Original subtitles

Lone Wolf and Cub

According to the laws of the government in Edo

bodies of criminals that have been executed

were sometimes used to test their swords.

These sword testers were appointed by the shogun or daimyo

to test the sharpness of new swords.

The man in charge of testing the swords

is none other than Asaemon Yamada.

Headhunter Asaemon

Asaemon Yoshitsugu Yamada.

I am here under your orders.

Let's get right down to business.

Who do you think is the best man-slayer of today?

What?

To slay a man.

In other words

who do you think is the most skillful man-slayer out there.

The first person that comes to my mind

is none other than the man from the Yagyu shadow clan, Lord Retsudo.

I see.

Also, I believe the former executioner

Lord ltto Ogami of Suio-ryu is also a worthy candidate.

There is one more.

Asaemon Yoshitsugu Yamada.

I'm talking about you.

No, I am nothing compared to them.

No need to be modest.

Yamada-ryu corpse-slicing technique.

If you use it against a living person, it is as good as Yagyu's or Ogami's.

Otherwise...

You wouldn't have been assigned the position as the sword tester.

Thank you for your kind words.

By the way, what is your relationship to ltto Ogami?

When he was still the executioner for the Shogunate

I visited Lord Ogami one night and he led me

to the hall with the Buddha statue.

These memorial tablets represent the names of people

that I have beheaded as an executioner.

Praying night and day for their souls to rest in peace is very admirable.

I am impressed.

Praying for their souls

is a cowardly act in my mind.

What did you say?

Fearing their deep-seated grudge and

begging for mercy to escape their curse...

That is certainly unworthy conduct of a man who wields a sword.

I did it in the name of the government

but it was I, ltto Ogami, who beheaded those daimyo.

Therefore, I will take their grudge.

I will expose myself to their curse as well.

That will help me reach a state of nothingness

from a combination of subjectivity and objectivity.

Lord Ogami.

I'm also a man who seeks to improve my swordsmanship skills.

I know I'm nowhere as good as you

but I'm sure I'll become better with your guidance.

Please let me be your disciple.

It is a battle against oneself.

That is what achieving the state of nothingness is all about.

Ever since then, I have thought of Lord Ogami

as both my master and brother.

Kill ltto Ogami!

What!

According to rumors, Rio has become an assassin

and has been walking the path of bloodshed along with his son.

The Yagyu shadow clan wanted to get the position of the executioner

so they set a trap.

Itto fell for their tricks, and in order to prove his innocence and get even

he decided to become an assassin.

Let's put his reasons aside.

A man who was once known as the official executioner of the Shogunate

is now killing others as an assassin. This is a very serious matter.

He has brought disgrace to the government

and therefore we must get rid of him discreetly.

But I feel it might be best to find out the truth first.

We will look into the Yagyu.

This is an important task that can only be done by you.

You will do it, right?

Well?

Yes.

I'll do it.

Good.

That's what I expect from the sword tester, Asaemon Yamada.

As a man who lives by the way of the sword

you could say I was destined to fight Lord Ogami.

Right.

By combining subjectivity and objectivity

one is able to reach the state of nothingness.

It is a battle against oneself.

That is what Lord Ogami has taught me.

Are you the chief priest?

That's right.

I would like to hold a memorial service for my late wife's third anniversary.

This boy's mother has passed away?

I'm sorry to hear that.

I would like to stay here and pray for the next seven days.

Will you let me do that?

Of course.

You can pray as much as you like.

Thank you.

I've been busy wandering from one place to another.

So I had no time to pray for my late wife.

But now, I can fulfill my dearest wish.

Congratulations on getting an important duty.

It's dead?

Oh, you're right.

Did you feed it anything that was rotten?

No, I didn't.

This is truly tragic.

What's so funny?

You're about to go kill Lord ltto Ogami

but you're fretting over the death of some bird.

Some bird?

You could be promoted after this task, you know.

You think killing ltto Ogami is going to get me a promotion?

