Original subtitles

TOHO presents

a FUJI TELEVISION & TOKYO EIGA production

For the 300 years the Tokugawa shogunate governed Japan

between the 17th and the end of the 19th century.

Its economy was based on Sado Isle's goldmines.

It was the shogun's gold "Goyokin'".

Through the years,

Approximately 16,000-kan to 24,000-kan had been mined.

The gold was made into bars and bundled into packages of 20.

40 of these packages were carried aboard the shogun's vessels

with 800 bars per trip.

The ships sailed for Edo along the Western route from Sado to Shimonosek.

Navigating was dangerous

was the three days it took, to get from Sado to Tsuruga, around the Noto Peninsula.

There were many reefs and strong tides that would create whirlpools.

It was believed that Water Demons resided in these waters.

People who feared being shipwrecked called it the Graveyard of Ships.

GOYOKIN, THE GOLD OF THE SHOGUN

Executive Producers: FUJIMOTO Sanezumi, FUKUDA Hideo

SHIINO Hideyuki, SATO Masayuki

Written by : TAZAKA Kei & GOSHA Hideo

Photography : OKAZAKI Kozo

Production Designer : KOJIMA Motoji

Music : SATO Masaru

with

NAKADAI Tatsuya

TANBA Tetsuro

ASAOKA Ruriko, TSUKASA Yoko,

TANAKA Kunie, KAYAKI Isao

NISHIMURA Akira

TONO Eijiro, HIURA Tsutomu

KUROBE Susumu, IGAWA Hisashi

TSUNEDA Fujio, OGATA Shinnosuke

ASAWAKA Yoshitaro, TANAKA Hiroshi

SUZUKI Haruo, YAMAGUCHI Hiroyoshi

MIYAZAWA Hajime, TANAKA Shiko

Narration : OZAWA Eitaro

NAKAMURA Kinnosuke

Directed by : GOSHA Hideo

What a nice wedding procession!

Who might they be?

Me too, soon...

1831, ECHIZEN PROVINCE TERRITORY OF THE SABAI

Takichi dear!

Where are you?

Okumit

Yaichi!

Father!

Father!

No one's here?

Father!

They disappeared!

Taken by the gods!

One night in October,

a village of fishermen in the stronghold of the Sabai

totally disappeared.

No trace of the thirty inhabitants was ever found.

People said they were "taken by the gods".

The mystery was never solved.

THREE YEARS LATER IN 1834

EDO

Come, Come!

I will show you the fast draw I learned from Heisuke Nagai...

Now, we can start.

Wait a bit.

Keep calm.

It's an exceptional blade.

But before that, I'd like to conduct some business.

Take a look at this miraculous ointment.

It's the real one, not some fake.

A secret formula...

Stop.

Let's see this fast draw before you conduct your business.

- Wait a moment! - Go!

Everyone I present!

The weapon master!

- Should we attack? - Wait.

Wait!

Continue.

Don't stop.

I want to compare my sword skill against yours.

Are you running away?

It's not him!

Insolent!

Thanks.

You seem to be good at rounding up money.

You must have found a rich one.

Won't you cut me in?

I am Fujimaki Samon.

I'll do anything for gold.

Where is Wakisaka Magobei?

Wakisaka Magobei?

Are you in a hurry?

You know Magobei?

He's bought me drinks a couple of times.

Linvited myself at his table.

Why do you want to kill him? Explain.

Mind your own business!

Where is Magobei? Talk, or else...

Sorry, but Magobei quit working as Heisuke Nagai.

I'm replacing him.

Look at this.

An Echizen sword, of the utmost quality.

You really want to sell it?

Such a beautiful sword, and such great art.

Except your respect,

that is all you've got.

I don't want it anymore.

What will you do without a sword?

A samurai doesn't become a farmer.

Giving up your sword means giving up being a samurai, doesn't it?

What honor is there to be a samurai?

Master!

It isn't nothing!

You made up your mind?

I'll be off then. Wait for me. Don't drink too much.

Wait!

Don't follow me!

Are you looking for me?

Magobei Wakisaka, you will die without asking any questions.

You know my name?

You leave me no choice.

