Can't you see it?
Look outside the box! Focus on the world!
A civil war could make us vulnerable to foreign powers.
The Tokugawa's prosperity or Japan's existence?
Which is more important?
Why is Satsuma working for Choshu's pardon?
It's to prevent the Shogunate from having supreme reign.
Politics should be carried out by public opinion.
A republic government?
Yes.
A new system for our country.
A new political system was being sought.
A republic government the western clans aimed for...
versus a Shogunate government with the Tokugawa as ruler...
clashed by Yoshinobu's careless statements.
A strong Shogunate will make the clans submit...
then the country will be united.
I'm not backing down until the Shogunate is rebuilt.
If he becomes Shogun, it'll be troublesome.
Satsuma joins hands with noble Iwakura Tomomi...
and gains Court support.
Shall we overthrow the Shogunate?
Another bull's eye.
If the western clans are buying rifles like this in quantity...
Choshu isn't the only one who can start a war.
Aizu is the entrance to Oshu.
It's good to tighten our defenses.
The pivotal point is...
Shirakawa.
YAE NO SAKURA
Episode 18: A Trip with Shonosuke
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
Yamakawa Okura: Tamayama Tetsuji
Jinbo Shuri: Saito Takumi
Matsudaira Katamori: Ayano Go
Tokugawa Yoshinobu: Koizumi Kotaro
Akizuki Teijiro: Kitamura Yukiya
Hirosawa Tomijiro: Okada Yoshinori
Okubo Ichizo: Tokushige Satoshi
Iwakura Tomomi: Kosakai Kazuki
Jinbo Kuranosuke: Tsukayama Masane
Kayano Gonbei: Yanagisawa Shingo
Tanaka Tosa: Sato Bsaku
Kido Takayoshi: Oikawa Mitsuhiro
Saigo Kichinosuke: Kikkawa Koji
Oyama Yasuke: Sorimachi Takashi
Ogakiya Seihachi: Matsukata Hiroki
Executive Producer: Naito Shinsuke
Translations by MTI
Director: Ichiki Masae
AUTUMN 1867 - SEABURI PASS
Yae...
Please slow down.
Tired already?
Hurry. It'll be noon soon.
This is the spot I made a promise with Kakuma.
With Kakuma?
About building a cannon foundry at Mt. Seaburi.
Indeed...
This is a good spot.
Alright...
The lake extends all the way here!
LAKE INAWASHIRO
Mount Bandai...
...is beautiful.
Sir Shonosuke?
Tomorrow we're passing Miyo and entering Shirakawa.
Yes.
What were you thinking about?
You had a serious look as you gazed at the lake.
From Mt. Seaburi, how far can the cannons be transported by boat?
If we go down Nippashi River...
we may be able to go to Yonezawa and Echigo.
Why there?
In the Choshu invasion...
an unknown village far from Kyoto became the battlefield.
If another war should break out...
Is something going to happen in Aizu?
I don't know.
It's just that Aizu has been criticized for so long.
Thank you for calling me back to Kyoto.
The situation has changed in Kyoto.
Aizu is in a difficult position.
I need your help.
I'm counting on you.
Yes sir! I shall do my best!
Lord, there's another man who returned today.
Enter!
I, Yamakawa Okura, have returned.
Okura, you look great.
Thank you for giving a greenhorn like me such a huge task.
Lord.
Our main personnel are here in Kyoto.
Akizuki.
Yes.
Is Tanomo well?
Yes. He's the same as usual.
I see. That's good.
A Dreyse needle-gun...
It's a good rifle.
We ordered 1,000 of these. They are coming from Prussia.
These are not inferior to the Snider rifles.
What's the situation in Kyoto?
Satsuma approached the Court to get Choshu pardoned...
by criticizing the Shogunate.
The failure of the Choshu invasion is affecting them.
Anything could happen at any time.
Aizu can't leave Kyoto.
It's as Sir Tanomo feared.
Our Lord was indeed thinking about Sir Tanomo.
Yes.
Okura, I heard you went to Russia.
I accompanied the Foreign Affairs Magistrate
to Germany, France and Russia.
What did you see?
Armaments, products, and education.
They were enlightening.
However, I don't think Japan is inferior.
If we learn the technical details, we won't lose to them.
