Special Drama
Sink Mikasa.
Prepare the flag signal. Raise "Z"!
The Baltic Fleet was on course of its long voyage.
The Baltic Fleet
The fact that this size fleet was making an expedition from the North Sea
to the seas in the Far East was a heroic feat in itself.
The Baltic Fleet had passed the Cape of Good Hope in Africa,
steadily making its way to the Far East.
A very small country is
about to become a civilized nation.
This story is about three men from Iyo-Matsuyama in Shikoku.
Saneyuki Akiyama was born in this old castle town.
Saneyuki
During the Russo-Japanese War,
he formulated the tactics to defeat the invincible Baltic Fleet.
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 was Shiki Masaoka, a poet and the founder of new literally forms.
Shiki
All three possessed the typical disposition of the Meiji era.
They only looked at what was ahead.
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 Twelve: The Enemy Fleet Arrives
Kure, Hiroshima
Japan finally took over the Port Arthur fortress.
Togo's fleet, except for Mikasa, left the base off the coast of northern China.
The 1st Fleet returned to Kure and the 2nd Fleet returned to Sasebo.
Are you ready to pull?
We're almost home.
All ships required major repair.
They were out on the ocean for a long time.
And the batteries had damages from various battles.
Mikasa was not an exception. It needed new batteries.
I express my gratitude for the success and overcoming all difficulties.
The Emperor's Sitting Room, Imperial Court
However, the end is still distant.
Emperor Meiji
I expect you to continue a tireless effort.
Togo.
I understand Russia is sending reinforcements.
What is the prospect?
Heihachiro Togo, Commander-in-Chief Combined Fleet
When the Baltic Fleet arrives,
I vow to completely destroy them and bring you serenity.
Takagi-cho in Aoyama, Tokyo
Nobuyoshi. Kenko.
Welcome home.
Jun, why are you acting so nervous?
Welcome home.
Thank you. I am home.
Thanks for this meal.
Thank you for this meal.
I didn't expect Mom to be here.
I begged Tami to bring me here.
I see. It's delicious.
Sister, thank you.
It's my pleasure.
Mom, make sure you take care of yourself.
Yes.
Dan-dan.
Dan-dan?
Never heard of dan-dan.
Dan-dan means thank you.
Dan-dan.
That's enough.
They're all grown up.
Yes, they're doing well.
Some more!
I'll get it for you.
Does Brother write to you?
Yes. He drinks a lot because it's very cold in Manchuria.
I worry about him getting drunk and falling from his horse.
He was thrilled to hear about your promotion to Senior Commander.
Jun.
You've become a great man.
Congratulations.
Don't make a big deal.
Saneyuki, about the Baltic Fleet...
Sister...
Was that bad to ask?
The neighbors ask me everyday.
I know you get the same question.
But...
Saneyuki,
where is the Baltic Fleet now?
I wish I knew.
Oh, that was a silly question.
We will win, won't we?
We will win.
Jun has become such a great man.
You embarrass me when you pray like that.
January, 1905
The battle line was at a frozen standstill at Shaho.
Shaho, Manchuria
Shaho is a meandering river 10km south of Mukden.
Both Japanese and Russian armies dug long trenches.
They created bunkers with supports and roof covers.
So they could protect themselves from the snow and bullets.
After the fall of Port Arthur, the Japanese army was developing tactics
Port Arthur
Mukden
to use all field soldiers in the Battle of Mukden.
But they needed to wait for the arrival of Nogi's army from Port Arthur.
All the Russians had to do to win was to attack the opponent’s weakest point.
The Japanese army had all its forces spread thin along, the line at Shaho.
The Russians needed to put stress on the left flank and attack from the front.
Guarding the left flank was the duty of Yoshifuru Akyama's cavalry
while they watched the enemy's moves.
Li Da Ren Tun
Akiyama Troop Headquarters
This is Lieutenant Colonel Naganuma.
Good to see you. Come in.
Have a seat.
Lieutenant Colonel Hidefumi Naganuma Captain, 8th Cavalry Regiment
We finally have a permission from the headquarters for your duty.
Yes, sir.
The target of your operation is
the railroad bridge at Yaomen.
Blast this main artery of the Russian's supply line.
It's the volunteer cavalry tactics.
We can end the deadlock of a battle with this plan.