Takeuchi!

Why do you want to kill me?

It's been three years I quit the Sabai clan.

What do they want from me?

Talk!

I don't understand.

Answer or I kill you.

Wait!

It's the chamberlain...

The chamberlain?

Tatewaki?

What does he want?

Talk!

The fishermen...

He's going to start again.

But before doing so,

he ordered me to kill you.

He's going to do the "taken by the gods" act?

Wait!

Wait, Kunai!

Why, why are you killing these innocent fishermen?

They're innocent.

Innocent?

They stole the Shogunate's Goyokin from the ship that sunk last night in the storm.

They deserved it.

What are you saying?

They gave us all the gold they retrieved.

We hid the gold in the chests of a wedding procession.

It's sure to far away by now. .

Kunai Koriki!

If you have something to say, complain to the chamberlain!

I have my orders from chamberlain Rokugo Tatewaki.

Rokugo Tatewaki?

These are his orders?

Bravo!

You're now an accomplice.

23 chests of 20 gold bars each hidden by fishermen.

The rest drowned in the ocean sinking with the ship.

The bridal procession was a great idea, Takeuchi.

Just to be safe, we used this wedding kimono

we found in the village.

Put her down!

Kill them all!

Assassins!

Tatewaki! I need to talk to you.

I was the one who made the fishermen

give the Goyokin they rescued to our clan.

And you, Tatewaki,

you promised me that the fisherman would be rewarded.

In fact, you wanted to kill them from the start, right?

I'm the man responsible for the finances of the Sabai clan, and it's in trouble...

...I wanted that Goyokin no matter what.

The mounting debts, the famine since last year...

I don't want to raise the taxes.

I don't even want to pay the annual tribute to the shogunate.

If we default on our taxes... if the farmers revolt...

The shogunate will come after us.

But if we have the gold, we can bide some time.

Magobei, try to understand!

I understand your situation.

But it's wrong!

It is our duty to uphold the tradition and the name of the Sabai clan.

Am I wrong?

Am I wrong to be loyal?

You're wrong!

It's wrong to think

trying to save the Sabai clan justifies such cruelty.

Is this the price of loyalty?

Not!

It's wrong!

I'm leaving the clan.

Magobei.

Those fishermen, I had no choice but to kill them.

If I was in the posisition to hand over the gold, I would've acted otherwise.

Imagined if they'd exposed everything.

Our clan would've been finished.

I sacrificed some weaklings

for our clan and its 600 vassals to survive.

It was the way of the samurai.

I've had enough of these ways.

If I stay in the clan,

You and I will fight one day.

You, the brother of my wife and my friend.

I have no choice but to leave the clan.

It's the only solution.

I will give everything up and leave.

But before I do, do me one favor.

Swear to me you will never do this again!

Think it over.

Wakisaka, both our lives are on the line here.

Let's promise each other not to tell a soul about this.

And I'll go quietly.

Where are you going?

Home.

Home?

To Sabai.

To do what?

For 20 or 30 fishermen?

If you'll just turn a blind eye again, everything will be fine...

So long as the Shogunate doesn't find out...

Turning a blind eye three years ago. .

Was a mistake.

CASTLE OF THE SABAI

I tried everything to recover our finances.

Concentrate our efforts on the development of rice plantations.

We'll dig plantations along the coastline.

The exhumed sand will serve as compost for the new fields.

If we do, the harvest should be at least 10,000-goku.

My Lord!

The shogunate took 10,000-goku of land for no reason.

- Can't you see the problem? - You can't speak to him like this.

I don't mind. Continue.

If we continue indebting ourselves, We'll be running to our death.

We have no choice.

The clearing will cost a fortune!

How are you going to finance it?

Tatewaki.

What is your plan?

For the financing,

let me worry about it.

Lady Shino.

You're hard at work.

That is beautiful, but who is it for?

It's not for Magobei, is it?

I received permission to go ahead with the plan to turn Jurigahama into farm land.

We will have to begin raising the money at all costs.

- Who's here? - Kouriki, sir.

A letter from Edo.

What is it?

Wakiza Magobei is coming back.

Magobei?

