Original subtitles

-Mother! Mother!

Mother!

A bird.

-A lark.

That means spring.

I was fast asleep!

-Mother, this is no time to sleep! The ballad singers are starting.

-Yes!

-Hurry! Hurry!

AWAJI, SPRING

In the last days of the Shogunate, the Inada clan of Awaji Island...

...grew restive under the rule of the lord of Tokushima.

With the fall of the Shogunate, the Inada clan broke away...

...and in 1870 was attacked by Tokushima forces.

The new Meiji government sent the Inada clan as settlers...

...to the northern island of Ezo, now renamed 'Hokkaido'.

-Are you feeling better?

-I'm sorry.

-It's been a long journey. Just a few more days now.

-Two weeks since we left Awaji. It's already June!

When will we get there, Keiichiro?

-Yes...

It's certainly a long way.

Where is this 'Hokkaido', anyway?

-Yes, Squire Hase! Why are we being treated this way?

Why do we have to go to the ends of the earth?

-Yes... they say it's a rich land, but with more bears than men.

How will we fare?

-Hase! -Yes?

-There you're wrong.

Ezo is dozens, no... hundreds of times bigger than Awaji.

Just think!

We'll be like the ancient warriors, carving out our own land.

We'll each have a castle!

-Our own castle...

What more could a warrior want?

-So I could be a lord of a 10,000 or even a million koku fief?

-A million koku, Matajuro?

-Maybe that's too much.

-No, that's the spirit!

-I'm sure Squire Komatsubara with the advance party

just can't wait for you to arrive.

-I wonder...

He's probably working so hard he's forgotten all about me.

-Mother, do you know what?

-No, what?

-They say winter in Hokkaido is so cold that

'good morning' freezes coming out of your mouth!

-Oh, dear!

-Yunosuke-sama says you have to keep your mouth shut all winter!

-Yunosuke said that?

-It's not funny!

-Yunosuke, stop filling Tae-san's head with silly ideas.

-Don't worry.

It's way up north, but people have always lived there.

Your words won't freeze.

-Land!

There's land in sight!

YEAR ONE IN THE NORTH (Kita no Zero Nen)

-The Taiyu-maru's come!

They're here! They're here!

The Taiyu-maru's come!

The Taiyu-maru's arrived!

-It has?!

-Yes, sir!

-The First Group's here!

-Sir!

-Mamiya!

-All safe and sound, sir.

-Well done!

-Groups 2 and 3 come next month.

-Excellent! -And His Lordship in the fall.

I'm a bit thirsty.

-Bring water!

-Father!

-I'm so glad to see you!

-You've got a beard!

-Does it hurt?

Shino!

-Husband... thank you for all you've done.

-You had a safe trip?

-Yes.

Will this be His Lordship's residence?

-Yes.

That'll be the center.

We'll build a road, clear the land...

There's nothing here now,

but soon it'll be our land, with rice as far as the eye can see.

-Just like Awaji?

-That's right! Just like Awaji!

Hey! Want to go up to the top?

-Iwakura and those western clans really pulled a fast one on us.

Who was this 'restoration' for?

-They brought the Emperor back to serve their own ends, of course.

-They're treating us like the Aizu clan. You'd think we'd lost the Boshin war.

-Damn right!

We fought the Shogun for them,

and still we get sent way up here!

I even got hurt, and what for?

Shut up!

Are we going to take this?

Hideaki.

You hurt your arm guarding the Emperor in Kyoto.

Doesn't it ache?

-Just give the place some time, Hanamura.

The springtime's a little cold,

but it's beautiful.

Oh, this morning I was out taking a leak...

and this fox was staring at my thing.

-Were you peeing ice?

-No!

-He's right!

Soon His Lordship will be here.

-Yes, we'll just have to build ourselves our own new land.

Right, Matajuro? -Yes, sir!

-Let's drink to that tonight!

Hey! Bring more sake!

