Completed - JAPANESE - Historical, True Story, Drama - 109 minutes
Nineteenth century. As the era of feudal lords drew to an end, one man's passion helped Japan move forward. His name was Tomoatsu Godai. He had uncanny skills as a merchant but he began his life as a retainer to the Lord of Satsuma. His passion is timeless as it speaks to present-day audiences.
Year of production : 2020 Director(s) : Mitsutoshi TANAKA Writer(s) : Eriko KOMATSU Cast : Haruma MIURA, Shohei MIURA, Yuki MORINAGA, Takanori NISHIKAWA, Aoi MORIKAWA Producer(s) : Satoshi MIYAZAKI (Giggly Box Co., Ltd.)
In the mid-nineteenth century, Japan is in a period of political and social reform. The Tokugawa shogunate's long-standing isolation policy is undermined. Existing trading with foreigners is tightly controlled and only done at specific locations such as Nagasaki. In Nagasaki, young samurais, Saisuke Godai and Ryoma Sakamoto, are being chased by groups of conservative samurai who attack progressive thinkers. Their fateful encounter is a pivotal moment in Japan's budding modernization. Saisuke's encounters do not stop there. There's a prostitute, Haru, whom he keeps bumping into. On each occasion, he helps her out of trouble. Saisuke also meets Risuke, who later becomes first ever Japanese prime minister. Saisuke comes across as a megalomaniac but it's just that he has a master plan for Japan's modernization. He sees trade with foreign powers and industry growth as imperative to Japan's future and prosperity. He is hugely ambitious. Ryoma Sakamoto shares his views. The Lord of Satsuma domain sees that modernization is inevitable so he sends the grown-up Saisuke to Shanghai to purchase a steamship. Saisuke tells his upcoming mission to Ryoma, Risuke, and Yataro Iwasaki from Tosa domain. Saisuke visits Haru and tells her of his dream to make Japan a country where everyone is free to pursue their dreams. Haru tells him that her dream is to go to the sea with him, but she is sold to a wealthy Englishman... It is now 1862. Satsuma domain is in the midst of trouble as a group of Englishmen were attacked by its retainers. Consequently, England mobilizes a squadron of warships and opens fire on Satsuma domain. Imprisoned on the English ship, Saisuke realizes how futile it would be to take on the English with their superior firepower. He also warns the English commander against antagonizing Satsuma domain. The English seize fire and leave. Saisuke's motives are misread by Satsuma retainers who want him dead. So Saisuke asks Thomas Glover, an influential Scottish merchant who lives in Nagasaki, to help him financially so he can leave Japan and study in Europe. Years later, Japan is in civil unrest with the replacement of the Shogun with the Meiji Emperor. All domains are abolished, leaving samurai redundant and confused. Saisuke has a new name in this new era: Tomoatsu Godai. He is now a government official in charge of foreign affairs. In Osaka he implements his secret plans to promote Japan's industry without being subordinate to the West. He knows that the future of Japan depends on its independence, and he will achieve it by any means necessary.
Country(ies) : JAPAN