Battle Anthem (日本海大海戦 海ゆかば)

TOEI FILMS, LTD.

BATTLE ANTHEM

GREAT BATTLE OF THE JAPAN SEA

DECEMBER 1904 AT THE KURE NAVAL SHIPYARD

- Flagship of the combined fleet, the Mikasa.

Since the Russo-Japanese War started one year ago,

she kept defeating the enemy in battles against the Russian Navy

which was known as the strongest naval force in the world.

Now, after repairs, this new and powerful battleship

is being tirelessly prepared to embark for the next battle.

That will be the last battle

of the Russo-Japanese War that would decide the fate of Japan.

KURE MARINE CORPS

Ogata-san!

- Genta! So you are back.

- Ogata-san, you were promoted to be the senior officer now.

I've been waiting for you.

- This is my second time so I may not be so useful, but I am hoping for your guidance.

All right.

This is Kanda who started at the same time as I did at the Yokosuka Marine Corps Academy.

He left the military band

after fulfilling his military duty, to polish his musical skill in the city music world.

But he came back to join us as he was recalled into the armed forces.

If you want to learn about women, ask him.

He is a virtuoso musician,

but he's a maestro at pleasing women.

- Nice to meet all of you. = Nice to meet you!

Genta...

I am sure you already know,

but it seems that we will be fighting against the Baltic Fleet this time.

At that time, military band members will also be at action stations

and we will have to fight risking our lives.

Are you prepared for that?

Yes.

THE INVINCIBLE BALTIC FLEET LEFT THE PORT OF LIBAU, LATVIA TO HEAD FOR THE FAR EAST

UNPRECEDENTED IN HISTORY, THE TSAR'S LARGE FLEET WITH OVER 30 SHIPS WILL TRAVEL 18,000 NAUTICAL MILES

THE DECISIVE BATTLE IS UNAVOIDABLE, AND JAPAN WILL FACE THE MOST CRITICAL MOMENT IN HISTORY

Since the war began one year ago,

both Russian and Japanese forces exhausted their military resources.

The conclusion of the war

was expected to be decided by the final battle between the fleets of both countries.

And Russia who devoted the destiny of the nation to this battle

let the entire power of the Baltic Fleet head toward Japan.

VICE-ADMIRAL COMMANDER OF ROZHESTVENSKY THE BALTIC FLEET let the entire power of the Baltic Fleet head toward Japan.

let the entire power of the Baltic Fleet head toward Japan.

- How many ships do you expect the Baltic Fleet will have?

- According to the telegram we received the day before yesterday,

the enemy has increased reinforcements for the fleet.

We are expecting about 40 ships including eight battleships.

- The number of battleships is twice as many as ours.

Are we proficiently prepared with counter measures?

We have already sent two patrol ships

to the area of the Taiwan Strait and they have been watching for the enemy.

The ships of the combined fleet including Mikasa

have been repaired and maintained at the shipyards in Kure and Sasebo.

And we expect them to be ready without any trouble.

- When do you expect the enemy fleet to reach our home waters?

EMPEROR MEIJI - When do you expect the enemy fleet to reach our home waters?

- When do you expect the enemy fleet to reach our home waters?

According to the latest information,

MINISTER OF THE NAVY YAMAMOTO GONNOHYOE - According to the latest information,

MINISTER OF THE NAVY YAMAMOTO GONNOHYOE

MINISTER OF THE NAVY YAMAMOTO GONNOHYOE The enemy is at anchor by Madagascar on the east side of the African continent.

The enemy is at anchor by Madagascar on the east side of the African continent.

I am asking when they will be coming.

- We think it will take some time for the enemy fleet

to merge with the reinforcements.

We expect that they will come after January of this next year.

- Your first estimate was the middle of January.

Because you men insisted we must crush the enemy's Far Eastern fleet by then,

I ordered Nogi's 3rd Army to take Port Arthur despite heavy sacrifice.

Now you say you miscalculated?!

If you are not even capable of estimating the enemy's arrival,

you can't be proficiently prepared.

Tell me your certain opinion.

