A story from before the events of Kyoto Winds. Sakamoto receives a letter from a friend with some very exciting news.
Translated Video
Spring, 1863—
I was staying overnight at an inn in Osaka.
Ryoma Sakamoto:
"Man, it's freezing. According to the calendar it's supposed to be spring, but it's still so cold today."
I muttered while sitting next to the brazier that I had borrowed from the innkeeper.
According to the locals, it has gotten a lot warmer lately, and it seems like spring has finally arrived...
But to me, who was born and raised in Tosa, it still feels like winter.
I just want to warm up as soon as possible.
As I was thinking that...
I could hear the sound of footsteps approaching from the other side of the sliding door.
Is the hostess coming to clean the room?
Well then, it would be better to go outside so that I don't get in the way...
As I was about to get up–
The door slides open and someone rushes into the room.
???:
"Yo, big bro Ryoma!"
"What are you doing, shut yourself in with sunny weather like this?"
As soon as he entered the room, the man spoke in a casual tone–
Ryoma Sakamoto:
"Oh it’s you... Kameyata! Men, you should have told me you were coming to visit."
Kameyata Mochizuki:
"Aw, don’t be like that. We’re practically brothers."
As Kameyata said that, he sat down on the tatami floor.
This guy is Kameyata Mochizuki.
Born in Tosa, same as me, he is a member of the Tosa Loyalist Party led by Mr. Takeichi.
And well, he's like a little brother to me.
Kameyata Mochizuki:
"...Ah, but, if I were to interrupt you while you were entertaining a woman, it would probably be pretty bad."
Ryoma Sakamoto:
"What are you talking about? Do you think I have time to fool around with a woman?"
Kameyata then cut back half in disgust.
Kameyata Mochizuki:
"You're really popular with women, you know."
“Even back in Tosa, the women who I was courting were more interested in you than in me.”
"What's the big difference between you and me…? I don’t think I am so bad looking."
Kameyata seemed unconvinced and shook his head.
Man, I have no idea what is going through his head...
Ryoma Sakamoto:
"...Don't tell me, did you come all the way here just to talk about that?"
Then Kameyata perked up like he just remembered something.
Kameyata Mochizuki:
"No, it's not! I was in charge of delivering this letter."
Ryoma Sakamoto:
"Letter? From whom?"
Kameyata smiles teasingly as I ask the question.
Kameyata Mochizuki:
"From who else could it be? It’s from a geisha from Shinmachi. You know, the one you’re ‘acquainted’ with."
Ryoma Sakamoto:
"... Oh, you mean Oran Chiiyurou? How is she?"
Kameyata is a hot-tempered guy and gets easily carried away.
He also has a tendency to pull too many practical jokes.
Kameyata Mochizuki:
"Tsk, how boring. You could have given me a better reaction."
While saying that, Kameyata took out a letter from his pocket.
As I checked the sender of the letter...
Ryoma Sakamoto:
"! This is a letter from Master Katsu! You should have told me sooner it was from him!"
Master Yuuga Katsu is like my mentor…
He taught me, who only knew about Tosa and Edo, about the wider world and the flow of the times.
Impressed by Master Katsu's teachings, I always wanted to help him.
That’s why I am now in Osaka, in order to make my mentor's ideas a reality.
So this letter is news I've been waiting for all this time.
Full of excitement, I opened the letter and read it through.
I was so absorbed by the contents of the letter that I barely even had time to blink.
And when I finished reading it…
Ryoma Sakamoto:
"...As expected of master Katsu! Japan can finally take the first step towards becoming a modern nation!"
I clenched my fist and shouted in excitement.
I couldn’t contain my excitement and wanted to start running right now.
Kameyata, who was sitting next to me, looked surprised.
Kameyata Mochizuki:
"Why? What did the letter say?"
While looking at Kameyata, I shout.
Ryoma Sakamoto:
"I'll be able to sail a black ship! Me, a Japanese citizen!”
Kameyata Mochizuki:
"Wha?"
Ryoma Sakamoto:
"Let's do this. Let's go, Kameyata!"
Just like that, I ran out of the inn.
Kameyata Mochizuki:
"W-Wait up bro! Calm down!"
After reading the letter from Master Katsu, I felt like I couldn’t sit still.
I was exhilarated and went to a port where many ships are docked.
Perhaps because I was born and raised by the sea, I feel calm when I hear the sound of waves.
Kameyata Mochizuki:
“So, what was written in the letter earlier?”
"You said something about being able to sail a black ship..."
Ryoma Sakamoto:
“The Naval Training Center, which Master Katsu has been talking about for a long time, is going to be built in Kobe.”
Kameyata Mochizuki:
"The Naval Training Center...?"
