Sakura Wars: The Movie (サクラ大戦 活動写真)

"December 24, Taisho 15 (1926 A.D.)"

Let's raise the curtains now,

"Original Story: Ohji Hiroi"

"Director: Mitsuru Hongo"

Thank you for attending the Great Imperial Theater today.

Thank you so much for your patronage!

Great work, everyone!

You, too!

Thanks for making the announcement.

Sure.

Wasn't that an amazing round of applause, Leni?

I thought I was going to pass out!

Yes, the crowd was especially enthusiastic today.

We must thank our audience.

I reckon we should, Miss Maria!

It was like we and the audience were one!

I had a great time!

Well, I suppose you all did rather well.

Is something the matter?

It's so rare for you to compliment others, Miss Sumire.

You got that right!

Honestly, though, this is a good kind of tired!

Orihime, you worked hard all this year.

That's right, but you worked hardest of all, Miss Karma.

Oh, but I don't recall Miss Karma working all that hard...

What?! You're the only one around here who hasn't--

This is our playhouse.

This is where we members of the Imperial Operetta Troupe's Flower Division...

...pool together our sweat, tears, and hopes, and shine brightly.

To be here in this spot at this exact time...

lt makes me happy-

Happy birthday, Leni!

Happy birthday!

You're 17 now, Leni.

Thank you.

Wait for me!

Please! Please, don't leave me out!

Happy birthday, Leni.

Thank you, Sakura.

How do you manage to be such a klutz?

I realize you're always this way, but I really must wonder.

Oh, isn't Flower Division wonderful?

Hi there! Merry Christmas and happy birthday!

Captain Kayama?

With Flower Division Captain lchiro Oogami being away at Paris and all,

I thought I'd try to cheer everyone up.

But Maria is our acting captain right now!

It seems like we were having more fun before Captain Kayama showed up...

C'mon, now! Let's live it up tonight!

Sumire?

Oh, Miss Maria! What a coincidence!

I had no idea you watched films like this, Sumire.

Would you care to join me, Miss Maria?

"Imperial News"

A powerful friend has arrived at the imperial capital, Tokyo.

The United States of America.

Among the many corporations to be found there,

the Douglas-Stewart Company stands out with its advanced science.

Mr. Brent Furlong, the young president of Douglas-Stewart,

is a man passionate about charity work.

Amazed at the rapid pace of our nation's recovery...

...and the strong work ethic of her people,

Miss Maria...

Mr. Furlong is offering...

...to help us create a better society,

What in the world is bothering you?

--I'm sorry. It's nothing. --working toward the brighter future...

--I see. --...that awaits us in the 21st century.

"Imperial News" "The End"

"KAN-El" "Kanzaki Motion Picture Company"

"Yokohama Love Triangle"

Hm?

--Thank you for coming! --Thank you for coming!

Excuse me, where do I find the manager?

Um, I'm not very good with English.

Miss Sakura?

Wha--? Oh, I'm no good with English, either.

How are you?

Did I get it wrong? Let me see...

Nice to meet you!

Huh? What are you trying to say?

You're not making any sense at all.

Will you please stop wasting my time?

M-My name is Sakura!

Sakura is che--cherry!

Cherry is Nippon! Heart!

Miss Sakura, you're not making any sense!

--Calm down! --No, it's, um... Japan Spirit!

I'm sorry, I was just joking.

Where might I find Mr. Yoneda, the manager?

Mr. Yoneda?

The manager?

I see. So, the Elders Institute has finally decided...

...to set up a Fighting Troupe even in America.

Yes, Sir. Following in the footsteps of Tokyo and Paris,

the third City Defense Plan will be the New York Fighting Troupe.

So, why did you come all the way out to Tokyo?

The Imperial Capital has successfully fought off two great demon invasions,

and Paris has recently repelled the Parishii.

I concluded that to learn from these successes, it would be more efficient...

...to work in the field with them rather than study them from afar.

Efficient, eh?

As of today, I've been assigned to the Imperial Fighting Troupe, Flower Division.

