Special Drama
A very small country is
about to become a civilized nation.
Three men lived in Iyo-Matsuyama in the Shikoku region.
Saneyuki Akiyama was born in this old castle town.
Saneyuki
During the Russo-Japanese War,
he planned the tactics to defeat the unbeatable Baltic Fleet.
And he successfully executed them.
His older brother was Yoshifuru Akiyama.
Yoshifuru
He trained the Japanese cavalry
to defeat the Cossacks, which was the world's strongest cavalry.
It was a miraculous feat.
The third man marked a new phase in Japanese Haiku and Tanka.
He became the founder of new literary forms, Shiki Masaoka, the poet.
Shiki
All three possessed the typical disposition of the Meiji era.
They only looked at what was ahead of them.
If there were white clouds glistening in the blue sky high above a hill,
they would only focus on the clouds and climb the hill.
Cloud Above the Slope
Episode Five: An Exchange Student
Shiki's duty at war ended quickly as if it was a child's play.
Instead of returning to Tokyo, he chose to return to his hometown, Matsuyama.
September, 1895
The battleship Saneyuki was on, Tsukushi, returned to Kure.
Saneyuki was aware of Shiki's illness and his condition.
So he paid a visit to Shiki in Matsuyama.
Shiki's illness went in a remission in Matsuyama.
Fortunate for Shiki, his college mate, Soseki Natsume, moved to Matsuyama.
Soseki was assigned to teach English at a middle school in Matsuyama.
Soseki was living in the central part of Matsuyama.
Shiki moved in the same house and rented two rooms on the first floor.
I heard Nobo-san and Kinnosuke are sharing a house.
I'm my brother's nurse now.
Please come in.
Brother will be back soon.
I heard Nobo-san coughed up blood again.
He couldn't even get out of bed for a while.
But he has many friends here in Matsuyama.
He has haiku gatherings with them and doing much better.
That's good.
I'll make tea.
Oh, I almost forgot.
Thank you.
Has Jun-san arrived?
I'm here.
Welcome back to Matsuyama.
I got a day off, so I came on the late night boat.
That's nice of you. Thanks.
You look well.
It's the power of Matsuyama.
I feel as if I shed a sick layer.
I envy you.
About what?
About your messy room.
You envy about the mess?
I have to keep my surroundings always tidy in the navy.
You used to be a lot messier than I am.
Nobo-san can stay as you are.
I envy that.
By the way, the Japanese military was quite impressive.
The enemy wasn't strong.
Were Qing soldiers that feeble?
Actually, I'd say the enemy lost for us.
The Japanese navy fought a good battle.
But their skills are still inferior.
The Japanese navy's level doesn't meet your high standard.
What type of ship were you on?
I want to hear your battle tale.
Did you get hit by the enemy?
Yes, one time.
I was on a rather small gunboat.
We were always following big ships.
But,
we had an opportunity to attack an enemy's battery.
Tell me.
We got attacked by a monster shell.
The shell didn't explode.
it hit the port side and penetrated through the main deck.
It left out of the starboard
and it sunk in the ocean.
Because of my command,
I lost my favorite subordinate.
Hanada...
I thought of
becoming a monk.
I've been contemplating ever since that incident.
I haven't found my answer.
Jun-san, you still have plenty of time.
Take your time.
I went to Port Arthur as a war correspondent.
But I didn't get to see any battles.
What I saw was
the wind.
Rising cloud of yellow dust. I had to keep my eyes closed.
Once a prosperous China is about fall with the yellow dust.
If we make one wrong move,
Japan could face the same consequence as China.
This is a poem I wrote in China.
"As the wind blows from the mountains, I reminisce my country and
the fluttering cherry blossom petals along the Sumida river"
Ritsu, bring us the noodle with sea beam.
Yes?
That's Jun-san's favorite. Let's serve it to him.
And I'll have the fresh blood of the soft-shell turtle he brought me.
Of course.
A hearty appetite as usual.
Gluttony is my virtue.
With that appetite, I'm certain you'll be cured.
Let's meet again in Tokyo.
Sounds good.
Can we join you for the noodle?
All of you.
Let me introduce the famous Lieutenant Akiyama to all of you.
Matsuyama's hero is visiting us.
