Original subtitles

We appear before you again.

First, some sad news.

On December 17, 1622...

Samurai Intermediary Hirohashi Kanekatsu died.

He was 65 years old.

For over 20 years, he had served as intermediary...

between Court and shogunate.

On March 20, 1623...

Lord of Yonezawa Castle Uesugi Kagekatsu died.

He was 69 years old.

A great man falls. The famed general of the civil wars passes on.

On August 4,

Lord of Fukuoka in Chikuzen, Kuroda Nagamasa, died suddenly.

He was 56 years old.

Exceedingly resourceful, he played a key role in the victory at Sekigahara.

May their souls rest in peace.

AOI Tokugawa Three Generations

Episode 40 "A Father's Love"

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

Tokugawa Iemitsu ONOE TATSUNOSUKE

Princess Masako SAKAI MIKI

Aoyama Tadatoshi ISHIKURA SABURO

Inoue Masanari AMAMIYA RYO

Acha MITSUBAYASHI KYOKO

Takatsukasa Takako NAKAE YURI

Jokoin NAMINO KURIKO

Mito Mitsukuni/Narrator NAKAMURA BAIJAKU

Ofuku KIKI KIRIN

Tenkai KANEDA RYUNOSUKE

Doi Toshikatsu HAYASHI RYUZO

Ogou IWASHITA SHIMA

Producer: Kawaii Junshi

Director: Watanabe Kazuki

July 27, 1623...

An Imperial proclamation of Shogun was received at Fushimi Castle.

Iemitsu was named Sei-i Tai-Shogun.

The 3rd Shogun was 20 years old.

The 2nd Shogun Hidetada became Ogosho...

to act as Iemitsu's guardian.

In September, Iemitsu moved into the Main Compound of Edo Castle,

and Hidetada moved into the West Compound.

Then, on September 23, entering the West Compound was Princess Takako,

daughter of former Chancellor Takatsukasa Nobufusa.

That's right. She was to be Iemitsu's bride.

I am overjoyed to see you in good health, My Lord.

Thank you for coming.

Such a noble princess traveling so far to Edo.

Though I am clumsy, I ask your kind help.

How beautiful you are.

Lord Iemitsu is a fortunate man.

This is Jokoin, the Shogun's aunt.

I am pleased to meet you.

Princess Takako...

you are an important bridge joining the Go-Sekke (Five Fujiwara Houses)...

to the Shogun's house.

A beautiful bridge... ...Like a rainbow!

Rainbows fade.

Huh?

Princess Takako...

life in a samurai house might be different...

from that of the nobles.

But you don't need to be concerned about it.

If you should have any problems,

please ask Masanari for help.

Thank you, My Lord.

Edo has customs of its own.

You will grow accustomed to them in time.

I shall do my best, My Lady.

Home becomes wherever one lives.

Do not fear.

Iemitsu is rather peculiar, but he is very kind.

What do you mean, "peculiar?"

Well, ugh, he is fond of Noh costumes...

and goldfish...

He loves red goldfish in particular.

Raise your heads.

Here is a report, Sire.

Fifty Christian followers, including Simon Enho and Hara Tanenobu,

refused to abandon their faith.

So they were burned to death in Shiba on the 13th.

Next is my report, Sire.

The Ogosho has ordered that Honda Masazumi be moved...

from his place of exile in Yuri to Osawa in Dewa.

Find.

And, I wish to add...

The Kyoto Deputy reports that nobles banished to Niijima,

which included Hirohashi and Nakanoin,

were pardoned by the Ogosho and returned to Kyoto.

I also report...

repairs on Osaka Castle should be undertaken...

by daimyo of the southwestern, western, and northern provinces.

I would like to issue a shogunate order...

Ah, you take care of it...

Very well, Sire.

Your Excellency...

all these matters were ordered by the Ogosho.

Of course, inheriting the governance is a great task,

but to commemorate your debut as the 3rd Shogun,

you should issue a grand decree of your own, Sire.

Please, Your Excellency...

It's nothing so grand, but I do have one.

Please name it.

I wish to dismiss you.

Huh?

Ever since I was a child,

you have behaved rudely and disloyally towards me.

Your Excellency!

You shook me and said I was not suited to be Shogun!

