The fourth episode of the NHK Asadora drama series "Kaze,Kaoru " (NHK General, Monday-Saturday 8:00 AM, etc.), starring Ai Mikami and Juri Kosaka , aired on April 2nd, and viewers were captivated by the words and actions of Rin (Mikami) as she faced the death of her father, Shin'emon ( Kazuki Kitamura).
In the fourth episode, it is revealed that Shin'emon, who suddenly collapses, is infected with cholera. Shin'emon asks to be taken to an isolation hospital, but Rin refuses. Shin'emon locks himself in the barn as if to isolate himself, telling Rin, "Don't come in! If you do, I'll cut you down!"
Rin tries to cheer up Shin'emon by bringing him water and a change of clothes, folding origami cranes, and singing songs, but soon she becomes uneasy when she hears no more noise coming from the barn and tries to go inside.
Then Shin'emon, speaking through the door, said to Rin, "I finally understand... It's a good thing I didn't commit seppuku back then..." He continued, "Even though I'm dying... I want to feel the wind on my cheek... It seems I still want to live. Committing seppuku is only acceptable in the age of the samurai. From now on... I must live, even if people call me pathetic. Understand? Live, Rin."
Rin pleaded tearfully, "No! I don't want to be without my father!" But Shin'emon said, "You can surely...create a gentle breeze..." and then, exhausted, he said, "Just a little...just a little rest..." Sensing something was wrong, Rin went into the barn and called out, "Father!" but there was no response. She grasped Shin'emon's hand, which was still warm, and Rin blamed herself, saying, "It's warm...I made another mistake...I made another mistake..." and burst into tears.
In the third episode (aired April 1st), Rin regrets not holding the hand of Kotaro (Toranosuke Kobayashi), who was infected with cholera, and confesses to Shin'emon, "I was wrong. I should have held his hand after all." Shin'emon, who had taught Rin the Analects of Confucius, comforted her, saying, "It's difficult to know what's right."
Faced with Shin'emon's death, Rin once again regretted her actions. On social media, comments included: "Rin's 'I made another mistake' is so heartbreaking," "My heart aches when I think about what Rin must be feeling," "I'm sure she wanted to be by his side and be there for him in his final moments," "It's so sad that there was nothing she could do," "You did nothing wrong...", "Will this be theきっかけ (trigger/reason) for her to pursue nursing?", "Perhaps her regret over not nursing her father led her to aspire to become a nurse," and "This nursing experience will become the starting point for Rin..."
