Original subtitles

In August of 1868...

the new government's army invaded Aizu.

Yae fought, leading the rifle squad...

and cut her hair short before joining the night attack.

Takeko was shot to death on the battlefield.

Yuki who was captured, committed suicide.

Amidst the desperate fighting...

Yamakawa Okura passed-through the enemy line disguised as the equinox lion.

His audacious march inspired the defenders in the castle.

But, Tanomo clashed with Katamori again.

It's truly reassuring to have you back, Okura. AUGUST 26, 1868

Sir Okura will be military commander.

Yes, sir.

Let's recapture Odayama mountain first.

We'll be at their mercy if they control it.

We must recapture Odayama.

Yes, sir!

Is Sir Tanomo in battle?

No...he disrupts our unity.

What happened?

Yielding is out of the question.

The soldiers won't fight hard under a timid councilor.

This is all we have left.

What will happen when we're out of bullets?

Ms. Yae.

Sir Akizuki.

We have a problem.

What is it?

Sir Tanomo is leaving the castle.

He's being forced out.

What?

YAE NO SAKURA

Episode 28: Daughter of Pride

Screenplay: Yamamoto Mutsumi

Theme Music: Sakamoto Ryuichi Music: Nakajima Nobuyuki

Narrator: Kusabue Mitsuko

Kawasaki Yae: Ayase Haruka

Yamamoto Kakuma: Nishijima Hidetoshi

Kawasaki Shonosuke: Hasegawa Hiroki

Yamamoto Saku: Fubuki Jun

Yamamoto Gonpachi: Matsushige Yutaka

Yamamoto Ura: Hasegawa Kyoko

Yamakawa Okura: Tamayama Tetsuji

Matsudaira Katamori: Ayano Go

Takagi Tokio: Kanjiya Shihori

Yamakawa Futaba: Ichikawa Mikako

Hinata Yuki: Gouriki Ayame

Oda Tokie: Tanimura Mitsuki

Yamakawa Kenjiro: Katsuji Ryo

Sagawa Kanbei: Nakamura Shido

Kajiwara Heima: Ikeuchi Hiroyuki

Akizuki Teijiro: Kitamura Yukiya

Iwakura Tomomi: Kosakai Kazuki

Yamakawa En: Akiyoshi Kumiko

Princess Teru: Inamori Izumi

Ogakiya Seihachi: Matsukata Hiroki

Saigo Tanomo: Nishida Toshiyuki

Executive Producer: Naito Shinsuke

Translations by MTI

Director: Kato Taku

Councilor!

Yae!

Sir...Where are you going?

I'm going to relay the lord's order to Sir Kayano.

Are you taking your son because you're not returning?

We'll be going.

Let's go.

Are you running away?

Are you abandoning the castle?

Ms. Yae!

Why is the lord chasing Sir Tanomo out?

You're out of line!

Everyone has their own path in life.

A path they must follow.

Even if I'm scorned as a coward...

I can only forge straight ahead.

Even I, Saigo Tanomo...

...am a pliant bamboo.

I don't understand.

Why?

Sir Tanomo pushed for surrender.

He wanted Aizu to submit as soon as possible.

Submission?

At this point?

No one supported him.

Naturally! That's being cowardly!

Not so!

It takes more courage to push for submission!

He called himself a pliant bamboo.

That was his wife Chie's death poem.

Death poem?

When he received her death poem, I happened to be there.

The words "pliant bamboo..."

...were in Chie's poem.

Sir Tanomo...

The next day, after relaying Katamori's order to Kayano...

Tanomo left Aizu.

He would later fight in the Hakodate Battle (Ezo Republic April-June 1869).

Tanomo...live.

Here.

We have more rice here.

It's nice and hot.

It's hot!

It's burning my hands!

Everyone must be hungry.

It's hard to shape brown rice.

Yes, it's hard.

Get every grain in the bucket to make gruel later.

Don't waste even one grain of our precious rice.

Yes.

Everyone, I have good news!

Ms. Oko and the others have returned.

Yae!

Miss Takeko is back.

Mother!

I see... Takeko died...

My daughter fought hard like a man.

Compared to the brave heart of the samurai...

She fought hard like she sang in her poem.

You remembered her poem?

Miss Takeko...

...died?

Takeko told Ms. Yuki...

she'd learn how to shoot from you when she returned...

...because rifles are more powerful.

Miss Takeko...

The people we lived with are dying one by one.

In battle...

...we can't stand idle.

They're shooting again.

Princess, please return to your room.

It's coming from...

Be careful.

Shonosuke!