He's left several days ago.

He must already be at the Nakasendo.

I heard you wanted Magobei killed.

Is that true?

Yes.

Kunai...

Why did you call for Magobei's head without my permission?

I know Magobei very well.

He would never betray us, whatever the case.

That is the kind of man that Magobei Wakisaka is.

I'm sorry.

But...

But I don't have as much faith in human beings as you do, your honor.

Three years ago,

You promised Magobei you wouldn't stage another Kamikakushi.

And even if you were to succeed this time around...

the shogunate will conduct a much stricter investigation than before.

What's more, if

Magobei knows that we're doing it again...

I never told you anything

That is why I took it upon myself to call for Wakisaka's assassination.

Thanks to you,

You raised me from a lowly soldier to a high ranking official.

For you, chamberlain,

and for the 600 vassals of Sabai clan,

I am prepared to have blood on my hands for you.

Ready?

Here!

4 and 6, even!

I win again. Sorry guys!

You're a very lucky man. How do you do it?

It's nothing.

So?

Care for one more round?

What's wrong with you?

You think I'm cheating?

Who do you take me for?

Those numbers,

Only god knows how the dice will land!

I'm the best dice thrower in Japan!

I want an apology!

Run!

Bastards!

I'm sorry. We were wrong.

We gave your money back.

Let us go.

- Please I beg of you! - Have a little more backbone!

The reason you got taken is because you're all idiots. Don't make me laugh.

Tricks are part of the deal when betting on dice.

You're all idiots!

Shut up whore!

We're going to pay ourselves, all right guys?

Wait!

Let's see you try to lay a finger on me!

I am Ohira,

of Kamikakushi!

Of Kamikakushit ?

What is that?

On a stormy night

when the Crow Spirits came...

and took everyone from my village.

They didn't touch me.

What do you think?

I think there's something wrong with her head.

Hey guys.

Hey, guys, let's show her we're not Crow Spirits.

Who the hell are you?

- Get out of here. - Thanks!

You whore!

You bastard!

What is it, brother?

Shino...

Looking at a cherry branch...

In the moonlight

1 look at the starry sky

Shino.

Magobei is coming back.

Back home?

I have to kill Magobei.

This is the place where yakuza are killing each other.

This is the rotten land they are fighting over?

A real mess!

Everyone who lived in this village has left and it's been abandoned.

It's perfect.

If Magobei took the road to Nakasendo,

...he'll have to pass through Kennoki Pass first.

Let's wait for him here.

He can't escape us.

We only need a few men. Gather the best men together.

Someone's coming.

A woman.

Let her through.

Hey, beauty!

Are you okay?

Hang on to me.

This village is deserted. Why?

Because of the yakuza that kill each other for this passage,

everyone's left this place.

Why don't you stay and play?

Mister samurai.

Thank you for the other day.

Ohira has been waiting here this whole time.

She wants to thank you.

Mister!

Where are you taking me?

Wait!

I said she's waiting.

Come, please.

Come, or she'll be so angry with me.

It's here.

I'm done for.

I can't believe those stupid Yakuza caught me cheating.

It's the end of Oriha,

“of the Kamikakushi...

It's because you drink too much.

You were shaking that time.

Get out, if I disgust you.

Don't follow me like a dog.

- Ohira! - Shut up!

Rokuzo!

Leave us. Go downstairs.

Go down I said!

If you don't obey me...

Okay, I'm going down.

I'll go okay!

Close the door behind you!

Mister...

So, Mister, let's have a nice drink.

You'll drink with me, won't you?

As a token of my appreciation...

My body is yours.

Entirely.

You call yourself Oriha of the Kamikakushi.

Where do you come from?

From the land of the Sabai, the coastal village of Kurosaki.

Three years ago,

what were you doing?

Three years ago?

At this time,

I wasn't this kind of woman.

1 was just finishing my training with a weaver

and got back home to Kurosaki.

I was to be married with Takichi.

I worked hard for five years

because I wanted a wedding kimono.

1 didn't treat myself to good food and I worked twice as hard as the others. .

I was sending money to my father.

After five years, I finally had my kimono!