-Yes, sir!

-Komatsubara-dono!

-I'll take over. Get some sleep.

-Yes, sir.

-You're back.

-Are you still up?

-Yes.

-And Tae?

-She tried to stay awake until you came home,

but she's fast asleep.

-I was worried she wouldn't sleep with us all jammed in that shack.

I guess I was wrong.

-Tae is your daughter.

-What does that mean?

Shall we sit?

These last six months have been harder than I thought.

There's nothing here.

But I promised His Lordship

there'd be green fields waiting when he came.

So I won't complain.

We all have to be of one mind.

Shino.

-Yes?

-There are hills here, and rivers, and a sea, but not like Awaji.

Is that all right?

Can you bear it?

Why do you smile?

-Dearest, you've changed since you came here.

-How so?

-You've never opened your heart to me like that before.

-I have! -No...

You were always so busy, out toppling the Shogun.

It's as if all I ever saw of you was your back.

It was very lonely.

Now, at last, there's something

to bring us together.

I'm happy.

Does your arm pain you?

-Yes.

This finger...

-Hideaki-sama...

I accept completely what it is you wish to do.

I will follow you.

-Shino...

-What a beautiful moon.

It's shining on Awaji, too.

-Shino, your scent...

-My dearest...

-Watch your step!

Hurry!

-Are you a samurai or not?!

-You have worked hard and well all these long days.

With the trees you have cut one by one,

we have built this fine edifice.

I am sure His Lordship will be delighted.

Today I ask that you eat rice-cake and revive your weary selves!

Please...

And you...

-Shino-sama!

-I'm fine.

-Are you sure?

-I didn't come here to be a peasant!

Sato, if you're a samurai's wife, you'll throw down that hoe.

-If I may. Put your back into it.

And swing it down like that.

-Yes.

-Like that.

-Where did those 'Wa' people come from?

-Awaji, I think.

-Awaji?

-Far to the south.

Where it never snows.

-Don't do that, times have changed.

What do you have?

-It's a 'heart-lily'.

You make a dumpling of it and put it in the gruel.

An Ainu boy told me.

-You know their language?

-We talked with our hands.

My father told us

to survive here we have to imitate the natives.

-What's your name?

-My name is Heita.

-I am Mamiya Yunosuke.

That's my fiancee, Tae.

-Fiancee?

-Heita, here's some!

-Yes!

-And here!

-Yes!

-This way.

Tae!

Tae..!

-Mother!

-What happened?

-There was a bear.

-A bear?!

-Those gentlemen saved us.

-Ashirika. Come here.

By now that bear's Kamui will have returned to the spirits.

Ashirika...

The first day I met you, you said

life had lost its meaning.

That is why

I gave you the name E Ashirika Rikuru.

''He... who looks at himself...

''...and opens a new path.''

Is what it means.

You saved that child.

Your life has a meaning.

-I killed my wife and daughter.

-Not even a bird, let alone a ship.

-Three months late!

Why? Where is Group 2?

-Perhaps they waited for His Lordship.

-I hope that's it.

AUTUMN, YEAR 1

-Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow...!

-What's wrong?

-Keep still!

-Squire Mamiya...

-He's all swollen up.

-What's this noise?!

-A horsefly bit Matajuro.

-This late in the year? You're not very lucky, are you?

-You won't be using that thing for a while.

Not that you would be anyway.

-I have just the thing!

-Who are you?

-Kurazo the apothecary.

-Apothecary?!

Have you got something for insect bites?

-Most certainly.

-Quick!

-And I have tobacco, sweets, miso, soy sauce, everything you need.

-Where did you come from?

-Sapporo.

Before that I was in Awaji.

Oh, yes. I have a letter from Uchida-sama.

Who will read it?

-What?

What does Uchida-sama say?

-''The Heiun-maru...

''...sank in the Kii Channel.

''Dead: 83 souls...

''The names of the deceased...

''Arima Yahei.''

