Original subtitles

Though blossoms scatter and stars fall,

unwavering is my path.

Illuminate the past to tread the future.

We appear before you again tonight.

That's my line!

More sad news.

On April 29, 1624...

shogunate high official Itakura Katsushige died.

He was 80 years old.

On July 13...

the former lord of Hiroshima Castle, Fukushima Masanori,

died in exile in Kawanakajima, Shinao.

He was 64 years old.

On September 6,

Kodai-in Kitanomandokoro died in Kyoto.

She was 83 years old.

In the fall...

What's this?

3rd Shogun Iemitsu went hawking in Meguro, Musashi.

So what?

He had mackerel pike there,

and proclaimed, "Mackerel pike is best in Meguro."

Fool! That was fabricated!

AOI Tokugawa Three Generations

Episode 41 "The Meeting"

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

Inoue Masanari AMAMIYA RYO

Sanjonishi Saneeda MORITA JUNPEI

Date Masamune SUMA KEI

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

New Year's 1625...

Shogun Iemitsu participated in the yearly linked-verse composition.

Plum-blossom scent

Forevermore on winds through pines.

Sun rising high in peaceful skies.

Sun rising high in peaceful skies.

That's right. That's exactly right.

The Shogun is the sun rising high.

A serene and good poem.

His Excellency has matured as rapidly as a young bamboo.

I offer my hearty congratulations, Sire.

I hope his rule will be as serene.

Don't be overly eager for success.

There is no hope for the Emperor to come to Edo as yet.

Our ties to the Court were only recently established,

and Kazu...

I mean, Masako gave birth to the Emperor's child,

and became Imperial Consort.

Don't ruin the harmony we've achieved with the Court.

But Father...

I am obeying the last wishes of the Tosho Dai-Gongen.

His last wishes?

Throughout his life,

the Dai-Gongen went to Kyoto numerous times...

and paid his respects to the Court.

I hear that though he asked that the Emperor privately visit Edo,

the Imperial attendants rebuffed every request.

And the Dai-Gongen's wish was never granted.

Iemitsu...

The Emperor is different.

We samurai were originally protectors of the Court.

That was long ago.

Old ways must be cherished.

I don't ask to be higher than the Emperor.

What I abhor...

are shiftless nobles, basking in the Emperor's glory,

to look down upon samurai, holding us in disdain.

That is why I request a visit from the Emperor...

to show to the world the greatness of the Shogun,

and to elevate the status of samurai.

Well, Toshikatsu?

His Excellency's aspirations are resolute and large-minded.

The daimyo will believe...

he is truly descended from the Dai-Gongen.

However, the Court will be greatly shocked.

It will be akin to stirring up a hornet's nest.

We must strike a blow at their arrogance!

What do you think, Archbishop?

Having the Emperor come to the Kanto...

is like moving the mountain to the sea.

It would be extremely difficult.

However, it will not do...

to let the New Shogun's passionate mettle go to waste.

What should we do?

Let's forget whether it is possible or not.

Wouldn't it be advantageous on various levels...

to cast a stone at the Court?

Are you suggesting we fight the Court?

Not at all.

Let's first calmly see the reaction of the nobles.

On January 27,

Iemitsu sent messengers to the Kyoto Palace...

to convey greetings to the Emperor for the New Year.

And through the Samurai Intermediaries,

he requested an Imperial visit to the Kanto.

But, there was no reply from the Court.

He may dislike nobles, but it was wrong for him...

not to have visited his young bride's bed even once.

And it's outrageous of him to insist that the Emperor come.

Are your eyes okay?

Please don't worry.

Iemitsu might be the Dai-Gongen reincarnate.

Huh?

They say water takes the shape of its container,

but his aggressiveness is out of the ordinary.

It's probably mere willfulness.

That's exactly like the Dai-Gongen.

Don't move!

You must strike while the iron is hot.

If you don't correct him now,

he'll grow hardened in his willful ways.

Lord!

No answer?

We assume that the nobles are confused...

and do not know how to answer.

But the Shogun will lose face!

Right, Sire!

