DECEMBER 25, 1866
I have critical news!
His Majesty...
has passed away.
No...!
Ten days ago, he suddenly became seriously ill with smallpox...
I don't believe that.
He was heading toward recovery.
Tosa! Get my horse!
Where to?
To the palace to see for myself!
Lord, please wait!
Lord! Wait!
Begin!
Stop!
Again!
I'm not quite there yet.
You couldn't beat her once this year.
Next year for sure!
Sir!
What is it?
All right.
Practice is over!
Everyone, refrain.
His Majesty has passed away.
Go home at once to prepare for mourning.
Passed away?
His Majesty?
His Majesty was the reason... we could safely fulfill our duties...till now.
What's going to happen now?
I hope nothing bad will happen.
YAE NO SAKURA
Episode 17: Gift from Nagasaki
Screenplay: Yamamoto Mutsumi
Theme Music: Sakamoto Ryuichi Music: Nakajima Nobuyuki
Narrator: Kusabue Mitsuko
Kawasaki Yae: Ayase Haruka
Yamamoto Kakuma: Nishijima Hidetoshi
Kawasaki Shonosuke: Hasegawa Hiroki
Yamamoto Saku: Fubuki Jun
Yamamoto Gonpachi: Matsushige Yutaka
Yamamoto Ura: Hasegawa Kyoko
Takagi Tokio: Kanjiya Shihori
Hinata Yuki: Gouriki Ayame
Matsudaira Katamori: Ayano Go
Tokugawa Yoshinobu: Koizumi Kotaro
Sagawa Kanbei: Nakamura Shido
Jinbo Shuri: Saito Takumi
Kajiwara Heima: Ikeuchi Hiroyuki
Hirosawa Tomijiro: Okada Yoshinori
Kurokouchi Dengoro: Musaka Naomasa
Nakano Takeko: Kuroki Meisa
Tanaka Tosa: Sato Bsaku
Inui Taisuke: Kato Masaya
Saigo Chie: Miyazaki Yoshiko
Saigo Kichinosuke: Kikkawa Koji
Princess Teru: Inamori Izumi
Saigo Tanomo: Nishida Toshiyuki
Executive Producer: Naito Shinsuke
Translations by MTI
Director: Ichiki Masae
NAGASAKI
MEDICAL SCHOOL
DR. BALDWIN
KAKUMA IS IN NAGASAKI TO PURCHASE ARMS
How did the surgery go? Will his eyes be cured?
Sorry, but you'll go blind.
When will I go blind?
A year? Two years?
Probably earlier than that.
Don't lose hope.
There are many who do great work even without their sight.
Yes.
This is a dreamland.
There's a Western Clinic...
and a school for Western sciences.
There's a huge library of foreign books.
There are piles of world knowledge here.
But I don't have enough time to read them all.
Everyone has a limit.
Nobody can read all the books in the world.
An express courier from Kyoto.
His Majesty has passed away.
What?
No...!
The keystone of Kyoto is gone.
The suppressed ones will burst out.
Let's acquire the rifles immediately.
GLOVER MANSION
That's Ito Shunsuke with Choshu.
The Minié rifles were purchased from here.
That's odd. Choshu are rebels. They're not allowed to trade.
That man next to Ito...
is Murata Shinpachi with Satsuma.
Satsuma!
They channel the weapons to Choshu under their name.
So Satsuma and Choshu are in collaboration!
Glover Trading Company is a nest for the western clans.
Probably.
I made contact with a new weapons merchant.
LEHMAN HARTMAN & COMPANY
He has the percussion type Gewehr muskets available.
How much?
Let's see...
Oh, glass...
Are they your friends?
Louise, I'm working now. Go to the other side.
You can speak Japanese?
Just a little.
CARL LEHMANN
How about 5 ryo per gun? CARL LEHMANN
No Gewehr. They're outdated.
They're a bargain!
We will not pay for outdated leftovers!
Is it Minié rifles that you want?
No, something newer.
A breech-loader with a groove in the barrel.
Snider rifles are in demand, but we don't carry them.
Don't touch without permission!
A repeating rifle...
This is a good rifle.
The Spencer carbine is my personal rifle. It's not for sale.
Looks expensive. We can't afford to buy in big quantity.
Kakuma, isn't this...?
It's a breech-loading rifle. The barrel...
...has four grooves. This is good.
That's a Dreyse needle-gun.
No clans have one as yet.
Supply us with 1,000.
1,000? That's ridiculous!
What?
The Prussian army use them on the frontlines.
They're not readily available in Nagasaki.
Then go to Prussia and buy them for us.
What if the deal falls through? I'll suffer a huge loss.
You can't trust Aizu?
I'm a merchant. I don't cross dangerous bridges.
If you don't see anything you like, please leave.
I can always find buyers.
Wait! Who do you plan to sell the rifles to?
Satsuma? Choshu?
Kakuma!
Barbarian!
Being too pushy won't get you anywhere.
I don't trust him for pushing the outdated Gewehr muskets.
The other merchants are doing the same thing.
