The Barbarian and the Geisha

It began on the night of the Oban festival...

here in the small fishing village of Shimoda.

Once each year, we invite the spirits...

of our dead ancestors to join us in a celebration.

It was an old and happy custom.

There was much joy and much sake.

My name is Okichi. This is my story, too.

Black ship meant danger.

Foreigners were threatening our shores.

A messenger was sent to warn the Governor.

Baron Tamura was the Governor of Shimoda...

and my benefactor.

It was he who had paid for my training as a geisha.

The ship lay at anchor all night.

At sunrise, the strangers approached.

He says it is forbidden for you to land.

You are commanded to return to your ship...

weigh anchor, and leave this harbor and all the Japan seas.

Commanded by whom?

The Governor of Shimoda, sir.

Tell him that I am the Consul General to Japan from the United States.

Say that I am here in accordance with a treaty entered into...

by their Shogun and Commodore Perry two years ago.

He denies any treaty is in force whereby you have the right to land.

Tell him I am landing.

Tell them it's a salute.

It speaks with a loud voice.

Townsend Harris.

I am Saemon-No-Kami Tamura, Governor of the prefecture of Shimoda.

Are you aware, Your Excellency, of an agreement between our countries...

which states, "A Consul shall reside in Shimoda...

when either country shall so require"?

Not either. Both. "When both countries shall so require."

If that is how your Japanese text reads...

a mistake has been made in translation or a willful change.

I will acquaint my superiors at Edo with that opinion.

- Meanwhile... - Meanwhile, I'll require quarters...

for Mr. Heusken, my interpreter, three Chinese servants, and myself.

It must be understood that I am receiving you...

only as a private person.

Due note is taken of your refusal...

to recognize my status as an American Consul.

Follow me.

This is a pleasant place to be buried.

Well, at least we'll have quiet neighbors.

This is the best we have to offer.

Two years ago, Commodore Perry was allowed within the sacred walls of Edo.

Since then, our land has been torn by earthquakes and typhoons.

We have lost homes, crops, loved ones.

Some ignorant people believe...

those disasters were warnings from the gods...

not to change our ancient ways but to remain as before.

No one stays as he was, nor any country.

This will do.

Home, sweet home.

There she flies, gentlemen.

The first time in this empire.

I think, Mr. Harris, you'd better raise the doorways or cut off your legs.

The Governor says you must take the flag down.

Very well.

He says it is not to be flown again.

Tell him it will fly again.

On holidays, ours and theirs...

and on certain other occasions...

such as the arrival and departure of our ships.

A void the Americans, sell them nothing.

Baron Tamura had ordered;

"Harris-san must be made to go."

There was no place in Japan for foreigners. They were all barbarians.

- Mr. Harris. - Your Excellency.

I wish to protest against the way I and my household are being treated.

We cannot even buy food in the open market.

You are free to buy from anyone who will sell to you.

And whoever does will answer to your samurai?

You are in no position to lodge a protest, Mr. Harris.

You have no standing here.

Your Excellency, let's stop this nonsense about my official existence.

If your version of the treaty between our countries were correct...

it would be an agreement to agree if and when we chose to agree.

Would responsible men ever sign such rigmarole?

Whatever its terms...

the treaty was made under the threat of Commodore Perry's guns.

Such a treaty has no virtue.

Have you forgotten why Commodore Perry came?

Because shipwrecked sailors were being beheaded...

and because no ship could put in to a Japanese port, even for water.

We only wish to be left alone.

Your Excellency, your country stands at the crossroads of the world.

From both East and West, men are finding an ever-increasing need for those roads.

lf, in your desire for isolation...

you refuse to make them safe for peaceful traffic...

the world will treat Japan as it would treat a band of brigands...

infesting a highway.

A true Japanese would rather see his country perish in flames...

and perish with it than see it corrupted by foreigners...

and slowly rot.

Your Excellency, there are fanatics in every country.

But if the majority of your government were not reasonable men...

I should not be here.

And in hope that it will meet their eyes...

