Original subtitles

[ Year 2 of Bunkyu Era (1862) - Winter ]

Doctor, please...

cure my sister.

Doctor, this person is...

A patient of syphilis.

At the terminal stage.

Older Sister Yugiri, this is...

the best doctor in Edo.

To think there's still a doctor in the world,

who would come and see me here,

I'm grateful to you.

Whenever she goes to the restroom, she suffers from excruciating pain.

Why does a prostitute have to fear so much for her life because of this disease?

Doctor,

please save my sister from this disease.

It's a pity,

for there is nothing I can do for her.

I see... you can't...

I am sorry.

"Syphilis is a common illness, and whoever's infected will suffer from severe pain."

This is how Dr. Sugita Genpaku described it in Keiei Yawa. (a memoir on medical science)

What kind of treatment method did he use?

His method was using mercury...

but this treatment causes patients more pain than the illness itself.

Dr. Minakata, what is the cause of syphilis?

Syphilis is...

an illness caused by bacteria called Treponema pallidum, which is invisible to the naked eye.

Treponema pallidum has a very strong vital force:

skin and mucuos membrane. Soon, it affects your internal organs, bones, and muscles.

It even infests nerves and the cerebrospinal. It's a fatal disease.

Is there any way to cure it?

Unfortunately, the cure wasn't discovered in this era yet.

You sound like you know the cure for this illness would be discovered in the near future.

Oh...

Medical science progresses everyday, so maybe someday...

But...

is there anything we could do right now?

For the sake of people who suffer from this illness right now.

You want to examine girls for syphilis?

To prevent syphilis from spreading further, we must prevent it from spreading in the red-light district first.

But, Doctor, if you do that—

If we confirm who is infected and perform a proper measure,

Suzuya will be known as the safest place in Yoshiwara.

I am sure it would be a great advantage for you.

No way!

You're such a perverted doctor!

You just want to look at our private parts for free.

Wait a minute! You can just answer my question.

If you are experiencing rashes, fever, headache, etc..

You're so noisy!!

I know all about it since I've experienced "Toya" already.

Toya? Wait a minute. Please listen to me!

Someone was infected by syphilis and recovered,

and we call it staying at Toya. (Toya means bird cage or bird nest)

A prostitute would be known as full-fledged and her value goes up.

Full-fledged?

That means a prostitute gained a full-fledged body, which is difficult to get pregnant or syphilitic.

That's a wrong conception. Her recovery is temporary, and after a few years, her condition worsens—

I know!

I've witnessed many prostitutes

who died from syphilis.

Then... why don't they get a treatment for a cure?

Because they can't be cured.

If they could, they would've listened.

However, not only is the examination pointless,

but if they can't work, they won't be able to eat.

How is a prostitute suppose to survive without selling one's body?

I'm so sorry for what happened.

Not at all. I didn't consider their circumstances.

Nokaze used to be an apprentice-student under Yugiri.

After Yugiri became ill, she invited many renowned doctors and had herself treated

for the past three years.

There is nobody who hates syphilis more than she does.

Please... consider her feelings.

She was found dead.

She was found dead, wrapped in a blanket.

Apparently, someone lit incense for her.

- How scary! - Indeed.

Everyone doesn't seem to care what happened.

This is frustrating.

It's pitiful to see a prostitute die in a such miserable way.

People assume that's the prostitute's fate.

Fate...

Why must prostitutes live a life in fear for the illness?

I hate hearing the word "impossible."

Penicillin is a specific medicine to treat syphilis.

Penicillin was discovered in 1928 by Fleming in the UK.

The world's first antibiotics were found in blue-green mold.

This medicine has the strength to repress bacterial growth.

It saved many lives who had infectious diseases.

Penicillin was the most remarkable discovery in the 20th century.

If I could make penicillin in this era,

I may be able to change someone's fate.

Maybe I can help fast-forward the history of medical technology.

And probably, this could be my fate.

[ Inquiry of producing penicillin by using natural ingredients by Tominaga Miki ]

Maybe that's the reason why I came here.

Is that so?

Miki...

Timing and Subtitles brought to you by The Time Travelers Team @ Viki

JIN ~ Episode 5 ~

Penicillium... penicillium... (blue-green mold)

What is Mr. Minakata doing this time?

Saki?

Saki!

If a man who looked exactly like my father appeared,

would you fall for him?

