This Date In History

On this date in History in 1868, Shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu along with the Aizu Lord Matsudaira Katamori fled Osaka Castle aboard the USS Iroquois following the Shogunate defeat at the Battle of Battle of Toba-Fushimi.

新選組 Shinsengumi So Far....

The Shinsengumi has been the subect of films and television drama for some time. I had first heard of them when I first had seen the 1969 classic film of the same title starring Toshiro Mifune. But looking back to that film, I was left unsatisfied due to the way they tried to tell a long in depth story in brief. So recently I recently purchased a bootleg copy of the 2004 NHK 43rd Taiga Drama Shinsengumi that featured the exploits of the Shogun's "Newly Selected Corps" that policed the streets of Mibu to protect the Tokugawa Shogun in Kyoto during the last years of the Bakumatsu Period. So far we are thirteen episodes out of this 49 episode drama and we are loving it!

Shinsengumi stars Katori Shingo as Kondo Isami - the leader of the Shinsengumi, Yamamoto Koji as Hijikata Toshizou, and Fujiwara Tatsuya (who you may remember from Battle Royale) as the famed progeny Okita Soji. So far the acting is superb and the storyline riviting in the fashion you would come to expect from an NHK Taiga Drama. Depending on who you talk to, the Shinsengumi will always been seen as heroes, villianous ronin, or stubborn patriots who are both villified and revered to this day. We still have many episodes to go, so we will write more about this as we continue this series.

Dorama Haiku - Preview of Act I

I'm pleased to present as my first official post a preview of my debut novel Dorama Haiku. My book is set in three acts in three different time periods covering three different dramas.

Act I - Kaikoku no Higeki - A Foreign Tragedy.
This is a historical drama set in Japan of 1866 during the last days of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Tragedy Needs No Translation.

Act II - The Depth of Echoes aka The Passenger
Is a modern day ghost story set in contemporary times in New York City. A requiem for the restless!

Act III - IISHIMARU
Is a Science Fiction story set in the far reaches of space dealing with love, and loss that only desolation knows.

I've been working on it all summer and some of you have been dying to read it so here is just a preview from the latest draft from Act I : Kaikoku no Higeki - A Foreign Tragedy.

I hope you enjoy!
*L*
- One paragrah from Chapter 3 - Kaikoku no Higeki - A Foreign Tragedy

This scene takes place at the American Consulate in Hakodate' Ezo May 1866. In this scene William Merrick who works as a translator for the American Consulate is briefed on his precarious new assignment. His mission is to escort the stranded Wayfield Party safely from Shimoda to the capitol in Edo. What complicates his task is the newly imposed state of martial law implimented by the Bakufu Government in Edo. This has restricted travel to and from Edo while the Shogun leads a doomed army to attack the powerful Choshu Clan. This story is set during the Second Choshu Expedition of 1966.

- From Chapter 3
A look of concern appeared on Merrick’s face as he looked around the room as the men understood the serious implications of the situation. “What of the Bakufu Navy?” inquired Merrick. 1st Officer Ichiro looked to Superintendant Okuda who nodded with caution. “The battle will be on land. There is little we can do,” expressed 1st Officer Ichiro as the Elder Okuda sat in silence. Vice Consul Bertrand interjected; “There are many factions in Edo and Kyoto that are aligning against the Tokugawa Shogun.” The grim faced Colburn added; “The Bakufu assures us they have control of the situation but the reality is that the Bakufu in Edo may collapse and the consequence of that collapse could have serious implications for all westerners here.” Merrick had seen the banners reading “Sonno-jōi” – Expel the Barbarian’ along the outskirts of the foreign quarters of Edo. He had been well aware of the anti-western sentiments that existed in various parts of the country. Merrick could only look around then room and come to ask the most dreadful of possibilities. “And what if the Shogun is killed?” asked Merrick. “Chaos,” replied the Elder Okuda in a deep reserved voice. “Absolute Chaos.”

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