You exposed your belly and dared me to kill you!

I was doing my duty as your guardian!

Silence!

When I fell ill prior to my entrance in Kyoto,

you attempted to force me to go!

I will never forget the resentment and shame I felt!

Therefore, I confiscate your lands...

and place you under house arrest.

- Please wait, Sire! - Stay out of this!

Please take the matter to the Ogosho first, Sire!

I, Iemitsu, am Shogun!

That she-fox!

She'll pay for this!

Tadatoshi was referring to Iemitsu's wetnurse, Ofuku.

With Iemitsu's rise to Shogun,

Ofuku became supreme power in the Inner Chambers.

In government and personal matters,

she wielded considerable influence with Iemitsu.

She was 45 years old then.

Ofuku must have put the idea into his head.

Iemitsu hated Tadatoshi, too.

His first act as Shogun was to dismiss his guardian.

What will people say?

When I first became Shogun, I also felt self-important.

Tadatoshi's outspokenness made Iemitsu Shogun.

I pitied him...

and ordered my councillors to give at least 20,000 koku.

But Tadatoshi stubbornly refused to accept it.

Tadatoshi has pride, too.

Please urge Iemitsu to change his mind.

A ruler never takes back his word.

The Shogun must preserve his honor.

The Dai-Gongen was quite frank about it.

He said the New Shogun is of no regard.

How difficult that was.

Please advise Iemitsu the same way.

I wish I could.

But Iemitsu's temper is too fiery.

Here, patience is the key.

To make a great ruler, we must pretend not to see.

I cannot accept that!

Huh?

Being young and inexperienced,

Iemitsu will do anything Ofuku says.

At her whim.

Don't worry! Doi Toshikatsu is there.

Sir Toshikatsu will be dismissed as well.

I'll never allow it.

Tadanaga will also be shunned and treated terribly.

Ogou, why do you always expect only the worst?

Are you so distrustful of your own son?

It's like a cane to prevent falls.

If you need a cane, shall I make you one?

What did you just say?

That I don't want to be old!

Lord!

I can take it!

Ouch! That hurts! Let go!

Now, does everyone remember...

the five pages who were selected for Iemitsu as a boy?

Of these, Okabe Shichinosuke died of illness.

But the rest, as the 3rd Shogun's bodyguards,

were well on their way up.

Yes, they were all trained by Ofuku.

So in 1623, Mastudaira Choshiro Nobutsuna...

became Captain of the Inner Guards.

Nagai Kumanosuke Naosada also became Captain.

Mizuno Seikichiro Mitsutsuna became Captain of the Body Guard.

Inaba Senkuma Masakatsu was made a Councillor!

But it was no wonder. He was Ofuku's own son.

Ogou!

Lord!

Are you alright?

Yes...

It's born!

Huh?

Masako did it. Rejoice.

She gave birth to the Emperor's child!

Is it a boy?!

No, it's a princess.

Oh...

Never mind.

In the beginning, you gave birth to Osen.

Now the Emperor's house and the Shogun's are kin.

Emperor Go-Mizuno-o's Consort Candidate Masako...

gave birth to a daughter on November 19.

Overjoyed, the Emperor named her Onna Ichinomiya Okiko.

Then on December 26, in Edo Castle's Main Compound,

the wedding of Iemitsu and Princess Takatsukasa Takako was held.

Shogun Iemitsu was 20; Princess Takako was 22.

She was two years older than Iemitsu.

In 1624, the era name was changed in the second month...

from Genna to Kan-ei.

This was the custom for the calendar cycle of Kinoe-ne.

As ordered,

we rejected Spain's request to re-open trade with Japan.

What did Iemitsu say?

He said trade with foreigners encourages the spread of Christianity.

He says daimyo should be ordered to stamp it out.

That's fine.

That's fine, but his relations with his wife are lacking.

Huh?

I've heard that Iemitsu has not gone to the Inner Chambers.

That's right, My Lord.

It's been three months.

We won't be able to face the Takatsukasa.

Doesn't he like Princess Takako?

Well, I don't know...

He doesn't like women after all?

I don't know, Sire.

Feed him plenty of Korean ginseng.

Mash it it with taro and lotus root.

Stir in eggs and mix well.

Taro and lotus root?

That works well.

That works well.

