Meiji Tokyo Renka
A woman's face changes from day to night.
Make-up is applied lightly, with elegance during the day so it does not crack.
And at night?
It is done stylishly and alluringly.
Try not to make such an unattractive noises.
Especially from such cherry-red lips.
Behold. You are truly a vision this evening.
This is me?
You refer to guests as "sir."
Other geisha are "onee-san."
You keep smiling even at unfavorable guests and say...
My, what a terrible jokester you are!
Hey, why do I have to do this?
You look adorable, Kyoka-san!
Well now, you've made quite an incredible transformation.
I'll have to make sure not to be outdone.
Stop messing around!
I can't do this! There's no way!
I can't be some working geisha girl!
Then pay me for the tatami mats.
Well, it's only for tonight, so let's both do our best to get through it together.
She's right. And besides, all the guests that will be there tonight are rich,
so if everything goes well, we might get paid extra on top of our usual fee.
Do you ever think about anything besides money?
They do say that money opens all doors.
In this day and age, being without money is like being without your head.
You said the guests would be rich...
What kind of people will be attending the festivities this evening?
This event is called a popular party,
which is a banquet for all the important people who support Japan.
What? They're really that important?
Oh, no, now I'm getting nervous.
Don't look so glum, silly.
You are my number one student,
so just hold your head high and stand tall.
But what if I mess something up?
You don't need to worry. I will be watching over you closely the entire time.
That's reassuring.
You're not only beautiful, but you have such a big heart, Otoyakko-san!
Isn't she just the most amazing woman, Kyoka-san?
Some woman, indeed.
Now then, it is time we were on our way.
Yes, ma'am!
Electricity of Dreams and Passion
Hey! We're out of sake!
All right, be right with you!
Now then, get to work, you two.
Yes, ma'am.
Unbelievable!
I know that voice...
I wondered who this beautiful geisha girl might be, and it's you, Mei-san.
I thought it was you, Yakumo-san!
What are you doing here?
I should be the one asking you that!
Why are you here? Are you working as a waitress?
S-Sure, something like that.
I see, I see!
Either way, you look so beautiful!
I truly envy Mori-san!
What was that about Ougai-san?
You're here too, Syunso-san?!
If Syunso-san is here, that means...
You don't need to wonder. Ougai-san is on his way here now.
Why are you here, and why are you dressed up like that, anyway?
Well, about that... Things are kind of complicated...
Hum, hum.
Am I, Lafcadio, the only one hum-humming?
So this is a job you're keeping secret from Mori-san.
Okay. I will help you when the time comes.
T-Thank you so much!
Hey! Hurry up and bring more warm sake!
Yes, sir!
I'm so sorry. I'll be going now.
Hum, hum?
It's so crowded in there, and since I look so different, I'll be able
to get away without running into Ougai-san if I'm lucky.
Please pardon me.
I spoke too soon!
Well now, I thought I heard you out here, Mori-sensei.
Why, if it isn't Otoyakko, the most famous geisha in Kagurazaka.
How can you be so formal? It's not like we're strangers.
You haven't changed a bit.
Don't you mean to say I'm as beautiful as ever?
They know each other?
Is your apprentice there a new addition?
How astute you are. She is merely in training.
She has struggled her way here fresh from the countryside.
Oh?
She is a rather lovely girl.
She has been coming to me to learn proper etiquette,
so she won't disgrace the man she cares about.
Isn't it the sweetest thing?
Proper etiquette?
You there, don't just stand there all day. Go back inside.
Your guests are waiting.
Y-Yes, Onee-san. Please excuse me, sir!
She truly is a wonderful young woman.
Isn't she?
So, are you eventually planning to keep her close as an apprentice geisha?
Huh?
You had her come to this party so that you could assess her suitability, correct?
You are a cunning man.
Frankly, I hadn't thought that far ahead, but I wouldn't mind if it happened.
I see.
I can't let a special girl like that go to waste on a fine man like yourself.
With proper refining, she could be a shining jewel.
Do you mean to steal her from me?
That might be entertaining as well.
Who is the cunning one now?
Hey, I'm out of sake!
Me, too!
Yes, sir!
No matter how many bottles I bring them, it's never enough.
How much can these men drink?
Woman! Come, sit on my lap and serve me!
Umm, umm, umm...
My, what a terrible jokester you are!
Come on, come on, come on, come on!
H-Huh?
Why do you keep running away?
Come on, come over here!
No, don't touch me!
Sir!
What do you want?
You mustn't sexually harass people.
S-Sexual harassment?
Allow me to explain!
Sexual harassment is a term which refers to
extremely ungentlemanly, disgraceful behavior.
Proper ladies and gentlemen should not partake of such behavior.
Okay, got it.
Thank you so much, Yakumo-san.
The geisha here today are especially excellent.
How would you two like to do things with me tonight?
T-Tonight? Now, wait just a minute...