Sounds exciting.
The Russians will launch an attack before Nogi's army arrives.
They excel in winter.
Let's show them our cavalry skills.
Harass the rear, divert the enemy and destroy their communication line.
Do everything you can.
Got that, Naganuma?
Yes, sir.
Cavalrymen are trained for adventure and attacks.
Yoshifuru's life philosophy was to be simple and clear.
Show our respect to the captain.
Good.
His favorite statement was, "I only have one purpose in life."
That one purpose was to train the Japanese cavalry.
Departure of Naganuma Regiment
You will face great obstacles.
You're all true cavalrymen.
I'm counting on you.
Do your best.
I'm counting on you.
Do a good job.
I count on you.
Right Bank of Hun River
Report.
The enemy cavalry is spotted between Hun River and Liao River.
Here they come. How many?
More than 10,000.
They're like a moving forest.
They'll launch a fierce offensive.
Report to the headquarters now!
Yes, sir.
General Headquarters in Manchuria
Message from Akiyama Troop.
We received a report from Akiyama Troop.
Thanks.
Cavalry report again.
Toshitane Matsukawa, Chief Officer
It's too cold to launch an offensive even for the Russians.
Gentaro Kodama, Chief of General Staff
"The enemy appears to have a large-scale operation in plan."
The cavalry is oversensitive to our enemy's movements.
But Akiyama is not like that.
That may be true.
The Russians tend to move in a large group.
They build their positions as they make their advance.
But I doubt they'd dig trenches on this frozen terrain.
Their pickaxes will just bounce back even with their strength.
Shogo Iguchi, Staff Officer
It's been 100 years since they defeated Napoleon's army in General Winter.
We play a different game now.
The decisive battle
will be in the spring.
They said it's just another report.
Bastard!
Why do the headquarters never take our report seriously?
The enemy will probably attack us from the front.
We're at this left flank,
protecting its 40km line with 8,000 soldiers.
The Russians will come to break down our thinly spread line.
It's impossible for us to protect with only 8,000 soldiers.
Let's request the reinforcement again.
We've done it so many times. They won't listen to us.
We must try again.
They won't send reinforcement unless the enemy attacks.
That's not possible...
We must protect on our own.
We can probably take 30,000 soldiers.
This is going to be exciting.
3 a.m., January 25, 1905.
Akiyama Troop Outpost Base, Sandepu
Hey, what's wrong?
Hey, hurry up.
The enemy attack.
They're here.
Hey!
Matsumoto, are you all right?
Platoon Leader, we can't fight back!
Let's retreat for a while.
Platoon Leader!
Our frontline was attacked.
We'll be wiped out soon.
Captain.
The Sandepu position got attacked by the enemy.
Two platoons on the front have withdrawn.
They're here.
How many are there?
More than 30,000.
They're coming.
Inform all troops.
Protect.
Do not retreat.
Yes, sir.
You guys stay here for a while.
This is good.
Yoshifuru secretly had a genuine desire for his trained cavalrymen
to fight against the world's strongest cavalry, the Cossacks.
But it was his leadership philosophy to restrain his own desire.
His cavalrymen were trained to be foot soldiers when necessary.
They fought against the Cossacks by taking a formation of a fire fight.
Battle of Sandepu
Don't flinch.
They have strong firepower.
Our line will be broken!
The enemy's attack is furious.
And we're losing soldiers quickly!
Please send back up!
Please send reinforcement!
The 4th Division was attacked from the front.
Repel the enemy now!
Yes, sir.
Akiyama troop's platoon has retreated to Sandepu.
Toyobe defense troop got hit by artillery guns and quickly losing soldiers.
- Matsukawa. - Yes, sir.
Arrange back up for Akiyama's troop.
But the 8th Reserve Division has already been deployed.
Use the ones in the center and send them to the left flank.
If the left flank gets broken, our whole army's in danger.
The Russians will put an encircling operation on us.
Contact Fujii of the 1st Army and Ochiai of the 2nd Army.
Send whichever troops we can to the left flank.
- Chief... - What?
Old man Nogi.
Yes.
Maresuke Nogi, Commander, the 3rd Army
Angel of death is here.
We took longer than expected.
Iwao Oyama, Commander-in-Chief Imperial Japanese
Mr. Nogi.
Thank you for all you've done.
