Itosato

Based on actual events and one of the biggest assassination mysteries of all time, this movie shows a unique view of the bloody yet beautiful world of war and love in 1863. Although the story is set 155 years ago, through young Itosato's eyes, the world surrounding women, especially women's rights, is much similar to the world we live in today. More than that, it was very difficult for women to speak up in front of men and kings in that era in Japan. Itosato is a "Tenjin" who is just under rank of Aristocrat titled Supreme Entertainer in Kyoto called Tayou. Besides Itosato, there are two more women in key roles. All of them loved the men in Shinsen-gumi, who protect Shogun government under the command of Kyoto Military Commissioner. We find in their struggle what constitutes the women's life and happiness. 3 memorable women - 3 love affairs. Times were changing during one of the most turbulent eras in Japan. Shogun ruled the people; and there were fierce battles between Samurai to control the new government alongside the Emperor. Three women, risking everything for life and love had to make hard choices: collaboration, secrets and suicide. Excellent Japanese actors such as Ryoko Fujino who plays Itosato and Junpei Mizobata who portrays strong Toshizo Hijikata, took Rising Star Award of Japan Academy Awards. This movie brilliantly shows impression of minds and drama of human beings. In 1863, the end of the Shogun Era, the city of Kyoto was locked in constant battle and fierce conflict between Kinno-ha, loyalists desperately trying to revive and save the Emperor's kingdom, and Sabaku-ha, protectors of the Shogunate. The story begins with a woman at the seashore as she observes a group of small boys playing with wooden swords and pretending to be Shinsen-gumi, the Shogun's last Samurai Corps. When one boy threatens death to another, it generates a flashback for her of horrible memories from the year before. At age 16, Itosato witnesses the murder of her mentor and friend, Otowa Dayou, Supreme Kyoto Entertainer (Tayou), by Kamo Serizawa, Lead Commander of Mibu Roshi-gumi (that name later changed to Shinsen-gumi). Her dying words to Itosato urged her not to hold grudges or to have hatred for anyone. Ito asked Toshizo Hijikata, Vice Commander of the Mibu Roshi-gumi and a highly intelligent man, to look into the assassination and the reasons why Otowa Dayou had to receive "Death for Disrespect" that night by Kamo Serizawa, Tayou's client. Appearing before his military superiors, Serizawa managed to escape punishment and boasted that he now owes the savvy and cagey Hijikata much for defending him. Within Shinsen-gumi, two opposing factions had evolved to divide this select Corps: Kondo is and Serizawa is. There was also the class conflict of a barrier between "farmer" and "samurai." People were afraid to get involved with either because doing so might result in their death. Itosato and Kichie, close friends, were training at a courtesan house and had attained the rank of Tenjin, just below that of Tayou. Ito-chan loves Hijikata, who often treats her like a younger sister, but surprises her with a gift of expensive eyeglasses. She wondered how he knew she needed them. Kichie is presently in a relationship with Goro Hirayama, an ally of Serizawa who has a new mistress of his own named Oume. During the dating of Itosato and Hijikata, she asked him what was going to happen to Shinsen-gumi and what would be Hijikata's future. He planned to go back north to Edo to manage his friend Isami Kondo's estate and farm, thus about to abandon his role as a samurai. These two Vice Commanders had organized a Sumo wrestling match, the proceeds of which would continue to help fund the Shinsen-gumi, their way of protecting the city using money from rich merchants. Unbeknownst to them, Serizawa and several confederates torched the business of a big merchant, citing it as punishment for illegal foreign trade and for creating an unlawful monopoly. Rather than admit to it as his own doing, Serizawa confides to Oume that the order was received from the commissioner's entourage, but not to reveal that fact to anyone, especially to Hijikata and Kondo. When she berated him for being a fool and drunkard, he confessed to why he killed Otowa Dayou: her words had enraged him while drunk, and he killed her. Goro Hirayama loves Kichie, but does not have enough money to pay the courtesan house to free her. She later asks Itosato a favor: implore Hijikata, his Vice Commander, to request less harsh assignments for Goro. But when Itosato meets him at a lunch at the military station, she is surprised to see Serizawa there as well and astounded when he tells her that an older man is in love with her and that she should accept him in marriage or else he will commit Hara-kiri. Hijikata tells Itosato in private of his plans to assassinate Serizawa which is an order of the Military Commissioner. He asks her assistance in drugging them. But Goro was nevertheless killed. Itosato begged him that he should spare Goro for Kichie's sake and their unborn child. But Hijikata had already negotiated with Kichie for her two choices: Help with the assassination of her true love and becoming Tayou, or becoming homeless with her baby. Kichie's struggle made her ill. A horrible event happened anyway. With Goro's dying breath, he called Kichie "Yuki," her preferred name. Later, as Itosato is being transported to a ceremony, she returned the eyeglasses to Hijikata, telling him it could sometimes be inconvenient to see things too clearly. Years earlier, Ito (which means "string" as a significant symbol of good fate in this movie) was allowed by Otowa Dayou to retain her real name, now became Aristocrat titled Supreme Entertainer, Tayou. The movie ends with Kichie and her new daughter Ito at the beach as Itosato finally becomes Tayou in a formal ceremony.