"Fire-breathing Burahei" "Fire-breathing Burahei" "Tenho & Tenten Adabanatei"
--Hm. --Yeah.
"Fire-breathing Burahei" "Fire-breathing Burahei" "Tenho & Tenten Adabanatei" So the reforms are even causing fireworks makers to go bust, huh?
"Fire Be Gone" So the reforms are even causing fireworks makers to go bust, huh?
"Fire Be Gone" We're combing the census records for this Sora girl...
but so far she doesn't seem to come from anywhere.
A firework to the moon...
Well, that was fun!
May as well go ahead and post about it on my blog right now.
Um... more to the point, what should we be doing about this?
Well, it sounds interesting enough. What's the problem with just letting him do it?
Course, it'll be another story if he starts a fire or something...
But what about Lord Mizuno and Commissioner Torii...?
Yeah, that's my point.
On account of the reforms...
stage plays and puppet plays and all kinds of luxuries are banned here in Edo.
So if some really huge fireworks were launched in the city...
...who knows, maybe even Lord Mizuno might catch a clue about something.
Until then, we'll be looking out for Seikichi from behind the scenes.
Tenho!
Tenten!
Right... doesn't anyone ever complain about you guys doing that?
Come take me far away
"Oh! Edo Rocket"
Artificial shooting stars made with tricks
Asia is all the rage these days
Take me away anytime
Take me far away
The Yokocho, the sushi stands, the Kaminari
The great international city of Edo
Take me all the way there
Take me far away
Up in the sky just after the rain
Way way up high
The Holy Sun smiles down upon us
Take me someplace far
Take me far away
I looked up from the roof of the castle
And the full moon was shining so pretty
At times like those
The tears come dripping out
Just kidding, it's all lies
Take me far away
Ah, North City Commissioner.
Greetings, South City Commissioner. What are Lord Mizuno's instructions for the day?
I am sure you are well aware
of the proclamation concerning frugality in weddings that we issued a while back.
This time we will be issuing a proclamation concerning thrift in funerals.
We also made a decision to regulate the size of tofu.
Of tofu...?
When it comes to tofu and other items of that nature,
as long as the blocks are about this size, that is quite big enough.
Anyone who sells bigger blocks than that will answer to the law.
More and more it just seems like the fire is going out of Edo.
That is exactly it.
Huh?
Fire must be extinguished.
But if the fire goes out completely, the people will freeze to death.
I must warn you that talk of that kind could be considered anti-reformist opposition.
That phrase didn't even exist back in these times.
Although surely it is very easy to understand.
In all things, being easy to understand is best.
Luxuries are forbidden. Stage plays and comedy acts and such are not needed.
Sky beasts...
Do you know anything about them?
Never heard of them.
However, if such beasts were indeed prowling the streets of Edo,
I very much doubt that we could leave them to it.
Whew...
For a minute there we were starting to get pretty serious.
Secret Agent Nishinosuke Akai...
it seems you have poked your nose into matters that do not concern you.
Huh?!
Mister City Commissioner!
Ow-wow-wow-wow-wow...! It hurts, it hurts, it hurts! My crotch really hurts!
--How much does he know? --Mister City Commissioner!
--Not much. He seems to have been just passing by. --I'm a cop, but these creeps kidnapped me...!
--But the existence of the sky beasts --And just look what they did to me!
--must be held in the strictest secrecy. --What?! So this was all by your orders, Mister City Commissioner?
Does that mean you're into this kind of thing...?!
If that was the case, all you had to do was ask!
You know, I'm certainly not one to be turned off by anything like this...
Please, torture me at will! I'll moan and moan and moan for you!
Come on, beat me! Beat me! Come on! Come on! Come o--!
Silence yourself!
We're leaving.
Please wait, Mister City Commissioner!
Please include me in the ranks of those men!
The man sitting here before you is no mere secret agent!
And I can see that those men must be far from ordinary themselves.
That is why... I most humbly beg...
...that you also allow me to participate in their mission!
Well...
...figure it out! Can't figure it out! Can't figure it out! Can't figure it out!
