No means no!
Why?
You are only 16.
My friends have volunteered!
That's their choice!
I'll fall behind. Do you want me to be mocked as a coward?
Enough! No is no!
Saburo.
What happened?
It's the first time Saburo defied you.
He wants to join Sir Sagawa's group.
The separate group that is going to Kyoto?
He's fallen for the hype! What a fool!
Hey...
Why did you say that to father?
You know he wouldn't want you to be a coward.
I know you want to distinguish yourself quickly.
No, you don't!
What?
What would you know?
YAE'S SAKURA
Episode 11: Kill the Kyoto Deputy!
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 Okura: Tamayama Tetsuji
Takagi Tokio: Kanjiya Shihori
Hinata Yuki: Gouriki Ayame
Matsudaira Katamori: Ayano Go
Sagawa Kanbei: Nakamura Shido
Kajiwara Heima: Ikeuchi Hiroyuki
Jinbo Shuri: Saito Takumi
Akizuki Teijiro: Kitamura Yukiya
Hirosawa Tomijiro: Okada Yoshinori
Jinbo Kuranosuke: Tsukayama Masane
Yokoyama Shuzen: Kunihiro Tomiyuki
Tanaka Tosa: Sato Bsaku
Emperor Komei: Ichikawa Somegoro
Hitotsubashi Yoshinobu: Koizumi Kotaro
Katsura Kogoro: Oikawa Mitsuhiro
Princess Teru: Inamori Izumi
Sakuma Shozan: Okuda Eiji
Executive Producer: Naito Shinsuke
Translations by MTI
Director: Kato Taku
JULY 11, 1864
SHOZAN WAS IN KYOTO TO URGE THE OPENING OF THE COUNTRY
HIS ACTION GREATLY ANGERED THE ANTI-ALIENISTS
He's here!
Master, you're in good spirits.
My hard work may finally bear fruit.
I'm happy to hear that.
Are you Sakuma Shozan with the Matsuhiro clan?
Who are you men?
Divine punishment!
Traitor! You plotted to abduct the emperor!
Prepare to die!
Fools!
Can't you see it's for the sake of our country?!
Out of my way!
The life of Japan depends on my strategy.
Sir Kakuma!
Why the pale face?
Sir Shozan was attacked on his way home.
Where is he?
Sir...!
Of all things!
Who killed him?
We were suddenly attacked from behind.
He was on his way home after seeing the prince.
Who attacked him?
We don't know.
Look at this.
A written vindication.
It condemns him for trying to open the country...
and plotting His Majesty's transfer to Hikone.
That the Aizu clan has a hand in this.
Our moves have been leaked.
Yes.
Loyalists, my foot!
Sir...
There's hype about Sir Sagawa's group at the Nisshinkan.
Rarely do second and third sons get an opportunity.
Saburo is only 16.
He's neither skilled with a bow or a spear.
He won't be of much use in Sir Sagawa's group.
I can understand if it's a rifle squad.
He used to follow me around and imitate me.
Oh...are you lonely?
That's not it.
He's going to have a hard time being independent.
HIs two older siblings are too gallant.
What?!
I'm going to the sewing class.
I'm not only gallant.
Don't stare at the needle point. Relax and hold it loosely.
Yes.
Sit up straight.
Keep the cloth in front of you.
Yes.
Yae, it sounds like you're giving them rifle lessons.
Do I?
Tokio taught them gently. You are drilling them too harsh.
Yuki, are you talking again? Keep quiet during lessons.
Yes.
How cute.
It adds class to the kimono.
Here, too.
Where do you find the time to do this?
It's because I enjoy it.
Just like you with your rifles.
Thank you for the lesson.
Let's go home.
I received a letter from Tokio.
Really?
My eyes are getting worse. Please read it for me.
Yes.
"It's in the peak of heat, but I hope you are doing well."
Miss Yae!
Is Sir Saburo joining Sir Sagawa's group?
What?
Everyone is volunteering.
I want to go to Kyoto, too.
Me too.
Hey, you are the Takagi's eldest son.
Yes.
Miss Yae, please tell us more about rifles.
Let's go.
Is Saburo going to Kyoto?
No, my father won't allow it.
That's good to know.
Yae, continue.
"With everyone's guidance, I am managing somehow."
"Please do not worry."
My Lady, it's dangerous.
Do not worry.
Tokio.
Please help us.
Yes.
The vivid green leaves are good.
Yes.
I'm sorry.
Sake made with pine leaves is good for coughing.
She's sending it to the lord in Kyoto.