Lachette Altair, reporting for duty. I look forward to serving under you.

So, I'm guessing you already got the Elders lnstitute's permission for this, eh?

Knowing you, you probably brought your own Eisenkleid to Japan, didn't you?

Where is it? We'll have to send someone to go pick it up right away.

There's no worry there, Sir. I already brought it with me on the truck.

As always, it seems you've already got this all worked out.

I simply chose the most efficient course of action.

Well, well. What to do, what to do...?

She was against the breakup of Star Division to the very end.

More than anyone else, she took pride in her role...

...as a guardian of the people against the darkness.

But no matter how exceptional their skill and abilities were,

as a group, they were just too fragile.

We'll have to see if Lachette has come to realize the real reason...

...why Star Division was disbanded.

Our imperial capital of Tokyo is enjoying great prosperity at the moment.

What are you worried about?

Have we not neglected our defenses in the rush to improve our infrastructure?

You're jumping at shadows.

What do you think we've come here to address, then?

The capital is open in all directions, linked to the country via her waterways.

This geographic advantage has brought about the prosperity we enjoy today.

But could we also be taking in diseased elements in the process?

Are you talking about America?

Even if that were the case,

the capital can rely on the Imperial Fighting Troupe for her defense.

Is it wise to be completely dependent on those young girls?

There are, no doubt, issues we must address, but they are trivial.

We need look no further than our own capital and Paris...

...to see that the Fighting Troupe program is a success.

Our nation needs a capital city,

and to be prosperous, a city needs to be open to the free movement of people.

It is unavoidable for the bright lights of prosperity to give rise to dark shadows.

In a sense, we must accept this and learn to live with it.

I trust you all understand this.

What is the government's position on this issue, Mr. Tanuma?

Well, for the city to further develop as a powerful occult center,

our existing spiritual quarantine measures will likely offer inadequate protection.

At this time, then, nothing can replace the Fighting Troupe's Flower Division.

However, in the spirit of being constantly mindful of our surroundings,

I believe we should not shy away from introducing new blood...

...to meet new challenges as the need arises.

I venture to say that the darkness will come upon us yet again.

But if this capital should succumb to the darkness,

it would mean that the entire nation would fall.

That must never happen!

So, a cutie from America, huh?

There you are, Miss Sakura.

Thank you.

So tell us, Miss Sakura, was this person really that beautiful?

She's talking to Mr. Yoneda right now,

but she'll probably pass through here afterwards.

True, but we need to hear your first impression of her.

Why's that?

One set of eyes usually ain't enough to get a true understanding of something.

Now, I don't know how good looking she is,

but we all gotta get a look at her to get to the heart of the matter.

Is that so?

Here comes the heart of the matter now!

Talk about awkward! I bet she heard every word we said!

Like they say, "curiosity killed the cat."

What's that?

A Western saying.

Already trying to act like an American, Miss Sakura?

Of course not!

Miss Sakura!

Wow, she's a real beauty, all right!

See?

This country is not very attractive.

I know what you mean, Sir.

This country is in need of a true king.

What's rational is that the world be under a single entity.

That, we have to teach them.

I knew you were going to say that, Sir.

Beautiful.

Kouma, fallen demons, have appeared in Zaimoku-Cho.

We have confirmation of thirteen so far.

A fire has broken out, but Moon Division is at work putting it out.

Fires can spread quickly this time of year,

so be mindful of the surrounding houses during combat.

Yes, Sir!

Right! Imperial Fighting Troupe, Flower Division, dispatch at once!

--Yes, Sir! --Yes, Sir!

Deputy Commander, we've completed calculating the path to the scene.

Put it up on the screen.

The Gourai-Go's preparations?

Ready in sixty seconds.

Flower Division members have begun boarding their Koubu-Kai's.

--Ignition complete. --Maria Tachibana, ready for dispatch.

Kohran here, I'm A-OK.

Karma Kirishima, ready to go!

Sakura, ignition complete!

Koubu-Kai units, ignition complete!

All right, begin loading!

Now loading.

Moving engine into position.

Rotation complete!