Ep 7. That Girl's Become a Bride

As the seventh episode of Tamako Market's first season, "That Girl's Become a Bride" centers around the unexpected appearance of the bride-to-be of Mamedai Kitashirakawa, Tamako's grandfather and the proprietor of the mochi shop where Tamako lives and works. The episode opens with Tamako and her father, an accomplished mochi maker in his own right, discussing Tamako's upcoming participation in the Usagiyama Shopping District's autumn festival. However, their conversation is interrupted by a knock at the door and the entrance of a stunningly beautiful woman who introduces herself as Hinako Shibata, the granddaughter of Mamedai's long-lost love.

Hinako explains that Mamedai and her grandmother were deeply in love as young adults, but were separated by circumstances beyond their control. They both married other people and started families, but remained friends throughout their lives. When Hinako's grandmother passed away recently, Mamedai reached out to her family and she discovered their mutual history. Now, Hinako has come to deliver a message from her grandmother and to invite Mamedai to her upcoming wedding.

Mamedai is stunned by this news and initially hesitant to attend the wedding, feeling that it would be a painful reminder of what could have been. However, Tamako and her friends encourage him to go and show his support for Hinako and her fiancé. They convince him to not only attend the wedding but to make a special mochi gift for the couple - a gesture that brings back fond memories of his own courtship of Tamako's grandmother.

As Mamedai and the rest of the market prepare for Hinako's wedding, tensions between Tamako and her childhood friend, Mochizo, begin to mount. Mochizo has been acting distant and aloof towards Tamako ever since he found out that she will be participating in the festival with the prince-like figure, Midori. Tamako is oblivious to Mochizo's feelings, but her friends and family can see that he is struggling to come to terms with his emotions. In the end, Mochizo makes a bold move to try and win Tamako's heart, but the outcome is left uncertain until a later episode.

Aside from the sweet and emotional plotline surrounding Mamedai and Hinako, the episode also showcases some delightful moments of everyday life in the market, highlighting the sense of community and warmth that is central to the show's appeal. There are humorous scenes of Tamako and her bird companion, Dera, trying to convince Mamedai to attend the wedding by impersonating Hinako's voice over the phone and the other residents of the market banding together to help prepare for the festival. There are also poignant moments, such as when Tamako and her father reflect on the passing of time and the importance of cherishing the people we hold dear.

Overall, "That Girl's Become a Bride" is a lovely and heartwarming episode, encapsulating the gentle charm and whimsy of Tamako Market as a whole. While it may not be the most action-packed or intense installment of the series, it showcases the show's strengths in character development, world-building, and emotional resonance. It's a testament to the show's ability to balance light-hearted comedy with genuine emotional depth and is a must-watch for fans of the slice-of-life genre.