Master Saneyuki Akiyama, Banzai!
Banzai! Banzai!
Quiet!
Keep your voice down!
All this country's citizens say is Banzai ever since the war.
I've had enough.
Kinnosuke.
Hey, it's you, Akiyama.
You look quite respectable now.
I'm just an English teacher in this country town.
I'm not the type to chase success in my career.
And everyone's obsessed about Westernization in this country,
ignoring all the good things Japan has to offer.
This is a good example.
Dogo Hot Spring again.
Unlike a soldier, we the effeminate can't work for the country.
So why not just enjoy the hot spring?
Whatever the case, stay as long as you want.
Come in.
Thank you.
Dogo Hot Spring
I'm not meant to be a teacher.
I'm disgusted with myself.
But
I discovered a lot now that I'm away from Tokyo.
That's good enough.
Ten years later, Soseki would chronicle his teaching life in Matsuyama
in a novel titled "Botchan."
What's the truth?
Is he getting worse?
He coughed blood a lot after he returned from China.
But
thanks to the care by his disciples, he's much better.
Mother recommended him to get care in Tokyo.
But he insisted on returning to Matsuyama.
He seems to think this is his last time to be in Matsuyama.
He does.
I'll do it.
I will cure Brother.
Nobo-san is one lucky guy to have such a nice sister.
But he's not satisfied with the situation.
He wants you to get married and have children.
That's his wish.
He asked me to talk to you.
What about you? Why do you stay single?
That's because...
Why?
I'm a serviceman.
My life belongs to the country.
So I won't marry.
I'm the same.
I'm the younger sister of Shiki Masaoka after all.
I won't marry until Brother is cured.
No children until then.
Every time I send you off,
you become a greater man.
All I do is
just send you off.
I'm the only one who doesn't change.
Thanks for waiting.
Jun-san.
"I bite into a persimmon and a bell resounds, Horyuji"
On October 19, Shiki left his friend, Soseki, and his hometown Matsuyama.
He headed to Tokyo, but he decided to take a scenic route.
He visited Kyoto and its vicinity.
"A great statue of Buddha, stands tall in the autumn wind"
"Autumn rice fields, lucky to be alive as I head home"
"Dusk falls as I walk a field path one autumn day"
Caries, that would torture Shiki in his later years, attacked him during his trip.
Prime Minister, Hirobumi Ito
Munemitsu Mutsu, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Kaoru Inoue, Former Minister of Home Affairs
Dear...
Mutsu.
What was the purpose of the war with China?
Does the Minister of Foreign Affairs start a war without a reason?
To make Korea an independent nation.
Isn't that right?
About this time, a significant incident took place in Korea.
Goro Miura, then the minister to Korea, led a group of Japanese and orchestrated
Goro Miura, Minister to Korea
Queen Min Assassination
the assassination of Queen Min of Korea.
By winning the Sino-Japanese War, Japan acquired Liaodong Peninsula.
However, due to the Triple Intervention of Russia, France and Germany,
Japan was forced to return the territory to China.
Queen Min sought out stronger ties with Russia to save Korea.
She strongly opposed Japanese control of Korea.
Nicholas II of Russia
Japan believed that if Korea was to fall under the control of Russia,
it would eventually lead to the fall of Japan.
"Tokyo Nichinichi Shinbun"
That led to the unprecedented assassination of Queen Min.
"The Queen was Killed"
King Gojong
King Gojong of Korea sought refuge by the Russian Embassy.
A new regime that leaned on Russia's side was formed.
And anti-Japanese campaign spread through Korea.
Flag for anti-Japanese campaign
We're agonizing over our actions.
Our nation is currently taken over by the hatred towards Russia.
To clear this humiliation,
I would hide under the firewood, and suffer the bitter taste of bear's heart.
I'm prepared to take on any hardships.
Mr. Inoue, what do you mean by that?
This is an opportune time
to expand our military power.
Stop the nonsense!
Our citizens can barely pay the high tax now.
Prime Minister.
With all due respect,
foreign diplomacy without a true military power is
only a wishful thinking.
The cause of the series of reverses Japan faced in diplomacy is
our weak military power!
To overcome the current crisis,
our only resolution is to expand and strengthen our military.
Our citizens know and accept that's the necessity.
