Charge!
On August 23, 1868...
the new government's army invaded Aizu castle town.
Yae entered the castle with her Spencer carbine...
and led the youth squads in the gun battle.
Councilors Tosa and Kuranosuke committed harakiri.
At Mt. Iimori, members of the youth squad (Baeko-tai) committed suicide.
Tanomo's entire family killed themselves...
as protest to the new government's army.
That night, Yae cut her hair for the night attack.
Thank you very much.
I'll be on my way.
Ms. Yae!
Nisshinkan (samurai school) is ablaze!
The wounded soldiers are there.
Sir Shun'ei!
Did they set fire to Nisshinkan?
We did it, to prevent the enemy from attacking.
Only the ones who can walk came.
The immobile wounded committed harakiri.
The wounded will go inside.
Everyone, lend me a hand.
I'm joining the night counter-strike.
Yae.
We have to dislodge them quickly.
Please, just for a night.
We have elderly and small children.
No, we can't let you in! Please leave!
It's just for tonight!
The corner of the shed is fine!
The elderly can't walk any further.
Chase them away quickly!
We don't want to get involved!
Grandmother.
Be strong!
A charcoal maker's hut is nearby.
Let's go.
There they are.
Though it's dark, don't miss.
Leave it to me.
The enemy is here!
I won't miss any shot!
Firearms are weapons.
You'll have to shoot the person in the heart to kill.
Watch out!
Be alert, Yae!
I'll take over.
Go.
Go!
Sir!
Damn you...
I won't let you men take Aizu!
YAE NO SAKURA
Episode 27: Stop the Siege
Screenplay: Yamamoto Mutsumi
Theme Music: Sakamoto Ryuichi Music: Nakajima Nobuyuki
Narrator: Kusabue Mitsuko
Kawasaki Yae: Ayase Haruka
Kawasaki Shonosuke: Hasegawa Hiroki
Yamamoto Saku: Fubuki Jun
Yamamoto Ura: Hasegawa Kyoko
Yamakawa Okura: Tamayama Tetsuji
Takagi Tokio: Kanjiya Shihori
Yamakawa Futaba: Ichikawa Mikako
Jinbo Yuki: Ashina Sei
Hinata Yuki: Gouriki Ayame
Matsudaira Katamori: Ayano Go
Sagawa Kanbei: Nakamura Shido
Kajiwara Heima: Ikeuchi Hiroyuki
Akizuki Teijiro: Kitamura Yukiya
Kurokouchi Dengoro: Musaka Naomasa
Yamakawa Kenjiro: Katsuji Ryo
Yamakawa Hyoue: Yamamoto Kei
Kayano Gonbei: Yanagisawa Shingo
Nakano Takeko: Kuroki Meisa
Princess Teru: Inamori Izumi
Saigo Chie: Miyazaki Yoshiko
Yamakawa En: Akiyoshi Kumiko
Saigo Tanomo: Nishida Toshiyuki
Our task is to cook and care for the wounded. AUGUST 24 - SECOND DAY OF THE CASTLE SIEGE
You all know what to do, don't you?
Yes.
Don't flinch at the flying bullets.
Defend your posts.
Yes.
Let's turn this area into a nursing station.
Yes.
Ms. Futaba.
Ms. Futaba!
I'm glad you're safe!
What's wrong?
Futaba.
The councilor's family should be taking the lead here.
Yes.
Did something happen?
(My son) Torachiyo is missing.
He got separated on the way here.
I'm going to look for him.
Don't.
There are many who have lost their families here.
I'm sure the wet nurse is sheltering him in the village.
Yes.
Let's go.
I have to be strong.
I am Heima's wife.
Ms. Futaba...
Please include us in your army. ECHIGO MAIN ROAD - CAMP
No.
We won't hold you back.
We'll penetrated through the enemy.
If we bring women to the battlefield...
our enemy will mock us for our lack of resources.
We hard Princess Teru is in the castle.
We regret coming this far.
We want to be with the princess in the castle.
No.
You refuse to heed our request?
Please!
No!
Our training will be for naught.
We will die here.
Everyone.
Stop!
Your request is granted.
Join us in the battle tomorrow.
Yes!
