Yae's Sakura

In the mid-nineteenth century in Aizu, a samurai-in-training, Yamamoto Kakuma and his sister Yae learn the ways of the Western world as the West begins to open up Japan.

As she gets older, Yae's fights against the roles prescribed to her as a girl and is obsessed with learning how to shoot. Meanwhile Kakuma is determined to board one of the black ships and learn about the West firsthand.

Kakuma starts his Dutch school, but encounters endless resistance to his desire to bring western weaponry and modern philosophy to the shogunate.

Kakuma marries Ura, who has a very traditional view of a woman's role in a marriage. A treaty is signed that will open up trade with foreign nations.

During the Ansei Purge, Yoshia Shoin is arrested and detained. Kakuma is attacked for being an anti-alienist.

Aizu's Lord Katamori has been named Military Commissioner, threatening the clan he leaves behind.

While Aizu's samurai are in Kyoto to protect their lord, Lord Katamori begins to think his appointment was a set-up.

Saito Hajime leads a group of masterless samurai brought in to help protect the shogunate.

Aizu and Choshu clash over the favor of their emperor.

The conflict between the Choshu and the Shinsengumi gets violent.

Following the Ikedaya Incident, both sides prepare for war, and Saburo is desperate to join Sir Sagawa's group despite his father's protests.

Kakuma and the Aizu defend the palace from the Choshu. Kakuma sends word that he'd like Yae to marry Shonosuke.

Shonosuke proposes to Yae, but her loyalty to him makes her decision difficult.

Yae and Shonosuke struggle to make the leap from comrades to newlyweds.

Aizu is faced with a budgetary crisis, a leadership void, and an enemy that has suddenly doubled its firepower.

Yoshinobu seeks peace with Choshu by any means. With the appointment of the shogun, Lord Katamori looks forward to returning to Aizu.

After the death of Emperor Komei, Yoshinobu asks Katamori to delay his return home. Kakuma, Shonosuke, and Yae take steps toward home defense.

A Satsuma army enters Osaka. The Court plans to issue an order to kill Yoshinobu to force him to surrender power.

Tomomi’s proposal to restore imperial rule to the Court and replace the regent and shogunate position with three offices is adopted. Yoshinobu’s power is greatly diminished.

War begins with an attack on the Satsuma mansion in Edo.

The Satsuma and Choshu clans take control of the country as the war continues.

Shonosuke spearheads military reforms. Kaishu and Kakuma desperately attempt to stop enemy forces from attacking Aizu.

The Sendai clans are ordered to subjugate Aizu to prove their loyalty to the new government.

Aizu and its allies suffer heavy losses as the enemy continues to advance.