What counts is the will to do it.
You're right.
But the Shogunate officials have lost that will.
They dwell on titles at a time when we need able men.
It's going to be hard for them to continue steering the country.
I learned things in Ezo (Hokkaido).
There are mountains of herrings in the sea.
There's also a trading port.
Nagasaki reaped tremendous profits from trading.
That's why the western clans are wealthy.
If only Aizu had a sea...
Oh, that's right...
Yae looked beautiful in her wedding Kimono.
Is that right?
That tomboy looked beautiful?
There used to be a checkpoint in this area.
Like in the poem?
It's here where the autumn breeze blows.
It was built to prevent an invasion of Kyoto from Oshu.
Ironically, it was the Southern people who invaded through here.
If that should happen again...
I hope it's a wasted fear.
SHIRAKAWA KOMINE CASTLE
Oh,... a daruma!
It's Shirakawa daruma. How about one?
The brow is a crane.
The mustache is a turtle.
The beard is a pine.
The side has plum.
Below the face is bamboo.
All lucky symbols.
Shall we get one?
Yes.
Thank you.
That's Mt. Adatara.
Adachigahara plain is beyond the river.
NIHONMATSU CASTLE
A witch lives in Adachigahara.
She kills and eats travelers.
the children...
He's pretty good.
The Gewehr musket looks heavy for him.
Are you spying?
Where are you from?
Spying on Nihonmatsu?
No. We were just watching.
Women aren't interested in guns.
You look suspicious.
Hey! What are you doing?
Young Master!
I always say, don't point the guns at people!
But they might be spies!
We're travelers from Aizu.
Please forgive them.
It's all right.
Sajiro, open your eyes.
Yes.
Sir Kimura, you used to be in Edo?
I was at Edogawa Artillery School for three years.
I recently returned to help my father's school.
I'm teaching gunnery to these boys.
Young Master, let's call it a day.
All right.
They're gunnery people from Aizu.
You've come a long way.
Will you display your skills?
My wife can do that.
Your wife?
Can a woman shoot?
She might flip over after she fires!
Hey! Keep quiet!
Bull's eye.
Excellent!
Wow!
A female sharp shooter?
That's Aizu for you!
No...my wife is an oddball.
Aizu is known for its military prowess, but they're behind in gunnery.
It's the same here in Nihonmatsu.
We're still using Gewehr muskets and old matchlock (Teppu) muskets.
Even if we practice shooting repeatedly,
we can't beat enemies who use newer rifles.
What a shocker!
Yae, you are very skilled.
Are you truly a woman?
Yes. I'm not the witch of Adachigahara.
I want to be good at it, too.
You have a habit of closing your eyes.
You're the only one.
I was scolded a lot for exactly that in the past.
Don't close your eyes! It's your bad habit!
Yae...shall we get going?
Yes.
Goodbye.
Bye.
Thank you very much!
Ms. Yae!
What's the matter?
How did you stop closing your eyes?
Please tell me how!
The trick is...don't try to keep your eyes open.
What?
Forget about your eyes, and focus on following the bullet.
Forget about my eyes?
Let's write a prayer for this.
Draw in a huge eye, so you can keep your eyes open like this.
The damura eyes...
Practice hard.
I will! Thank you!
Have a safe journey!
All right.
I'm sorry for giving away the daruma you bought for me.
Let's get another one someday.
Yes.
Everyone!
What's the matter?
The Satsuma army numbering 1,000 men has entered Osaka.
What?!
Damn Satsuma! What are they doing here?
Notify the Kyoto Deputy and the Military Commissioner!
Tighten security for the Palace and city!
Yes sir!
Tokugawa Yoshinobu: Damn Satsuma... what are they up to?
I'll be back.
SATSUMA MANSION in KYOTO
Brother!
I've just returned.
Oh, Yasuke!
SATSUMA CLANSMAN, OYAMA YASUKE (IWAO)
I just passed some Tosa men.
That was Goto Shojiro (of Tosa).
Did they come with an army from Tosa?
No, they said they can't dispatch troops.
Why? The Satsuma army of 1,000 is already in Osaka.
Let me hear your report first.
I brought 300 rifles from Fabre-Brandt in Yokohama.
You could buy that many with such a low budget?
