Zipang
1 Season, 26 Episodes
| S - | Ep - | 2004/10/07 |
| TV Series Episode | - min | |
| DRA SF | Japan | |
The story of Zipang is basically the same as that of the movie The Final Countdown, only with a few twists. The Japanese AEGIS Destroyer "Mirai" of the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force is on its way to Pearl Harbor for training missions when it's suddenly engulfed in a strange electrical storm. When they clear a fog bank they almost run into an enormous battleship, which turns out to be the "Yamato", Japan's largest battleship in World War 2. With horror, the crew realizes they have been transported back in time to 1942, right before the Battle of Midway. Although they try to avoid getting mixed up with the ongoing battle, thing are going haywire when the ship's XO rescues Imperial Japanese Navy Lt. Commander Kusaku from a sinking plane and the "Mirai" is subsequently discovered by an American submarine. The question for the crew of the "Mirai" is simple: do they have to stay neutral to let history go by unchanged? Or do they have to act when it becomes clear that rescuing Kusaku might have a devastating effect on the course of the war... for the Allies. Also, they have to watch out for the Imperial Japanese Navy too. Admiral Yamamoto wants the Mirai at his side, but others in the IJN believe they're better off with the "Mirai" on the bottom of the Pacific
Zipang
The Mirai Sets Sail
| S 1 | Ep 1 | 2004/10/07 |
| TV Series Episode | - min | |
| DRA SF | Japan | |
The JDS Mirai sets sail from Japan as part of a four ship armada headed for Hawaii to participate in a joint exercise with the United States Navy. In the vicinity of Midway Island the Mirai encounters a strange meteorological anomaly and loses contact with her sister ships. She then finds herself sailing next to what can only be the Imperial Japanese Navy battleship Yamato, which was destroyed in 1945!
Zipang
Midway
| S 1 | Ep 2 | 2004/10/14 |
| TV Series Episode | - min | |
| DRA SF | Japan | |
The Mirai finds herself in the middle of the Japanese Combined Fleet the night before the Battle of Midway. First the Mirai is signaled by the Yamato and then two destroyers attempt to block its path. Luckily the ship is able to elude the Imperial fleet thanks to gas turbine propulsion. Reluctantly, the crew realizes that they have traveled sixty years into the past. The crew witness the battle of Midway but make the difficult decision to not involve themselves in the events of history. Captain Umezu decides that the Mirai should head back towards Yokosuka and hope to encounter the anomaly again on route.
Zipang
Drifters
| S 1 | Ep 3 | 2004/10/21 |
| TV Series Episode | - min | |
| DRA SF | Japan | |
Despite the Captain's initial reservations the Mirai rescues an Imperial Japanese Navy officer, Lt. Commander Kusaka, from a sinking seaplane. As such the crew is split over the fact that they may have irrevocably changed history. The Mirai is then discovered by an American submarine, USS Guardfish.
Zipang
Mirai's Battle
| S 1 | Ep 4 | 2004/10/28 |
| TV Series Episode | - min | |
| DRA SF | Japan | |
The Mirai narrowly escapes the American submarine's torpedoes but during the confusion of the encounter they accidentally launched an ASROC. Captain Umezu considers sinking the sub but at the last moment, self-destructs the ASROC. As such the Americans escape with knowledge of a new Japanese ship with incredible capabilities. Meanwhile, Kusaka learns that the ship is from the future.
Zipang
Kusaka's Choice
| S 1 | Ep 5 | 2004/11/04 |
| TV Series Episode | - min | |
| DRA SF | Japan | |
Kusaka is given access to the Mirai's record room where he learns the outcome of the war and the future of Japan. As such he decides to throw in his lot with the crew of the Mirai. Meanwhile the VTOL Umidori is sent on a recon mission over the Japanese naval base in the Ogasawara Islands to evaluate the situation. Unfortunately the over-confident pilot is engaged by two Japanese floatplane fighters whose pilots think it suspicious that the odd-looking plane should be trying to escape, despite flying Japanese colours.
