The Letter!
In short:
The passing of this really important letter in episode one of the anime is related to a similar event that happened in real life, in early 1868.
But while the situations are very similar, they are not the same.
In real life only one letter went in March (April in our calendar). In the anime one letter went in February (March in our calendar) and another in March (really April), because the February one got stolen by Soutetsu (see above). Got it? Good.
For a comparison of what happened in real life and in the anime up to ep 8, you have to look at the spoilers page.
Not in short:
Oh. So you don't get what the letter is for? Well read on, maybe you might get it...
All dates henceforth are written according to the lunar calendar, which is generally one month slower than the calendar we use (Gregorian). To convert dates from lunar <-> Gregorian, please use this online tool. (新暦 is Gregorian,
旧暦 is Lunar, and you must enter the date as year / month / date. Years must be like 1857, 1900, etc. and not "Keio 4", etc.)
1. Why need the letter? Events leading to it (1867, 1868)
Prior to this, Tokugawa Yoshinobu had already relinquished his power as Shogun and a new government had taken over, but on both sides there still were factions that either did not want to back down or wanted to stamp the other side out. The hardcore factions in particular didn't like the fact that despite Yoshinobu resigning, the Tokugawa family still had considerable clout and power. No - they wanted to completely strip them.
In January 1868, an edict was read out demanding the death of Yoshinobu. The new leaders gave him the deadline of 15th March, and if he wasn't dead by then their Imperial Forces (led by Saigou Takamori from Satsuma) were going to attack his stronghold Edo Castle.
This would have resulted in the city of Edo being decimated, however, which was something Katsu Kaishuu, a Tokugawa negotiator, wanted to avoid for many reasons (instability, foreign aggression, the future of Edo, etc.).
2. The letter itself (February - March 1868)
In history
As soon Katsu he found out their intentions he sent this very letter to Saigou (who was indeed in the Imperial stronghold Sunpu at the time) through his subordinate Yamaoka Tesshuu. Along with Yamaoka he sent Masumitsu Kyuunosuke, a man from the Satsuma clan who was captured earlier, to act as a guide. This happened on the 9th of March 1868, which was drawing very close to the planned invasion on the 15th.
The contents of the letter did contain something to the extent of Yoshinobu pledging allegiance to the Emperor and calling for Saigou not to attack Edo, pleading for cooperation between both sides.
In the anime
Episode 1 - the letter has the same contents, and is sent in exactly the same way as mentioned above; to Sunpu with Yamaoka and Masumitsu.
However, this isn't the same letter as the date is set as 3 months after Sakamoto Ryoma's murder, which makes it February 1868, not March. You might be wondering why the narrator says that it is "early spring" in February, but keep in mind that it's really March by our calendar.
Also, it gets intercepted by Soutetsu.
Episode 6/7 - a second letter is sent - presumably with the same contents. They don't make it clear, but I think this sent around the same time as the real letter. Yamaoka and Masumitsu actually bump into the Imperial Army on their way to Sunpu.
3. What happened afterwards (March 1868)
In history:
Saigou received the letter, and sent Yamaoka and co. back with details regarding the surrender of Edo. On the 13th and 14th of March 1868, Katsu and Saigou met at the Satsuma residence in Edo and brokered a deal in which Katsu would peacefully surrender Edo Castle in return for Saigou not attacking it. Of course, more Tokugawa privileges would also have to be given up. This was just a day before the planned attack, mind you!
Conclusion: peace (but the conflict would continue in other locations)
In the anime:
For the first letter, Saigou received nothing, but his movements were slowed down greatly by the earthquake as well. Masumitsu and Yamaoka reccomend Katsu try again in episode 5, and by episode 6 he's sent them off...
...But does it reach in time?
Does Saigou meet Katsu?
Will Edo become a battlefield?
You want to know?
You'll have to click here for more details about the anime version of events (Warning: Spoilers mostly for episode 7-8). There is also a comparison of history and real life regarding this letter.
---
Return to Objects page
Soutetsu wants your secret letter, biatches!
