Original subtitles

Lord Satsuma Nariakira, you are awarded...

with a total revenue of 728,200 koku.

In 1851, Shimazu Nariakira...

became the lord and clan chief of Satsuma.

Just about this time,

the U.S. expansion had reached the Pacific coast.

Whaling fleets set out on the Pacific Ocean...

in search of whale oil for lamp fuel.

The U.S. looked to Japan for a supply base...

and a trans-Pacific relay point.

Britain had gone through the Industrial Revolution...

and sought to expand her markets.

Not to be outdone,

France was contemplating a sally from China.

Russia, in her desire to expand eastward,

was eyeing Japan from the north.

While Japan still slumbered in seclusion,

the U.S. and European countries...

backed by modern military might,

were rapidly closing in on Japan.

Tobu ga Gotoku

Episode 4: Arrival of the Black Ships

Screenplay: Osanai Mieko

Original Story: Shiba Ryotaro

Misic: Ichiyanagi Toshi

Original Subtitles: Network Japan, Inc.

Transcribed and Edited Subtitles: Kame Fansubs

Narrator: Kusano Daigo

Cast

Saigo Kichinosuke: NISHIDA TOSHIYUKI

Okubo Shosuke: KAGA TAKESHI

Saigo Toshi: MINAMI KAHO

Kiku: TANAKA YOSHIKO

Saigo Kimi: OJI MICHIO

Oyama Katunosuke: KANIE KEIZO

Ikushima KIKI KIRIN

Abe Masahiro WAKABAYASHI GO

Sumiko FUJI JUNKO

Tokugawa Nariaki KANEKO NOBUO

Shinmon Tatsugoro MIKI NORIHEI

Shimazu Nariakira: KAYAMA YUZO

Producer: Yoshimura Fumitaka

Director: Hirayama Takeyuki

Edo 1853

Make way!

The Chief is back!

The Chief is back!

Shinmon-no-Tatsugoro

Welcome back.

What I'm about to tell you...

must be kept strictly confidential.

The Shogun is in a bad way.

Is he ill?

He may not pull through.

I've been instructed by the authorities to be prepared.

What authorities?

"The" authorities.

Oh, I see...

The Chief will explain, so listen carefully.

In the event that something happens,

all the firemen of Edo will stand guard.

Could that eventually be a funeral?

Don't ask stupid questions.

Yes, don't ask stupid questions.

Quiet!

To witness a shogun's funeral during one's lifetime...

is a rare thing.

It'll be something to tell the grandchildren.

We must do our very best in honor of the shogun.

As Edoites, don't let the daimyo's men outdo you.

The 12th shogun Tokugawa Ieyoshi's illness worsened,

and an unsettled atmosphere blanketed Edo Castle.

His heir, Iesada, resided in the West Compound;

but, frail from birth,

he was a source of great anxiety to his advisors.

His Highness grows weaker by the day.

If he dies, you will be the ruler of the land.

Therefore, please be prepared to assume...

the office as the 13th shogun.

Lord Abe...

Yes.

The beans turned out especially well today.

Won't you try some?

Huh?

Abe Masahiro's residence

World conditions will get even more unstable.

If the Shogun should die at such a time...

I pity Lord Iesada for the heavy burden he must shoulder.

And since he still doesn't have a heir...

we must select a capable successor for the shogun's house.

Is there anyone from the branch families?

As we have discussed earlier,

we are more or less agreed on Lord Hitotsubashi.

I know that you are busy preparing to leave,

but could you give it a push behind the scenes?

I understand.

What about the permission for forging cannons...

and building warships to go against the foreign ships?

Though Lord Nariaki of Mito is a block,

since we support his son who was adopted by the Hitotsubashi...

to be heir, he can't refuse us flatly.

I earnestly hope so.

The Lord of Satsuma has arrived at the gate.

Since I will be leaving for Satsuma in two days,

I've come to pay my respects.