Are you afraid of women?

I'm not afraid of them.

Why won't you enter the Inner Chambers?

I couldn't say why...

Nothing is as nice as women.

They are much better than goldfish!

I know that!

Put yourself in your young bride's place.

She will wonder why she came so far to Edo...

and why she ever married you.

It was only to raise the status of the Shogun's house!

Not so, not so.

It was to bear children...

and break down the barriers between the Court and samurai.

The Dai-Gongen had 16 children.

Lord Hidetada has eight.

You should be able to have children, too!

Ofuku...

We understand very well...

Unless you visit the Inner Chambers...

you will never have children!

The Shogun's line will end!

If you push him too hard,

His Excellency will feel even less inclined to go.

Ofuku, your training was poor!

I'm terribly sorry.

It's not Ofuku's fault!

Whose fault is it?

May I remind you, two men can never produce a child.

Of course not.

What about you, Aunt?!

You have no children!

It was my husband...

Let's stop this for now.

No. I shall go with you into the Inner Chambers...

and personally instruct you.

Please don't do that!

Are you running from it?

I can't stand the smell.

Smell?

Their lip rouge, pomade, powder...

The smells make me nauseous.

Oh, I understand!

If you dislike the smell of women,

you'll accept a woman that has applied no makeup at all?

Well...

Let's try another woman first.

Do you like round faces or long?

Slim figures or stout?

I'll select one suited to your tastes...

and send her to you!

Do you think the irises have bloomed in the Capital?

Please be patient a while longer.

Good days are sure to come.

We have received an Imperial message.

Consort Candidate Masako will become Imperial Consort.

The Ogosho will send a respectful reply.

Excellent.

Next, the Ogosho will send to aid you...

Confucian scholar, Hayashi Doshun.

Okay, very well.

The next item concerns a fief transfer...

Fief transfer?

Matsudaira Tadamasa of Takada in Echigo...

will be moved to Kitanosho in Echizen, 500,000 koku.

And, Lord Senchiyo of Kitanosho will be moved to 250,000 koku Takada.

Why is that?

I don't know, Sire.

This is outrageous. Senchiyo was Tadanao's heir.

Matsudaira Tadamasa was Tadanao's younger brother.

Why was the heir bypassed in favor of the brother?

Has the Ogosho forgotten that the first son must succeed?

This is not a succession, but a fief transfer.

What?!

The heir Senchiyo had already succeeded as Lord of Kitanosho.

He is to switch fiefs with Lord Tadamasa.

That is even more puzzling!

The brother Tadamasa gets 500,000 koku,

but the heir Senchiyo only gets 250,000 koku?

Correct.

I wish to know the reason for the reduction.

Has Senchiyo done something wrong?

I do not know, Sire.

Why did you give Senchiyo's fief to Lord Tadamasa?

I had a valid reason.

I don't know what you plan,

but it's most cruel to take back the fief you gave.

It's impertinent for a woman to interfere.

Don't you pity your grandson?

It could corrupt a young child...

to inherit a vast fief at such a tender age.

Even Tadanaga has only 250,000 koku.

Please give Tadanaga 500,000 koku at least.

Will you stop?!

Father...

Senchiyo... Leave the room for a while.

Yes.

I'll give you a gun from Holland later.

Yes!

Ogou... Okatsu...

The two of you come closer.

Now...

You must never repeat what was said here.

Yes, My Lord.

In order to avoid disputes over succession,

the Dai-Gongen ordered two things.

One was that the eldest son inherit the Shogun seat.

The second was that, if the Shogun had no heirs,

the Shogun would come from the Owari or Kii houses.

Correct?

However, Iemitsu the Shogun, Tokugawa Yoshinao of Owari,

and Tokugawa Yorinobu of Kii,

it is pitiful to say, none has yet to sire a son.

Who will be 4th Shogun now?

Tadanaga will surely produce an heir.

Don't be ridiculous.

Tadanaga's betrothed is only ten years old.

Moreover, he is not of the Three Houses!

Please include him in the Three Houses.

Would you disobey Father?

Do you want our line to end?

Be still and listen!

Listen well.

I have decided that if Iemitsu has no heirs,

I will have him adopt Senchiyo as his heir.

Huh?!

Senchiyo is the heir to the Yuki house.

