Song of the Samurai - Chapter: Youthful Days in Edo (ちるらん 新撰組鎮魂歌 江戸青春篇)

I need to know the truth about Hijikata Toshizo.

He had the same look in his eyes as you.

What's the fun in doing the sensible thing?

Doing what no one else can is what makes you a badass.

This guy might be a good fit for us.

It was the final years of the Edo period.

Gathered at the Shieikan dojo

home of the Tennen Rishin-ryu style...

We'll have another match, Toshizo.

were ten fearsome warriors, including Hijikata Toshizo.

After all, the one thing that really gets a man's blood pumping

is good old-fashioned violence.

Ain't that right?

I swear, I'll never lose to anyone again!

This was a turbulent era.

This is the story of men who lived and died by the sword.

Tennen Rishin-ryu: Sword of No Light!

SONG OF THE SAMURAI

SONG OF THE SAMURAI

FEBRUARY 1863

February 1863.

The men of the Shieikan dojo came to Kyo, seeking to become the strongest.

But they were unable to find a way to make a living

let alone make a name for themselves with their swords.

Meanwhile...

You bastard! You're a manslayer!

DIVINE RETRIBUTION

Aizu clan samurai, shogunate allies

were being attacked one after another, spreading terror across the city of Kyo.

ONE MONTH LATER

This is good.

This isn't enough.

By the way, Eisaburo, what were you up to last night?

Huh? Hmm? Well...

You smelled of face powder when you came back.

Don't tell me you were doing this?

You're more of a player than you look, you sly dog!

No, that's not it! Where would I get the money for that?

Gosh, that's suspicious.

It's not like that.

If we had that kind of money...

Did you want to go with him too, Yamanami?

Of course not!

I'm hungry.

If we don't find a way to make a living today, our savings will run out.

Fine.

Hello? Anyone home?

Hey!

Still stinks like a bunch of sweaty guys in here.

Sasaki Tadasaburo? What are you doing here?

Hey.

Please calm down.

Mr. Sasaki was also a shogunate official involved with the Roshigumi.

He got screwed over by Kiyokawa, same as us.

What gives? An official who is officially useless?

Seriously? Don't talk to me, you monkey.

The only ones here worth talking to

are you and you.

I presume you've heard the rumors about manslayers targeting shogunate retainers.

Yes. We've heard they're assassins sent by the Imperialists.

Naturally, we can't just let scoundrels like that run wild.

And so, an order has come down from the powers that be

to gather all swordsmen of skill.

Does that mean we have a chance to serve the shogunate?

Precisely.

Giving this job to savages like you...

- Personally, I was against it. - Is that true?

You're not so bad after all!

This is why I hate you savages!

What?

- Sasaki. - Yes?

Is what you just said true? Will the shogunate really take us in?

Yes, but there's a catch.

- The Aizu will test you. - The Aizu?

That's right. To see if you're actually of any use.

And what if we fail to get the Aizu's approval?

Then you had better be prepared to starve.

Bring it on!

They're more than a worthy test! We'll show them what we've got!

KYOTO MILITARY COMMISSIONER AIZU DOMAIN HEADQUARTERS

What the hell are they doing here?

Serizawa Kamo, Niimi Nishiki, and Hirayama Goro.

Word that they defied Kiyokawa Hachiro has reached the ears of the shogunate.

They're considered men of real grit.

Especially Serizawa Kamo. The man is a monster in a fight.

And where the hell is Kamo?

Master Serizawa went out last night and has yet to return.

The nerve of him.

Toshi... Toshi! Don't go in there.

They are really fired up.

The Aizu are called Japan's strongest.

The strongest in Japan?

That's right. The Aizu Domain, ruled by the Matsudaira of Aizu

is a prestigious clan renowned for its unwavering loyalty to the Tokugawa family.

Their lord, Matsudaira Katamori, was named the Military Commissioner of Kyoto

and 1,000 of his hand-picked men are keeping the peace in Kyo.

Line up!

Who is that?

That's Sagawa Kanbei.

Sagawa...

What is a samurai?

That's him.

They call him "Kanbei the Demon."

The greatest in all of Aizu...

No, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him the greatest samurai in Japan.

A samurai is...

The greatest in Japan, huh?

He is the very embodiment of a samurai.

SAGAWA KANBEI

It has been a while, Sasaki.

You seem to be in very high spirits. I'm glad.

You're from the former Roshigumi?

Yes.

I'm Kondo Isami, the fourth master of the Tennen Rishin-ryu school.

Yes, I was told you were the ones with the backbone to defy Kiyokawa.

Hey, he says we've got a backbone.

When, really, we were just broke.

Whatever. It's a minor detail.

How insolent!

I'm here.

SERIZAWA KAMO

Serizawa.

So you're the greatest in all of Aizu, "Sagawa the Demon," huh?

The one and only.

I like it. He reeks of pure mayhem. The finest vintage.

All I smell on you is face powder.

So cold.

Hey, move.

Then let's not waste any time. Show me what you're made of.

We humbly accept.

I shall be your opponent.

If you are victorious

I will recommend you to our lord, Matsudaira Katamori.

We're going to face the Demon Chief himself...

He's Japan's greatest samurai.

- Bring the gear. - Sir!

Hold on a minute.

What's the problem?

We don't need that junk.

Toshi, stand down!

Anyone who would get cold feet just facing you

isn't someone you would want in your ranks anyway, right?

Judging by your tone.

I take it you'll be my opponent?

That's right.

I'm going to beat you senseless.

- Hijikata, what are you doing? - You had better be ready!

You!

Such incredible spirit.

- Hey! - I like this man.

It takes one to know one.

Hey.

- Thank you. - Stop it!

Stop it now! Creepy!

Tell me your name!

What is your name?

Go.

Hijikata Toshizo.

Hijikata.

That's a great name.

My lord!

Kanbei.

Sir!

What is the meaning of this charade?

That's Lord Matsudaira of the Aizu Domain! Hurry up and bow!

You're not

planning to fight them with a stick, are you?

LORD OF THE AIZU DOMAIN, MATSUDAIRA KATAMORI

You think you can tell if they're real samurai, risking their lives

with something like that?

Use this.

A real sword.

Cut the crap. If we use a real sword, the loser is going to die!

Get a hold of yourself.

Then you can die for all I care.

All right, listen up, bastards!

Sooner or later

the shogunate is going to fall.

Kyo is a battlefield now!

It's kill or be killed. That's all there is to it.

In this Kyo, we Aizu were told

to become the sacrificial pawns of a dying shogunate!

My lord.

And yet, why did you accept the post of Protector of Kyoto?

It's obvious.

Because I'm...

Matsudaira Katamori.

But listen.

I don't intend to let these men die for nothing.

Losing without even putting up a fight is not Katamori's way, no...

It's not the Aizu way of the samurai!

If we're going to fight

we'll fight to the bitter end, even if the shogunate itself surrenders.

That is the Aizu way!

My lord!

- My lord! - My lord!

- My lord! - My lord!

- My lord! - My lord!

Understand?

Every last Aizu samurai here