Although Satsuma is very far away,

I understand that it is a very nice place.

I'd like to pay a visit there one day.

By the way, did that tasty pork...

come from pigs caught deep in the mountains?

Then you liked it?

It was superb... tasty, with a robust flavor.

There's nothing like pork for added vitality.

I'm very glad you liked it.

I'll be sure to bring some more the next time I come to Edo.

That's funny.

Why is that?

Lord Abe is no longer the only one who looks forward...

to your return even before you've departed.

Although, it's not pork that Abe desires,

but a dependable confidant.

That's very kind of you.

There is much fuss, but the American ships won't come.

If they do, I'll lead an army and drive them away.

You'll move for permission to forge cannons?

Only funds will be appropriated.

There's no need to behave rashly...

and incur the suspicions of the shogunate.

Thank you for your help.

Something smells good; I'm starved.

Kichinosuke!

Kichinosuke...

Are you...

Yes!

I received a summons...

I'm no longer under house arrest.

Shosuke!

Congratulations!

Thank you very much.

That isn't necessary. Please get up.

Kichijiro, Shosuke has been released.

I'm so glad to hear that!

Congratulations!

Thank you.

Won't you come in?

There isn't much, but let's celebrate.

Toshi, can you get things ready?

Thank you, but I must go and let my mother know.

You haven't told her yet?

A courier just came to the magistrate's office...

with word that Lord Nariakira was returning.

I wanted to let you know as soon as possible.

Our lord is returning?

I'm so happy...

Now I can work for our lord, too.

I'll also petition for my father's pardon.

You've been a great help all these years.

I'll tell the young men's group.

We'll come by later with some sake.

I'll see you later.

So you're no longer under house arrest.

I can return to my former job tomorrow.

If I work hard, Father may be released sooner.

Your father would like that.

I'm also hoping to go to Edo.

To Edo?

I must vindicate our family of the false accusations...

by getting myself chosen to study in Edo.

I'm going to try no matter what.

I must see that you make good marriages, too.

Brother...

You've been through much for such a long time.

I'll be on salary now.

I want Mother to have a new kimono.

Never mind me. You're more important.

You must do well in your job.

We must sew you a new outfit, mustn't we?

Nariakira left Edo on May 2nd.

However, the American East Indies squadron,

commanded by Commodore Perry,

had started for the Ryukyus two weeks earlier.

Nariakira received word of this from Kagoshima...

on May 29th while in Bizen (present day Okayama).

They've come after all.

It seems four American warships...

have forced their way into a Ryukyu harbor.

It's as you anticipated.

No. They've come far sooner than I expected.

Send a courier to Edo with this information.

Let Edo know as soon as possible!

The American ships may close in on Edo...

even before Lord Abe receives my message.

Nariakira was right.

Before his message could get to Edo,

Perry's squadron appeared off Uraga.

What happened after they landed?

The Uraga magistrate is presently meeting with...

those red-bearded, six-foot tall foreigners.

How vexing not to have engaged in a single battle.

They've brought a letter from the American leader.

A letter?

Moreover, the Americans have announced that...

if we don't accept the letter by the 7th,

they will resort to force.

They may leave Uraga and head for Edo Bay?

If we flatly refuse to accept the letter,

we must be prepared for the consequences.

The Shogun is confined to his bed.

What are we to do?

Please instruct us.

When we informed them that all our contacts...

with foreign ships were confined to Nagasaki by law...

and advised them to go there,

the Americans refused point blank.

Such insolence!

No other foreign ship has done that before.

Will there be war?

That depends on whether we accept their letter or not.

May I say something?

Go ahead.

Our cannons at Uraga have only about 16 shots each.

No way!

Also, without permission to try the cannons out,

the gunners do not know their capabilities.

Is that true?

That's because the shogunate lacks funds.

I don't believe this.

Now that they are here, it can't be helped.

Which means?

We accept the letter for now...

and think about it after we've seen the contents.

