Being Natural (Tennen Seikatsu) - attempt at explaining the ending.

Being Natural (Tennen Seikatsu)

So why the bonkers third act…

Go back to the funeral and the argument over Shinto vs. Buddhism…

The end is Taka essentially becoming a kami (Shinto diety)..  He is pushed to extremes and in the end transcends… but the question is being dead evil? Well yes and no… He extracts his revenge (murder for the man who killed his turtle, symbolically poisoning the daughter, hurting the mom by having her daughter reject her); But we know he is really a nice guy at heart… so he becomes a benevolent kami who in time will be worshipped. Not in any large way, just the simple leave an offering at a shrine as he brings light and warmth to the city. (the pastoral country making its presence known).

(based on my half assed understanding of Japanese culture… so I’m sure I’m way off base. :-) )