Zipang
Order of Attack
| S 1 | Ep 6 | 2004/11/11 |
| TV Series Episode | - min | |
| DRA SF | Japan | |
The VTOL recon plane manages to force the enemy fighters to ditch without injuring their pilots. Unfortunately the weapon systems officer is killed and the the Mirai suffers her first casualty. Back on board Kusaka proposes that the Mirai refuels and reprovisions in Japanese-occupied Singapore using forged documents and fake currency produced onboard the ship. Meanwhile, onboard the battleship Yamato, Admiral Yamamoto orders naval intelligence to investigate the strange warship flying Japanese colours that appeared before the Battle of Midway.
Zipang
Malay Railway
| S 1 | Ep 7 | 2004/11/18 |
| TV Series Episode | - min | |
| DRA SF | Japan | |
Kadomatsu and Kusaka travel to Singapore, while the Mirai hides in the Anambas Archipelago. When they arrive Kusaka requisitions a tanker to carry supplies for a "special mission" for the navy. Unfortunately whilst waiting for the ship to sail Kusaka runs into Lt. Tsuda, an old friend from the naval academy. Meanwhile, the Mirai is spotted by a local fisherman.
Zipang
The Pursuer
| S 1 | Ep 8 | 2004/11/25 |
| TV Series Episode | - min | |
| DRA SF | Japan | |
Kadomatsu and Kusaka arrange for a tanker loaded with fuel and provisions to rendezvous with the Mirai. However, Lt. Tsuda is suspicious and begins investigating. After being informed of the fisherman's discovery of a hidden Japanese warship in Anambas, he realizes that his encounter with Kusaka, mysterious purchases of fuel and foodstuffs on the black market, the unexplained "special mission" involving the tanker, and his mission regarding the mystery ship are all connected. As such Tsuda has the tanker's crew replaced with his own men and confronts Kusaka after the ship sets sail.
Zipang
Deadline
| S 1 | Ep 9 | 2004/12/02 |
| TV Series Episode | - min | |
| DRA SF | Japan | |
Tsuda reveals that, in addition to the crew of the tanker, he has put together a sizable task force at Singapore to deal with the mystery ship, should it become necessary. However, Kusaka and Kadomatsu convince Tsuda that force will not work and ensure that the Mirai is fueled and provisioned accordingly. Tsuda has an opportunity to tour the Mirai but has difficulty coping with knowledge of the future. Kusaka tells Tsuda that he intends to convince Captain Umezu and Admiral Yamamoto to change the outcome of the Battle of Guadalcanal. Captain Umezu accepts Kusaka's suggestion, though with much difficulty, and calls for a meeting of the senior officers to plan their moves.
Zipang
Interchange
| S 1 | Ep 10 | 2004/12/09 |
| TV Series Episode | - min | |
| DRA SF | Japan | |
Lt. Commander Oguri and Lt. Satake visit the crew of the tanker and the sailors from the 21st and 20th centuries have an opportunity to learn about each other. Howver this leads to Oguri arriving late and drunk to the staff meeting called by Captain Umezu. Plans for Guadalcanal are developed. Kikuchi thinks the Mirai should intercept the U.S. fleet and inflict enough casualties to convince the latter not to press the attack but Kusaka argues that the Americans would not give up so easily and instead proposes to fly to the Japanese base at Truk to convince Admiral Yamamoto to withdraw the Japanese forces instead.
Zipang
Guadalcanal Island
| S 1 | Ep 11 | 2004/12/16 |
| TV Series Episode | - min | |
| DRA SF | Japan | |
Kusaka is flown to meet Yamamoto at Truk Island. The IJN staff find the idea of a ship from the future hard to believe, but the technologically advanced nature of the Umidori is indisputable. Kusaka suggests that Japan should withdraw all the way to Manchuria, now that they have already broken the myth of European invincibility. The crew of the Mirai devise a back-up plan to cause the Americans to withdraw from Guadalcanal should Kusaka fail to convince the Japanese command.
Zipang
The Arrow of Sagittarius
| S 1 | Ep 12 | 2004/12/23 |
| TV Series Episode | - min | |
| DRA SF | Japan | |
A Mirai landing party on Guadalcanal has a close call with both the Japanese Islanders and the attacking American forces. The Mirai witnesses the Battle of Savo Island, where the Allied naval force covering the landing is destroyed by the Japanese Eighth Fleet under Admiral Gunichi Mikawa. When the Japanese fleet withdraws without attacking American transports, the crew of Mirai think history as they know it remains unchanged. However, the withdrawal is in fact part of a larger strategy. General Vandegrift receives a message from the Mirai warning him to withdraw immediately if they value their lives. Meanwhile, Lt. Commander Oguri wants to blow up an American ammunition dump, but Kadomatsu overrules him.