If it come to war, we'll make an all-out effort.

Nothing as alarming as this has occurred...

since the inception of this shogunate.

Listen up!

Our Shinmon brigade has been assigned...

to the south end of Edo Bridge.

Bring the firefighting equipment.

One more thing...

This is of utmost importance...

Since it's night and we want no commotion,

the towns people are not to know about...

the foreign ships until tomorrow morning.

Kinta!

I know! Don't say a word about the foreign ships...

Anyone with loose lips gets them sewn together.

So watch out!

What's so confidential?

When I went to buy some dried cuttlefish,

I was told they were out.

I managed to get some...

by telling them I was Shinmon's daughter,

but the prices of bean paste, pickled plums,

and even straw sandals have gone up outrageously.

Why would the price of straw sandals go up?

How should I know?

Who bought up everything?

The daimyo, of course.

And this while they told us to keep quiet until tomorrow.

It's begun.

Chief, are the foreign ships really coming?

On June 8th,

Perry's squadron appeared in Edo Bay...

and mass confusion reigned throughout Edo.

Oyama Kakunosuke and Arimura Shunsai,

both students from Satsuma, were in the midst of this.

What a mess!

Everyone's in such a panic.

These Edo people sure are cowardly.

Do they expect to fight the foreigners like that?

During the commotion, Shogun Ieyoshi died,

and his heir, Iesada, succeeded him.

Come...

Come...

Meanwhile, Perry landed at Kurihama.

After handing over the letter,

he departed saying he would be back the following spring.

Shogun Ieyoshi has passed away.

Since 13th Shogun Iesada is frail,

I can't help but worry.

There will definitely be a war in a few years.

I must hurry.

With what?

Everything.

You've been in a hurry about everything.

It makes me uneasy.

How do you feel about being born in times like these?

It doesn't matter to me...

as long as I can serve you at your side.

Natural advantages count more than chances.

Being born to be the lord of Japan's...

southern most province has allowed me...

to know about the West.

I must have been born for this purpose.

Excuse me...

Welcome.

Ah, you are working hard.

I heard that a letter came from Shunsai in Edo.

We were expecting you.

They're letting us read it now.

And?

The Americans left a month and a half before...

Lord Nariakira's troops arrived in Edo.

To reach there in 30 instead of 50 days...

the Satsuma men did us proud.

We must be on our guard now.

He says that the American ships fired their cannons.

What?

How dare they?!

Shunsai is fuming.

This is intolerable!

Please have some.

I'm just itching for action.

I'll go and fight wherever Lord Nariakira sends me.

Arima can use his Jigen-style fencing...

to slice those foreigners in half.

Oh, that you for your hospitality.

Good-bye.

Will our lord send students to study in Edo next year?

I'm sure he will.

Then, let's both submit our applications.

You'll benefit a lot from studying in Edo.

Studying in Edo would suit you.

I'll support your selection next year.

Kichinosuke, don't you want to go?

Those with superior ability should go.

Go for it, Shosuke.

I will!!

I've also submitted a petition.

I'll submit as many as I must.

That's the spirit.

I heard that our lord is busily engaged, too.

Reporting.

What is it?

I know it's late,

but an express has come from Lord Konoe in Kyoto.

From Lord Konoe?

Bring it here.

What does he say?

He says that the request for the Imperial Court's...

recommendation to the shogunate on...

the building of warships has been forwarded.

That's good news.

He's also working on the other matter.

Well, well...

The time to send Sumiko to Edo has finally come.

Right.

With this, you have become my daughter Sumiko.

You are to leave as soon as you can get ready.

Yes.

You will be stopping at Kyoto along the way.

There is a woman named Ikushima at the Konoe's.

She will take care of everything,

so you may leave all to her.

Yes.

Do you have any questions?

No, none at all.

In that case, have a safe journey.

Yes.

My Lady...

we will be at Mikkan Hill soon.