At this current time,
our citizens are prepared to endure additional increase in tax.
Are you suggesting a war against Russia?
Yes.
Are you insane?
Mutsu.
Diplomacy with weapons is not considered true diplomacy.
Dismiss all diplomats and assign servicemen to those positions.
The military expense within Japan's annual expenditure was
32% in 1895, at the time of the Sino-Japanese War.
But it jumped to 48% in the following year, 1896.
On May 11, 1896, Saneyuki was
assigned to the Second Torpedo Division of Yokosoka Naval District.
Takeo Hirose, First Lieutenant
He was told Hirose was also positioned there.
Glad to see you here.
You look well.
I've caused you worry in the past.
I ask for your guidance again.
You can count on me.
Have you heard?
About what?
A rumor says reparations from China will be applied to exchange student system.
Oh, I heard about that.
I want to sign myself up.
You know about it already.
You're one of the top elites so you'll be selected.
- You, too. - I'm not good enough.
I'm the 64th out of 80 students.
But you can't give up.
Japan won over the superpower China, surprising the world.
Anything can happen in this world.
You're just saying that. I won't make it.
There's no way I'll be selected.
Hey, let's go.
Huh?
My grandmother back home will be turning 80 next week.
I lost my mother at an early age.
My grandmother brought me up.
So I thought about something nice to do for her birthday.
I came up with an idea to send her photographs.
That's nice.
Okay. Please don't move.
Good.
Take this, Akiyama.
Can you take another photo?
Okay.
Hirose,
what are you doing?
Hey, what's the matter? I'm ready.
Yes.
Akiyama, how do I look?
You look fine.
Thanks to my grandmother, I'm 6ft tall.
I've grown to be a healthy man Japan can be proud of.
True.
I'll have a photo taken in my loincloth for my mother.
Take one for me.
No problem.
Hirose directed his interest to Russia when he was a second lieutenant.
He tried to study Russian on his own.
His intention was based on the prediction of a war with Russia.
On the same year, Yoshifuru became the head of the Army Riding School.
Shinano-machi, Tokyo
Welcome home.
Good. I'm home.
Come here.
Were you a good girl today?
What's smelling so good?
- Guests? - Yes.
Jun-san and his friend are having rice cake eating race.
They're so competitive.
Sounds good.
Hey, Akiyama.
Nice to see you.
Welcome home.
Thanks for letting us visit.
I'm his older brother, Yoshifuru.
He's in the navy...
How do you do? I'm Takeo Hirose.
Thanks for helping my brother.
How's your Russian coming along?
How do you know?
We hear about you in the army.
Both army and navy will rely on your study about Russia.
Please learn everything you can.
Yes, I will.
Who's winning?
Your race.
I've eaten 15 already.
I'm winning with 3 cakes ahead.
Wow, that's impressive.
Here are some more.
Hirose-san seems to like my stew and my rice cakes.
It makes me happy.
Your cooking reminds me of my home country.
My grandmother used to make me make cakes like this.
Is that right?
But I used to get scolded by her often.
The kids in my home country don't even have shoes.
And some eat millet or grass
so they don't starve themselves.
Those people contribute whatever they can so we can have battleships.
She tells me not to forget that.
Your grandmother is a respectable lady.
And you're a great man for listening to her.
I feel greatly obliged.
I got you!
I caught up while you were talking.
See this?
Excuse me, but I better get back to the race now.
Let me join you.
The Department of Navy
In June of 1897,
Gonbei Yamamoto, Minister of the Navy
the navy selected the officers to study abroad.
I'll assign you to study in England.
Takeshi Takarabe, First Lieutenant
Elites of the elites were chosen.
Takeshi Takarabe, Hirose's classmate, was selected to go to England.
First Lieutenant Kakuichi Murakami was to go to France.
Kakuichi Murakami, First Lieutenant
First Lieutenant Mineo Hayashi to Germany.
Mineo Hayashi, First Lieutenant
And First Lieutenant Saneyuki Akiyama to the USA.
First Lieutenant Takeo Hirose.
Hirose was chosen to go to Russia even though he didn't hold a top class position.
His passion to study Russian gave him the advantage.
Negishi, Tokyo
Brother.
Jun-san's here.
Shiki was recuperating since he returned to Tokyo from Matsuyama.