What are you saying suddenly?

Even if he has a similar face, nobody can replace your father.

Is that so?

What was it again... ?

Uhm...

- Dr. Mi-- - Dr. Minakata?

What are you doing?

- There is a medicine inside this mold. - Oh...

I was wondering how can I extract it.

I don't remember the first procedure.

I learned it from someone before.

Do you remember the past?

Ah... no... yes, a little.

Well, that's nice.

Doctor, are you still single?

You don't remember that?

Well, I mean... your wife or

someone you yearn for... don't you want to see her?

You should see the person you want to see,

because we don't know when we can be with that person.

I'm wiping off the oil.

Wiping off the oil?

I'm using oil to wipe off the oil on the floor.

That's right! It's oil!

Oil?

You know, oil is the best way to remove an oil stain.

Filter the culture solution of blue-green mold, and then incubate after adding oil.

It's black rice Inari!

Delicious...

Hey, Doctor, stand in line!

- Wa-Wait, Kiichi. Not right now! - Doctor, get in line quickly!

Quickly!

Dr. Ogata!

Oh...

I have a favor to ask.

Okay.

I want to make a medicine.

What kind of medicine?

A medicine that cures syphilis.

Huh?

Where are you going?

Don't tell me you're going to Yoshiwara. (Yoshiwara: red-light district)

What are you saying? I'm going to the Medical Institute.

I'm going to stay there for awhile.

Is that so?

I want to try to make a medicine that can cure syphilis.

You can make it?

Theoretically, it's possible.

Uhm...Doctor?

Excuse me?

Is there anything I can do for you?

Could you gather penicillium (blue-green mold)?

As much as you can from different places. It'd be helpful.

Okay!

Hey, you there, the one looking down.

Oh? The Lord from the other day.

Do you always flirt with any man you see?

I'm sorry.

I have bad eyesight.

Thank you very much.

It's great that you were able to collect all these.

We are happy to fulfill Dr. Ogata's request.

But... is it really true?

Can you make a medicine to cure syphilis from mold?

If we succeed, this medicine can cure fatal illnesses such as syphilis. (In 1862, syphilis was considered a fatal illness)

That's an incredible medicine.

Perhaps, this invention will revolutionize the medical world.

And, what is the medicine's name?

That medicine is called... penicillin.

How do we make that medicine?

First, we should multiply the mold.

Make a culture solution by mixing potato broth and rice water.

After adding penicillium (blue-green mold), incubate for a week.

Then extract the medical compound from inhabited bacteria growth.

It's absurd. Dr. Ogata thinks it's okay

to monopolize the Medical Science Institute.

Dr. Ito, are you going to just stand by and watch?

Thank you so much.

Dr. Minakata, here.

Thank you.

Timing and Subtitles brought to you by The Time Travelers Team @ Viki

Saki-san!

What brought you here?

Please, come in.

Uhm, where is Dr. Minakata?

He went to Yoshiwara.

What?

To make medicine.

- Ah, I see. - Yes.

Then, please enjoy this with everyone.

Thank you.

Oh, thank goodness. Is that a bento (packed lunch)?

Good timing. I am starving.

Yes!

What an amazing mold.

You said you can't cure Older Sister, so why are you here?

We are making a medicine to cure syphilis.

To do that, we need bacillus called staphylococcus,

which only can be extracted from Yugi grown rattan sea-urchins.

We came here to retrieve that.

Really?

Yes!

My...

My kaleidoscope is missing.

This is a terminal symptom.

We should hurry.

[ 1 week later ]

[ Western Medical Institute - Penicillin Laboratory ]

Now, we are going to extract penicillin.

First of all, filter the culture solutions with this.

Next, add canola oil to the filtered solution and mix well.

This procedure will make the solution in the barrel

separate into three layers between a fat-soluble compound on top,

an insoluble compound which isn't soluble in water or oil,

and a water soluble compound which is soluble in water.

Penicillin is water soluble, so...

we need to extract only water from here.

So is this the water with dissolved penicillin?

That's correct. After this, we need to filter out

impurities from this penicillin solution.

In this jar is charcoal powder that already has been sterilized by boiling.

Pour the penicillin solution in here.

Then propagate the bacteria once again.

By doing so, charcoal powder absorbs the penicillin.

Transfer the charcoal power to a test tube.

Then pour in water that has been boiled and distilled.