It wasn't just an ordinary kimono.

It was a beautiful wedding kimono.

I was in such a hurry to show it

to my father and Takichi,

that I sent I had it delivered to the house.

But it wasn't there, my wedding kimono...

Takichi or my father either...

The village was empty!

I lost the will to live.

Now look what I've become.

Not so fast!

You know something, don't you?

What?

How come?

Tell me if you know. .

Where did everyone go?

Where did they go? What happened to the villagers?

Do you know?

Tell me! Tell me!

We meet again!

You two know each other?

That's what I thought...

That's why you led me to believe he knew something about the Kamikakushi.

If you want to know so badly, you get it out of him.

You are making me crazy!

Tell me what you know!

Stop!

Let go of me!

Leave me!

I was counting on her to make you talk.

- Let me I “Nol>

- Calm yourself! - Stop touching me.

Don't look at me like that.

How about a drink?

What are you looking for?

If 1 give the wrong answer, will you kill me?

Am I right?

Looks like you know something.

Don't act innocent. Get me up to date.

What are you talking about?

You know very well.

The Sabai clan wants to kill you.

I'm certain that you've belonged to their clan.

Three years go, in the land of the Sabai,

under the reign

Every last person in a fishing village near the land of Lord Matsudaira...

...of the Sabai clan were hit by a Kamikakushi and disappeared.

That's about the time you left the Sabai and became a ronin.

That's not all.

At that same time, a shogun's vessel carrying Goyokin sank in the seas of Sado.

In the vicinity of Sabai. That's what's most interesting.

In my opinion,

I think there's a connection. What do you think?

Suppose...

The Sabai clan stole the Goyokin,

and killed all the fishermen to keep them from talking.

It makes sense.

Let's find some evidence.

We'll blackmail the Sabai.

We'll be rich!

Isn't that what you had planned?

Come on, let me in on it.

Magobei!

You've got the wrong idea,

Samon!

Oriha!

I'll show you something good.

Let's see if you can kill me!

We'll make you sweat!

Oriha!

You're next.

Mister!

Leave this place!

Shino!

You're after the wrong person.

Wait!

Who are you?

As you see,

my nose guides me where ever there is money.

Won't you let me join you?

I prayed everyday

for your return.

I was sure you'd be back.

Each time I finished weaving a kimono cloth,

I told myself I would see you.

By the time I finished sewing a kimono, you would come back to me.

Like a child,

I waited three years for you.

Shino.

You've lost weight.

You too.

You know...

Don't say anything.

Shut up.

For God's sake,

you mustn't go back to Sabai.

If you go back...

I left the Sabai to be with you.

We'll have enough to live on

for some time.

This money is a gift from Tatewaki, your brother?

I see.

He gave you that money and sent you off,

so we could live elsewhere?

- Darling... - I can't accept it.

I have to return to the Sabai.

The Sabai will kill you!

I know.

Darling...

Take me far away.

I'll weave, I'll sow...

I'll do everything to not be a burden to you.

Please let me be by your side.

Did you see the woman whose life I saved on the road?

Three years ago,

the Kamikakushi killed her beloved...

Her life was destroyed.

His brother, Tatewaki,

is planning to stage another Kamikakushi.

Wait!

Listen to me!

My brother is in a delicate situation.

It's the hardships of his position...

That's why you left the clan three years ago.

You turned a blind eye, So please, turn the other way again.

My brother doesn't want to kill you.

He's letting us go.

This is his last act of friendship.

He doesn't want to kill me?

But I'm already dead.

Ever since I turned a blind eye to Tatewaki's Kamikakushi.

I had already lost my worth,

I lost my dignity.

I forgot that I owed my duty as a samurai

to all those helpless people.

This I understood

by living the dirty streets of Edo

these last three years.

What good is a sword without honor?

I gave up on myself.

I even tried to sell my sword.

That was when I learned that Tatewaki was planning another Kamikakushi.

It was my anger towards Tatewaki

that brought me back to life.

I still have a something to finish.

That concerns only me.

I can regain my honor back.

That's why

I've decided to return to the Sabai.

To save the fishermen from the Kamikakushi,

And,

so that I can live again.

