Fukuyama Masaharu の Heart

Season 1: Ryoma the Dreamer

Episodes 1 ~ 13 - here

Season 2: Ryoma the Adventurer

Episodes 14 ~ 28 - here

Season 3: Ryoma the Navigator

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Episode 29 Go To. Episode 30 Go To. Episode 31 Go To. Episode 32 Go To. Episode 33
Episode 34 Go To. Episode 35 Go To. Episode 36 Go To. Episode 37 Go To. Episode 38
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Season 4: Ryoma the Hope

Episodes 39 ~ 48 - here

(Ryōma and Oryō are being escorted uphill by a group of Satsuma samurai, led by Yoshii Kōsuke.)

YK:   Oryō-dono, how are you doing?
O:     I’m fine.

<Keiō Year 2 (1866) March, Satsuma>

YK:   We’re almost at the hotsprings. Take you time to regain your strength, Sakamoto-san.
R:     Thank you, Yoshii-san.

Y:     (narration) Keiō Year 2 (1866) March 10. Ryōma, accompanied by Oryō, arrived in Satsuma to recuperate from the injuries sustained in his escape from the Bakufu’s attack on the Teradaya.

(Ryōma stands in the rain, listening to the waves on the beach. He faces Mount Sakurajima*, with its crater covered in a blanket of clouds.)

<Opening Credits>
Episode 38:  Kirishima no chikai (霧島の誓い The Oath at Kirishima)

(Ryōma bathes in the onzen / hot springs.)

Y:     (narration) Ryōma stayed in secret, at the Shiobitashi hotsprings*, across from the Kirishima Mountains*.

(He tries painfully to exercise his left hand, but only manages to move his fingers slightly. As he climbs out of the onsen, Oryō walks down the steps to meet him. She does not look impressed.)

R:     Oh! Oryō! The water feels great. You should try it.
O:     Yoshii-san just came over.
R:     Oh.
O:     He asks if Ryōma-san will climb Mount Kirishima.
R:     Oh, I see.
O:     Take me with you.
R:     Huh? (He laughs) You know I can’t. Mount Kirishima is forbidden to women. No women allowed.
O:     (annoyed) I am Ryōma-san’s wife! Wherever you go, I go too! Even though we’re married, I still don’t know anything about you. Ryōma-san often looks so troubled, and yet, I have no idea what it is!

R:     Oryō, it’s…..torturing me. At last… At last the Sat-Chō has joined forces. This world is starting to change, and I’m stuck in a place like this, for ‘recuperation’. This trek upto Mount Kirishima is to give me the strength to go on. From now on….. What are the things that I should do? I need to inscribe all of that into my heart. (He turns around and walks up the steps, Oryō reluctantly follows.)

<Satsuma, Komatsu Tatewaki Residence>

Y:     (narration) Just as Ryōma said, the Sat-Chō alliance had started to bring about massive changes to the world. 

HP: (in English) “How do you do? I’m Harry Smith Parkes, the British emissary to Japan.”

(British Consul-General Harry Parkes* meets with Komatsu Tatewaki and other Satsuma elders.)

KT:   (in English) “Nice to meet you.” Parkes-san has come all the way to Satsuma. Our Daimyō Lord Shimazu Mochihisa-kō is very very pleased!
HP:   (in English) “Thank you. Great Britain is happy to support Satsuma.”

Y:     (narration) Parkes had even approached Chōshū too.

HP:   ”Great Britain is willing to support Chōshū, by supplying you with funds for war and weapons.”

(Harry Parkes presents weapons to Kido Kanji.)

<Chōshū, Shimonoseki>

ES:   (interpretor) Let us, the British, provide backing for Chōshū. We will give you military funds and weapons.
KK:   Thank you for that. This support from the British is greatly appreciated!

<French Legation>

(French Consul-General Léon Roches tears up a document in anger and shouts at the Bakufu Finance Minister Oguri Tadamasa.)

Y:     (narration) As the Sat-Chō received help from Britain, the Bakufu’s relationship with the French turned for the worse.

LR:    (in French) “……au Sat-Chō le pouvoir réel du Japon?!* Vous rendez-vous compte à quel point la France a coopéré avec le Bakufu?” (Does it not matter if this gives the Sat-Chō actual control over Japan?! Have you considered how much France has co-operated with the Bakufu?)

OT: (in French) “Le Bakufu Tokugawa n’est pas le moins du monde, ébranlée.” (The Tokugawa Bakufu is not in the least shaken by this.)

