AUTUMN 1862
You lack spirit!
Unless you're prepared to die, you're useless in battle.
Yes, sir!
Protect the lord on my behalf!
We will!
Next!
Thank you. Be careful now.
Well, well...
Autumn of 1862...
there were numerous divine killings in Kyoto.
Masterless samurai, vassals of nobles...
and police officers were assassinated.
Kyoto was steeped in blood.
YAE'S SAKURA
Episode 7: The Shogun's Head
Screenplay: Yamamoto Mutsumi
Theme Music: Sakamoto Ryuichi Music: Nakajima Nobuyuki
Narrator: Kusabue Mitsuko
Yamamoto Yae: Ayase Haruka
Yamamoto Kakuma: Nishijima Hidetoshi
Kawasaki Shonosuke: Hasegawa Hiroki
Yamamoto Saku: Fubuki Jun
Yamamoto Gonpachi: Matsushige Yutaka
Yamamoto Ura: Hasegawa Kyoko
Yamakawa Yoshichiro: Tamayama Tetsuji
Takagi Tokio: Kanjiya Shihori
Kajiwara Futaba: Ichikawa Mikako
Jinbo Yuki: Ashina Sei
Hinata Yuki: Gouriki Ayame
Matsudaira Katamori: Ayano Go
Sagawa Kanbei: Nakamura Shido
Jinbo Shuri: Saito Takumi
Kajiwara Heima: Ikeuchi Hiroyuki
Akizuki Teijiro: Kitamura Yukiya
Hirosawa Tomijiro: Okada Yoshinori
Sanjo Sanetomi: Sasai Eisuke
Yokoyama Chikara: Kunihiro Tomiyuki
Tanaka Tosa: Sato Bsaku
Emperor Komei: Ichikawa Somegoro
Hitotsubashi Yoshinobu: Koizumi Kotaro
Matsudaira Shungaku: Murakami Hiraoki
Saigo Tanomo: Nishida Toshiyuki
Executive Producer: Naito Shinsuke
Translations by MTI
Director: Suenaga So
With their first trip to Kyoto quickly approaching...
the clansmen were spending time with their families.
JINBO YUKI
JINBO SHURI
Yuki!
Oh, hello.
Are you going to the hot-springs, too?
Yes.
Congratulations on your marriage.
Thank you very much.
Let's go together.
Yes.
The divine killing haven't stopped in Kyoto.
These killings terrorize the people. That's what the assassins want.
It's beyond the control of the Magistrate and the Shoshidai
They're relying more and more on Aizu's military power.
According to the officials who were there before us,
some of the\ lawless samurai are plotting with the nobles.
Nobles, huh?
To take on such men in unfamiliar Kyoto...
requires not only strength, but a strategy.
Plotting and strategizing are not Aizu's forte.
But we must bring order (security) before the Shogun can come.
The duties of Military Commissioner are heavy.
Are you going to Kyoto?
What?
Futaba obtained clan approval to go, too.
I am not going.
My husband wants me to care for his parents.
How lonely for you. You just got married.
I am truly envious of Futaba.
It made it up there.
-What are you doing? -Testing my fortune.
If the stone lands on top, my wish will come true.
What did you wish for?
That I can work with Kakuma in Kyoto.
In that case...
I wish for Kakuma's success in Kyoto.
Yuki, try it, too.
Stop. Don't keep trying.
But...
I don't need luck.
I'll be back for sure.
Dear...
Don't worry. Just believe in me and wait.
I will.
YUMOTO VILLAGE
I wanted to get you employed before I left, but I could not.
Aizu needs to change.
I don't mind. I can still work on modifying the rifles.
I'm thinking about building a reverberator at Mt. Seaburi.
Reverberator?
For the artillery casting?
If need be, use the temple's bell to make cannons.
When the time comes, propose that to the superiors.
I will.
Hold down the fort for me...
at the Dutch school, home, and with the Aizu clan.
I will.
But for home, there is someone more suitable (Yae).
Oh!
Don't forget to buy Ura a gift tomorrow.
I know.
Come to think of it, I never bought her anything.
While you're away, I'll hold down the fort at home.
I will help, too.
Please rest assured.
Shonosuke was right.
What?
Nothing.
Ura and Mine have me.
I won't marry until you return.
You'll miss your chance.
It doesn't bother me. I have no prospect.
NONE at all?
I'll polish my shooting skills and wait for your return.
All right.
Are you still at it?
Ura!
Oh... Mother!
It's late already...so stop.
Yes...but just a bit more.
How's Ura?
Still weaving.
She wants to give him a new kimono before he departs.
I see.
Dear, how many ear cleaners are you giving him?
If it breaks en route, he'll be in a bind.