-Father!

-''Arima Suki.''

-Mother!

-''Iwasa Kiyota.''

-Brother!

-''Inoue Shinichi...

''Sanaka Yasuke...

''Ota Uheita...

''Morii Chie...

''Yano Miishi...

-Miishi!

-''Yano Yoshimichi...

-Yoshimichi!

-''Misawa Hanji...

''Misawa Jinsuke...

''Kamata Komaji...

''Kamata Ren...

''Nishiyama Kino...

''...for a total of 83...

''...as stated above. Pray for them.''

-It ends with...

words from His Lordship!

''In that distant land...

''I am sure...

''...you suffer.

''However...

''I vow to come by spring.

''Until then...

''guard your health...

''...and be steadfast.''

-Exactly!

We must persevere until His Lordship comes!

-Snow...

-Snow?

-It's snowing!

-Can't you see what he really is?

Behind him I see fire falling from the sky!

-Yunosuke!

-Oh... Yunosuke-sama!

-Yunosuke! Yunosuke!

Yunosuke-sama...

-Yunosuke...

Yunosuke!

WINTER, YEAR 1

-After all the grubbing around in the dirt.

This is all it gave us.

We'll never make it through.

-Quick!

Come quickly!

Hurry, hurry!

Hurry, Sue-sama! -What is it?!

-Quick! Hurry!

-Hurry, hurry!

Look!

-Oh, my! -What's this?!

-Tae!

-Mother!

-It's deer.

-Oh, my! Where did you get it?

-Give Yunosuke some.

-Yes!

-Yunosuke!

Yunosuke!

-Mamiya! Hey!

It's Yunosuke!

He's bad...!

-What?

Yunosuke!

-Husband!

-Flowers...

I want to see Awaji flowers...

-Flowers?

These can be flowers!

-Tae...

-Tae-san.

Use our kimono, too.

-Mistress Sue!

-Yunosuke, hold on. Yunosuke!

-Yunosuke!

-Flowers...

-Yunosuke-sama! The flowers of Awaji!

The flowers of Awaji are in bloom!

They're in bloom!

-They're beautiful...

Thank you...

Tae...

-Yunosuke-sama...!

-Yunosuke!

Yunosuke...

Yunosuke...!

Yunosuke...! Yunosuke...!

-Yunosuke-sama!

-Kayo-sama. Kayo-sama!

Kayo-sama...

-Kayo-sama. You have to be strong!

SPRING, YEAR 2

SPRING, YEAR 2 -His Lordship is coming!

SPRING, YEAR 2

His Lordship is coming...!

He's coming!

His Lordship is coming...!!

His Lordship is coming!

He's coming!

His Lordship is coming!

His Lordship is coming...

He's coming...

His Lordship is coming!

-When?

-Two days!

Maybe even tomorrow!

-He is?

He is?!

Hurry! There's not much time!

Come on! Hurry!

-How's this?

-Excellent!

Well done, Heita!

-It's him!

His Lordship is here!

His Lordship's here! -His Lordship...

His Lordship's here!

He's here! His Lordship is here...!

-His Lordship has arrived!

His Lordship is here!!!

=His Lordship is here! He's here..!

-What a perfect day!

-My lord!

-Halt!

-My lord! Long have we waited for this moment!

-'Reorganization'?

What does this mean, Uchida-dono?

-There are no more clan domains.

All clans are dissolved and the land is redivided into 'prefectures'.

-May I ask then,

where that leaves us, after we've gone through so much?

-Now the land belongs to the new government's

'Colonization Office'.

-That's absurd!

It was to be ours if we came,

and now they're taking it back?!

-What of the others of our clan who are coming here?

-There's no one else coming.

-What...?

-We couldn't fight the times.

Forgive me.

-My lord!

-Komatsubara-dono, what's going on?

What's going on here?!

My lord!

Wait!

Take me with you, please!

My lord...

-How dare you!