Including damaged guns, I got them at a bargain.
What are you going to do with the damaged rifles?
Repair them and use them.
The amount of firearms is what's important.
The more we have, the more it will intimidate the enemy.
You're sharp as ever.
Now, for Tosa...
Why aren't they sending troops?
Lord Yamaguchi Yodo said he'll persuade Tokugawa Yoshinobu
to give back power to the Emperor.
Aren't we raising an army to drag down Yoshinobu?
We agreed to overthrow the Shogunate.
But now he's refusing to raise an army.;
He's telling us to withdraw our army as well.
Why?
Yoshinobu won't relinquish power unless we force him to.
After coming this far...
to have Tosa interfere!
We have to act first.
The deadline is December 7, the day Kobe opens port.
The foreign ministers will pay a courtesy call there.
If Yoshinobu attends...
the world will see the Tokugawa as the head of Japan.
What do we do then?
We need the Court's help.
Come with me.
Did I make a mistake?
The rifle purchase.
1,000 Dreyse needle-guns are excellent.
Satsuma is moving too fast.
Maybe I should have bought all the old guns I could get.
It's the usual commotion.
It's the degenerated age we live in.
That is...!
Is this part of Satsuma's strategy?
Kakuma!
Out of my way!
You're in our way!
Saigo! What are you up to!?
Wait!
He's with Aizu! Give it to him!
Watch out!
Come!
Enough!
Damn!
Are you all right?
Have you forgotten me?
Kakuma!
-Saigo is here! Go after him! -Yes.
Where did he go?
He's plotting something! I have to go after him!
Sir Yamamoto, what happened to your eyes?
Sir!
Did they attack you, knowing who you are?
No. They recognized the Aizu accent.
How dangerous.
Are Choshu men hiding amongst the dancers?
Creating a riot by dropping money from above...
is probably the doing of Choshu and Satsuma.
I agree.
I doubt it.
No one is the leader.
It just happened naturally.
For the Choshu invasion,
every clan bought a lot of rice and miso.
That inflated the local prices, and made the living standard here bad.
They are dancing to forget.
It is true there are riots everywhere.
Every day is torture...
and they are irritated.
Won't the world improve?
Isn't reform in Japan good?
Ogakiya...what is reform?
The Shogunate and the Aizu don't think the current state is good.
Satsuma and Choshu feel the same also.
But our goals are far too different.
Will you engage in warfare again and force them to submit?
No...no more war.
Satsuma and Choshu are prepared to go to war.
If we fight now, we will be the ones forced to submit.
Satsuma joined hands with Tosa. SEPTEMBER 19 KIDO MANSION, CHOSHU
Is Satsuma serious about overthrowing the Shogunate? SEPTEMBER 19 KIDO MANSION, CHOSHU
Sir Kido (Katsura).
We concluded it was better to bring Tosa in with us.
Returning power to the Emperor is for the Shogunate's survival.
That is becoming clear.
For that reason, we are severing ties with Tosa.
Are you still intent on overthrowing the Shogunate government?
Of course. That is why Satsuma led 1,000 men to Osaka.
What if Yoshinobu heeds Lord Yodo's (of Tosu) plan...
and returns power to the Emperor?
We won't have a just cause to raise an army.
We must contrive a plan before Tosa.
Which is?
We'll get help from the Court.
A secret order?
For our cause, the nuisance must be removed.
Welcome home.
Dear, why was you summoned to the castle?
I'm now the gunnery instructor at Nisshinkan...
with a stipend for 13 people.
Congratulations!
A stipend for 13 people is low for your skills, but...
the clan's finances are tight. We should be thankful.
Yes.
If you work hard, you could get an increase.
Devote yourself.
I will.
Aren't you glad?
You weren't employed for two years after your marriage...
so I was worried.
He didn't get employed because of our marriage.
His skills were acknowledged.
That's true.
No. I was employed...
because of the demand for artillery preparations.
Satsuma sent troops to Osaka.
It's becoming more dangerous in Kyoto.
Will there be war?
Unlike in the past, the superiors are open to new ideas.
If it'll help the clan, don't hesitate to speak up.
Yes.
What about your house?
You can't continue to live upstairs of the storehouse.
Did they say anything about your housing?
If possible, will you let us stay here?