I just can't seem to figure it out!
What can'tcha figure out?
Like I've been saying, these feelings of mine!
I don't know why, but I just can't seem to shake the shape of this house from my mind...!
You wanna see Sora?
You know I never said that!
If you wanna see her, just go in. Just walk in and say " Hey, whassup"...
Big brother!
Sniff sniff sniff.
What are you doin', Miss Tattletale?!
Unauthorized entry into the rooms of budding young virgins is prohibited--!
That's why I can't figure it ou--!
Come to think of it, I been wondering 'bout the build of this doorframe here--
Yeah, I'm worried 'bout the tiles--
That roof don't even use tiles!
I swear...!
Add in one young girl and suddenly everyone and their dog's as horny as a rutting bull!
When force is applied, the speed at which the door opens...
--can be found by multiplying the friction coefficient --Who are you?
--by the weight of the door. --I feel like I've seen you somewhere before.
What're you guys talking about?! This is Genzo! He's Genzo's mom's son!
Hey there, Sora! You eaten breakfast yet?
You brushed your teeth yet?
You two're a couple of dirty old men!
No one... notices me...
She ain't here.
Her bed...?
I wonder how she was able to sleep like that.
But... it's kind of exciting!
You can't ... you can't do that, Mister Oshio...!
Tell me why... why did we...?!
You can't ...!
You're so pretty.
Um... Sora...?
Yes. I'm Sora.
Y-You can't do that! You can't just come into a man's room!
'Cause maybe he won't stop at just unlockin' your heart...
He might unlock here... and there... and who knows where!
Oo! So naughty!
There's not a lock in the world that you can't unlock, is there Ginjiro?
Of course not!
So, um... Sora. What're you doin' here?
Right...
Ginjiro, you weren't hurt yesterday, were you?
Hurt...?
Nah, not at all.
There was this weird guy
who rubbed me right here, but that was it.
Oh, okay. I'm glad.
Hey, she's in here!
You gotta be more careful, Sora!
Keep hangin' around this place and you'll be poppin' out twins by mornin'
Ginjiro! You should be ashamed of yourself...!
It wasn't me. She came in by herself.
Is that true?
Gin, it seems to me you're takin' quite a likin' to Sora...
Yeah...? Well after all, she's a good woman. Too good for the likes of you!
Seikichi! Didn't you promise we'd work on the firework together...?!
Wait a minute... did I even tell Sora about what happened yesterday...?
Whoa, Hatchobori!
So Ginjiro, who was that girl?
She's just a new resident, that's all. If you wanna know more, go ask the old man.
Now we'll be able to get all the local digital channels...
That old man gives me the creeps.
But never mind. Just come with me for a sec.
Huh...?
Oh, well, uh... I've gotta go to work now.
There's someone who wants to make your acquaintance.
I'd advise against getting clever here.
Never mind me, but these guys mean business.
I see what you mean. I wouldn't wanna mess with dangerous-lookin' thugs like these.
Smart man.
Katsushika Village...?
We've sure been going a long ways now...
We're not likely to attract any attention way out here.
I don't like how you put that.
What's your point?
When people use that kind of language
it usually means some innocent townsfolk are about to be cut to pieces.
Innocent townsfolk aside...
...you've hit the nail on the head.
I had a feelin' it was gonna be somethin' like this.
What the hell are you playing at?!
Hatchobori!
The name's Nishinosuke Akai.
Same difference, asshole.
What the...?!
You over there...!
Guns are outlawed inside city limits.
I don't know who the hell you are or where you come from,
but right now I get the feeling I could cut clean through you as well.
Watch your mouth!
That's South Edo City Commissioner and Prince of Kai Torii you're speaking to!
The City Commissioner...?!
I apologize for the rude treatment. You are a better fighter than I thought.
It was but an unworthy spectacle.
Where did you hone those fighting skills of yours?
I very much doubt that a townsman like you could have had any training.
Well, uh... I've just always been very good at using my fingers.
Whenever I use them, things just open up for me... locks, doors, whatever.
And because of that, I've spooked people ever since I was a kid.
