like Senpai!
Season 1 - Episode 26 - Aired 4/30/2013
Phone calls keep pouring in, inquiring about Aki. News has spread that Yui and Aki will be doing a collaboration. Yui is not pleased because they were not even consulted to begin with. But Aki says she's okay with it. Yui tries to dissuade her since she knows Aki is not used to such things that Yui is doing (dressing up in "cosplay," being bombarded by cameras). Daikichi says not to worry because they will be standing guard and even suggests that Yui could help Aki out by "dressing up as an Ama and sell unidonburi". Without realizing it, he mentions the word "rivals" and somehow Yui suddenly changes her mind and agrees to do it. (Apparently, it's a sign that she hates to lose). Next morning, Aki and Yui do what they're told to do. The ride is jam-packed with happy passengers, taking their pictures and buying unidonburi while Daikichi and Yoshida are just over the moon. Back at the Amano home, Natsu and the rest frantically churn out more unidonburi to sell but are running out of uni. Rokuro tells them that more kilos of uni will be arriving from another village. Haruko wakes up to the ruckus and is surprised to learn about the collaboration. That night everyone is celebrating the fact that for the month of September, the KitaTetsu has finally earned a profit. "I don't even remember if this ever happened before!" an emotional Daikichi exclaims. But Haruko is not rejoicing. She tells Daikichi she will not allow Aki to do what she did that morning. "It's unsightly, turning my daughter into a spectacle." But Natsu defends the decision, saying there is nothing wrong with it. "The Ama tourism IS a service industry. It's a long cherished dream to have more customers." Haruko asks Aki if she's really okay with it. "Is this what you stayed here for?" Aki replies, "If I'm helping everyone, then I'm fine with it." However, when going home, Aki looks pensive, seemingly doubtful of her own response. Back at the bar, Sugawara and Daikichi talk about how their perception about
#14 - I Caught a Sea Urchin
Season 1 - Episode 21 - Aired 4/24/2013
Due to Aki's video, more customers want to see and take pictures of Aki. They also request her to fetch them some uni. Aki tries but fails as usual. Back at the Co-op, they all wonder about Aki's sudden popularity considering she's just an ordinary high school girl. Hibiki suddenly shows up and explains that the town is having a "boom" phenomenon, wherein "even the ugly ones can have the spotlight." By "ugly", he means Aki of course, which upset the Ama-sans. At the Tourism office, Aki's video is garnering more and more views (but not as many as Yui's yet). They figure that Aki's "entrance as a rival" benefits Yui's popularity, therefore the whole town as well. However, Daikichi is concerned about one thing: The Ama season will soon be over. Still, more customers come to see Aki and ask to catch them some uni. She tries but fails and yet when she reemerges one time from the sea, there is an uni in her basket! "How did it get in there?" Haruko says it's impossible while Natsu reassures Aki that it was a legitimate catch and that she has passed. Aki is joyful but it was only short-lived after she realizes that it was actually Anbe who had been giving her the uni. She is upset about the "sham" but the Ama-sans tell her it is for the benefit of the customers (who come from faraway places just to see her catch some uni) since Ama tourism is also a "service industry." Despite the talk, Aki feels she still is not a real Ama yet. And now that only a week remains before the Ama season ends, she feels more and more depressed.
#15 - I Caught a Sea Urchin
Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 4/22/2013
The town is caught by surprise as the train otakus (5 times more than the normal number) arrive, looking for Yui. Haruko at Cafe Riasu has not expected the sudden arrival of the men, too. She has to ask Natsu to make plenty more unidonburi to accommodate the sudden huge number of orders. Meanwhile, Yui shows up to the delight of the visitors, taking her picture and shaking her hand. At the end of the day, the locals are all exhausted. Since tomorrow is a Sunday, they expect more train otakus to come. They seem not too thrilled about it. Daikichi tries to encourage the rest when they show signs of hesitancy since their schedule is suddenly affected. "This is the chance we've been waiting for after 24 years since the KitaTetsu opened!" So the next day, more train otakus do arrive and so Yui and the others do their best to serve and accommodate them. Aki tells Yui how awesomely popular she is now but Yui says she didn't do anything. "I'm just waving, smiling at cameras... I still feel just an ordinary high school girl." Aki admires her even more for Yui does not let her popularity get into her head. Inspired by Yui, Aki vows to work harder, too... and that is to catch her very first sea urchin.
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#16 - I Was Able to Make a Friend!
Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 4/19/2013
Aki comes home to hear her mother and grandmother laughing about something, which was really unusual. But as soon as she comes in, Natsu gives her the cold shoulder and goes straight to bed. At the Fishing Co-op the next morning, the Ama-sans find it boring without Aki around and wish that Natsu will forgive her already. Meanwhile, Aki and Yui are talking. Yui shows a bitter side of her that Aki has never seen before. "Aki-chan talking in our dialect sounds fake and unnatural, I feel like you're making fun of us." But Yui apologizes right away and reiterates that she does not like the countryside and wishes to leave for Tokyo as soon as possible. "I can't see the way you see my hometown." She also reveals that she wants to be an idol someday. At the Tourism Office, the list of Miss Kitatetsu candidates are finalized and among them are Yui and Kurihara Shiori (Secretary at the Tourism Office). The winner will represent the railway line and help promote it. Then, Hiroshi comes in, for he was hired at the Tourism Office, with the help of Daikichi. Hiroshi is tasked to make the town's tourism webpage. Hiroshi makes it so that people can vote for the candidates by clicking on their pictures on the website. They also ask Hiroshi, "Who did you nominate?" and he replies, "Aki-chan," which was greeted with exclamations of surprise ("Jejejeh!"). At school, Yui tells Aki that she has decided to accept the candidacy for "Miss Kitatetsu" even though she thinks it's embarrassing and lame. "It sounds like being an idol of train otakus during the early days, it's not a past that I want people to find out." But for now she has no choice but to accept it, as a favor for Daikichi's help in finding work for Hiroshi. "If he (Hiroshi) stays unreliable, I couldn't leave home... Well, since I'm in it, I might as well aim for the top prize." Aki admires Yui's confidence and determination. At night, Aki could not sleep and for some reason, gets up and goes to the second floor of the hou
#17 - I Don't Wanna Return to Tokyo!
Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 4/13/2013
The atmosphere is gloomy at the Fishing Co-op as Aki's return to Tokyo draws near. A touching moment passes between Natsu and her granddaughter when she feeds Aki with sea urchin for the last time. "Don't you forget the taste." Hiroshi also bids Aki farewell, gifting her with free curry tickets from a shop in Tokyo. That night, the Ama-sans and the men discuss and lament about the mother and daughter's impending departure. The women insist that Daikichi propose to Haruko so she won't have to leave. Natsu chooses not to do anything about the situation, quoting her favorite line: "Those who leave will not be pursued.* " Meanwhile, Haruko wants to ask Aki if she really wants to leave. But Aki, bottling up her true feelings, says she's fine about returning to Tokyo. Natsu comes home, and goes straight to bed early, ignoring the fact about their leaving. "Gotta get up early. Better go to sleep." Haruko remembers that those were also the words she said the last time when Haruko left home 24 years ago. "If there's something we have to talk about, you always turn a blind eye and pretend to sleep!" The next day, the Ama-sans gather at the house to say goodbye, except for Natsu who went to the beach to gather seaweeds. Daikichi is supposed to propose but backs out. At the station, Aki hesitates to ride the train home. Haruko asks her what she really wants to do but Aki still says she's okay with it. Just in time, Haruko steps off the departing train and pulls Aki with her. The train leaves without them. They go back to Natsu's home, much to the delight of the grandmother.
#18 - I Don't Wanna Return to Tokyo!
Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 4/12/2013
Aki begins her diving training but has a hard time reaching the uni at the bottom. During her vending chores at the train station, she sees Hibiki again, taking pictures of Yui who was posing willingly like a model. Aki wants to thank the man for helping her pass the underwater test but he is rude to her, and tells her to "buzz off, ugly." Aki gets mad and throws uni at him. Despite that, she was able to talk to Yui who remembers her from before. Yui says she has a blog and that is how Hibiki got in touch with her, asking if he could take pictures of her. Aki is in awe of Yui's prettiness, and was delighted to be invited by her to some town activity the next day. It turns out to be volunteer work, making parade floats for the city's upcoming Autumn Festival. Aki feels happy being with everyone but feels sad that she will be leaving soon. Yui, on the other hand, loves to talk about Tokyo (even though she's never been there), and does not seem to notice the beauty of her own hometown. Aki decides to forget about her sadness, make the most of her remaining time and see all that she can about Kitasanriku. So she goes with Oda Ben (amber miner) and visits the amber mine that he himself had dug up. Here, she is able to let out her feelings by shouting: "I don't want to go back to Tokyo!! I want to stay in Kitasanriku forever!!"
#24 - I Want To Be An Idol!
Season 1 - Episode 65 - Aired 6/14/2013
'Oh no, isn't she supposed to be at the Rias?' Aki thinks as she sees her mom in the audience. The song ends and the live broadcast has wrapped up as well. Haruko finally gets on stage to confront Aki. She slaps her hard across the cheek right in front of the audience. Aki falls down as everyone gasps in shock. "What's going on, Aki!" Yui: "No, you got it wrong!" Haruko: "No, I didn't! (To Aki) A promise is a promise. You said the parlor train will be the last. Why are you here prancing around?" Daikichi and Ikeda tries to calm Haruko down. "Please wait until the audience leaves for now." Haruko: "I don't want to! My own precious daughter being ogled by glaring eyes of men like them!" Hibiki: "We don't look at her like that!" Haruko: "Shut up! Four-eyes!" Hibiki: "I am not Four-eyes if I take off my glasses!" The audience start protesting. Daikichi again pleads with Haruko but she refuses. Haruko to Aki: "You said you had thought seriously about your future when you become a senior... Right, Sensei?" Embarrassed, Isono hesitated to answer being that he was caught watching in the audience. Then Aki speaks, "Why did you have to hit me? Why did you have to hit me out of the blue? In front of all these people... I have my own plan. What did you have to hit me for?" Natsu comes in Aki's defense, "That was certainly too much! This is Aki's workplace. Getting up on stage without even hearing her out and striking her, it's too much even for a parent!" Haruko, still unapologetic, pulls up Aki and addresses the fans: "Excuse me. Can you please not make such a fuss over her anymore? She is just a normal girl. Why is it? Can't Aki spend a normal high school life here any more?"
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#25 - I'm Going To Tokyo!
Season 1 - Episode 72 - Aired 6/22/2013
In contrast to Haruko's angry departure from Kitansanriku 25 years ago, Aki is given a warm and proper send-off by her Mom and friends, complete with flag-waving and happy banzai cheers. Inside the train, Daikichi gives mother and daughter some alone-time before departure. Haruko asks Aki if there is something they need to discuss. But Aki turns away, saying they've already talked about everything last night. She looks out the window, somewhat feeling reluctant to leave. All the while, her mother tries to give her some motherly, last minute advice.