I can't talk to greedy foreigners!
Kakuma!
What's wrong?
I won't be able to see soon.
I couldn't see the rifle barrel earlier.
Before I go blind, I want to buy superior rifles.
Or I'll just be a nuisance.
Do you only have eyes?
That can be useful to Aizu?
I stake my entire body for my lord.
It must be the same for you.
Even if you lost your sight....
you have these hands that know rifles.
Your knowledge and soul can be used for Aizu.
Kakuma...get a grip on yourself.
Did you fight with my papa?
No...
You shouldn't fight.
Louise!
Come here.
Mine is about her age.
Foreigners aren't any different from the Japanese.
We are all the same human beings.
Yes.
What am I doing?
I ruined the negotiation by getting irritated.
I'm sorry for being rude earlier.
Can we talk again?
We really need modern rifles.
We want your help.
Please hear us out.
I'm begging you!
Papa?
Please come in. Let's talk about business.
SPRING 1867
Emperor Komei's funeral service was held in Spring of 1867.
Sir Kanbei!
Regarding the lord's request to return to Aizu...
the Shogunate has approved it.
So Aizu will be withdrawing from Kyoto.
No...they rejected his request to resign his post.
But he can return for a year.
After working hard for five years in Kyoto...
he gets a measly one year.
Kyoto will only shave years off the lord's life.
Sir Yokumaro will stay in place of the lord.
It's auspicious that the lord adopted a son as his heir.
But Sir Yokumaro is the Shogun's younger brother.
I just don't trust the Shogun.
Kakuma, who is in Nagasaki...
sent a letter requesting approval to buy 1,000 rifles.
I see.
MATSUDAIRA YOKUMARO
They found what they want.
It's called the Dreyse, and it's a good rifle.
You can load the rifle at your hands side like this.
It's as if you saw it.
Why not tell the lord?
Actually...I did see it.
Weapons merchant Carl Lehmann came to Kobe.
Foreigners aren't allowed in that area yet.
Fully aware of the danger, he came to show it to me.
He said he won't sell any imitation to Aizu.
It's an expensive purchase, but I think we can trust him.
Tosa.
I'm sorry for lending a hand in breaking clan rules.
I am prepared to be reprimanded.
You've done well.
I can't ignore our home province's distress.
But it worried me to go home, leaving you here.
Having rifles will be reassuring.
There are men scheming to cause disorder.
Tosa, be on your guard.
Yes, sir!
The lord...is coming home.
Is that true?
He's leaving Kyoto after Sir Yokumaro's manhood rite.
I'm happy to hear that.
Tokio.
Yes.
Let's make sake again with the pine needles.
We must have him recover while he's back at home.
I'll collect pine needles at once.
Please do.
He's finally coming home.
So you were selected to go to Edo as a trainee?
Yes, I'm allowed to go for Western training.
Good. Well done!
Kakuma went to Edo for the first time at about your age.
I went to Edo for training about your age, too.
Shall I make azuki bean-rice in celebration?
That sounds good.
Study hard.
I will!
When are you leaving?
Right away.
I'll be away for a while,
so I climbed Odayama with the guys I'm going to Edo with.
There's a nice view of the castle from there.
Young Master, I heard about your success.
Congratulations.
Yes...well done!
Yes.
Is that for Saburo?
Yes.
I can't do much for him...
but I want him at least to have a new kimono.
What is that?
A sacred bamboo.
A lucky charm to turn a misfortune to good.
Oh...I get it.
I heard it's dangerous in Edo.
I want him to come home safely at all costs.
He's grown into a fine man.
Yes, he has.
Were his shoulders that broad?
Saburo!
I'm going!
Goodbye!
Take care!
So this is beer!
It's time to depart.
I'll be right there.
You are all more studious than the students.
We have learned a lot in a short time period.
Thank you very much.
Don't overdo it. Please take care of your eyes.
Doctor, please take care, too.
See you in Aizu someday.
I'm glad I made it in time!
What's up?
Kakuma.
Oh, you're here!
Don't worry about the rifles. I ordered them from Prussia.
I'm leaving that to you.
You've done a lot for us.
There are all kinds of newspapers.
You openly state your opinions.
Anyone can read this?
That's right.
You look good in it!
I've learned a lot.
Foreign life...trade...
Despite the dangers, you went to Kobe.
I thank you, again.
Kakuma, here.
It's the Spencer rifle.
You liked it, didn't you?
Yes. Unfortunately, I can't afford...
It's a gift.
What?
It's my proof of trust in Aizu.
Have someone who knows his rifle well and use it.
Mr. Lehmann...
Kakuma.
Here's a gift for you.
Thank you.
MAY 1867
I'm Inui Taisuke with Tosa.
I've heard about you from Sir Nakaoka.
Did he say I was an odd-ball?
No. He said you're hot like a flame, and sharp like a blade.
I dislike lengthy talks.
I'll get straight to the point.
Aren't Satsuma and Choshu uniting to overthrow the Shogunate?
Can you add Tosa to that pact?
It'll be hard for just two clans to do it.
