パペットホームズ、大河ドラマなどの好きなテレビ番組やラグビーについて書いています。アフィリエイトはやっていません。／Welcome to my blog. I write about some Japanese TV programmes including NHK puppetry and Taiga Drama, Sherlock Holmes and rugby. I don't do affiliate marketing.
Shimazu Nariakira is going to submit a petition about the defense of Satsuma to the bakufu, shōgun's government but Narioki is afraid that the secrets of hid domain will be found out. He blames his son as the agent of shogun and O-Yura needles him about it. However, Nariakira tells Yukié that he will depart for Edo on the following day. The bakufu doubts the smuggling and the relationship with the Ryukyu Kingdom (*) of Satsuma. Nariakira plans to drive him from power and hopes to come back again as new lord.
Zusho Hirosato (Raita Ryū), superior vassal of the Shimazu clan
The farmers in Satsuma groan under the heavy land taxes and the officials who collects taxes are usually dishonest and take bribes. Kichinosuke tries to do something about Jomen-ho, the law of taxation and asks ZUSHO Hirosato, superior vassal of Narioki not to apply the law in a lean year because it worries farmers. But Hirosato says if it turns all right in the end, he doesn't mind their suffering. Kichinosuke still tells him that he wants to protect farmers and told by him to do tsubokari, checking the crop of all rice fields and calculate the tax. He brings Ito to the village with the permission of Yukie but she hesitates to walk with him (**).
Kichinosuke (Ryohei Suzuki, centre) finds a hidden rice field in the village
But Kichinocuke sees a hidden rice field there. They cultivate and sell rice secretly to support themselves. It's a kind of small resistance against dishonest officials. That night he visits Yukié and asks him to mediate between him and Nariakra. Then he writes a letter that describes the situation of farmers. Shōsuke stops Kichinosuke but the words of Nariakira he heard in his childhood still backs him up.
Kichinosuke (left) asks Akayama Yukié (Ikki Sawamura, right) to make him meet Nariakira
Fuki was supposed to work at Ito's house but is canceled and she is going to be sold. Kichinosuke hears about it from Ito and runs to her shanty but she has already made up her mind. "I was happy for having met a true samurai"(***), says she. She praises Sakurajima as she leaves the village. And Yukié tries to prevent Nariakira from leaving after taking a short rest on his way. Nariakira knows Yukié is waiting for somebody. At last he says, "Sir, I would like to show you a lad whom I know but he seems to be busy about farmers now." Nariakira understands his feeling and rides a horse again.
Shimazu Nariakira (Ken Watanabe, left) knows Yukie (right) is waiting for someone
After Fuki left, Kichinosuke says to himself with vexation. "I am not a true samurai but yassenbo who could not so much as save a girl!"
(*) Ryukyu Kingdom was independent and paid tribute to Qing at that time but was ruled by Satsuma Domain in reality and taxes were collected. (**) It was unusual that a man and woman walked side by side in Satsuma under Tokugawa shogunate. (***) Tami, mother of Fuki says the same thing in the episode.
The images are from the official website and the video of "Sego-don".
