Clouds Over the Hill

On February 6, 1904, a combined fleet under the command of Admiral Heihachiro Togo attempted an attack from Saseho Port to wipe out Russian Port Arthur. But the Russian fleet remained secluded in Port Arthur which was protected so the combined fleet could not enter. The combined fleet was at its wits’ end with plans and they decided to blockade Port Arthur by sinking vessels at the entrance of the port. Saneyuki was asked to give a letter to Ariazuna by Takeo Hirose, his best friend since naval academy. Hirose noticed that Sugino was not there right before escaping from flying bullets. Hirose desperately looked for him inside the ship but unavoidably gave up and got in the ship but... Since Port Arthur Blockade Operation ended in failure, the combined fleet had a dark atmosphere. Saneyuki was forced to form a new plan soon after Hirose died.

In July 1903, Saneyuki married Sueko Inou. Ritsu brings Shiki’s keepsake to the household of a newly-wed couple. Ritsu talks quite freely with Sueko and tells her about Shiki’s childhood. Since conflict between Japan and Russia has become unavoidable, the Navy organized a combined fleet. The Minister of the Navy, Gonbei Yamamoto unexpectedly appoints Heihachiro Tougou as a Commander-in-Chief. On the other hand, Saneyuki was ordered to be responsible for war strategies and would bear the future of the Japanese Navy. Before getting on the flagship battleship Mikasa, Saneyuki and Sueko visit the place of Yoshifuru and Tami where his mother, Sada stays, and spends time with entire Akiyama family. Meanwhile, in Russia, Akashi Motojiro was employed in espionage provoking revolutionaries by order of Gentaro Kodama. Even though Jyutaro Komura, the Minister of Foreign Affairs had continued negotiations to avoid war with Russia, the government finally decided to begin the war in February 1904.

Shiki, who strived for innovation of literature, despite being ill in bed, reconsidered Japanese classical literature and tried to create a new world of Haiku. Saneyuki who teaches tactics at Naval War College visits Shiki in Negishi, Tokyo, and is impressed by seeing Shiki fighting illness. In the middle of the night, Yae and Ritsu realize that Shiki is dead. While tension between Japan and Russia has increased, Saneyuki learns of Shiki’s death, a great man in the new Haikai, on newspaper. Shiki died at the age of 35 on September 19, 1902.

May 1900 - at Portsmouth Harbor. Saneyuki and Takeo Hirose were excited to see the battleship Asahi on standby for returning to Japan and visited London Royal Navy College. Meanwhile, in Qing Dynasty, Yoshikazu and his men rose in arms and Yoshifuru left for the front as Allied Power with his men. They looked upon how Russian soldiers run riot. Saneyuki returned to Japan and visited Shiki who had been nursed by Ritsu and he was amazed by Shiki¹s tremendous innovative spirit. At that time, Japan thought that a conflict with Russia was unavoidable and sought for alliance with England. Because England had been unwilling Russia¹s expansion to Asia, they formed the Anglo-Japanese Alliance in 1902. A huge wave of the era was going to swallow young people on a small island.

September 1895, Saneyuki visited Shiki in Matsuyama as a warship, "Tsukushi",returned to Kure. At that time, Shiki had been boarding with Kinnosuke Natsume who was appointed as a Junior high school English teacher in Matsuyama. On his way home, Saneyuki asked Ritsu about Shiki's condition. Ritsu bravely answered she will not fail to cure his disease. June 1875, a topic of study abroad was brought up among young naval officers. Saneyuki dared to go to the United States, a developing country under Europe. Saneyuki's best friend, Takeo Hirose, expected a future battle between Russia and Japan, and decides to go to Russia. Saneyuki visits Shiki before he leaves and Shiki tells that he will compose a Haiku, risking his life. While studying in the U.S., Saneyuki asked a world tactician, Alfred Mahan, for guidance and had an opportunity to go as a military officer to observe military operations. The report has been said to excel above all others in Japanese naval history.

In 1894, Russia advances policy of southward expansion, Qing Dynasty says that Korea is its vassal state and Japan want to build new footing. Among the three countries, Korea had been swinging. The war broke out between Japan and the Qing Dynasty which stems from the run of so-called party Donghak that occurred there. Yoshifuru campaigns with Marenori Nogi to participate in the attack of the Port Arthur fortress. Yoshifuru felt out Katuaki’s view of the enemy’s position, leading the cavalry. The total attack is initiated based on that report, and the Port Arthur has fallen in a day. The following year, Shiki who works as a reporter for "Japan" newspaper appeals to Katsunan Kuga, an editor in chief, and he becomes a war correspondent and leaves for the battlefront of Qing. However, a peace negotiation between the two governments already had begun. Shiki and Rintaro Mori, a surgeon he met inside around the villages that were destroyed, talk about the war. Saneyuki also participates in the actual battle in the "Tsukushi" cruiser for the first time and the real horrors shocks him to allow subordinates to die. Saneyuki returned and had an opportunity to talk with Heihachiro Togo.

“Land of the children,” Meiji Japan that began treading in rough water of Western power has been suffering from a world stage, just like the main characters. In 1889, the Constitution of the Empire of Japan was proclaimed and Japan began to establish the foundation of a modern nation. In summer of this year, Shiki goes home in Matsuyama for medical treatment. Saneyuki also comes home from Edashima and they see each other after an interval of three years. They spend time with Ritsu who has been taking care of Shiki. However, Shiki says that he will follow the path of Haiku, deciding to use his real name “Shiki” as the pseudonym. Meanwhile, Saneyuki causes a trouble during his homecoming.

In 1884, a year has passed since Saneyuki and Shiki moved to Tokyo, a different world from Iyo-Matsuyama due to Westernization. In September, both Saneyuki and Shiki pass the entrance exam to the preliminary University. As Yoshifuru was told about their success, he admonished them to be independent and not pamper themselves. On the other hand, at Army College where Yoshifuru was enrolled, Gentaro Kodama offers Major Mackel a post to teach combat tactics of the German Army. The Japanese Army becomes German style.