Original subtitles

It's been ten years since the conscription ordinance.

DECEMBER 1883

Only 10% of the qualified men were enlisted.

We can't defend the nation in this way.

In the Korean Incident last year...

Qin China led a huge army and contained us.

To defend the nation against the foreign powers...

we must quickly strengthen our military powers.

There is an urgent need to enforce the ordinance.

In December 1883...

The government under Yamagata Aritomo's leadership

reformed the military draft system.

Private school students were no longer exempt

from being drafted.

The following year...

this would have an unexpected effect on Jo.

Tonight is critical.

Let notify Japan at once.

He was writhing in pain.

Yes. I feel sorry for him.

Yae...

The moonlight...

...looks beautiful.

The world created by God...

is utterly beautiful.

Lord...

let me in this life to serve you...

...my country and its people.

YAE NO SAKURA

Episode 44: Jo's Will

Screenplay: Yamamoto Mutsumi

Theme Music: Sakamoto Ryuichi Music: Nakajima Nobuyuki

Narrator: Kusabue Mitsuko

Niijima Yae: Ayase Haruka

Yamamoto Kakuma: Nishijima Hidetoshi

Niijima Jo: Odagiri Joe

Yamakawa Hiroshi: Tamayama Tetsuji

Yamamoto Tokie: Tanimura Mitsuki

Matsudaira Katamori: Ayano Go

Hirosawa Yasuto: Okada Yoshinori

Yamakawa Kenjiro: Katsuji Ryo

Niijima Tamiji: Shimizu Koji

Emperor Komei: Ichikawa Somegoro

Ooyama Iwao: Sorimachi Takashi

Yamamoto Saku: Fubuki Jun

Princess Teru: Inamori Izumi

Executive Producer: Naito Shinsuke

Translations by MTI

Director: Suenaga So

A half year before Jo collapsed...

We haven't seen each other since Mr. Iwakura's U.S. expedition.

Back then you were...

Six years old.

I was able to meet Mr. Ito thanks to your referral.

Miss Umeko tutors my wife and daughter.

I'm thinking of establishing a girls' school before long...

May I speak to you about it later sir.

Certainly.

Are you here about the amended draft ordinance?

Please don't deprive the private school students...

of their chance to study.

Private schools are not in the government's jurisdiction.

Besides, most have inferior facilities and education.

We'll convert Doshisha into a college.

We'll have specialized education and elite teachers.

to develop future leaders of the country.

The government will nurture its own leaders.

That is the purpose of Tokyo University.

If the draft creates panic, then your school just has no appeal.

At Waseda's specialization school, there is no problem.

Mr. Nijjima.

You use independence as your selling point.

Isn't it selfish to want the same privilege...

as public schools?

The draft exemption that applied to all schools...

was now an exclusive benefit to public institutions.

Looks like there'll be thunder on a nice day.

Have you read the book Onna Imagawa?

Onna Imagawa?

I don't read trash.

I read it in school when I was a child.

It contains good points.

It's rude to misdirect your anger.

I'm sorry.

I'm irritated.

It's all right for thunder to fall in the house.

But it's not good for you to eat in anger.

Tell me if something bad happened.

Students are withdrawing.

They want to transfer to the public schools.

Is it because the private schools lost their military draft exemption?

The government is selfish.

How is she feeling?

She's been bedridden for three months.

What is the prognosis?

She's refused treatment.

The retired lord is here.

Thank you for coming.

Sister...

What is this?

When I was working as Kyoto Deputy...

His Majesty (Emperor Komei) gave it to me.

If the nobles and samurai would join hands...

we could prosper together like the twin pine.

These prove the Aizu weren't rebels.

However, I cannot publicized these yet.

Until the time is right.

Lord...you are still carrying the burden.

Sister.

Please come to my mansion.

Let us spend the rest of our lives together.

I am Teru.

I was also adopted from the Hoshina family four years ago.

This is where you were raised.

Make yourself at home.

Let's have a poetry party like when Father was here.

At all times...

what supported me...

was your sincerity.

Those words alone...

are sufficient for me.

Thank you...

...for everything.

Shortly after that on February 28, 1884...

Princess Teru passed away.

The Aizu people were overtaken with grief.

Welcome home.

Yes...I'm home.

You look pale.

I'm a bit tired.

We must act quickly...

or Doshisha will be crushed.

Jo, who was running about for Doshisha...

gradually deteriorated in health.

More students are withdrawing?

Ten since late last year.

At a time we're trying to establish a college, too.

This is Jo's draft appealing the significance of college.

He asked if you could add to it.

You need money to establish a college.

We need many supporters.