No. It looks bad if a clansman is freeloading.
Be it to study, or make rifles... this place is most convenient.
Yae, how do you feel?
I don't mind the way things are.
Please let us stay.
In that case, it can't be helped.
Yes...that's the case!
Thank you very much.
The reason why you asked to remain a freeloader...
is to protect this house while my brothers are away.
Father looked relieved.
I've been in Aizu for 10 years.
This home is comfortable to me as well.
Yes.
Your observation records on Shirakawa and Nihonmatsu...
are detailed and helpful.
Yes, sir.
Kawasaki.
It's a great idea to build a reverberatory at Mt. Seaburi.
Thank you.
In the Imperial Palace battle, we felt the brunt of the cannon power.
Regarding the latest model rifles that you requested...
it should be considered.
Yes.
But it won't be right away.
Due to last year's great fire and poor harvest...
and the payment for the rifles we bought in Nagasaki.
We have no credit to borrow from.
Aizu overspent in Kyoto.
Our finances are tight.
You should know.
Yae.
Yes.
Let's go to Nikko and Echigo next.
What?
If one plan doesn't work we'll move on to the next.
Even without money, there must be things we can do.
Yes.
I'd better train so that you don't leave me behind at the mountain pass.
You need more training to keep up with me.
That's true.
In the near future...
this imperial order will be given to Satsuma and Choshu.
Kill rebel Yoshinobu and grasp the momentum.
What is this?
An order to kill Yoshinobu. EARLY OCTOBER IWAKURA MANSION, KYOTO
Unless you go to this extreme, no one will take it seriously. EARLY OCTOBER IWAKURA MANSION, KYOTO
The imperial order to punish Kyoto Deputy Katamori...
and the Military Commissioner will be issued at the same time.
We'll act as soon as the order is issued.
Yoshinobu is a wise man.
He'll weight which is more beneficial...
and may quickly surrender power to the Emperor.
If that happens...
this order to brand him as a rebel is meaningless.
Another thing...
This.
What is this?
The banner to punish the rebels.
The Imperial army will hoist this.
The Imperial flag...
Where is it?
Silly. There isn't one.
We're going to make one.
With gold brocade and red/white silk damask.
It'll look magnificent.
Okubo.
A single mistake could turn us into rebels...
and cause our downfall.
Load bullets!
Aim!
Fire!
Good.
We can rise anytime.
Yesterday, Goto Shojiro of Tosa... OCTOBER 4 NIJO CASTLE, KYOTO
delivered Lord Yodo's (of Tosa) petition to the Shogunate's elders.
What is he proposing?
He's advising me to return power to the Emperor.
The 260 years of government the Shogunate administered...
should be returned to the Emperor, he said.
What does that mean?
Since Tokugawa Ieyasu's days (1603) government was administered by the Shogunate.
I'm thinking of doing as he suggested.
I'll return the power to the Emperor.
Cheers.
Return power to the Emperor?
Will the Shogunate be gone?
A new system will be formed, centered around the Court...
where public opinions will be considered.
I can't believe it'll go through.
It's for the Shogunate family. TOSA CLANSMAN, GOTO SHOJIRO
Until everything is in order...
we need your clan's help to stop any interferences.
If the Shogunate was strong, we needn't fear Satsuma and Choshu.
That's how it was supposed to be.
Because we hold power, we are targeted to be overthrown.
Once we return power, they have no reason to come after us.
But what good is it to lose the Shogunate in the process?
No...this plan will protect the Tokugawa.
The Court doesn't have the capacity to rule or battle.
They won't be able to do anything.
We will be in control for a while, like usual.
During that time, we will take measures to preserve authority.
What about the position of shogun?
What about the leadership position of the samurai?
Even if we lose the title of Shogun...
the Tokugawa will remain the most powerful clan.
I have to act before Satsuma does.
This is a gamble.
If we don't go all out, we can't cleave our path.
END OF EPISODE 18
If the shogun resigns, who will Aizu serve?
Are you Sir Yamamoto?
I'm Oda Tokie. Master Ogakiya sent me.
Imperial rule is restored.
Japan will revert back to her old rule.
I'll make preparations for battle.
Why, this is...!
The guards have changed.
It's like the time when we chased Choshu out.