Go!

-We have been...

..abandoned.

=Eijanaika! Eijanaika! Eijanaika! (To hell with it! To hell with it all!)

=Eijanaika! Eijanaika! Eijanaika! (To hell with it! To hell with it all!)

=Eijanaika! Eijanaika! Eijanaika! (To hell with it! To hell with it all!)

=The clan took our rice in Awaji!

=The clan dumped us in Ezo!

=Who cares if His Lordship's gone!

=To hell with it! To hell with it all!

=Eijanaika! Eijanaika! Eijanaika!

=To hell with it! To hell with it all!

=Eijanaika! Eijanaika! Eijanaika!

=To hell with it! To hell with it all!

-Matajuro!

-I want to go home.

-If I'm going to die anyway, I want to do it in Awaji!

-Me, too! -And me!

-Let's go home! -I'm going, too!

-Back to Awaji! -Let's go home!

-Enough.

Enough!!!

I will have no master!

-Dear!

-This is all that's left.

I'll stay here.

-Will my son's death mean nothing?

I'll stay, too!

-And me!

-Me, too... -And me..!

-Matajuro... Cut it for me!

-Father!

-I ain't stopping!

Hey!

-Get off!

-Stop, please! This is a field!

-This? A field?

-Get off, please!

-What's going on?!

-Who are you?

-Do you speak for them, old man?

-At least get down!

-Be careful how you talk to me.

I've come way out here to set up your family census registers.

-Our what?

-You need them for your rice supplement.

-What? Is the government giving us rice?

-We don't want government rice, sir.

-Not even a grain. It's another trick.

-What did you say?!

-We're resolved to accept nothing from the new government.

-We'll do it ourselves. Go away!

-What? =Get out of here!

-Giddyup!

-Sir!

-Who are you?

-Kurazo the apothecary. I deal in that village.

-What do you want?!

-I'm told that with a family register you'll distribute rice.

-They won't get any!

-Of course not. Not for free.

-What do you mean?

-Chamberlain, you asked to see me?

-Yes.

This man reports

the rice seedlings won't take root.

-We can't grow rice here with the methods we used in Awaji.

-By this summer,

we'll use up the rice we have.

What little millet we can grow,

won't get us through the winter.

There's an agricultural institute in Sapporo.

They might have a strain of rice that can grow here.

Komatsubara, will you go to Sapporo for us?

-I'll be gone two weeks at most. Otherwise it'll be too late to plant.

-We're counting on you.

-Father...

-Don't worry, Tae!

Listen, a dream you don't believe in is nothing but a dream.

But if you believe in it, one day it's bound to come true.

I'm going away to make everyone's dream come true.

Understand?

-Yes.

-I'll be going.

-Yes.

Take care on your journey.

-Father!

WINTER, YEAR 2

-Shino-sama.

When is Komatsubara-dono returning?

-He said he'd bring us rice.

Are you sure he hasn't abandoned us, like His Lordship did?

-We could have had rice from the Colonization Office.

-Komatsubara-dono said no!

-By the time Komatsubara-dono gets back...

we'll have starved to death!

-Kurazo is here!

Kurazo's here!

Kurazo is here!

-'The Buddha's face in hell.'

-That's what you look like!

-I make a pretty sorry-looking Buddha.

-You've saved us.

Kurazo.

I'm afraid this is all the money we can pay you now.

We can make up the difference in deer hides and things.

-All right. Whatever happens,

I will do all I can for you.

-I thank you.

-Hey.

-Hey...

This here's a gift from the boss!

-Let's have a drink!

-That'll warm you up!

-Hey...

Komatsubara's been gone six months. Have you heard anything of him?

-No, nothing.

-I see.

-Hey, Mamiya. -Yes?

-Have a drink. -Yeah...

-I don't have any tea.

-I've decided to settle around here.

This is by way of a how-do-you-do.

You don't like this kimono?

-I've no use for it.