(Oguri Tadamasa reports on the meeting to the Shōgun’s Guardian Hitotsubashi Yoshinobu, who mulls over the map of Chōshū, still strategizing on an attack.)

OT:   ”What on earth is the Bakufu planning to do!” Roches is asking us.
HY:   Tell Roches, “Shut up and take a good look.” I have made up my mind.

<Nagasaki, Kameyama Shachū>

(Sawamura Sōnojō, Takamatsu Tarō and Chiya Toranosuke rush back excitedly.)

Y:     (narration) Meanwhile in Nagasaki, the Kameyama Shachū appears to be ready for their next big job.

SS:   It’s the Wild Wave’s first practice run!
All:    Yeah~~!
TT:   Here! Here! Listen, the Union will be loaded with rice in Chōshū and set sail for Nagasaki. Then, the Wild Wave will pick it up and deliver into Satsuma!
SS:   That’s right.
IK:    Hahahahaha! Leave the ship to me!
All:    All right! Yeah!
MY:   The Amadakusa Seas are wild and the squalls are violent around Satsuma. Are you up to it, Kurata-san?
IK:    Will you stop that soppy whining?!
MY:   You!
SS:   Calm down!
Misc: Now, now…
SS:   Mutsu!

<Hiketaya>

(Omoto sits on the porch, brooding over her last conversation with Ryōma.)

OM:  Buy me away from here! (She gazes into his eyes. Ryōma is totally taken aback.)

(The proprietress of the Hiketaya enters the room.)

Hik:  Omoto-chan? Are you alright?
OM:  Oh, I’ve had too much to drink during the day. I need to go to my next customer.
Hik:  Before that, Omoto-chan, there’s someone here to see you. It’s a samurai lord from Tosa.

(Omoto freezes. She goes to the same room where she took Ryōma some time ago. A man waits for her inside. It is Ike Kurata.)

OM:  Excuse me.
IK:    Oh Omoto! Sorry for disturbing you.
OM:  What can I do for you, Ike-san?
IK:    Well….. could you come in first?
OM:  Sure.
IK:    (looking very nervous) Actually….the Kameyama Shachū has obtained a ship. And I’ve been assigned the responsibility.
OM:  My! Congratulations sir!
IK:    And so, Omoto….(he hesitates, walks to her and in a loud voice…..) Will you marry me?

(Omoto is shocked, eyes wide. She does not know what to say.)

IK:    I will make myself into the finest man there is!
OM:  (in a quiet voice) Ike-san, in order to marry a geiko, you must pay to redeem her freedom.
IK:    I know that! I don’t know how long it’ll take, but I will make the money! So before that, please don’t give yourself to anyone!
OM    (tears fill her eyes) Ike-san wants me…..to give you my heart?
IK:    (he holds her hand) Yes. For now, in our hearts…..let us be husband and wife.

(Omoto slowly reaches out to stroke Kurata’s hands. Her eyes lowered, she speaks quietly with a wistful smile.)

OM:  Ike-san is the first person to say this to me. (She looks at him.)
IK:    Then….. (Omoto nods her head) Omoto….!

(Ike Kurata is beside himself with joy. Omoto smiles happily back at him, but once outside the room, her smile gives way to emotion. She composes herself and walks off to her next customer.)

(Back in Satsuma….)

Y:     (narration) Ryōma had set his sights on a mountain in the Kirishima range. Takachiho-no-mine*, a mountain of faith, worshipped ever since ancient times, a Sacred Place. Ryōma’s young guide, Yoshii Kōsuke’s son Kōzō, went with him.

YK:   You have to watch your step as you climb.
R:     OK.

(The trail was steep and rough. Both man and child needed their hiking sticks. Halfway up, someone else catches up from behind them.)

Voice: (woman) Wait!
R:       (stops to look back, breathless) What…? What is it? (The newcomer’s face is hidden under a large hat. He peers into it.) Huh?! You’re….ORYŌ?!! (Oryō looks up at her husband cheekily.) What….what are you doing here?

O:     I’m coming up as well.
R:     HUH?!
YK:    Wait a moment please! Kirishima is forbidden to women.
O:     That’s why I dressed up like a man.
R:     But….that’s not the point!
O:     I said before. I’ll follow where Ryōma-san goes. A mountain like this is no big deal. I’m sure I won’t hold you back. Let me come along.
R:     But then….
O:     Please!
R:     …….I see. We’ll go together!
O:     Really?!
R:     Yup.
YK:   Sakamoto-san!
R:     I’m so sorry, Kōzō-san (The boy tries to cling onto Ryōma, but the man walks off.) Come on, Oryō!
YK:   Wait! No!
O:     Yes sir!
YK:   But….
R:     Let’s go!

