FEBRUARY 1869 Half a year had passed since the battle in Aizu.
March 1868 Amherst College, Massachusetts
NIIJIMA JO
Professor Cecil
Joe
You've been praying for quite some time.
A revolution has taken place in Japan,
and we have entered the Meiji Period.
Meiji?
It is a declaration of a bright future for Japan
created by a government that listen to the voice of its people...
Ah!
An ideal nation! That is wonderful to hear!
The wound of this revolution runs deep...
and there is no easy way to quiet people's pain.
I fear acts of revenge will lead to another war.
Let them shun hatred, and through love and justice of god...
may thus be revealed to our country
for the deaths and for the livings...
let them shun the sorrow..grudges...and hates.
Cloth for sale!
Anyone?
Yae was in Yonezawa Castle Town.
Mine, it's your turn.
We have beautiful cloth. Please buy some.
We're fully stocked today. How about this one?
How do you like it?
YAE NO SAKURA
Episode 30: Road to Recovery
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 Ura: Hasegawa Kyoko
Yamakawa Okura: Tamayama Tetsuji
Yamamoto Tokie: Tanimura Mitsuki
Matsudaira Katamori: Ayano Go
Kajiwara Heima: Ikeuchi Hiroyuki
Enomoto Takeaki: Yamaguchi Makiya
Hirosawa Tomijiro: Okada Yoshinori
Yamakawa Kenjiro: Katsuji Ryo
Yamakawa Hyoue: Yamamoto Kei
Kayano Gonbei: Yanagisawa Shingo
Niijima Jo: Odagiri Joe
Yamakawa En: Aikyoshi Kumiko
Saigo Tanomo: Nishida Toshiyuki
Executive Producer: Naito Shinsuke
Translations by MTI
Director: Suenaga So
How about this for your lady?
Lady? Are you of samurai birth?
Oh! You're from Aizu!
Excuse me... are you from Aizu?
I heard my home dialect.
Are you from Aizu too?
Are you Ms. Yae?
Do you know me?
Everyone knows about how you led the rifle squad.
What happened to your husband?
He was moved from Inawashiro to Tokyo.
Do you know how he is?
My husband was killed during the war.
Ochiyo, what are you doing?
This person is from Aizu too.
A samurai woman has to earn a living by selling these things?
Buy a roll of cloth.
I'll take this one.
Thank you very much. That'll be 500 mon.
Here. You must be hungry. Take this.
I don't want it.
What was that?
Thank you very much.
Let's go.
Yes.
I'm living at Tamura-ya's nearby.
Please come to visit.
Yae accepted Yonezawa clansman Naito Shinichiro's offer
to stay in his mansion's annex.
We're back.
Welcome back.
We're back.
You must be tired.
Not at all.
Wasn't it fun, Mine?
Yes. We sold one roll.
We also received these.
They're from a customer.
Please take these.
No, you eat them.
We can't repay you in any other way.
I'll deliver the rent later.
I can't collect rent from you.
I'll gratefully accept these.
The Yonezawa clan lost their lands to the new government.
Thereby making our lives hard.
But we're still better off than most Aizu people.
Sir Shonosuke!
What's wrong?
Mine, don't worry. There aren't bullets flying at us.
She must have become scared when she heard you moaning.
Yae, are you all right?
Yes...I am fine.
Mine, I'm sorry I scared you.
Go back to sleep.
We have to get up early.
Due to Yamakawa Okura's plea for clemency...
the new government reduced Katamori and his son's penalty...
in return for the head of the rebellion's mastermind.
MAY 18, 1869
Councilor Kayano Gonbei was to be executed on this day.
You have...
...assumed the entire blame for the war.
We are very sorry.
I led the forces in the castle.
I should be the one to assume the blame and commit harakiri.
Fool! What good will it do if we all die?
It's a samurai's honor to die for one's lord.
I can't let you have this honor.
Sir Kayano...
I have a letter from the retired lord.
From the retired lord?
Gonbei, I wanted to see you once more.
But I am not allowed to do so.
I shall never forget your loyalty.
This is a letter from Princess Teru.
I can't read it...
Please read it for me.
