Original subtitles

TAIGA DRAMA

SANADA MARU

WRITTEN BY: MITANI KOKI

MUSIC BY: HATTORI TAKAYUKI

NARRATOR: UDO YUMIKO

CAST

SANADA NOBUSHIGE: SAKAI MASATO

SANADA NOBUYUKI: OIZUMI YO

KIRI: NAGASAWA MASAMI

MATSU: KIMURA YOSHINO

UME: KUROKI HARU

HOTTA SAKUBEI: FUJIMOTO TAKAHIRO

SASUKE: FUJII TAKASHI

UESUGI KAGEKATSU: ENDO KENICHI

LADY ACHA: SAITO YUKI

TAKANASHI NAIKI: NAKAHARA TAKEO

ANAYAMA BAISETSU: ENOKI TAKAAKI

MUROGA MASATAKE: NISHIMURA MASAHIKO

TAKIGAWA KAZUMASU: DANTA YASUNORI

HONDA TADAKATSU: FUJIOKA HIROSHI

KAORU: TAKAHATA ATSUKO

TOKUGAWA IEYASU: UCHINO SEIYO

SANADA MASAYUKI: KUSAKARI MASAO

PRODUCERS: YOSHIKAWA KUNIO, YASHIKI YOTARO

TRANSLATIONS BY MTI

DIRECTOR: KIMURA TAKAFUMI

EPISODE 5: PREDICAMENT

The Sanada's subjection to the Oda was decided.

Nobushige visited Nobunaga's stronghold in Azuchi

to deliver Matsu as a hostage.

The incident occurred before dawn the following day.

On June 2, 1582, early morning,

Oda Nobunaga, the hero in turbulent times,

ended his checkered life of 49 years at Honno-ji.

It happened three months after the Takeda's demise.

NIJO CASTLE

After razing Honno-ji, the Akechi army

immediately attacked the heir, Nobutada, at Nijo Castle.

The father-son, who were famed for their irresistible force,

were suddenly out of the picture.

On this day, Tokugawa Ieyasu was heading to Kyoto

with Anayama Baisetsu to meet Nobunaga for a tea party.

Hey!

Lord, it's me, Heihachiro.

What is it?

ANAYAMA BAISETSU

ISHIKAWA KAZUMASA

We have a crisis.

HONDA HEIHACHIRO TADAKATSU

Before dawn today...

Honno-ji, where Lord Nobunaga was staying, was razed.

Who attacked him?

Akechi Mitsuhide.

AZUCHI CASTLE TOWN, OMI

Slightly east of Kyoto, where the military coup d'état occurred...

Nobushige and Matsu were in Azuchi castle town facing Lake Biwa.

SANADA MANSION IN AZUCHI

Many are fleeing here from the west.

Apparently, there was a huge fire in Kyoto.

A huge fire?

That explains why the town is in chaos.

Did you come from Kyoto?

Yes.

Did something happen?

We're not too sure either.

There's turmoil there...

Something about a battle.

A battle?

Not a fire?

We're in a rush.

What's become of His Excellency?

We are not certain yet, but rumor has it that he's dead.

What?

Let's flee.

If I were Akechi...

I wouldn't waste time

to attack the Oda allies that are nearby.

Map.

Let's rush back to Sakai and catch the boat to Mikawa.

No!

We're doomed if we get surrounded by pirates.

Isn't there a good escape route that's unexpected?

How about we head north and take the Tosando Road?

No!

Passing Akechi's fief is out of the question.

Which means...

There is no escape route.

All right.

Let's head to Kyoto to save His Excellency.

Lord!

His Excellency is no longer alive.

What if he turns out to be alive?

If he finds out that I fled...

that would be far scarier.

Lord, calm down.

How can I be calm?!

If Mitsuhide had acted with resolve,

he wouldn't fail in the kill.

His Excellency is dead without a doubt.

Right now,

we must take a surprise route that Akechi wouldn't expect.

Map!

What about this route?

Head straight east...

and pass through Iga.

Iga?

What do you think? Isn't that unexpected?

But we'd have to go very deep into the mountains.

Right! We can't move freely.

If we're found in the fugitive hunt,

we are doomed.

No! That's a good plan!

Akechi would never guess we would take that route.

Exactly!

Men, the Iga route.

We'll pass through Iga.

What do you say, Baisetsu?

That seems to be the best route.

In that case...

we will head to Iga!

Yes, sir!

We're passing through Iga!

What?

I'm going to Kyoto.

Kyoto?

Something terrible has happened. I'm going to check it out.

I'm going with you.

Please don't forget you are here as a hostage.

You're right.

I'll return as soon as I grasp the situation.

Be careful.

Please take care of Matsu.

Very well.