(The 2 adults walk on, leaving the little boy bowing his head to the mountain.)

YK:   Oh God of the Mountain! Please forgive us! (Kōzō runs after them.)
R:     Ah, but… (he laughs) Oryō can be full of mischief too.
O:     I’m dead serious! (Ryōma chuckles.)

Y:     (narration) At the same time, I was…..

<Tosa, the Gotō residence>

GS:   Sorry to have kept you waiting, Iwasaki.
Y:     No, my Lord….
GS:   You told me before not to underrate Sakamoto Ryōma
Y:     No… That was…. Ryōma said to me….
GS:   You also said this right? “From now on, let me work for the Han, and for Japan.”
Y:     Gotō-sama, well that….
GS:   IWASAKI!!
Y:     Yes, my Lord!
GS:   Iwasaki!
Y:     Yes, my Lord!
GS:   Iwasaki!
Y:     Yes, my Lord!
GS:   …..Iwasaki (Yatarō looks up) You shall have your wish.
Y:     Eh?!

(Gotō throws a scroll down to Yatarō.)

GS:   13 years ago, when the Black Ships came, this was your proposal to the Han. I read it again, it’s considerably well-written. Selling Tosa products like dried bonito and camphor to other Hans, you….already thought about it then?

Y:     Yes. That is true.

(Gotō nods and crouches down to eye-level with Yatarō.)

GS:   Can that be done in Nagasaki?
Y:     Nagasaki?
GS:   Trading with the other countries.
Y:     You mean….me?
GS:   Good! You will head this up, and earn some money for Tosa.
Y:     Head? Head…!
GS:   You messed up in Nagasaki once…. Wasting 100 ryō to entertain those foreigners.
Y:     Ah….I understand! I understand, my Lord! I understand, my Lord. But, if I may request…. a translator…. May I have an English language translator to go with me?

GS:   John! John!
Man: ”Yes!”

(John Manjirō runs in.)

JM:   (in English) “Oh! Hello! Hello! Nice to meet you!” (He shakes Yatarō’s hand.) I am Nakahama Manjirō.
Y:     Eh! “Manjirō”!
GS:   (with a hand on Manjirō’s shoulder) The John Manjirō who went to America.
Y:     John Manjirō-sama from Nakahama village! (Yatarō holds Manjirō’s hand and bows in shock.)
JM:   Let me be the translator and assist Iwasaki-dono in your job!
Y:     You…you… you are too good for me! Much too good!! (John Manjirō laughs as Yatarō is moved to tears.) Thank you so much, Gotō-sama! Thank you so much!

(In the meantime, Ryōma and Oryō continue their slow trek up Mount Takachiho-no-mine.)

R:     How are you doing, Oryō?
O:     (breathless) I’m fine.
R:     (He offers his hand to help her up a ledge.) Here. Grab hold of me. (The hillside is steep and rocky, without much of a trail left. They finally reach the top of the ridge, exhausted.) Oh! Oh! Oryō! What a wonderful view! A scenery like this, we won’t see again. There is a legend about this mountain.

O:     A legend?
R:     Yes. It is said that the grandson of Amaterasu-ōmikami*, Ninigi no Mikoto*, to rule over the country of Japan, descended onto Kirishima and thrust his spear into the summit of this mountain.

O:     A spear?
R:     Yes. This is the Amanosakahoko* and they say it’s still there. I want to see it with my own eyes. (Ryōma gazes longingly at the summit.)
O:     Let’s go then. (She starts walking and turns back to the gaping Ryōma) I want to see this heavenly spear, as soon as possible too.
R:     (smiles) You’re right. Well then, let’s go, Kōzō-san.
YK:   (But the boy has to rest) Sakamoto-san, the heavenly spear has started to tilt because of the heavy rain a few days ago.
R:     It doesn’t matter. Kōzō-san, come on!

(Led by Ryōma, the 3 figures walk along the Kirishima mountain ridge. They finally reach the top, panting hard and spent. The Amanosakahoko stands before them.)

