Original subtitles

We will turn Japan back into the country it once was!

Yes!

On June 5, 1864 (Genji 1)...

A group of anti-alienist patriots secretly met at Ikeda-ya

an inn in Kyoto, to plan the rescue of Emperor Komei.

The Shinsengumi are here!

They were massacred by the Shinsengumi, who took them by surprise.

The Shinsengumi were a group of roshi (ronin) who maintained

peace and order in Kyoto by order of the Shogunate.

Don't let anyone escape!

This was the famous Ikeda-ya Incident.

What... what happened at Ikeda-ya?

If only I had listened to you... all would have been well.

Kameyata...

Kameyata!

Who did such a brutal thing?

Who else but the Shinsengumi!

Where are they?

Where are the Shinsengumi?

No...

Sakamoto!

Katsura?

You may be a master of the Hokushin Itto-ryu, but...

It's reckless to attack them alone!

I'm boiling with rage, too!

But it won't do us any good to be blind with rage!

But...

But, Katsura...

Episode 24: 'The Firefly of Love'

Subtitles by NHK

What? At Ikeda-ya?

Yeah, the Shinsengumi stormed in on the anti-alienists' meeting

and massacred them all!

Who was killed?

That, I don't know.

You should be careful, too.

Aren't you sheltering some anti-alienists here?

Is it true that they were all killed?

Oryo?

I don't know for sure.

It's hearsay.

The Shinsengumi!

What?

Open this door. It's me, Katsura Kogoro.

Katsura?

Sir Katsura, I'm glad you're safe!

Thanks.

Sakamoto!

Sir Sakamoto... Please come in.

Hurry!

This way.

Childhood friend?

I used to play with Kameyata when we were children.

He was a sincere and good man.

You never know one's fate...

Had I arrived a little sooner...

I might've been killed.

Katsura... What's going to happen to this country?

The Shogunate is conspiring with the Satsuma clan

to manipulate the Emperor to their advantage.

There's no one to stop the foreign invasion now.

They are only thinking about themselves!

How foolish!

But, Choshu will fight back!

Even if it's considered reckless!

To carry out the will of those who died at Ikeda-ya...

and to carry on Mochizuki Kameyata's feelings...

I will not let their deaths be in vain!

What do I do?

Should I be doing nothing here?

Sir Sakamoto...

The Shogunate may come here at any time to investigate...

Oh, yes...

Are you returning to Kobe Village?

The Shinsengumi are lurking about Kyoto.

Please hide at Oryo's house until dusk.

Oryo's?

Meanwhile, in Tosa...

Okada Izo was under harsh interrogation.

It won't be like before anymore, Izo...

I... don't know anything.

Stack another block!

Wasn't it Teacher Takechi that ordered the assassination?

I don't know anything!

I'm sorry...

I'm sorry, Izo...

I'm sorry...

I'm sorry...

Excuse me.

Yes!

Is Otome home?

Otomi!

Is it all right for you to be walking around?

It doesn't do me any good to confine myself at home.

Have you heard anything from the Magistrate's Office?

No.

Your husband will surely come home.

A fine man like him couldn't possibly be a criminal.

You have to welcome him home with a smile, so...

You can't get sick.

Thank you.

Tome went to Nishimachi. I can give her a message.

Please return this to her.

Please tell her that looking at this wonderful picture

has lifted my spirits a bit.

Yes.

Please excuse me then.

Please wait a moment.

Take this.

If you are in need of anything...

Please come to us anytime.

Thank you.

I'll be going now.

Delicious! These sweet potatoes are delicious, too!

And the carrots?

Everything is delicious!

Yataro...

Thank you for fixing my roof the other day.

It doesn't leak when it rains anymore?

No it doesn't, thanks to you.

Did your wife make that lunchbox for you?

Yes. Kise is a good cook.

Every day, she makes me a lunchbox, while carrying Haruji.

Haruji?

My recently born daughter.

Iwasaki Haruji...

'Haruji' as in 'spring path.' Isn't that a nice name?

Congratulations.

Is she growing up quickly?

Yes, she sure is...

She is so adorable!

Oh, and you?

We don't have any children.

Sorry. I'm sorry to mention a senseless thing...

Yataro, you are a really nice man.

What are you talking about?

People say you are selfish and self-centered, but...

That isn't true at all.

Stop it!

I do only think about myself!

When my husband returns, please come by to visit.

If you'll excuse me...