Acting hysterical like this won't achieve anything.
Nogi, glad you made it.
The fun is just about to begin.
The target is no longer a hill.
We need to calm down.
We must issue orders that bring us victory.
Yes, sir.
Kodama never believed this war would be won with conventional methods of fighting.
Realistically it would be quite a coup for Japan if the war was brought to
an evenly-matched game.
Hence bringing the match to sixty-forty by implementing superior tactics was
the goal of Oyama and Kodama.
The land battle of this war was chasing after the winning star of sixty-forty.
Colonel Akiyama, this is dangerous.
If we lose this line, the whole army loses.
Don't ever withdraw.
We must protect this place until the end.
Yes, sir.
However, this war had been going on for two years by then.
If it were to continue longer, Japan might have to face a financial crisis.
"Financial collapse from the war"
was the fear that existed from the start.
The government had to apply their upmost diligence in the country's finances.
This was the first and the last time to see such level of desperation.
This country of a single race would
fight in the extremely costly Pacific War in the later years.
That was completely unfathomable.
Thank you for the meal.
Nobuyoshi, make sure to chew well.
January 29, 1905
Russia retreated.
The Russians retreated!
The Russians are gone.
Don't ease up so quickly.
Go let the horses out.
They haven't seen the sun for the last few days.
We're cavalrymen.
Yes, sir.
Get the horses.
Let them out.
The Battle of Sandepu was initiated and led by the Russians.
The Russians showed a prospect of winning the battle.
But they retreated.
This battle was far from a win for the Japanese army.
It was more a success in their defense.
Kiyooka, we should honor and bury them.
Yes, sir.
Colonel Akiyama.
Hey, Matsukawa.
As you can see, I'm alive.
This was quite a tough battle.
Matsukawa.
It's dishonorable to conclude it as a tough battle.
The enemy was approaching with a massive force.
I've informed and warned the fact on multiple occasions.
Look what your neglect has caused.
Matsukawa,
don't you agree with me?
We must not repeat this.
This must not be repeated. Ever again.
The Baltic Fleet was stationed at Nosy Be in Madagascar.
A dispute with a German coal company,
vague orders from the home country
and problems with merging with their 3rd Fleet forced them to stall there.
Nothing's up there.
But to me,
there's a map up there.
The Japanese Archipelago.
East China Sea.
The Sea of Japan.
Pacific Ocean.
The Sea of Okhotsk.
You're a funny man.
Which course would the Baltic Fleet take?
I remember what you told the newspaper reporter the other day.
That's right.
Would they go to Vladivostok or return to Russia?
They ponder in Indian Ocean.
That's funny.
I guess
it's time.
Yes.
I'm off again.
Please take care of the household.
We wish you the best.
Sasebo
The Combined Fleet left Sasebo on February 20, 1905.
We're off.
This popular music of Battleship March was played on board of Mikasa.
This was the only time it was played during the Battle of Tsushima.
We're off again.
We're on course to reach Zhenhai Bay as scheduled.
Good.
On February 20th, all army commanders gathered at the Manchurian headquarters.
Since the war had started, this was the first time
for all army commanders to be in one room.
During the battle of Mukden,
all forces of our Imperial Army fought
against the massive number of enemy soldiers in Manchuria.
We fought a good battle.
The winner of this battle will be
the leader of this war.
This battle could be the decisive battle of the Russo-Japanese War.
For victory.
The official name of the largest city in Manchuria is Shenyang.
Shenyang
The number of soldiers Kuropatkin had in this area was
320,000, which was an unprecedented number for this war.
On the other hand, the number of Japanese soldiers was
250,000 including every one of them.
The Russians had 1,200 artilleries
while the Japanese had 990.
Mukden
Imagine the soldiers and fire power of this magnitude possessed by both.
This would become the world's largest land battle.
Morning of March 1, 1905.
Reload.
Reload!
Nogi's army was covering the left front as they moved northward.
The responsibility given to Nogi was to set out on a long expedition
to get behind the enemy and strike from their right.
But Nogi had a tragic view on his responsibility.
He was prepared to be a martyr for the whole army.
What the hell are you doing?
Keep your focus!
Are you ready?
Prepare to fire!
Fire!
Koreshige Tsunoda Staff Officer, the 3rd Army
Take them down!
Commander.
