One of the most delightful aspects of the Apple TV+ series Pachinko is the opening credits sequence. In each episode, the characters sing and dance to the 1969 song “Wait a Million Years” by the Grass Roots. The first season featured another song by the band called “Let’s Live For Today.”
The scene takes place in a bright and lively pachinko parlor, where characters from different timelines can interact.
This symbolizes how deeply connected we are to our families, even those from generations we have never met. Despite the hardships these characters face, the opening sequence radiates pure joy.
That’s why the absence of the credits in Episode 5 of Season 2 feels significant. By omitting the joyful scene, the show emphasizes the impact of tragic historical events on the family and Japan.
This decision highlights how the trauma from these events can influence people for many years, handled with sensitivity and care by the show’s creators.
Yoseb’s Story in Nagasaki, 1945
The episode begins in black and white, with the first scene set in Nagasaki on August 1, 1945. Yoseb (Han Joon-Woo) works in a factory while his family has moved to the countryside. Korean workers like Yoseb are treated poorly by the Japanese workers.
Yoseb becomes friends with a young Korean named Taehoon (Baek Su-ho), who arrived a year earlier after surviving a mining accident. They discuss the war, and Yoseb says, “We do whatever it takes” to survive.
The passing days are shown with white numbers on the screen. On August 7, the factory foreman announces that a special advisor to the Emperor will be visiting. On August 8, Yoseb sees Taehoon steal a chisel, realizing he plans something dangerous.
Yoseb tries to stop him, telling him, “You remind me of my brother, Isak. I brought him into this hell, and now he’s gone.” Taehoon, however, believes that surviving a cholera outbreak gives him a purpose.
On August 9, a clock appears on the screen, marking time before a major event. During the special visitor’s tour, Taehoon attempts to stab him. Yoseb intervenes and gets stabbed in the shoulder.
Both men are taken away in separate vans when the screen turns white, showing a faint glow of flames. The time 11:02 appears, signaling the moment the Allied forces dropped the atomic bomb on Nagasaki.
The Aftermath of the Atomic Bombing
The next scene switches to a radio announcer reporting that Japan has accepted the terms of the Joint Declaration, and that continuing the war would lead to Japan’s collapse. The war is over. The episode moves out of black and white, and Kyungee (Jung Eun-chae) appears, crying.
Yoseb has survived the bombing and is reunited with his family in the countryside. Hansu sits beside him. Yoseb asks about Taehoon, but Hansu doesn’t know him.
He only knows that Yoseb survived because the truck shielded him from the blast, though Yoseb is severely burned. Hansu informs Yoseb that the bomb ended the war, but dismisses the idea that Korea will become independent.
Hansu tells the family they must stay in the countryside until Osaka is safe again. This is heartbreaking for Mr. Kim (Kim Sungkyu), who had recently reconnected with Kyunghee in Episode 4 and now has to live with her injured husband. Yoseb, showing contempt for Hansu, accuses him of being Noa’s real father.
Hansu insults Isak, and Yoseb, despite his weak state, threatens him for disrespecting his beloved brother. Hansu shows Yoseb his reflection, and it is clear Yoseb is seeing his burned face for the first time. Hansu coldly says, “I saved you, just as I saved the others.”
Later, the family returns to the city. Noa (Kim Kang-hoon) says goodbye to a friend as they leave the countryside. The camera captures their home, filled with chalk drawings and touches from Kyunghee and Sunja (Minha Kim), making it feel warm and inviting. As they arrive in the charred ruins of the city, Noa and Mozasu (Eun-seong Kwon) step out while the adults try to salvage what remains.
An American soldier driving by asks the boys how they are holding up. The boys remain silent, as they have been taught to fear Americans. Instead of hostility, the soldier offers Mozasu his sunglasses as a gesture of goodwill.
The show’s title card appears at this point, without the singing and dancing seen in earlier episodes. The absence of detailed information about the bombings’ death toll (over 40,000 in Nagasaki) is the only shortfall in this depiction of the war.
A New Beginning in Osaka, 1950
The episode then jumps to 1950 in Osaka. Noa and Mozasu are now teenagers, played by new actors (Kang Tae-Ju and Masaku Takada). The city has come back to life, with busy streets and Sunja running a successful noodle shop.
She mentions she hopes to open a restaurant, but is waiting for the Americans to loosen restrictions, while saving money for her dream.
Noa’s entrance exam for school is approaching, and a customer comments that Sunja will be the “envy of the market” if her son gets into college. Both Sunja and her mother Yangjin (Inji Jeong) now speak Japanese, showing how they have adapted, though they are still seen as Korean immigrants.
Mr. Kim still lives with the family in Osaka. He asks Hansu how much longer he must stay, as it is difficult living with the love of his life, Kyunghee, while her husband is present.
Hansu says Mr. Kim can leave once Noa goes to university. Mr. Kim suspects Hansu has arranged for Noa to pass the exam, but Hansu denies it, saying, “I’ll do anything for my son, but not that.” Hansu wants to see what Noa can achieve on his own.
In another scene, Noa studies for his exam while Sunja apologizes for the hardship he faces. Noa appreciates that they didn’t accept money from Hansu, echoing Hansu’s words about wanting to succeed on his own.
The next day, Noa visits a girl he likes at the market. He confesses his fear of failing the exam, but she reassures him that failure is not an option for him.
Solomon’s Struggle in 1989
In 1989, Solomon (Jin Ha) has a meeting with Naomi (Anna Sawai) and Tom (Jimmi Simpson). Naomi notes that Abe has too much debt and that distancing themselves from him would upset other clients.
Solomon disagrees, but Naomi is unaware of his secret plans. Solomon suggests using the land for an exclusive golf club. During the conversation, Tom mentions his past relationship with Naomi, which surprises Solomon.
Solomon returns home to find Naomi asleep in his apartment. Despite the setback, Solomon still cares for her, telling her she was the best part of his day.
However, Solomon now faces the challenge of convincing Naomi to stop supporting Abe without her knowing his full plans. Will they be able to overcome this tension and keep their relationship intact?
In the final scene of the episode, a radio announces that Korea is now divided, with hostilities between the North and South. The date June 25 appears on the screen, and Noa arrives to take his exam.
A close-up of a clock mirrors the earlier scene before the atomic bomb, representing another moment of tension. The episode ends with three episodes remaining in the season to reveal where the characters’ paths will lead.