If you complete this task

you'll be held in high esteem by the government ministers

and receive a large amount of money and land.

It's truly an honor for our clan.

Don't speak of such nonsense!

I don't understand...

I don't understand... Who do you think ltto Ogami is?

He is a rebel who has brought disgrace to the government.

You and your imprudence.

Then what is he?

You don't find many true samurai like him these days.

You must be kidding.

What?

You won't be able to kill Lord Ogami with that kind of thinking.

Starting today, we're no longer husband and wife.

I'm getting a divorce.

What? You separated?

I'm heading out to complete my task

and my family will be nothing but a distraction.

You show great determination.

You show great determination. From here on, I, Asaemon Yoshitsugu

must become a mere samurai and forget about rank and honor.

If I don't, then I will not stand a chance against Lord Ogami.

That's very admirable of you.

And where's Lord Ogami now?

We just had a report from one of the spies

that he's been spotted near the Shiojiri Peak.

If you take a horse, you can get there in less than three days.

Ogami and Yagyu have been feuding for a long time.

If that is true, then Yagyu will most likely take action as well.

Watch out for the Yagyu.

Yes.

Yamada-ryu corpse-slicing technique and this Demon Blade.

Time to go through an ordeal.

Suio-ryu and Dotanuki.

Tell me what the state of nothingness is!

Yagyu shadow clan?

Now...

Behind you!

Side!

You little brat!

Thanks for your help.

I would like to see your father and thank him in person

but I'm kind of in a hurry.

Go.

Go on!

Sorry to disturb you like this, but I have something to tell you.

It seems like your son went out to the mountain to collect some akebia.

While he was there, a fight occurred.

He got mixed up in the quarrel, but some samurai

helped him from getting injured.

And that samurai ended up getting injured instead.

Daddy!

Looks like your son is concerned as well.

I'm sure he's still around the area.

Why don't you go find him and thank him?

I saw it with my own eyes!

Lord Retsudo.

Now is our chance to kill Asaemon.

Let's head to the charcoal shack now and...

Wait!

Headhunter Asaemon and his corpse-slicing technique.

I never knew it would be this great.

His skills are just as good as ltto Ogami's.

That's why we must kill him now.

No...

But it might be fun to pit them against each other.

But he has been injured.

I don't think he will stand a chance against ltto Ogami.

We shall nurse him back to health.

We should send a woman to help him.

What?

You must pretend to be nice

but you have to keep a cold heart.

Your job is to heal Asaemon so that he can fight ltto.

Are we clear?

Yes.

�To Ogami and Asaemon Yamada.

We'll have to deal with them at one point or another.

We could pick them off one by one, but that wouldn't be fun.

With this plan, we can have those messengers from hell fight each other.

We'll just hold off and see what they do.

I think it's quite poetic.

Lone Wolf and Cub

Who's there?

A woman who makes her living by collecting herbs.

Did you say herbs?

Yes.

Then you must be skilled in healing wounds.

I have done some...

That's good.

Do you think you can treat this wound?

Oh my! That's a terrible sword wound.

I feel a sharp, stinging pain.

Luckily, I have some antidotes and styptics.

Thank you.

Don't mention it.

Why are you so nice to me?

You see, I lost my husband.

What?

He died of a sword wound.

Can you tell me more?

You're not in a healthy state right now.

You need to rest in order to heal.

What's that?

I even carry this around when I'm walking through the mountains.

I'll fix you some rice porridge.

Who's out there?

Mister!

It's you...

I wanted to thank you for saving my son Daigoro.

Lord Ogami!

Lord Asaemon Yamada.

Then you're his father?

I came by to thank the man who saved my son

but I never expected it to be you.

I took the Nakasendo road down to this place.

Don't you want to know the reason why?

I am no longer a man wearing the robe with the emblem of the Shogunate.

Therefore, it is not necessary for me to know what the government is up to.

Who might you be?

I'm just a passerby.

What are you doing!

I'm sure you heard the rumors.

That was the "Lone Wolf and Cub."

