Special Drama
A very small country is
about to become a civilized nation.
Already at 8,000!
May 27, 1905
Which way are we going to fight?
"The weather is serene with large swells."
Cloud Above the Slope
Hard astarboard.
Hard
Finale Episode: Battle of Tsuhima
astarboard.
At that moment, there was a command to take an utterly unconventional position
breaking the norm of all naval tactics.
This was the "Crossing the T" tactics.
Has Togo gone insane?
This is the divine protection.
For all ships to turn around,
it'd take 10 minutes at 16 knots.
During that time, their turn around position will be a fixed target for us.
Sink Mikasa.
Don't waste this precious 10 minutes.
Support crew must get back.
Support crew to get back.
Togo made a U-turn right in front of the enemy.
It was more accurately described as an alpha maneuver than a U-turn.
The battleships following Mikasa all made the same left turn
as if they were well practiced with the choreography.
In contrast, Rozhestvensky's fleet was advancing northward
in two or more line formation like a bundle of arrows.
Togo aimed to take the enemy's head by putting his ships
in a perpendicular row.
However Togo's tactics had a risk of losing his own ships.
During the time his ships were making the turn, they couldn't fire at the enemy.
And it gave the enemy an easy target to shoot.
The distance is 6,400.
We'll start firing.
Go ahead.
Prepare to fire.
The front six-inch battery.
Test fire. Nine knots. Left gunnery.
The distance is 6,400.
Prepare to fire.
The front six-inch battery test fire.
Nine knots. Left gunnery.
Prepare to fire.
The distance is 6,400.
Prepare to fire.
Ready to fire.
Get ready.
Fire!
It's coming.
Is this the Shimose powder?
Looks like it.
Get ready.
Fire!
What was that explosion?
Here it comes again.
Distance 6,200.
The distance is 6,200.
Distance 6,200.
Target is set.
Battery is ready.
Target is set.
Get ready.
Fire.
Their target was the enemy battleship, Knyaz Suvorov.
In a sea battle, hit the enemy straight on with all force right from the get-go
and destroy two to three ships at once.
This was a tactic Saneyuki learned from ancient Japanese pirates tricks.
Distance to the enemy is 30 cables.
Fire the main artery now.
Relay Commander's order.
Fire the main artery now.
Togo commanded his fleet based on the tactics Saneyuki formulated.
The weather is serene with large swells.
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 in favor of the Japanese who had more training
and detrimental to the Russians.
Saneyuki conveyed that Japan had a better position with this sentence.
Distance 5,800.
The battery is ready.
Get ready.
Got hit by their six-inch!
Commander.
We're completely destroyed.
We need more distance between our ships.
Our ships are all getting hit.
We're hitting their ships, too.
Please take a look outside.
Why did you put me on this ship?
This can't be happening.
Oslyabya is sinking.
We hit the target!
We got hit!
Go check!
Distance 4,600.
Position the right 12-pound battery.
Target Knyaz Suvorov.
Position the right 12-pound battery.
Target Knyaz Suvorov.
Distance 4,600.
4,600.
Fire at once!
Distance 4,600. Fire at once!
Commander, that's Mikasa.
Mikasa is approaching.
Fire at Mikasa. Sink Mikasa.
Fire all batteries. Fire six-inch now!
Oslyabya sinks!
Give the command to Nebogatov.
Yes, sir.
Transport him.
The tactics against the Baltic Fleet formulated by Saneyuki were
originated by him and were not listed in any war tactic books.
Divide the narrow Sea of Japan in seven sections
and attack with bombardment during the day, combined with
night attacks by the destroyers and torpedo boats.
The objective was to sink all enemy ships.
The night attacks were performed by over 50 destroyers and torpedo boats.
None of the crew had any sleep during the campaign.
Give us space. A stretcher is coming through.
Move over.
Stretcher passing through.
Move. We're passing through.
Stay strong.
Doctor.
Stay strong.
We have many injured soldiers.