Is there news of my husband?

-Komatsubara-sama is not coming back.

-Why not?

-He has a woman.

In Sapporo, I saw him

in a carriage with a beautiful lady in western clothes.

-You're lying! He's not that kind of man.

-I know what I saw.

Her hair was blown about in the wind, and Komatsubara-sama...

..fixed it with his hand, like this.

-Remember your place!

-What place is that?

You don't understand.

The world has changed.

I'm not just a peddler now.

And you're no samurai now. You're just a peasant!

Without me, neither you nor the others can eat.

Your husband has left you.

-I don't believe that!

-Do you think a woman can survive here alone?

I'll take good care of you.

-No..! No..!! No..!!!

Stop!

Stop, please!

-My wife and daughter,

died that way.

If I'd only been there.

A man like that should die.

He should die.

-Kurazo! Kurazo! Are you there?

Is Kurazo here?

-The boss is out right now.

-You only left one barrel of miso!

-We gave you as much as your money paid for.

-Miso doesn't cost that much!

-Get Kurazo out here!

-The boss isn't here, I said.

-Don't lie to me! Move!

-This wouldn't be a break-in, would it?

-Please... I'm afraid this is all I have.

-It's good.

-I'm glad.

-It's like a dream.

-Why are you crying?

-Ow, I'm in pain...!

He cut me!

-What is it?

-Are you all right?

-Hey!

-Damn samurai!

He was stealing rice!

-Mamiya! Is that true?

-The ones who took all that money for a barrel of miso are the thieves.

I came to make things right.

-What?! -What's wrong?!

-Boss! I'm hurt!

-This...

is disappointing.

-Look! I've been cut!

You can say what you like, Boss.

I'm turning him over to the authorities!

-Oh... Wait!

Kurazo! Can't you do something?

-Chamberlain...

As Senior Retainer, you say what happens.

This is our land!

You don't listen to them!

-Please. -Kayo!

-Kurazo-sama, please do something to help him!

-Stop it!

-Don't you understand?!

If you go to prison, how will I survive?

With Yunosuke dead and you gone, what am I going to do?!

-Kayo...

-Kurazo! I beg you, too. It's as she says.

-I understand.

Let him go.

Stand down.

I've been thinking only of my immediate profit.

I apologize.

I'm in business because of you!

We will divide the rice,

equally among all.

-Kurazo, do you mean that?!

-Thank you!

-Kurazo, you've saved us!

-Pay me back when you can.

From now on,

please leave everything to me!

-I thank you!

-They say your father's living like a rich man in Sapporo!

-He's a coward!

=A coward! =A traitor!

-My father isn't a coward!

Mother...

Is Father a traitor?

-Your father... is not a coward like that.

-Are you that hungry?

Eat!

Eat all you want.

This must be all the harder for a samurai wife to bear.

-Open the door! Please! Hurry!

-Who is it?

-Open the door! Hurry!

-Kayo-san...

Mamiya-sama!

-That woman...

sold herself to Kurazo.

She is no wife of mine.

-Kayo-san, don't tell me you're...

-I'm pregnant. It's Mamiya's child.

I'm going to tell Kurazo it's his.

Do you despise me, Shino-sama?

-Of course not.

-Yes, you do!

But whose fault is it?

It's Komatsubara-dono's!

I lost Yunosuke.

I won't lose another child.

As a mother you'll understand.

Tae-san hasn't grown in a year.

The men are all talk.

Dreaming of 'our land' when they can't do a thing.

I hate Mamiya for doing this to me.

But Squire Komatsubara put us up to this, then betrayed us!

-My husband has betrayed no one!

-Then why, with his wife and child half-starved, doesn't he come back?

I've had enough of men's talk.

I'll do anything for this baby.

Anything.

-Mamiya-sama!

-Shino-sama.

What became of our new land Komatsubara was talking about?

Things were better,

while he was here.

Damn it!

-Tae!