Once we're over that, Sakurajima will be out of sight.

Shall we stop so that you can get out?

That's all right.

Let's go on without stopping.

Yes.

Kichinosuke!

Oh, Shosuke.

Did you know that Imaizumi's princess Sumiko...

in on her way to Edo?

No.

She's going by boat from Shimonoseki to Osaka.

According to Arimura's letter,

they are demolishing houses and hills in Edo...

for gun emplacements and the roads are impassable.

So why is a Satsuma princess going to Edo now?

An underling like me wouldn't know.

Let's go to the school.

We may learn something there.

I have to get back to the county office.

I'll stop by later and let you know.

Welcome back.

I just returned.

You must be tired.

Dinner will be ready soon.

You're late today.

Brother, welcome back.

Thank you.

Sister! I can't find Toshi.

She was here a few minutes ago.

Sister! Sister!

Where are you, Toshi?

That's strange.

Come to think of it, she's been very quiet lately.

Did you two argue?

No, we haven't.

Yasu, go and look for Toshi.

What are you doing?

What if something happened to her?

I'll check the river.

Yasu, you look around the house.

Taka and Shingo, you go to the Okubo's house.

Why would Toshi go to the river?

I doubt if she's there, but I'll look anyway.

Let's go, Kohei.

Sister... Sister...

Toshi.

Toshi.

Toshi.

Where are you?

Toshi.

Sister.

Did you find her?

Toshi!

Toshi...

I'm sorry that I made you worry.

What's wrong?

Are you ill? Should I get the doctor?

No.

I'm going to have a baby.

A baby?

I'm sorry.

What are you saying?

Last year we had one funeral after another.

Now our family will get bigger again.

We'll have more expenses.

Toshi...

I'll clear more land and plant more potatoes.

I'll be a good father, so don't worry.

Have as many babies as you want.

After departing from Kagoshima, in mid-October...

Sumiko's party arrived at the Konoe's house in Kyoto.

Stand up, please.

Please stand up.

Hold the fan like this.

It doesn't look well to let it dangle.

You'll do. Please sit down.

I am Ikushima, attendant to Minister Konoe's people.

I'm glad to see you in fine spirits.

I am not fine at all.

You must be tired after such a long journey.

Yes, and not pretty, either.

I'm not used to wearing garments such as these.

I've brought my own clothing with me.

I heard that you were a forthright princess.

The clothes you are wearing are yours.

Lord Nariakira asked me to get them for you.

Lord Nariakira did? How kind of him!

They were not readied...

just to relieve you of the tedium of the journey.

After you have met with Minister Konoe,

you will become a Konoe princess.

A princess of the Konoe house? Who do you mean?

Hey, you will, Sumiko.

After your adoption by Minister Konoe,

your name will be changed to Princess Atsu.

Do you understand?

No. I have been ordered to Edo by Lord Nariakira.

Yes, I shall be going to Edo with you.

We must correct that Satsuma dialect by then.

Even if you become the Lord Minister's daughter,

you'll be of no use in Edo with that dialect.

I shall instruct you in courtly etiquette and deportment.

In the following year, on January 2, 1854,

a letter arrived at Tsurumaru Castle from Councillor Abe...

urging Nariakira to return to Edo.

Lord.

The members of your Edo retinue have been chosen.

As you instructed, I chose men who are capable.

Here's the list.

What do you think?

It is during these turbulent times...

that we must seek and develop men.

I want to develop men who can do many things.

Let's add another name.

Oh, I summoned you in haste...

because you are listed among those going to Edo.

I'm among those going to Edo?

Saigo Kichinosuke, you've been appointed as a page.

Accept the post gratefully.

You did it!

Congratulations!

According to the messenger,

Lord Nariakira personally added your name to the list.

The Lord wrote it in personally?

He remembered your petitions.

It's an honor.

Go gladly.

What's wrong?

Our lord chose me to accompany him to Edo!

Me!

To be continued.