I expected more casualties.
The Department of the Navy
The Combined Fleet sent a telegram.
The Combined Fleet today ambushed the enemy fleet off of Okinoshima,
Sukeyuki Ito Chief of Naval General Staff
succeeded in the operation and sunk least four of the enemy ships.
The enemy also suffered a massive damage.
Gonbei Yamamoto Minister of the Navy
The damage of our fleet is insignificant.
The destroyers and torpedo boats will be on nighttime attack.
We won.
Not yet.
We have not yet destroyed all of the enemy fleet.
May 28, 1905 Nebogatov's Fleet
They're coming.
All to retreat. Don't counterfire.
Don't fire.
Leave your post.
Don't counterfire.
Something's strange.
Why aren't they firing back?
Do you see any flags?
It appears they're showing a white flag.
But no surrender signal.
They're surrendering!
Nikolai I has an international flag indicating their surrender.
Commander, the enemy is surrendering.
Should we cease fire?
We must cease fire.
Commander.
The distance is 6,800.
Target Nikolai I.
The distance is 6,800.
Target Nikolai I.
The distance is 6,800.
Commander!
It's samurai's mercy!
Please cease fire!
If they're really surrendering,
they must stop their ship.
Look at them.
They're still advancing.
Akiyama.
They're not only advancing, but their batteries are facing us.
We can't stop yet.
Let us signal the enemy.
We must make them stop their ship.
Nikolai I has stopped moving.
The other four have also stopped.
Nikolai I is raising a surrender flag and our country's flag.
Order all ships to cease fire.
Yes, sir.
All ships to cease fire.
We'll lower the fighting flag.
Lower the fighting flag!
Cease fire!
It's over.
It's really over.
Akiyama.
You go.
Yes, sir.
Please use caution.
I know.
Senior Commander Akiyama.
This way, please.
Negishi, Tokyo
I'm finally back.
Welcome back.
I ran into the people of "Hototogisu (Cuckoo)."
Hello. Hello.
Thanks for letting us in.
We haven't been here a while.
It's nice to be here.
For you.
Thank you for your hard work.
I'll get you some tea.
Thank you.
Thank you as always.
As long as the Combined Fleet has Jun-san, we'll win the war.
Is that all you talk about?
Since the Matsuyama days, Jun-san never lost any fights.
You're so right.
Whenever Jun-san took the lead of our fights,
all of us brats felt uplifted and safe.
We all felt brave and confident that nothing could beat us down.
Jun-san and Nobo-san used to let me go along with them.
My brother was bad at fights.
Well, well.
This household is filled with the Japanese spirit, too.
- Soseki-san. - Hello.
Ritsu-san, do you have any iodine solution?
I tried to play with a cat and it scratched me.
Don't be a wuss. The soldiers will laugh at you.
I guess I lack in the Japanese spirit.
So I give way to the Japanese spirit whenever I encounter it.
When you say it like that, I can almost see the spirit.
People talk about it, but none has seen it.
People hear about it, but none has met it.
Soseki-san.
I asked what's the Japanese spirit. They said it's the Japanese spirit.
I heard "ahem!" after a while.
Soseki-san.
I don't like
your disrespectful tone.
What do you think Jun-san and others are risking their lives for?
I'm sorry.
I didn't mean to ridicule it.
I'm jealous.
I apologize.
Jealous for what?
A literary man has to rely on the soldiers to survive in the end.
We're pretty much worthless.
I learned that lesson.
I'm angry at my incompetence.
I'm sure Masaoka would say the same thing.
I doubt my brother would say that.
Sorry?
True.
He wouldn't say that
No, he wouldn't.
You think so.
I think you're right.
Thank you.
To tell you the truth,
I'm frightened.
If we lose to the Baltic Fleet,
Japan will become a Russian colony.
We may not be able to read
my novel, "I Am a Cat," or Masaoka's haiku about gourd water in Japanese.
