Pachinko Season 2 Episode 7 shares various stories about love and difficult choices. The characters face different kinds of love, including unrequited love, toxic relationships, and friendships. This episode deepens these relationships while showing some heartbreaking moments.
In the 1989 timeline, Naomi (played by Anna Sawai) has a meeting with Tom Andrews (played by Jimmi Simpson) and the director of Shiffley’s. Tom tells Naomi that people claim she broke security rules by leaking confidential information about the IPO with Yotsuba Finance.
Naomi argues that she did nothing wrong and insists she did not endanger the IPO. However, Tom and the director tell her that this mistake means they must accept her resignation.
Naomi realizes that Solomon (played by Jin Ha) is behind this situation. She goes to her office and breaks down, hiding her feelings from others.
Afterward, Tom informs Solomon that he has successfully gotten rid of Naomi and that everything is set for their takeover. This brief look into Solomon’s actions shows that he is willing to sacrifice his relationship with Naomi for his business plans.
Meanwhile, Sunja (played by Minha Kim) and Kato (played by Jun Kunimura) are spending more time together. Kato shares his dream of visiting America but worries about not having enough money. He sadly states, “We’re told to live a long life, but no one ever told us how to pay for it.”
Kato tells Sunja he is thinking about moving in with his daughter in Nagoya. Sunja feels heartbroken and offers him a loan, but Kato hesitates. He then asks if they can travel together, saying, “I would very much like to see America with you.”
Mozasu (played by Soji Arai) has hired an investigator to look into Kato’s past. He learns that Kato lives alone, rarely sees his family, and has no real assets. The investigator also finds something suspicious about Kato’s history.
Later, Mozasu tells Sunja that Kato was involved in a tragic event in Japanese history. In August 1948, Kato was part of a unit that killed 139 American POWs. Mozasu believes this information will end Sunja’s relationship with Kato, but she stands firm.
She argues that it is unfair for Mozasu to have a Japanese wife and for Solomon to have a Japanese girlfriend while she cannot have a Japanese friend.
In a touching moment, she confesses, “I need Kato in my life because I am lonely. Too many of those I have loved… they are gone.”
The final scene of Sunja in the 1989 timeline shows her longing for a travel book. Will she take Kato’s offer to travel, despite knowing about his past?
It seems unlikely that the kind Kato would only be interested in Sunja for her money, but her loneliness may cloud her judgment.
Pachinko Season 2 Episode 7 Highlights Family Struggles
In 1950, the family celebrates Noa’s (played by Kang Tae-Ju) departure for Waseda University. Everyone is happy except for Yoseb (played by Han Joon-Woo), who stays inside alone.
During dinner, he complains about Kyunghee’s cooking and feels he does not get enough respect at home. Mozasu finally explodes, asking Yoseb, “How much longer will you go on like this?”
Yoseb has not left the house since the war ended five years ago. His sons convince him to go outside, even though he is scared and wears a shawl to hide his burn scars. They take him to a baseball game, and for a brief moment, Yoseb forgets his worries.
Later in the episode, Mr. Kim and Yoseb meet for the first time. Mr. Kim informs Yoseb that he is going to fight in Korea. He thanks Yoseb for letting him live in his home, but Yoseb bitterly replies, “What choice did I have?” He admits to Mr. Kim that he respects him and understands why Kyunghee loves him.
In a heartbreaking moment, Yoseb asks Mr. Kim to stay, saying, “If you leave, she will shatter.” He acknowledges that he does not want to be a martyr or a cage that holds Kyunghee back from happiness.
He recognizes that she deserves more than he can give and says, “Go tell her, she is free. I won’t be the wall to stand in her way.” This act shows how deeply Yoseb loves Kyunghee.
Yoseb rushes to tell Kyunghee that they can be together, as he understands their feelings for each other. However, Kyunghee does not look happy.
She says, “So, the two of you decided what is to come of me?” She confesses that she broke her vows when she kissed Mr. Kim in 1945 and that her husband suffered greatly from the bomb.
She continues, “I’ve long accepted that I am meaningless to this world… I made a covenant, and my husband came back.”
It is not that she does not love Mr. Kim; she feels she cannot go back on her word. In a loving and painful act, she insists that Mr. Kim must go off to fight but must also survive. “The thought of being in a world that you are not a part of, I cannot bear it,” she says.