Filter out the impurities again.

Next, pour in acid water made from vinegar.

Since the penicillin is slightly acidic,

it won't dissolve in acid water.

This procedure helps extract a pure alkaline substance.

At last, pour in an alkaline solution that was made with baking soda.

By doing this, the penicillin separates from charcoal,

and dense penicillin solution drips to the bottom.

These are the procedures for extraction.

Pour 10 milliliters of penicillin solution into the cups.

Then test the efficiency of the medicine.

Why do you divide it into 10 milliliters each?

Because the concentration of these penicillin solutions aren't the same.

We must confirm which cup has the most concentrated solution.

This is an agar culture medium.

On the surface, I rubbed on staphylococcus that I extracted from syphilis patients.

On top of this, drop the penicillin solution.

Cover and wait for a few days.

After a few days, if there is no change on the surface,

the penicillin is not effective to kill the bacteria.

If there is a circle formed around the solution,

that means the penicillin killed the staphylococcus.

Therefore, that particular penicillin has medicinal effects.

Now, the only thing we can do is to pray to God.

Yes.

Are you sure about this? Mr. Sakamoto can be forgiven for running away from his clan?

Yes. I also have a written statement right here.

When I went to Shimada, I met Tosa's retired master.

So, I asked him to do a favor of writing the agreement.

Well, I am not so pleased

to be forgiven that I escaped from the clan.

But now, I can officially help the navy duties.

You see this?

What is Dr. Minakata doing lately?

He is staying at the Western Medical Institute to make a medicine called penicillin.

What kind of medicine is that?

A medicine that can cure syphilis.

A courtesan called Nokaze asked him to make it.

Courtesan Nokaze?

Oh my. If he succeeds, it would be wonderful.

Dr. Minakata always seems to amaze us.

What's wrong?

I thought I was one step ahead of him,

but he was two or three steps ahead of me.

Compared to that doctor, I can't help myself but feel disgraceful.

Older Sister, your smile is like a spring breeze,

and that's how everyone described you.

To take a glance at you,

everyone gathered on the street.

Older Sister, you were my pride and joy.

But soon, you weren't able to work.

With the support of the customers who favored you,

I became the next Yobidashi (top rank courtesan) after you.

I was sure you would nag me for this.

You did great.

I spent all my savings, so...

I can only give you this.

Please tell me what you want to say.

You should complain a little.

If you suppress your feelings,

it's bad for your health.

Well, then...

to live a life crying

or live a life smiling,

it's all up to my will.

So, I decided not to cry.

Please... remember that.

Yes.

Please smile, Older Sister.

You are the one

who told me to smile.

I've found it. Even in here.

Tomorrow...

If there is a drug effect,

there will be a circle formed on the surface, right?

That's right.

If there are no changes seen on the surface,

then there is no drug effect.

Then, I'll open them.

Yes, please.

First,

no effect.

Second!

No effect!

Third,

no effect.

Miki...

please.

Fourth!

No effect!

Eighth,

no effect!

Ninth.

No effect.

Tenth,

no effect!

Thirteenth... no effect.

Please...

give me the strength.

Seventeenth... no effect.

Eighteenth...

Dr. Minakata...

This is...

Eighteenth... efficient!

Unbelievable. This is unreal.

Dr. Minakata.

Dr. Minakata...

we did it.

Historically speaking, penicillin doesn't exist in this era yet.

This is the moment that I create this...

with my own hands.

But this...

course of action was really acceptable?

Dr. Minakata! Yurigi-san is in critical condition.

I'll go right away!

Everyone, I'll leave the rest to you.

We will need plenty of penicillin solutions.

Certainly, we will take turns to make it day and night.

We will deliver as soon as the solution is complete.

I'm counting on you.

Would you come with me?

I'm very sorry.

I have an important matter to attend to.

Then I will go instead.

No, we need to keep making penicillin.

Then I will go alone.

I-I will go!

If I can be your help...

I, too, aspire to the medical field.

Of course. Can you do it?

Yes.

Saki-san needs a special permission to enter Yoshiwara.

Someone, please lend me your kimono.

If she regains consciousness, she might survive.

Doctor, I've finished administering the IV drops.

Next, administering the penicillin injection to the vein.

Okay.

Please come back.

Come back...

Please come back, Yugiri-san.

Who is there?

Who…

is there?

Yugiri-san, can you hear me?