We're the Shinsengumi! We're here to search the place!

What?

What is going on?

We heard this place shelters anti-alienists.

Absolutely not.

Besides, we don't have any customers today.

Is this your daughter here?

No, she's an employee.

Why do you glare at me?

I'm not glaring at you.

I'm just scared of you.

You don't look like it.

Sir Kondo, there's no one here.

Let's go!

That was a ballad from Tosa.

It's an interesting song.

Please sing it again.

What?

Please sing it!

How many times are you going to make me sing it?

Sis, welcome home.

Welcome home. I'm home.

I'm sorry, I borrowed this.

A gekkin (round Chinese lute) is different from a shamisen.

I can't play it quite right.

Thanks.

Aren't you all hungry? Wait a bit.

Omitsu, get me some water.

Yes.

Okimi, help me, too.

Yes.

Is there anything I can do?

This is for you, Sir Sakamoto.

What is it?

I wonder what it is.

Wow! It's white rice balls!

I'll get you medicine. Hold on.

I can't accept this. Eat it with everyone.

It's from the Master.

But...

In that case...

Shall we all share it?

What? Really?

Thanks, Mister!

Let's all eat it.

Come around!

Your mom, too.

Mother, let's eat it together.

Thank you.

Eat up.

Thank you for the meal.

It looks so delicious.

Thank you...

It's delicious!

Is it really?

Is it really?

It's delicious.

Eat the pickled vegetables, too.

Oryo, have one, too.

Oryo?

Good... there's still some left.

Here, Mister.

You're giving me one? What a good kid.

But you eat it.

Meanwhile, at Nijo Castle...

Katsu Rintaro was present, in response to a summons.

I am Katsu Rintaro.

There is something I would like to verify with you.

Yes.

Regarding the Naval Training Center in Kobe Village...

Didn't we decide that only clansmen are allowed to study there?

I heard there are some deserters amongst them.

Yes, I'm sorry...

True, there are deserters from the Tosa and Kishu clans, but...

I am in the process of asking those clans to forgive them of that crime.

Please give me some time to work things out.

Indeed, one's personal opinion is...

The deserters are not the only problem here.

In regards to the Ikeda-ya Incident...

On the list of anti-alienists that gathered there...

was Mochizuki Kameyata of Tosa.

Wasn't he one of your trainees at the Naval Training Center?

The fact that Mochizuki Kameyata was at Ikeda-ya

would have a major impact on the fates of the Naval Training Center

and Ryoma, down the road...

And terrible misfortune would fall my way, too.

Iwasaki, it's been a while. How have you been?

I had a daughter in March.

That's good news.

My lumber is selling, too.

I can finally provide a decent lifestyle to my parents.

Good for you, running a business for your family.

Thank you!

But you were a police officer.

It was your job to arrest villains.

Well, that is...

I'm not telling you to go back to being a police officer.

But I want you to work for me.

Retired Lord, Sir Miyama Sorin is here to see you.

Teacher Sorin?

Wasuke...

How is Izo?

Has he been tortured severely?

Yes...

But he hasn't said anything against you.

- What? - Quiet!

- What? - Shut up!

I was sent by Sir Goto Shojiro!

Yataro...

I don't care who killed Sir Yoshida Toyo!

But I was told that I can't do business until I find that out!

So now it's a different story!

Sir Goto said if you will admit to it and apologize

he will forgive you.

Takechi, did you do it?

- Didn't you order someone to kill him? - Yataro...

Takechi, please tell me the truth!

Do you honestly think I would tell you that?

He'll forgive me if I admit to it and apologize?

Even a child won't be fooled by that.

Don't you care if Izo dies?

How long are you going to make Otomi suffer?

For the sake of Otomi, who is nobly waiting for her husband's return...

I will do what I can to help!

You can't do anything in prison!

Just come out with the truth!

Yataro!

It's not that easy!

Sir Goto isn't the only one who is blaming me...

So is the retired lord.

Everything I did... was for the retired lord.

To be branded as a rebel that defied the retired lord...

is truly vexing.

It can't end this way.

To have her be told that her husband was not a samurai...

I will never do that to Tomi and sadden her!

That was delicious.

I humbly thank you.

I'll be in the castle town for a while.

Please call on me anytime.

I see...

Is that right?

I'm sorry, but I'd like to get some rest now.

Yes, please rest...

Does your mother have a lung problem?

How long has she been bedridden?