You there! Please tell me what's in this dish.
Syunso-san?
Y-Yes, right away.
Pardon me, sir.
This dish?
I don't actually care about the dish.
Anyway, you shouldn't get too close to the drunk ones.
Thank you for getting me out of there.
Left to your own devices,
you'd make a careless mistake with someone important.
Eh, that man is someone important?
They all are.
Huh. They all just seem like drunk old men to me.
Kyoka-san's been caught again!
Do you really need to take care of him so much?
Izumi is a man, so he'll be fine.
But Kyoka-san is a germophobe.
It has nothing to do with being a man or a woman.
Why do you try so hard for everyone?
Touching is not allowed, sir!
Shut up! Butts exist to be touched!
That's absurd!
But, you see, umm... she... yes! She is betrothed!
Being betrothed is the same as having a fiancée,
which is also the same as an intended.
Okay, okay?
Intended Fiancée Betrothed
They all mean the same thing!
Betrothed? Just break it off or something!
What an awful thing to say!
I am of an age where I am sensitive to words like "fiancée"!
Don't think you're going to get away with speaking to me like that!
I can't do this anymore...
Insisting that I break things off would only be appropiate if I were a geisha.
And I'm not even a woman, let alone a geisha,
so you might as well just tell me to die!
I've had enough!
P-Perhaps I've had too much to drink.
Now then, one and all,
Shokyokusai Ten'ichi would like a moment of your time.
Huh?
Where have I seen him before?
I would like to sincerely thank you for listening to my wishes
and holding a special popular party today.
Who is that?
That is Iwasaki Tosuke,
a famous investor and the foremost figure in electrical generator research.
Electrical generator? That means electricity, right?
I had no idea there was someone like that in this time.
Before I make my argument,
please enjoy a performance by the greatest magician of the age.
Wait, is that Charlie-san?
Impressive.
You startled us.
What do you mean?
When it comes to negotiating, giving the other party something first
makes them feel that they, too, have to give something back.
That man, Tosuke,
will likely get down to business after everyone has enjoyed themselves to the fullest.
In other words, he's a pretty shrewd person.
Now, for all those present,
in a great magical transcendence of time and space,
I will bring forth here a profoundly mysterious creature
from the far southern reaches of Egypt!
Laura-chan, the Bactrian camel, makes her debut!
This is absolutely splendid.
Ougai-san!
W-Wait, Ou—
There is debate about whether their humps are filled with water or fat.
I would like to touch them to be sure.
B-Be careful, Ougai-sa— I mean, sir!
What for? This creature has surprisingly gentle features, does it not?
Ougai-san!
Oops. I guess I made her angry?
She's usually gentle, though.
I can relate. Being touched is a pain.
How can you be so calm right now?!
One must never underestimate wild animals, I guess.
Hey now, Charlie-san!
I once brought out an Indian elephant, and it almost trampled me.
I'll have to be more careful next time.
I want to trample you right now!
Eh, what for? As a reward?
Why are you happy about that? You pervert!
Based on your appearance, you seem to be fully enjoying this time period.
That's not the issue right now!
Sorry, but just be a bit more patient until the full moon.
Until the full moon?
I know. You wish to get back sooner, don't you?
No, I'm all right.
I can wait that long.
What? He's gone?
Huh? And the room's cleaned up...
Fukuzawa Yukichi-sensei has arrived.
Be at ease everyone.
Wait, Fukuzawa Yukichi? The guy on the 10,000 yen bill?!
You there, young lady.
Would you mind also getting this man something to drink?
No need.
I am serving as your bodyguard at the moment.
Fujita-san!
You are...?
Welcome.
Thank you very much for coming, Fukuzawa-sensei.
I came to listen to your important speech, that concerns the future of Japan.
Much obliged.
Iwasaki, is your nonsense worth listening to?
It is not nonsense.
Electricity is vital to Japan if we are to be equals to various countries
of Europe and America, instead of being outdone.
Furthermore, it is a well-known fact that existing gas lamps have problems
such as concerns of explosions and of poisoning from insufficient ventilation,
as well as depletion of fuel.
Are you saying that electricity doesn't have those issues?
Have you forgotten about those who were gravely injured
because of an electric light you installed as an experiment?
Eh? People were injured?
That is because one of the curious onlookers inadvertently touched the wire.
So you say,
but even the sparrows and crows who perched on the wire were not unharmed!
Electricity is the devil's light! It only curses and kills human!
That's right, that's right!
The devil's light? Electricity is a curse?
Utterly absurd.
I cannot believe these are the opinions of any self-respecting, knowledgeable person.
Mentioning things like curses in this age of enlightenment...
What do you know!
Besides, the lamplighters who light the gas lamps are respected by the general public.
Are you going to take away that honorable position?
And most importantly,
regarding fuel, the cost of electricity stands out.
That is why I am here asking for investments.
