Battle Cry (吶喊)

KIHACHI PRODUCTIONS

JAPAN ART THEATRE GUILD

- Once upon a time, there was this young hooligan named Senta.

He had a huge penis like a horse.

Because he was so poor, he could never get married.

He prayed to the god Inari so he would have the most beautiful wife.

In answer to his prayers, the voice of the god told him

that a young woman carrying a Shamisen would come walking by

and he should wait at the gate of the shrine.

Senta waited patiently at the gate.

Finally a young woman with a Shamisen came.

Senta did not know what to do,

so he was trying to think while he was watching her back.

Then he could not control himself any longer and he started chasing her.

BATTLE CRY

FIRST YEAR OF MEIJI (1867) - APRIL 19th

Wait! You are not an ordinary man.

- If you were an ordinary woman, you couldn't have fought him off like that.

Were you watching the whole thing?

Yes, it was a good show.

Who are you?

I am...

- I know. You are Staff Officer Sera's mistress.

I've been seeing you often between Tobafushimi and Edo.

Your name is...

- Now I remember. You are Sera-san's subordinate.

I am not his subordinate. I am a spy.

What are you doing here?

Selling the information I gathered.

Why did you do that?

Why are you doing such a thing?

- It's punishment. So he will never do that again.

He probably has never been with a woman.

If he had any experience, he would not fail like he just did.

And he looks to be about my age.

I could not bear watching his manhood being crushed.

He is unconscious yet he is sexually vigorous.

Stop it! You're getting me aroused now...

Calm down...

- What are you doing? You are just a young punk!

I am telling Sera-chan!

Please! Please don't resist so hard!

Mother!

I am sorry. I am really sorry.

What did you do this time?

Did you steal? Did you extort?

No, I didn't do any of those.

So please stop sharpening the knife. It's dangerous.

- It's dangerous around here, that's why I am sharpening.

So what did you do?

I was looking for a bride.

You were looking for a bride?

Yes.

- You were looking for a bride while lying on the ground,

exposing your balls and erect penis?

That's absurd!

So you rescued me?

I can't carry you myself.

Magotaro rescued you.

Magotaro?

He must be the one who attacked me and stole the girl. Damn it!

It hurts! What is he?

Damn it!

Magotaro is dressed like a migrant worker,

but his name is Hosoya Judayu and he is really a samurai from Sendai.

Why is he here?

- He was saying that a big war is coming from the west.

War?

That'll be fun.

Who is the other one with him?

- He got wounded in Utsunomiya and is on his way to Aizu.

He belongs to this group, Shinsengumi.

And... his name is... Hijikata Toshizo.

Toshizo?

I have never heard that name.

He must not be very well known.

He wears an odd haircut and clothing.

Hijikata-san,

a man like me who lives out in the country tends to fall behind the times.

There are so many things I can't understand.

Why is Aizu the emperor's enemy?

Sendai is trying to help Aizu.

Then why is Sendai an enemy of the emperor?

I can't understand.

Of course you don't understand, Judayu-san.

Because it is absurd.

The battle of Toba-Fushimi was all about

Satsuma-Choshu taking revenge against the central government for the last 300 years.

They were settling a score.

But just taking revenge did not sound too good to ordinary peasants,

so they used the emperor as the cause of their revolt.

They used the imperial brocade for their flags

and appointed court nobles as the commanders.

Satsuma-Choshu called themselves Imperial army and called us rebels.

It doesn't make sense.

What are you going to do now?

- I am going to fight along with 150 Shinsengumi fighters gathered in Aizu.

I am going to fight and die. That's about it.

- You are going to die? So you think you will be defeated?

- Winning or losing does not matter much any more.

I am just fighting against the absurdity.

That's excellent!

You again.

Yes.

What are you?

- I am a farmer. Something wrong with that?

- Nothing is wrong with that. I also was a farmer, then I became a samurai.

- I can quit being a farmer and join your Shinsengumi.

Oh can you? Thank you.

- You talk about fighting, but I have not seen a trace of the enemy.

You can't see them here yet,

but the Sat-Cho army followed us to Utsunomiya and Imaichi

and is arriving at Shirakawaguchi soon.

Oh!

- Judayu-san, I heard that General Ouchi arrived in Sendai taking a sea route.

- All big shots in Sendai are spinning their wheels for this man Sera Shuzo.

Sera...

Is he a former cavalryman? What does he want?

- He is instigating people of the Ou area (Mutsu and Dewa) to fight against the Aizu rebels.

We should kill him.

What?

- A man like that would be better off dead! I will kill him.

You're right! Let me kill him.

- But if we kill him, this area would be devastated by war.

- Either way, this area will be devastated by war.

Judayu-san, you don't know the imperial army's true character.

- I think we should make every effort to avoid the war.

I heard that the commander in Sendai sent the messengers this morning.

I am going to meet them here and guard them the rest of the way to Edo.

- I think that is a fruitless effort, but that is fine with me.

It is fruitless to fight and fruitless not to fight.

But we should always be sensible. Isn't that right, Judayu-san?

Yes. That's all we can do.

I am leaving now. It is about the time they arrive here.

- Between him and you, whose way is more exciting?

- When I was your age, everything was exciting.

What?

You'd better not quit being a farmer.

Endo!

Sanya!

- Oh... This is getting interesting!

- You did it? - Yes.

Your name is Manjiro if I remember right.

Your name is Oito.

I am telling Sera-san what happened today.

- You'd better not tell him. He doesn't like damaged goods.

"Speedy" Manjiro!

"Speedy?"

My pistol is not that quick. Just average.

You're faster than average!

Is that right?

Were you born in the year of the chicken?

No, I was born in the year of the rabbit.

Rabbit. They say rabbits are quick also.

What?

I wonder if you just lost your virginity today.

I was right!

- We should do it over. - What?

I am going to study often with you.

Let's start another lesson here, teacher!

- Stop it! You idiot! Stop rabbit! Chicken!

Sendai is flustered!

You don't have to rush.

FUKUSHIMA - GESSHIN-IN

What's all this commotion?

- Sera is in Kanazawaya. Hosaya-san, now is the time.

- Now is the time? Are you going to attack Sera?

CAPTAIN SEO Toshisuke

- We'll capture him. I won't kill him.

That will ruin our peace negotiations.

- Peace negotiations? Our messengers were killed!

We just confiscated Sera's confidential message to another Satsuma staff officer!

He says that they should consider everyone in the Ou area as enemies.

He says that Sendai despises the emperor.

SENDAI STAFF OFFICER SENDA Yunoshin

- Judayu, go to Sendai and report that the message was not delivered.

We are going to Kanazawaya.

Who are you?

- Who are you? What are you doing now?

- We are going to this brothel to kill a staff officer of the imperial army.

- That's exciting! That's really exciting!

KANAZAWAYA BROTHEL

- I am busy now! Come back tomorrow.

I can't wait until tomorrow.

- What a persistent fellow! Come back tomorrow!

I can't wait until tomorrow.

Good evening.

Suzuki-sama from Fukushima sent us.

- Yes, I know. You're the helpers for Sera-sama who is leaving tomorrow.

- I am sorry to be so persistent, but I really can't wait until tomorrow.

Manjiro, get rid of the written petition.

I understand.

Ouch!

Excuse me, Sera-sama,

I am sorry to disturb you,

but the parents of your hostess Teru have sent a man from her hometown

with an urgent message for her.

- Teru, your father is ill. I have a message for you.

Please come out.

Oh!