Rainbow Samurai

Synopsis

During the mid-19th century, Japan remained isolated from foreign influence. Only faint stirrings of change could be seen in the long-established rule of Shogun Tokugawa. In a remote rural area on the island of Shikoku, a young boy named Ryoma grows up in a low-ranking samurai household. A decade later, he will become one of the key figures who overthrow the Shogun's authority and open Japan to the Western world. Our tale begins with Ryoma, a dreamy seven-year-old child. He is honest and gentle-hearted, despising any form of violence or cruelty. So sensitive and somewhat naive is he that he often bursts into tears out of compassion when witnessing even a minor act of harm, like another child stepping on a tiny insect. The other children and even his own family call him a "crybaby." Yet he is not a coward—not at all a "chicken." His sorrow stems from a deep desire to prevent unjust actions and wrongdoings in life. Only his older sister truly understands the depth of his character. She recognizes that her brother possesses a unique gift, and she does everything she can to protect him and lift his spirits.