In dream or reality
How mortifying our feelings
will no longer be shared
Although the name of the faithful
will forever remain...
The name of the faithful
will forever remain...
I am truly honored.
I am touched by their kindness.
My only regret is...
I won't be able to see Aizu clear its name.
What we lost in war must be regained in war.
That's the samurai way.
Be sure to do that.
Otherwise...
Otherwise...!
The people who died won't find repose!
Someday...
We will surely...
This is farewell.
Meanwhile, the former Shogunate army encamped near Hakodate...
continued their fierce struggle along with the alliance stragglers.
Don't flinch! Shoot!
If you flinch, I'll kill you! HIJIKATA TOSHIZO
Go!
Fire!
Sir Hijikata!
Fire!
Shinsengumi!
However, Hijikata and others died.
They surrendered the day Kayano was executed.
The Boshin War that lasted 1-1/2 year has finally ended.
I feel badly towards the Aizu. ENOMOTO TAKEAKI
If I had rushed over with the fleet earlier...
...the outcome may have been different.
No...the new government's army would still have crushed Aizu.
At least Lord Katamori's life was spared.
I should have died for Lord Katamori.
Instead, Sir Kayano Gonbei...
...assumed full responsibility.
We, the defeated will lead a hard life from here on.
Let's submit to the enemy!
I'll continue to live.
I'm determined to live.
They trampled over...
...our Aizu.
I'll see what kind of country...
...our enemies will build.
Ms. Yae! Thank you for coming!
Please come inside.
Please have some tea.
Thank you very much.
Stop!
How kind of Ms. Yae to check your exercise.
Thank you very much!
Yes.
Chojiro, you must become strong like Ms. Yae.
Yes!
He's a spirited boy.
He needs to get revenge (for his father).
Ms. Yae...please teach me how to shoot.
In the next battle, I want to be able to shoot our foes.
Ms. Chiyo...I can't teach you how to shoot.
Why not?!
You entered the castle to avenge your brother!
Your father was killed too!
Don't you want revenge on Satsuma and Choshu?
Well, that is...
I want revenge for my husband!
I'll survive any disgrace until then to raise my son!
I'll raise Chojiro into a strong samurai and get my revenge!
Our despicable enemies are living comfortably right now.
Become a strong samurai and avenge your father.
Take revenge on Satsuma and Choshu!
Yes!
Are you at it again?
You talk about revenge and disgrace every day.
It's depressing.
You keep bringing up Aizu, but it doesn't exist anymore.
You're a loser.
Go to the back for food.
You're not supposed to be in this room.
Insolent!
What?!
Out of my way!
What are you doing?!
Stop acting high and mighty!
You're my mistress now!
You two would've had to die in distraught!
She's cold like a blade in bed.
Are all Aizu women like her?
I won't forgive anyone who ridicules the Aizu people!
Please don't!
Please forgive him.
If anything happens to him, Chojiro won't survive.
Out of my way!
I'm a pathetic woman.
You're not pathetic at all.
Survival is our battle now.
If we stay alive, we can return to Aizu someday.
Let's think of that as our mental support.
AIZU CLANSMEN'S CONFINEMENT QUARTERS IN TOKYO
Men, listen up.
We finally received approval to continue as a clan.
Is that true?
We did it!
We can return to Aizu!
The place is in ashes, so we'll have to rebuild!
Wait....Wait
We're not returning to Aizu.
We're receiving a 30,000 koku fief in Shimokita, Mutsu (Northern tip of Honshu)
Shimokita?
Aizu is our hereditary fief!
How are we supposed to build there?
We have to think of survival first.
Let's detach ourselves from our home province for now.
That's a huge reduction from 280,000 koku!
That's not restoring our clan!
We're practically banished!
Settle down!
I'm not convinced!
Please!
Sit down.
The new clan name...
...will be Tonami.
It means we are all under imperial rule.
Even the northernmost land is Imperial land.
We are not rebels, but citizens under the emperor.
No! We are Aizu clansmen!
Why give up our name to the new government?
Let's escape, attack the Ministry and fight Satsuma-Choshu!
Look!
It means to fight.
We are Aizu samurai.
We'll fight to regain our homeland and name someday.
We'll build up our strength first.