Zipang
The Land Of Gold
| S 1 | Ep 13 | 2004/12/30 |
| TV Series Episode | - min | |
| DRA SF | Japan | |
Kadomatsu uses a laser designator to guide a blank Harpoon missile to the American supply depot demonstrating their capabilities. Meanwhile, a large Japanese fleet unrecorded in history, led by the battleship Yamato, arrives to shell the American marines. Kusaka radios Kadomatsu from Umidori to reveal his vision for a new country that is neither the militaristic empire of his time nor the defeated Japan of the future. He calls his ideal land Zipang. Kadomatsu refuses to consider this and calls Kusaka a murderous madman.
Zipang
Collision!
| S 1 | Ep 14 | 2005/01/06 |
| TV Series Episode | - min | |
| DRA SF | Japan | |
The Yamato fires on the American forces on Guadalcanal, but the Mirai uses its Aegis combat system and Sea Sparrow missiles to intercept and destroy the first wave of shells. However, the Mirai crew are aware that they cannot keep intercepting shells, as the Yamato has hundreds of shells to fire, while the Mirai is limited by both the technology and the supply of missiles. Lt. Commander Kikuchi suggests that, if Yamato were to keep firing its main battery, the only way the Mirai can stop the shelling would be to disable the Yamato itself. After tense several minutes during which the Mirai aims its missiles at the Yamato, Admiral Yamamoto agrees to withdraw his battleships and evacuate Japanese personnel from Guadalcanal.
Zipang
The Living and the Dead
| S 1 | Ep 15 | 2005/01/13 |
| TV Series Episode | - min | |
| DRA SF | Japan | |
On Kusaka's advice, Yamamoto calls off the attack and orders the withdrawal from Guadalcanal to begin. While trying to reach their helicopter for extraction, the Mirai's landing party is forced into close combat with an American Marine patrol. They kill the marines, but the taking of other human lives is especially hard on Kadomatsu.
Zipang
The Will of Lieutenant Okamura
| S 1 | Ep 16 | 2005/01/20 |
| TV Series Episode | - min | |
| DRA SF | Japan | |
The Mirai landing party assists in the evacuation of the Japanese engineers from Guadalcanal. Kadomatsu goes into the jungle alone to look for stragglers, where he encounters Lieutenant Commander Okamura. Okamura displays admirable bravery and dedication by staying behind to look for the rest of his men lost in the jungle.
Zipang
Zipang Initiation
| S 1 | Ep 17 | 2005/01/27 |
| TV Series Episode | - min | |
| DRA SF | Japan | |
The Mirai enters the Japanese naval base at Truk Island under Admiral Yamamoto's sponsorship and the crew looks forward to shore leave. Captain Umezu meets Admiral Yamamoto who suggests that the Mirai base itself at Yokosuka, its home port in the 21st century, so that the presence of both the ship and its crew can help change the minds of the contemporary Japanese and make them amenable to accepting an early peace with the Americans.
Zipang
The Reunion
| S 1 | Ep 18 | 2005/02/03 |
| TV Series Episode | - min | |
| DRA SF | Japan | |
Kadomatsu learns that the operations on Guadanlcanal are to resume. He goes ashore with Lt. Tsuda to talk to Kusaka and sees him heading towards the airfield with Lt. Colonel Tsuji. Kusaka meets General Kanji Ishiwara, a famous army officer who is out of office for criticizing Prime Minister Tojo and the war, at a lecture at the Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto.
Zipang
The Other Staff Headquarters
| S 1 | Ep 19 | 2005/02/10 |
| TV Series Episode | - min | |
| DRA SF | Japan | |
Lt. Commander Taki proposes that a new submarine, the I-21, be sent to escort the Mirai, instead of valuable destroyers. Yamamoto reminds Taki that he is essentially protecting Japan's future. Together, Kusaka and General Ishiwara develop a plan to create Kusaka's vision of Zipang, In the meantime, Commander Hutton the leader of an elite U.S. Navy bomber squadron learns of the Japanese warship with unbelievable capabilities.