We can't compete with their fire power. The 3rd Army will be destroyed!
Akiyama troop is supporting the 8th Division from the west.
Konoe Division and the 12th Division are in artillery duel with the enemy.
The 4th Division is fighting in Jinshantun but the enemy is fighting back.
The 3rd Army is moving too slow.
They must push harder!
Tsunoda, is the 3rd Army serious about this operation?
We need more firepower.
Please send a heavy field artillery troop.
Our focus is on the center.
We can't send heavy artillery.
Can we at least have more support?
Colonel Matsukawa.
The headquarters are not expecting much from the 3rd Army.
Tsunoda!
What did they say?
Tsunoda.
Just say it.
They don't
expect much from us.
We'll just let
more soldiers die if they join us.
Understood.
Akiyama, you made it.
Matsukawa, don't you think your tactics are too clever?
Mr. Nogi attacks the left.
Kuropatkin will react and put his soldiers there.
Then we'll attack their right.
The enemy will shift to the right.
We'll attack the center when their guard has weakened.
Isn't that it?
This isn't the time to criticize.
Akiyama, I hope you understand.
We attack both sides to shift the enemy's focus.
Then we strike their center.
It's unconventional.
It's truly a cunning plan.
Would Kuropatkin react so easily?
That's why we formulated this operation.
We've been fighting with him for a year now.
He tends to overreact.
So he'll bite.
I don't deny its risk.
But our army will be on the offense throughout this operation.
That's the mission of this operation.
If we can keep our offense and step into their positions,
the world may realize Japan as the victor.
This battle will
exhaust our army's force.
But we must be in the lead when our force is used up.
It doesn't matter if it's a miracle,
but we must not miss a chance of victory.
In other words, we must advance even if that kills us.
Nogi is well aware of that.
Order.
Your troop to join Nogi's army.
Lead them to move northward.
And destroy the railroad north of Mukden.
Understood, sir.
Akiyama.
Use your God's speed.
That's cavalry.
Do your best.
Yes, sir.
Mukden
March 2, 1905
As a basic rule of battle tactics,
it was unheard of for a small troop to lay a siege to a large army.
But Oyama and Kodama ignored the basic rule and did it anyway.
Kuropatkin saw this encircling maneuver by the Japanese army
and misinterpreted that the Japanese had a huge reserve force under cover.
This encircling maneuver executed by Oyama and Kodama was
an adventurous move for the Japanese army.
But it was extremely risky.
Mukden Station
6,000 Japanese cavalrymen north of Mukden?
Kuropatkin, Commander-in-Chief Russian Army in Manchuria
The size of Akiyama's cavalry was reported as 6,000, double the actual.
The biggest mystery of this war was about to begin.
They can cut off our railroad
We could lose our main artery.
Inform all armies.
The north is being threatened. Retreat to the Hun River line.
Understood, sir.
If you gather your reserve and arid the 3rd Sniper Division,
you can easily repel a cavalry of 6,000 soldiers.
No.
In order to handle this threat on the north,
it's best to take tactical retreat now
so we can reorganize ourselves for our counterattack.
But, Commander...
the Japanese offense won't last long.
Maybe another day or two.
You're probably right.
Maintain our formation
and retreat without leaving anything behind.
We're leaving Mukden. Immediately.
March 9, 1905
On the morning of March 9th
Manchuria experienced a strange weather phenomenon.
It added more drama to this battle.
"Fierce dust storm" was the term used
in many battle reports and records.
The sky was dark from the gust and a cloud of dust.
The Russian army had started their retreat early on this day.
The Russians seem to be retreating.
Why are they doing that? They're winning.
Look.
That's Mukden.
We can see Mukden!
Mukden!
We did all we could up to this point.
True.
The Russians will be back stronger that ever in three months.
I'll head to Tokyo.
You want to expedite the peace plan.
Yes.
We must finish what we started.
If that's the case, Mr. Kodama,
I count on you to make it happen.
Yes, sir.
The actions taken by Akiyama's troop had
threatened Kuropatkin enough to change his mind about fighting.
The Russians were at advantage at the Battle of Mukden.
They had more soldiers and stronger fire power than Japan.
But they lost in their tactics.
They were defeated in every which way of the tactics.
Colonel Akiyama.
I wonder how the navy will bring victory against the Baltic Fleet.
