Why Not? (ええじゃないか)

We bring you a snake woman from deep in the mountains

She never eats cooked food

She eats nothing but living creatures

She gobbles them down, skin and bones...

Her mother's conduct made her daughter like this

She's just eighteen

Frightening! Strange!

She can stretch her neck!

A long-necked monster! Ai!

Here I am!

Poor stray fellow!

A man with strange eyes!

He can pop them out

Now, look! Look!

The snake fat still remains in her mouth

She will now breathe fire!

SUMMER OF THE YEAR 1866

EAST RYOGOKU, EDO

Go collect the permit fees

Not doing very well?

No, the same show's across the river

In West Ryogoku?

Don't make a fuss

I won't kill you

I just want you to join the Shogunate's army

No! I don't want to

Shut up!

They'll give a bum like you three meals a day!

How about it?

Glad you understand

That's five. My commission?

Don't worry

Thanks. Now get to work

Making money, eh?

Nice! How much was she?

Forget it

Pickpocket! Wait, damn you

A three-way split

Why?

You, me and Unokichi...

And me. That's four

What a bastard!

YOKOHAMA

He's sent by the government official,

to help the needy

This man is a American citizen

He's protected by the American Embassy

Hope you can help him

Good luck

Good luck

Take him away!

Get up!

Be quiet

Who's there?

Who are you?

I'm Itoman, from the Ryukyus

From so far south?

Why are you here?

My ship was wrecked

Are you alone?

And you?

I'm Genji, from Kawanishi Village, Joshu

My job was carrying silk to Yokohama

I boarded a ship. Then a storm...

Shipwrecked?

I was saved by an American ship

Six years ago

They think I'm a Christian

Is that still forbidden?

How long must I stay here?

Idiots. Let me out

I'm not back for here

You did this?

No

The man before us?

Any rice in the Ryukyus?

No

That's my village

The smaller house is mine

The bigger one is my wife's

Mother

Ine

Father

Wait here, will you?

Father

Genji

He's alive?

Your mother was-very old

She died three days after she feel ill

And-where is Ine?

How is Ine? Is she well, Father?

Where is she, Senmatsu?

We sold her

Sold her?

Because we're poor

All the poor have sold their wives and daughters

Senmatsu! She's my wife

Your wife?

Wait. Ine is your wife

You left her for six years

All you call yourself her husband?

What?

Wait. Ine is your wife

I'm sorry we sold her

I apologize

Ine waited two years

But no news, nothing

We cared her after your mother died

We never gave her up

But she left-on her own...

After crying all night

Been three years now

Her contract's expired,

but she hasn't come back

Genji, will you go to Edo and look for her?

There's a store named Kadoya

I think Ine is there

Kadoya?

Here's some bear gall

Sell it when you need money

RYOGOKU BRIDGE, EDO

Do you know a man named Gon?

No

Watch out, peasant

Gon? Never heard of him

How much?

Ten copper coins

I'll pay for these two

Thank you very much

Ask a woman named Oko about Gon

If she doesn't help, ask Kinzo

Polish her up and the boss will take care of her

Some guests are fast with women, so...

I know. Tell the boss to come once in a while

And I paid you, right?

Oko. Oko

I'm Oko. What do you want?

Do you know Gon?

Who are you?

I'm Genji. I have something to ask Gon

about my wife, Ine

Who told you about me?

A RONIN I just met

Furukawa?

If you don't know, I'll ask Kinzo

Go away

Furukawa sure talks a lot

SHOGUNATE ARMY TRAINING SITE

Masuya says...

He wants to thank the Shogun

To begin with he gave thirty gunmen...

To the infantry you've been recruiting

We had to get them fast

So they may not look very strong

But they're only his first gift

We'll deliver new rifles

before you attack Choshu

On the right shoulder!

On the right! Got it?

He's the pickpocket

You fool!

No, no

Thieves!

Back from America?

I understand. Mago, Gon

Tank him to Ine

Genji, wait...

I hate to say it,

but Ine owes me money

Don't make a fuss. Come see me if you need to

Come, show time...

Come, tickle the goddess!

Blow! Now! That's no good!

The old man's too tired!

So it's you

Wait out back

Genji... you're alive?

Where were you?

Oh, I'm so glad to see you

You can't leave us like this

Shut up. Go away

What's going on?

I waited for you

But you never returned. It was hard

I'm glad you're back

In America, they told me not to come back

But I did because I wanted to see you

Genji...

What happened to your leg?

Why do you limp?

I broke it in the shipwreck

It's been like this ever since

You drink a lot, eh?

I won't go back to the village!

But your father...

Whatever he says, I won't go

There's no reason to

All they do is dig graves and hunt animals

Being poor is awful. All they eat is millet

Here even dogs wouldn't eat that