TSKR Episode 1 (TV Drama)
Millionaire Village (富豪村, Fugōmura) is the first episode of the TV Drama series Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan. It adapts the one-shot Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan - Episode 5: Millionaire Village.
In this episode, Rohan Kishibe is invited by his editor Kyoka Izumi to assist in the peculiar sale of a mansion in a remote village whose inhabitants have all become rich.
Summary
One night, two burglars sneak in a luxurious house. One of the burglar then discovers drafts for the manga Pink Dark Boy, and understands whose house it is. When his partner asks what is up with him, the younger burglar tries to explain the manga and tells that he used to read it. Suddenly, the eccentric mangaka Rohan Kishibe enters the scene. Rohan acts offended that the burglar "used to" read his manga while it is still being serialized and at "Part 8", and is curious to know why. One of the burglars take out a baton and asks Rohan if he understands the situation he's in, but Rohan prefers to reflect on the exact nature of his situation and congratulates himself on having managed to bait actual criminals into his house by leaving the door open. Indeed, he is in search of material for his manga. Rohan uses his special ability Heaven's Door. By showing his art to the burglars, he turns them into books and proceeds to read the youngest one's bio to know why he's stopped reading his series. When he learns the answer, Rohan madly laughs at the irony.
The next day, a young girl named Kyoka Izumi knocks at Rohan's door after carrying a bag of books. She is Rohan's new editor at "Shumeisha" and has come to greet him and bring him books on crime for his next one-shot. Rohan doesn't answer but the door is unlocked so she can enter. Rohan tells her to go away as he's exercising before working, but Kyoka doesn't listen and insists on giving him the books. Rohan scoffs at the now useless books since he's acquired prime material for his story and intends to make sure the burglar that'll appear in a single panel of his story will say something that perfectly represents burglars, even if he only has a single line, for the sake of the realism. Kyoka then discovers the burglars peacefully tied up and sitting in a corner of Rohan's office, they even tell her that they are willingly cooperating with him. It is revealed that the younger burglar was studying seriously and used to faithfully read Rohan's series, but someone confiscated his "Shonen Jumbo", leading him to become frustrated with school, fail his exams, become a drop-out and turn to crime, leading to his meeting with Rohan and that Rohan has taken inspiration from the actual burglar for his character. In the present, Rohan rudely shoos Kyoka out of his house, and hands her the bag of books before shutting the door. Looking at his hostages, Rohan is glad to have written "commands" to make the burglars obedient. Before beginning to draw, Rohan ironically decides that his burglar character will remain silent.
Later Kyoka has a rendez-vous with her boyfriend, Taro Hirai. The two sit at a café, and Kyoka proceeds to tell how eccentric Rohan is, although she acknowledges that he's a great creator. Taro asks her if she enjoys works, to which Kyoka answers that she finds it interesting due to Rohan's quirks but that she doesn't enjoy it that much and would prefer working in a fashion magazine. Kyoka asks if Taro has found anything interesting, but he says no. The conversation turns somewhat awkward as the subject of Taro's mental illnesses resurfaces, and he's seen putting abnormally high amount of sugar in his drink. However, Taro then says that he's found something interesting and shows it to Kyoka.
Kyoka returns to Rohan, who complains about her barging in when he's about to begin work. They talk about Rohan's next one-shot. Rohan has just read a book about astronomy and suggests a story about annular solar eclipses, but Kyoka suggests a story about buying a villa in the mountains. Rohan is frustrated at Kyoka's passive rebuttal of his idea; when he hears that a luxurious villa is for sale in a remote village at only 3 million yen, he claims that it is a scam. However, Kyoka proceeds to explain that it is a village where all of the residents are millionaires and that they all became millionaires shortly after moving there in their twenties. Besides, it seems that there are mysterious selection rules that make it hard for the owner to sell the villa to someone. Kyoka wishes to fill a recent vacancy and move in to have this lucky villa, but also confesses that she's doing it for Taro's sake since this village is the first thing he's taken an interest in since the time he had a car accident. Though interested by the village, Rohan refuses to go, but Kyoka argues that it will be a unique experience that could inspire him and she convinces Rohan to accompany her for research into a new manga story. Rohan accepts, and asks if the editorial department has an helicopter.
Before her departure, Izumi put her dog in Taro's care. Rohan and Izumi proceed to make the exhausting trek up the mountains to reach the villa for sale. Unfortunately for them, the rules forbid buyers from coming in with a helicopter. Kyoka is initially very enthusiastic but soon the trek exhausts her and she has to take a break by a river. For his part, Rohan actually exercises so he is less fatigued. Rohan mentions that he's done some research and that the land used to be sacred grounds and that people were forbidden to enter. Kyoka dismisses these legends and says that nowadays, anyone can see anything from above with new technology, which frustrates Rohan. As they are about to arrive, Kyoka receives a message from Taro and reveals that the selection rules are based on manners. Thus, she asks Rohan to behave himself, which ticks him off.
When they reach the mansion for sale, they are welcome by the childlike butler Ikkyu, despite his young age, the little boy displays impeccable manners and leads his guests to a room where they will be interviewed. Rohan and Izumi awkwardly sit on the top chairs facing the wall, but soon decide to switch to the sofa as Ikkyu brings some tea and serves it to the guest. Seeing Ikkyu observing them, Izumi realizes that are watched and that their manners are being tested. Izumi lifts her cup and tries to drink the tea properly, but Ikkyu requests that she and Rohan leaves and try their luck next time. He explains that they mistakenly sat upon the seats of honor, reserved to the master of the house, and that Izumi breached etiquette by putting her finger inside the handle of the tea cup. Izumi asks for another chance, but Ikkyu announces that she is going to pay the price for her breaches of etiquette. Soon enough, she's informed that Taro and her dog were hit by a car. Izumi breaks down in tears. Indeed, the gods of the mountains have taken two things dear to her for each of her missteps.
Rohan turns Izumi into a book and then Ikkyu too to read his bio. However, in doing so he also incurs the wrath of the gods in the mountain. Rohan's right arm goes limp and he loses his ability to move it, shocking Rohan to the core since it means he cannot draw anymore. However, Rohan requests another test to atone and Ikkyu accepts. Rohan is thus served a cooked maize and is tasked with eating it the proper way. Rohan sees several potential ustentils but is not fooled. He grabs the maize but its end with his remaining hand and proudly takes a bite. Moreover, Rohan tells Ikkyu to look down. The boy realizes that he's stepping on the edges of the tatamis in the room, and he panics, retreating out of the room. Rohan explains that he's written on Ikkyu and made him unable to discern the edges, making him commit these breaches of etiquettes. Since the gods' side has also breached etiquette, it seems that what they have taken from Izumi is returned and thus Taro and his dog are revived. Ikkyu claims Rohan has cheated, but Rohan defiantly tells Ikkyu that it doesn't matter and indeed, nothing happens to him. Rohan enjoys the sight of Ikkyu losing his manners and hit the floor in frustration.
Rohan leaves the mansion with Izumi and they continue to work together.
Cast
Gallery
- Millionaire drama Rohan.webp
Rohan in Millionaire Village
- Millionaire drama Kyoka.webp
Kyoka Izumi in Millionaire Village
Ikkyu in Millionaire Village
- Millionaire drama Taro.webp
Taro in Millionaire Village
References