I believe you have a charm pouch. The word " Heaven" is written on it.
Um, is the charm pouch you mean a little dirty one?
"Heaven" Um, is the charm pouch you mean a little dirty one?
"Heaven" It really is dirty...
"Heaven"
It won't open. It's tied really, really tight.
And on top of that, it's like the thread is interwoven with steel or something.
Not even a knife would--
It is called a Tenkai Knot.
As the story goes...
the knot was conceived by His Holiness Tenkai...
a High Priest of the Buddha who once served our Divine Lord leyasu.
This pouch contains your lineage.
"Man in Black, Captain."
"Man in Black, Captain"
Akai!
The Men in Black were a group of covert operatives
formed by His Highness leyasu himself.
They disguised themselves as ordinary citizens and blended into the fabric of society.
And whenever the stability of the Tokugawa regime was threatened...
their role would be to work from the shadows in support of the government.
But we've been at peace for too long.
It's already been 240 years and still no serious threats have arisen.
Living in hiding so long, even the Men in Black themselves eventually forgot their mission.
Shoulda just let it stay forgotten, I say.
That we cannot do!
I found the old records, and one by one...
I have located the descendants of the Men in Black.
But... what the hell for...?
About two weeks ago, a giant meteor fell from the sky and landed nearby.
Then, three days ago, almost as if it were chasing the first...
a second meteor appeared in the sky, but this one exploded in midair and disappeared.
Remember two weeks ago when that meteor shot across the sky and faded out?
It looked almost like the meteor last night.
What you see here is the first meteor.
I must say, this is a remarkably precision-made device.
Some kind of mechanical... meteor?
In other words, a vessel from the sky.
And as to the question of what was traveling inside that vessel...
Perhaps you have heard-- there have been incidents in the city of late.
Incidents where people's lifeblood has been sucked out.
Such incidents are the work of these sky beasts.
That's horrible...!
I know you've seen it yourself-- the other beast.
We have bagged one beast, but we do not know how many more remain.
A story this incredible... naturally, we cannot bring it to the attention of the public.
And yet hunting these beasts requires considerable prowess.
Decendants of the Men in Black are each born with some curious special power.
And that is why I have roused them from their slumber.
Finding you was a stroke of sheer luck. But I ask that you lend us your power...
...as captain of the Men in Black.
C'mon, gimme a break here. This so-called " power" of mine...
the only thing it's good for is openin' locks.
And besides, all this dangerous stuff...
"Shirahamaya"
So what kind of trouble'd you get into this time...?
I dunno what it's about, but the City Commissioner came gunning for me.
Because you're just floating around aimlessly!
In any case, once you've rested awhile, I want you out of here.
I'm sorry.
Oh sorry, but while you're here...
What is it now?
Would you be able to put some money together for me?
To do what?
I've been marked by the City Commissioner.
I have to go on the run again.
But before I go...
...I really wanna help Seikichi with what he wants to do.
Seikichi... you mean that fireworks maker?
He's gonna launch a firework, but it's not gonna be just any firework.
This one... this firework is gonna fly all the way to the moon!
It's a big deal, ain't it?! We're talkin' a firework that's gonna make it to the moon!
And I wanna help him, but the only way I can do that right now is with mone--
What the hell?!
This is the thing you want to do, huh?
It's about a young couple tryin' their damnedest to do somethin' incredibly interesting.
And I wanna help 'em--
And you want to feel like you've done something too, huh?
This is a rental shop. Old tools, old books, leftover gifts from manor kitchens...
My business is taking that stuff in and lending it out to people.
But these...
No one wants to rent these fucking things! Just take 'em!
Jitte hooks.
I also come from Naniwa.
It's been about five or six years now...
...but I remember two master thieves who caused quite a stir in Naniwa--
the Nightflower and the Silver Fox.
The Nightflower was a very big-hearted lady,
and the Silver Fox had a reputation for being able to open any kind of lock.
The Nightflower and the Silver Fox... you'll steal, but you won't commit an injustice.
Or so you say.
I suppose I used to be a police magistrate under the East City Commissioner...
but now I'm just a retired man. I don't even have any decent savings to live on.