I would like you to understand that it is necessary for us
to fund the electrical power business in order for Japan to overtake other countries.
Don't be ridiculous.
We have more than enough lights already!
No, they are not enough to light the future of Japan.
Fukuzawa-sensei, please state your decision.
Even though he worked so hard...
Fukuzawa-sensei...
Knock it off, Iwasaki! Your behavior is unsightly.
Yes, he's right!
Electricity is nothing more than your silly dream!
That's right, that's right!
Hey, woman, what are you doing?
It is not just a silly dream!
Things would be really wonderful if we had electricity!
It is a truly amazing thing!
Her lack of vocabulary leaves a lot to be desired.
I mean, with electricity, there are so many possibilities!
You can completely transform a dark and gloomy night bright as day right in a flash!
Halt!
You can easily clean the house without back pain by just pressing a button!
A shower will always be hot whether it's spring, summer, fall, or winter!
La, la, la, la!
You can talk with someone face-to-face even from far away!
Hello there, oh my fair lady!
You can make any changes you like, as often as you like, to electric drawings!
Art is an explosion!
There's absolutely no worry about fires, and there's cooking food, and sterilization!
No more germs! What a great world this is!
La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la,
Do all your massages and beauty routines at home!
This is so nice, this is so nice!
You can travel all over Japan as much as you want with a limited express train!
Yay!
Turn on the air conditioner, and it cools in the summer and warms in the winter!
Feels so nice!
Anything and everything is at your fingertips! All you have to do is press a button!
Electricity is magical, tap-tap-tap!
The thing that makes everyone's life easier,
that would be, that would be, that would be!
Electricity, electricity, electricity, electricity!
What is a friend to us humans?
Electricity, electricity, electricity, electricity!
The future must be a bright one!
You can do anything with electricity!
Now, now, everybody sing it with me!
One!
Two!
Three!
Electricity is king!
Wonderful.
He who will not advance will fall behind,
and he who will not fall behind will surely advance.
Iwasaki-kun, I would be happy to work with you.
Thank you so much, Fukuzawa-sensei.
Now, let's make a night of it!
I thought it might come to that!
Ladies, make sure to work hard and give them plenty to drink!
Bring out the Denki Bran!
Okay!
I'm really tired all of a sudden.
The electrical power business might actually be able to continue, thanks to you.
I am truly grateful.
Oh, no, I just thought it would be nice if we had electricity.
I had only thought about lighting things up at night.
But it is wonderful that you were able to think about how it might play
into all aspects of people's lives.
Not at all. Lighting things up is the most important part.
What a mysterious person you are.
If I had a woman like you by my side,
I would be able to keep dreaming well into the future.
Intelligent young lady, I would like to acquire all the knowledge you have.
Mei, may I have a moment?
Of course.
Pardon me... Tosuke-san, was it? I must be going.
I cannot believe such a woman exists in this time.
Has he figured it out?
Hey, wait, you!
What is it?
Ah, nothing.
I was deeply moved by the splendidness of electricity, Iwasaki-san!
Oh, thank you.
With electricity, I will be able to call my best friend Fujita-san all the time.
I am so emotional about it, I cannot stop my tears.
He's a weepy drunk?
Who are you calling your best friend?
I don't mind a man like that.
Huh?
You there, do something about this drunkard.
Excuse me? You're awfully cocky for a cop.
Unhand me.
I'm going to melt that stubbornness out of you today, so get ready!
Stop it!
They're totally drunk, too.
They did drink quite a bit...
Is it hard for you to be in the mansion?
Eh?
It seems I placed quite a heavy burden on you,
just by calling you my fiancée.
That led you to find a place here to devote yourself
to studying the manners and etiquette of a lady.
And to Kawakami-kun.
Kawakami-kun?
Otoyakko is Kawakami Otojiro-kun.
Huh? Otoyakko-san is O-Otojiro-san?!
You didn't know?
Really?
So I cooked that mochi for nothing.
Mochi?
Oh, nevermind.
It was quite unlike me, but I was a bit concerned
you might have been taken away.
Huh?
You really have no idea, do you, Little Squirrel?
Just how much power you have to charm those around you.
I just wanted to find a way to thank you.
Thank me?
You saved me at the Rokumeikan and let me stay
in your home despite having lost my memories.
Mei...
Stay with me.
Ougai-san?
Stay in my mansion forever.
I want to.
I want to stay there forever.
Then stay. Stay as long as you like.
Be it a year or even ten years.
All right.
Let's go eat the cutlet at Rengatei, then go home.
Okay.
Come on now!
When you're drunk, it doesn't matter if you're with a man or a woman!
I agree.
I'm going to kill you here, whether you're a man or a woman.
Pwease stop fighting over me!
Meiji Tokyo Renka
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I Miss You Dearly, Rainy Day
Bell
Come back, Shirayuki.
If I can't have that,
I'm going to end it here and now!