News of the Honno-ji Incident had not yet reached

the Sanada homeland in Shinshu.

Excuse me.

What is it, Naiki?

Actually... I have a request.

Oh? That's unusual.

It's about my daughter.

What about Kiri?

She's reached a marriageable age.

It seemed like only yesterday that she was a baby.

She's airheaded and restless as usual.

She's a problem.

Which is why I'm here...

KIRI

How do you feel about Sir Genjiro?

HOTTA SAKUBEI

What do you mean?

I think you two make a nice match.

Don't say things like that.

He's the young lord of the Sanada family.

But I think Sir Genjiro probably likes you.

UME

If you would marry him, I couldn't be happier.

My brother keeps saying that.

What's the problem? It's not out of the question.

Sir Genjiro is very good to me and that makes me happy.

But, what?

I don't think he has romantic feelings for me.

Ume.

Yes?

That's almost sarcasm.

Did it sound that way?

Of course, he likes you. It's so obvious.

How do you feel about him?

We are of different status.

It's not as if he has to take you as his bride.

There must be measures you can take.

Let's stop talking about this.

Shall I help you out?

Just the thought is sufficient.

Thank you, Kiri.

I'm home.

Kiri!

I went to sewing class.

I have to talk to you. Come here.

Yes.

You're to work at the Sanada mansion from tomorrow.

What?

You'll be working in the inner quarters.

The Lord has approved.

Certainly.

If you work at the Sanada mansion,

you'll have more chances to talk to Sir Genjiro.

What is that supposed to mean?

I couldn't be happier

if you would marry into the Sanada family.

This is a strategic move.

This might be a faster way.

Let's hurry.

Lord, please slow down.

I can't afford to die here.

Rushing ahead on your own can be dangerous.

You're too slow!

Sir Tokugawa... Sir Tokugawa!

Can we talk while we walk?

I was just thinking...

why don't I take a different path?

A different path?

If we split up, we may be able to confuse the enemy.

Actually, this is embarrassing,

but I, Anayama Baisetsu, have a chronic lower back pain.

The steep mountain paths are too much for me.

As such, I'd feel truly bad if I held you back.

I'm sure we will meet again.

Let's part here.

I refuse to die with him.

In the worst case scenario, I'll side with the Akechi.

Let's move on!

Where are we?

Anayama Baisetsu would not step in Kai again.

In the forest near Kizu River,

he was easily killed by the fugitive hunters.

Lord, I will guide you from here.

Hanzo!

HATTORI HANZO

Iga is my homeland.

Yes, that's right!

My men have secured most of the paths along the way.

Please leave things to me.

Please follow me.

How promising.

Men, let's go!

Yes, sir!

According to the medicine vendors who returned from Kyoto,

Kyoto is flooded with the Akechi banners.

Something definitely happened.

Unbelievable.

The temple that Nobunaga was staying at was razed.

It was reduced to ashes.

To think that Oda Nobunaga...

would be killed so easily.

As good as Akechi may be in battles, it's hard to believe.

Excuse me.

Sir Akechi's messenger is here.

I got the message.

Thanks for coming a long way.

Soak in the hot water and relax here tonight.

That won't be necessary.

Don't hold back.

I must deliver letters to the other provincial lords.

If you will excuse me now.

Wait.

I represent the Chiisagata lords.

I will take those letters.

You can't take them.

I will be disobeying my lord.

Don't say that.

Relax and recuperate your body and mind.

For about ten days.

Ten days?

Please come with us.

What did Sir Akechi write?

That he had just cause to punish Nobunaga.

Which means...?

Akechi wants my alliance.

The other letters say the same.

Burn them.

So, what do we do now?

Lord, it's a golden opportunity.

With Nobunaga dead, we won't have to fear the Oda.

Let's rise and regain Numata and Iwabitsu castles.

Naiki.

Gather the other lords.

What about Takigawa Kazumasu?

Will you inform him about this?

He hasn't summoned us,

so he must not know about the Honno-ji Incident yet.

Let it be.

Understood.

Is he gone?

Yes.

Damn!

After I bowed my head and gave him a horse!

I thought we were secure!

Why did he have to die?!

Damn Nobunaga!

Father?

What will happen to me after I gambled on him?

Father, are you planning to rebel against the Oda?

Though Nobunaga is dead,

the Oda army is the most powerful in Japan.

I know that!

It won't be wise to be their enemy.

But...

when word of his death spreads...

the daimyo lords throughout the country will rise.

The Uesugi, Hojo, Mouri, and Chosokabe...

Can the Oda, without their lord, suppress them?

What are you going to do?

You won't side with the Akechi... will you?

I said nothing of that sort!

Father, I want to hear your true feelings!

My true feelings?

I'll come out and say it.

I have no idea what to do!