I'm Asaemon Yamada, a sword tester for the government.

My job is to kill ltto Ogami.

But with this injury...

You must be patient.

He must've figured out why I'm here.

If so...

Is he going to disappear?

Or is he going to come and kill me?

I'll see what he's up to.

Why did you leave his sight?

L...

I... Go back and take care of him.

Yes.

What are you doing!

Let go of me.

Don't do this!

Don't do this! I said let go!

No!

If you do anything rash, my efforts will be wasted.

I feel ashamed because I can't accomplish my task.

I'm begging You-

Let me die!

I have a favor to ask of you.

Itto Ogami killed my husband, Kikuma Toyama.

A woman like me will not stand a chance against him.

Please kill ltto Ogami for me!

Please...

I see.

I'm begging You-

This unexpected meeting under tragic circumstances...

I must do something about this matter.

I thought you were just a young, inexperienced widow

but you're pretty good at controlling a man.

Seems like the Headhunter Asaemon is like a child under Lady Mayumi.

Itto Ogami is indeed responsible for your husband's death.

It must be satisfying to use a pawn in order to get your revenge.

Well?

How is the injured man?

Yes, he's getting better each day.

Good.

The injured hawk will be ready to fly soon.

Now, about the wolf he's facing...

I'm sorry to ask you this, but could you let me stay here for a little longer?

Sure.

You'll be of great service to Buddha himself.

But tell me.

Why do I sense a killing instinct in those eyes?

You're going to have a duel?

You're just waiting for that day to come, right?

Come on, cheer up.

Isn't this enough?

No. I won't give you any dinner until you reach the top.

You're very strict.

Sorry about that.

This arm was able to support you.

It was this arm!

You mean the one you injured?

That's right.

Lady Mayumi.

Yes?

You have treated my wound with great care up until now.

I thank you again.

It was nothing.

Because of you, I was able to fully recover.

I'll never forget what you have done for me.

I have to go make some dinner.

He has fully recovered?

I'm glad to hear that.

I'm the wife of Kikuma Toyama, the man you killed.

My husband was born into the Yagyu clan

and he had no choice but to go after your life.

I had no choice but to kill Lord Kikuma as well.

But I must avenge his death.

Die!

Yagyu was after your life.

They didn't try to kill me.

Is this part of their scheme?

You know this person?

Yes.

The reason why I treated your wound

is because Lord Retsudo Yagyu asked me to do so.

He wanted to pit you against ltto Ogami

and then take care of the one who was left standing in the end.

It was a dirty trap.

I was just a puppet under Retsudo.

I tried to take advantage

of Lord Yamada's sword skills so that I could get revenge.

I deeply regret doing such a foolish thing.

Then I came here to kill you.

But you ended up saving my life instead.

Please go ahead and kill me.

You want me to kill you in place of the Yagyu?

If you give that much water every morning

those morning glories are going to drown.

Heading out?

I have to see someone off.

Daddy!

Mommy!

Me!

He is comparing the morning glories

and anxiously waiting for them to blossom together.

Father, mother and son.

Maybe in his mind, he wants the three of them

to be living together under the same roof.

Please go tell Lord Yamada.

I will fight him at this Kuyogahara.

So you're going to fight him?

Then you're just going to fall into their trap.

I don't care about their trap.

What?

I'm sure Lord Yamada feels the same.

What should I do?

However...

Tell him that we will fight after we both cut three of these stone statues.

Can you really cut these stone statues?

The time of the duel

will be early tomorrow morning.

Cut stone statues with a sword?

It's impossible.

The reason why he's doing this

is because he's concerned about Lord Yamada.

I'm sure of it.

You came back.

So you can cut it...

Stone...

Of course they can!

Asaemon's Demon Blade and ltto's Dotanuki can easily cut a stone statue.

The hawk and wolf.

How will they fight?

They're both great swordsmen.

I'm guessing it will be a draw.

If they end up killing each other, that would be the greatest thing for us.

No, that would be boring.

We'll let one of them kill the other and I'll kill whoever remains standing.