The pine leaves from the castle may console the lord.
I hope your prayers reach him....
and he recovers quickly.
Lord?
I'm all right.
YOKOYAMA.
If times were peaceful...
I could've sent you home sooner.
Thank you for working hard with a chronic illness.
I've caused you hardship.
More than me...
I'm worried about you, who still works while being ill.
Don't worry about me.
I'll be granted a place to stay in the palace.
His Majesty has offered his physician to me.
Please take care of yourself.
Will you do something for me?
Is it about Akizuki?
I understand very well.
I'm counting on you, Yokoyama.
Yes, sir.
Take care of yourself.
YAMAZAKI - TENNOZAN CHOSHU CAMP
Sakuma Shozan was attacked.
Did he die?
It was divine punishment for collaborating
with the Aizu rebels and moving His Majesty to Hikone.
MAKI IZUMI
So he died.
What good timing.
We won't have to worry about His Majesty's issue.
KUSAKA GENNAI
Our (Choshu) reinforcements are coming from the Western approach!
A huge army of 600!
The Court ordered the approaching Choshu army to withdraw.
However, new forces kept arriving to join them.
Another 600 soldiers...
have arrived from Choshu.
600?
They say they're here to quell the unrest, but...
they're definitely reinforcements for the local Choshu force.
The Choshu army now has 2,000 men.
That's more than the Aizu army of 1,600.
When will Sir Hitotsubashi make his move?
He dislikes confrontations.
Inshu, Bizen, Eishu, Chikuzen...
In Kyoto, many clans favors the Choshu.
At this rate, Aizu will be isolated...
and Choshu will regain power.
Akizuki!
That's Hirosawa.
Hey!
I'm coming in.
What's up?
I have bad news.
The Sakuma family has been abolished.
What?
Sir Shozan worked for the country.
He doesn't deserve that!
It's because of the back wounds.
There were about a dozen wounds on him.
Most of them were on his back and waist.
Proving he had his back open to the enemies.
Which is cowardly as a samurai.
"Fools!"
I'll talk to the Matsushiro clan!
It's useless!
This is too much!
That's just an excuse!
The Matsushiro clan are afraid of the anti-alienists.
There must have been clansmen who were against Sir Shozan.
Sir Shozan was killed twice.
Once by the assassins.
Then second time, by his clan's stupidity.
We can't only blame the Matsushiro clan.
Aizu dragged Akizuki down!
I know that, yet I can't do anything about it.
Actually...there's something I want you to do.
The Choshu will definitely attack.
They're waiting for a sure victory.
Sure victory?
Lord Mori's (daimyo of Choshu) arrival?
I'm going back to the home province tomorrow.
I want to prevent Choshu from usurping Kyoto.
Or our struggles last August will be for naught.
If you don't do anything...
Aizu will be ousted next.
I agree.
Have a drink.
Did Choshu withdraw?
They haven't move yet.
Lord Katamori is ill.
Hitotsubashi is indecisive.
The pro-Choshu nobles are gaining momentum.
If they enter Kyoto, the tide will completely change.
I'm not done yet! Once again!
With such poor skills, you're useless!
I'm not done yet!
Hey, that's enough.
I'm not done yet!
Saburo?
Huh?...What happened?
It's from yari (spear) practice.
Get a grip on yourself!
Young Master!
What happened?
They wouldn't go this far in practice.
Is it a fight?
Did you ask Sir Sagawa to join his group?
Yes, I did.
Going behind my back!
Fool!
Father!
Shall I go to call him?
I'll go.
Stay out of this.
Yes.
It's not complete yet.
It requires more adjustments before it can be accepted.
I want to extend the shooting distance.
I'm sorry.
You worked hard to make it for Aizu...
but the superiors didn't even give you the time of day.
I know it's an excellent rifle.
But I can't go anywhere, or to anyone, with my opinions.
Is that why you volunteered?
If you join the group, you become a legitimate clansman.
You can ask the superiors about the new rifles.
Is that why?
I have to fill Kakuma's shoes right now.
What you did was reckless.
You are still young.
How else can a greenhorn speak to the superiors?
Reckless or not, if I don't act, nothing will happen.
That's what Kakuma said too.
What?
If you told that to your father, he wouldn't have hit you.
I can't tell my father.
I know as a fact...
gunnery families are looked down upon...
and the superiors won't take you seriously.
I've watched my father experience hardships.
Sir Sagawa!
Good morning.
Are you here to see my father? I'll go and call him.
No!