He plans to go to the U.S. to raise fund.

I'm worried about his health.

Master, your scheduled appointment is here.

HIROSAWA YASUTO

Sir Kakuma!

Is that you, Sir Hirosawa?

Yes.

It's been a long time!

Pardon me.

Who are you?

His younger sister, Yae.

He's told me about you.

Please come in.

I brought a lad from Aizu with me.

Hey, this is Sir Kakuma. Pay your respects to him.

I'm Aoki Eijiro.

I'm honored to meet you.

He's a distant relative, and very competent.

He's helping out at the farm now.

I heard you have a huge farm in Aomori.

This is the 12th years.

It's finally coming together.

I hear many Aizu people earn a living at your farm.

You are amazing.

No, I'm not.

I wanted to do something for society.

If I don't, the people who died will be angry with me.

I brought food.

These are Hirosawa Farm's specialty products.

Hey, they brought gifts!

Coming!

Why, thank you!

I'll take them to the kitchen.

A guest mustn't do that.

Please let him work.

Sir Kakuma.

I want to talk to you about Aoki.

He'll eventually head the farm's operations.

To prepare for that, I want him to learn new things.

But that is not possible in Aomori.

May I stay here as a student?

I'll do any kind of housework.

Sir...please!

But I can't do much for you in this house.

Besides, my knowledge is outdated.

Is that a no?

What about at Doshisha?

Doshisha? That is a good offer, but...

Will I be able to keep up if I enter now?

Don't worry.

With Kakuma's help, you can catch up easily.

I'll talk to Jo about it.

All right. I'll take him in.

Please teach me well!

I'm happy for you.

Tokie, please take care of him.

Yes.

Don't forget to take your heart medicine.

I won't.

Do you have your ointment?

I just packed it.

Be sure to write to me.

I'll write you from everywhere I go.

Not long letters.

I don't want you to stay up to write them.

Just write on a postcard that you are doing well.

I'll keep it short then.

You can add a few lines.

I will.

Another thing...

I'm going with you after all.

You need a traveling pass.

I'll make the arrangements and join you later.

If I'm not there, you'll push yourself too hard.

That will be a problem.

I thought I could relax without my strict guard.

Jo!

Don't worry.

I'm going to Italy, Switzerland...

and my second home, America.

It's healthier than brooding in Japan.

Yae.

You are the only one who can hold down the fort.

Kakuma and Ichihara will manage the English school,

but you have to watch over the girls' school.

I will.

Please take care of my parents.

I will.

I'll be praying for your happiness every day.

Take some pickled plums and tea with you.

Yes.

We'd better get into the habit of knocking.

Take care of yourself.

I will.

In April 1884...

in order to raise fund for his college...

Jo departed from Kobe sailing to Europe.

I feel like I'm on foreign land.

The Shoeikan will be completed soon.

Sir Kakuma!

I'm Ando in the fifth level.

I'm having difficulty in Economics.

Can you recommend any good textbooks?

Have you read the Principles on Economics?

No, not yet.

I have it at my house. You can borrow it.

Thank you very much!

We offer only general and theology courses,

but our students are superior.

They're not inferior to the Tokyo University students.

Hey, we haven't reach that level yet.

Jo want us to be the Eastern Tokyo University...

or the Western Doshisha.

Don't disgrace the Aizu name and study hard.

Yes, I will.

Sir Kakuma.

Is that you, Ichihara?

I brought a transfer student.

Please be good to me.

Study hard. I hope you gain the Doshisha spirit.

I have high hopes for you.

Yes.

What's become of the transfer chaos?

It's finally settled down, but...

Sixteen have left our school.

I don't want to lose any more students while Jo is away.

Let's prevent it somehow.

July 1884

Ms. Yae!

What are you doing here?

We can't stand the missionary teachers.

We are here to study! Not enter a nunnery!

They're so restrictive! We're not caged birds!

Absolutely!

Their being strict is not news.

Did something happen?

We want to conduct science experiments.

But the girls' school lacks the equipment.

Learn it at the boy school then.

They won't allow it.

We've repeatedly submitted a request,

but they've been rejecting them for spelling errors.

That's harassment!

Let's boycott class!

Absolutely!

I understand!

I'll talk to the teachers. Please calm down for now.

The students have every right to complain.

If you deny them everything outright,

discontent will build.

Where did you hear that? ALICE STARKWEATHER

What?

Isn't it at the dorm?

That's like a secret meeting place.

Our school's rules are not being abided there.

Secret meeting place?

The housemistress is too soft on the students FRANCIS HOOVER

The students need a place to relax.