Genzaburo, tell me what to do.

Genzaburo!

Tell me what to do!

Hurry!

That's Akechi's army.

Are they heading to Azuchi?

Is Lord Nobunaga gathering his entire army in Azuchi?

I wonder who the enemy is.

Let's hurry.

Those are fugitive hunters.

Hanzo... Hanzo!

Yes, my lord.

Aren't the paths laid out for us?

For the most part.

Most part?

Being it was sudden, there are holes along the way.

Will we be all right?

You can count on me.

Hanzo.

What do we do?

Force our way through.

What?

Follow after me.

Wait!

Can we trust him?

I have never seen the sea.

I grew up surrounded by the mountains.

But I'm in the middle of the sea right now.

In the rough seas.

There are big whirlpools everywhere.

Should we stick with the Oda?

Or join the Akechi?

Negotiate with the Uesugi or bow to the Hojo?

In any event, weak provincial lords like us...

have to attach to powerful daimyo lords to survive.

But...

I, Sanada Masayuki,

will survive the rough seas.

We have our lives to protect as provincial lords.

I'll see who will win in the end and latch on tightly.

It's starting to get interesting.

My father has never seen the sea before?

No... I doubt that.

That's what I thought.

It appears he's made his decision.

He seems to be plotting something.

Plotting?

It's Father's bad habit.

The Sanada are Oda vassals.

There should only be one path for us.

Why doesn't Father understand that?

I'm coming in.

What is it?

I heard Oda Nobunaga died.

That's right.

I'm glad.

Huh?

I knew he'd receive divine punishment one day.

If you ignore the gods and Buddha, that will happen to you.

Why are you so happy?

What are you talking about?

Matsu, who went to Azuchi as a hostage, can come home now.

Matsu?

This is bad.

What is?

I'm talking about Matsu.

She was offered to Nobunaga as a hostage.

With Nobunaga dead, there's no reason for her to be there.

Genjiro will surely bring her home.

You're missing the point.

The Akechi army that killed Nobunaga will go to Azuchi.

They will take Nobunaga's family as hostage.

What will happen to Matsu then?

If Matsu is captured by the Akechi,

we will be forced to ally with them.

Please rescue Matsu.

Sasuke!

Here!

Sir Genjiro!

KYOTO

Did you find out?

Lord Nobunaga was victim to treason and killed.

Don't be ridiculous!

-That's the word going around. -But...

The treason was committed by Akechi Mitsuhide.

HONNO-JI

They didn't find Lord Nobunaga's body.

He could be alive.

If he was surrounded by a huge army here,

that chance would be slim.

My father would grieve if he found out.

I wonder why Akechi revolted.

Oh, no.

Let's rush back to Azuchi.

We passed the Akechi army en route.

They're heading to Azuchi.

Matsu is in danger!

Are we going down from here?

Hanzo!

This is the shortcut.

Please follow after me.

Here I go!

We want your apology first.

Why should I apologize?

You wanted to side with the Oda!

How would I know then that he'd be killed by Akechi?

You had no eye for the future!

Men...

as you know, Nobunaga was killed by Akechi Mitsuhide.

After we sided with the Oda...

everything went wrong.

-As such... -Wait!

We won't do as you say anymore.

You won't heed me?

-That's right. -Wait.

You've all decided to unite under my father.

Shut up, kid!

Read this.

It's a secret letter from Akechi Mitsuhide.

He's crying for our alliance.

I haven't responded yet.

What's your point?

Akechi selected me to represent the lords of Chiisagata.

The Sanada name is known throughout the lands.

May I continue talking?

I'll make this clear.

With Nobunaga gone,

the Oda lack the power to rule.

As such, the lords of Chiisagata,

will desert the Oda.

Father!

I've already decided on it.

Then what?

We'll side with the Uesugi.

The Uesugi?

Among the daimyo clans that target Shinano,

only the Uesugi know the true worth of the Chiisagata lords.

We will become Uesugi vassals,

to protect Chiisagata.

-First the Oda, now the Uesugi? -That's right.

We will no longer be at the mercy of your impulse!

How dare you call it that?!

It's a decision based on careful consideration.

The Oda won't stand for it.

I'm taking measures for it.

Which are?

I'm getting help from the Uesugi to dispel the Oda from Chiisagata.

I can't see the Uesugi going along with that.

My brother, Nobutada,

went to see Uesugi Kagekatsu.

Immediately north of Chiisagata,

is Kawanakajima, where the Takeda and Uesugi had fought.

As former Takeda vassals,

they held the deepest roots with the Uesugi.

KASUGAYAMA CASTLE IN ECHIGO

This man is Uesugi Kagekatsu.

UESUGI KAGEKATSU

He inherited Echigo from Uesugi Kenshin four years ago.

