Recap - Massan Week 5, Ep 27

Massan

Week 5: "Behind every successful man there is a wise woman"

Episode 27 (10/29/2014)

Ellie starts to have doubts about whether or not people will like the flavor of whisky, especially the shareholders. Massan was not prepared for the kind of response he receives after serving whisky to the shareholders. Hopefully Ellie can save the day!

RECAP:

Chogoro decides to have the shareholder's meeting, giving Massan his chance to introduce his plans for making whisky. 

At home, Ellie makes "sekihan" to celebrate this victory but Massan tells her that they still have a long way to go. Catherine also pays a visit and asks how he plans to persuade the shareholders to go along with his plans. She warns that it will be difficult to sell such an unfamiliar flavor to Japanese people. 

Ellie goes to the Tanaka house and asks Yuko if she has ever tried whisky. Yuko admits that she hasn't and Ellie begins to worry if people will really like it or not. 

Massan is burning peat for his whisky research but Mr. Yaguchi gets a whiff of the smell and immediately goes out to put the fire out. He makes it very clear that he does not support Massan's plans because he doesn't really care much for Massan. 

That night, Massan is still working out his calculations for his plans at home when Ellie expresses her worry about him having the shareholders try the whisky at the meeting. Massan tells her not to worry since it is top-class whisky, but that doesn't leave her feeling reassured.

The next day, Ellie visits Yuko to help out as usual and Yuko is in the middle of preparing a dish called "aji no tataki" (chopped horse mackerel with green onions and ginger). She explains that the ginger and the green onions help get rid of the fishy odor of the mackerel. This gives Ellie an idea and she asks Yuko for her help. 

It's the day of the meeting and everyone including Yuko's future father-in-law has come. Massan is introducing his whisky plans to the shareholders while Ellie is busy in the kitchen preparing something (we don't know what yet). The shareholders are impressed with the low costs after the initial investment but are concerned about the fact that there won't be any profits for the first 5 years. They then begin to ask if people will even be willing to buy this liquor. Massan explains to them that soon there will be more and more Western liquors being brought over to Japan thus creating an increasing demand for them. The shareholders worry that that will apply only to the rich but Massan assures them that that isn't the case. 

Massan finally takes out his bottle of whisky to share with the shareholders. Each member is given a small glass the whisky. They all take a sip of the whisky and wince at the strong foreign flavor. Massan is stricken with grief while Mr. Yaguchi smirks with satisfaction.