Liar! There are people out there who can't even eat because of the bad harvests!
And meanwhile you civil authority types are gathering up all the rice...
and shipping it off to Edo!
Just so you can lick the ass of that council elder Mizuno prick!
You're absolutely right.
Now the Osaka city officials are in bed with all the merchants in town.
They're corrupt to the gills!
All they think about is staying on Edo's good side and lining their own pockets!
They could care less about the lives of the homeless and poor that now fill the streets.
And I'll be damned before I look the other way!
So what do you say?
How about you try using your ability for the good of the people for a change?
What do you think we've been doing all this time?! All the money we steal's --!
A little here, a little there, passing out a few coins to the poor...
what kind of difference do you think that makes?
I'm talking about gathering up some troops...
and setting fire to the storehouses of all the merchants and city officials!
We'll open everyone's eyes to what's going on here!
That sounds like a great idea.
Gin, what are you doing?!
In order to make it happen, I need a guy who can slip in and out of places...
to scope out the situation and keep me informed.
If my ability... can make the world a better place...!
My name is Heihachiro Oshio.
"Save The People!"
Forward!
"Save The People!" We'll smash the city offices in one fell swoop!
Mister Oshio!
We have to get out of here!
Look over there...!
They're gearing up to fire!
The word's already out! Somebody rolled on us!
The marshals are already on their way. We need to move on to the next hideout.
This is far enough.
But Mister Oshio!
We can keep on scurrying around like this,
but we've already met our fate.
The people of Osaka didn't rise up.
I've lost, plain and simple.
Now go away, Silver Fox.
What are you saying?!
If Osaka didn't work out, we try Edo!
--Or we go to Satsuma! --Ginjiro!
We keep going till we open the eyes of the stinking bureaucrats!
Oh, no...!
Mister Oshio!
That asshole... just throwing in his cards like that...!
From this moment on, I'm living my life for fun and fun only...!
So long as I live, I'll never be a part of anything like this again!
Just you see! Senile old man...!
The City Commissioner knows all about it... all about your past.
And if I don't comply? If I run...?
We'll chase you to the ends of the earth.
And everyone connected with you, including all your neighbors in the row house,
will be rounded up and sent off to the blocks for their heads to go on display.
We'll do all that, and not even give it a second thought.
Because you're... monsters, huh?
I've been able to hear voices through walls ever since I was a little kid.
I never imagined something like that'd ever be of any use to anyone.
So that's why I was so happy... when I found out about the Men in Black.
The idea that someone like me had a mission in life that I was born for...
Just... gimme a little time.
You'll see what I mean. When we launch the firework, everyone'll see it!
Every single person in Edo!
And then everyone'll change!
Fireworks ain't just some silly pastime!
They'll bring some fresh air into this stuffy world of reforms!
Oh, Ginjiro...!
So a silly pastime just isn't enough for you, is it?
Huh?
I guess you're right.
Gin, wait!
What the hell was that...?
Once more... just once more...
I'll try and believe that my ability can be of use to something bigger than myself.
Fireworks are Seikichi's thing.
As for me...
...I've got a different path to follow!
You s-s-sky beast!
I am Ginjiro of the Men in Black!
Listen up, sky beast!
Give it up... nice and easy!
"A Silver Fox Bound by Fate"
This is what the fortune-teller told me
While holding my hand
"Your journey will continue"
"Well into the future"
And an incredibly big moon looked down upon us
You can enter the highway from anywhere
And if you feel so inclined
You can give me a kiss
You're my traveling companion
1 00 miles, 200 miles
I'll steal you away because you're my favorite
Because the road keeps going further on
1 00 miles, 200 miles
Chasing a rainbow 400 miles
I'm sure everybody'll be jealous of us
Let's go see something we've never seen before, baby
"Next time"
This is Ears... of the Men in Black.
Oh, that's right. The other day at my house we had this--
Oh, is it time...?
Next time, the fourth episode of Oh! Edo Rocket...
Tamaya...
"No Need to Get Excited" Tamaya...