Let's see.
Jun will...
The navy will do everything to grab hold of the enemy ships.
That's all we have to hope for.
Yes, sir.
April 8, 1905
The Baltic Fleet had finally reached the last comer heading into the Far East.
It was on April 8, 1905.
Rozhestvensky, Commander-in-Chief The Baltic Fleet
Admiral, excuse me.
What is it?
The Russian consul in Singapore received a telegram.
We lost the battle at Mukden.
Is that the long-awaited news from home?
That's not possible.
What's done is done.
Kuropatkin will be demoted.
The Baltic Fleet had two options to reach Vladivostok.
It would be best for the Japanese navy if the enemy took the Tsushima Channel.
Vladivostok
But it was also probable for them to take the Pacific Ocean route.
The Japanese navy only had one set of fleet to attack the enemy.
Zhenhai, Southern top of the Korean Peninsula
It was not possible for the Japanese navy to wait in two locations.
Saneyuki assumed that the enemy would take the Tsushima Channel route
and worked on tactics based on that.
A non-fighting fleet was assigned to the patrol duty.
This fleet consisted of 73 patrol ships.
Let's say we stay here and wait for them.
And we receive a message that they showed up taking the Pacific route.
We can't get to them before they reach Vladivostok.
If we wait on the west side of Tsugaru Channel,
we'll be sure to catch them whichever route they may take.
But Akiyama...
Tomosaburo Kato, Chief of Staff
If we engage on a fight in Tsugaru, there's a risk that
some enemy ships may escape and reach Vladivostok.
That's the issue.
We don't want to repeat what happened at Port Arthur.
What if we position ourselves off Noto?
Noto...
Since our patrol ships haven't seen the enemy, they must be in the Pacific.
We wait at Tsugaru Channel and sink all of them.
What if we won't make it on time?
Then we should go to Tsugaru.
Too premature. We must wait in Tsushima.
You want to bet?
I'll bet.
This is not a bet.
Start fire.
We hit the target!
Change target.
Target Knyaz Suvorov.
For the training, the soldiers used smaller rifle with a large artillery.
They placed a small rifle inside a large artillery,
used the large artillery to make the aim,
and used the rifle to shoot the target.
Who can tell what this is?
Knyaz Suvorov!
You got it right.
How about this?
Aleksandr III.
Correct.
The next one...
Akiyama.
Kantaro Suzuki, Senior Commander The 4th Destroyer
What's with the sour face?
The Baltic Fleet had gone to the Pacific Ocean.
Is that what you're thinking?
I'm not sure about that.
But they should be here by now if they took the Tsushima route.
I worry we're making a foolish move by waiting here.
But think about it.
The Baltic Fleet is coming over the rolling seas.
I doubt things go smoothly for them.
They must refuel along the way.
It's no surprise they're taking longer than we expect.
Whatever the case, you shouldn't be looking like that.
The whole crew can detect what you're feeling.
Soldiers' lives lost at the battlegrounds
and the life lost in this tiny sickbed.
I wonder what the difference is.
There's no difference.
I guess you're right.
They're both insignificant.
They're both precious and irreplaceable.
I won't apologize to them ever.
Jun.
Yes?
Pick your fight and save your win for a key fight.
Haste makes waste.
Slow and steady wins the race.
Hurry and get ready.
Hurry!
"Haste makes waste. Slow and steady wins the race."
I can't wait!
Please issue a sealed order.
About what?
We have not had any sighting of the enemy.
We conclude they are heading to the northern sea.
Combined Fleet to move to the northern sea in order to encounter the enemy.
So you want to leave Tsushima.
No, that's not it.
But I believe we must be prepared to go north just in case.
Chief of Staff.
Are you in agreement?
Yes, sir.
When do you want this order opened?
The day after tomorrow.
On the 26th.
Understood.
I'll prepare it.
Thank you, sir.
Out of my way!
Tokyo
Move! Let me pass!
Move! Move!
Gonbei Yamamoto Minister of the Navy
This is Takarabe.
An emergency!
Combined Fleet plans to move up north and change their position in Tsugaru.
Togo is doing that?
Takeshi Takarabe, Captain, Navy
We must stop them from doing so.
I discussed with Chief Ito already.
He issued an order for the Combined Fleet to stay near the Zhenhai coast.
He wants you to read it.
