Aozakura: Boei Daigakuko Monogatari (The Story of National Defence Academy / あおざくら防衛大学校物語)

These young men are on the way

to a teaching facility that provides the training for young people

who will become future officers of the Self-Defense Forces.

Its name is National Defense Academy.

They're here. Our guests.

This story is about a young man who for a particular reason became a student of this academy.

It's a chronicle about Kondo Isami and his ardous youth.

Okay.

- This is the building for the 1st grade students. - Yes.

And this is the building for the 2nd grade students.

- I'm 2nd grader Matsuhira. - Kondo Isami-kun over there.

Okay.

- Kondo Isami-kun? - Yes.

Pleased to meet you. I'm 2nd grader Matsuhira.

Welcome to the 1st Batallion cadet unit.

Please take good care of me!

Oops... When you don't wear a cap,

don't salute like this.

The arm forms a 90 degrees angle...

Matsuhira-san is my instructor.

Instructors teach the freshmen the rules and regulations

and it seems the 2nd grade students are in charge of this.

Yeah, looks good, cadet Kondo!

Thank you very much. It was very kind of you.

I'm your instructor after all. Ask me whatever you like.

Yes. Then, tell me at once

about the group distribution of the cadets.

The cadets are assigned to the companies 1 - 4.

Each batallion consists of 4 companies.

And, each company consists of 3 platoons.

A platoon occupies 3 - 5 rooms

in which new and advanced students live together.

In other words, I'm in the 3rd platoon of the 1st company of the 1st batallion.

Therefore, I'm denominated "cadet of platoon 113", correct?

You're greedy for knowledge, aren't you? Seems there's nothing I could teach you.

- I'm sorry. - It's okay, it's okay.

My real turn starts after the entrance ceremony.

Well,

first we must take care of that appearance.

Come on, let's go!

Yes.

Looks good, cadet Kondo.

Watch out for the correct fit of the collar badges. And don't put fingerprints on them.

- Yes. - As next,

hangar slippers, camouflage shirt and ID-card case,

Pikal and an awl.

Well, with this, we have what we need, right?

Um... I only have 10,000 yen with me.

Don't worry. As your instructor I'll treat you.

In celebration of your admission.

You can put in here everything you need.

Everything?! Then, these hygiene products too?

- Yeah. - Then...

this reference book too? And the exercise book too?

The army is paradise!

That's the best I've heard today. Go to your room and say hello.

Yes.

I have to be careful.

Matsuhira-san is nice, but there must be many rough people in the army.

Excuse me!

Pleased to meet you. I'm Okita.

I'm Harada. This is Okita.

- Pleased to meet you! - Pleased to meet you.

And, who are you?

That guy is Takei.

- He gives me a bad feeling. - He's been like this since he came here.

Our senpais made this?

Yeah, seems so. But you can also get it at the shop.

Really, they're all nice people, aren't they?

Looks like I worried too much.

That's right. Where shall I put my baggage?

- In that locker over there. - Thank you.

A gorilla!

Nice reaction!

- A gorilla? - No, I'm human!

I'm Nishiwaki, the sub-chief of this room.

Senpai, since when have you been in there?

I was here before you came, about 20 - 30 minutes.

No one opened the locker. I felt so lonely!

Nishiwaki, have we got all of them?

Right now, I'm finished with my introduction.

Let me introduce. This is the room chief, Sakaki.

Ta.. Takei Tomoaki is my name.

Thank you in advance for your guidance and encouragement.

Welcome.

Sorry. He's not a great talker.

By the way, 1st graders, are you hungry?

Yes!

Eat as much as you like. You can get a refill.

Yes. I'll do that for sure.

Why did you guys join the army?

Well, my father is a Self-Defense Forces officer and I want to become like him.

- And Harada? - I'll join PKO. (Peace Keeping Operations)

I'm interested in a dispatch to overseas. Not only Japan,

I want to stand up for people in other countries too.

- And Kondo? - Me...

He wants to stand at the top.

Kondo Isami was one of the best in the National Centralised School Leaving Examination.

Really? No wonder that he understands so well.

He's great, isn't he, our Kondo?

Well, in the last mock examination I was better.

Don't boast of it so much.

I suppose you even joined the army in order to compete, right?

- Compete? - I mean compete to become the leader.

You came to this academy in order to become a SDF officer who stands at the top and...

No, you're wrong.

I'm here because I can study for free and even make money.

That's the only reason why I decided for this academy.

After all, you get a salary the moment you enroll.

The students have the social position of a special public servant.

The student allowance is 91,000 yen.

As half-year bonus you can get 352,000 yen!

Well, my family runs a diner,

but a shopping mall opened nearby and we're in dire straits.

I had given up going to college, but now I can study for free,

can live for free, and can even send money home.

That's 3 birds with 1 stone! It's just perfect!

Perhaps you should better not tell this so bluntly.

Right, right. Our salary is tax money.

Exactly! Becoming a SDF officer with such a resolution...

That is irrelevant.

This is the army. It's a place to train SDF officers.

So it is, isn't it? After all...

Guys come here for various reasons, have a different background,

and may choose different paths.

That's alright, isn't it?

Yes.

In the 3 days from tomorrow till the entrance ceremony

we will teach you how to live here.

- Let's all do our best! - Yes!

Let's explain to everyone a day at the Defense Academy.

Get up at 6:00 when the trumpet sounds.

You have 5 minutes to make the bed, then dress on and gather outside.

Defense Academy students are busy since the early morning.

Circle right!

Circle right!

During the morning muster the whole unit rub themselves down with a dry towel.

- Up and down! - Up and down!

6:10 morning cleaning.

6:35 till 7:20 breakfast.

Then, from morning till evening the day is tightly packed with drill and lessons.

17:30 salute the national flag!

Until 19:15 they have a bath and dinner.

- Start! - 1! 2! 3!

4! 5! 6! 7!

8! 9! 10!

After the evening muster till 22:30 it's self-study time.

Upon request and if it's approved,

the lights-off can be extended till 2:00.

Kondo-kun, you're good at such studies, aren't you?

I feel at ease. I'm saving up money by studying, after all.

What an oddball.

Hi, guys! Okay, time to sleep. Hurry up!

- Yes. - Yes.

Come on, come on!

You're so slow. We'll go ahead.

Oi, wait. Wait, wait, bastard!

- Go a bit slower. - Are you okay?

- Good job! - Outch!

Oh, it's aching, right? Muscle pain in your whole body!