- Are you sure you're all right? - Oh, I'm fine.
The pain he experienced during his travel had gotten worse.
I'm fine. I'm fine.
It was spondylitis cause by his tuberculosis.
I was expecting to see you at my farewell party.
My pain kept me in bed.
But Kiyoshi told me all about it.
When do you leave?
Next week.
You will finally cross the Pacific.
Is the pain that bad?
I thought it was rheumatism. It turns out to be caries.
I didn't know what to think when the doctor told me.
I have a hole this big on my back from the surgery.
The pain is excruciating when Ritsu or Mother changes the bandage.
I scream like there's no tomorrow.
You're writing more reviews and critiques now more than ever.
So I thought you were well.
There are many who die with ambitions in this world.
But none has as much ambition as I do when I go. That's how I feel.
What an extraordinary man.
The new haiku you advocate are popular in the navy, too.
Is that right?
But I have many enemies.
You like to pick fights with anyone.
But the ones I attack in the newspaper know I could die any day.
So they hold back their tongue.
Don't you think I'm lucky?
Here you go.
Eat this, Jun-san.
Thank you.
Jun-san,
we Japanese are said to copy others like monkey see, monkey do.
But keep your pride when you go abroad.
The Western countries went through the same process.
England, France, Germany and Russia all copied each other and
that's how they built their nations.
The only difference is they did it in the 15th century and we're doing it now.
America is full of those people.
That's the way to approach it.
There's nothing wrong with copying.
We have great absorbing power and digestive power.
We should be proud of our characteristics.
Japan is made up with a huge and deep dish.
And we have a tremendous variety of things in that dish. That's Japan.
We must not
ruin such a country.
You're right.
When a nation falls, its culture dies.
Jun-san,
I don't know how long I have left.
But I have so much I want to accomplish before I die.
Don't let my effort gets wasted.
Got it.
I promise.
After Saneyuki left for the U.S.,
a farewell poem was published in the newspaper "Nippon."
"Seeing you off, I cry inside a mosquito net, thinking of you"
The United States of America was a new country of only 120 years.
New York
Saneyuki's mission was to study the war tactics and techniques.
Yokohama at the end of the Edo Period
The U.S. Navy made an impact in Japan when Commodore Perry arrived.
"Arrival of Matthew Perry"
Japanese people saw the bizarre black ship from a foreign land
and experienced the imperialism of the great powers at first hand.
This started the disturbance that ended the Tokugawa Shogunate.
But the U.S. Navy at that time was not even close to the top level in the world.
In the late 19th century when the U.S. navy was seeing expansion,
America's productivity and technological capability were
catching up to that of European nations.
Saneyuki went to the U.S. in its growth era.
This is amazing.
Saneyuki believed the U.S. navy had something to be proud of.
First and foremost, the U.S. navy had the world's best strategist.
It was Alfred Thayer Mahan.
He was a captain in the reserve.
But every naval officers in the world knew about his man.
As an adventurous maritime nation, Spain had many colonies in the Americas.
But many became independent in the early 19th century.
However, Puerto Rico and Cuba didn't get on the independence bandwagon.
Cuba.
This island of sugarcane was a Spanish colony for four centuries.
The Cuban War of Independence took place in 1895.
The adjacent United States took the side of the underdog as usual.
If the U.S. interfered with Cuba, it was destined to go on a war with Spain.
Not the quality press, but the low-grade newspapers known as "yellow press"
"Freedom for Cuba!"
promoted the war atmosphere mainly to sell the newspapers.
Saneyuki arrived in the U.S. just before the Spanish-American War.
St. Petersburg
Hirose was in Russia.
The surface reason was for him to study in Russia.
But the Japanese navy's true intention was for him to act as a spy.
Lieutenant Commander Yashiro was already stationed in Russia.
Rokuro Yashiro, Lieutenant Commander
He was Hirose's instructor at the Naval Academy and was proficient in Russian.
Yashiro was the one who taught the basics to Hirose.
I heard you snuck into the Russian Naval Academy.
It was more a tour under a guard.
But f got a good sense of the Russian Navy.
Interesting.
The leader prospects are all from the aristocracy.
Corruption is rampant in the exams and they get special treatments.
Their actions are overlooked.