It may be the end for Rakugo, Kabuki, No and Kyogen.
I despised Saneyuki Akiyama for leaving literature and joining the navy.
But now the person we have to rely on is Akiyama.
I envy him.
But I think Masaoka would never feel envious.
I apologize.
I'm sorry.
Just say it straight.
Wish him good luck as a friend.
That's all.
You're absolutely right.
As my apology, I have something.
This month's "I Am a Cat."
Sorry it took longer.
I love your novel.
By the way, I saw Sueko at a local shrine.
She was so into praying that I didn't say hello.
Really.
I doubt she's still there.
Ritsu-san.
Everybody.
I've been visiting all the shrines I can think of.
I was going to pay you a visit.
There's no difference in soldiers and literary men.
I am sorry.
Nobo.
Here's the 101st issue.
Please enjoy it.
He apologizes for his attire.
Admiral Nebogatov.
Admiral Togo wishes to...
Our fleet is prepared to follow your orders.
If possible, please share the condition of our other fleet.
I see.
He deserves to know.
Admiral Nebogatov, unfortunately the Russian Fleet has been defeated.
Total of 11 battleships and cruisers were sunk.
The battleships that sunk are Suvorov, Aleksandr III,
Borodino and Oslyabya.
The cruiser you lost was Ural.
In addition, you lost three destroyers, repair ship, Kamchatka and Rus...
Could this situation be summed up with a typical description of victory?
Japan's damage was incredibly small with a loss of only three torpedo boats.
They were closed to being unhurt.
The Russian navy's main ships sunk from attacks or on their own, or captured.
It was a surprise result even to the Japanese and Russian soldiers.
H. W. Wilson, a British naval historian, documented his battle
after the details became available from Japan and Russia.
"What an epic victory."
"I have never seen such a perfectly executed victory"
"in the history of any war campaigns an land or on the sea."
He also wrote that this battle signified the end of the white supremacy
and suggested that it marked a new era in history.
From that point on, Caucasians and Asians would stand on the equal round.
He made a point that this naval battle changed the world's history.
Extra, extra! Victory!
"The Great Naval Battle. The enemy fleet destroyed."
Mother!
My goodness, Mother.
Here. I got this extra.
A great victory!
Saneyuki won the war!
Jun...
Is he alive?
Yes, he is safe.
Mother,
Jun-san is alive and well.
I'm so happy.
Very happy
What a happy day for us.
Manchuria
Colonel, you have a telegram from Tokyo.
Okay.
In a Manchuria battleground,
Yoshifuru received a notice that his mother passed away.
I hope Jun made it back in time.
Sueko.
Welcome back.
I'm glad you're safe.
When she found out about the victory of the naval battle,
she was overjoyed.
She gained her strength back.
She wanted to stay alive until you returned.
She said it was her duty as a mother to wait for your return.
Sister,
I truly appreciate your kindness in taking care of my mother.
Please.
She was my favorite mother.
Mom.
I couldn't come back before you went.
I'm sorry.
Say hello to Dad.
I'm sure he's been calling your name and waiting for your arrival in heaven.
Mom.
I wonder
if I made any contribution to this world.
I wish you could tell me.
Mom.
Can't you sleep?
Saneyuki.
Sueko.
Yes.
Where to?
Going for a walk.
But it's very late.
Please don't go.
I can't sleep.
I need to refresh my mind.
Let me go.
No.
I finally have you here with me.
I've been waiting for this day.
I'm thinking of
leaving the navy.
I saw too many deaths.
I can't
stand seeing
more deaths anymore.
I want to become a monk.
I should be a monk
and mourn the soldiers that died.
At the bottom of the sea in Tsushima,
there are countless Japanese and Russian soldiers.
I want to
become a monk.
So I can mourn the lost souls of
all soldiers equally.
The strong military power was the only thing that sustained Czarist Russia.
It also maintained the public peace.
Now that the war put an end to that regime,
it also put the House of Romanov into a life or death position.