We have to make sure they don't end up killing each other.

Lone Wolf and Cub

This is the best steel I have seen.

Well done.

Place a steel hoop around the neck of this stone statue.

Which will break first, Dotanuki or the Demon Blade?

Lord Retsudo.

What shall we do with Mayumi who disobeyed your orders?

Forget about her!

I'm afraid I can't avenge your husband's loss in your place.

Then you won't be going to Kuyogahara?

No, I'm going.

But you just said...

This duel is between

Yamada-ryu corpse-slicing technique and Suio-ryu horse-slicing technique.

I can't be swayed by your personal feelings.

Why do you want to kill Lord Ogami that much?

I have been serving the government my entire life.

They have given me so much in return.

Orders from the government are a must.

Is that going to lead to a great promotion?

You had a narrow escape from death.

Please try to value your life.

I will win.

I promise you that I will kill ltto Ogami.

But to see a man

anxious to use his blood-stained sword for the sake of promotion

is even worse than a corpse that is exposed on Kuyogahara.

What did you say?

You can't stop me from doing this.

Why did I take the time to heal you then?

Lady Mayumi.

Before I left Edo

I separated from my wife.

What?

I was greatly angered by my ecstatic wife, who kept saying

that this job is for the honor of the clan

and a great chance for me to get a promotion.

Then, what are your real intentions?

Forget about the promotion

and live like a human being like you said.

I'm very happy for your words.

But...

This duel between Lord Ogami and I

is a part of fate which I cannot avoid.

Please understand.

Lord Ogami.

Your son was anxiously waiting for all three morning glories to blossom.

Why did you pick one off?

Asaemon Yoshitsugu Yamada.

He is the only expert swordsman that I fear.

This missing bud will be a sign for my son

that I may never see him again.

Lady Mayumi!

Lady Mayumi!

I guess she gave up on me.

The reason why you left only one flower bud

is to show that you can live out in the world on your own?

Lord Ouminokami Kanou

and Lord Bungonokami Mizuno have given me a secret order to kill you

and I'm here to accomplish that as a government official.

You used to be an official executioner for the Shogunate.

But you decided to become an assassin and have taken many lives.

Your actions have brought disgrace to the government.

Therefore, we need to get rid of you discreetly.

I must take your life.

I see.

But that's nothing but an excuse.

One time, you told me that

in order to become a great swordsman, I must attain the state of nothingness.

I was expecting that one day I would have to fight you face to face.

You are aware, right?

We will fight after each of us cuts three of the stone statues.

As you wish.

Suio-ryu, Dotanuki.

Yamada-ryu, Demon Blade.

N 0W!

Lady Mayumi.

She was desperately trying to stop this duel.

She gave her own life in order to do so.

The reason why I'm still alive now is all because of Lady Mayumi.

I can't believe I killed her with my own hands.

You killed her by accident.

Or maybe I killed her myself.

There's no need for sympathies.

What is the state of nothingness?

N 0W!

I don't understand.

Why did my Demon Blade break?

Yagyu shadow clan...

Using a steel hoop like this...

�to Ogami.

You have the devil's own luck.

You may have escaped our trap this time

but your fate has already been decided.

Prepare yourself!

Daddy!

Itto Ogami laments over the unfortunate death of Asaemon

and his burning rage is targeted at the Yagyu shadow clan.

Was it divine protection that allowed ltto Ogami to escape their trap?

Either way, he is just within reach of having his wish come true.

According to the official records, Asaemon Yoshitsugu Yamada

died in the seventh year of Meiwa.

It is said that he died suddenly from an illness.

Next Episode

Father and son both decided to walk the path of bloodshed for revenge.

But Daigoro felt a mother's love from a woman he met.

Will he continue to travel with his father, or will he turn to the woman?

Life is short for many.

Headseller Sakon tells Itto to give up the life of an assassin.

One risks her life to hire his service. Mo's war cry for his son Daigoro.

Please look forward to our next episode, "Meager Lives."