He's a direct descendant of the Shogun's house.

No one would object if Iemitsu adopted him.

I've thought long and hard about this.

Even if Father so ordered it,

it was painful for me to become Shogun,

bypassing my older brother.

Though he said nothing,

my brother Hideyasu must have questioned it.

One can see why his son Tadanao was bitter.

But fortunately, Okatsu gave birth to Senchiyo.

Senchiyo is my brother Hideyasu's grandchild,

and my grandchild as well.

If Senchiyo should become 4th Shogun,

I shall have made amends to my brother Hideyasu.

That is why I made Senchiyo lord of a branch house.

That way he would be free to be adopted by the Shogun.

I am overwhelmed, My Lord.

Well? Is my thinking wrong?

Not at all! You were truly the 2nd Shogun!

I am humbled before your farsightedness!

Thank you, Father.

Don't flatter me now.

I didn't know you had planned so far ahead.

Please forgive my rudeness.

It's nothing.

Actually, I got the idea from a wise follower.

A wise follower?

Don't you know?

In that case, I'll tell you.

It was Doi Toshikatsu.

Let's examine the Tokugawa lineage chart.

Of course, Ieyasu's first son was Nobuyasu.

But, he died tragically without leaving an heir.

The 2nd son Hideyasu's heir was Tadanao,

but as you know, he was banished for misconduct.

And then 3rd son Hidetada's heir was 3rd Shogun Iemitsu.

Both 4th son Tadayoshi and 5th son Nobuyoshi died...

leaving no heirs.

Sixth son Tadateru had no children,

and was dispossessed for misconduct.

Seventh son Matsuchiyo and 8th son Senchiyo died young.

Ninth son Yoshinao of Owari and 10th son Yorinobu of Kii...

still didn't have any children.

Eleventh son Yorifusa secretly had sired a son Takemaru.

Of the Three Houses, Iemitsu, Yoshinao, and Yorinobu...

had no sons as yet.

But Sire...

Don't the Three Houses consist of Owari, Kii, and Mito?

Be quiet!

It was later that the Mito became one of the Three,

and the Shogun's house broke away.

I told you that before!

Did you?

Don't argue with me!

Pardon me!

Concerned for the Shogunate,

Hidetada looked for hope to his grandchildren.

Hidetada had twelve grandchildren at this time.

Now deceased, Princess Tama, who wed the lord of the Maeda,

had three sons and five daughters.

Princess Katsu had Senchiyo and two daughters.

And, Consort Masako had Princess Himemiya.

They say grandchildren are even dearer than children,

the proverbial apples of one's eye.

Construction seems to be proceeding smoothly...

on the temple in Shinobugaoka?

We owe it all to you, Lord Ogosho.

I thank you most gratefully, My Lord.

That's excellent.

When the temple is completed,

we would like to name it Toeizan Kan-eiji.

Kan-eiji on Mt. Toeizan?

But won't the head temple of the sect object?

The abbot of Enryakuji Temple has fallen into depravity,

ignoring the Buddha's word and amassing worldly riches.

In order to jolt and return him to his original purpose,

we must make the Toiezan Kan-eiji...

the Head Temple of the East.

If objections should arise from Enryakuji,

we must be prepared to break free from them!

Toeizan Kan-eiji was built in Shinobugaoka...

to protect Edo's unlucky side.

Behind it lay the ambition of Archbishop Tenkai...

to gain the power in his sect through the Shogun's influence.

Now I would like to discuss my second son, Tadanaga...

As the Shogun's younger brother,

he probably should be accorded a higher status.

That is true.

At least on the level of Owari and Kii.

If not, Tadanaga will grow discontent...

and be ruined as Tadateru and Tadanao were.

Therefore, I would like to ask your help.

Won't you ask the Shogun to raise Tadanaga's stipend?

Lord Tadanaga's stipend?

I could very well ask,

but my doing so would embarrass the Shogun.

Please use your wisdom to settle this matter quietly.

I shall do as you wish, My Lord.

Don't stir up a fuss.

Settle it smoothly and roundly, like your face.

Toshikatsu...

Father said he would retire in Odawara, didn't he?

July 20

That's correct, Sire.

Then we should keep Odawara Castle open, shouldn't we?