One person was influential in urging peace to Russia.
It was Theodore Roosevelt, then the President of the U.S.
Jutaro Komura was assigned to represent Japan for the peace treaty.
Komura.
We are counting on your effort.
You have the trust of our whole nation.
Even if no one greets you upon your return,
I will promise to be there for you.
Komura.
Thank you.
The key resides with what type of actions Roosevelt will take.
September 5, 1905,
Russo-Japanese Peace Treaty was signed in Portsmouth.
But Japan wasn't able to procure any reparations from Russia.
A large crowd was gathering in Japan.
They protested that the price of peace was too low.
They demanded to destroy the treaty
and wished to continue with the war.
Most newspapers, except for Kokumin Newspaper, played up this frenzy.
On September 5, 1905, a national convention was held at Hibiya Park.
About 30,000 people gathered.
They turned violent and the situation became uncontrollable at one time.
And the government was forced to proclaim martial law.
Victory is not unconditional.
There has to be a loser.
Russia lost in many aspects.
Japan's triumph was due to accumulation of narrowly obtained wins from
their better planning and the enemy's unpreparedness.
That was the Russo-Japanese War.
The Russo-Japanese War
Here's a scene.
Two days after the Combined Fleet had a victory parade in Yokohama,
Saneyuki headed out of his house before dawn.
- Hey. - Yes?
Do you have food?
Food. Breakfast.
I haven't eaten anything.
We have dumplings.
I'll have one of those.
Thank you.
Is Cuckoo Alley over there?
Yes, about 60 yards from here.
Do you know which house Shiki Masaoka lived?
Masaoka?
Shiki Masaoka.
Is he a master of Japanese drama or something?
There you go.
Three years had passed since Shiki passed away.
Did we have a guest?
I thought
I saw Jun-san.
Saneyuki walked for 3km from there
to visit Shiki's grave at Dairyuji Temple in Tabata.
When Saneyuki visited Shiki's grave,
the brass plate of epitaph hadn't been created yet.
But its draft already existed.
The epitaph had no mention of Shiki's contribution in haiku and tanka.
He just listed his name, his birthplace,
his father's responsibility and the domain he served, about his mother's family,
his employer and concluded with his salary amount.
Name, Tsunenori Masaoka. Also known as Tokoronosuke.
Also known as Noboru.
Also known as Shiki.
Also known as a man of otter's den.
Also known as a bamboo villager.
Born in Iyo-Matsuyama. Resided in Negishi, Tokyo.
Father was Hayata.
Horse guard to the Matsuyama Domain. Passed.
Mother was a daughter of Ohara.
Worked at Nippon Newspaper.
Died on September 12, 1902.
Age of death, 36.
Monthly salary of 40 yen.
Mom, it's starting to rain.
Okay.
I thought for sure that person was Jun-san.
But he's on a battleship.
It wasn't him.
You think so?
I'm certain it wasn't him.
Saneyuki left Shiki's grave and walked down a slope in the rain.
It was an old highway that lead to Asukayama and Kawagoe.
The green landscape could be seen only dimly in the rain.
Saneyuki remembered the sea of Japan in the fog he saw on board Mikasa.
In the end, Saneyuki stayed in the navy.
On a different subject,
Japan as a nation saw a drastic change, but so did the Japanese language.
Implementation of foreign ideologies caused chaos in written Japanese.
Good examples in writing were imperative to maintain the language's high standards.
Both Soseki and Shiki were among those master writers.
But we must also include Saneyuki who contributed exemplar writing.
Saneyuki showed his brilliance in writing when he drafted
"Remarks for the Combined Fleet Dispersal."
"When one gun which scores 100 percent"
"is a match for a hundred of the enemy's guns"
"each of which scores only one percent,"
"we soldiers must understand to have recourse over and above externals."
"A soldier's life is one continuous and battle."
"There is no reason why his responsibilities should vary with the state of the times."