We can't do that.
Excuse me?
Togo is in charge of the tactics against the Russians.
We must not interfere with what he is doing.
This is no time to play by the rules.
We're facing an emergency.
We at the headquarters can digest the information more objectively.
They're coming via Tsushima.
Takarabe.
Your own speculation isn't going to help the situation at the frontline.
The battle is Togo's responsibility.
Your job is to let him do his job.
Takarabe, you're dismissed.
Yes, sir.
Hayao Shimamura, Commander, the 3rd Fleet
Shimamura was Togo's chief of staff.
He handed his duty to Tomosaburo Kato.
He was the commander of the 2nd Fleet.
We conclude with
all ships to move northward.
Is that correct?
There he goes with his strange behavior.
He won't listen to anybody now.
Apologies for my tardiness.
It started raining and the steam-launch broke.
I had to come on a cutter.
It is my biggest mistake to be late to this meeting.
We have our consensus.
The Combined Fleet will move northward at 3 p.m. tomorrow.
We'll move to the west of Tsugaru Channel.
Isn't that too premature?
At this current time,
we still don't have any sightings of the Baltic Fleet.
Therefore, we concluded that they won't take the Tsushima route.
Akiyama, do you agree?
Yes.
I'm not totally convinced with your conclusion.
If the enemy possessed any knowledge of navigation,
they'll take the Tsushima route.
That's logical.
The ones getting impatient with the enemy's late arrival is
like a deserted island waiting for the final battle.
This is Shimamura of the 2nd Fleet.
Akiyama here.
Come in.
Which route do you think the Baltic Fleet would take?
Tsushima Channel.
Togo might have established his reputation as a worldly warrior
with his statement on this day.
Why...
That's because
I say so.
Then
what about the sealed order?
We can still follow that order if we need to move.
But we won't make our move until we have more information.
Yes, sir.
We will wait.
Yes, sir.
We have the commander's word. Just be confident and do your job.
Akiyama,
do your best.
They'll take Tsushima.
The commander said so.
They'll pass here.
They will!
May 27, 1905
2:45 a.m.
Tsushima, Nagasaki
Patrol Boat Shinanomaru
Get closer.
Navigating Officer, get closer.
Captain, is that the enemy?
Hakaru Narikawa, Captain of Shinanomaru
Looks like a hospital ship.
They're signaling.
They're calling us.
There might be a fleet nearby.
It's getting light.
Confirm the ship.
Prepare the inspection troop.
Yes, sir.
Prepare the inspection troop.
Lower the 2nd cutter.
Prepare the boat gear.
We have a visual of the Russian Fleet on the left!
Radio the enemy sighting information.
Yes, sir.
"Sighting of Enemy Fleet. Spot 203."
5:05 a.m.
From Itsukushima to the Commander-in-Chief!
Enemy sighting!
Deliver the message now!
They're here!
They're here! They're here!
They're finally here!
Go get them!
Hurray! Hurray! Hurray!
"Sighting of enemy's 2nd fleet. From Itsukushima"
We're ordering the fleet to set sail.
Good.
Where are they?
At 5 a.m., they were at spot 203.
203...
Please check the telegram to the general headquarters.
"Received enemy sighting alert. Combined Fleet to sail immediately."
"Intend to destroy."
Good.
I'll deliver this to the Chief of Staff.
Hold on.
"The weather is serene"
"with large swells"
"The weather is serene"
"with large swells."
- Take it right away. - Yes, sir.
Prepare to sail. Raise the anchor.
Hikojiro Ijichi, Captain of Mikasa
Prepare to sail. Raise the anchor.
All to dump the coals!
All ships had coals piled up on the deck.
But those had to be thrown away since they were in the way of action.
These coals would pay for many tempura bowls.
After a bath, the crew changed into sterilized uniforms.
This was to avoid infection if they were to get injured.
They also washed the deck and spread it with sand.
This was to prevent slipping on the deck when it got covered with blood.
What's this attire about?
To strain the abdomen to give me more courage.
Sword belt is not a loincloth.
The fog is quite thick.
It'll be fine.
This fog will lift.
What Saneyuki meant with "the weather is serene" was
they'd have less chance of missing the enemy ships.
And the physical condition of "with large swells" meant
the Russian fleet was at a disadvantage.