Yae!

Is that firing from Odayama hill?

They seem to have a very powerful cannon.

It sounded different.

It must be the Armstrong cannon used in Ueno.

Let's shoot back.

Will our (light) cannon reach there?

Let's increase the gunpowder load.

The barrel will burst.

If we don't do anything we'll keep losing.

All right...let's do it.

Add 48.75 grams (752 grains gunpowder)!

Distance 1,526 meters!

Elevation Angle 10.4 degrees!

Load!

-Ready? -Ready!

Fire!

Did the shell hit?

Yes, it did!

Right the gun back up!

Yes, sir!

We have to shoot another shell quickly!

Hurry!

Father!

They'll shoot at us next!

Leave here and do your duty.

I'll help with the cannon.

No.

Yae, I heard you led the rifle squad.

Yes.

I heard you lived up to the Yamamoto name. Good work.

The cannon from Odayama hill has shaken everyone up.

Go and calm down the people.

But...

That's part of our duty.

Go quickly!

Please go.

Yes!

It's too dangerous here.

Everyone, be strong. Don't falter.

Yamakawa Okura: Tose...Bring water here.

Tose: Yes.

Get to it.

-Kajiwara Heima: Futaba, I'm counting on you. -Futaba: Yes.

Lord, it's dangerous up here.

Watch out!

Mine, stay back!

Mine!

Yae!

Mother!

It's out. Don't worry. It won't explode now.

-I'm glad! -Yae...Are you all right?

I'm fine.

Futaba: What did you just do?

Extinguish the fuse.

Who is she?

Yae, Kawasaki's wife...and Yamamoto Kakuma's sister.

You can tell the direction of the cannon- ball before it falls.

If it falls close by...

cover this part with a wet blanket to extinguish it.

But it can explode at any time.

So you're risking your life.

I'll do it. I'm here to protect the castle.

I'll do it, too.

Mine: Me too.

A child can't do that.

Let's do it. I can cover it with a wet blanket, too.

Please be careful.

Yes.

Ms. Yae!

What is it?

Please come to the lord's quarters immediately.

What?

The retired lord wishes to see you.

Ms. Yae, this way.

Yae, come in.

She is Yae, wife of Kawasaki Shonosuke.

I was impressed with you earlier.

He saw you extinguished the cannon ball.

You've got guts.

I knew it wouldn't explode instantly.

Tell us in more detail.

Bring an unexploded shell.

Yae, explain.

Yes, I will.

The shells may have different shapes, but they function the same way.

A fuse is used to detonate the gunpowder.

These are the fuses.

When the fuse's burning match reaches the gunpowder,

it will explode.

For this cannon ball...

by wetting the exposed fuse right here...

you can extinguish the slow match before it ignites the gunpowder.

Ms. Yae, well done.

Inside, it contains iron pieces like these.

These fly in all directions increasing the damage.

Is that the kind of ball the enemy is firing at us?

Most of them are these.

Are you Kakuma's sister?

Yes!

There's a strong resemblance.

Lord, I've met you before.

It was during the mock battle, the first year you came.

I had climbed a tree and insolently fell.

This is a battlefield!

She confessed like a samurai.

She didn't behave cowardly.

He said I was like a samurai... and didn't behave cowardly.

I can't forget the joy of being told I was like a samurai...

who didn't behave cowardly.

I want to become strong...

I wanted to become strong...

...so I can return this debt to the young lord.

...so I can serve you.

I told the councilor I wanted to be of use to Aizu.

You told Tanomo?

Yes.

I believe now is the time.

Enough of the unnecessary talk.

Lord, let us start our military conference.

All right.

Lord!

One by one...

my friends and comrades are dying...

but I would like to work with the surviving people...

...to protect Aizu.

Leave.

Yae.

The women and children are my vassals, too.

Let us fight together.

Yes!

If I may humbly speak!

There is something we can do...

Watch your steps.

Miss Mine!

Everyone, put them in here.

You've gathered a lot.

Auntie, here's what we gathered!

Thank you very much.

By placing the gunpowder and lead balls together...

then wrapping it, and twisting the ends...

it can be used in the Gewehr (smooth bore) guns.

Mix it with the gunpowder...

Like this?

Yes. Very good.

Mother has dexterous hands.

It's easy. Try it.

Yes.

The enemy's bullets are turning into our new ammunition.

It is a good feeling.

Yes, it is.

The bullets we were afraid of, are made this way.

We're not afraid anymore.

Even women can easily make them.

Ms. Yae, what did the lord want?

Please tell us.

Tose, don't you really want to know about Okura?