Are you Yae?
Yes, I am.
Your younger brother wants to join my group.
Despite my refusal, he keeps coming back.
I beat him with the spear, but he doesn't give up.
I'm sorry!
No matter how many times he asks, I can't take him along.
Yes.
I can't ask a 16 years old to give up his life.
But his determination as a samurai is impressive.
If he were a few years older...
I would've insisted on taking him along.
Sir Sagawa...
Father.
Sir Sagawa was just here.
Saburo is a determined boy.
He's my brother, after all.
Step aside.
I've been doing this from way before you were born.
It's not easy to change things.
You can't get it right on the first try.
But if that is the right thing, you have to keep trying.
...and change things a little bit at a time. That's what I've done.
Don't take me lightly.
I won't.
I might've been taking my son lightly, though.
You are a fine Aizu man.
Father.
Bring the ash bucket.
Yes!
Sir Shonosuke!
Forgot something.
What did I forget?
I'm the one who forgot.
I forgot to tell you.
Thank you...about Saburo.
Have a nice day.
At Hachimangu, near Tennozan in Yamazaki...
It looks dangerous.
I'm scared.
This place is filled with Choshu men.
If they know we're with Aizu, we're dead.
I'm not leaving without an investigation.
If we sneak around, we'll arouse suspicion.
Let's go in boldly.
Don't say anything. Our dialect will reveal us.
Let us crush the rebel, Aizu.
Our foe is Matsudaira Katamori!
They're after our lord's life.
We'll be dying in vain!
We are stronger than Aizu! Let's attack them!
Aizu isn't our only enemy.
Satsuma also has entered Kyoto.
We shouldn't hesitate. The enemy is growing.
By joining the Inaba and Bizen clans, we'll regain power in Kyoto.
I disagree, Sir Katsura.
We should go to war.
I agree!
But we should wait until the young lord (Mori) arrives.
If you're not going to act...
my troop will attack alone!
It's just a matter of 10 days!
That's when we'll have our decisive battle.
What are you doing there?
Hey, come here!
Hurry up!
Line up!
What's the commotion?
They are suspicious.
Kill them.
Kill us? That's brutal.
Isn't this where we get the red seal?
We were told to come here.
Isn't that right?
We can't leave without a red seal.
Sir Kijima, no trouble before our big cause.
All right.
Go!
Yes, sir.
That was scary.
What a shocker! You are quite an actor!
You speak the Kyoto dialect very well.
I don't hang around the Gion district for nothing.
Let's report it immediately.
Only ten days before Choshu's main army arrives?
That's what they said.
How did the meeting end?
We didn't get that far.
We have no time to waste.
If they make the first move, we won't be able to defend.
Once they attack, they'll move against the palace at once.
The palace? That's absurd!
They are after our lord, who is residing at the palace.
We must act quickly.
We must force Sir Hitotsubashi into action.
Inform the lord at once.
We'll ask Sir Hitotsubashi to make his decision.
It's finally going to be war.
I understand.
Will you issue the command to punish Choshu then?
After we shake them up.
What?
They must withdraw within a few days
or we'll launch a full-scale attack.
Even at this point...
Many people in Kyoto support Choshu.
I can't allow Kyoto to be split in two.
But...
Last August, Aizu joined hand with Satsuma to topple Choshu.
Was that His Majesty's wish?
What are you saying?
That's what some are saying.
Are we going to wait?
Choshu is preparing for war!
Let us go to Nijo Castle to persuade Lord Hitotsubashi!
We'll attack Choshu ourselves!
Wait! Calm down!
We have no time!
Choshu will be attacking!
Don't make any move!
We'll protect our lord!
No...it'll turn into a riot.
Lord Hitotsubashi is here for a Court meeting now.
JULY 18, 1864
I repeat.
Ever since the incident last August...
His Majesty has not had a change of heart.
Despite Choshu's banishment from Kyoto...
it is unforgiveable they are approaching with an army.
Furthermore, they ignore our order to withdraw...
and bear total disregard to the Imperial Court.
If we let them off, the Court will lose its authority,
and Kyoto will fall to ruin.
Sweep Choshu's army away at once!
Yes, Your Majesty.
On July 18, 1864...
the imperial order to punish Choshu was issued.
Marry Shonosuke.
I refuse!
I've thought of him as my older brother all along.
How can I marry him?
Rifle squad, step forward!
Fire!
Take Lord Aizu's head!
It's a battle of rifles and cannons.
It will be serious.
Kakuma!
Kakuma...are you safe?