Could the Samurai Intermediary have stalled the request?

Let's have the Kyoto Deputy investigate!

We don't have time to wait!

Let's demand a reply!

No, that won't be necessary.

Toshikatsu...

I shall go personally to Kyoto...

and speak with the Court.

- But... - Tadakatsu!

Summon daimyo and hatamoto to accompany me to Kyoto!

Sire, when will you depart?

April of next year!

Yes, Sire!

On March 3, Iemitsu ordered daimyo throughout the land...

to accompany him to Kyoto the following year.

Oh, Masanari...

Sire, I wish to report...

the Kyoto Deputy sends word...

Chancellor Konoe Nobuhiro left Kyoto on March 7 for Edo.

Oh, the Chancellor?

I have more good news, Sire.

Huh?

Imperial Consort Masako has conceived a second time!

Congratulations, Sire!

Lord Ogosho! Your robes!

Bring the hakama! Bring the hakama!

Lord Ogosho!

On April 10, Chancellor Konoe Nobuhiro arrived in Edo...

and was received by Iemitsu.

I am overjoyed to see you, My Lord.

Thank you for coming so far.

Lord Iemitsu...

I congratulate you on becoming 3rd Shogun,

and I rejoice at the rise of the Tokugawa house.

Thank you, sir.

I, Nijo Yasumichi, also congratulate you.

I, Kujo Tadataka, rejoice at your success.

His Majesty is overjoyed that you will come next year.

I shall also accompany him.

That will be wonderful, sir.

Actually, I wish to see my grandchild.

His Majesty is delighted that Consort Masako has conceived.

He has ordered that prayers be given at Yamashiro Daigoji...

for the birth of a prince.

How wonderful.

I am sure a prince will be born this time.

Toshikatsu...

Forgive me, but the shogunate has repeatedly asked...

for an Imperial visit to the Kanto.

Your answer, please.

That matter will be answered by the Samurai Intermediary.

Very well.

Regretfully, since there is no precedent for such a visit,

we must refuse your request.

We know there is no precedent!

All Imperial engagements...

are made according to established custom with great ceremony.

It is the only request made by the Shogun,

protector of this land!

The Shogun and his house are vassals of the Emperor!

That is why we have humbled ourselves to beg!

Your request is denied!

- Your are rude, Sir! - Silence, Masakatsu!

You are before the Chancellor!

Forgive our rudeness.

The New Shogun's request for an Imperial visit...

was only an expression of loyalty to the Court.

Nothing else was intended.

Please accept is as such.

Very well, we shall.

Please sit down.

Anger is a poison. It will sicken you.

How can I not be angry?!

I was humiliated today!

The Court has its pride.

They will not easily come to the samurai.

The tug of war has only begun.

Tug of war?

Sit and wait as a Shogun should.

The road ahead is long.

But the haughty look on that Samurai Intermediary's face!

Samurai Intermediary?

He was insolent and rude!

Hirohashi Kanekatsu's successor?

Yes, Lord Nakanoin Michimura.

The Court is preparing for a fight.

The Emperor's younger brother was appointed Chancellor,

and the Court's most capable noble is Samurai Intermediary.

They are attempting to stop shogunate interference.

Ofuku, what should I do?

Well...

That's a poor answer!

First, go to Nikko and ask the Dai-Gongen what to do.

You know that when Lady Oroku, the Dai-Gongen's favorite,

visited the Toshosha, she suddenly dropped dead.

If your rule displeases the Dai-Gongen, he will scold you.

It is pleases him, he will surely praise you.

Very well.

This is Lord Tadanaga, the Shogun's younger brother.

I am pleased to meet you.

I am Nijo Yasumichi.

I am Kujo Tadakata.

This is the Shogun's older sister, Lady Okatsu...

and her son, Senchiyo.

Welcome.

I am Senchiyo.

Do you understand?

Lord Yasumichi is two years older than Lord Tadakata.

Their father is former Chancellor Kujo Tadahide.

Their mother is Princess Sada.

And, Princess Sada's mother is Her Ladyship Ogou.

Do you understand?