R:     There it is! There it is! So this……is the Amanosakahoko. And it was really thrust in by Ninigi no Mikoto?
YK:   Yes, to show his determination to bring order to the warring land.
R:     Oryō, I had….. a look into that world.
O:     Eh?
R:     This man Sakamoto Ryōma has died once, and is reborn into this world. That is why I am not afraid of anything anymore. Japan is just a small island nation. Almost everybody knows nothing about the world. But…. (he throws his hiking stick down) the times have changed! (He steps onto the mound) It is time that someone should…..ascertain the path this country should take (he takes another step forward and grabs the hilt of the spear) …..to raise his voice to all (he moves the stake to loosen it) …..and to act on his own!

(Ryōma pulls with all his strength. Oryō, who had been looking on worriedly, is now shocked.)

R:     There must be someone to lead the people! (The spear slowly moves up.)
O:     Ryōma-san!
YK:   Wha…What are you doing!

(With a shout, he pulls it out and holds it to the sky.)

R:     This is testament……to my resolve!

(Ryōma plunges the Amanosakahoko back into the mound.)

Y:     (narration) Sakamoto Ryōma has, for the first time proclaimed that he will lead Japan along himself.

(With a steadfast look, Oryō walks to her husband. The couple look at each other, Ryōma nods without a word and they turn to stand side by side to gaze over the land.)

<Keiō Year 2 (1866) June 7 / Suō-Ōshima (island)>

Y:     (narration) But he was put to the test immediately. Keiō Year 2 (1866) June 7. The Bakufu troops finally launched an attack on Chōshū.

(Hitotsubashi Yoshinobu talks to his ministers in Ōsaka.)

HY:   Listen! The Tokugawa Bakufu has France behind us. Even with the joined forces of the Sat-Chō, we will never lose!!

<Satsuma, the Komatsu Tatewaki residence>

(Ryōma rushes in. He finds Saigō Kichinosuke deep in thought.)

R:     Saigō-san! Saigō-san! I need to talk to you. Saigō-san!
KT:   (walking in) The war has already started.
R:     But why? The news of Satsuma and Chōshū’s alliance should have been communicated to the Bakufu!
SK:   Communicated loud and clear. And yet, the Bakufu went ahead with the war.
R:     Then Chōshū….What’s happening to Chōshū?
KT:   Takasugi-san is leading the fight at the battlefront.
R:     That’s….that’s impossible! Takasugi-san should be in England by now!
SK:   That man couldn’t possibly leave the battle line, could he? With Chōshū troops of 4,000 against a 150,000-strong Bakufu army.
R:     150,000?! Saigō-san, Satsuma has sent reinforcements to Chōshū, right?
KT:   Not yet!
R:     Why?! Why not?! In the event of war, you’d assist Chōshū!
SK:   When Satsuma deploys her troops, it is to overthrow the Bakufu! To take down Edo Castle!
R:     You mustn’t! You mustn’t do that, Saigō-san! If that happens, the whole of Japan will be engulfed in war!

KT:   Sakamoto-san! Chōshū shares the same beliefs as us.
R:     What?!
KT:   Kido-san too, has no intention to negotiate with the Bakufu anymore.
SK:   To change Japan without bringing the Bakufu to war, is impossible! If you are unwilling at all cost, to take part, then this character of Sakamoto Ryōma must be asked to step off the stage!
R:     Sa…

(Saigō and Komatsu walk back into the house, leaving Ryōma alone, watching them in despair.)

Y:     And the blows came one after another.

(Ryōma rushes back to the Kameyama Shachū in Nagasaki.)

Misc: Ryōma!

(The members are in mourning. Sawamura Sōnojō looks at Ryōma sadly, tears streaming down his face.)

R:     Kurata…..Kurata is….(Oryō finally catches up and looks into the house in shock.) Kurata is dead?!
SS:   (his voice breaking up) The Wild Wave sailed into a raging storm in the Koshikijima seas …..

(On board the Wild Wave, the sailors hold on for dear life, as the ship gets battered in the waves. Ike Kurata helps his men up, calling to them to keep going.)

IK:    Are you alright? Don’t give up! Don’t ever give up! We are……going back alive! Right, Ryōma?! (Ryōma looks at Kurata’s memorial tablet, panting in distress.)

MY:   The Wild Wave was washed to the Gotō Islands* and sank in the seas there.
TT:   Kurata-san! Kurata-san!
R:     (He is devastated, holding the Kameyama Shachū picture, now missing 2 members.) Kurata…. Why this! Why….

