Clouds Over the Hill (坂の上の雲)

Special Drama

A very small country is

about to become a civilized nation.

"Small" is the perfect description for Japan in the early Meiji era.

Japan's only industry was farming.

The only work force were former samurais who lived a leisurely life for 300 years.

The Meiji Restoration brought modernization to Japan.

"Nation"

Japan became a nation for the first time.

Every Japanese became a citizen of a nation.

"Citizen"

All was new to the "citizens" of Japan.

They were the first to experience this history.

They were filled with exhilaration from the modernization.

People's exhilaration was so powerful that it was almost painful.

But that is the basis of history from this time period.

Children from any family of any social status now had hope.

If they possessed certain mindset and diligence for hard work,

they could be a doctor, a government official, a service person or a teacher.

The exuberance of this time stemmed from

The Optimism

"the optimism" of the people.

It may appear laughable now.

Citizens of a nation with only rice and silk production capability

endeavored to establish a navy equal to the European nations.

The same was true for their army.

The country's finances were completely depleted.

But they just moved forward to build a modem nation.

That was the objective of the Meiji Restoration.

And it was also the pure determination of the Japanese citizens.

This story follows how this small country was lead to a war against

a European superpower, Russia, and how it conducted itself in the process.

The main character could be Japan, an insignificant nation of that time.

Instead, we will follow the lives of three characters.

The three men lived in Iyo-Matsuyama in the Shikoku region.

Saneyuki Akiyama was born in this old castle town.

Saneyuki

He planned tactics to defeat the unbeatable Baltic Fleet during the Russo-Japanese War.

And he executed those tactics.

His older brother was Yoshifuru Akiyama.

Yoshifuru

He trained the Japanese cavalry to defeat the Cossacks, the world's strongest cavalry.

It was a miraculous feat.

The third man marked a new phase in Japanese Haiku and Tanka.

He became the founder of new literary forms, Shiki Masaoka, the poet.

Shiki

All three carried the typical disposition of the Meiji era.

They only looked at what was ahead of them.

If there were white clouds glistening in the blue sky above a hill,

they would only focus on the clouds and climb the hill.

Cloud Above the Slope

Episode One: Nation of Youth

March, 1868

I must help.

Iyo-Matsuyama

I must help.

Hey, Shin-san.

Let's go fishing.

I'm going to have a brother or a sister any minute.

I need to go and help.

I must help.

People called him Shin-san.

Yoshifuru Shinzaburo

Yoshifuru Shinzaburo Akiyama was ten. It was in the spring time.

A development took place that overturned the Matsuyama Domain and his family.

It was the Meiji Restoration.

"Surrender to the Imperial Court and pay an indemnity of 150,000 ryo."

The domain's funds ran out after paying the indemnity.

All samurais were in extreme poverty.

I must help.

Akiyama was a low-ranking samurai and the family lead a life of misery.

They already had four children.

And now, another baby boy, adding extra stress and expense.

Which one?

A boy.

No!

That's not good.

How am I supposed to bring up five children?

Give him to the temple.

You can't do that.

Don't send the baby to the temple.

I will study very hard.

I'll make the money as much as tofu.

As much as tofu?

I'll protect you.

I'll take care of you.

Shin-san,

I'm remembering about the time you were born.

You were such a small baby, born three months early.

But look at you now.

He's going to get big too.

He will owe you so much for the rest of his life.

Shin-san is your savior.

Father owes you, too.

Money as much as tofu.

I'd love to see that much money.

Did you say tofu?

I want to eat as much as I can.

I want to eat until I'm full.

Stop talking about tofu.

It'll only make you more hungry and miserable.

Shin, you should sleep.

Yes, Mother.

Good night.

Saneyuki Jungoro

He was named Saneyuki Jungoro Akiyama.

Six years later

A former samurai, Kaida, built a bathhouse on his property.

Early spring, 1874

The news about a former samurai becoming a bathhouse owner stirred up the town.

Half of the talk was unfavorable criticism.

But that was just a small part of the gossip.

The main talk of the town was the fact that Akiyama's boy was working there.

Shin-san.

You need to build a good fire.

I'm sorry.

I need you to work to earn your pay.

Are you done sprinkling water in the front?

I'll do it now.

I was a samurai. I don't like running a bathhouse either.

Okay.

He's got such a cute face but he's not that smart.

Shut up!

The samurai's son is now scrubbing grime off people's backs.

Your family was stuck up samurais.

But you surrendered without fighting when Tosa arrived.

Didn't you?

"Conquest of Choshu, what an easy defeat."

"Put a bag over a cat and it'll crawl..."

Stop that!

I don't allow anyone to make fun of my brother.

How scary.

Don't start.

Little brother is belligerent and loves to fart.

You're such stinky brothers.

You can't afford rice, so eat beans and fart.

Stinky. So stinky.

What did you say?

Hey!

You can help me.

You love to study. How come you can't go to the middle school?

We should be grateful we weren't put up for adoption.

I don't understand this world.

Jun.

This book was written by the person I respect the most in this world.

And who is that person?

"An Encouragement of Learning"

His name is Yukichi Fukuzawa.

Yukichi Fukuzawa...

"An Encouragement of Learning" was written by him.

In which, he says...

One must become self-sufficient.

To create an independent nation.

One must become self-sufficient?

Everyone must become independent,

so that the nation can stand on its own.

You may be too young to understand.

I want to save up money.

So I can get an education in Tokyo.

And I can meet this man.

That is my dream.

Chief!

Chief, we need to save Nobo-san.

We must hurry.

Let's go!

Shiki Masaoka became a courageous reformist in literary history.

But, he was a most cowardice child.

Stop it.

Tsunenori Noboru Masaoka

Do you hate samurai that much?

Samurai had protected Matsuyama for the last 300 years.

This topknot is the samurai's soul.

We'll get your silly soul off.

Don't touch me.

Brother!

Brother!

Brother!

I'll beat anyone who bullies my brother.

Interesting.

Let's see it.

Come on. Do it.

Attention.

Attention.

Masaoka's family used to be the horse guard for the former Matsuyama Domain.

They were the bodyguards for the lord at the battle.

They held a decent rank.

Brother is home.

Watch this for me.

Shiki lost his father when he was six years old.

At his young age, he became the head of the family.

"Confucius says to reflect back on one's conduct three times a day."

"Confucius says..."

Shiki's grandfather was Kanzan Ohara, the top scholar in Matsuyama.

He had the fortune to learn reading directly from Kanzan.

- Noboru. - Yes.

Kanzan kept his topknot.

He demanded the same to his grandson and made him carry a short sword.

That's good enough.

Thanks for your work.

Oh, Shin-san.