It's less than a mile from Odayama mountain to the castle.
If they shoot a cannon from there, we will surely be hit.
Will it reach the castle?
Yes...since the peak overlooks the castle.
Men...don't underestimate the enemy's cannon power.
But they don't know our topography.
They might not know about Odayama.
If we move our army there, that might draw their attention.
There is that possibility, but...
We need more soldiers to defend Odayama!
If only Okura was back!
Let's tighten defense at Tenneiji Village for now.
We can stop the enemy from advancing to Odayama.
All right.
Men.
You're taking them lightly!
If they take Odayama, it'll be just like Shirakawa.
I know that , but what other choice do we have?
We're short on soldiers and cannons.
We're short on everything...
That may be so, but...
we must plan a strategy to save Aizu!
Then you should have used that strategy at Shirakawa.
You were in charge there.
I, Sagawa Kanbei, have returned!
Akizuki and I gathered the soldiers that got scattered.
How many?
100 soldiers, 200 farmers and priests.
Good. Send them to Tenneiji.
Yes.
Sirs Tosa and Kuranosuke who have served Aizu for so long...
...are no longer with us.
We must lead Aizu now!
Yes!
Tosa...
Kuranosuke...
Hold him down.
Bandage him.
We have wounded men from Takigawa!
Wait in line!
Cleanse the wounds!
Ura, please dress his wound!
All right.
Please sit here.
It's a bullet wound.
Don't worry. The bullet is out.
I got shot at Tonoguchihara.
The Satsuma rifle squads are strong.
The children stand no chance against them.
What children?
Baeko-tai youth squad 2.
I thought they weren't supposed to go to the front.
Yae!
Isn't Teijiro in second squad?
The Naito force entered the castle the following day.
The Naito force has returned!
Preparation were being made in the castle.
Meanwhile, the new government's reinforcements...
were gathering in Aizu with the latest weapons.
Did it hit?
No, it missed.
Don't act in haste.
Yes.
That poem...
Compared to the brave heart of the samurai
A samurai's heart...
No wonder you were famous in Edo.
I prayed for my husband's safety.
Everything changed in a short period of time.
Yes.
When we get back to the castle, let's learn how to shoot.
Miss Takeko...?
Rifles are powerful.
Yes.
The enemy's here!
Ready!
Fire!
Charge!
Let's go!
Takeko!
Here we go!
Watch out!
These are women!
Don't kill them! Capture them alive!
Miss Takeko!
Don't flinch!
The castle town is close by!
Take that!
(Sister) Takeko!
Miss Takeko!
Takeko!
Takeko...
Retreat!
Hang in there.
Takeko!
Mother...
Princess Teru...
Takeko?
Takeko...
Don't let the enemy take her head.
Takeko...!
Retreat!
It's dangerous here. Let's clear out.
Let's go quickly.
After them!
Where is everyone?
Mother.
Yae!
You're not hurt, are you?
Are you all right?
I'm fine.
I have to get back to work.
Where to?
The bathroom.
Walk slowly.
Mother...
She's quite exhausted.
Yae!
Mother!
Mother.
Is it the enemy's cannon?
I'm going to check it out. Please take care of her.
Yae!
It (the explosion) came from Odayama mountain.
Our gunpowder is there.
They got us.
Our supply was stored there.
Without gunpowder...
our cannons and rifles are useless!
Aizu is in danger!
Our gunpowder cache at South Odayama is still safe.
Let's transport it to town immediately.
Gather the men from the castle and send them there immediately.
Reporting!
The enemy is at Odayama.
How are our soldiers at Tenneiji?
We strengthened the defense there.
The enemy is quick.
They beat us again.
Lord.
At this point...
...we should surrender.
We've lost our gunpowder supply and Odayama.
We are in no condition to fight.
What are you saying?
The battle has just started.
Kanbei!
There is no way out for this battle.
Even if we can't win...
if we endure until winter, we'll have the advantage.
We may even be able to negotiate peace.
Until winter?
If we don't submit and surrender now...
Aizu and her people will be annihilated.
How are we to submit at this point?
All the clansmen will commit harakiri.
That's outrageous!
Instead of submitting...
everyone including lord, women and children...
should go down with the castle.
Kanbei!