What about you? You're making more socks.
If he wear worn socks, he'll be embarrassed at the palace.
Why would Kakuma go to the palace?
He won't?
No.
Kyoto is so far away.
We don't know how it is there, so this is all we can do.
Yes.
Then, finally the day of departure...
Load the bullet from here.
It's faster than pushing it in from the muzzle.
You're right.
This is the type of gun that Perry gave to the Shogunate when he arrived.
It's well-made.
I'll have it perfected by the time you return.
I'll help him.
All right. Work hard.
I will!
Kajiwara Heima
Kajiwara Futaba
Jinbo Shuri
Jinbo Yuki
Yamamoto Kakuma
Yamamoto Family Saburou Gonpachi Saku Ura
What is this?
Yae kept nagging me, so I bought it at the hot spring.
Thank you.
It matches you.
Yes.
You look beautiful.
I'll leave Mine to you.
She'll be big by the time I return.
I can't wait to see how pretty she'll become.
Dear.
be safe...
Please come home safely.
Sir Shonosuke, look! They're over there already!
Kakuma! Goodbye!
Please come home safely!
Everyone left as guards.
The men going to Kyoto were gathered at Edo first.
Having been appointed as Military Commissioner...
is an honor for us.
With the departure tomorrow...
the Lord would like to say a few words.
Raise your heads.
As you all know...
right now, the Shogunate and the Court must join hands...
and proceed in government matters.
But first...
there must be order in Kyoto.
As Military Commissioner, the responsibilities are heavy.
But the only ones who can fulfill them...
are us, the Aizu clan.
Let's not disgrace our ancestors' names...
and devote ourselves to the task.
May we be one in soul...
to keep Kyoto safe.
I'm counting on all of you.
Yes, sir!
The Lord has rice cakes and sake for you tonight.
Enjoy them fully.
It'll be a cold journey.
Everyone, take care.
Yes, sir!
Lord Katamori departed Edo the next day.
On December 24, 1862, he crossed Sanjo Bridge with his army...
of 1,000 and entered Kyoto as the Military Commissioner.
They look brave.
What a relief for Kyoto.
Look...What a handsome lord.
KONKAI KOMYOJI TEMPLE
Lord Katamori entered the main camp at Konkai Komyoji Temple.
He visited Imperial Regent Konoe's mansion that same day.
People in Kyoto are fond of gossip.
I heard the Aizu procession was like a picture from a scroll.
I know nothing about Kyoto.
Please give me guidance.
You're a thoughtful person.
Sir Konoe is known as the Sat-shu Regent.
What is that?
It means he's pro-Satsuma.
Satsuma, Choshu and Tosa currently hold power in Kyoto.
They all have nobles who support them.
Bribery binds the nobles and the western clans.
The pro-Choshu nobles are terrible.
The fearlessly issue imperial orders...
under the emperor's name.
They are headed by Sanjo Sanetomi.
He's malicious, so be wary of him.
Come to the palace to extend your New Year's greetings.
Yes, sir.
NEW YEAR'S OF 1863
I can't get any.
Next time, for sure.
I got it!
I got the matching card!
Take a break and have something to eat.
That looks delicious!
I should be going. Grandmother is waiting.
Eat first.
All right.
Yuki, are you staying?
I'm going to finish the card game with Yae.
Shall we go at it then?
Okichi, tell Yuki's parents she's staying a bit longer.
Mother.
Do the people in Kyoto dress like this?
Those are old pictures.
My father said the nobles dress in traditional attire.
There are many old traditions as well,
so the vassals will have a hard time in Kyoto.
I wonder how Kakuma is doing.
I wonder if he had a safe New Year.
Everyone in Kyoto, please be kind to Kakuma.
What good is it to pray to the cards?
Please!
IMPERIAL PALACE
This is Minamoto no Katamori.
I, Katamori, am here to serve you as Military Commissioner.
Thank you for coming from afar.
We are happy that you arrived safely.
Is that the Lord of Aizu?
He's still young.
He has clear eyes.
It is an extreme honor...
to receive this gift from His Majesty.
It's my robe. Turn it into a surcoat for your armor.
Yes, sir!
He received His Majesty's garment.
It's rare for His Majesty to bestow one to a samurai.
Yes, it is.
It's a first since the Shogunate was established in Edo.
That's our lord!
How auspicious!
Let's inform the whole clan.
Good idea!
I'll spread the word!
I have good news!
His Majesty had gifted to our lord, his garment!
I have good news!
Shuri.
Why...?
Yes?
In my first audience...
HIs Majesty gifted me with his clothing...
and bestowed words.
Your sincere devotion...
must have been felt by him.
Does His Majesty know...
the pro-Court samurai are issuing false imperial orders?
