Original subtitles

Here I am again.

It is now 1612,

and our story is nearing a climax.

What is happening in other parts of the world?

Spain took the lead in the era of Great Voyages (16th century),

but quickly weakened in the 17th century.

Markedly growing in strength were Holland and England.

They struggled furiously for control of world trade.

In the East, Holland made the first inroads...

in the East Indies and SE Asia,

and cornered the spice market!

Slower to act, England focused on India.

East India companies were established,

and cutthroat competition in colonization and trade began.

What's that?

Shakespeare's Hamlet was performed in England.

Onward! Onward!

'Tis no windmill, but a monster!

Quiet!

Don Quixote by Cervantes drew raves in Spain.

But the heavens do spin!

What?

Galileo Galilei of Italy built his own telescope...

and began astronomical observations.

Astronomical?

And Kepler published his law of planetary motion.

What's a planet?

I don't know, sire.

AOI Tokugawa Three Generations

Episode 26 "Factional Rivalry"

Original Story and Screenplay: James Miki

Music: Iwashiro Taro

Original Subtitles JN Productions, Inc

Transcribed and Edited Subtitles Kame Fansubs

CAST

Tokugawa Hidetada NISHIDA TOSHIYUKI

Toyotomi Hideyori ONOE KIKUNOSUKE

Aoyama Tadatoshi ISHIURA SABURO

Okubo Tadachika ISHIDA TARO

Honda Masazumi WATANABE IKKEI

Itakura Katsushige SUZUKI MIZUHO

Honda Masanobu KOYAMA SHIGERU

Ohatsu NAMINO KURIKO

Tokugawa Ieyasu TSUGAWA MASAHIKO

Mito Mitsukuni/Narrator NAKAMURA BAIJAKU

Ofuku KIKI KIRIN

Doi Toshikatsu HAYASHI RYUZO

Katagiri Katsumoto KOBAYASHI NENJI

Yodo OGAWA MAYUMI

Ogou IWASHITA SHIMA

Producer: Kawaii Junshi

Director: Shigemitsu Yukihiko

First, there are several deaths to report.

On June 24, 1611, veteran warrior and expert castle builder,

Kato Kiyomasa died in Kumamoto Castle.

He was 50 years old.

On October 10, the eldest son of shogunate councilor Okubo Tadachika...

Okubo Tadatsune dies of illness in Shibaura.

He was 32 years old.

Edo Castle

The Ogosho sent Her Ladyship a letter of admonition.

She is accused of favoring younger son, Lord Kunichiyo,

and treating the heir, Lord Takechiyo, shabbily.

Clearly this is a false charge made by someone.

Would you know who it might be?

No Ma'am.

Speak truthfully!

Though there are many in the castle,

few know intimately of life in the inner chambers.

Moreover, there is only one person...

who would secretly inform the Ogosho of such things.

I don't have the slightest idea, my lady.

Lady Ofuku...

You were ordered by the Ogosho to become Takechiyo's wetnurse.

Forgive me, My Lady, but...

the Ogosho is an exceptionally perceptive man.

He can see what is happening without any reports from me.

I am shocked at your words!

Are you saying that the accusations in the letter are just?

Her Ladyship equally loves Lord Takechiyo and Lord Kunichiyo.

If Lord Takechiyo has little affection for her,

isn't that a failure on your part?

You are a disloyal wretch to make the Ogosho angry with Her Ladyship!

Be ashamed of your error and get away from here!

Okay. I will do as you wish.

However, without permission from the Ogosho,

I can do nothing.

You bring up the Ogosho for everything!

Don't be insolent!

In that case, I shall offer my resignation...

and go to Sunpu.

No!

Takechiyo...

Stay, Ofuku! Don't go anywhere!

Tadachika...

Whom would you love more, a son or grandson?

A son.

Others say the grandson is more loved.

That's a lie.

Pardon me, but you feel this way because you recently lost your son...

That's not so.

A grandson is child of your son.

He cannot compare to a son whom you tenderly raised.

Perhaps not.

The Ogosho said Takechiyo could be replaced as heir.