I hereby hand you an official letter...

for transmission to His Highness the Shogun...

respectfully requesting that my position as Consul shall be confirmed.

Tamura was troubled.

He had communicated with Edo.

In the capital there was much indecision...

between those who wanted Japan opened to other countries...

and those who were against it.

Finally, a message arrived.

Until a decision was reached...

Tamura was instructed to continue keeping Harris-san in Shimoda.

Happy, if possible.

- Salt pork again? - It's all Sam has left, sir.

Our friend Tamura has seen to that.

Pardon me for asking, Mr. Harris, but...

do you have an enemy in your State Department keeping you here?

Quite to the contrary. Getting this post was a great honor.

And sitting before you, Henry, eating this sowbelly and hardtack...

is an envoy extraordinaire from President Pierce.

Well, we haven't entirely wasted our time, sir.

We fixed up this house...

learned something about their agriculture, the winds, the weather.

But I didn't come here to be a carpenter...

nor to gain information for the Agriculture Department.

My instructions from President Pierce were, quote:

- "To treat with the Emperor of"... - Pardon me, Mr. Harris.

- The Shogun, not the Emperor. - All right.

"To treat with the Shogun of Japan...

on the subject of their entry into the free community of nations."

Well, treat with him?

I haven't been able to get anyplace near him.

And Tamura is stalling. He hasn't sent my credentials to Edo...

- And he has no intention of doing so. - But this is a difficult post, sir.

- One has to be patient. - Patience won't bring Commodore Perry...

nor a battleship to back us up. We've been patient for five months.

We're so far off the beaten path, we can't get a message to or from Washington.

I'm beginning to wonder if they care.

Sam, get me my coat.

Mr. Harris, I wouldn't do anything hasty.

I have eaten all the salt pork that I intend to.

Our first callers.

What is it, Henry?

From the Governor. An invitation to dine.

Mr. Envoy, tomorrow night, no salt pork.

They want to show you a geisha game.

All right.

I am grateful to Your Excellency for a most delightful party.

Given, I take it, to celebrate your recognition...

of the first American Consul.

There has been no word from Edo about your status, Mr. Harris.

Then why am I so honored?

I have sympathy for a man alone in a strange country.

Alone, yes. But I have with me the spirit of many million Americans.

Your Excellency, if word does not come soon...

I might be tempted to go to Edo to get it.

You'd never get past the barrier.

Outside the gate of the Forbidden City are the skulls of many uninvited guests.

I've crossed some thousands of miles of sea and storms to get this far.

Do you think a few skulls will deter me from going 100 miles more?

Ask her what she's doing here at this hour.

- Well? - Our friend Tamura sent her.

She is here to make our existence less troublesome.

Thank her, and send her home.

Wait. She can be useful.

The Governor wants to know about us, and we want to know about Japan.

The room in the back, she can use that. Tell her she can stay.

And then tell her to lift her head.

I waited for his footsteps...

the door to open upon the huge man.

My heart was beating with terror, but all was silent.

It was a house of many mysteries.

I hurried to Baron Tamura.

I told him about the seeds, the shells.

The machine that made the winds blow could cause typhoons.

I begged him to let me go back to the geisha house.

But the Baron grew angry. He said I was a stupid girl.

There was no machine that could cause typhoons.

It was Harris-san who was dangerous.

The barbarians were planning to invade us.

It was my duty to go back. I was a geisha.

I knew men.

I was to please Harris-san in every way...

and watch his every move.

Was she born in Shimoda?

No, she's from a village on the road to Edo.

Another country girl sold into a geisha house.

Sold?

She was 14, a poor family.

Later she would be able to help them...

when some man paid her "pillow money," as they call it.

Any sisters?

Her sisters were all returned to the gods.

She was lucky to be born in a year when the rice crop was good.

You know, Henry, I've seen some pretty attractive dancing girls from Siam...

singsong girls from China...

but I think I prefer the geisha of Japan.

I agree with you, sir.

I'll get drunk.

She wants to know if she can do some small feats of magic...

for the Honorable Consul.