We cannot let Kyoto be tainted with more blood.
We must find a way to settle matters peacefully.
Shogun's guardian Yoshinobu and head of politics Shungaku
came to Kyoto shortly afterward.
Open discussion?
That is correct.
Listen to the opinions of those below?
Yes.
How would that help wipe out the lawless men?
By listening carefully to what they have to say,
we can explain with sincerity.
I see what you mean. That is a plan.
No! That is too lenient!
Too lenient!
We must wipe them out before the Shogun arrives!
Random arrests may incite more disorder.
We should take the initiative to reconcile.
But discussions take time and effort.
My main camp welcomes all visiting samurai with open ears.
Don't tell me you hear them out personally?
My vassals and I are one and the same.
Oh...how admirable of you.
Then proceed with this plan.
However, I'm busy and cannot be bothered with it.
I'll leave matters to you.
Do as you see fit.
The country is in crisis.
Sir Yoshinobu is eloquent and intelligent,
but he cannot be trusted.
If he doesn't get his way,
he feigns illness and threatens to resign.
He keeps pulling that stunt as the shogun's guardian.
But he does have a point.
Open discussion alone won't resolve it.
In their shadows are the various western clans' ambitions.
There is nothing that sincerity cannot move.
What?
One's sincerity can move a person more than a hundred strategies.
I am sure there is someone who will understand.
With logic and emotion, something might change.
I'm Sakanashi Seijiro, a Bushu-Oshi clan deserter!
Please hear me out!
Here comes another.
Coming.
All right...done.
That hurts...
Thanks to Saku, more people are coming for vaccination.
My mother feels sorry for Princess Toshi who passed away (of smallpox).
If only she had been vaccinated.
It was truly a shame.
I'm too scared, after all.
Come now! A samurai's daughter cannot be so timid.
I'm going to be gone soon.
Yes.
Go on.
Is your departure date for Kyoto set?
Yes...end of February.
That is soon.
Aren't you afraid of the killings?
My husband wrote that things are calming down.
Is that right?
I'm glad to hear that.
Kakuma might be able to return soon.
However...
FEBRUARY 23, 1863
Please let us through.
Excuse me.
Why, this is...!
They were heads of the three Ashikaga shoguns
taken from the statues at Toji-in Temple.
This is strange. Why are the statue-heads here?
Read the sign.
The Ashikaga shoguns are rebels who slighted the Court.
The shoguns are rebels?
Is this an indirect spite of the Tokugawa Shogunate?
The culprits were quickly found.
Aizu spy, Oba Kyohei, infiltrated the group.
Takauji had a court rank.
Dishonoring his head, is disgracing the Court.
Yes.
The samurai who rant to revere the emperor...
Why would they do this?
Oba!
I am the one who displayed those heads!
What?
The Ashikaga shoguns' heads represent the current Shogun's head.
It's a threat he'll be beheaded for not being anti-alienist.
Behead the shogun?
Didn't you infiltrate the group to investigate them?
You didn't join them, did you?
I don't know.
I lapsed into delirium.
Please allow me to commit suicide.
This is insane.
What is "revere the emperor and expel the foreigners"?
It's just an excuse to overthrow the Shogunate.
Their motto has turned into a sign...
and their real aim is to overthrow the Shogunate.
Overthrow the Shogunate?
The open discussions mean nothing then!
I...was a fool.
Lord!
I order the arrest of those lawless men!
Don't let a single man escape.
Going forward...
they shall be severely punished.
Yes, sir!
Huh?
Yamakawa Okura
Sir Okura?
Yae.
I'm here to see Sir Kawasaki about the rifles.
I was going to your house to deliver Futaba's farewell gift.
Thank you for your thoughtfulness.
Actually, I received a clan order, too.
What?
It's down the road, but...
I'll be going to Kyoto in the summer.
You are going to Kyoto?
Yes.
Before I go to Kyoto...
I wanted to...
I'm sorry to keep you waiting.
I thought the divine killings had subsided.
They're starting up again, before the Shogun's arrival.
No...
I thought Kakuma would be coming home soon.
The Lord has decided to implement strict controls.
I thought so.
So that was the outcome.
I hope Aizu's military power won't do disservice.
What do you mean?
Those with strength are first praised...
then feared..and hated at the end.
That is what Kakuma feared.
Hated?
We're protecting the Court by Shogunate orders.
They went to faraway Kyoto to do their duties.
How can that be?
Why would Aizu be hated?
I wish I were a man.
Not being able to do anything is unbearable.
There are a lot of things out of our controls.
They are the Mibu group under Aizu's supervision.
Aizu's hands are being stained with blood.
The biggest nuisance is Aizu.