Try to understand.

My love!

Sabai Castle

We've been waiting for you, Wakisaka.

In the interest of the Sabai clan, your life must end...

Not so fast, Kunai!

I want to see Tatewaki, I have to talk to him.

That's out of question!

Bastard!

Traitor!

Wait!

Listen to what I have to say...

Try to understand.

I'm going to kill you, Magobei.

Wait!

It's a trick.

He's going to kill us one after the other.

Then what?

Don't worry,

he can't run away.

We have time on our hands.

We can't let him die! He saved our lives.

Yes, but how?

Are you mocking me?

The Harukoma Gang has taken over the village.

What?

Relax!

It's the truth! I saw it with my own two eyes.

The Shoten Gang has taken over the village.

Magobei!

Get out of there!

Come out, Magobei!

I'll put an end to him if you want me to.

Fine, let's see your skills.

Everyone back!

Leave him Magobei.

Do you hear?

Magobei, show yourself!

It's time. Get out!

What is it?

Get off!

Magobei!

I'm sorry.

It was my oversight that allowed the meddlers to interfere.

Magobei escaped us.

Your sister is returning this to you. She says she doesn't need it anymore.

I found her at Kennoki Pass and accompanied her back to Sabai.

She doesn't need it anymore?

Kunai.

Any news from Sado?

A vessel loaded with a ton of gold,

30 chests with 30 bars each,

has sailed and should be in coastal view tomorrow night.

Tomorrow night?

And the next vessel?

According to the mine chief,

there won't be any more until next autumn.

Fine.

Let's go.

I never met a chamberlain before.

Your swords.

Enter!

Leave us.

But...

Leave us!

Some tea?

It's not poisoned.

I come from a ronin family...

...50 I don't know how to do tea ceremony.

You come from generations of ronin?

I envy you.

But I have a nose for money!

So, you smelled money and you came all the way from Edo.

- You're a funny man. - Absolutely.

But my nose betrayed me. The Sabai is stingier than hell.

They don't pay much.

Bad luck!

I'm sorry.

What would you think

If I gave you work that will make you more money than that?

Thank you! You're a true chamberlain!

Give me a big mission.

All right,

Tomorrow night, I want you to light a big bonfire on the headlands.

This is made from regular grass I picked, but it works really well.

I learned this from my father.

Whenever I came home crying with cuts or scrapes,

he always put some on for me.

Oriha.

You're behaving strangely. It's like you're a different person.

That's normal.

When I lost hope,

I used to come here a lot,

thinking that my father, my fiancee, and all the villagers

would reappear.

When I left for my five years to be an apprentice,

the villagers came with me to the headlands to see me off.

I was 13 years old.

It was the last time I saw them.

Oriha...

I am...

I knew I'd find you here.

I was sure that you'd be with her.

Chamberlain!

So?

You were right.

Go, Kunai!

My job is to make a big bonfire at a place called Samegafuchi Village.

To do what?

It means that tonight, a shogun's vessel will pass over there.

This is Samegafuchi Village.

There is the sea.

There are headlands on either side, like extended arms.

In the middle,

is called Samegafuchi and it's full of rocks.

The bigger headland facing the open sea is called Otokomisaki.

...and the smaller one is called the Onnamisaki.

In between them, at the entrance to the bay is a giant rock.

On Otokomisaki,

A fire is directing ships

towards the western route.

The ship with Goyokin coming from Sado

will use the fire as a guide

steering clear of the rock.

But how is Tatewaki

going to sink the ship?

5 or 6 fishing boats isn't going to be any match!

But if we move the fire

from Otokomisaki to Onnamisaki instead?...

Where are the fishermen going?

All the fishermen know

this ancestral trick.

I see.

Oriha, I have a favor to ask you.

Take a boat out to Samegafuchi Village.

You know these waters well.

Boss, I can't row all that way.

She'll never make it!

It'll take too long by road.

Oriha, listen!

The Samegafuchi village is about to...

suffer the same fate as Kurosaki Village!

Oriha...

I'--

I'--

Rokuzo, Over there!

Don't go out there, no matter what! Got it?