(That night, Ryōma sits alone thinking, still in his travelling clothes. As in the past whenever he was troubled, he takes his sword out and strikes. This time, he looks harsh and determined. The next morning, he addresses his Shachū fellows.)

R:     Everyone listen. We have stayed true to our aspirations. To protect Japan from invasion by other countries, we have worked to changed the structure of this country.

TT:   That’s right.
SS:   Because we kept to our beliefs, the Satcho alliance was finally formed.
R:     However….it won’t be so easy from now on.
CT:   Sakamoto-san?
MY:   What…do you mean by that?

(Ryōma slowly looks around at his men.)

R:     We at the Kameyama Shachū, will stand with Chōshū, and join the war against the Bakufu. (Shock registers on the faces of his men.)
CT:   War?!
TT:   What did you say!
SS:   Hold on, Ryōma. Weren’t we going to change Japan without war? (Tarō nods emphatically.)
KE:   Exactly!
MY:  Doesn’t that deviate from our cause?!
R:     No. Definitely not.
SS:   Wanting to go to war IS deviating from our principles!
Misc: That’s right!
CT:   We’ve finally got to this stage without a war! Why now, Sakamoto-san?!
SS:   Ryōma!
MY:   Please reconsider it!
Misc: Ryōma-san! Ryōma-san! Ryōma!

R:     The war…..The war has already started! If we don’t….If we don’t stand up now, this country will be shattered! We are not doing this for Chōshū, and not for Satsuma either. But as Japanese countrymen, as Japanese countrymen, we fight for the sake of this country! We cannot….We….must not step off from this stage! (Ryōma looks doggedly at each of his men. They finally realize what they have to do.)

(At the Chōshū camp, Takasugi Shinsaku tunes his shamisen* calmly admist the war preparations.)

Misc: Takasugi-san! Ōshima has fallen to the Bakufu army!
TS:   It’s alright to give them Ōshima. The battle has only just begun. (He starts to cough again)

Y:     (narration) The great rock had started to roll. (Takasugi coughs up a lot of blood.) But what things lie ahead on the path of this rock….

(Kido Kanji shouts orders to his men)

KK:    Nagao! Fukunaga!
Misc: Yes sir!
KK:    Send reinforcements to the Ōshima point. Do it now!
Misc: Yes sir!
KK:    Chōshū will not lose!

Y:     (narration) No matter who the winner is, no matter who loses in the end, will this country of Japan continue to exist, or will it be destroyed….. At this point, no-one was able to tell.

(Chōshū and Bakufu warships face off in the fog.)

TS:   Fire! (Chōshū cannons hit an enemy ship. The men cheer.) Give them a taste of Chōshū’s might!

(At the Teradaya, Otose serves her guests.)

OT:   Thank you for waiting!

Y:     (narration) At this point, most people were only wishing for the most common happiness in their lives. (Otose stops and mouths the word “Umi” to practice her smile.) Everyone was wishing that this country of Japan would continue on for eternity.

(On a ship, Yatarō climbs out of the cabin, estatic. He looks to the sky with tears of hope and happiness.)

Y:     I’m….. going to Nagasaki, for the Han…..to trade for the Tosa Han!!

(By the seaside, Omoto opens her hair clip to reveal a crucifix. She clasps her hands around it and starts to pray, heartbroken, looking out to the sea.)

OM:   Ike-sama’s soul…..Please…..Please save his soul!

(Ryōma puts his boots on. He touches the long scar on his left hand and flexes his fingers into a tight fist. Looking stern and determined, he walks out of the house.)

O:     Ryōma-san. (Ryōma turns back to look at his wife.)
R:     Oryō.
O:     Go for it, and win this. Because my husband made an oath in Kirishima to lead Japan along. (She makes a bow….) Have a good trip. (…and gives him a confident smile.)
R:     (Ryōma promises his wife with a nod) I’m setting off.

(The couple look long at each other, Oryō with a brave face and tears in her eyes. Finally Ryōma smiles and turns around without saying another word. He visits the Ueno Hikoma Photographic Studio next.)

R:     Thank you.
UH:   Oh! Leather boots!
R:     (He unwraps his pistol.) Because the roads I will take, are much harsher than the trails of Mount Kirishima.
UH:   Huh?
R:     (He holds his pistol inside his kimono and poses.) Well then, you can go ahead now.
UH:   Alright. Here we go! Now! (Ueno Hikoma takes the photograph.) OK!