What a difference from our academy.
I've heard the officers don't observe discipline.
I guess that was true.
But their naval power...
There's no comparison.
A Russian capital ship is four times the size of ours.
Russia's been suffering from a famine.
But the government's focus is on the military and not their people.
The royalty and a small number of aristocrats control the wealth.
The nation's anger is brewing.
Let's take our seats.
How nice to see Lieutenant Commander Yashiro here.
Colonel Kovalevsky, nice to see you.
The pleasure is mine.
Colonel Kovalevsky
This is my daughter Ariadna.
Ariadna
Boris Bilgitzki
And my nephew, Boris.
How do you do? I'm Lieutenant Captain Rokuro Yashiro.
I'm First Lieutenant Takeo Hirose
Pleasure to make your acquaintance.
Same here.
Let us reconnect again later.
Washington DC
February 15, 1898.
The battleship USS Maine that was anchored in Havana, Cuba,
exploded suddenly and sunk quickly.
All 266 on board became victims of this tragedy.
American newspapers blamed Spain for this criminal act.
The public opinion leaned to the outbreak of war.
I didn't expect America, a country that supports isolationism,
Japanese Legation
to start a war with Spain.
America wants the Spanish colony.
America is finally joining the great powers.
Akiyama, I'm sure Minister Hoshi will talk to you directly.
There'll be more military attaches from other countries.
We count on you to behave worthy of a Japanese naval officer.
The great powers' focus is on all these foreign officers.
I know that well.
The country's future will depend on what each military attache learns.
I'll do better than any of them.
Russia, gained the leasehold of Dalian and Port Arthur,
and the rights to install South Manchuria Railway.
They started building a massive fortress in Port Arthur.
Liaodong Peninsula Japan returned to China due to the Triple Intervention
had now become a Russian territory.
Ariadna.
Would you dance with me?
Thank you, Boris.
But I'm tired so I'll go rest.
Why you do not dance?
I am afraid of ladies.
Why don't you join me? I can teach you.
You should go.
Yes, sir.
You're quite good. Are you sure it's your first time?
I practiced dancing because I wanted to learn about Russian culture.
No wonder.
I very much worry.
Please don't.
I'm honored to be your first dance partner.
He's quite a dancer.
Don't you think so, Boris?
I guess.
Actually two of us attended a dance school.
That explains it.
I didn't know that Japanese officers such a good dancers.
We must have him at the emperor's dance party.
I hear that you're Japan's samurai.
And Japan's samurai is a master of many martial arts.
I didn't expect a samurai to be a master of dance.
The chivalry that a small man can throw down a large man...
What was it called?
Are you referring to Jujitsu?
Jujitsu...
I'm sure you're quite good at Jujitsu. We'd love to see it.
I can be your opponent.
Or are you only interested in entertaining a lady?
If you wish.
Please start.
Santiago Bay, Cuba
Saneyuki became a military attache by an order from the Japanese navy
Headquarters of U.S. Naval Ships
and a permission given, by the U.S. navy in May of 1898.
Among all the Japanese naval officers of that time,
Saneyuki was probably the luckiest.
That's because he got to witness the Spanish-American War
and how the U S. Fleet confined the Spanish Fleet in Santiago, Cuba.
He also saw how a steamship was scuttled and
how the world's first blockade operation was put into practice.
Blockade Operation
But the blockade resulted in a failure.
The blockship's position was parallel to the harbor's opening,
so it didn't block the entrance and exit of the Spanish Fleet.
The concept of a blockade operation is outstanding.
But the low survival rate of the crew is an issue.
I don't agree with attaching the torpedoes outboard.
That is revealing your weapon to the enemy.
And it makes it harder to maneuver the ship.
I believe the torpedoes must be installed inboard.
The Japanese Fleet would later attempt a blockade operation
during the Russo-Japanese War.
The learning from the Spanish-American War was applied.
"Spanish Fleet attempted a sortie"
The progress of the war took an unexpected turn.
Spain's defense agency ordered the Commander-in-Chief Cervera
to escape the Santiago Harbor in Cuba.
The exit of the harbor was blocked by the U.S. navy.
As a result, the Spanish Fleet was completely destroyed.