How can you suggest submission again!?
Sir Tanomo, you're a coward!
Ever since you lost at Shirakawa, you've thrown in the towel.
Lord.
At this point...
to surrender and submit is not an option.
We'll go down with the castle.
Let us think of a strategy to recapture Odayama.
Yes, sir!
How many soldiers can we send?
Who is she?
She's our captive.
She's a woman. Let her go.
She's one of the rebels.
Sir Yoshimatsu.
I'd like to talk to her for a bit.
Go ahead of me.
What good is it to kill a woman?
I'll plead for your life.
That's not necessary.
What?
Instead... please lend me your short sword.
What is your name?
Are you the wife of some known samurai?
By answering me, will you be disgracing your husband?
When you cross the River Styx, identify whose wife you are.
I am Jinbo Shuri's wife, Yuki.
Dear...
I shall be joining you.
Councilor?
Is that you, Yae?
You had your hair cut.
You look like a fine lad.
What are you doing here?
Nothing really.
But there is no moon tonight.
Use this.
No... I'll just do it later.
Sir Tanomo.
Have you heard about the Baeko-tai Youth squad at Tonoguchihara?
No.
They haven't returned.
Among them is a lad that I taught how to shoot.
He was a year too young...
but he was recruited for his shooting skills.
That's how he got in the Baeko-tai.
It's because I taught him how to shoot.
Yae.
In the bloody battle...
...many have died.
Or we let them die.
I, the general of the defeated party, must commit harakiri.
Sir Tanomo...
But the mortification of the death...
weighs heavily on me...
..and won't let me die.
They tell me to live and protect Aizu.
I will protect Aizu.
Yae...
Be strong.
If you don't, you can't move forward.
I have to become strong...
...or Saburo will scold me.
That's right.
I was in the middle of my patrol.
Oh, is that right?
Go on.
Yes.
Sir Tanomo, please use it.
His wife's death poem: A woman may be like a pliant bamboo in the wind
But there are times when she is strong
On August 26....
Okura had let his army close to Aizu castle town.
The enemy is everywhere. How do we enter the castle?
Shall we forge ahead?
No. We'll lose half our army before we reach the castle.
I don't want to lose any soldier.
What will we do then?
Shall we give it a shot?
Where's Mother?
Mother, the equinox lion is here.
What are you saying? That's in spring.
But I hear festive music.
I hear something.
Mine.
Mother?
It's the equinox lion!
The lion from Komatsu Village!
The lion is coming!
Who are these men?
What clan do they belong?
There are soldiers behind the villagers.
Is it the enemy's strategy?
Let me through!
Wait.
That's Sir Okura.
Brother.
Open the gate!
Welcome the equinox lion!
The Aizu soldiers are here!
Men, run!
They deceived the enemy!
Lord, please have courage...
...and show submission.
Please...
...save Aizu.
I'll go to negotiate.
I'm assigning you to another task.
Join Kayano along the Echigo main road.
Tell him to stay and fight there, and not to return to the castle.
This...
...is an order.
Lord...
...are you...
...ordering me to leave Aizu?
Lord!
Yamakawa Okura has returned to the castle!
Akizuki...
Sir Okura!
It's good to have you back!
Sir Heima (brother in law), it's been a while.
You broke through the enemy line with the equinox lion.
That was some acting!
Welcome back...dear.
He's the lion from that time...
Watch out!
Everyone, settle down!
Don't you see this child?
That's my son!
It really is him!
This is my son that you saved that time.
You've really grown!
Thank you for taking on such a dangerous task.
Don't mention it.
Sir Yamakawa asked us to help.
We haven't even returned our old debt.
If we didn't help out, we'd lose face.
Thank you very much!
Welcome back.
Thank you.
Entering the castle without losing a single man...
...gave the people who endured the brutal battle a ray of hope.
END OF EPISODE 27
Until I crush the enemy, I won't return to the castle.
Are you running away?
Why is the lord chasing Sir Tanomo out?
I want to meet the man who wrote this.
Are you Kakuma's sister?
I want to become strong, so I can serve you.
Let's increase the quantity of the gunpowder.
If we don't do anything, we'll keep losing.
Yae...
The castle is still safe.