Maybe it's because my explanation from earlier wasn’t clear enough…
But Kameyata still seems to be unable to fully understand the situation.
Ryoma Sakamoto:
"It's a place where you can study how to sail black ships. If we study there, we Japanese will be able to sail black ships."
"Just like the British and Americans!"
This time, Kameyata seemed to have finally understood what I was trying to say.
Kameyata Mochizuki:
"That's amazing! Is it possible for Japan to become a strong country like the West?"
Ryoma Sakamoto:
"Yeah, that's right!"
"We can be reborn into a strong country that no other country in the world will pick a fight with."
Kameyata Mochizuki:
"Alright!!!!"
Kameyata clenched his fist and jumped up, unable to contain his happiness.
I also felt the same as Kameyata.
Seeing him honestly express his joy like this, filled me with joy as well.
Kameyata Mochizuki:
"When can we study there!? I can't wait!"
Ryoma Sakamoto:
"According to the letter, they will open somewhere this spring. So it's coming soon, I'm looking forward to it."
Kameyata Mochizuki:
"Ugh... I can't wait!"
After inhaling the wind that smelled of the tide, Kameyata turned his innocent eyes my way.
Kameyata Mochizuki:
"Of course, I'll invite Master Takeichi, Izo, and Nakaoka to that naval training place, right?"
For a moment, I was at a loss as to how to answer that honest question.
Ryoma Sakamoto:
"Ah... that's right..."
Master Takeichi, Izo, and Nakaoka are fellow members of the Tosa Loyalist Party.
Of course, I would be more than happy if they wanted to come to the training center.
Ryoma Sakamoto:
"... If Master Takeichi and others agree with our ideas, it will be fine."
A surge of anxiety washed over me.
I always thought that if I’m going to force Japan to open up, I should use any means necessary regardless of whether it's connected to the shogunate or not...
In regards to that, master Takeichi seems to think that the open-country faction who is in close contact with the West should be eliminated.
Rumor has it that Izo will kill people who support the opening of the country on the orders of Master Takeichi.
Nakaoka, too, often says that my method is lukewarm.
I wonder if those guys will listen to my ideals...
With such things running through my head, I couldn't reply right away...
Kameyata Mochizuki:
"Hey, what’s wrong? Making such a serious face doesn’t suit you."
Ryoma Sakamoto:
"That's quite a statement to make… Saying that it doesn’t suit me."
"I'm a serious man you know, I don’t have much time to fool around."
Kameyata Mochizuki:
"Yeah, you do that, just keep it cool like you always do."
"I find your attitude very encouraging."
Kameyata's words caught me by surprise.
Ryoma Sakamoto:
"You find my attitude encouraging? Really?"
Kameyata Mochizuki:
"Yeah, really!"
Kameyata nodded without hesitation.
Ryoma Sakamoto:
"I see..."
The moment I heard these words—
I felt the anxiety in my chest fade away.
Ryoma Sakamoto:
"You're right. From now on, I can't worry about every little thing."
Kameyata Mochizuki:
"That's the Ryoma I know!"
It reminds me of when I saw Perry's black ship in Uraga when I was in Edo for training in swordsmanship.
I had never seen a ship of that might and size before...
I couldn't imagine what kind of Westerners would be able to make something like that.
After that, I met Master Katsu and Professor Koryu Kawata...
I’ve been taught many things by the people I’ve met.
Both Japanese and Westerners are made of the same stuff.
So someday, we Japanese will be able to sail black ships with our own hands.
The time has finally come for that dream to become reality.
Ryoma Sakamoto:
"I'll definitely get my own ship someday."
"Using that black ship, I want to do business all over the world."
"Then, I’ll become the richest man in the world!"
Kameyata looked dumbfounded at my words.
Kameyata Mochizuki:
"...You’re out of your mind. You, becoming the richest man in the world…?"
Ryoma Sakamoto:
"Don’t be like that, it's good to have big dreams."
I’ve told Kameyata this before...
In fact, I don't think it's such a wild dream.
'Cause when I first saw Perry's ship...
Back then it would be impossible to guess if the Japanese could manipulate or build a black ship.
But now, it doesn’t seem so unreasonable.
I don't think there is that much of a difference between Japanese and Westerners.
To prove that— I’ll become the richest man in the world, and let everybody know that it isn’t an impossible dream.
But, I don’t just want to get rich…
Ryoma Sakamoto:
"...From now on, I will only do business with the other side of the sea."
“I want to create a country where we can do business on an equal footing.”
"I'm going to be pretty busy from now on!"
There are a lot of difficulties standing in front of us…
But still, I am able to take a big step towards realizing my dream.
–After I’m done reforming Japan, I’ll start chasing an even bigger dream.
~END~
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