He was only giving an example.

And he sent that letter of admonition.

Perhaps he was concerned for Lord Takechiyo's future.

We cannot be too sure of that.

I cannot tell what is in the Ogosho's heart.

Why did he give the Tokugawa surname to Yoshitoshi and Yorimasa?

Well, that I do not know...

You must remonstrate with him!

Remonstrate?

The Ogosho recommended Prince Kotohito for Emperor...

because he was the Emperor's natural son!

If he breaks the rule for the Shogun's successor...

darkness will descend upon the government!

My Lord, your fears are groundless.

Groundless?!

The Ogosho would never break the rules.

If you admonish him recklessly,

he might become angry.

That's true, but...

Very well.

But, I will have to give an answer to his letter.

Shogun Hidetada arrived at Sunpu Castle on March 17.

Excuse me, My Lord, about your letter admonishing Ogou...

Ah...

we're ashamed that it was necessary for you to advise us on childrearing.

If a child's upbringing goes amiss,

it is due to bad parents.

If Takechiyo is incapable of doing his duties,

he must be replaced by a more competent son of the Tokugawa.

Please, Father...

If the grandson is more beloved than the son...

darkness will descend...

- What are you trying to say?! - Forgive me, Father!

Remember!

You must choose your heir!

The Shogun must decide who becomes heir to his house!

It is not for a retiree to interfere.

The next day, at the mansion of senior vassal Okubo Nagayasu,

a grave situation was uncovered.

I ask again...

Did you give a large sum of money to Okamoto Daihachi,

vassal to Honda Masazumi?

Yes, I did.

For what reason?

As you know, three years ago in Nagasaki harbor,

I fired on and sank a lawbreaking Portuguese ship.

I later waited for a reward from the shogunate,

but received no word.

So I sought Sir Honda Masazumi's help in the matter,

and gave him money through my friend, Okamoto Daihachi.

But, Daihachi pocketed the money instead...

and did not give it to Honda Masazumi.

Moreover, Daihachi issued a forged trading permit and deceived me!

I understand.

Now I have a separate accusation from Daihachi.

Forgive this inconvenience, but I ask for an explanation.

What is this separate accusation?

Daihachi...

State your accusation here and now.

Sir Arima Harunobu plotted to kill Nagasaki Magistrate, Hasegawa Fujihiro!

Don't be absurd!

Resign yourself!

Lord Hasegawa discovered your smuggling operation in Luzon,

so you attempted to kill him!

Silence! Would you destroy me with false accusations?!

For fraud and forgery of a trading permit,

Okamoto Daihachi was burned on a cross at Abekawa riverbed on March 21.

And for the attempted assassination of the Nagasaki Magistrate,

Arima Harunobu was exiled to Tsuru-gori in Kai.

Okamoto Daihachi was Honda Masazumi's vassal.

Okubo Nagayasu who passed judgment on Daihachi...

is Okubo Tadachika's kin.

Considering the bad blood between Okubo and Honda,

Masazumi could have suffered no greater humiliation.

No matter what he says, ignore it.

Don't take either side.

Very well, Father.

Key vassals should not be too friendly.

Think of the shogunate as a cart with two horses.

You must cleverly rein them in.

Checkmate!

Oh, the rook and bishop?

That's right. Consider those two your rook and bishop.

Yah, I'm overwhelmed.

My Lord...

Arima Harunobu tried to kill my brother.

Please sentence him to death.

Of course, he'll commit seppuku.

But, even if you are Hasegawa's sister,

women should stay out of this!

One more game. No?

Nagasaki Magistrate Hasegawa Fujihiro was Onatsu's older brother.

The power struggle escalated between Okubo Tadachika...

and Honda Masanobu and his son Masazumi.

Shogunate vassals liked Tadachika of the warrior faction.

But the Hondas of the civil-service faction...

were closer to the Ogosho.

Osaka Castle

On June 16 in Osaka Castle...

the binsogi rite was performed for Princess Sen.

Toyotomi Hideyori

The sidelocks are clipped in the binsogi rite...

and marked a young woman's coming of age.

