Sono toki rekishi ga ugoita (2000–2009): Season 1, Episode 25 - Tsuda umeko joshi eigaku juku setsuritsu no toki - full transcript
Storm...
Looking back, my life was stormy.
I'm so nervous.
Just a little longer
and we'll be back in Japan.
Meeting our families after all this time.
11 whole years.
I wonder what my family will be like.
You don't remember?
It makes sense.
You were only six when you left.
Look, land! I can see Japan!
Ume Tsuda (6)
Hey! Ume!
Ume!
Great news!
-You can go to America.
-America?
Yes!
You're the first girl to study abroad!
The first?
Yes!
Hatsu! Hatsu!
Yes! Yes, dear!
Ume is going to America.
What!?
The first! The first!
Hatsu Tsuda
Ume is only six years old.
I can't believe you're sending our 6 year old
daughter to America for 10 years...
Nothing I can do about it.
Koto says she doesn't want to go.
That's because Koto is eight years old,
so she can say no.
-But Ume is still...
-You need to shut it!
When she gets back from America,
she's promised a teaching job at
Kaitakushi Girls' School.
Kaitakushi • Hokkaido Development Commission
Even a woman can do big jobs!
It's good for Ume
Hatsu! It's getting cold!
In Japan, there were no schools where women
could receive quality education.
In order to raise excellent men,
the Hokkaido Development Commission believed
that women, as mothers, needed to be educated,
so the Melji government decided to
send female students to study abroad.
This is your father's English dictionary.
-Take this with you.
-Yes.
Ume.
The government will pay
for you to study in America.
It's 10,000 yen for 10 years.
That's enough money for one
family to spend for a lifetime.
Remember that you carry with you
the high expectations of this country.
-Do you understand?
-Yes!
I will study a lot and be
of service to my country!
Excellent, Ume.
Come here.
How do you say frog in English?
These five girls were the first
female exchange students in Japan.
14-year-old Ryo Yoshimasu and Tei Ueda
11 year-old Sutematsu Yamakawa.
9-year-old Shige Nagai.
And the youngest of all was me,
6-year-old Ume Tsuda.
Hey... there's even a little girl there.
Poor girl.
No sane parent would send
their girl out of the country.
How heartless...
Shige.
Have you forgotten what the Empress said?
We have a big role to play as
representatives of Japanese women
in our studies and in serving our country.
I know, but...
Father...
Ume!
America
During the 23 days on the ship,
we were suffering from seasickness,
anxieties about our life in America,
lack of appetite, and feeling depressed.
Misozuke?
Help yourself, everyone.
That's an expensive
Japanese dish. Are you sure?
Delicious!
Go ahead, everyone.
Uncle Misozuke, can I have another one?
Ume, that's Mr. Ito.
Mr. Ito, may I have another one?
-Help yourself.
-Yes!
This was my first encounter with the future Prime Minister, Mr. Hirobumi Ito.
I was seven years old when
we arrived in America.
After we had bought some clothes in Chicago,
we went to Washington, D.C.
where we were greeted by Mr. Arinori Mori.
Huh? Where's the other one?
How old are you?
7 years old.
7 years old...
Ume, what is this?
It barks a lot but is very cute.
We first studied together.
Dog!
Correct! It's a dog.
All together now.
-Dog.
-Dog.
In piano lessons,
Shige's progress was outstanding.
Mr. Mori is so nice, isn't he?
Huh?
-Yeah... Ryo, you like Mr. Mo...
-No, I'm not!
What are you talking about?
-Ryo likes him.
-I don't!
Gotcha!
Mr. Mori!
Mr. Lanman.
I think I'm finally starting to realize just how much responsibility I signed myself up for.
By proposing this "Girls' Study Abroad Program".
Weren't you the one preaching on and on
about how Japanese women
needed a better education program?
I didn't think they'll send me a 7-year-old.
-The girl shouldn't be away from her mother.
-I agree.
Let alone in a foreign country.
Life abroad is gonna change these girls lives.
For better or for worse.
Rob sees the frog.
-Mr. Mori, good morning!
-Good morning!
Morning, little ladies.
Would you give us a moment?
Ryo, what's wrong?
Ryo and Tei are going back to Japan.
Why?
As we all know,
Tei remains depressed
and secluded in her room.
Ryo has an eye problem and has
to go to Japan for treatment.
I don't want to lose Ryo!
I came here as a
representative of Japanese women,
and now I have to leave after only one year...
I hate myself for being so pathetic...
I am...
really sorry...
No!
I'm going home! I wanna go home too!
Let's all go home...
I'm not going home!
Even if I'm alone. I'm staying here!
My name is actually "Saki".
What do you mean?
My parents sent me to study abroad
with the intention of abandoning me.
But they said they'd wait for me.
"Abandon and wait"...
From that moment on,
my name became Sutematsu.
I have no place to go back to!
But I'm sure I'll return home honorable.
That is why I came here!
You're the first girl to study abroad!
Remember that you carry with you
the high expectations of this country.
You've been working hard at your
English, haven't you, Ume?
Just make sure that no matter who you're talking to,
you look them straight in the eye
and tell them exactly what you think.
Okay!
How about some tea?
-Yeah? Want some tea?
-Some wonderful.
Let's get some tea!
Thank you so much. For everything.
We're so proud of you, Ume.
Our time with you has been a blessing. Thank you.
And just remember, even if we're apart,
you will always be in our thoughts.
Sutematsu and I
returned home after 11 years of studying abroad.
Shige had already returned home a year earlier.
Mount Fuji!
Wow! Mount Fuji!
At that time, I believed.
That the hew page of life that
has opened up is a wonderful one.
Ume! Sutematsu!
Shige!
I hope you didn't get too seasick on boat.
It was horrible. I was
nauseous the moment we left port.
We sail through a huge storm.
A storm? Well, I'm glad you made it home safe.
I bet you'll be pulling everything you've
learned overseas to work here in no time.
I hope so!
I want to start an English school for girls,
one where anyone can study, regardless
of how high they are on the social ladder.
Her Mistress, Sutematsu Yamakawa.
I like the sound of it.
-Can I teach there?
-Me too!
I want to teach music!
Of course. My first hires, Miss Shige Nagai...
At your service.
And Miss Ume Tsuda.
I can't wait!
To create an English school for
girls where anyone can learn.
This has become our dream.
Ume...
Ume!
Hey, Hatsu! Hatsu!
Otousan...?
You've grown this much...
You look different.
The clothes look great on you.
What is it? Oh?
Have you forgotten Japanese?
You will get used to it.
Come here.
-Huge!
-I made this farm.
This, um... belong to Agriculture School.
I found it. Great, isn't it?
It's great!
After being away from the Japanese
language for 11 years since I was 6,
it didn't come back to me right away.
Ume...
Okaasan...?
Welcome home.
Oneechan...?
Yes.
Ume.
Your brothers and sisters.
What!?
Your older sister's finally home!
Oh, sekihan!
What's this? Why is she the only one?
It's how the Westerners do it.
Ume.
You studied abroad
with government money.
So, do your best to be of service.
Do your job. Do your best.
Okay. I will.
It's just that...
the Hokkaido Development
Commission was dissolved.
So tomorrow, we're going to pay our
respects to the Ministry of Education.
Thank you Lord. Amen.
Amen.
You remember how to use chopsticks.
They have returned to Japan after successfully
completing their 11 years of study abroad.
Thank you for allowing us
to study abroad for that long.
Thank you very much.
Thanks for your efforts.
Let's have a seat.
Finally, the time has come
for these two women to contribute
to girls' education in Japan.
Yes... That is true...
The Kaitakushi that offered women's study abroad programs has been dissolved.
Yes... That's why we came here.
That said,
we also closed the girls' school that was supposed to take you in as teachers.
What's going to happen to these girls?
Even if it's forced on us...
Male exchange students are guaranteed
an elite status upon their return.
Is it the American way to say things that blatantly?
But, you see, there's nothing
you girls can do about it.
They are the first to study abroad.
Unless the sending of female exchange students
was just an ill-conceived policy to create a buzz.
Ill-conceived?
We studied hard for 11 years.
I'll contact you if I find a job where
you can use your experience.
I have another appointment.
You can't be serious!
Upon returning to Japan, I was surprised at
how low the status of women is in Japan.
My father set me up a western style room.
My father spoke English, had been abroad,
and had an understanding of Western culture.
"Jyo seki wa daibun suzushiku"...
The mornings and evenings are much cooler.
Ume.
-Got a minute?
-Yes.
-Sorry for the wait!
-Oh... We've been waiting!
Ume, come over here.
-My daughter, Ume.
-The one you were talking about...
Oh, no, no, no..!
My daughter is a westerner,
so she can't do the pouring.
Here you go.
Ah, I'm sorry.
Thank you, thank you...
-Hey, Hatsu!
-Yes!
Get the shamo we got as a gift.
Make some sauce.
It's going to take some time,
could you wait for it?
-You didn't set it up!
-I'll help too...
-No, it's okay.
You don't have to do that, Ume.
I'll hurry up and get ready...
My father's attitude toward
my mother was not at all Western,
and I was perplexed by the disparity from the
equal marital relationship I had seen in America.
Japan is not as sophisticated as America.
You get used to that in Japan.
Japanese too... is difficult...
Sutematsu and I went to college together,
and when it was just us, we spoke in
Japanese so we wouldn't forget.
But kanji is difficult for me too.
I don't know... if there is a place... for us to work...
I... didn't go to college...
-It doesn't matter.
-Yes.
Both Ume and Sutematsu have English
proficiency that's just as good as the men's
I wanted to show it to you.
It's Sutematsu's college... um...
graduation speech!
It was really wonderful...!
It's not every day you get to be in the newspaper!
The fact that you can talk about
British foreign policy towards Japan
makes you better than men!
-Yeah!
I was... so moved by it!
What about Mr. Mori?
Did he come to see you?
No, because Mr. Mori was in London.
If Mr. Mori had been in Japan,
he might have been able to help us.
The Ministry of Education really pisses me off.
I came home with the intention of devoting my
life to a job where I could give back to my country.
I'm not even ready to get married.
What? You don't want to marry?
What...? Are you going to?
I'm getting married.
Marriage...?
Yes.
Japanese marriages...
between men and women... are not equal.
Women only do what men tell them to do.
That's why we need to educate girls.
Isn't that what the government
paid you to study abroad for?
-I know.
-Then why are you getting married?
We have a mission to spread what
we've learned to this country.
-Yeah.
-I know that.
-You don't!
Upon returning,
I had several offers of
marriage to men of status,
but I turned them all down.
Marriage proposal...
Just hear me out.
The man I'm marrying is Sotokichi Uryu.
-Did you meet him in America...?
-Yes.
He, too, studied abroad with government money.
So he has a sense of duty to serve the country,
and shares the western culture and way of thinking.
Besides, most people in Japan married
the person their parents decided for them,
but we are in a love marriage,
which is the norm in the West.
Besides... even if I got married,
I would continue to work as a music teacher.
That's how we show the new image of women.
I understand.
Congratulations.
Sutematsu and I
were not able to truly congratulate Shige.
Our dream of building a school
together seemed a little further away.
I still haven't heard from the Ministry of Education.
I wouldn't count on it,
that's why I started tutoring English.
Who are you teaching?
The wives of high-ranking
government officials.
It's only the upper class who hire
private English tutors, isn't it?
I wonder if a school for girls where anyone can
study is still something unthinkable in Japan...
Whatever it is, let's do what we can do now.
-Let's not stop moving.
-That's right.
I have something else in mind.
Why don't we do it together?
What is it?
English Drama Club.
Drama?
We promote Western ideas
and culture through theater.
-That's a great idea.
-Right?
I thought I couldn't stand the
difference between Japan and America.
-And it sounds like fun!
-Yeah!
Shige's husband
Sotokichi Uryu
-Good afternoon.
-Sorry for intruding.
We were talking about starting an
English Drama Club to promote Western culture.
That’s very significant.
-You'll do it too, right?
-Huh?
We also need male actors.
I'd be happy to.
-Thank you very much.
-Thank you very much.
-Go on.
-Yes.
Ah... Geez...
Still can't find a job for Ume?
Instead of work,
maybe we should look
for a marriage partner.
I'm sure we can find someone good for her now.
Ume studied abroad. She will have an excellent job.
-Hatsu! Bath! Bath!
-Yes!
Good morning.
It's been a while.
Good morning.
Mr. Kanda is here.
Thanks.
Mr. Kanda, I would like to introduce.
My fellow exchange students,
Sutematsu Yamakawa and Ume Tsuda.
This is Mr. Naibu Kanda, the English professor at the Imperial University.
Mr. Kanda's English is the best in Japan.
-Nice to meet you.
-Nice to meet you.
After Mr. Kanda, I bet Ume is
the second best English speaker.
-Nice to meet you.
-Nice to meet you.
Everyone,
thank you for joining the English Drama Club.
Through these activities, we hope to bring
a little bit of the West to Japan.
Hey, Mr. Kanda. What do you think of him?
What do I think?
I thought he would be perfect for Sutematsu.
-What are you talking about?
-I thought so, too, you know.
-What?
-Yeah.
Mr. Kanda seemed to like Sutematsu, too.
I told you, didn't I?
I said that what's important to us
isn't marriage, but creating a school for girls.
-Right, Ume?
-Absolutely.
I think Mr. Kanda is very understanding about women working,
and besides...
-Shige!
In the end, the Ministry of Education never offered me a job,
and through my father,
I was able to work as a teacher
at a school built by missionaries.
I have not seen him...
It's the first time for me to
earn money working for myself.
Teaching a single class
of students with different academic
abilities was a challenge.
"Dono kurai no jikan" is "How long".
Until confirmed, signed, ratified by you.
The Merchant of Venice - William Shakespeare
I would not be ambitious in my wish.
Yet for you
I would be trebled twenty times myself,
A thousand times more fair,
ten thousand times more rich...
Good work.
It's hard to get these castella here, isn't it?
Yes, I asked a friend of mine.
Everyone,
please help yourselves to
these delicious castella.
Thank you very much.
Here you go.
Here you go.
Thank you very much.
-Here you go.
-Thank you.
Dear Sutematsu Yamakawa,
From the day I met you, I have been captivated
by your beauty and strength.
The more we meet,
the more driven I am to discover
the root of that strength
to grasp it in my hand.
And yet I know that you hold it out of reach of all who try.
This only adds to your beauty.
-Wanna come with me to get some beef cutlet.
-Of course.
I wish we could invite her.
Poor thing.
I'm home.
-Welcome home
-Welcome home.
What's wrong?
I got my paycheck.
15 yen, right?
It's amazing that they give you that much.
Foreign teachers get more than 50 yen.
After deducting the rickshaw fee from my salary,
I only have 10 yen left.
10 yen is luxurious enough.
That's not what I meant.
I'm saying it's not right that there's
a difference in the work we do.
I thought my salary was low
compared to the work I was doing,
but, well, being a missionary
school, I had no choice
and I was grateful to be able to work.
But I don't think foreign teachers take care
of their students well enough for 50 yen...
I'll talk to the Dean tomorrow.
-Don't do that
-What?
What if you do that
and they get angry with you?
Funny...
You make it sound like it's wrong
to say what's on your mind.
You might end up destroying
your father's reputation who gave you this job.
Do you understand?
-I don't.
-Ume...
I was raised to speak my mind,
no matter who I'm dealing with.
Thank you.
Education is a philanthropic business to begin with,
so even if you talk about compensation...
I'm just wondering why there is such
a huge difference in pay for doing the same job.
I also wonder why the students'
dormitories and meals are so poor,
while the homes and lifestyle
of foreign teachers are so lavish.
If you don't like it feel free to quit.
I will.
Consider this my resignation.
Goodbye.
I'm thinking
of going to the Ministry of Education
again to see if they will let me work there.
The Ministry of Education offered me a job.
They asked me to teach biology and
physiology at Tokyo Women's Normal School.
But I turned it down.
I wasn't even approached!
After all, I didn't go to college...
There's also about my Japanese...
-That's not why.
-What?
Hiring will be in two weeks.
By then,
I should be able to handle Japanese textbooks
perfectly and write on the blackboard in Japanese.
Only two weeks...
I went to talk to the Ministry of Education several times,
but they wouldn't let me get a job.
I'm gonna use this to make good on the
promise we made before we went abroad.
Why won't they let us work?
Time passes with nothing to show for it...
Hey, Sutematsu. I think
Mr. Kanda would be good for you.
What?
Looking at Mr. Kanda,
I think he really likes you.
You like Mr. Kanda, too, don't you, Sutematsu?
What are you trying to say?
This country does not treat unmarried women
as full-fledged members of society.
You know that, right?
-I am trying to change that.
-That is why...
unmarried women can't do anything!
Why do you assume that Shige?
Because we are in Japan!
What was studying abroad for?
Why did the government
send us to study abroad?
Why... did we study for 11 years?
Welcome back.
Oh, Ume. You have a guest.
do you know who I am?
I came here as a
representative of Japanese women,
and now I have to leave after only one year...
No!
Ryo!
Ryo Yoshimasu
Well then, take your time.
Thank you very much.
How have you been?
What...?
I... I returned to Japan after only one year,
and I kept thinking that I shouldn't meet you.
Right now, I'm working as an English tutor
and preparing for a private English school for girls.
A private English school?
That's amazing...
It's a really small school because I do it all by myself.
I have five or six students.
But it's your private school, right?
How did you get the funds?
My father helped me.
I'm not married...
A woman alone can't do anything.
Are you thinking about getting married?
No one will look at me as a
marriage partner anymore.
I was 14 years old when I decided to study abroad,
and I knew that after 10 years of it,
I would no longer be of marriageable age.
So it's okay, marriage.
I'm glad you're doing well.
How's Tei who came back with you?
She got married,
but she feels guilty for not living up to the country's expectations,
so she stays at home all the time.
What about you?
I had a hard time finding a job,
and when I finally found one,
I quit because I didn't like their way of thinking.
I see...
Shige is married and teaches music.
Sutematsu and I are the same.
We don't want to get married,
we want to work for our country,
but we don't have a job.
I wish I could meet Shige and Sutematsu...
They’ll be very happy.
-Ryo, that's great!
-Sounds exciting.
Thanks.
How about we start with a small
private school instead of a big one?
Actually, the three of us have a dream.
It's an English school for girls,
where anyone can learn.
Is that so?
Not only English, but also the importance of everyone
speaking their mind clearly,
regardless of their gender or status.
Our school's reputation will be so good,
women will come from all over to attend!
Yamakawa English School for Girls.
The piano level is high, and attracts
talent from all over the country.
Principal Yamakawa, a word, please.
Principal Yamakawa! Go ahead.
I'm getting married.
What?
"Married"?
With Mr. Kanda, right?
-You see, Mr. Kanda is...
-No.
It's not Mr. Kanda.
Then who are you marrying?
Mr. Iwao Oyama.
The imperial army chief, Mr. Oyama?
Yes.
He's a distinguished man, but...
What?
How old is that man?
He's like a father, isn't he?
He's 17 years older.
He lost his wife over six months ago
and has three daughters.
He remarried less than a year after his wife died...
Don't do it, Sutematsu.
That man just wants a mother for his children.
Hey...
You are well educated and
would make a good educator.
You are beautiful and can dance.
If we take you to the Rokumeikan,
you'll stand out spectacularly.
Rokumeikan (Deer Cry Pavilion / Banqueting House)
I've already decided.
I thought we were going to build a school.
Without money, we can't do anything.
So you married someone with money?
You don't like... a middle-aged man with a belly?
Oh, you didn't really want
to build a school, did you?
If you become the wife of
someone with that much status,
you won't be allowed to be a teacher.
Without the principal, we wouldn't have a school.
You can do it, Ume.
What?
Ume, you should be the principal.
I didn't graduate from college like you.
-It doesn't matter.
-Don't say something irresponsible!
It never occurred to me that you would get married.
Because even you didn't
think well of Shige's marriage.
What...
Wasn't it our dream?
Are you going to force this on me alone?
I'm going home.
Ume!
Even if I get married,
our dreams will remain the same.
Thank you for waiting. Your zenzai.
-Mail delivery.
-Ah, yes.
Thank you for delivering it.
Mr. Mori?
Dear Ume Tsuda,
How are you fairing?
I heard that your jobs at Hokkaido
Development Commision fell through,
and that the Ministry of Education hasn't been helpful.
Words cannot describe my indignation.
Here in London, women have
been active in speaking out
for the betterment of women.
I am sure Japan will change as well.
Now I'm thinking about moving to the Ministry of Education.
Won't you join me in changing
women's education in Japan?
I always wish for your success and happiness.
I promise we will meet again soon.
Arinori Mori.
Mr. Mori...
My name is Ume Tsuda.
I studied abroad in America for 11 years.
Are you the female exchange
student from Kaitakushi?
Yes. Is there anything I can do to help?
Well... if you're a man, maybe we can talk...
I see.
Excuse me, my name is Ume Tsuda.
How have you been?
Ah... Mr. Kanda.
I felt like I was going to see you.
Actually, there is something
I wanted to talk to you about.
You want to talk to me?
Yes. About marriage.
Are you getting married?
Ms. Ume, will you marry me?
Mr. Kanda, I didn't know you were the
kind who makes jokes like that.
Please consider marrying me.
Mr. Kanda,
you liked Sutematsu, didn't you?
She rejected me.
Ms. Sutematsu said that
as a government-sponsored student,
she must serve the country in any way she can.
I really wish she could repay it through working,
but realistically, she won't be able to.
If you are going to get married,
it has to be a marriage for the good of the country.
I understand her cause,
but there is only so much a woman can do.
Instead, I said, we had feelings for each other,
and we should cherish those feelings.
But Ms. Sutematsu would
not change her mind at all.
I had no idea she was so stubborn...
Such a shame.
-But Ms. Ume would...
-Out of the question.
What...?
I am not interested in Japanese men
who demand obedience from women.
In the end, you're just a
Japanese wannabe westerner.
Aren't you the wannabe westerner here?
This is Japan!
You should be more feminine.
How disappointing.
I really don't want to get married...
I will build a school for Japanese women!
Just you wait!
It's been a longtime, Ms. Ume Tsuda.
-You look different.
-What?
I'm Hirobumi Ito.
Help yourself.
Ah! Uncle Misozuke?
Mr. Ito wanted to focus on girls' education.
Hirobumi Ito's Residence
Mr. Ito wanted to focus on girls' education.
Mr. Ito wanted to focus on girls' education.
I am sorry for calling you here.
No, not at all, sir.
This is Professor Utako Shimoda,
founder of Toyo Girls' School.
I'm Shimoda.
I have heard that it is a wonderful school for upper class ladies
to acquire education.
I intend to create
a well established Peers Girls' School
for the royalty and the nobility.
Professor Shimoda will be a professor there.
If a Peers Girls' School were made,
I would like Ms. Ume to teach English there.
We are very honored.
I will make sure that she can be of service to you.
We have high hopes for her.
Thank you very much!
when will this Peers Girls'
School be established?
That... is still a long way off.
I see...
Until then, I have a job I would like to
ask Ms. Ume to do for me.
Father, what did Mr. Ito wanted to talk about?
I want to work.
No... we talk about something else.
I'm sure I'll find a good job for you.
Hey, Hatsu! Hatsu!
Bath! Bath! Hatsu!
Keep up the tempo.
One, two, three.
Careful.
Loosen your left hand.
Yes, carefully.
Teacher!?
It's coming...!
It's coming...!
Out of the way!
Shige!
I had an easy delivery.
Thank goodness...
Wow...
Shige!
I can't believe you came too, Sutematsu.
What's with the outfit?
I was fitting for a dress...
She's a very cute girl.
Ah... She's so cute!
It's Mr. Sotokichi and mine's baby.
Oh, it's so beautiful! ls that your engagement ring?
Yes.
Sutematsu.
Congratulations on getting married.
Thank you.
How are the wedding preparations going?
It's been hectic every day...
That's because you're gonna
be the wife of the army chief.
I never told you this,
but I dated Oyama several times,
before getting married.
-Date?
-Dated?
He's imposing on the outside,
but he's surprisingly awkward.
Whenever I call him "Iwao," he gets embarrassed.
Iwao!
Iwao can't help but be cute around you.
How about you, Ume?
Did you go to Mr. Ito's house?
Your father didn't tell you?
What did you really talk about?
Father.
The Rokumeikan will be opening soon.
In preparation for that, he asked that you
teach Mr. Ito's wife and daughter
Western manners and English.
What's the salary?
25 yen.
I'll do it. Not only for what I'm paid...
but more than that, I will give it my all.
What...
Your last job...
you quit right away without consulting me.
I have my reasons, and it's my decision.
Not this time! Because it's a live-in work.
What difference does it make?
Isn't that obvious?
There must be no improper conduct
between you and Mr. Ito!
Improper conduct?
You know...
You just don't know!
Huh?
Listen here.
There are a lot of times
when the master lay their hands
on their live-in workers!
Right, Hatsu?
He's right, Ume.
I'm going to Ito family to educate.
So that won't happen.
Even if you think so, Mr. Ito is still a man!
If that were to happen,
all I would have to do is refuse.
Mr. Ito is a high-ranking official.
-That's irrelevant.
-That's not how it works.
That's not right.
You know, simply being a live-in worker makes
people suspect that you and Mr. Ito are close.
-That would hinder your marriage offer.
-That's why it's not right.
In America, no one looked at live-in tutors that way.
All you have to do is listen to me!
You listen to me for a change!
I will never get married.
Hatsu! Do something!
What do you mean, you will never get married?
Marriage has to happen, you know that.
How can you live without getting married?
I should never have studied abroad!
I wouldn't have felt that there was something
wrong with the Japanese way of thinking.
I would never be frustrated with Japanese
customs that I didn't understand.
I would never have been
hurt by my friend's marriages.
That it was natural for men to treat women roughly
and I would never feel sorry for wives
who were at the mercy of their husbands.
I never blamed myself
for not being of service to this country...
Do you... Do you know
how hard this is for me?
You would not understand.
You can... come home anytime.
I decided to become a
live-in tutor for the Ito family.
When you walk, don't walk on your toes like you do with zori sandals.
Straighten your back and gently start from the heels.
Yes! Beautiful.
Let's call it a day, shall we?
-Yes.
-Good night.
-Good night.
-Good night.
Mr. Ito always comes home late, doesn't he?
Yes, sometimes he doesn't come home.
I guess those who carry the weight
of the country are very busy.
Yes, among other things.
I'm home.
Welcome back.
You're early today.
What about dinner?
-I already ate.
-Okay.
Ms. Ume, how is my wife
and daughter doing in English?
Yes, both your wife and daughter
are very enthusiastic about it.
I see.
Oh, that's right...
Ms. Ume, please come to my study later.
Okay.
Listen here.
There are a lot of times
when the master lay their hands
on their live-in workers!
It's Ume.
Come in.
If you see any books that interest you, read them.
Thank you very much.
I just wanted to ask your opinion.
Opinion?
What do you think we should do to improve Japan?
Japanese men and women are not equal.
In fact, I believe that women should have the ability
to learn and earn money with their own hands.
When women have jobs and independence,
they can voice their opinions in
the same position as men.
I think that is
what it really means to be an ally of men.
I believe that women
need to be educated so that
they can awaken to their potential
and take action.
I want to repay my country
with that kind of education.
-Come on, Mr. Ito.
-I'm drunk, aren't I?
-I had a great time.
-Really?
-Please come back again, okay?
-I will.
Thank you for taking care of my husband.
Here's your carriage fare.
See you.
What? You're leaving?
Why are you leaving...
In 1883,
the Rokumeikan, built as an international social gathering place, was opened.
Rokumeikan
the Rokumeikan, built as an international social gathering place, was opened.
Rokumeikan
Ume.
Shige!
I can't watch.
This is just monkey imitation.
Morikey imitation?
To imitate only on the surface.
-Monkey imitation.
-Monkey imitation.
Oh, it's Sutematsu!
As expected.
Let's dance too.
Toyo Girls' School
I was also asked to teach at
Professor Utako Shimoda 's Toyo School.
Toyo Girls' School
Professor Utako Shimoda 's Toyo School.
In the West, tea should not be slurped.
Similarly, handling tea utensils without making a sound
is considered beautiful.
Let's practice it, everyone.
Professor Utako Shimoda is an independent
woman who founded her own private school
after her husband passed away.
I respect her.
But professor's school
doesn't teach women to speak their minds.
-Why?
-Because it's not required.
She said that they should learn
Western superficial manners, makeup,
and hairstyle as part of their training.
How can she do it?
If I quit, I might not be invited to the
Peers Girls' School that will eventually open.
It's a great opportunity.
Actually, Sutematsu has a
big opportunity coming her way.
-What? What kind?
-It's not official yet,
but Mr. Oyama is going to visit Europe, and
Sutematsu is privately planning to go with him.
What? Europe?
She will spend a year in Europe to learn various things
and apply that to the imperial family.
Amazing!
Sutematsu really is amazing.
Right?
But Sutematsu did not accompany him to Europe.
Mr. Oyama is on a trip,
does he not have time for you?
No. In his absence, I have been given so many duties
that I have not had enough time.
It's been ages. This is my wife, Mary.
It's nice to meet you, Mary.
Excuse me.
Sutematsu? What's wrong?
You look pale.
It's nothing.
I'm just a little tired, that's all.
It's hard being here without Mr. Oyama.
I thought you were gonna go with him.
I turned it down.
Why?
I'm just doing what I have to do here and now.
If you had gone to Europe,
wouldn't you have done
what you wanted to do?
Couldn't you have done
something useful for the country.
It was my decision not to go.
In a place like this dealing with
Japanese people who imitate the West,
and the foreigners who watch them?
You didn't go to Europe because Mr. Oyama
told you to protect the house?
Because he asked you to educate
his children from his ex-wife?
Such a big opportunity.
The Sutematsu I know would
never have turned it down.
What the hell are you doing?
I'm pregnant.
My precious baby.
Let's head back.
Don't overdo it.
I don't want to be told by someone who
worked until her baby was born.
It's Mr. Mori! So he is back in Japan.
Hey.
-Are they the foreign exchange students?
-Yes.
My wife, Tsune.
Nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you.
I am sorry about the dissolution of Kaitakushi.
That is not your fault, Mr. Mori.
I transferred to the Ministry of Education.
The key is to change women's mindset.
It is not only men who look down on women.
Women themselves assume they are inferior to men.
Teaching them western manners and
makeup will not change their mindset.
I have high hopes for the Peers
Girls' School that will be opening soon.
From this point on, I will surely help you, Ume.
Thank you very much for that.
It is reassuring talking to you.
I can't tell you how reassuring it was
to have you there during my study abroad.
I was the only Japanese there.
It's because it was you, Mr. Mori.
Your presence filled everyone
with a sense of security.
I still clearly remember the first time I met you.
How old are you?
7 years old.
You let yourself be led to study abroad
even though you had no intention to do so.
Studying abroad was truly a wonderful experience.
That is why it pains me
so much that I was given the opportunity to
study abroad with the government's money,
and I am not able to help in any way.
I want to repay them as soon as possible.
Paying back...
To whom?
What...
I decided it was for the country.
That's what I thought at that time.
We are finally moving toward the
opening of the Peers Girls' School.
I see.
In addition to Professor Utako Shimoda,
Mrs. Oyama was appointed as a
member of the preparatory committee.
Sutematsu?
As for funding,
we are well prepared so that girls
of the royal and noble families
can receive the education they deserve.
It is reassuring to have
Professor Shimoda, who already has
experience founding a private school.
I'm reassured too.
Because Mrs. Sutematsu is the only woman
in Japan with an American college degree.
And as the wife of Imperial Army Chief General
Oyama, you are well-known and influential.
It offers the glamor of a socialite.
-Because I am plain.
-No, no... Not true.
Everyone, this is wonderful.
I don't have that ability.
Actually, I would like to invite you to something.
-Me?
-Yes.
-I'm preparing for a bazaar right now.
-Bazaar?
There has never been a charity bazaar in Japan.
You do what no one else is doing.
Proceeds will be donated to the
hospital to fund the creation of a
nurses' training school.
A nurses' training school?
I was surprised at the number of
male nurses in Japanese hospitals.
In foreign countries,
women nurses attended to the sick.
I see.
So, what's the bazaar?
At that time in Japan,
there was no concept of working for others, raising money
or donating to charity.
I think it's time for some tea.
And it was not possible for upper class ladies and daughters,
who were not merchants, to sell goods.
The event was a great success because of the buzz.
It's exhausting, isn't it?
-But I had fun.
-Yes.
Thank you, everyone.
The proceeds amounted to 7,865 yen.
7865!?
Yes.
All funds will be donated to the hospital
to help train nurses.
So you're saying
that this activity might lead to more women in that field?
Yes.
You said this before.
"Even if I get married,
our dreams will remain the same."
Even if I get married,
our dreams will remain the same.
I think I understand
a little of what that means.
What's this all of a sudden?
-I wonder if she'll be surprised.
-I think she will be thrilled.
Finally, Ryo's dream came true!
This is a pencil.
This is a pencil.
This is a book.
This is a book.
A few more of these book...
These are books.
These are books.
Ryo, congratulations.
-Congratulations.
-Thank you.
I'm really happy to have you all celebrating with me.
We are happy that you made your dream come true.
I, too, am happy for eyeryone's success.
I can't teach the western way of thinking.
We all want to educate girls.
That's right.
It was an excellent class.
Finally... Finally, I was able to start.
When my mother’s health suddenly worsened,
I left the Ito family and
returned home immediately.
Mother.
I'm sorry...
Oh, welcome home.
I'm home.
Thank you very much for all the
help you have given my daughter.
I first met Ms. Ume when she was six years old.
She has grown into a fine woman.
I am glad to hear you say that.
I've been wondering if it was
a good idea to send her
to study abroad at the age of six.
Mr. Tsuda,
you have done what no one has ever done before.
You grew western vegetables in Japan.
Planted roadside trees in Japan.
Sent your daughter to study abroad at the age of 6.
For my own sake...
no, I sent her to study
abroad for my own appearance.
I'm sure my wife
wanted to keep her close and raise her.
Parental thoughts aside,
Ms. Ume is a young lady who has the ability
to connect any experience to her future.
That's how it looks to me.
Shortly thereafter, the cabinet system was established,
and Mr. Ito became the first Primer Minister
and Mr. Mori the first Minister of Education.
And finally,
the Peers Girls' School was opened.
The time has finally come
to apply what I have learned in
America to girls' education in Japan.
That’s what I thought.
-How are you?
-I'm fine, thank you...
Louder!
I'm fine, thank...
Louder!
I'm fine, thank...
Louder!
What are you shy about?
-Mother!
-Mother...
Mother!
I told you I'd repeat it over
and over until you get it right.
Mother.
What are you all here studying for?
Did you come here aimlessly,
with no idea what it is about?
Ms. Noda.
There is no right answer.
You have to put into words
what you think in your head.
Ms. Sakaguchi.
Ms. Moriyama
Everyone is taking it too easy,
and we will never make progress.
That's all right.
There is no need to be strict here.
What?
They're young ladies who think they
can just relax and enjoy life as it is.
Then what are we here for?
To get an advantage in marriage talks.
Graduating from this school will give them prestige.
I...
I want to raise independent women
who can earn their own money.
That is my idea of female education.
The female education here is to
nurture good wives and wise mothers.
That's the basic premise of education.
Nothing fundamental has changed.
I felt like it remained difficult
for an unmarried woman to survive.
Our dreams were now even further away.
Father, I'm going to Ryo's house.
Tell me where it is.
I'm worried because Ryo's private school is closed.
Do you know something?
She died of cholera a week ago.
What?
I just found out recently.
Because it's cholera,
so it's family only, and quietly.
This is a pencil.
This is a pencil.
This is a book.
This is a book.
A few more of these books...
These are...
I returned to Japan after only one year,
and I kept thinking that I shouldn't meet you.
I, too, am happy for everyone's success.
Finally... Finally, I was able to start.
-She will play tennis tomorrow.
-No!
Tennis! She will play...
Okay. Next.
I was moving further and further away
from the kind of education I wanted.
She will play tennis tomorrow.
I guess I was naive to think that I could change the
Japanese women's mindset through education.
The basic premise that Japanese
women are inferior to men
is not likely to change.
I think it will take more time and wisdom
than I thought to accomplish the advancement of women.
I feel suffocated when I see Japanese women.
Women are afraid.
They think that if they don't act
modest and graceful, men won't choose them.
Women need to be more free.
Free...
Ryo really wanted to get married, too.
She returned home after a year of studying abroad,
failing to fulfill her mission,
which seemed to me like she was
punishing herself for not getting married.
Are you free, Ume?
Huh?
If you don't agree with the educational
policy of the Peers Girls' School, then quit.
That is not the way it works.
Why?
The Peers Girls' School is
connected to the government.
I have to repay my country.
Repay...
Yes.
Aren't you the one
who is bound by that mindset?
I didn't want to immediately
accept what Mr. Mori said.
In the year 1889, the Constitution of the Empire of Japan,
which Mr. Ito had been working on
for many years, was promulgated.
-Minister!
-What? You!
Ume.
I will open it.
How about warming up?
I'm sorry.
For not understanding anything...
I'm sorry.
It's warm.
I want to repay them as soon as possible.
Paying back...
To whom?
Are you free, Ume?
Aren't you the one
who is bound by that mindset?
It's hot!
I kept thinking about what Mr. Mori told me.
The real reason why I don't quit the Peers Girls' School,
even though I don't agree with its policies,
is because it pays well
and allows me the status of
a teacher in a dignified school.
The thought of losing that makes me uneasy
Because it is very difficult for an unmarried
woman to support herself in this country.
That's why I couldn't quit.
I'm the same.
I wasn't free at all.
After that, I didn't know how to get engaged
in female education.
What?
Maybe I was just bound by the idea that I had to
give back to my country.
So?
I'm thinking of taking a break from teaching.
What are you gonna do when you leave?
I want to study again.
-I'm sorry.
-What do you want to talk about?
I decided to study abroad.
Studying abroad... I was wondering
what you were going to say.
-Are you serious?
-Yes.
I always wanted to go
to an American university.
What about money?
The government isn't going to pay for it this time,
and we don't know if they'll accept you or not.
Don't worry.
Thanks to everyone I've met so far,
I've found a universit that will accept me.
Can you please make arrangements
so that Ms. Tsuda can study abroad
while she is still employed here?
-What?
I would like you to guarantee her
a salary while she is studying abroad.
Please allow Ume to enroll.
The future of women's education
in the East may very well rest on her shoulders.
Please.
I met everyone
thanks to my first study abroad experience.
Father, Mother,
for allowing me to study abroad,
thank you very much.
This time, I am not studying
abroad for the sake of my country.
I am not going to study
abroad for my father's sake.
I will study abroad for myself.
I've always wanted to learn...
It's something no Japanese woman has ever done.
As expected of my daughter.
I remembered the joy of learning in an environment dedicated to educating women,
and I immersed myself in three years of biology research.
Oh! It's so blue!
At the age of 36, I became the president
and opened Japan's first women's vocational school for girls,
the Women's Institute for English Studies.
I went to America when I was 6 years old
and returned home after 11 years of education.
When I returned home,
I promised myself that I would use
the knowledge and experience I gained
from my study abroad
and give back to my country.
Eighteen years have passed since then,
and the day has come when I can finally give back.
It is my way of giving back
to the women of the future.
No matter your gender, position, or age,
if you have the will, you can always learn.
Think for yourself, make your own choices,
and take action.
Don't be bound by the norm or common sense.
You can only determine your own life for yourself.
Together with my friends,
we will build a life together.
Is it raining today?
These were my last words in this lifetime.
Storm last night
Died on August 16, 1929 (64 years old)
Don't move.
Looking back, my life was stormy.
I'm so nervous.
Just a little longer
and we'll be back in Japan.
Meeting our families after all this time.
11 whole years.
I wonder what my family will be like.
You don't remember?
It makes sense.
You were only six when you left.
Look, land! I can see Japan!
Ume Tsuda (6)
Hey! Ume!
Ume!
Great news!
-You can go to America.
-America?
Yes!
You're the first girl to study abroad!
The first?
Yes!
Hatsu! Hatsu!
Yes! Yes, dear!
Ume is going to America.
What!?
The first! The first!
Hatsu Tsuda
Ume is only six years old.
I can't believe you're sending our 6 year old
daughter to America for 10 years...
Nothing I can do about it.
Koto says she doesn't want to go.
That's because Koto is eight years old,
so she can say no.
-But Ume is still...
-You need to shut it!
When she gets back from America,
she's promised a teaching job at
Kaitakushi Girls' School.
Kaitakushi • Hokkaido Development Commission
Even a woman can do big jobs!
It's good for Ume
Hatsu! It's getting cold!
In Japan, there were no schools where women
could receive quality education.
In order to raise excellent men,
the Hokkaido Development Commission believed
that women, as mothers, needed to be educated,
so the Melji government decided to
send female students to study abroad.
This is your father's English dictionary.
-Take this with you.
-Yes.
Ume.
The government will pay
for you to study in America.
It's 10,000 yen for 10 years.
That's enough money for one
family to spend for a lifetime.
Remember that you carry with you
the high expectations of this country.
-Do you understand?
-Yes!
I will study a lot and be
of service to my country!
Excellent, Ume.
Come here.
How do you say frog in English?
These five girls were the first
female exchange students in Japan.
14-year-old Ryo Yoshimasu and Tei Ueda
11 year-old Sutematsu Yamakawa.
9-year-old Shige Nagai.
And the youngest of all was me,
6-year-old Ume Tsuda.
Hey... there's even a little girl there.
Poor girl.
No sane parent would send
their girl out of the country.
How heartless...
Shige.
Have you forgotten what the Empress said?
We have a big role to play as
representatives of Japanese women
in our studies and in serving our country.
I know, but...
Father...
Ume!
America
During the 23 days on the ship,
we were suffering from seasickness,
anxieties about our life in America,
lack of appetite, and feeling depressed.
Misozuke?
Help yourself, everyone.
That's an expensive
Japanese dish. Are you sure?
Delicious!
Go ahead, everyone.
Uncle Misozuke, can I have another one?
Ume, that's Mr. Ito.
Mr. Ito, may I have another one?
-Help yourself.
-Yes!
This was my first encounter with the future Prime Minister, Mr. Hirobumi Ito.
I was seven years old when
we arrived in America.
After we had bought some clothes in Chicago,
we went to Washington, D.C.
where we were greeted by Mr. Arinori Mori.
Huh? Where's the other one?
How old are you?
7 years old.
7 years old...
Ume, what is this?
It barks a lot but is very cute.
We first studied together.
Dog!
Correct! It's a dog.
All together now.
-Dog.
-Dog.
In piano lessons,
Shige's progress was outstanding.
Mr. Mori is so nice, isn't he?
Huh?
-Yeah... Ryo, you like Mr. Mo...
-No, I'm not!
What are you talking about?
-Ryo likes him.
-I don't!
Gotcha!
Mr. Mori!
Mr. Lanman.
I think I'm finally starting to realize just how much responsibility I signed myself up for.
By proposing this "Girls' Study Abroad Program".
Weren't you the one preaching on and on
about how Japanese women
needed a better education program?
I didn't think they'll send me a 7-year-old.
-The girl shouldn't be away from her mother.
-I agree.
Let alone in a foreign country.
Life abroad is gonna change these girls lives.
For better or for worse.
Rob sees the frog.
-Mr. Mori, good morning!
-Good morning!
Morning, little ladies.
Would you give us a moment?
Ryo, what's wrong?
Ryo and Tei are going back to Japan.
Why?
As we all know,
Tei remains depressed
and secluded in her room.
Ryo has an eye problem and has
to go to Japan for treatment.
I don't want to lose Ryo!
I came here as a
representative of Japanese women,
and now I have to leave after only one year...
I hate myself for being so pathetic...
I am...
really sorry...
No!
I'm going home! I wanna go home too!
Let's all go home...
I'm not going home!
Even if I'm alone. I'm staying here!
My name is actually "Saki".
What do you mean?
My parents sent me to study abroad
with the intention of abandoning me.
But they said they'd wait for me.
"Abandon and wait"...
From that moment on,
my name became Sutematsu.
I have no place to go back to!
But I'm sure I'll return home honorable.
That is why I came here!
You're the first girl to study abroad!
Remember that you carry with you
the high expectations of this country.
You've been working hard at your
English, haven't you, Ume?
Just make sure that no matter who you're talking to,
you look them straight in the eye
and tell them exactly what you think.
Okay!
How about some tea?
-Yeah? Want some tea?
-Some wonderful.
Let's get some tea!
Thank you so much. For everything.
We're so proud of you, Ume.
Our time with you has been a blessing. Thank you.
And just remember, even if we're apart,
you will always be in our thoughts.
Sutematsu and I
returned home after 11 years of studying abroad.
Shige had already returned home a year earlier.
Mount Fuji!
Wow! Mount Fuji!
At that time, I believed.
That the hew page of life that
has opened up is a wonderful one.
Ume! Sutematsu!
Shige!
I hope you didn't get too seasick on boat.
It was horrible. I was
nauseous the moment we left port.
We sail through a huge storm.
A storm? Well, I'm glad you made it home safe.
I bet you'll be pulling everything you've
learned overseas to work here in no time.
I hope so!
I want to start an English school for girls,
one where anyone can study, regardless
of how high they are on the social ladder.
Her Mistress, Sutematsu Yamakawa.
I like the sound of it.
-Can I teach there?
-Me too!
I want to teach music!
Of course. My first hires, Miss Shige Nagai...
At your service.
And Miss Ume Tsuda.
I can't wait!
To create an English school for
girls where anyone can learn.
This has become our dream.
Ume...
Ume!
Hey, Hatsu! Hatsu!
Otousan...?
You've grown this much...
You look different.
The clothes look great on you.
What is it? Oh?
Have you forgotten Japanese?
You will get used to it.
Come here.
-Huge!
-I made this farm.
This, um... belong to Agriculture School.
I found it. Great, isn't it?
It's great!
After being away from the Japanese
language for 11 years since I was 6,
it didn't come back to me right away.
Ume...
Okaasan...?
Welcome home.
Oneechan...?
Yes.
Ume.
Your brothers and sisters.
What!?
Your older sister's finally home!
Oh, sekihan!
What's this? Why is she the only one?
It's how the Westerners do it.
Ume.
You studied abroad
with government money.
So, do your best to be of service.
Do your job. Do your best.
Okay. I will.
It's just that...
the Hokkaido Development
Commission was dissolved.
So tomorrow, we're going to pay our
respects to the Ministry of Education.
Thank you Lord. Amen.
Amen.
You remember how to use chopsticks.
They have returned to Japan after successfully
completing their 11 years of study abroad.
Thank you for allowing us
to study abroad for that long.
Thank you very much.
Thanks for your efforts.
Let's have a seat.
Finally, the time has come
for these two women to contribute
to girls' education in Japan.
Yes... That is true...
The Kaitakushi that offered women's study abroad programs has been dissolved.
Yes... That's why we came here.
That said,
we also closed the girls' school that was supposed to take you in as teachers.
What's going to happen to these girls?
Even if it's forced on us...
Male exchange students are guaranteed
an elite status upon their return.
Is it the American way to say things that blatantly?
But, you see, there's nothing
you girls can do about it.
They are the first to study abroad.
Unless the sending of female exchange students
was just an ill-conceived policy to create a buzz.
Ill-conceived?
We studied hard for 11 years.
I'll contact you if I find a job where
you can use your experience.
I have another appointment.
You can't be serious!
Upon returning to Japan, I was surprised at
how low the status of women is in Japan.
My father set me up a western style room.
My father spoke English, had been abroad,
and had an understanding of Western culture.
"Jyo seki wa daibun suzushiku"...
The mornings and evenings are much cooler.
Ume.
-Got a minute?
-Yes.
-Sorry for the wait!
-Oh... We've been waiting!
Ume, come over here.
-My daughter, Ume.
-The one you were talking about...
Oh, no, no, no..!
My daughter is a westerner,
so she can't do the pouring.
Here you go.
Ah, I'm sorry.
Thank you, thank you...
-Hey, Hatsu!
-Yes!
Get the shamo we got as a gift.
Make some sauce.
It's going to take some time,
could you wait for it?
-You didn't set it up!
-I'll help too...
-No, it's okay.
You don't have to do that, Ume.
I'll hurry up and get ready...
My father's attitude toward
my mother was not at all Western,
and I was perplexed by the disparity from the
equal marital relationship I had seen in America.
Japan is not as sophisticated as America.
You get used to that in Japan.
Japanese too... is difficult...
Sutematsu and I went to college together,
and when it was just us, we spoke in
Japanese so we wouldn't forget.
But kanji is difficult for me too.
I don't know... if there is a place... for us to work...
I... didn't go to college...
-It doesn't matter.
-Yes.
Both Ume and Sutematsu have English
proficiency that's just as good as the men's
I wanted to show it to you.
It's Sutematsu's college... um...
graduation speech!
It was really wonderful...!
It's not every day you get to be in the newspaper!
The fact that you can talk about
British foreign policy towards Japan
makes you better than men!
-Yeah!
I was... so moved by it!
What about Mr. Mori?
Did he come to see you?
No, because Mr. Mori was in London.
If Mr. Mori had been in Japan,
he might have been able to help us.
The Ministry of Education really pisses me off.
I came home with the intention of devoting my
life to a job where I could give back to my country.
I'm not even ready to get married.
What? You don't want to marry?
What...? Are you going to?
I'm getting married.
Marriage...?
Yes.
Japanese marriages...
between men and women... are not equal.
Women only do what men tell them to do.
That's why we need to educate girls.
Isn't that what the government
paid you to study abroad for?
-I know.
-Then why are you getting married?
We have a mission to spread what
we've learned to this country.
-Yeah.
-I know that.
-You don't!
Upon returning,
I had several offers of
marriage to men of status,
but I turned them all down.
Marriage proposal...
Just hear me out.
The man I'm marrying is Sotokichi Uryu.
-Did you meet him in America...?
-Yes.
He, too, studied abroad with government money.
So he has a sense of duty to serve the country,
and shares the western culture and way of thinking.
Besides, most people in Japan married
the person their parents decided for them,
but we are in a love marriage,
which is the norm in the West.
Besides... even if I got married,
I would continue to work as a music teacher.
That's how we show the new image of women.
I understand.
Congratulations.
Sutematsu and I
were not able to truly congratulate Shige.
Our dream of building a school
together seemed a little further away.
I still haven't heard from the Ministry of Education.
I wouldn't count on it,
that's why I started tutoring English.
Who are you teaching?
The wives of high-ranking
government officials.
It's only the upper class who hire
private English tutors, isn't it?
I wonder if a school for girls where anyone can
study is still something unthinkable in Japan...
Whatever it is, let's do what we can do now.
-Let's not stop moving.
-That's right.
I have something else in mind.
Why don't we do it together?
What is it?
English Drama Club.
Drama?
We promote Western ideas
and culture through theater.
-That's a great idea.
-Right?
I thought I couldn't stand the
difference between Japan and America.
-And it sounds like fun!
-Yeah!
Shige's husband
Sotokichi Uryu
-Good afternoon.
-Sorry for intruding.
We were talking about starting an
English Drama Club to promote Western culture.
That’s very significant.
-You'll do it too, right?
-Huh?
We also need male actors.
I'd be happy to.
-Thank you very much.
-Thank you very much.
-Go on.
-Yes.
Ah... Geez...
Still can't find a job for Ume?
Instead of work,
maybe we should look
for a marriage partner.
I'm sure we can find someone good for her now.
Ume studied abroad. She will have an excellent job.
-Hatsu! Bath! Bath!
-Yes!
Good morning.
It's been a while.
Good morning.
Mr. Kanda is here.
Thanks.
Mr. Kanda, I would like to introduce.
My fellow exchange students,
Sutematsu Yamakawa and Ume Tsuda.
This is Mr. Naibu Kanda, the English professor at the Imperial University.
Mr. Kanda's English is the best in Japan.
-Nice to meet you.
-Nice to meet you.
After Mr. Kanda, I bet Ume is
the second best English speaker.
-Nice to meet you.
-Nice to meet you.
Everyone,
thank you for joining the English Drama Club.
Through these activities, we hope to bring
a little bit of the West to Japan.
Hey, Mr. Kanda. What do you think of him?
What do I think?
I thought he would be perfect for Sutematsu.
-What are you talking about?
-I thought so, too, you know.
-What?
-Yeah.
Mr. Kanda seemed to like Sutematsu, too.
I told you, didn't I?
I said that what's important to us
isn't marriage, but creating a school for girls.
-Right, Ume?
-Absolutely.
I think Mr. Kanda is very understanding about women working,
and besides...
-Shige!
In the end, the Ministry of Education never offered me a job,
and through my father,
I was able to work as a teacher
at a school built by missionaries.
I have not seen him...
It's the first time for me to
earn money working for myself.
Teaching a single class
of students with different academic
abilities was a challenge.
"Dono kurai no jikan" is "How long".
Until confirmed, signed, ratified by you.
The Merchant of Venice - William Shakespeare
I would not be ambitious in my wish.
Yet for you
I would be trebled twenty times myself,
A thousand times more fair,
ten thousand times more rich...
Good work.
It's hard to get these castella here, isn't it?
Yes, I asked a friend of mine.
Everyone,
please help yourselves to
these delicious castella.
Thank you very much.
Here you go.
Here you go.
Thank you very much.
-Here you go.
-Thank you.
Dear Sutematsu Yamakawa,
From the day I met you, I have been captivated
by your beauty and strength.
The more we meet,
the more driven I am to discover
the root of that strength
to grasp it in my hand.
And yet I know that you hold it out of reach of all who try.
This only adds to your beauty.
-Wanna come with me to get some beef cutlet.
-Of course.
I wish we could invite her.
Poor thing.
I'm home.
-Welcome home
-Welcome home.
What's wrong?
I got my paycheck.
15 yen, right?
It's amazing that they give you that much.
Foreign teachers get more than 50 yen.
After deducting the rickshaw fee from my salary,
I only have 10 yen left.
10 yen is luxurious enough.
That's not what I meant.
I'm saying it's not right that there's
a difference in the work we do.
I thought my salary was low
compared to the work I was doing,
but, well, being a missionary
school, I had no choice
and I was grateful to be able to work.
But I don't think foreign teachers take care
of their students well enough for 50 yen...
I'll talk to the Dean tomorrow.
-Don't do that
-What?
What if you do that
and they get angry with you?
Funny...
You make it sound like it's wrong
to say what's on your mind.
You might end up destroying
your father's reputation who gave you this job.
Do you understand?
-I don't.
-Ume...
I was raised to speak my mind,
no matter who I'm dealing with.
Thank you.
Education is a philanthropic business to begin with,
so even if you talk about compensation...
I'm just wondering why there is such
a huge difference in pay for doing the same job.
I also wonder why the students'
dormitories and meals are so poor,
while the homes and lifestyle
of foreign teachers are so lavish.
If you don't like it feel free to quit.
I will.
Consider this my resignation.
Goodbye.
I'm thinking
of going to the Ministry of Education
again to see if they will let me work there.
The Ministry of Education offered me a job.
They asked me to teach biology and
physiology at Tokyo Women's Normal School.
But I turned it down.
I wasn't even approached!
After all, I didn't go to college...
There's also about my Japanese...
-That's not why.
-What?
Hiring will be in two weeks.
By then,
I should be able to handle Japanese textbooks
perfectly and write on the blackboard in Japanese.
Only two weeks...
I went to talk to the Ministry of Education several times,
but they wouldn't let me get a job.
I'm gonna use this to make good on the
promise we made before we went abroad.
Why won't they let us work?
Time passes with nothing to show for it...
Hey, Sutematsu. I think
Mr. Kanda would be good for you.
What?
Looking at Mr. Kanda,
I think he really likes you.
You like Mr. Kanda, too, don't you, Sutematsu?
What are you trying to say?
This country does not treat unmarried women
as full-fledged members of society.
You know that, right?
-I am trying to change that.
-That is why...
unmarried women can't do anything!
Why do you assume that Shige?
Because we are in Japan!
What was studying abroad for?
Why did the government
send us to study abroad?
Why... did we study for 11 years?
Welcome back.
Oh, Ume. You have a guest.
do you know who I am?
I came here as a
representative of Japanese women,
and now I have to leave after only one year...
No!
Ryo!
Ryo Yoshimasu
Well then, take your time.
Thank you very much.
How have you been?
What...?
I... I returned to Japan after only one year,
and I kept thinking that I shouldn't meet you.
Right now, I'm working as an English tutor
and preparing for a private English school for girls.
A private English school?
That's amazing...
It's a really small school because I do it all by myself.
I have five or six students.
But it's your private school, right?
How did you get the funds?
My father helped me.
I'm not married...
A woman alone can't do anything.
Are you thinking about getting married?
No one will look at me as a
marriage partner anymore.
I was 14 years old when I decided to study abroad,
and I knew that after 10 years of it,
I would no longer be of marriageable age.
So it's okay, marriage.
I'm glad you're doing well.
How's Tei who came back with you?
She got married,
but she feels guilty for not living up to the country's expectations,
so she stays at home all the time.
What about you?
I had a hard time finding a job,
and when I finally found one,
I quit because I didn't like their way of thinking.
I see...
Shige is married and teaches music.
Sutematsu and I are the same.
We don't want to get married,
we want to work for our country,
but we don't have a job.
I wish I could meet Shige and Sutematsu...
They’ll be very happy.
-Ryo, that's great!
-Sounds exciting.
Thanks.
How about we start with a small
private school instead of a big one?
Actually, the three of us have a dream.
It's an English school for girls,
where anyone can learn.
Is that so?
Not only English, but also the importance of everyone
speaking their mind clearly,
regardless of their gender or status.
Our school's reputation will be so good,
women will come from all over to attend!
Yamakawa English School for Girls.
The piano level is high, and attracts
talent from all over the country.
Principal Yamakawa, a word, please.
Principal Yamakawa! Go ahead.
I'm getting married.
What?
"Married"?
With Mr. Kanda, right?
-You see, Mr. Kanda is...
-No.
It's not Mr. Kanda.
Then who are you marrying?
Mr. Iwao Oyama.
The imperial army chief, Mr. Oyama?
Yes.
He's a distinguished man, but...
What?
How old is that man?
He's like a father, isn't he?
He's 17 years older.
He lost his wife over six months ago
and has three daughters.
He remarried less than a year after his wife died...
Don't do it, Sutematsu.
That man just wants a mother for his children.
Hey...
You are well educated and
would make a good educator.
You are beautiful and can dance.
If we take you to the Rokumeikan,
you'll stand out spectacularly.
Rokumeikan (Deer Cry Pavilion / Banqueting House)
I've already decided.
I thought we were going to build a school.
Without money, we can't do anything.
So you married someone with money?
You don't like... a middle-aged man with a belly?
Oh, you didn't really want
to build a school, did you?
If you become the wife of
someone with that much status,
you won't be allowed to be a teacher.
Without the principal, we wouldn't have a school.
You can do it, Ume.
What?
Ume, you should be the principal.
I didn't graduate from college like you.
-It doesn't matter.
-Don't say something irresponsible!
It never occurred to me that you would get married.
Because even you didn't
think well of Shige's marriage.
What...
Wasn't it our dream?
Are you going to force this on me alone?
I'm going home.
Ume!
Even if I get married,
our dreams will remain the same.
Thank you for waiting. Your zenzai.
-Mail delivery.
-Ah, yes.
Thank you for delivering it.
Mr. Mori?
Dear Ume Tsuda,
How are you fairing?
I heard that your jobs at Hokkaido
Development Commision fell through,
and that the Ministry of Education hasn't been helpful.
Words cannot describe my indignation.
Here in London, women have
been active in speaking out
for the betterment of women.
I am sure Japan will change as well.
Now I'm thinking about moving to the Ministry of Education.
Won't you join me in changing
women's education in Japan?
I always wish for your success and happiness.
I promise we will meet again soon.
Arinori Mori.
Mr. Mori...
My name is Ume Tsuda.
I studied abroad in America for 11 years.
Are you the female exchange
student from Kaitakushi?
Yes. Is there anything I can do to help?
Well... if you're a man, maybe we can talk...
I see.
Excuse me, my name is Ume Tsuda.
How have you been?
Ah... Mr. Kanda.
I felt like I was going to see you.
Actually, there is something
I wanted to talk to you about.
You want to talk to me?
Yes. About marriage.
Are you getting married?
Ms. Ume, will you marry me?
Mr. Kanda, I didn't know you were the
kind who makes jokes like that.
Please consider marrying me.
Mr. Kanda,
you liked Sutematsu, didn't you?
She rejected me.
Ms. Sutematsu said that
as a government-sponsored student,
she must serve the country in any way she can.
I really wish she could repay it through working,
but realistically, she won't be able to.
If you are going to get married,
it has to be a marriage for the good of the country.
I understand her cause,
but there is only so much a woman can do.
Instead, I said, we had feelings for each other,
and we should cherish those feelings.
But Ms. Sutematsu would
not change her mind at all.
I had no idea she was so stubborn...
Such a shame.
-But Ms. Ume would...
-Out of the question.
What...?
I am not interested in Japanese men
who demand obedience from women.
In the end, you're just a
Japanese wannabe westerner.
Aren't you the wannabe westerner here?
This is Japan!
You should be more feminine.
How disappointing.
I really don't want to get married...
I will build a school for Japanese women!
Just you wait!
It's been a longtime, Ms. Ume Tsuda.
-You look different.
-What?
I'm Hirobumi Ito.
Help yourself.
Ah! Uncle Misozuke?
Mr. Ito wanted to focus on girls' education.
Hirobumi Ito's Residence
Mr. Ito wanted to focus on girls' education.
Mr. Ito wanted to focus on girls' education.
I am sorry for calling you here.
No, not at all, sir.
This is Professor Utako Shimoda,
founder of Toyo Girls' School.
I'm Shimoda.
I have heard that it is a wonderful school for upper class ladies
to acquire education.
I intend to create
a well established Peers Girls' School
for the royalty and the nobility.
Professor Shimoda will be a professor there.
If a Peers Girls' School were made,
I would like Ms. Ume to teach English there.
We are very honored.
I will make sure that she can be of service to you.
We have high hopes for her.
Thank you very much!
when will this Peers Girls'
School be established?
That... is still a long way off.
I see...
Until then, I have a job I would like to
ask Ms. Ume to do for me.
Father, what did Mr. Ito wanted to talk about?
I want to work.
No... we talk about something else.
I'm sure I'll find a good job for you.
Hey, Hatsu! Hatsu!
Bath! Bath! Hatsu!
Keep up the tempo.
One, two, three.
Careful.
Loosen your left hand.
Yes, carefully.
Teacher!?
It's coming...!
It's coming...!
Out of the way!
Shige!
I had an easy delivery.
Thank goodness...
Wow...
Shige!
I can't believe you came too, Sutematsu.
What's with the outfit?
I was fitting for a dress...
She's a very cute girl.
Ah... She's so cute!
It's Mr. Sotokichi and mine's baby.
Oh, it's so beautiful! ls that your engagement ring?
Yes.
Sutematsu.
Congratulations on getting married.
Thank you.
How are the wedding preparations going?
It's been hectic every day...
That's because you're gonna
be the wife of the army chief.
I never told you this,
but I dated Oyama several times,
before getting married.
-Date?
-Dated?
He's imposing on the outside,
but he's surprisingly awkward.
Whenever I call him "Iwao," he gets embarrassed.
Iwao!
Iwao can't help but be cute around you.
How about you, Ume?
Did you go to Mr. Ito's house?
Your father didn't tell you?
What did you really talk about?
Father.
The Rokumeikan will be opening soon.
In preparation for that, he asked that you
teach Mr. Ito's wife and daughter
Western manners and English.
What's the salary?
25 yen.
I'll do it. Not only for what I'm paid...
but more than that, I will give it my all.
What...
Your last job...
you quit right away without consulting me.
I have my reasons, and it's my decision.
Not this time! Because it's a live-in work.
What difference does it make?
Isn't that obvious?
There must be no improper conduct
between you and Mr. Ito!
Improper conduct?
You know...
You just don't know!
Huh?
Listen here.
There are a lot of times
when the master lay their hands
on their live-in workers!
Right, Hatsu?
He's right, Ume.
I'm going to Ito family to educate.
So that won't happen.
Even if you think so, Mr. Ito is still a man!
If that were to happen,
all I would have to do is refuse.
Mr. Ito is a high-ranking official.
-That's irrelevant.
-That's not how it works.
That's not right.
You know, simply being a live-in worker makes
people suspect that you and Mr. Ito are close.
-That would hinder your marriage offer.
-That's why it's not right.
In America, no one looked at live-in tutors that way.
All you have to do is listen to me!
You listen to me for a change!
I will never get married.
Hatsu! Do something!
What do you mean, you will never get married?
Marriage has to happen, you know that.
How can you live without getting married?
I should never have studied abroad!
I wouldn't have felt that there was something
wrong with the Japanese way of thinking.
I would never be frustrated with Japanese
customs that I didn't understand.
I would never have been
hurt by my friend's marriages.
That it was natural for men to treat women roughly
and I would never feel sorry for wives
who were at the mercy of their husbands.
I never blamed myself
for not being of service to this country...
Do you... Do you know
how hard this is for me?
You would not understand.
You can... come home anytime.
I decided to become a
live-in tutor for the Ito family.
When you walk, don't walk on your toes like you do with zori sandals.
Straighten your back and gently start from the heels.
Yes! Beautiful.
Let's call it a day, shall we?
-Yes.
-Good night.
-Good night.
-Good night.
Mr. Ito always comes home late, doesn't he?
Yes, sometimes he doesn't come home.
I guess those who carry the weight
of the country are very busy.
Yes, among other things.
I'm home.
Welcome back.
You're early today.
What about dinner?
-I already ate.
-Okay.
Ms. Ume, how is my wife
and daughter doing in English?
Yes, both your wife and daughter
are very enthusiastic about it.
I see.
Oh, that's right...
Ms. Ume, please come to my study later.
Okay.
Listen here.
There are a lot of times
when the master lay their hands
on their live-in workers!
It's Ume.
Come in.
If you see any books that interest you, read them.
Thank you very much.
I just wanted to ask your opinion.
Opinion?
What do you think we should do to improve Japan?
Japanese men and women are not equal.
In fact, I believe that women should have the ability
to learn and earn money with their own hands.
When women have jobs and independence,
they can voice their opinions in
the same position as men.
I think that is
what it really means to be an ally of men.
I believe that women
need to be educated so that
they can awaken to their potential
and take action.
I want to repay my country
with that kind of education.
-Come on, Mr. Ito.
-I'm drunk, aren't I?
-I had a great time.
-Really?
-Please come back again, okay?
-I will.
Thank you for taking care of my husband.
Here's your carriage fare.
See you.
What? You're leaving?
Why are you leaving...
In 1883,
the Rokumeikan, built as an international social gathering place, was opened.
Rokumeikan
the Rokumeikan, built as an international social gathering place, was opened.
Rokumeikan
Ume.
Shige!
I can't watch.
This is just monkey imitation.
Morikey imitation?
To imitate only on the surface.
-Monkey imitation.
-Monkey imitation.
Oh, it's Sutematsu!
As expected.
Let's dance too.
Toyo Girls' School
I was also asked to teach at
Professor Utako Shimoda 's Toyo School.
Toyo Girls' School
Professor Utako Shimoda 's Toyo School.
In the West, tea should not be slurped.
Similarly, handling tea utensils without making a sound
is considered beautiful.
Let's practice it, everyone.
Professor Utako Shimoda is an independent
woman who founded her own private school
after her husband passed away.
I respect her.
But professor's school
doesn't teach women to speak their minds.
-Why?
-Because it's not required.
She said that they should learn
Western superficial manners, makeup,
and hairstyle as part of their training.
How can she do it?
If I quit, I might not be invited to the
Peers Girls' School that will eventually open.
It's a great opportunity.
Actually, Sutematsu has a
big opportunity coming her way.
-What? What kind?
-It's not official yet,
but Mr. Oyama is going to visit Europe, and
Sutematsu is privately planning to go with him.
What? Europe?
She will spend a year in Europe to learn various things
and apply that to the imperial family.
Amazing!
Sutematsu really is amazing.
Right?
But Sutematsu did not accompany him to Europe.
Mr. Oyama is on a trip,
does he not have time for you?
No. In his absence, I have been given so many duties
that I have not had enough time.
It's been ages. This is my wife, Mary.
It's nice to meet you, Mary.
Excuse me.
Sutematsu? What's wrong?
You look pale.
It's nothing.
I'm just a little tired, that's all.
It's hard being here without Mr. Oyama.
I thought you were gonna go with him.
I turned it down.
Why?
I'm just doing what I have to do here and now.
If you had gone to Europe,
wouldn't you have done
what you wanted to do?
Couldn't you have done
something useful for the country.
It was my decision not to go.
In a place like this dealing with
Japanese people who imitate the West,
and the foreigners who watch them?
You didn't go to Europe because Mr. Oyama
told you to protect the house?
Because he asked you to educate
his children from his ex-wife?
Such a big opportunity.
The Sutematsu I know would
never have turned it down.
What the hell are you doing?
I'm pregnant.
My precious baby.
Let's head back.
Don't overdo it.
I don't want to be told by someone who
worked until her baby was born.
It's Mr. Mori! So he is back in Japan.
Hey.
-Are they the foreign exchange students?
-Yes.
My wife, Tsune.
Nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you.
I am sorry about the dissolution of Kaitakushi.
That is not your fault, Mr. Mori.
I transferred to the Ministry of Education.
The key is to change women's mindset.
It is not only men who look down on women.
Women themselves assume they are inferior to men.
Teaching them western manners and
makeup will not change their mindset.
I have high hopes for the Peers
Girls' School that will be opening soon.
From this point on, I will surely help you, Ume.
Thank you very much for that.
It is reassuring talking to you.
I can't tell you how reassuring it was
to have you there during my study abroad.
I was the only Japanese there.
It's because it was you, Mr. Mori.
Your presence filled everyone
with a sense of security.
I still clearly remember the first time I met you.
How old are you?
7 years old.
You let yourself be led to study abroad
even though you had no intention to do so.
Studying abroad was truly a wonderful experience.
That is why it pains me
so much that I was given the opportunity to
study abroad with the government's money,
and I am not able to help in any way.
I want to repay them as soon as possible.
Paying back...
To whom?
What...
I decided it was for the country.
That's what I thought at that time.
We are finally moving toward the
opening of the Peers Girls' School.
I see.
In addition to Professor Utako Shimoda,
Mrs. Oyama was appointed as a
member of the preparatory committee.
Sutematsu?
As for funding,
we are well prepared so that girls
of the royal and noble families
can receive the education they deserve.
It is reassuring to have
Professor Shimoda, who already has
experience founding a private school.
I'm reassured too.
Because Mrs. Sutematsu is the only woman
in Japan with an American college degree.
And as the wife of Imperial Army Chief General
Oyama, you are well-known and influential.
It offers the glamor of a socialite.
-Because I am plain.
-No, no... Not true.
Everyone, this is wonderful.
I don't have that ability.
Actually, I would like to invite you to something.
-Me?
-Yes.
-I'm preparing for a bazaar right now.
-Bazaar?
There has never been a charity bazaar in Japan.
You do what no one else is doing.
Proceeds will be donated to the
hospital to fund the creation of a
nurses' training school.
A nurses' training school?
I was surprised at the number of
male nurses in Japanese hospitals.
In foreign countries,
women nurses attended to the sick.
I see.
So, what's the bazaar?
At that time in Japan,
there was no concept of working for others, raising money
or donating to charity.
I think it's time for some tea.
And it was not possible for upper class ladies and daughters,
who were not merchants, to sell goods.
The event was a great success because of the buzz.
It's exhausting, isn't it?
-But I had fun.
-Yes.
Thank you, everyone.
The proceeds amounted to 7,865 yen.
7865!?
Yes.
All funds will be donated to the hospital
to help train nurses.
So you're saying
that this activity might lead to more women in that field?
Yes.
You said this before.
"Even if I get married,
our dreams will remain the same."
Even if I get married,
our dreams will remain the same.
I think I understand
a little of what that means.
What's this all of a sudden?
-I wonder if she'll be surprised.
-I think she will be thrilled.
Finally, Ryo's dream came true!
This is a pencil.
This is a pencil.
This is a book.
This is a book.
A few more of these book...
These are books.
These are books.
Ryo, congratulations.
-Congratulations.
-Thank you.
I'm really happy to have you all celebrating with me.
We are happy that you made your dream come true.
I, too, am happy for eyeryone's success.
I can't teach the western way of thinking.
We all want to educate girls.
That's right.
It was an excellent class.
Finally... Finally, I was able to start.
When my mother’s health suddenly worsened,
I left the Ito family and
returned home immediately.
Mother.
I'm sorry...
Oh, welcome home.
I'm home.
Thank you very much for all the
help you have given my daughter.
I first met Ms. Ume when she was six years old.
She has grown into a fine woman.
I am glad to hear you say that.
I've been wondering if it was
a good idea to send her
to study abroad at the age of six.
Mr. Tsuda,
you have done what no one has ever done before.
You grew western vegetables in Japan.
Planted roadside trees in Japan.
Sent your daughter to study abroad at the age of 6.
For my own sake...
no, I sent her to study
abroad for my own appearance.
I'm sure my wife
wanted to keep her close and raise her.
Parental thoughts aside,
Ms. Ume is a young lady who has the ability
to connect any experience to her future.
That's how it looks to me.
Shortly thereafter, the cabinet system was established,
and Mr. Ito became the first Primer Minister
and Mr. Mori the first Minister of Education.
And finally,
the Peers Girls' School was opened.
The time has finally come
to apply what I have learned in
America to girls' education in Japan.
That’s what I thought.
-How are you?
-I'm fine, thank you...
Louder!
I'm fine, thank...
Louder!
I'm fine, thank...
Louder!
What are you shy about?
-Mother!
-Mother...
Mother!
I told you I'd repeat it over
and over until you get it right.
Mother.
What are you all here studying for?
Did you come here aimlessly,
with no idea what it is about?
Ms. Noda.
There is no right answer.
You have to put into words
what you think in your head.
Ms. Sakaguchi.
Ms. Moriyama
Everyone is taking it too easy,
and we will never make progress.
That's all right.
There is no need to be strict here.
What?
They're young ladies who think they
can just relax and enjoy life as it is.
Then what are we here for?
To get an advantage in marriage talks.
Graduating from this school will give them prestige.
I...
I want to raise independent women
who can earn their own money.
That is my idea of female education.
The female education here is to
nurture good wives and wise mothers.
That's the basic premise of education.
Nothing fundamental has changed.
I felt like it remained difficult
for an unmarried woman to survive.
Our dreams were now even further away.
Father, I'm going to Ryo's house.
Tell me where it is.
I'm worried because Ryo's private school is closed.
Do you know something?
She died of cholera a week ago.
What?
I just found out recently.
Because it's cholera,
so it's family only, and quietly.
This is a pencil.
This is a pencil.
This is a book.
This is a book.
A few more of these books...
These are...
I returned to Japan after only one year,
and I kept thinking that I shouldn't meet you.
I, too, am happy for everyone's success.
Finally... Finally, I was able to start.
-She will play tennis tomorrow.
-No!
Tennis! She will play...
Okay. Next.
I was moving further and further away
from the kind of education I wanted.
She will play tennis tomorrow.
I guess I was naive to think that I could change the
Japanese women's mindset through education.
The basic premise that Japanese
women are inferior to men
is not likely to change.
I think it will take more time and wisdom
than I thought to accomplish the advancement of women.
I feel suffocated when I see Japanese women.
Women are afraid.
They think that if they don't act
modest and graceful, men won't choose them.
Women need to be more free.
Free...
Ryo really wanted to get married, too.
She returned home after a year of studying abroad,
failing to fulfill her mission,
which seemed to me like she was
punishing herself for not getting married.
Are you free, Ume?
Huh?
If you don't agree with the educational
policy of the Peers Girls' School, then quit.
That is not the way it works.
Why?
The Peers Girls' School is
connected to the government.
I have to repay my country.
Repay...
Yes.
Aren't you the one
who is bound by that mindset?
I didn't want to immediately
accept what Mr. Mori said.
In the year 1889, the Constitution of the Empire of Japan,
which Mr. Ito had been working on
for many years, was promulgated.
-Minister!
-What? You!
Ume.
I will open it.
How about warming up?
I'm sorry.
For not understanding anything...
I'm sorry.
It's warm.
I want to repay them as soon as possible.
Paying back...
To whom?
Are you free, Ume?
Aren't you the one
who is bound by that mindset?
It's hot!
I kept thinking about what Mr. Mori told me.
The real reason why I don't quit the Peers Girls' School,
even though I don't agree with its policies,
is because it pays well
and allows me the status of
a teacher in a dignified school.
The thought of losing that makes me uneasy
Because it is very difficult for an unmarried
woman to support herself in this country.
That's why I couldn't quit.
I'm the same.
I wasn't free at all.
After that, I didn't know how to get engaged
in female education.
What?
Maybe I was just bound by the idea that I had to
give back to my country.
So?
I'm thinking of taking a break from teaching.
What are you gonna do when you leave?
I want to study again.
-I'm sorry.
-What do you want to talk about?
I decided to study abroad.
Studying abroad... I was wondering
what you were going to say.
-Are you serious?
-Yes.
I always wanted to go
to an American university.
What about money?
The government isn't going to pay for it this time,
and we don't know if they'll accept you or not.
Don't worry.
Thanks to everyone I've met so far,
I've found a universit that will accept me.
Can you please make arrangements
so that Ms. Tsuda can study abroad
while she is still employed here?
-What?
I would like you to guarantee her
a salary while she is studying abroad.
Please allow Ume to enroll.
The future of women's education
in the East may very well rest on her shoulders.
Please.
I met everyone
thanks to my first study abroad experience.
Father, Mother,
for allowing me to study abroad,
thank you very much.
This time, I am not studying
abroad for the sake of my country.
I am not going to study
abroad for my father's sake.
I will study abroad for myself.
I've always wanted to learn...
It's something no Japanese woman has ever done.
As expected of my daughter.
I remembered the joy of learning in an environment dedicated to educating women,
and I immersed myself in three years of biology research.
Oh! It's so blue!
At the age of 36, I became the president
and opened Japan's first women's vocational school for girls,
the Women's Institute for English Studies.
I went to America when I was 6 years old
and returned home after 11 years of education.
When I returned home,
I promised myself that I would use
the knowledge and experience I gained
from my study abroad
and give back to my country.
Eighteen years have passed since then,
and the day has come when I can finally give back.
It is my way of giving back
to the women of the future.
No matter your gender, position, or age,
if you have the will, you can always learn.
Think for yourself, make your own choices,
and take action.
Don't be bound by the norm or common sense.
You can only determine your own life for yourself.
Together with my friends,
we will build a life together.
Is it raining today?
These were my last words in this lifetime.
Storm last night
Died on August 16, 1929 (64 years old)
Don't move.