The opening scene of Pachinko Season 2 episode 5 takes place in Nagasaki on August 1, 1945, and is presented entirely in black and white. The family has departed for the countryside, but Yoseb (played by Han Joon-Woo) remains in Nagasaki, working in a factory. There, he faces prejudice from his Japanese coworkers, who ridicule the Korean laborers, including Yoseb.
By chance, Yoseb befriends Taehoon (Baek Su-ho), a young Korean worker who was transferred from Korea a year prior after a mining accident. Pachinko Season 2 episode 5 highlights the passing days with dates shown in white text. Yoseb and his fellow workers learn that a key advisor to the Emperor is scheduled to visit on August 7, 1945.
On August 9, 1945, during the counselor’s visit, Yoseb witnesses Taehoon draw a knife and attempt to attack the counselor. In an effort to intervene, Yoseb gets stabbed instead of the counselor. However, the guards apprehend both Taehoon and Yoseb and throw Yoseb into a truck. Suddenly, a bomb detonates in the factory, resulting in the tragic death of everyone present—Nagasaki is bombed by the United States.
As Pachinko Season 2 episode 5 concludes, we transition to 1950, where a radio announcer declares that Korea has officially divided amid rising tensions between North and South. Sunja, Hansu, Kyunghee, and Yoseb overhear this announcement, looking concerned and hopeless.
Pachinko Season 2 Episode 5: A Time Jump & Sunja’s Family’s Hope to Return to Their Homeland Disappearing
Following the devastating atomic bombing in Nagasaki, Pachinko Season 2 episode 5 moves to Yoseb recovering at Hansu’s countryside farm, where he is being cared for by Sunja and Kyunghee. He suffers from severe third-degree burns across his body. Upon awakening, he spots Hansu (Lee Min-ho) sitting beside him, who informs him that Kyunghee and others have stepped out to work.
Hansu reminds Yoseb that they are currently safe at his farm and that he survived because the truck provided some protection. He grimly reveals that everyone else in Nagasaki and the factory perished in the bomb blast. Recognizing Hansu as Noa’s biological father fills Yoseb with anger, resulting in an outburst where he demands that Hansu stay away from his family, insisting that Isak (Yoseb’s brother) is Noa’s true father.
In response, Hansu calmly presents a hand mirror to Yoseb, who breaks down upon seeing his disfigured face. Hansu asserts that while he respects Yoseb’s role as the family head, Sunja and Noa are his, prompting a poignant conflict:
“You being the head of this family, I don’t dispute that. But know this. I saved you, just as I saved others. Not out of goodwill but because of Sunja and Noa. They are mine.”
The episode also subtly reveals a strained, unspoken connection between Kyunghee (Yoseb’s wife) and Mr. Kim, who had developed feelings for each other while living at the farm. With Yoseb’s return, the two attempt to coexist in silence, avoiding each other.
Months later, Sunja’s family prepares to return to Osaka. Just before leaving, Noa (Kim Kang-hoon) bids farewell to a schoolmate as they drive away, sadness etched on their faces. The camera captures chalk drawings on the farm walls, remnants of memories created by Mozasu (Sunja’s youngest son).
Pachinko Season 2 episode 5 highlights the year “1950”prominently, indicating a time jump. A now-grown Noa and Mozasu share a bedroom, with Noa attempting to wake his younger brother. At 20 years old, Noa exhibits a striking resemblance to Isak, showcasing the traits he inherited from the man who raised him since birth.
Sunja is depicted running a small ramen shop in the Osaka market, reflecting on the contrast to her arrival in Japan as a young girl in Season 1. Her hair shows signs of wear from the years of hardship as she strives to support Noa’s education while saving up to establish a better restaurant.
A customer arrives at Sunja’s shop, ordering ramen and mentioning the availability of a restaurant near the train station—a potential opportunity for Sunja. Although grateful, she worries about the rent. The customer offers to speak to the owner on her behalf. Meanwhile, Mr. Kim returns home, having stayed with the family for over five years.
Kyunghee, noticing Mr. Kim’s return, offers him food, but he declines, stating he is tired and needs rest. It’s evident that even after five years, their feelings have not diminished, yet they both strive to avoid confronting these emotions.
In a subsequent scene, Mr. Kim approaches Ko Hansu to inquire about the duration of his stay with Kyunghee and her family. Hansu had presumed that Mr. Kim’s feelings for Kyunghee would wane over time, but he now realizes he was mistaken. He informs Mr. Kim that he is free to leave once Noa departs for university.
Mr. Kim believes Hansu has arranged for Noa’s admission to university, which he passes easily. Slightly insulted, Hansu clarifies that he would do anything for his son but would never manipulate university results. His true objective is to see how far Noa can progress independently.
“I’ll do anything for my son, but not that.”
Later, in Pachinko Season 2 episode 5, Sunja is seen sitting with Noa, who is preparing for his university entrance exam. She expresses regret about his workload and wishes she could assist more. Although acknowledging that accepting Hansu’s money was an option, Noa reassures Sunja of his contentment with their choice not to take it.
Noa, wanting to gauge his capabilities independently, echoes Hansu’s earlier sentiments about striving for self-sufficiency. This emotional moment underscores the profound resemblance Noa bears not only in looks but also in character to Isak, reinforcing that he is nevertheless influenced by Hansu’s legacy.
As the episode approaches its conclusion, Noa’s anxiety about the university entrance exam escalates. Sunja, noticing his distress, accompanies him to the examination center. Concurrently, the Japanese radio broadcasts the news of Korea’s division and the onset of war, leaving Sunja and her family, including Yoseb and Hansu, apprehensive about the future. Their hopes of returning to Korea appear dimmed.
In the final moments of Pachinko Season 2 episode 5, Noa is shown sitting anxiously at the examination center, staring at the ticking clock. As time progresses, he begins answering questions, leaving viewers in suspense.
The highly anticipated Pachinko Season 2 episode 6 will premiere on September 27, 2024, exclusively on Apple TV+.
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