The Japanese teachers and your intervention...

make the students unhappy with us.

We have every right to intervene!

We're trying to improve the school!

Let me help you.

Thank you very much.

It must be tough to do everything by yourself.

If you need any man's help, just let me know.

Don't worry about that and focus on your studies.

My master has high hope for you.

Here.

What's wrong?

Having good grades in Aizu means nothing here.

The students at Doshisha are brilliant.

I can't catch up.

When there's high hopes placed on me...

it's a burden.

You're being ungrateful.

You should be thankful.

Ms. Tokie.

A man shouldn't give up.

Shape up.

I'll listen to your whining and complaints.

After you let it out and feel better...

you must study hard.

I will.

I'll do it.

I'm sorry.

It looks cool and refreshing.

SEPTEMBER 1884

Excuse me.

Tokie, where's Kakuma?

In his study.

Excuse me.

Aunty doesn't help at all. YAMAMOTO HISAE

With what? YAMAMOTO HISAE

Taking care of Aoki.

Isn't this for him?

She has a lot of things to do.

Mother, so do you.

I received a strange postcard from Jo.

The letter earlier was sent by mistake.

You must've been shocked by it, but don't worry.

I am doing well.

What is he talking about?

Letter earlier? Was there bad news written in it?

No.

But...

Something must have happened to Jo.

Shall I inquire with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs?

Yes.

Yae! You received another letter!

It's from a foreigner. It might be about Shimeta.

Father!

ONE MONTH EARLIER ST. GOTTHARD PASS, SWITZERLAND

My chest hurts.

Call me a doctor.

There is no doctor around here!

Let's call for help.

I can't breathe.

Am I going to die here?

Yae...

Can't I see you again?

This is...

a will.

Is that Jo's handwriting?

Yes, it is.

It's dated August 6.

What about the postcard?

August 9.

Good. He's alive.

I don't know what happened,

but his will was sent by mistake.

The postcard stating he's alive arrived first.

I see... I'm glad.

But...

why did he have a will ready?

Whoever reads this...

please pray for my beloved country.

May God's great love caress Japan...

and extend a helping hand to my Doshisha.

I've cut a lock of my hair.

Please send it to my wife in Japan.

My beloved wife...

bonded in the name of God.

That is a proof our bond.

This will is real.

He's fighting for his life.

It's a hard battle.

The government, society...

and fellow missionaries will be your enemies.

I don't care if the world is our enemy.

I will...

fight with him.

Jo's life...

...is my life.

I am...

allowed to live still.

I must do it.

DOSHISHA GIRLS' SCHOOL

At the girls� school... DOSHISHA GIRLS' SCHOOL

We just want to study.

Why are they being suspended?

They disobeyed and went to the boys' school.

It was to observe a physics experiment.

We didn't approve it.

I approved it.

What?

Mr. Ichihara in the boys' school approved it, too.

Why did you act on your own?

The two schools are a pair.

We should cooperate with each other.

What right do you have to interfere in our operations?

Our, you say?

Niijima Jo is the principal of Doshisha's Girls' school.

No...you are under the wrong impression.

We think Miss Starkweather is the true principal.

The establishment and operations of the school...

is funded by the American Board.

Mr. Niijima is merely an employed principal.

Jo founded the girls' school.

The school and students don't belong to you!

In that case...

the American Board will pull out from the girls' school.

Are you threatening me?

I won't let you have your way while Jo is away.

It's over for this school.

Please wait.

I'm sorry.

If the students did something wrong,

then I am to blame as the housemistress.

Please don't rob the girls of their study place.

I will resign.

Please resolve it with this.

Mother!

Thank you for letting me stay for a long time.

You didn't have to quit.

I'm old.

I need to relax too.

But Jo is away now.

You should avoid trouble while he is away.

You come out too strong.

If the missionaries leave, we will be in a bind.

I know.

Even if it means taking a step back...

it is your duty to protect the school.

Education displays the nation's strength.

A college established under such ideals...

without err...

will be questioned about enlightenment in time.

That won't work. We need a stronger presentation.

Or we won't move the people's hearts.

Yes.

I'll talk to Kakuma about the girls' school.

That sounds good.

I'll ask Tokutomi to look over it.

Shall I get you some water?

Yes, please.

Yes.

We are back.

Welcome home.

A storm was brewing in the Yamamoto family.

END OF EPISODE 44

I feel most relaxed next to you.

I dislike him. He'll change Mother.

Ms. Tokie isn't your arms and legs!

She's an individual!

Nothing happened. Nothing is going on.

Tokie wouldn't leave your side.

Perhaps God saw through what I was hiding.

Leave this house.