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

1912, OTARU

Thank you for coming!

SAKE

Hey! What the...

Watch where you're going!

What the hell is your problem?

Hold on. Ain't you a fine woman?

Get out of my way.

A feisty one. My kind of woman.

What the hell do you think you're...

What's it to you, old man? Stay out of this!

Hey, what the hell is your problem, old man?

Forget it. Let's get out of here!

Hey! Let's go!

Impressive. You haven't lost your touch.

Nagakura Shinpachi

captain of the Shinsengumi's second unit.

And who are you?

My name is Ichikawa Makoto.

I've come from Tokyo. There's something I must ask you.

It's about the Shinsengumi.

Leave!

Please, wait.

I have nothing to say.

I'm not leaving until you talk to me.

It can't be anyone else. It has to be you.

You...

You purposely let those drunks harass you, didn't you?

Please. I want to know about the Shinsengumi...

No.

I need to know the truth about Hijikata Toshizo.

Hijikata Toshizo?

He

had the same look in his eyes as you.

Prickly and aggressive, like a briar patch.

Or maybe reckless

like someone who would charge right into one.

In case you get hurt, I sell medicine.

We called guys like that baragaki , thorny brats.

That was Hijikata Toshizo to a tee.

Brace yourselves!

Come on.

I'll be sure to give you some medicine.

- Master! - Master!

You! A low blow? You coward!

The art of the sword is for battles, isn't it?

In battle, who gives a damn about fighting fair?

The gall of a mere merchant!

Come on, bring it!

Let me know if you need more medicine!

- Hey, here. - Oh, thanks.

Are you always pulling stunts like this?

Yep. It's quicker to create the injured than to track them down.

Right? There!

- Thanks for your business! - Don't ever come back!

What a face. All right, my bad.

- Just get out already! - Yeah, I'm going.

"The Shieikan dojo."

What a dump.

Hey. This is a dojo, right?

- Hiya! - Hiya!

Come on! Knock it off! You little bastards!

You're supposed to fall.

Because they cut you.

Okita Soji.

Though normally gentle

once he draws his sword, he's a demon

a true sword-fighting prodigy.

- Hiya! - Hiya!

A surprise attack. Well done.

That means I win.

I'm the one who cut down our master. I won.

Now, I believe I said no fighting, didn't I? You two are friends, right?

Abiru Eisaburo.

He's a bit timid

but that kindness is the conscience of the Shieikan dojo.

Okay, good boy.

Soji! Eisaburo! The food is ready.

NAGAKURA SHINPACHI

Don't mind me.

Let's go. Okay?

I'm starving!

Sanosuke! Hajime! Heisuke! Hurry up and eat.

What's this?

Harada Sanosuke.

HARADA SANOSUKE

He loves his food more than anything

and can't stand pointless talk.

Man, this is good.

Greens again? We're pinching pennies, huh?

If you don't want it, can we give yours to the kids?

They're still growing.

Fine. They can have it.

I've never known anyone who could wield a sword as masterfully as him.

That's Saito Hajime.

- Then you can have some of mine too. - Really? Thanks.

Todo Heisuke.

TODO HEISUKE

He's the kindest person you'll ever meet, but he's also quick to pick a fight.

Are you kidding me?

Yamanami Keisuke is the most logical of all in the Shieikan.

Don't go wild at mealtime!

Gen, wake up. It's time to eat.

The eldest of us, Inoue Genzaburo...

Wake up! Hey!

INOUE GENZABURO

is always asleep. Yep.

This will be an easy win.

And who might you be?

Sorry to interrupt your meal.

I'm a traveling medicine salesman. You folks need anything?

We don't need any! Get outta here!

They say, "Better safe than sorry." Or have you never heard that one?

What's your problem?

I'm here to challenge your dojo!

Master of the dojo!

Come out!

And the man

who would become the fourth master of the Tennen Rishin-ryu style.

If you think of the Shieikan as one big family, he would be its father.

Boss.

A man worthy of the title, Kondo Isami.

Boss. We've got a strange visitor.

KONDO ISAMI

Can't it wait?

Hurry up.

- What's all the fuss? - This guy has got some nerve.

- He has some nerve. - That's him. Right there.

You wouldn't happen to be

the medicine peddler I've heard about

who has been crushing dojos all over Kanto?

What if I am?

Word is that you're a real handful.

Your name?

From Ishida Village in Tama.

Hijikata Toshizo.

What's the matter?

In a real fight, you'd be dead.

Too many wasted movements.

Don't you dare talk down to me!

That won't get you very far in a real battle.

This is how you kick.

- Ouch. Boss doesn't hold back. - Do you think that guy is okay?

You're good!

Finally, after all this time. Someone who can make me stronger.

If we go on, this could turn deadly.

If I'm not strong enough, I'll die. That's all there is to it.

Why are you so desperate to become stronger?

It's my blood.

Your blood?

I can't stop my blood from boiling.

Only when I'm fighting someone strong

do I truly feel alive.

In this day and age

swordsmanship is obsolete.

No matter how strong your sword is, you can't change this country's course.

Are you an idiot?

What's the fun in doing the sensible thing?

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

I agree.

My apologies.

In that case, I will give it my all.

Yeah!

Don't die on me!

Wait a second!

Gotcha!

Not good enough.

He's okay, right?

I'm sure he's not dead.

Hey.

Hey.

He's smiling while unconscious.

- You're right. - That's creepy.

He gave you a tougher time than expected, didn't he?

It has been a while since I've seen you get that serious, Kondo.

- Hey. - Yeah.

I didn't think he had it in him. This guy might be a good fit for us.

Tennen Rishin-ryu.

A style built for a battle to the death

a practical combat style that requires facing your foe with complete abandon.

Pretty good, huh?

Here.

In the spring of 1859.

Hijikata Toshizo joined the Tennen Rishin-ryu's Shieikan dojo

at the age of 24.

There.

It was four years before the Shinsengumi's name

would echo through Kyoto.

SONG OF THE SAMURAI.

At the time, the shogunate's real power was held by the Great Elder, Ii Naosuke.

Ever since the Black Ships arrived, he strongly advocated for opening Japan.

If we go to war with America, our country stands no chance of winning.

Even if we cannot obtain an imperial sanction

we have no other choice but to sign the treaty!

However, on March 24, 1860

he was killed by Ronin from Mito outside of the Sakuradamon Gate.

Following this, the pro-opening shogunate and the opposing Sonno Joi faction

were plunged into an all-out confrontation.

TENNEN RISHIN-RYU SHIEIKAN DOJO

Now's your chance! Go!