It was an era when a man lived as a warrior...
He fought, staking his life on his faith in the sword...
The final era... the Bakumatsu.
Intrigue in the Bakumatsu
On the land with the frozen moonlight
It's rolling and drawing the line
The era of destruction and rebirth now begins
Heavily holding the freedom
Choosing the invisible path
Passing the sunset that's brighter than the daylight
The vessel of time moves on as if telling the dream
There's a new dawn beyond the dark path
We may have been born from the arm of darkness
Just like being in an impossible love
We wander into the light
The path stretches indefinitely
And there's no way to go back
I won't let you get away!
Village of Koma
This part isn't working correctly.
Thank you for your hard work.
Leader, what should we do now?
Well...
I know...
It took us ten years, but we finally followed through with it.
Frankly we no longer need to perform or be in this town.
I have no idea where Akizuki went, either.
Where's Shiranui?
Oh, he's gone there. Again.
What a good-looking man you are!
Why don't you come see us?
What a great view!
Hello, handsome!
Handsome? You must be talking to me!
Hello! What a good-looking fellow you are! One customer is coming in!
You've gotten better.
Forgive my long absence.
I figured you would be visiting me soon.
I'm here to make a report to you, Shoten-sama.
Lord Shoten of Koma
I'll listen to you while I eat.
Shinza, have it ready.
Come, Yojiro.
This is good.
I guess this one is still uncooked.
I'll cook it again.
It's all right.
So, what was it?
You did cut down the Head, but still...
However, the Moontear Sword says that it was unable to eradicate its spirit.
Do you understand that?
You couldn't cut this properly, huh?
That's!
No matter how much you sharpen your blade or how skilled you are,
some things just can't be cut, huh?
Then...
What can he do?
We don't know just yet...
However, it is you who will figure out the answer.
It's you, whose mission is to seal the Head of the Conqueror.
Thank you!
Please come again!
I'll be back to see you again!
And just when I warmed up...
Oh?
So-sama, it's raining.
Damn...
I hate to admit it, but they're picture-perfect.
Hold it for a second.
Master... Are you sure this is going to be our new play?
That's right.
I know... I know our revenge is over.
And there's no law that you can't make a play out of it, either, but...
Actually nothing is over just yet, Leader.
Now that I think about it, he hesitated for just a second back then.
That could've been something!
Hey, what do you mean, something?
How should I know that?
There's a reverse side to everything.
I don't blame you for not noticing...
...but there was someone who noticed the reverse side.
That's a surprise.
So he noticed it...
Akizuki-sama...
It is you who will figure out the answer.
It's you, whose mission is to seal the Head of the Conqueror.
Come on, come all!
This is our second performance here at the Ushioza.
We're the Kakunojo Yuyama Troupe!
Our highly-acclaimed "Japanese Kabuki - The New Tale of Ryoma Sakamoto"
will be followed by our new play!
The setting is the western province, the time is the Ansei Era.
It's a story of a pathetic commoner bombarded with governmental politics.
There's a reverse side to everything.
I'm afraid to tell you it's the same way with the politics of society.
It's our new play!
"The reverse side of a bribery scandal.
"The Hidden Secret of the Director of Palace Upkeep"!
Don't miss it!
Here you go! Take one!
That man Hario...
I don't think he said anything at the end, but...
If he did...
We'll just have to destroy that stupid play.
There are two sides to everything. This world is very interesting indeed.
Aren't you the stud, Master?
Oh well, it only goes to show that you're just a man just like me.
You're up next, Shiranui!
All right!
It's a good gun, but it tends to drift slightly to the left.
Let me get it adjusted for you right away.
Thank you!
I want to sleep through the morning with you
even if means killing three thousand crows in the world
Takasugi... Ryoma...
They both died way too soon...
We haven't seen you for a long time.
You're such a cold person, Katsu-sensei.
Don't call me "Sensei".
Then, what about "Awanokami-sama"?
Now that you're in charge of Military Affairs of Edo...
Congratulations on your promotion.
What do I do with you, Tayu? You're quick to hear things as always.
Let's just have a drink.
Yes. I'd love to.
It's good. Now it's your turn.
So how's business in Yokohama?
Well, I don't know if it's good or bad.
Given the times we live in, I can't really tell.
I wish it were simpler,
just like the relationship between a man and a woman.
Simple? The relationship between a man and a woman?
Unless some scoundrel I know complicates it.
I guess you're right.
English Foreign Minister stationed in Japan H.S. Parkes
Oh, there you are.
Tayu, I'm sorry, but...
Cartainly. I guess I'll go cheat on you.
I'm sorry.
This is about the only place in Yokohama where I can still have a secret meeting.
So, who is this guy?
A bodyguard.
I see.
Foreigners have been killed in Yokohama. You can't be too careful, I guess.
No. YOUR bodyguard.
What?
At that time, Katsu's arrival in Yokohama was highly confidential.
It was inevitable for him to have clandestine negotiations with Kichinosuke Takamori Saigo,
Kichinosuke Takamori Saigo
the chief of staff of the Eastern Army, which had been stuck in Sunbu due to the earlier earthquake
and also have a talk with Parkes, an important figure of the British Empire.
More than anything, he needed to discuss the fate of Yoshinobu,
under house arrest at Kanei Temple in Ueno, and the fate of the Tokugawa family.
Of course, if this meeting became known to the Anti-Katsu members of the government,
his life would be in danger.
Come on, Kobako, Benimaru! Hurry up!
Okay!
How is it?
Good job.
Thank you, Sir.
Well then...
Come one, come all!
Kakunojo Yuyama Troupe is here!
We have a message for you in behalf of the most famous one of the Sekkakuro, Tayu Kotoha!
Our new play will be at the Ushioza, titled "The reverse side of a bribery scandal.
"The Hidden Secret of the Director of Palace Upkeep!"
"The reverse side of a bribery scandal.
The Hidden Secret of the Director of Palace Upkeep!"
Tomorrow is opening day!
I see. That's what it was all about.
Now I know why the Master was with Tayu Kotoha.
I expect nothing less from someone as popular as Kiyu from Gankiro.
I've heard that her customers are pretty powerful people. Who's she favored the most by?
Satsuma? Choshu?
I've heard rumor that it's actually Joiya from Mito.
No, I've actually heard it's an Englishman!
Wow, a foreigner, too?
I understand that she has to take care of every customer, but still...
What the heck is she thinking?
Hey, Tayu Kotoha! You're the best in Japan!
Tayu Kotoha!
The best in Japan!
The Reverse Side of a Bribery Scandal, is it?
Go inside!
What's wrong?
A sniper!
Did something just happen?
Akizuki-sama!
So that means!
Over there!
That's him!
I won't let him get away!
After him!
All right!
Tayu Kotoha!
The best in Japan!
He's in Yokohama!
BALLAD OF STONE CRANE MANSION
The hand is the sword of love
It proves the beginning of all
Beyond the sparkling sky
The dream is still an illusion
Running on the path
Just like chasing the shadow of the moonlight
The torn sword of love
At the end of it thousands of teardrops become one
And brighten tomorrow
This hand is the sword of love
It proves the beginning of all
EPISODE 4 ANECDOTE OF AN UNDERHANDED SCANDAL
I think you've gone too far with that cute face of yours, Kakunojo Yuyama!
But allowing you to go any further would cause me some serious trouble.
You know, when you think it's too good to be true, it probably is.
ANECDOTE OF AN UNDERHANDED SCANDAL
You know, when you think it's too good to be true, it probably is.
Now I'm going to make you regret this!
You'll wish you kept your play as simply a play for fun!