The Samurai's Garden

Stephen leaves Matsu and Sachi working together happily in the much-improved garden and goes to the calm, storm-littered beach to meet Keiko. She arrives alone, having won a bet to get Mika to stay home doing laundry. They walk and talk. Keiko is curious about life in Hong Kong, and she tells Stephen about growing up in Tarumi and that she has a brother who was born near Kobe and is now in the Japanese army in China.

Stephen walks Keiko halfway back to the village, where she stops him: her traditionalist father might not approve of their visit. They part sweetly, with the idea of seeing each other again, and Stephen returns to the beach house. There, he hears three voices, one angry, from inside. Stephen doesn’t go in; he watches, unseen.

Kenzo is there. He is enraged that Sachi has been visiting Matsu. He shoves Matsu, who doesn’t retaliate. But when he yanks the scarf from Sachi’s face and calls her a monster, Matsu shoves him out the back door, sending him tumbling down the stairs. Sachi cries out. Stephen remains hidden, afraid of doubling her shame. When Matsu takes Sachi back to Yamaguchi, Stephen doubts she will return to Tarumi.