-Mother...

-You've got to hold on. Your father's waiting for us!

-Yes.

-Climb on.

-Mother...

-Tae.

My husband...

My dearest...

FIVE YEARS LATER

-Shino-san!

-Otsuru-san, good afternoon!

-Good afternoon!

-I've come to get this mare bred.

-You work so hard!

Edwin was saying the other day how difficult it is to start a farm.

It's backbreaking even for a man. He wonders how you do it.

Your daughter studies hard, too.

She's very promising.

-She is?

-''Okay, let's take a break.''

=Yes.

-Mother!

-Good afternoon. -Good afternoon.

-Are you well, Shino-san? -Yes.

''...Last week I went to Sapporo.

''Unfortunately, there was no news on your husband's whereabouts.''

-I see.

-I'm sorry.

-No.

Mr. Dan, you've been a great help.

I made my husband a promise.

-A promise?

-To build our own land here, no matter what happens.

Never to complain.

It's a wife's promise. I can't break it and face him

when he comes home.

-Heita!

-Tae-san!

-Kawakuba-sama, how's the rice coming?

-We might have a crop this year.

-Really?

-Now it's up to old Mister Sun.

-Kawakuba-sama, you've put more into this rice than anyone.

-Shino-sama, the horses you raised for us,

make it much easier.

I'm very grateful.

-Oh... Stop, please!

-We're back, Rikuru-san!

-Welcome back. -Hello.

-Monokute-san!

"Gin a body meet a body comin' thru the rye..."

"Gin a body kiss a body Need a body cry?"

"Every lassie has her laddie Nane, they say, ha'e I"

"Yet a' the lads they smile at me When comin' thro' the Rye"

Otsuru-san taught me.

-She did?

-"Gin a body meet a body comin' thru the rye..."

"Gin a body kiss a body Need a body cry?"

"Every lassie has her laddie Nane, they say, ha'e I"

"Yet a' the lads they smile at me When comin' thro' the Rye"

-Monokute-san, are you all right?!

-It's best to do this. The wolves hate fire.

-Thank you.

-Tonight was a good time.

But good times soon go past.

You look around and there is no more time.

So it is not wise...

to wish for forever.

-What do you mean?

-More Wa people came.

There are no animals to hunt.

Let us leave here.

-Good morning.

-Here you go. -Yes.

Tae-san, could you teach me book learning?

So I can study agriculture.

-Agriculture?

-Yes, father says I am to go to school if the rice crop comes in.

-Wonderful!

-I want to make this land flower with you, Tae-san.

-With me?

-Uh... I mean...

-Is Mrs. Komatsubara Shino here?

-Yes.

Mother!

-Can I help you?

-The Mayor wants to see you. Report to the Colonization Office.

-The Mayor?

-Oh, and...

Have you seen any of these men?

They are outlaws

who killed government troops in Hakodate.

Have you seen them?

-No.

-Since Saigo Takamori rose in the south,

there are outlaws rebelling everywhere.

There might be some hiding around here.

If you see any, call the police.

Understand?

-An outlaw...

-Will you leave with no word?

-I'll only bring them trouble.

They'll understand.

HOKKAIDO COLONIZATION OFFICE

-Mamiya-sama!

The Mayor has asked to see me.

-This way.

Mrs. Komatsubara is here.

-Come in.

It's been a long time.

-What is it you want?

-Still as unfriendly as ever.

I've heard about Kawakuba's farm, how he ploughs with horses.

Now, if you can use horses for that, you can use them for other things!

For instance...

War.

-War?

-Hey! Shino-sama's an important caller!

At least bring her some tea!

-Yes, sir.

-Saigo Takamori has rebelled in Kyushu. I'm sure you've heard.

This town has to provide men to help put it down.

You have a daughter.

She can't go to war.

But as a matter of fact, they're short of horses, too.

You have fine horses.

So fine, the Colonization Office says it wants them for

the army.