Masatsugu...

Why not move from Odawara Castle to Iwatsuki Castle in Musashi?

Yes, Sire.

I can't have a retiree lingering in Edo...

always ordering me about.

Right, Masakatsu?

Don't you agree?

Er... Yes.

Of course, of course.

The Middle Councilor is here.

Send him in.

I am delighted to see you looking well, Your Excellency.

Shogunal decree! Tokugawa Tadanaga...

you are awarded Kai in addition to Suruga, Totomi,

a fief of 550,000 koku.

Your residence is to be in Sunpu Castle.

Thank you, I am honored.

Senior vassal Torii Naritsugu will have Hamamatsu Castle,

and Asakura Nobumasa will reside in Kakegawa Castle,

both to be your aides.

Thank you very much, Your Excellency.

Tadanaga...

Are you happy now?

Don't forget your debt to me.

Build a palace in Fukiage Imperial Garden?

It doesn't concern me.

I hear it was the Ogosho's wish.

That is correct.

The Shogun will not enter the Inner Chambers,

so his young wife will have a palace of her own.

That will be expensive.

Yorifusa...

Who is ruler of the land?

The Shogun is.

Why should the Shogun go all the way to Kyoto...

and bow to the Emperor?

Why did I have to wed a noble's daughter?

It is an ancient custom.

Custom?

Since the Kamakura era,

nobles have served the Emperor and samurai have served nobles.

Now Emperor and nobles are supported by samurai!

In exchange, samurai receive Court ranks,

and Shogunal succession is issued through the Court.

The shogunate should issue ranks.

The Shogun can declare himself Shogun.

But then Shoguns will spring up all over the place.

"I'm Shogun, too." "I, too," they will say.

Yorifusa...

As 3rd Shogun,

I'll do what neither Dai-Gongen nor Ogosho could.

You'll do what was never done before?

On November 28...

the Court installed Consort Candidate Masako as "Chugu,"

namely, Consort to the Emperor.

Meanwhile, a year after their wedding...

the 3rd Shogun had yet to visit his young bride, Takako.

December 19...

envoys from Korea brought a message from their king,

congratulating the 3rd Shogun on his succession.

Gifts... 50 falcons,

20 tiger skins,

ginseng, 132 pounds,

pongee, 50 rolls,

paper, 50 quires,

sashes, 20,

silk, 50 squares,

gold brocade, 10 rolls,

embroidery thread, 10 rolls,

linen, 50 rolls.

The king of Korea sends a message of good will...

to the King of Japan,

congratulating him on his succession.

May the new Shogun rule wisely,

and may he and his people enjoy prosperity.

Thank you for your kind words.

His Excellency is extremely moved...

that you have come so far bearing your king's letter.

He is also happy...

that the three envoys have braved all manner of hardship...

to successfully complete their mission.

When Toyotomi Hideyoshi invaded Korea,

many Koreans were taken to Japan and still remain here.

We ask that they be entrusted to the envoys...

and allowed to return home.

We shall give you our answer on another day.

Very well.

Please accept a drink from His Excellency.

Thank you.

My Lord...

Konchiin Suden has completed an answer to Korea.

Come forward.

Read it.

All the Koreans brought to Japan were returned.

Those who remained wished to stay in Japan.

They do not wish to return to Korea,

so it is difficult to send them back.

That will do.

Show it to the Ogosho as well.

I showed it to him the other day.

What?!

Excuse me, Sire.

Wait!

Toshikatsu, in his letter,

didn't the King of Korea say I was King of Japan?

But Sire...

"Shogun" has a lesser meaning in other lands.

At any rate...

the King of Korea congratulated me...

on becoming King of Japan!

Yes.

Therefore, shouldn't the Emperor, in similar fashion,

come to Edo as well?!

He sent Imperial Envoys to convey his congratulations.

I took the trouble of going to Kyoto!

You were not Shogun at that time!

Then I ask you...

if I go to Kyoto as Shogun,

will the Emperor pay a return courtesy call to me?!

What?!

He insists on having the Emperor come to Edo.

My word!

He says this is the quickest way...

to raise the status of the Shogun's house!

Out of the question!

Not even the Dai-Gongen accomplished that!

Perhaps I retired too soon.

To be continued.

To be continued.