In short:
The passing of this really important letter in episode one of the anime is related to a similar event that happened in real life, in early 1868.
But while the situations are very similar, they are not the same.
In real life only one letter went in March (April in our calendar). In the anime one letter went in February (March in our calendar) and another in March (really April), because the February one got stolen by Soutetsu (see above). Got it? Good.
For a comparison of what happened in real life and in the anime up to ep 8, you have to look at the spoilers page.
Not in short:
Oh. So you don't get what the letter is for? Well read on, maybe you might get it...
All dates henceforth are written according to the lunar calendar, which is generally one month slower than the calendar we use (Gregorian). To convert dates from lunar <-> Gregorian, please use this online tool. (新暦 is Gregorian,
旧暦 is Lunar, and you must enter the date as year / month / date. Years must be like 1857, 1900, etc. and not "Keio 4", etc.)
1. Why need the letter? Events leading to it (1867, 1868)
Prior to this, Tokugawa Yoshinobu had already relinquished his power as Shogun and a new government had taken over, but on both sides there still were factions that either did not want to back down or wanted to stamp the other side out. The hardcore factions in particular didn't like the fact that despite Yoshinobu resigning, the Tokugawa family still had considerable clout and power. No - they wanted to completely strip them.
In January 1868, an edict was read out demanding the death of Yoshinobu. The new leaders gave him the deadline of 15th March, and if he wasn't dead by then their Imperial Forces (led by Saigou Takamori from Satsuma) were going to attack his stronghold Edo Castle.
This would have resulted in the city of Edo being decimated, however, which was something Katsu Kaishuu, a Tokugawa negotiator, wanted to avoid for many reasons (instability, foreign aggression, the future of Edo, etc.).
2. The letter itself (February - March 1868)
In history
As soon Katsu he found out their intentions he sent this very letter to Saigou (who was indeed in the Imperial stronghold Sunpu at the time) through his subordinate Yamaoka Tesshuu. Along with Yamaoka he sent Masumitsu Kyuunosuke, a man from the Satsuma clan who was captured earlier, to act as a guide. This happened on the 9th of March 1868, which was drawing very close to the planned invasion on the 15th.
The contents of the letter did contain something to the extent of Yoshinobu pledging allegiance to the Emperor and calling for Saigou not to attack Edo, pleading for cooperation between both sides.
In the anime
Episode 1 - the letter has the same contents, and is sent in exactly the same way as mentioned above; to Sunpu with Yamaoka and Masumitsu.
However, this isn't the same letter as the date is set as 3 months after Sakamoto Ryoma's murder, which makes it February 1868, not March. You might be wondering why the narrator says that it is "early spring" in February, but keep in mind that it's really March by our calendar.
Also, it gets intercepted by Soutetsu.
Episode 6/7 - a second letter is sent - presumably with the same contents. They don't make it clear, but I think this sent around the same time as the real letter. Yamaoka and Masumitsu actually bump into the Imperial Army on their way to Sunpu.
3. What happened afterwards (March 1868)
In history:
Saigou received the letter, and sent Yamaoka and co. back with details regarding the surrender of Edo. On the 13th and 14th of March 1868, Katsu and Saigou met at the Satsuma residence in Edo and brokered a deal in which Katsu would peacefully surrender Edo Castle in return for Saigou not attacking it. Of course, more Tokugawa privileges would also have to be given up. This was just a day before the planned attack, mind you!
Conclusion: peace (but the conflict would continue in other locations)
In the anime:
For the first letter, Saigou received nothing, but his movements were slowed down greatly by the earthquake as well. Masumitsu and Yamaoka reccomend Katsu try again in episode 5, and by episode 6 he's sent them off...
...But does it reach in time?
Does Saigou meet Katsu?
Will Edo become a battlefield?
You want to know?
You'll have to click here for more details about the anime version of events (Warning: Spoilers mostly for episode 7-8). There is also a comparison of history and real life regarding this letter.
---
Return to Objects page