It'll be to your benefit to include Tosa.
But...
the Tosa higher-ups, including Lord Yodo...
are set on uniting the samurai and nobles.
Can you wait a month?
I can change the clan's opinions in a month.
Can you really do that?
If I fail...
I'll slit my belly.
In June of that year...
Katamori's adopted son had his manhood ceremony.
I'll grant you a character from my name.
YOSHI
Yes, sir.
You are my younger brother (of Yoshinobu).
Succeed the Aizu clan and support the Tokugawa.
Very well.
You have a fine heir.
I can leave him with the duties of Kyoto Deputy.
Regarding that...
Can you postpone your return home?
Please pardon me on that.
Aizu is suffering from extreme poverty since the big fire.
I'd like to focus on my duties at home.
I'm asking you.
No, I won't bend this time.
Are you abandoning Kyoto?
I've already received permission.
Satsuma and Tosa are requesting the reinstatement
of Choshu's lord and son to the various nobles.
Yes, but...
Unlike the previous emperor, who trusted us...
Nakayama Tadayasu, the new emperor's grandfather,
align with Satsuma.
If you leave,
Satsuma will control the Court and cause disorder.
As a precaution, I'll leave 1,000 Aizu clansmen in Kyoto.
Should something happen, I'll rush back immediately...
That'll be too late!
What do you think Satsuma is conspiring?
To overthrow and replace the Shogunate!
If that happens, what will become of...
the previous emperor's will to unite the samurai and nobles?
Isn't that being disloyal to the previous emperor?
Your hard efforts have allowed us to acquire modern rifles...
and take leads on the movements of the western clans.
Thank you for your hard work.
Yes, sir.
Kakuma.
I heard you received eye treatment.
Yes, I did.
Take care.
Yes, sir!
He looks awfully pale.
He hasn't been feeling well since His Majesty's death.
To add to it, his return to Aizu has been cancelled.
Wasn’t it already approved?
But the Shogun strongly dissuaded him.
The nobles backed by Choshu and Satsuma are gaining power.
They plot to topple Prince Nakagawa and Regent Nijo.
Is that true?
I'm leaving for Edo tomorrow.
The Edo men must discuss the future with the Shogunate.
Hold down the fort here.
Yes, sir.
All this change occurs with six months of the previous emperor's death.
As much as we have to prepare for battle,
it's going to take time before the rifles arrive.
What do we do in the meantime?
Kakuma.
The timing is bad, but maybe you should go home once.
Go and see your daughter...
while you still can.
I want to see Aizu once more.
I haven't seen my daughter since she was an infant.
That's what I was feeling, but...
how can I leave Kyoto, when the lord can't leave?
But...
Now is the time to work for Aizu!
Don't worry, I'm sure my eyes will last a bit longer.
A package from Kakuma?
This came for you.
I've never seen a rifle like this!
It's so light.
A rifle for the cavalry.
How did he get it?
It's called a Spencer carbine.
It can shoot seven bullets consecutively.
Seven!
His friend had given it to him, so he's giving it to Yae.
Yes!
Is Kakuma returning soon?
No. He's going to be in Kyoto for a while.
What?
That's why he sent the gifts.
We don't need any gifts.
We just want to see him home, even if it's for half a day.
That in itself would be enough.
I'll make some tea.
Why can't Kakuma come home?
There are suspicious movements in Kyoto.
Will there be war again?
It's quiet now, but there's tension in the air.
He must have written it in quite a rush.
His handwriting is messy.
I heard the lord's return was postponed.
Things will only get more complicated in Kyoto.
We must bring Akizuki back.
He should not be holed up in Ezo.
Another bull's eye.
This is a really good rifle.
It's easy to handle and accurate too.
This craftsmanship can't be imitated by Aizu gunsmiths.
No wonder Kakuma can't return.
What?
If the western clans are buying rifles like this in large quantities...
Choshu isn't the only one who can start a war.
What Saburo said bothered me, so I climbed Odayama.
You get a clear view of the castle town.
Which means, an enemy can have full view of the castle.
Is someone invading us?
I'm saying it in precaution.
Aizu is the entrance to Oshu.
It's good to tighten our defenses.
Shirakawa...
Nikko...
Echigo...
Yonezawa...
Nohonmatsu...
These are the five main routes here.
The pivotal point is...
Shirakawa...
It'll be hard to cross the mountain pass in winter.
Shall I go there and see?
I didn't expect her to tag along.
Yae.
A nice traveling weather!
Do you plan to come with me to Shirakawa?
Yes.
It's 44 miles of steep mountain path.
No problem!
Now, let's move on!
Don't cry later.
My line to you.
If you fall behind, I'm leaving you behind.
END OF EPISODE 17
I've been hired as the gunnery instructor for the Nisshinkan.
Congratulations!
The living conditions keep getting worse.
They're dancing to forget.
Saigo! What are you plotting?
The banner to punish the rebels.
The Imperial army will hoist this.
I'll return the power to the Emperor.
I have to act before Satsuma does.
This is a gamble.