We've been surrounded.

We'll have to ally ourselves.

Sorry, Samon.

I refuse the aid of a Shogun's spy.

What?

I knew you had an idea about me.

I don't need to hide it anymore.

It's a nasty job.

Don't kill them!

I want him alive!

Understood?

Chamberlain!

We stopped them.

Magobei is neutralized.

Listen!

First : make 30 inhabitants of the village carry logs and oil,

and three people capable of rowing onto each boat of five boats.

Put women, children, and elderly in the West shack.

Don't leave anyone behind!

Second :

Take apart the bonfire at the end of the Otokomisaki!

Third :

prepare a bonfire on the Onnamisaki.

Forth:

when the big ship hits the rock, send out the rowboats immediately.

There will be two men on each boat who will give orders.

For the villagers,

wait for my orders.

Let no one escape!

Kunai will be in charge until I return.

As you know,

It is necessary for the survival of the Sabai clan.

It's the way of the samurai!

I have faith in you all.

Understood?

Damn spy!

We made a promise three years ago.

But I broke that promise.

Listen, Magobei.

I'll break it again if necessary.

As much as needed.

In order keep the world running,

we samurai must dirty our hands with blood.

For survival.

Magobei,

you're a coward.

You left because you didn't want blood on your hands.

You're right.

I'm a coward.

I was a coward for not killing you.

Three years ago on this beach.

Do not interfere.

Please take Shino with you

and leave Sabai peacefully.

Please.

For the Shogun,

the Sabai clan is an unimportant stronghold.

I have no other options.

Tatewaki!

There is only one choice for me too.

I have to kill you to save the villagers.

I'm wasting my time with you.

You will be food for the crows, like that.

The best I can do is let you die in the snow.

I would have loved battling you.

Wait!

Something's fishy. Go see.

I left you the best seat on Onnamisaki.

How kind of you.

I'm not accusing you. You did your job as a spy.

But I want you to keep your eyes open and get a good look at this rare event.

Before you die, you'll get to see what the shogunate

forces us to do.

Good.

Gather all of the villagers to the beach.

And inform Kunai.

I'll be watching.

Wait for my signal.

When I do so, light the fire at once. Understood?

Hurry up!

It's him!

The bonfire on the Otokomisaki has been put out.

The fire on the Onnamisaki is ready to go anytime.

Chamberlain.

We only need to wait for the ship.

Hey, you!

I'm freezing to death here!

Hurry up and light that bonfire!

Hey!

I can see the vessel's light!

It's coming!

Light the fire.

Light the fire!

Light the fire!

Stay calm!

Chamberlain!

Send out the boats.

Chamberlain, look!

Damn it!

Wait!

Wait!

Villagers, get out of the boats.

If you go to the sea,

you will encounter the Kamikakushi.

Run away!

Run!

Quickly! Run!

Run while you can!

If you stay here, the Kamikakushi will get you!

You'll all be slaughtered!

Run away, everyone!

This is so frustrating, Rokuzo! What should we do?

I don't know.

Rokuzo.

Take this barrel.

For what?

We're going to light a fire on the Otokomisaki.

There!

Burn, burn!

Go! Put the fire on the Otokomisaki out!

Quickly!

Go! Put the fire on the Otokomisaki out!

Quickly!

Captain!

There's two fires!

What do we do?

Oriha!

Rokuzo!

That's got to be it. Look how high it's burning.

Hoist the sail!

Hoist the sail!

Shino.

I'm sorry to have left you here.

Tell Magobei

I want to talk to him alone.

Shino.

Brother said he will be waiting for you on the mountain.

- Shino, gather some twigs. - Twigs?

Light a fire.

I cannot hold my sword like this. I can't open my fingers.

And the Sabai clan?

What will happen to them?

Magobei.

Magobei.

I'm not going back to Edo.

I'm finished being a dog.

I feel so much better that I decided that.

While you are killing yourselves in the cold, what is the shogunate doing?

It's getting fatter in the heat.

A tribute to escaping death.

A tribute to escaping death?

No, that is our funeral...

A funeral, for us samurai.

Here lies Rokugo Takewaki.

End