Watch the special ED again.
The split framing in the episode is a metaphor for how we are all interconnected in a CITY, and how doing nice things for one another, it spreads and grows. This CITY was founded on the kindness of one man, the original Tanabe. He had poor, ragged clothes, and the people in the VILLAGE were also poor and suffering. But he helped as many of them as he could, cheered them up. And in return, they loved him. So all the villagers came to help build up his house, and the VILLAGE grew, and he continued to help them. Even Buddha helped him when tragedy struck. Current day Tanabe has carried on that tradition. The more hospitality you give to others, the more the CITY will prosper.