Intrigue in the Bakumatsu – Irohanihoheto

It was an era when a man lived as a warrior...

He fought, staking his life on his faith in the sword...

The final era... the Bakumatsu.

The final era... the Bakumatsu.

IROHANIHOETO

Intrigue in the Bakumatsu IROHANIHOETO

On the land with the frozen moonlight

It's rolling and drawing the line

The era of destruction and rebirth now begins

Heavily holding the freedom

Choosing the invisible path

Passing the sunset that's brighter than the daylight

The vessel of time moves on as if telling the dream

There's a new dawn beyond the dark path

We may have been born from the arm of darkness

Just like being in an impossible love

We wander into the light

The path stretches indefinitely

And there's no way to go back

Sunbu Castle

So, where did the Head go? Sunbu Castle

Sunbu Castle

We don't know yet. Sunbu Castle

Then we will not move from this place.

Imperial Prince Taruhito Arisugawanomiya

But His Majesty is tired of waiting.

Kichinosuke Takamori Saigo

I know.

But the flag of the Nishiki Army isn't enough to move history forward.

It's too late for the plum but too early for the cherry blossoms, is it?

Oh well, I guess the flower buds are still the symbol of the spring.

Kaishu Katsu Awanokami

How distasteful...

Damn... Where is that Head hiding anyway?

Note: The year 1868

It is early spring in the 4th year of the Keio Era.

Two men ride the Tokai Road, heading for Sunbu.

Kyunosuke Masumitsu

Tesshu Yamaoka

Are you from the Eastern Army?

You're in the way! Move!

Move out of the way!

You must be Tesshu Yamaoka and Kyunosuke Masamitsu.

Hand over the secret letter from Awanokami-sama.

What?

You ruffian!

Wait, Kyunosuke! Do not attack him carelessly!

Kyunosuke!

Damn!

Let me handle it.

What is your name?

Which style do you practice?

I'm someone who thinks a sword has no need of a name.

In that case, your grave has no need of a name, either!

THE REQUEST

The secret letter was from the 15th Shogun, Yoshinobu, to the Imperial Palace.

It expressed his desire to enter into an alliance with the Emperor.

Had this letter not reached the government army, Edo would surely have become a battlefield.

This great earthquake brought an unexpected stalemate in the era.

The main Eastern Army was stuck in Sunbu.

Edo

Hakone

Sunbu

The main Eastern Army was stuck in Sunbu.

Other divisions advancing up the Nakasen and Hokuriku Roads were also forced to halt.

I love the sea!

There's a world out there beyond the sea!

It's gotten to my brain...

This is not good...

Ryoma...

The Yokohama Foreign Merchant Area, 1853.

It was the window the Shogunate had opened up to the world

after submitting to foreign pressure when the Black Ships appeared on the Uraga Sea.

The city was isolated and surrounded by the Horikiri River.

The city was split by Nihon Road.

The Japanese lived on the west side of it and the east area was reserved for foreigners.

Merchants and people of various social classes gathered there,

and in the midst of the chaos of both anticipation and anxiety for the new era,

the city was rife with disorderly liveliness.

You barbarians aren't welcome in Japan!

I'll make you rust on my sword!

It was you who made the first move!

Don't fall back!

Kill them! Kill them both!

If you stand against us, I'll shoot you down!

Kill them! Kill them!

Come at me and I'll kill you without a second thought!

Right. So you'd better not move!

Curse you, you monkeys!

Hey!

Nobody move!

This is the Office of the Kanagawa Magistrate!

I found a man in trouble!

First time in Yokohama?

You...

Up to something, aren't you?

Right here.

Come in.

Ebisu, show him around in there.

Go in.

Excuse me from the stage, and please allow us to introduce ourselves!

From the western sea to the eastern shore!

The salty wind blows harshly on the traveling seagulls.

A dagger hidden in the chest has decayed the love on the stage.

What blooms in red is the lycoris flower, but what's even redder is this play of fate.

I'm Kakunojo Yuyama, the head of the troupe!

Now then, let me introduce myself next!

A man of such handsomeness that I cause the fullest moon to hide behind the clouds in shame!

A bandit in woman's clothes or a goddess of arts and wisdom?

Some may call me homeless or groundless.

All are correct, for I am Shiranui-kozo!

Next is I, the one who hides his face.

People think I'm a demon or thief even when I'm suffering.

I laugh at night and cry in the day, but never reveal my heart.

Ebisu no Zukin! Here I am!

Next up is the man with the torn umbrella.

Don't you look at me the wrong way or you're going to get hurt.

For ten years have I been unable to find myself a job

and now I'm most proud of this umbrella.

I now run this business as Zagashira, the head of this troupe.

And finally allow me to introduce myself.

I terrify even Nue birds and crows and they stop dead in the sky.

I'm the strongman of Adachigahara.

I stared down the Heavens and grab the Earth.

Kakashi no Keishin!

And there's the two of us!

I'm Kobako!

I'm Benimaru!

Thank you so much for saving them from a dangerous situation.

Come on! Kobako and Benimaru, you need to thank this samurai.

Thank you, Samurai-sama!

Thank you, Big Guy!

Excuse me, but...

What is your name, sir? Which clan are you from?

Yojiro Akizuki. Just a ronin.

Just a ronin, huh?

But your skills were like no other.

Not only that, but you seem to despise the government.

I smell it. Yeah, I can smell it. The smell of danger...

Oh, hey!

Hey!

Just like I thought...

Was that okay, Master?

Sooner or later we'll run into him again.

As long as we're here in Yokohama.

Come one, come all!