Mother, stop that.

You're blushing.

I'm embarrassed.

Dear?

What are you doing?

Not once did I give her my acknowledgement.

Be careful.

I thought that a woman learning about fire-arms...

would amount to nothing.

I thought it would result in self-destruction.

Yes.

But...

as for Yae learning about guns...

it may have been for the best.

If there is a hole in the pitch darkness...

there will be a ray of light shining through.

It may be Yae's rifle that will create that hole.

Father?

ODAYAMA HILL

AUGUST 28, 1868

The enemy is gaining momentum after capturing Odayama.

We must stop them and find a way to get provisions and gunpowder.

We must somehow get in contact with the Yonezawa clan.

The number of our soldiers?

About a thousand if we combine all of our squads.

Let me lead them.

I will launch a surprise attack before dawn.

Kanbei...I'm counting on you.

Yes, sir!

In hopes of meeting you again

With no place designated

Let us drink to ourselves

Use this sword tomorrow.

Yes, sir.

Drink to your march.

Yes, sir!

Victory...

Health...

Fortune...

...we wait.

Kanbei.

Return without fail.

I gratefully...

...accept these.

I am prepared...

...to die in battle.

I should have died before.

I killed someone in Edo.

I should have been sentenced to hara-kiri...

...but you mercifully spared my life.

Yet I'm so pathetic.

I couldn't do much.

I failed to protect you and Aizu.

I am very sorry.

Sagawa Kanbei...

I am counting on your help.

I shall...

penetrate the enemy line...

and open a path to Yonezawa.

If I fail to do that...

I do not intend...

...to return to the castle alive.

Kanbei...

I am grateful.

I am truly honored.

Sir Sagawa, you are in the presence of the lord.

It's all right.

He must be exhausted.

Let him rest.

Yes, sir.

Sir Sagawa!

Please wake up, Sir Sagawa!

What is it?

Everyone is ready to sortie.

What time is it?

7:00 AM. The sun is up.

Darn! I overslept!

The Aizu army missed their surprise night attack...

and would be forced to fight a hard battle.

Attack!

From the West outer moat to Chomeiji...

the Aizu army launched a desperate fierce attack.

But against the enemy's overwhelming number...

they suffered devastating losses.

The battle at Chomeiji ended in their defeat.

Retreat!

Meanwhile in Kyoto...

I must show this to him!

Please read this, Sir Iwakura!

How is he?

He passed the critical point, but...

Can he talk?

This is Minister Iwakura.

I came to meet the man who wrote this.

Sir Kakuma's notes?

Is he really an ordinary clansman of Aizu?

Yes.

Separation of powers.

Promotion of industry.

Education system.

The form of the new country is written down here.

Sir Yamamoto opened a Western school...

to teach Western studies.

Aizu clan has capable men too.

What a shame I can't talk to him.

Sir!

Sir, don't.

Please withdraw the army from Aizu.

Don't behave insolently.

Sir!

Please save Aizu.

Both Sendai and Yonezawa have submitted.

Only the Aizu clan is left.

When all clans submit...

a new country will be born.

Don't die. Let's meet again.

Sir...

Show the enemy our high spirits by flying kites.

Yes!

Twenty days after their defeat at Chomeiji...

their food and ammunition supplies had hit bottom.

The painful siege continued.

Thank you very much.

Grandmother, please hang in there.

Eat a little at least.

I have no reason to live.

Grandmother...

There are kites flying!

Kites?

Look there! Kites from the castle!

That looks like fun. Who's flying them?

It must be Yae.

It must be Yae flying the kites.

The castle is still safe.

Yae!

Yae is more into it than the children.

I agree.

She's good at it.

Maybe I'll fly one too.

You, Mother?

I'm the one who taught Okura.

That's the first time I heard that.

Saki, shall I teach you how to fly a kite?

Yes.

Hurry!

Hurry!

On September 14, 1868...

the new government's army launched a full-scale bombardment.

They're shooting continuously.

Mother, go inside!

Let's keep our composure!

We are ready!

Look out for the children!

It's close! Duck!

Tose!

Tose!

Ms. Tose!

Ms. Tose!

Ms. Tose!

Tose!

END OF EPISODE 28

Everyone is fighting with their lives!

I can finally repay my debt to the lord.

They died in our place!

We can't submit to save ourselves!

I wanted her to see Aizu in the fall.

This is my last order.

Go!

Lord, you are wrong!

Protect everyone...Yae.

Odayama Mountain (South East of Tsuruga Castle) Location of the artillery emplacement of the Western Army