Trade is necessary for that.
Aizu had no sea shore, but Tonami does!
We'll build a strong province in the North!
We'll rise after that!
Think of all the lands as battlefields.
All right!
For our restored clan...
Sir Okura will be appointed as chief administrator.
Tonami is definitely not paradise.
It'll be rough managing the clan.
Brother (in-law), what is that about the administrator post?
I'm removing myself from all official duties.
I was the mastermind behind the war.
I had Sir Tanomo dismissed...
...formed the alliance and forged ahead with war.
Heima...
I can't participate in clan administration anymore.
I leave...everything to you.
Please!
Please raise your head.
The other day...
I received a letter from Kenjiro.
I heard you let Kenjiro escape. I am very grateful.
OCTOBER 1868
Oh, Saki.
Brother!
YAMAKAWA RESIDENCE
Kenjiro!
Why are you dressed like that?
Using Sir Akizuki's connection, I am delivering Kenjiro to study
under Choshu's Okudaira Kensuke in Echigo.
Choshu?
Heima, I'm not convinced.
Just do as I say.
Heima, thank you for arranging this.
How can I escape alone with Choshu's help?
I feel badly towards my comrades who died here!
Enough of this nonsense!
Shoulder the feelings of the dead!
You must live!
Go...Kenjiro.
Go for everyone's sake.
Take this.
It's a Yamakawa family heirloom.
Grandfather...
Study hard!
It'll benefit our clan!
Yes.
Kenjiro has exceptional talent.
He is Aizu's treasure.
It'll be a shame to let him rot.
I want to send him out into the world.
Brother (in law)...
Thank you very much!
That October...
Welcome back.
We're home.
It's cold to be doing this in the chilly weather.
The dyes colored better in chilly weather.
It's cold!
Ms. Yae!
Please.
Sir Okura!
Our clan will be restored.
Smells good!
We're having this tonight.
Shhhh!
We're celebrating tonight.
We'll be moving to Mutsu.
This is a start.
How are the Aizu people?
They are spirited.
They want to build back our strength against Satsuma and Choshu.
How about your family?
My grandfather passed away last year.
He was in his late 80's.
All the women are doing well.
They're staying in the Aizu villages.
Where's Uncle Shonosuke?
He's in Tokyo now.
He'll be going to Tonami also.
I'm sorry to interrupt.
Please join us.
I haven't had this in a while!
Mother...
A year has passed.
We've survived the year.
Let's celebrate together.
Yes...let's eat.
This is really delicious.
It's delicious.
Was it always this delicious?
Ms. Yae...
...will you come to Tonami?
Life may be harsher there than here.
But I'd like your help to build the new province.
I am...scared.
Scared?
The other day...
I almost killed someone who insulted Aizu.
When we were besieged in the castle...
I had planned to kill as many foes as I could before I died.
But that was a battlefield.
It was a battle to protect Aizu.
Yae, that's...!
I still want to avenge Saburo, my father, and everyone else!
Grudge will only hold you back.
You can't move forward.
That stewed dish earlier was too delicious.
I was happy to eat it with everyone.
Can I live like this for a little while longer?
I'm sorry for being selfish.
It's all right.
I'm sorry for asking.
Do you have any message for Sir Shonosuke?
Sir Shonosuke was saying...
On the day of the surrender, his selfish action...
...robbed you of your pride.
He's going to Tonami to get your pride back for you.
He wants to build a home town for you there.
He's going to Tonami with those feelings in his heart.
Please tell Sir Shonosuke...
I'll be waiting for him.
Yes.
In March of 1870...
The Aizu people traveled to their new homeland, Tonami.
KYOTO
I'm sorry to trouble you.
Thank you for your help.
Yes.
What a nice aroma.
Did you arrange flowers?
Yes, camellia.
I can't see but I can smell.
That's true.
Let's do our best to sell.
Yes.
Go on.
I'll be going then.
Bye.
END OF EPISODE 30
I'm a demon.
If I don't become one, everyone will die here.
He decides everything.
Sir Shonosuke is selfish.
It was my selfish wish.
Yamamoto Kakuma!
He's exactly how I heard of him.
Is Kakuma alive?
I have my female pride.
Mother!