Machidoshiyori

The town consul, a very frail 80-year old village elder. When the Americans make their demands, he is the one who protests that the shogunate forbids all such action. Kagemaru ropes him into playing on the baseball team, despite his obvious fragility.

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This turns out about as one might expect: he cracks his spine just walking up to the plate to bat, and delivers a very moving inspirational speech before expiring.