She tells him to come back to them after the war, bringing his wife and children with him. This moment marks the end of their unfulfilled love story, but perhaps Mr. Kim can start anew with someone who has a real future with him.
During the celebration for Noa, Hansu (played by Lee Min-ho) gives his son the watch he once gave to Sunja. He later explains to her that he bought it back from the pawnbroker she sold it to in Season 1.
He tells Noa that “this is just the beginning” for him. As Noa prepares to leave, he spends time with Mozasu.
They visit a pachinko parlor where Mozasu explains how the games work, which is a nice nod to how the parlor will return to his life later.
Later, they sit on the roof of their home, and Noa reminds Mozasu to look after their family. Mozasu shares that he wants to go to America because “in America, I don’t have to be the person they see me as here.”
As Noa and Sunja head to the train station for Waseda University, the family says tearful goodbyes. Even Yoseb comes outside to wish Noa well. At first, Mozasu hesitates to hug Noa goodbye, but he eventually runs after him, embracing him.
Mozasu starts crying, saying, “Don’t go! I can’t make it by myself.” Noa encourages Mozasu to fight for his dreams, saying, “Look forward, Mozasu. Always look forward.”
Noa and Sunja arrive in Tokyo to help Noa settle in. A large trunk arrives, courtesy of Hansu, and both Noa and Sunja marvel at the urban setting and tall buildings.
Sunja gives Noa one last pep talk before she leaves. She says, “Your grandfather always wanted me to fly, to fly high, so I could see just how big this world really is. Now, it’s your turn, Noa.
You’ll have to fly high. Every so often, you come back and tell me. I want to know as well, just how big it is.” They embrace, and she walks away, leaving part of her heart in Tokyo.
This speech resonates with Sunja’s sacrifices for her family and highlights her desire to finally experience the world in 1989.
Hansu Makes a Bold Move in Pachinko Season 2 Episode 7
At the start of the episode, Hansu meets his father-in-law, and they discuss a man named Yoshii Isamu. Yoshii is taking over some of their black market sales, but Hansu’s father-in-law reassures him not to worry.
He reveals that the man set to marry Hansu’s daughter has decided that Hansu is not invited to the wedding. Later, Hansu shares his concerns with Sunja about his daughter marrying someone who hates him.
Sunja listens to Hansu reminisce about their days at the laundry cove. He recalls how happy they were but notes they were too naive to realize it. He expresses his inner turmoil, saying, “I’m rotting inside now.” Sunja advises him that he needs to cut out the rot to move forward.
In the final scene of the episode, Hansu’s father-in-law is at home when Yoshii arrives. Yoshii thanks him for help with the markets and suddenly stabs him in the stomach. The camera zooms out to show Hansu watching from the shadows, indicating that he orchestrated this assassination.
His father-in-law falls into a nearby koi pond, lifeless. This shocking act shows that Hansu will stop at nothing to achieve his goals and that he can be ruthless when seeking revenge for perceived slights.
This episode quickly moves the storylines along in both timelines. With only one episode left this season, many love stories have ended or grown more complicated. As Sunja’s friendship with Kato deepens, it may be time for her to live for herself after spending decades caring for others.
Sunja might discover that the most important love story is the one where she learns to love herself. Maybe she will heed Noa’s advice to always look forward to the future.
One significant theme in this episode is the tension between personal ambition and emotional connection.
Solomon’s betrayal of Naomi highlights the often harsh realities of corporate life, where relationships can be sacrificed for success. This betrayal challenges viewers to reflect on how ambition can sometimes overshadow love and loyalty.
Similarly, Sunja’s relationship with Kato presents a complex intersection of love and moral dilemmas. The pain of her past relationships, especially with Hansu, contrasts sharply with her desire for companionship in the present.
The episode beautifully captures the complexity of love in its many forms. Whether it’s the love of a parent, the bond between friends, or the bittersweet affection between Sunja and Kato, the show emphasizes that love is often intertwined with sacrifice, heartbreak, and difficult choices.
Each character is on their journey, grappling with their identities and desires amid societal pressures.
As viewers eagerly await the season finale, the emotional stakes are higher than ever. The relationships crafted throughout Pachinko have grown intricate and compelling, promising a powerful end that will resonate with audiences long after the credits roll.
This blend of personal and political storytelling illustrates how the characters’ lives are shaped by their love and the choices they make. In the end, Pachinko remains a poignant journey of the human experience, reminding us that love can both uplift and devastate, shaping the course of our lives in unforeseen ways.