(Ryōma studies his pistol. He has set his resolve, to go to war and to kill the enemy.)

Episode 38
The Oath at Kirishima

*1. Sakurajima - more info here and pictures (1) (2) (3)
*2. Shiobitashi Onzen - more info here
*3. Kirishima Mountains - more info here and pictures (1) (2)

*4. Because Yataro was speaking in the foreground, we apologise that we are unable to hear the complete first sentence spoken by Léon Roches in his meeting with Oguri Tadamasa. The respective English translation was taken from the Japanese subtitles on the original episode.

*5. For a translation of Ryoma’s letter to Otome describing his visit to Satsuma, please refer to this post. (Look for the last letter.)
*6. Harry Parkes - more info here
*7. Takachiho-no-mine - more info here
*8. The Sun-goddess Amaterasu - more info here. The Japanese Imperial family is said to be a direct descendant from Amaterasu.
*9. Ninigi-no-Mikoto - more info here. His grandson is the first Emperor of Japan.
*10. Amanosakahoko, also called the Amenosakahoko (天逆鉾) is the same legendary spear which was used to create the islands of Japan before. The earliest name given for it was Amenonuhoko (天沼矛) more info and Japanese wiki.
*11. The Shamisen is a traditional musical instrument in Japan - more info here

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Timeline for this Episode:

- To be updated

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ryomaden Travelogue

[Kagoshima Prefecture, Kagoshima City / Sakarajima]

In Keiō Year 2 (1866), Ryōma and Oryō spent around 3 months travelling around Kagoshima….

[Sengan-en* / The Shimazu family villa]

…..within Satsuma, the most modern and advanced of the Hans in the Bakumatsu.

[Shoko Shuseikan (museum)* / Formerly Shuseikan Machine Factory]

Ryōma visited institutions teaching Western studies and witnessed for himself Satsuma’s technological strength.

[Site of the Reverberatory furnace]*

This is Kirishima City in Kagoshima Prefecture.

[Kirishima City / Kirishima Mountain range]

Ryōma and Oryō came to the Kirishima hot springs to recuperate from the injuries sustained in the Teradaya.

[Shiobitashi Onsen Ryōma Koen (Shiobitashi Hot Springs Ryōma Park)]
[Shinkawa-Keikoku Onsenkyo (Shinkawa Ravine Hot Springs region)]
[Inukai no Taki (waterfall) / Makizono-chō]

He even wrote about how moved he was by the beautiful waterfall in a letter of his sister Otome.

[Keiō Year 2, December 4, addressed to Sakamoto Otome] (from the archives of the Kyoto National Museum)

The letter described in detail how he and Oryō successfully climbed the summit of Mount Takachino-no-mine.

[Takachiho-no-mine / Kirishima Yaku National Park]

Their trip was said to be the pioneer of the modern honeymoon.

[Miyazaki Prefecture, Takaharu-chō / Amanosakahoko, summit of Mount Takachiho-no-mine]
* No touching allowed on the Amanosakahoko.

It was a brief respite for Ryōma and Oryō.

[Places related to Ryōma and Oryō - Kagoshima]

[Shiobitashi Onsen Ryōma Koen (Shiobitashi Hot Springs Ryōma Park)]
Take bus from JR “Kareigawa Station” and get off at “Shiobitashi Onsen”

[Sengan-en]
Take bus from JR “Kagoshima-Chūō Station” and get off at “Senganen-mae”

* Sengan-en - more info here
* Shoko Shuseikan - Built in the mid-1850s as Japan’s first industrial factory, it houses items relating to the almost 700-year history of the Shimazu clan, including family heirlooms, palanquins used to carry Shimazu lords back and forth to Edo (it took 40-60 days), everyday items used by the family, and photographs, as well as the manufacture of cannons, textiles, and other products. Homepage (in Japanese) and more info here.
* Reverberatory furnace - more info here

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Episode 29 Go To. Episode 30 Go To. Episode 31 Go To. Episode 32 Go To. Episode 33
Episode 34 Go To. Episode 35 Go To. Episode 36 Go To. Episode 37 Go To. Episode 38
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Translated from the Chinese and Japanese subtitles on the episode. Many many thanks to the hard work of all these fans, without which this would not have been possible!! A special word of thanks to the following friends:
- Reder, our French subtitler, and Luna, for their help in scripting the French dialogue
- River and Slyduck of the MashaPlus [dot] Info Forums, for their invaluable advice on certain parts of this translation.