Lord Hideyori was 20 years old, Princess Sen was 16.

Congratulations!

Congratulations.

Now the Toyotomi and Tokugawa are truly kin.

Lord Hideyori... Sire many children.

I shall.

By the way, Uncle...

Ogou sent a letter.

She wishes to wed her 2nd son Kunichiyo to an Oda daughter.

An Oda daughter?

So, she asks that you recommend a suitable girl.

Well now...

That would bring Toyotomi, Tokugawa, and Oda closer.

What a praiseworthy gesture.

Ogou...

She still hopes to restore the Oda to former glory.

Even after Ex-Emperor Goyozei's retirement,

his arguments with the Palace continued,

leaving him in extremely bad humor.

The cause was the strife between the Emperor mothers,

who were mother- and daughter-in-law.

Once more Ieyasu intervened in problems in the Court.

He sent Kyoto Deputy Itakura Katsushige to mediate.

A solution has finally been reached.

The Ex-Emperor will return his cherished treasure to the Emperor.

Are you certain of it?

An acceptance ceremony will be held...

at Sento Palace on July 8.

That is excellent news.

Though the Ex-Emperor was not pleased,

he said that if that's what Ieyasu wishes,

then it must be done.

Lord Chancellor!

After fulfilling this important task,

Chancellor Kujo Tadahide was dismissed on July 25.

Succeeding him as Chancellor was Takatasukasa Nobuhisa.

Of course, Ieyasu had a hand in his appointment as well.

Edo Castle

I summoned everyone here to announce...

the bride for my heir Takechiyo has been determined.

She is the daughter of Takatsukasa Nobufusa.

The sister of new Chancellor Takatsukasa Nobuhisa.

Congratulations!

Her name is Princess Takako. She is eleven years old.

She is two years older than you.

A wife should be older and strong.

Right, Ogou?

Are you pleased, Takechiyo?

Make an answer.

Thank you, Father.

Though there are many noble princesses in the Court,

none is as beautiful or as intelligent as Princess Takako.

That is what Lord Tadahide says.

- Ofuku... - Yes?

This will not be for a while yet,

but you served the Sanjo Nishi.

When possible, teach Takechiyo the graceful ways...

of the courtiers.

Yes, My Lord.

That won't be necessary.

Takechiyo is not marrying into their house.

Princess Takako is marrying into our samurai house.

That's right, that's right. The older wife knows best.

My Lord...

On January 25, 1613...

Lord of Himeji Castle in Harima, Ikeda Terumasa, died.

Terumasa was the husband of Ieyasu's 2nd daughter, Princess Toku.

Then on January 26, he head of Edo Castle's Inner Chambers,

Ouba "Great Wetnurse" died.

Now Takechiyo's own wetnurse, Ofuku, became head.

About Lord Komatsu, Sire...

Lady Ouba was his protector.

Her death is most unfortunate.

What shall we do?

It's dangerous to leave the illegitimate child at a ronin's house.

Have a personage of suitable station take him in.

Such as...?

For example, Lady Kenshoin of Bikuni Mansion.

Oh, Takeda Shingen's daughter?

She would be perfect to raise the illegitimate child.

Wait, Bikuni Mansion at Tayasu Gate is very close.

That will allow you to see the illegitimate child.

Don't keep saying "illegitimate child."

Ogou will kill him if she finds out!

Komatsu isn't mine.

If Ogou finds out, say he's your child, Toshikatsu.

Understand?

Lady Kenshoin...

Henpecked Hidetada's hidden child was not 2 years old.

Komatsu and his mother Shizu moved into Bikuni Mansion...

under the protection of Lady Kenshoin.

"Bikuni" is a widow who has become a nun.

On April 25 Sado Magistrate Okubo Nagayasu died in Sunpu.

Soon after, his mansion was searched by officials.

In his lifetime, Nagayasu had committed flagrant crimes.

He had embezzled enormous sums and plotted insurrection.

Okubo Nagayasu's enormous holdings were all confiscated.

Seven of his children committed seppuku,

and his vassals were placed under custody of other daimyo.