Off the coast of Santiago Bay
Wreckage of Cristobal Colon of the Spanish Fleet
After the battle ended, Saneyuki did something to be admired.
He researched the wreckage of the Spanish Fleet in detail.
The lesson from this war was crucial to the later Russo-Japanese War.
It was not a far stretch to say that a template for Japan to fight with Russia
was created by the U.S. fighting against Spain.
And God had sent Saneyuki to Cuba in preparation for Japan's next war.
Washington DC
Saneyuki proved his skills as a tactician to the Japanese navy and its leaders
with his report on the Spanish American War.
This report had a pretentious title, "Top Secret Intelligence Number 118."
Top Secret Intelligence Number 118.
During the life of the Japanese navy,
it was considered the most accurate and complete analysis with original thinking.
Akiyama, you have a guest.
Okay.
Seven cards!
You won again.
Thank you.
I'm taking all your money.
I'm an optimist by birth.
I believe I'm lucky.
Also, even though...
Could that be Takahashi-sensei?
Sensei?
Oh, Akiyama!
Your timing is impeccable.
I'm about to escape with my winning.
Korekiyo Takahashi.
He was Saneyuki's English instructor at Kyoryu School in Tokyo.
I'm glad to see you well.
The world is getting smaller to see you in a foreign land.
Sensei, why are you here?
I'm here to inspect the U.S. finance industry as a bank's vice-president.
A bank's vice-president.
My work is done, so I'm going to go see the Niagara Falls.
Why don't you join me?
The Niagara Falls? Absolutely.
I'd love to accompany you.
What an amazing sight!
Sensei!
He's a descendent of the Iroquois Tribe who used to hunt around this area.
Their land was taken by the Caucasians.
They are forced to live in a contained area.
About 200 years ago when the Caucasians came to this land,
the indigenous Indians were in many tribes and fighting for power.
Caucasians took advantage of the situation and gave guns to the Indians.
They even provided rewards
and succeeded in having the Indians kill each other.
As they call it...
"Clearance of Indians."
Clearance?
It means they cleaned up the Indians.
The Iroquois Tribe was completely used by the British.
At one time there were 1.8 million Indians on this continent.
There are less than 200,000 of them now.
I'm sorry to bring up such a sad story when we were enjoying the nature.
The United States is a wonderful country.
But,
their sad past must not be forgotten.
What happened to the Indians can happen to anybody.
New Year's Eve, 1898
Shiki's Retreat
Shiki's world consisted of a room of six tatamis
and a small garden,
which was a small space of a rental house.
"Many people huddle..."
"to stay warm in winter, in Kami-Negishi."
A man of letters tend to be precocious
and mature early.
As with Burns.
And as with Byron.
Every one of them.
This small room of 5 yen a month
became known as "Shiki's retreat."
Mother, look at this.
That looks silly.
What's the matter? Are you cold?
A little bit.
Can you bring the blanket Jun-san sent from America?
Of course.
Thank you.
I'm impressed you don't get tired of looking at the garden.
Jun-san's got the world as his stage.
But this small garden is the whole world to me.
But even this small space has so much to offer for me to absorb.
So I named it little paradise.
Little paradise?
Little Paradise. Basically a small heavenly kingdom.
You're as competitive as ever.
You always vie with Jun-san.
For instance,
this was a souvenir from Manchuria.
But just by holding these while sitting here on the balcony,
I can feel the wind blowing over Amur in Manchuria.
Wrapping myself in this blanket can take me to the land of America.
I can see the sheep and shepherds.
Stop being a bad loser.
I can really see them.
You should try it.
I'm grateful to end this year with everyone.
The New Year's Eve noodle will be ready soon.
New York
Akiyama.
Can I have tobacco?
Mr. Komura, I told you many times I don't smoke tobacco.
I see.
That's unfortunate.
After viewing a Russian battleship under construction,
Saneyuki met with the Japanese Minister in the U.S.
Tobacco Stand
It was Jutaro Komura,
Jutaro Komura, Japanese Minister to the U.S.
the former Acting Minister in Beijing during the Sino-Japanese War.
He inherited the debts left by his father.
Therefore, he was extremely poor and wore a worn-out frock coat.
There you go.
Thanks as always.
- Akiyama. - Yes?
Do you know about the Iroquois Tribe?
I met a descendant in Niagara.