- I swear that whenever the enemy appears, our Combined Fleet will

COMMANDER IN CHIEF COMBINED FLEET TOGO HEIHACHIRO - I swear that whenever the enemy appears, our Combined Fleet will

- I swear that whenever the enemy appears, our Combined Fleet will

annihilate the enemy fleet

I thought you were a prudent man.

Can you be so sure to declare what you said to the emperor?

- I had to say that to not lose the emperor's faith in us.

If we are prepared to lose half of the ships of the combined fleet,

we will have a chance of winning.

Half of the combined fleet...

I see.

I will be responsible for that.

So be determined to take command.

Your beard turned grey quickly in one year.

I have not hunted any enemy yet.

- How annoying! All of them are old bags!

It is like an exhibition for ugly women.

- She is my type! Let me take her!

- You'd better not! Let him take her.

Good luck!

Yes, thank you!

- There she is! A pretty girl!

Let me fire torpedoes all night long.

Let me go first!

Me too!

Hey wait!

Bastard, you didn't see this arm band?

Band members don't need to salute to a senior sailor?

I am his senior, Ogata.

I will give him a warning.

- Band-member would not understand the military spirit.

Stay away.

I am Petty Officer Okami on Mikasa.

Come see me if you have any complaints.

- If bandsmen are sailors, butterflies and dragonflies are birds also?

- You won't get away so easy when we are offshore.

Damn, that was a rough salute.

Everyone is on edge.

No one is sure if they'll be alive in a few months.

Kanda-san!

A lady is at the assembly hall to see you.

A woman?

You already have a girlfriend in Kure?

- Don't be silly. I am fed up with women.

KURE KURE MARINE MARINE CORPS CORPS

- Hey, sailors! Thank you for your service.

Good luck.

Hey you, do you want a drink?

You are cute.

Do you have a girlfriend?

Ah, it's cold.

Hey you,

do you know Asakusa in Tokyo?

You should go there sometime.

It is nothing like this desolate place.

Hey, are you upset?

You fool!

Girls wouldn't like that.

Don't act so big.

They all look like crows,

wearing sad dark clothes.

How depressing...

Setsu...

What are you doing here?

Why did you do that?!

Don't ask me why!

- Stop it, idiot! Hey!

You called me an idiot!

You trampled my heart under foot.

Hey stop!

Idiot!

Is it her you were fed up with?

She worked at a restaurant in Asakusa.

I told her that I would marry her.

You should talk to her.

You can use my rented room. I have two pillows there.

Come here and get warmed up.

Did you find out that I was here by yourself?

You didn't need to follow me here.

I was waiting for you in your room

without eating anything for three days,

because you told me to do so.

You asked me to live together.

Then you sent me this suddenly.

DEPOSIT CERTIFICATE

DEPOSIT CERTIFICATE - But it was painful for me too.

But it was painful for me too.

The draft papers came right after I made the promise to you.

Besides, this time I did not know if I would return alive.

I could not say good bye seeing your face.

I thought I could begin a new life.

You taught me how to play the organ.

I thought I could leave the life of being a toy for men and always

chased by police officers.

- So you should open a shop or something with this money.

I can make money with this body.

I am helpless without you.

I can't do anything alone.

Genta, I am begging you.

I apologize for what I have done earlier.

So please ask your senior officer and avoid getting on the battleship.

Don't be silly.

A military person has to follow the emperor's orders.

Then cut off your toe for me.

I have heard about this man

who avoided going to war because his toe was missing.

There are many men like him.

Stop that silliness!

Band-men are still navy sailors.

And a sailors' duty is to die for the country.

- Country? What has the country done for us?

Where I grew up, Mannen-cho,

we had to feed ourselves since we were 5 or 6 years old.

We have no duty to our country at all!

- You must stop. I will get mad.

Genta, I am saying this for you.

You are not the kind of man who would fight bravely on a battleship.

I know this very well.

You look the finest when you are playing your horn.

The most manly face...

Why are you discarding that fine face?

Women can't understand men!

Is that right?

So that's it.

I was not a woman whom you would associate with when sober.