It's a great honor.

-An honor for whom?

I didn't raise those horses for war. The answer is no.

-You're slow!

-Yes, sir.

-It's cold!

-Yes, sir.

-What happens here if all the men are taken

right at harvest time?

If we provide horses, we'll only need to send half the number of men.

If you decide to be stubborn, the whole town will be against you.

They'll say all you think about is yourself.

Anyway, your horses are being requisitioned,

whether you like it or not.

The government's decided.

There will be a high-ranking official coming to get them.

That's how it is.

-Do you like horses?

Kayo-sama!

-It's been a long time.

You're looking well.

Did you see my husband?

-Yes.

-Yuta, go in to your father. -Yes!

-Kurazo takes good care of us.

I had the child, we got married,

and now I'm happy.

You understand that, don't you, Shino-sama?

If you don't,

you won't be able to continue here.

I am the mayor's wife. I can easily make sure of that.

-Kayo-sama...

To me you will always be like a younger sister.

-What's that?

-Locusts.

-Locusts?

-What's the matter?

-Mother, look.

-Father!

-Heita!

-Tae-san!

Quick! Get inside!

-Fires!

Set fires and drive them away!

Fire!

-Oh, Ashirika-san!

-Make them change direction! We'll save some of the crop!

-Damn you!

-It's over.

It's all over.

My rice, you buggers!

-Kawakuba-sama!

-Father!

-Kawakuba-sama...

-I'll kill you!

-Kawakuba-sama...

-Father!

Father...! Father...!

Father!

Father...!

-Heita!

-Father... -Heita!

-Father...! Father...!

-Ashirika-san!

-Father!

=Kawakuba-sama!

-Father..?

Father! Father...

-He's alive. Get him to the doctor.

-Quick!

-Make way! Make way!

-Father!

Father...

-What happened?

-With my father like that,

what am I going to do now?

-Heita...

-Hey! Stand back! There are officials coming.

-Are they here for your horses?

-They're the enemy.

-Company, halt!

-Hokkaido Colonization Office Assistant Under-Secretary,

Mihara Hideaki-dono!

-You've done well for yourself.

-You're all working for the government now, too.

-Mihara Hideaki-dono!

What happened to 'our land'?

-You're back.

What's wrong?

-I saw Father.

He...

is a high official...

and he's...

changed his name to 'Mihara'!

-'Mihara'?

-He... didn't even look at me!

-But after those locusts, things have changed!

With those horses, the peasants still have the will to work!

They're all that holds this town together!

I beg you! That's how it is!

-You'd think they were your horses.

Lout!

After you used our census registers to hoard our rice!

-You... call my husband 'lout'?

-'Husband'?

-Get up, husband.

Don't abase yourself.

You found everybody food. You built this town!

-Kayo...

-Squire Komatsubara.

You abandoned this town, your wife and your daughter.

What does that make you?

-Get me those horses, or we'll draft everyone.

Tae...

-What do you want here?

We waited for years!

But Mother and I

weren't waiting for some traitor!

Go away!!!

Go away...!

Go away...!!!

Go away...

-Stop it, Tae!

That's no way to treat your father.

-This man...

..is not my father!!

He's not!

-Please change your clothes.

This is new.

I've made you a new one,

every year.

Take it, please.

-Five years ago,

when I got to Sapporo, I fell ill.

Someone helped me.

I was at death's door.

She took me to Tokyo and saved my life.

Gradually,

I began to be of service to her father.

I meant to come back.

I always thought I would.

This is the woman.

My eyes were opened.

This 'land of ours' was a dream.

A farce.

-A ''farce''?

No.

For me,

if you believe in a dream,

it's bound to come true.

Believing in those words of yours,

Tae... and I have come this far.

So why, then...

have you come here?

-To get horses for the army.

This is the order.

I'll come for them tomorrow.

Forgive me, Shino!

Forgive me! -No...

Your hand...

It's beautiful.

Mine are so rough.

Not a woman's hands.

I'm ashamed to let you see them!

-I couldn't

plough fields or grow rice.

I hate to say it...

but I came to realize that.

In the end,

I was just another samurai who was lost without his stipend.

But, Shino...

You were always here.

-Take the horses.

That's your duty, isn't it?

Do your duty.

Then go back to the family that's waiting for you.

I don't want anyone else

to suffer like I have.

-It's over.

They'll all leave now.

It's over.

-Company, halt!

By official order,

your horses are requisitioned!

Bring them out!

-Komatsubara Shino!

I have my orders. Give us your horses!

-I... don't want to hand them over.

I won't!

-Komatsubara!

-The horses here...

..are our horses, the horses of 'our land'!

You will not have them!

-Horibe-sama...

Mother!

Everybody's here!

-Chamberlain!

-Mamiya!

-Mamiya-sama!

-Mamiya!

Mamiya!

Stand back!

You should know by now,

'our' power means nothing anymore!

-No!

We will defend 'our own land'.

We are the clan Inada.

The ones who started from zero.

-We're with them!

-Kayo-sama...

-Listen, this is an order from the government!

This is rebellion!

Move...

Please...

Move!

Or we shoot!

-We won't move!

Komatsubara... Shoot, then.

If you're going to fire, shoot me first!

-Ashirika-san?

-I'm former Aizu samurai, Takatsu Masayuki!

-Takatsu? From the battle at Hakodate?

-The same.

On this land,

I lay down my life.

-Drop your sword!

Take aim!

-Mother...!!!

-Shino!

-Shino-san...!

-I'm all right.

-Shino-san!

-Don't die.

Stay alive...

Stay alive, please.

-Arrest him! -Sir!

-We should get after those horses!

Give the order.

Mihara-sama!

-Mihara-sama, no...

Komatsubara-sama!

How are you going to handle this?

-The damn horses are gone.

We're leaving.

Withdraw!

-My dearest...

-I'm sorry I was not able to carry out... my duty.

-That's not true.

Our hearts have become one...

in this northern land.

This is 'our land'. It is here that we began.

While we still live,

while we can still dream,

there will always be help for us.

-Mother.

Heita,

I'll help.

-Here.

You've gotten better at it.

Horses!

The horses!

They're back!

-Mother!

The horses!

They've come back!

Mother,

Ashirika-san's sure to come back, isn't he?

-Yes.

YOSHINAGA Sayuri

TOYOKAWA Etsushi

YANAGIBA Toshiro

ISHIHARA Satomi

SAKAKI Hideo FUKIKOSHI Mitsuru OGO Suzuka OKUNUKI Kaoru ABE Sadawo TERAJIMA Susumu

TODA Masahiro OSHINARI Shugo YAMADA Meigo KANAI Yuta TANAKA Yoshitake NAKAHARA Takeo Moro MOROOKA KINOSHITA Hoka

MABUCHI Haruko OGUCHI Hiroshi FUJIKI Yu

TSURUTA Mayu HIRATA Mitsuru

ISHIBASHI Renji

KAGAWA Teruyuki ISHIDA Yuriko

WATANABE Ken

Executive Producers: OKADA Yusuke SAKAMOTO Shinichi

Produced by: HIROSE Michisada TSUKAMOTO Isao GOTO Wataru TSURUTA Naomasa HORI Tetsuzo ISHIGURO Yoshisada NISHIMURA Yoshiro HAMAMOTO Takahisa SETO Yukio

Executive Producers: HAYAKAWA Hiroshi - SAKAGAMI Sunao Producers: TSUNODA Asao - AMANO Kazuto Planning by: ENDO Shigeyuki - KIMURA Junichi

Music by: OSHIMA Michiru Screenplay by: NASU Machiko

Photography by: KITA Nobuyasu (J.S.C.)

Directed by YUKISADA Isao

THE END