You always impress me.
Then I'll get to the point.
England took advantage of the Iroquois Tribe and
cleared the Indians out of the New World without getting their hands dirty.
I know.
That's what built America.
They're searching for the Iroquois Tribe's replacement in Asia.
Are you saying Japan is them?
England is fighting with Russia and France for the vested rights of China.
Japan needs to show England that we can be useful to them.
We need to strongly prove that to them.
But the Iroquois Tribe was used by the Caucasians
and eventually got destroyed.
I know it's very complicated.
That's why the uncommon minister like me is here.
Anglo-Japanese treaty of commerce was put in effect in July and
the extraterritorial rights were revoked.
But that's not enough.
I have a much higher goal.
What is it?
I want to form a completely equal alliance with England.
The Anglo-Japanese Alliance.
If England wants to use Japan, we will use them, too.
When you go to England, you're to become the Iroquois Tribe.
Your next assignment is a military attache in England.
Okay, then.
At the end of this year, Saneyuki received an order from Japan.
He had a new assignment.
He was to move to England
and be a military attache based in the British Legation.
St. Petersburg
Hirose's stay in Russia lasted for quite awhile.
In fact, it lasted for six years.
He was the most popular foreign officer among the naval officers in Russia.
You leave soon? Are you ready for your trip?
I will travel to England via Germany and Belgium.
I'm excited to be able to see Asahi and Mikasa under construction.
You look so happy when you talk about ships and that makes me happy.
Actually it's not just the battleships I'm excited to see.
Really...
I'll get to see my best friend who's moving to England.
Who is your friend?
He's a subordinate more competitive than I am.
I can't imagine anyone who is more competitive than you.
Shiki was recuperating in his house in Negishi.
Jun-san is assigned to England next.
Ritsu.
I wonder if he's traveling on the Atlantic by now.
That must be nice.
I wonder where we are.
Where is Tokyo on this?
Here it is.
I see.
I guess even if we scream as loud as we can, he won't hear us.
Don't be silly.
As the head of the Army Riding School, Yoshifuru taught the cavalry officers
to improve their tactical ability.
To develop better knowledge of the cavalry tactics in the army,
he wrote "Tactical Theory for the Cavalry in Japan."
This was considered a historical military document.
Soon Japan would move as fast as it could to start on a seriously big task called
the Russo-Japanese War.
Japan would narrowly win this war.
The fruits of this war's labor would be wasted by the future Japanese.
However,
the Japanese people of this era had the utmost wisdom and courage.
They also used their optimistic diplomatic ability to the fullest
to reach this big war.
This could be considered a chilling miracle.
A few millions of producers made this miracle happen.
Or at least a few tens of thousands if they're to be narrowed down.
January of 1900,
Saneyuki was travelling in the middle of the Atlantics en route to England.
End of Part One
Original Story "Sakano Ue no Kumo" by Ryotaro Shiba
Screenwriter: Hisashi Nozawa
Music: Jo Hisashi
Theme song: "Stand Alone" by Sarah Brightman
Titles: Ryotaro Shiba
Narration: Ken Watanabe
Starring
Masahiro Motoki as Saneyuki Akiyama
Hiroshi Abe as Yoshifuru Akiyama
Teruyuki Kagawa as Tsunenori (Shiki) Masaoka
Miho Kanno as Ritsu Masaoka
Mieko Harada as Yae Masaoka
Yukiyoshi Ozawa as Kinnosuke Natsume (Soseki)
Takahiro Fujimoto as Takeo Hirose Marina Aleksandrova as Ariadna
Julian Glover as Alfred Thayer Mahan Shinya Owada as Kaoru Inoue
Takako Matsu as Tami Akiyama
Tsurutaro Kataoka as Rokuro Yashiro
Ren Osugi as Munemitsu Mutsu
Toshiyuki Nishida as Korekiyo Takahashi
Naoto Takenaka as Jutaro Komura
Keiko Takeshita as Sada AKiyama
Koji Ishizaka as Gonbei Yamamoto
Go Kato as Hirobumi Ito
Executive Producer: Yoshiki Nishimura
Producer: Satoshi Sekiguchi
Director: Takashi Isshiki
Translation and Subtitles by Noriko Morisaki (JVTA)