Synopsis
The year is 1868, Year 1 of Japan’s ‘modern’ period of history. The nation faces one of the most dramatic times in its history, with forces loyal to the Shogun pitted against modernizers who wish political power restored after many centuries to the Emperor. This new imperial army has defeated the Shogun’s forces near Kyoto, and now plans a full-scale assault on his capital of Edo—modern Tokyo—to take place March 15th. The Shogun’s Navy Commissioner, Katsu Kaishu, has sent a message to Saigo Takamori, commander of the imperial army, proposing a negotiated surrender of Edo Castle. Rather than fight each other, he believes, Japanese should unite to face the threat of powers that would make the country into another of their many colonies. There are those within the Shogunate, however, who do not agree, and are importing modern weapons from France to resist Takamori’s attack. Yanagida Ryuzo, Deputy Commander of the Shogun’s forces, wants to preserve the Shogunate and its samurai way of life, and is working behind the scenes to make sure that no negotiations take place. Having received no answer to his message, Katsu is becoming more and more isolated. Now he encounters Mikako and Masaya, two strangely dressed people who have been taken into magistrate’s custody. They tell him they have traveled back through time from 2014. Katsu is understandably suspicious of this story, but they have with them a smart phone, an automobile, and a Rubik’s cube. Gradually he comes to think they might be telling the truth. They tell him they want to find their two companions from the future, Eri and Shintaro, and return to their own time. In 2014, Mikako is a history teacher, and the other three are her students. She has just finished teaching them that negotiations took place, and thus there was no battle in Edo. However, according to history, Takamori’s messenger should have already arrived. And there is no ‘Yanagida’ in modern-day history books. Something has thrown history off its course. If no message from Takamori arrives, and Edo becomes a battleground, will there be a future for Mikako and the others to return to? There are four days until the attack. Will Mikako and Masaya find Eri and Shintaro? Will they make it back to the future? Can Katsu preserve that future for them? The battle to prevent the battle has now begun!