The 12th episode of the NHK morning drama series " Kaze,Kaoru " (NHK General, Monday-Saturday 8:00 AM, etc.), starring Ai Mikami and Juri Kosaka, aired on April 14th, and viewers were captivated by Naomi (Asadora ), who changed jobs in an unexpected way.
Rin (Mikami) begins working at "Mizuho-ya," a shop that deals in foreign books and imported goods, and the shop owner, Shimizu Usaburo (Bando Yajuro), provides her with a place to live. When Yoshie (Harada Taizo) tells Naomi that Rin has found both a job and a place to live, Naomi becomes irritated, saying, "Just because she's from a samurai family..." However, when she learns that Rin has said she will do anything to survive and will even study English, Naomi looks thoughtful.
Afterward, Naomi borrowed some clothes from Mary (Anya Floris) and went out into town, claiming she had an errand to run. Naomi pretended to feel dizzy and sat down on the street, where the carriage of Lady Oyama Sutematsu ( Mikako Tabe), known as the "Flower of the Rokumeikan," happened to pass by and she called out to her, "Are you alright?"
Naomi spoke with Sutematsu in English, showcasing her language skills. Then she lied, saying, "Would you allow me to work at the Rokumeikan? Actually... my father has fallen ill, and now..." and bowed her head, saying, "Please, I beg you."
Towards the end, Naomi tells Yoshie and Mary, "I've quit the match factory." Having been abandoned by her mother shortly after birth and barely surviving on the meager wages at the match factory, Naomi explains, "I can't go to America. If I stay in Japan, with my background, I can't have a proper marriage." "So... I've decided to work as a maid at the Rokumeikan. To get married," she says, declaring, "At this point, I'm going to do whatever it takes to survive."
On social media, comments included: "Quite the strategist," "An unexpected turn of events," "She's taken a gamble," "Everything went according to plan," "She's got guts," "Naomi is tough," and "She's shrewd and strong."