The Honda father and son were behind this plot of revenge.

I forgot to mention something.

What is it?

In April of last year on Ganryu Island in Buzen...

Miyamoto Musashi killed Sasaki Kojiro in a duel.

That does not concern us!

Ieyasu's meddling into Court affairs intensified.

In June he issued "Five Rules for Nobles."

In short, the rules are...

Nobles must participate in the scholarly pursuits...

of their respective houses.

Any who misbehave and break the rules will be exiled.

Duties must be performed without fail.

Nobles must not loiter in the streets.

Gambling or employing hooligans is forbidden.

The penalty is exile.

The punishment is to be executed by samurai.

By samurai?!

Out of the question!

One more thing...

The wearing of purple robes by superiors of Datokuji...

Myoshinji, Chion-in, and other temples...

is subject to prior approval by the shogunate.

This is outrageous...

Lord Chancellor, what will you do about this?

In August, English commander John Saris...

brought a signed letter from King James I of England...

and appeared before Hidetada.

The Shogun is here.

Sit down! Lower your heads!

Excuse me, the custom of the West is to stand.

We are not in the West.

Never mind. They stood up at Sunpu.

Appearing before you is an envoy of the King of England,

John Saris.

Thank you for coming.

He is extremely honored to appear before Your Excellency.

You may sit.

The reply to the King will be sent by the Ogosho from Sunpu.

The English will open a trading house in Uraga...

after the shogunate sees that all papers are in order.

Hold!

Western trading houses were to be build only in Hirado.

Portugal, Spain, and Holland...

England is an exception.

Why?

It is the Ogosho's wish.

I was not informed!

Miura Anjin (pilot).

I'll allow trade, but not the spread of Christianity.

They understand, Your Excellency.

Your Excellency! What are you doing?!

Don't the English remove their footwear indoors?

We do remove shoes.

Only in prison.

Prison?

For criminals. The incarcerated.

Anjin, are these called shoo?

Later the Miura Anjin clashed with John Sairs.

Anjin's loyalty to England was questioned,

so he returned his lands to the shogunate.

He became William Adams again...

and went to work for the Dutch Trading House in Hirado.

An incident that rocked the government occurred at year's end.

A secret letter came to Edo Castle from Ieyasu,

who had left for Sunpu after his hawking trip to the Kanto.

Alarmed, Doi Toshikatsu went to Nakahara in Sagami.

When he caught up with Ieyasu's party,

he was told a shocking tale.

Sire! This is a crisis!

Did Ogou find out about Komatsu?

No! When the Ogosho's party was stopped in Nakahara,

a certain person made a direct appeal for help.

Namely, that Okubo Tadachika, lord of Odawara Castle, plots treason.

Tadachika plots treason?!

So the party skipped Odawara and is staying in Nakahara.

Wait, wait, wait...

It must be some mistake.

I, too, agree,

but the Ogosho plans to circle back to Edo.

Very well.

Kosugi Camp

How are things at Odawara Castle?

Everything is normal.

Lord Tadachika and others anxiously await your arrival.

Send a message to Tadachika.

Due to dangerous rumors about local Christians,

tell him that we shall wait for awhile.

Very well.

His Excellency is here!

Admit him!

I am overjoyed to see you, Father.

Hey, I'm going back to Edo.

Yes, I've come to greet you, Sir.

Shigemasa!

Go to Sunpu.

Work with Naruse Masanari to protect Yoshitoshi and Yorimasa.

Yes, Sire!

Tell the daimyo of Ise and Mikawa...

they must guard their borders carefully.

New Year's greetings to Edo will be postponed.

- Father... - Also, tell the Kyoto Deputy...

to issues orders to expel the Christian priests.

Yes, Sire!

Excuse me, Father...

Who was it that accused Okubo Tadachika of treason?

Baba Hachizawmon.

Baba Hachizaemon...

He's chamberlain to former Takeda vassal, Anayama Baisetsu.

He's in Tadachika's custody.

It is probably a false accusation.

Silence!

Please listen! Why would the most loyal vassal of all...?!

Perhaps he was possessed by a fox.

Fox...?

Ever since his son's death last year,

Tadachika has not seemed like himself.

That's another matter!

Another matter?!

What does the Shogun say?

Okubo Tadachika's loyalty is matchless.

Is he so loyal to the Shogun that I am in the way?!

Never, My Lord!

Regardless of the truth,

we must prepare for the worst and take no chances.

Father...

I must tell you, Okubo Tadachika is clearly innocent!

Don't assume it so easily.

My life is at stake!

If you defend him too aggressively,

suspicion could even fall on you!

Having returned to Edo Castle,

Ieyasu ordered Okubo Tadachika to Kyoto...

supposedly for the expulsion of Catholic priests.

On January 17, 1614, after arriving in Kyoto,

Okubo Tadachika was faintly aware of the situation.

Reporting. Lord Itakura is here.

Admit him.

Playing chess?

Forgive me, but please wait awhile.

If I commit hara-kiri, I won't be able to play anymore.

The sentence is not seppuku.

Exile, then?

Please write a letter of explanation!

I will deliver it to Edo!

That won't be necessary!

If I insist on my innocence,

the Ogosho will be condemned for believing the rumors.

Sir Okubo...

You have a fine son, Sir Katsushige.

I envy you no end.

Thank you, sir.

What's wrong? Why not move?

If you move your bishop here, it will be checkmate.

Never mind.

By order of the Shogun!

Senior Councilor, Okubo, Lord of Sagami,

of late your conduct has been unacceptable.

You are unsuited to high office.

Therefore, you house is abolished and confiscated,

and you are banished to Nakamura in Omi Province.

January 19, 1614.

I humbly accept the sentence.

Father, I must speak.

About the abolishment of Okubo Tadachika's house...

Abbot Tenkai asks that he be pardoned.

I refuse to listen.

Then allow me to ask once more.

It is widely rumored among the vassals...

that Honda Masanobu and his son Masazumi...

plotted Tadachika's downfall.

What of it?

The basis of order...

requires that justice be pursued.

Therefore, I wish to summon Tadachika and the Hondas...

and hold another hearing.

That's not necessary.

A hearing would not matter.

The basis of order is not justice.

No bad or good exists in governance.

Let those who wish to win do so.

Keep those who are useful to the Tokugawa.

What's with that look?

Listen, the rivalry between Tadachika and Masanobu...

had begun to upset order in the land.

The seeds of discord must be completely wiped out.

In other words, one of them had to be dismissed.

Now...

Who would you eliminate? Who would you keep?

Though Tadachika is unmatched in loyalty,

he is entirely too straitlaced.

He does not know the tricks of survival.

Moreover, with the loss of his son, he lacks a successor.

But Masanobu is 77 years old.

Both feet are in the grave.

He will depart soon without anyone's assistance.

However, he has the perfect heir in Masazumi.

Masazumi is your vassal.

He will be yours eventually.

And, not only Masazumi.

You have Doi Toshikatsu, Sakai Tadayo,

and Aoyama Tadatoshi.

Brilliant aides, sparkling like stars in the heavens!

To have them perform at their fullest potential,

you must place them in suitable positions!

Beginning with Tadachika and Masanobu,

swiftly retire troublesome old vassals,

and bring a burst of fresh air into the castle.

Now, Your Excellency...

Is it time for me to bow out as well?

If a ruler is kind to kin,

his people will flourish in benevolence.

If he remembers old friends,

his people will not be poor.

What does that mean?

If a ruler will cherish his family,

his subjects will learn to be merciful.

If a ruler cherishes his friends,

his subjects will become more compassionate.

Well done, well done.

- Ogou! - Your Excellency, please listen!

Kunichiyo is brilliant!

Oh, I see. Clear the room.

Kunichiyo and Kazu, too.

What is the matter?

Brace yourself.

The Ogosho petitioned for Kazu's entry into the Court.

As the Emperor's Consort!

And, what happened?!

I don't know yet.

The Court must be in an uproar by now.

To be continued.

To be continued.