Hidamari no Ki [TV]

Set in the mid-1800’s, this story is about a young doctor who has been trained in Western-style medicine, and a young samurai, who tries to live up to the old traditions of his class and culture.

Two young men, Manjiro Ibutani and Ryoan Tezuka, live during the Second Year of Ansei (1855) in Edo’s Koishigawa. Ibutani is a low-ranking samurai who is a gifted swordsman and has straightforward and strong sense of justice. In contrast, Tezuka has a more carefree attitude. He has an eye for the ladies, but he’s passionate about becoming a doctor. These two men of opposite characters mature during the backdrop of the turbulent end of the Tokugawa Period (1600-1868 CE).

The story is actually based upon real people – the doctor, Ryoan, was the anime creator’s, Osamu Tezuka’s, great grandfather.