Though he's not Kenshin's real son,

his compassionate and righteous character,

were truly like Kenshin.

NAOE KANETSUGU

Sanada Nobutada is here.

All right.

Understood.

In that case,

the Uesugi will take in Chiisagata.

Thank you.

SANADA NOBUTADA

My master and the other lords will shed tears of joy.

However...

Yes?

However...

I will not dispel the Oda from Shinano.

With Nobunaga dead, the Oda are weak.

I will not instigate battle at a time like that.

Isn't it our chance because they are in a weak state?

The Uesugi don't engage in such battles.

It is our family tradition to help the weak and crush the strong.

We will fight the Oda...

after they've recovered,

and rebuilt their strength.

-But... -Sir Sanada.

Now is the time to attack the Oda.

We know that, yet we are saying otherwise.

Please understand that.

The Uesugi declined.

In the battle against the Oda,

we were invaded by his army of 40,000 and Uozu Castle fell.

Thank Heaven Nobunaga died.

But the Uesugi are now at a critical point.

We can't continue on with the battles.

But...

I've given up on the Uesugi.

Father, may I speak up?

What is it?

Lord Nobunaga died but the Sanada are still Oda vassals.

Shouldn't we stick to this path?

Naturally I have my doubts with Nobunaga gone.

I am not supporting the Oda.

But we decided to follow the Oda...

I heard you.

Excuse me.

Sir Takigawa's messenger is here.

You've been summoned.

He must've finally heard about Nobunaga.

Most likely.

What's my move?

It's a good opportunity to cut ties with the Oda.

I'll go and meet him.

Heihachiro, thank the villagers.

These are the best rice balls I've ever eaten in my life.

The villagers are all our allies.

How far are we?

About five miles.

We are close to the Sea of Ise.

We're almost there.

Let's move on.

Hanzo, you've been a big help.

We're not safe yet.

The Akechi army is up ahead.

Akechi?

What are we going to do?

Push through with full force.

Again?

Lord! Please get up!

MAYABASHI CASTLE IN KOZUKE

I am finally done with Kanto.

TAKIGAWA KAZUMASU

I'm not used to this arduous work.

He doesn't seem to know yet.

Maybe he's feeling us out.

I summoned you today because...

I wanted to ask you...

if you knew of a good hot-spring cure nearby.

Hot springs?

With one battle after another I am quite exhausted.

I wanted to get some rest.

I would recommend Kusatsu.

Kusatsu?

I'll keep that in mind.

Lord of Awa.

Yes, sir.

There will soon be no battles in this country.

No battles?

From Oshu in the north to Kyushu in the south,

lords are seeking subjection under His Excellency,

and sending messengers.

Even Oshu?

With unparalleled power,

there won't be any need for battles.

That is His Excellency's thought.

Something only His Excellency would think of.

At first, I thought it was a pipe dream.

But now, only the Mouri in Aki, and the Uesugi in Echigo are left.

There will soon be no battles.

Then, my role will be over.

Oda Nobunaga had a preposterous vision.

Indeed.

His unparalleled power is moot now.

How foolish of Akechi.

Genjiro!

Where's Matsu?

It's a terrible situation.

The Oda soldiers took Matsu to the castle.

To the castle?

They suddenly showed up.

Can we get in the castle?

With the confusion, we may be able to slip in.

AZUCHI CASTLE

That was rather easy.

-Genjiro! -Matsu!

I didn't think you'd come.

-Let's leave the castle at once. -Where to?

In the midst of the chaos, let's return to Sanada.

-Can we do that? -Where are the guards?

After they gathered us here, they fled.

Matsu!

Sir Shigemasa!

Let's hurry!

Wait!

What's going to happen to the other hostages?

That's not our problem!

They're terrified.

What can we do?

Let's take them with us.

The more people we have, the harder it'll be to escape.

We must hurry. The Akechi army is approaching.

We shouldn't abandon them.

Please do as she says.

Please!

Where are they?

This many?

What do we do?

A castle of this size must have a secret passage.

Let's look for it.

It wouldn't be in a place that can be readily found.

I have an idea where it is.

It bothered me from the time I saw it.

Why? Everyone has a well.

There's a secret passage.

Oh!

Let's go.

Welcome back.

Acha...

I thought I was a goner.

This way.

Hurry!

Careful.

Sanjuro, let's go!

Two days had passed since the Honno-ji Incident.

History was slowly, but steadily, moving.

END OF EPISODE 5

Go to Matsu!

PREVIEW

Mother, don't blame Genjiro.

Then there'll be no reason to stay with the Sanada.

Hashiba Hideyoshi has killed Akechi.

The start of a big gamble!

NEXT EPISODE: ADRIFT