They are Her Ladyship Ogou's grandsons.

That means they are nephews of Lord Tadanaga and Lady Okatsu.

And, since Lady Okatsu is Princess Sada's sister..

What is Senchiyo to them?

Oh, probably cousins.

A trifle confusing, isn't it?

Let's unravel these complicated family ties.

Her Ladyship Ogou was married three times.

With her first husband, Hashiba Hidekatsu,

she had Princess Sada.

Princess Sada was raised by Lady Yodo...

and married noble Kujo Tadahide, and had two sons.

The older son, Yasumichi, was adopted by the Nijo,

and the younger son Tadakata succeeded to the Kujo house.

So these brothers are Her Ladyship Ogou's grandchildren.

It's amazing.

Lady Ogou's bloodline extends not only to the Imperial house,

but even to the Nijo and Kujo of the Go-Sekke,

the Five Fujiwara Houses.

Raise your heads.

I am Nijo Yasumichi.

I am Kujo Tadakata.

Come closer. Come closer.

This is your grandmother.

How I longed to see you!

You have grown to be such fine men.

Is Osada well?

She is well, My Lady.

Never bowing to ill fortune, she gave birth to fine sons.

Tell her I am proud of my daughter.

Yes, I will.

"Yasu" in Yasumichi comes from "Ieyasu."

"Tada" in Tadakata could come from "Hidetada."

As nobles from the Tokugawa house,

please protect the Imperial Consort.

Yes, I will.

Be good friends with both Iemitsu and Tadanaga as well.

Do you understand, Tadanaga?

Yes, Mother.

On July 17, Iemitsu visited the Nikko Toshosha.

Thank you for going in this sweltering heat.

So, were your prayers answered?

My illness of the eye was cured.

Oh, that's wonderful.

On my journey, the Dai-Gongen appeared to me in a dream...

and gave me a message.

In a dream? What did he say?

"Iemitsu was born a Shogun."

"Iemitsu was born a Shogun?"

Unlike the Dai-Gongen and the Ogosho,

I was born into the Shogun's house...

and groomed since childhood to be Shogun.

Therefore, I must show the world how a Shogun must be.

That is what he said.

Oh, anything else?

Pardon me.

Hidetada must also!

Hidetada must also?

Hidetada must also come sometimes to Nikko.

Liar!

Komatsu! Wait!

Komatsu... Wait!

Komatsu!

Reporting...

Huh? Isn't it early for dinner?

A message has come from the lord of Owari.

At Nagoya Castle...

Lord Yoshinao's first son, Gorohachimaru, was born.

Oh?

Congratulations, Sire.

Do you know that the lord of Owari had a son?

At this rate, the next Shogun will come from Owari.

Probably.

Don't be so nonchalant.

The Owari house has no blood ties to our Asai house.

Asai blood is in the Imperial and Go-Sekke houses.

The important house is the Shogun's.

What pride is there in anything else?

The Asai and Oda are samurai houses.

Then you should have had children of your own.

I wished to, but could not.

In that case, you shouldn't complain.

What a cruel thing to say!

What a thing to say to your older sister!

On August 9,

the title, "Her Ladyship," was transferred.

On this day, it was conferred on Princess Takatsukasa Takako.

As the problem of producing an heir escalated,

on September 13, Consort Masako gave birth to her second daughter.

Another princess?

Your mother Oichi also gave birth to three girls.

You had four, no, five girls.

It appears to be in the blood.

Are girls unsatisfactory?

No, but...

You let out a sigh.

I did not.

You did so!

I didn't, I say.

I only understand how the Emperor must be feeling.

Don't you understand how Masako must be feeling?

If no son is born, there will never be an heir.

Both the Emperor and Consort are still young.

I gave birth to Iemitsu at 33.

I nearly went mad with worry. Father was always after me.

It was sad for me too.

Anyway, that's that.

How is Iemitsu doing?

The same as ever.

Problems here, problems there.

The future's pitch black.

In early October,

Shogun Iemitsu came down with a fever and took to bed.

The Ogosho is here.

How's the fever?

Iemitsu. