Movie
Description
Shinobu Ijuuin serves as a lieutenant in the Japanese army during the Taisho era. Born of mixed Japanese and German heritage from an affair between his Japanese father and a German princess, his parents were separated due to social inequality. His mother was married off to another man. Shinobu's father, unable to bear his resemblance to his lost lover, spent years abroad until his death. Consequently, Shinobu grew up under the care of his paternal grandparents, whom he loved deeply.
This history drives Shinobu's acceptance of an arranged marriage with Benio Hanamura. The pact stems from his grandmother's decades-old, unrequited love for a Hanamura man, thwarted by class differences. Shinobu seeks to fulfill his grandmother's dream through this union.
He first encounters Benio after witnessing her accidents—falling from a bicycle and a tree—and laughs, prompting her to slap him. He later rescues her during another mishap. Their formal meeting occurs at Benio's home, where she attacks him with a kendo stick upon learning he is her fiancé. Despite Benio's open rebellion against the engagement—including poor behavior and plans to elope with her friend Ranmaru—Shinobu remains patient and forgiving. He consistently shows genuine affection for her as she struggles to reconcile her feminist ideals with her growing feelings.
His military deployment to Manchuria leads to him being reported missing and presumed dead. Found in Siberia with severe injuries and amnesia by Russian countess Lalissa, she nurses him back to health. Mistaking his resemblance to her deceased husband, she names him "Sasha Mikhailov" and presents him as her spouse. Shinobu remains unaware of his true identity until the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, during which Lalissa sustains fatal injuries saving him. With her dying words, she urges him to return to Benio. His memories resurface amid the disaster, and he reunites with Benio in Tokyo's ruins. Despite her prior agreement to marry another man, Tosei, Benio chooses Shinobu. They ultimately wed, fulfilling the original engagement pact.
This history drives Shinobu's acceptance of an arranged marriage with Benio Hanamura. The pact stems from his grandmother's decades-old, unrequited love for a Hanamura man, thwarted by class differences. Shinobu seeks to fulfill his grandmother's dream through this union.
He first encounters Benio after witnessing her accidents—falling from a bicycle and a tree—and laughs, prompting her to slap him. He later rescues her during another mishap. Their formal meeting occurs at Benio's home, where she attacks him with a kendo stick upon learning he is her fiancé. Despite Benio's open rebellion against the engagement—including poor behavior and plans to elope with her friend Ranmaru—Shinobu remains patient and forgiving. He consistently shows genuine affection for her as she struggles to reconcile her feminist ideals with her growing feelings.
His military deployment to Manchuria leads to him being reported missing and presumed dead. Found in Siberia with severe injuries and amnesia by Russian countess Lalissa, she nurses him back to health. Mistaking his resemblance to her deceased husband, she names him "Sasha Mikhailov" and presents him as her spouse. Shinobu remains unaware of his true identity until the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, during which Lalissa sustains fatal injuries saving him. With her dying words, she urges him to return to Benio. His memories resurface amid the disaster, and he reunites with Benio in Tokyo's ruins. Despite her prior agreement to marry another man, Tosei, Benio chooses Shinobu. They ultimately wed, fulfilling the original engagement pact.