For the last six months.

Did you say your father passed away already?

Are you supporting the whole family?

What was your father's occupation?

It doesn't concern you.

Why are you so scornful?

Your siblings said you were kind.

Is Omitsu the younger sister you retrieved from the yakuza?

Thank you for that time.

I promise to return that money.

Never mind.

Forget about the money.

I'm in your care now.

We'll call it even.

My father was a doctor.

Doctor?

But he was punished for saving an anti-alienist samurai...

So during the Ansei Purge...

Is that when he died?

That is why I hate anti-alienist samurai...

I also hate the Satsuma and Shinsengumi...

I hate people who neglect their family to do as they please...

Is that why you dislike me?

True, I left home and am doing as I please...

I feel truly bad for my family.

And my deceased father.

My father died nine years ago.

My mother died when I was 12.

She was a kind mother.

But...

She was always sickly.

That is why...

When I saw your mother...

She didn't feel like a stranger to me.

I wanted to make her happy...

That is why I sang...

I understand how tough it is on you to earn a living, but...

You must make your mother better.

If you need money, I will...

No. I don't want your help again.

Oryo...

Emotions are not like money.

You can accept it, without having to feel like you owe something.

I fully understand why you hate samurai, but...

Will you sometimes show me a smile?

It will soon be dusk.

You should be going already.

You're right.

But...

It pains me to have to leave Kameyata's remains...

Didn't he fulfill his desire?

Shouldn't you be praising him...

For doing his best... and dying like a samurai...

If you stay in Kyoto, you'll be caught by the Shinsengumi.

Please go back to Kobe Village as soon as possible.

You're right.

It's as you say.

Thank you for letting me stay here.

Excuse me.

Yes?

I have a message from Sir Takechi.

Please come in.

This is the message from Sir Takechi

'I'm sorry to cause you hardships.'

'I am truly sorry.'

That is what he asked me to tell you.

I had no idea that that was happening to Takechi.

Chizu, I don't blame you for not knowing.

You rarely come home after you married into the Takamatsu family.

I was shocked to see how big Harui has grown.

I'm 20 now.

You should be getting married soon.

I'm not getting married yet.

You needn't rush into it.

What are you saying?

If you dilly-dally, no man will want to marry you.

Harui, do you have anyone you like?

There's no one like that.

What a problem.

I agree.

Otome, weren't you in love with Takechi before?

Chizu! She's a bride of the Okanoue family!

It was a long time ago...

Yes, I was in love with him.

See?

Otome!

What? Is that right?

But Takechi only saw me as Ryoma's older sister

so nothing happened.

That's a relief.

Don't scare us like that.

I agree.

Besides, Takechi and Tomi are a match made in Heaven.

If they only had a child, then they would've been happy...

That's the unfortunate part.

You're wrong about that.

Otomi told me before...

Told you what?

In their third year of marriage...

Takechi's friend told her...

'Takechi is a fine man.'

'It's a shame if he doesn't have a child.'

'Otomi, if you will leave the house for a while'

'I'll bring someone over to take care of Takechi.'

'Have that woman bear a child for Takechi.'

Oh my...

Otomi said that normally if a wife doesn't produce a child

in three years, it is just reason to be thrown out.

But Takechi is a kind man who didn't make an issue of it.

So she thought she'd bear it, and left the house for a while.

The woman who came to care for him was very beautiful.

What did Takechi do?

He didn't lay a finger on her.

Takechi's friend brought another woman to him.

But he didn't lay a finger on her as well.

When Otomi returned home after a long absence, Takechi told her...

'Don't do such silly things.'

Even without children

those two have an extraordinarily strong bond.

Sir Takechi.

This is from your wife.

This is?

Kameyata...

I...

won't let your death be in vain.

Thanks.

The boat to Osaka is on this side!

Customers of Terada-ya, please come here!

You must be tired! Terada-ya is on this side!

Terada-ya?

A boat inn?

Are you going back to Osaka today?

Or are you staying over?

We'll stay over.

We have customers!

Mother?

Be careful.

Welcome.

You must be tired. Be careful!

Welcome.

Welcome.

Welcome.

Ryoma.

Mother.

I thought she had died, but she didn't...

Choshu has started a war with the Shogunate!

Please put Izo to rest.

Please, Yataro!

You have the most beautiful smile.

If this place is closed...

what will happen to the navy that's supposed to protect Japan?

Teacher! Subtitles by NHK