When the ships pitch and roll,
the swells were of advantage to the Japanese with more training
and detrimental to the Russians.
"The weather is serene with large swells."
Saneyuki conveyed that Japan had a better position with this sentence.
On this sacred anniversary of our emperor's coronation,
we wish for divine protection for our fleet.
We express our upmost respect to our Emperor arid Empress
Long live the Russia Empire.
Okinoshiima Island, Fukuoka
Shigemaru Munakata Shinto Priest of Munakata Taisha
Ichigoro, do you see anything?
Look towards southwest.
The Russian Fleet will be coming from southwest.
I see them!
They look like gravestones lined up.
So many of them.
Out in the vast sea of Genkainada, the holy territory of God.
the Russian fleet has appeared.
We'll start the battle.
Go ahead.
Raise the fighting flag.
They're not in a two-line formation.
More of a round shape.
That's a strange shape.
The distance is 12,000.
Commander.
That is Mikasa.
I recognize it from Port Arthur.
That's Togo's Mikasa.
Let's move to the conning tower.
Prepare the flag signal.
Raise "Z"!
Words from the Commander-in-Chief.
The fate of the Empire depends on this action.
Let each man do his best!
The fate of the Empire depends on this action.
Let each man do his best!
The fate of the Empire depends on this action.
Let each man do his best!
The fate of the Empire depends on this action.
Let each man do his best!
Let's get them!
The distance is 10,000.
Commander, it's time to move to the conning tower.
I'm staying here.
It's too dangerous here once the battle begins.
Please go to the tower.
I'm an old man.
I will stay here today.
You younger men still have duty to perform in the future.
You go to the tower.
I'll stay here.
Akiyama and I will stay with the Commander.
The rest of you go to the tower.
Understood.
The distance is 8,500.
We're already at 8,500!
- Chief Gunner. - Yes, sir.
Measure the distance to Suvorov.
But I just reported it.
Yes, sir.
It's now at 8,000!
Which way are we going to fight?
At that moment there was a command to take an utterly unconventional position,
breaking the norm of all naval tactics.
Captain,
hard astarboard.
Excuse me?
To the left?
That's correct.
To the left.
Hard
astarboard.
Hard astarboard.
Has Togo gone insane?
This is the divine protection.
This is it.
For all ships to turn around,
it'd take 10 minutes at 16 knots.
During that time, the turn around position will be a fixed target for us.
Sink Mikasa.
Don't waste this precious 10 minutes.
During this desperate maneuver to turn around in front of the enemy,
all ships besides Mikasa were moving at their full speeds.
It was dose to impossible for the Japanese ships to fire.
But it gave an easy target to the enemy.
10 minutes required for this maneuver
felt like an excruciating eternity of a life and death situation.
Mikasa continued to be hit by the enemy fire
as if it were a drum ferociously played by a drummer.
This was the "Crossing the T" tactics.
Preview of Next Episode
Let me go.
No.
I wonder if I made any contribution to this world.
The Finale Episode: Battle of Tshushima
Jun.
You did a great job.
You did very well.
Original story "Sakano Ue no Kumo" by Ryotaro Shiba
Screenwriter: Hisashi Nozawa
Music: Jo Hisahi
Theme song: "Stand Alone" by Mai
Titles: Ryotaro Shiba
Narration: Ken Watanabe
Starring
Masahiro Motoki as Saneyuki Akiyama
Hiroshi Abe as Yoshifuru Akiyama
Satomi Ishuhara as Sueko Akiyama
Akira Emoto as Marretsuke Nogi
Kikunosuke Ogami as the Emperor Meiji
Takako Matsu as Tami Akiytama
Shingo Tsurumi as Toshitane Matukawa
Hidekazu Akai as Kantaro Suzuki
Masao Kusakari as Tomosaburo Kato
Hideki Takahashi as Gentaro Kodama
Hiroshi Tachi as Hayao Shimamura
Keiko Takeshita as Sada Akiyama
Masakane Yonekura as Iwao Oyama
Koji Ishizaka as Gonbei Yamamoto
Tetsuya Watari as Heihachiro Togo
Executive Producers: Yoshihiro Kan & Yoshiki Nishimura
Producer: Satoshi Sekiguchi
Director: Takafumi Kimura
Translation and Subtitles by Noriko Morisaki (JVTA)