"In days of crisis, he has to display his strength,"
"in days of peace to accumulate it,"
"thus perpetually and uniquely discharging his duties to the full."
"Heaven gives the crown of victory to those only who"
"by habitual preparation win without fighting."
"Heaven also deprives of that crown from those content with one success"
"and give themselves up to the ease of peace."
"The ancients well said:"
"Tighten your helmet strings in the hour of victory."
In January of 1906,
Nogi's 3rd Army made a triumphant return from Manchuria.
Nogi.
Old man Nogi.
Are you sure you want to greet the Emperor in that attire?
You're covered in the remains of the battleground.
It's finally over.
We survived another one.
True.
I wonder how things will change.
I guess we'll get to watch it.
I doubt
anything would change.
You think so?
Yes.
You may be right.
The 30 year period from the Restoration to the Russo-Japanese War was
an extremely unique time in Japan's long history
from both the cultural and spiritual standpoints.
It was an exceptionally optimistic time.
Of course it can be viewed differently.
People suffered from heavy taxation.
While the sovereign rights were forced upon, the civil rights were ignored.
There was the Ashio Copper Mine Incident.
It was a tragic time for factory girls.
Agrarian disputes also transpired.
Looking through pessimist's glasses, it might have been a somber time.
But people's history cannot be told only from a pessimistic viewpoint.
They say the Meiji period was a great time.
"Snow falls and Meiji are now in the distant past."
As described in Kusatao Nakamura's poem, Meiji was-a time full of radiance.
This story is about the people who were unprecedentedly optimistic
in the history of Japan.
These optimists possessed the typical disposition of the Meiji era.
They only looked at what was ahead.
If there were white clouds glistening the blue sky high above a hill,
they would only focus on the clouds and climb the hill.
I wonder how long it's been since we went fishing.
Actually,
I've never gone fishing with you.
Is that right?
Are you sure about that?
We've never gone fishing together.
Really.
We were so poor. You never had the time to enjoy fishing.
You're right.
Yeah, we were poor.
But you played a lot.
Brother, thank you.
What now?
You did good.
I applaud you.
I wonder what will happen now?
I guess you don't know either.
We must hurry.
A rain may come.
Then we must hurry.
I lost it.
Saneyuki Akiyama did not live long.
He passed away on February 4, 1918. He was 49 years old.
He made a statement to the people before he went.
"Thank you for all you've done for me. I will be on my own from now on."
Those were his last words.
His brother, Yoshifuru, lived a long life.
After retiring as an army general, he returned to Matsuyama.
He became a principal of Hokuyo junior high school.
Good morning, Principal.
Good morning.
On November of 1930,
Yoshifuru became delirious and said strange things in his death bed.
Where is Tieling?
Get the horse.
We will advance.
Your father is still wandering in the Manchurian wilderness.
Get the horse.
Let's go.
We're going to Mukden.
Dear.
Don't fall off your horse.
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
Teruyuki Kagawa as Shiki Masaoka
Miho Kanno as Ritsu Masaoka
Mieko Harada as Yae Masaoka
Yukiyoshi Ozawa as Soseki Natsume
Satmi Ishihara as Sueko Akiyama
Koji Matoba as Gaishi Nagaoka
Masao Kusakari as Tomosaburo Kato
Takako Matsu as Tami Akiyama
Hideki Takajashi as Gentaro Kodama
Go Kato as Hirobumi Ito
Koji Ishizaka as Gonbei Yamamoto
Hiroshi Tachi as Hayao Shimamura
Keiko Takeshima as Sada Akiyama
Akira Emoto as Maresuke Nogi
Naoto Takenaka as Jurato Komura
Toru Emori as Aritomo Yamagata
Tetsuya Watari as Heihachiro Togo
Executive Producers: Yoshihiro Kan & Yoshiki Nishimura
Producer: Satoshi Sekiguchi
Director: Taku Kato
Translation and Subtitles by Noriko Morisaki (JVTA)