They both did not disgrace the Yamamoto family.
Yes.
Please tell me how I can avenge Saburo.
I will...avenge him!
Yae!
Kakuma?
Welcome home!
Sister!
Congratulations.
Thank you.
The former Shogunate army was defeated at Toba-Fushimi.
The Yamamoto family was informed of Saburo's death
and Kakuma's unknown whereabouts.
The new government's army was approaching Aizu.
from Shirakawa, Nikko and Echigo.
MARCH 1868
Sir Yamakawa!
As Okura was heading to Nikko...
Please return immediately.
What's happening?
Sir Ouichi has arrived in Sendai.
Lord Date received orders to punish the Aizu.
So they've arrived.
KUJO MICHITAKA
Be sure to punish the Aizu.
Yes, sir.
SENDAI
Let the rebels punish themselves.
That's what the Governor-General thinks.
SERA SUZO (of CHOSHU)
Finally, it's in full bloom.
The season is over in Kyoto.
This land is behind in everything.
While viewing the cherry blossoms in Mutsu, I think...
Let us begin the battle before the flowers scatter
Eliminate the Aizu at once.
A lord of a remote land...
needs to distinguish himself to step into line with Choshu.
In March of 1868...
Lord Ouchi who encamped his army at Sendai...
would drag the entire Northeastern area into conflict.
YAE NO SAKURA
Episode 23: Save the Aizu
Screenplay: Yamamoto Mutsumi
Theme Music: Sakamoto Ryuichi Music: Nakajima Nobuyuki
Narrator: Kusabue Mitsuko
Kawasaki Yae: Ayase Haruka
Yamamoto Kakuma: Nishijima Hidetoshi
Kawasaki Shonosuke: Hasegawa Hiroki
Yamamoto Saku: Fubuki Jun
Yamamoto Gonpachi: Matsushige Yutaka
Yamamoto Ura: Hasegawa Kyoko
Yamakawa Okura: Tamayama Tetsuji
Takagi Tokio: Kanjiya Shihori
Jinbo Yuki: Ashina Sei
Hinata Yuki: Gouriki Ayame
Matsudaira Katamori: Ayano Go
Sagawa Kanbei: Nakamura Shido
Saito Hajime: Furuya Kenji
Kajiwara Heima: Ikeuchi Hiroyuki
Hirosawa Tomijiro: Okada Yoshinori
Nakano Takeko: Kuroki Meisa
Kurokouchi Dengoro: Musaka Naomasa
Sera Shuzo: Ozawa Hitoshi
Jinbo Kuranosuke: Tsukayama Masane
Tanaka Tosa: Sato Bsaku
Tokugawa Yoshinobu: Koizumi Kotaro
Katsu Kaishu: Namase Katsuhisa
Saiugo Chie: Miyazaki Yoshiko
Ooyama Yasuke: Sorimachi Takashi
Saigo Tanomo: Nishida Toshiyuki
Executive Producer: Naito Shinsuke
Translations by MTI
Director: Kato Taku
Saburo...let's practice hard again today.
They all don't look good.
It's cold even after spring started.
I hope it doesn't affect the crops.
Where is Ura?
She's cooped up in the house. I'm afraid she'll get sick.
Ura.
Please come with me.
To where?
Come...let's go.
Ready!
Begin!
NAKANO TAKEKO
Such awesome spirit! NAKANO TAKEKO
NAKANO YUKO
Both sisters are strong.
Mine will have to start learning the naginata soon.
It's your duty to practice with her at home.
You'd better brush up.
Swing it with all your might.
Your spirit will naturally follow your body.
Cowering isn't good for you.
Ms. Yuki.
Please let me practice.
Is she Sir Shuri's wife?
Yes.
The mourning period isn't over yet.
If I do nothing, I feel badly towards my husband.
All right.
Please come with me.
Ms. Yuki.
Please practice with me.
Yes.
All right, let's begin practice.
Yes!
Ready!
Begin!
I'll give it a try.
Kakuma left Mine in my care.
If I don't raise her to be strong, he'll scold me.
You're right.
Let's start with the swings.
Yes.
Ura...
I believe...
...that Kakuma is alive.
We'll be able to see him again someday.
You're right.
Let's practice now.
Yes.
APRIL 21 - KANEI-JI, UENO
Tokugawa Yoshinobu: There's no special emotion.
What?
My Shogunate started and ended in Kyoto...
with the dishonor of destroying the Shogunate.
But the Tokugawa head family survived.
Katsu...
who have you served until now?
Your Excellency.
You've served the Tokugawa Shogunate.
Not me.
Did I have any vassal?
Loyal vassals like Lord Aizu?
Your Excellency, it is time to depart.
Please have a safe journey back to Mito.
With this, the Tokugawa family will continue...
and Edo spared from war.
What will become of Aizu?
No...
Never mind.
On the morning Yoshinobu surrendered Edo Castle...
he left Edo to go to Mito.
Meanwhile...
By order of the Governor-General we will dispatch troops...
But the Sendai clan has no intent on battling the Aizu.
The Yonezawa clan (Uesugi) feels the same way.
Due to a poor harvest this year,
nobody wants to engage in battle.