I'm a doctor.

Doc... tor?

I'm here because I want to save your life.

Please hang in there, Yurigi-san.

Okay.

Since then, day after day,

penicillin that was produced at the Western Medical Institute

was delivered to Suzuya day and night.

Yugiri-san's condition improved drastically.

The penicillin we produced

surely defeated the syphilis.

But...

only small doses of penicillin could be extracted.

Moreover, the drug effect wasn't always satisfactory.

The early morning of fifth day.

Sister?

Can you hear me?

That voice...

Is that you, Nokaze?

Yes.

Somehow...

it seems to be that my rashes went away.

That's the effect of the medicine.

I will bring you a mirror.

[Yugiri]

Doctor...

can I do Yugiri-san's make up?

No way.

How can I ask a noble lady to do so?

I also would like to ask you...

There is nothing more I can do for her.

I'm sorry.

She has a beautiful face.

Is that so... ?

Sister, I brought a mirror.

You look beautiful.

Do you think so?

Please smile, Sister.

To live a life crying,

or to live a life smiling,

it's all up to your will.

I've decided not to cry.

Everyone,

thank you.

But...

I'm tired of suffering.

Please...

forgive me.

Farewell.

Okay.

Farewell.

Thank you very much.

Thank you so much, Doctor!

Timing and Subtitles brought to you by The Time Travelers Team @ Viki

Sometimes, death can bring ease to a patient.

I know it's indiscreet for a doctor to be saying this.

Yugiri-san died with smile on her face,

because of penicillin.

That medicine...

in the future, can anybody make it?

She looked exactly like Nokaze-san.

You're right.

This person is Tomonaga Miki.

She's the one who thought of the method to make the medicine.

This person did?

When I was an intern,

The main character...

cured an infectious disease by collecting blue-green mold and made penicillin.

- There is no way! - I know, right?

- That's impossible. - Our conversation stopped right there.

But, there was a junior who was listening to our conversation.

And after a while...

Uhm, I have something to tell you. Do you have a minute?

I thought she was going to confess to me.

I had my doubts, but I followed her.

Uhm, what do you want to tell me?

A letter?

Well... sort of.

You were talking about this the other day, right?

Amazing.

Why are you giving me this?

I don't like the word impossible. That's all.

Oil?

Oil is the best way to remove an oil stain.

So, you're married to her?

We were about to get married, but...

she became seriously ill.

Moreover, I failed her surgery.

Because of me... she became a living corpse.

So, you left her and came here.

At first, I thought it was a punishment.

But now,

coming here was like a chance given to me.

Chance?

If I can fast-forward the time in medical technology,

in the future, medical technology could be even more advanced.

If I can do that,

then maybe I can perform her surgery successfully.

Is that why you made the penicillin?

That's not the only reason.

♫ Do you remember the day we first met? ♫

♫ I haven’t forgotten a single day that’s passed ♫

Everything seems to move forward.

But... I didn't know a terrible incident

was occurring without my knowing.

- Ito Genpoku of Choshu clan. - The founder of the Western Medical Institute,

Dr. Ito Genpoku, was suddenly

stripped from his title as a shogunate physician.

In the Western Medical Institute,

doctors who were following Dr. Ito were losing favor in the Institute.

They can't help themselves but to feel anxious.

Will this institute fall in the hands of Dr. Ogata and Dr. Matsumoto?

Did I tell you that I saw Saburi near the Ohaburo Moat?

Surprisingly, the prostitute he visited that day

was stabbed repeatedly and died.

Not only that, but the culprit hasn't been caught yet.

What happens if someone found this scalpel in her room?

What do you think?

Well... it's amazing.

Is this really a blue-green mold?

- Don't worry about anything, and make yourself comfortable. - Yes.

Dr. Minakata!

Look, isn't this great?

[ Saburi ]

~ Preview ~ There is a doctor who discovered penicillin and cured syphilis.

Doctor, you look so radiant right now.

There is a guest to see Dr. Minakata from the Oriental Medical Institute.

Please tell me your background.

- May I perform the surgery? - Surgery?

I don't have much time.

Light always creates shadow.

They said, a monster like Minakata should be killed for the sake of the medical world.

No one can surpass Dr. Minakata's god-sent medical skills!

Please don't you ever say it's okay for you to die.

Are you the one who sent an assassin to kill Dr. Minakata?

I might be dead already.