My lord has deference as first priority.
Then prove it.
With Yoshinobu in Mito...
the power behind the former Shogunate is Aizu.
Sera (of Choshu) wants Tsuruga Castle...
and Lord Katamori's head.
That's a harsher punishment than what the Tokugawa endured!
We feel it's too harsh, also. That's why we are here.
We had our clan meetings.
As a form of deference...
our lord will leave the castle and confine himself...
and return part of the fiefs.
That won't do.
At the very least...
sacrifice three generals from the Toba-Fushima battle.
That would be...
If you don't agree...
we'll have to join in the expedition (against Aizu).
Then we'll fight with our lives to protect our province!
If you need a head...
Sir Heima!
Deliver my head!
We want to save Aizu also.
All the clans here know that Aizu is innocent.
Then please intercede!
If you obey, they will trample over our land!
This isn't only about Aizu!
Exactly. It concerns all of us (Easterners).
If the Sendai and Yonezawa clans appeal...
and the other clans unite to petition, it may be possible.
If we unite, the Governor-General cannot coerce us.
Please help us!
The strength of our clans is being tested.
Let's make our move.
Yes.
Please give us (Aizu) your support!
On April 4...
a joint notice was sent by the Sendai and Yonezawa clans...
telling all the clans to unite and save Aizu.
To prepare for the invasion from the new government...
the Aizu clan advanced their main forces to the province's borders.
Saigo Tanomo will head the Shirakawa force (South East).
Sagawa Kanbei will head to the Echigo border (West).
And Okura will head to the Nikko border (South).
The Shinsengumi will follow Tanomo and head to Shirakawa.
Yes, sir!
I heard Kondo Isami (commander of a Shinsengumi faction) died.
He was beheaded in Itabashi (after Koshu-Katsunuma battle where his 300 men fought 3000 Satsuma-Choshu troops).
The poor man.
Were you injured, too?
A blunder on my part.
He'll lead in my place for the time being.
I'm Yamaguchi Jiro.
I shall lead the Shinsengumi group to Shirakawa.
Yamaguchi?
Kanbei, what's wrong?
Nothing.
What's going on with the other clans?
All the local clans are leaning toward supporting Aizu.
But knowing Satsuma and Choshu...
even if we show submission...
they may still attack us.
We can't let our guard down.
Men...
I'm counting on you.
Yes sir!
The Aizu lord is a good man.
He said to build a grave for him in the fief.
For the chief (Kondo Isami)?
Kondo: I'm going to the Governor-General's camp.
That's foolish! It's suicidal to go!
I'm going to explain we are not rebels.
Don't! It's too dangerous!
I'll be right back.
Kondo!
It was foolish of him to go to the enemy camp.
We can build him a grave...
but there are no bones to bury.
Sub-chief.
I'll return as soon as I recover.
You're in charge (of the Shinsengumi) until then.
Yes, sir.
Saito.
Yes?
The age of the katana (sword) is over.
Did I scare you? Sorry. I'm with the Shinsengumi.
Praying for a family?
For my friend's younger brother.
He died at Toba-Fushimi battle.
Today is his monthly anniversary.
He died in that battle?
I work in the castle, so I can't go to offer incense.
So I pray here.
Can I pray with you?
There is someone I want to pray for, also.
Yes.
25 clansmen met in Shiroishi...
to sign a petition to save Aizu.
Twenty-five clans!
Lord Date of Sendai and Lord Uesugi of Yonezawa...
delivered the petition to the Governor-General.
There will be meeting to discuss peace.
Will it clear Aizu's name?
Yes. To begin with, Aizu was not wrong in any way.
We must be grateful.
Men from other clans stood up for Aizu.
They are our comrades.
Shonosuke, you have visitors from Yonezawa.
That was fast.
Yes. Excuse me.
I'm Yonezawa clansman, Naito Shinichiro.
Thank you for helping Aizu.
Thank you very much!
We couldn't allow them to trample on our lands.
We have gathered here in the name of duty.
We'll show you how to handle the modern rifles.
Yae.
Your wife?
Can she?
The bullets are loaded at the breach.
That's fast.
Unlike the outdated Gewehr rifles...
you can load the bullets from a low position.
I'm shocked!
I come from a family of conch blowers...
so I'm unfamiliar with rifles.
Conch blowing is archaic.
Yonezawa's military system is archaic.
We haven't engaged in battle for a long time.
Please hold it.
In that case...
This is truly modern!
It's been a while since the shop has been so lively.
It's like when Kakuma was here.
Secure it to your shoulder.
Yes.
More.
Sir Naito!
Give me some time!
I didn't expect to receive lessons from his beautiful wife.
Shape up!
Do it again!
Yes.
You're blushing!
Shape up!
This is a joint petition from our fellow clans.
Please be merciful.
What are you saying at this point?
Katamori committed a felony.
It doesn't matter if he apologizes or submits!
If you have time to bring this...
go and take the rebel's head!
At the Governor-General's camp in Edo...
A letter from Sir Katsu?
I'm amazed you escaped the Aizu hunt...
and made it here.
I was determined to see Sir Saigo.
See him, then what?
I'd like to ask him to stop the Aizu expedition.
Ever since Aizu was appointed as Kyoto Deputy...
Aizu has devotedly worked to protect Kyoto.
Please ask Sir Saigo to be merciful!
Wait here for a while.
Yes!
I'm glad I stayed back in Edo.
I can finally see Saigo.
We'll lock you up!
Where is Saigo?
Insolent!
Let me go!
I don't have time...
I'm running out of time.
APRIL 19 - FUKUSHIMA
I'm taking her.
Out of my way.
This is boring!
Entertain me.
Can't you even entertain?
Like lord, like vassal.
You're all useless!
Sera wrote this secret letter to the Kyoto Governor-General.
I intercepted it.
Look here.
He said we should all be eliminated as enemies.
The Sendai and Yonezawa clans need not be feared.
That (Choshu) low-life!
He can't be forgiven!
Shall we..?
Who are you men?
Stop!
We have a crisis!
Sera Shuzo (of Choshu) has been beheaded.
What happened?
The clansmen are talking about a petition in Shiroishi now.
Sera tried to send a letter to the Court...
asking to eliminate all the enemies.
With Sera slain, there is no room for peace negotiation.
We can't avoid war anymore.
Lord!
KOMINE CASTLE, SHIRAKAWA
The Governor-General has just-cause to attack us now.
The Satsuma-Choshu armies will be marching to Shirakawa.
Be prepared!
It's raining a lot this year.
Yae...Yae! Bring an umbrella!
Yes.
Where are you going?
To the castle.
At this hour?
The Governor-General's vassal was killed.
What?
There won't be peace talks.
The assassination of Sera changed their destiny.
Aizu and the other Eastern Clans were cornered into an all-out war.
(Mortar) Forty-five degree angle!
Forty-five degrees!
Aim!
Fire!
IJICHI MASAHARU
On target!
On May 1, the attack on Shirakawa Castle commenced.
What's happening at the lookout?
Our cannons can't reach the enemy.
What was that?
Our cannons lack the range to reach the enemy!
Aren't reaching them?
Ready! ARMSTRONG CANNONS
Fire! ARMSTRONG CANNONS
They're retreating!
Sir Saigo. It's dangerous here.
It's all or nothing.
Out of my way.
Do you plan to die?
I can't live in shame.
I'm dying with honor. Move.
No! We are in the middle of a war.
Yamaguchi, move! Out of my way!
Please don't!
Go back to the castle town!
I will stay here!
The Aizu clan suffered 300 casualties (in the battle at Shirakawa Castle).
Shirakawa Castle fell to the new government.
SETTAMURA, NAGAOKA
We lost at Shirakawa...
but our 25 clans have formed a pact to rise and fight.
We want the Nagaoka's help.
Will you be a servant to the Satsuma-Choshu...
or fight with us?
Please decide.
When we cleared out of Edo, I sold everything we had...
and purchased the Gatling gun.
It equals to what Satsuma and Choshu have.
Does that mean...?
We will join your pact with the other clans.
I am very grateful.
Let us turn the tables and defeat the Satsuma and Choshu!
Yes!
On May 6...
an alliance of 31 Eastern Clans was form.
It was a military pact that started out to save Aizu.
What's that?
I just got back from Shirakawa.
These are damaged rifles.
Old Geweher percussion muskets...
and matchlock Teppu.
The various clans were using obsolete fire-arms.
Will you help me?
I'm sorry, but I have to go to Nisshinkan.
I was asked to help treat the many wounded men.
They must be seriously hurt if the weapons look like this.
To think Shirakawa...
is now a battlefield.
Can we get Shirakawa back?
Of course we can. Sir Tanomo is our general.
We won't remain defeated.
You're right.
Oh, there you are. Please help here.
Hurry!
Yes!
This is part of war. Don't let it discourage you.
Let's get to it.
Yes.
Dress his wound.
Father! Mother!
Where is everyone?
Is our Lord safe?
Yae! Saburo! Ura!
Where did Aizu go wrong?
What?
No...I...
Where did I go wrong?
At Sir Shozan's school? In Kyoto? In Nagasaki?
I tried to see the world.
Ten years...a hundred years into the future.
I was supposed to find a prosperous path.
Yet...
Aizu is heading down the path of demise.
Sir.
There's nothing I can do.
Sir...!
I'm useless at a time like this.
Sir...
What is it?
What did you just say?
What?
Rise!
We don't need the Court, the Shogunate, or the Clans!
Just rise alone!
Rise!
Rise...
I get it.
There is something I can do.
There is still one thing I can do!
Are you all right?
Lay down.
Thank you.
Such warm hands...
It's already late. Go home.
Yes.
No... I'll stay a bit longer.
Yae?
Please let me help a bit more.
That summer, the war flames gradually surrounded Aizu.
END OF EPISODE 23
We should have left Kyoto right away that time!
Hold your tongue. You don't know the situation.
These are too outdated.
Our enemy is using modern weaponry.
From the first step of your newly created country...
it is distorted.
Nihonmatsu chose to stick with the pact...
rather than surviving by betrayal.
Fight with pride!
Fire!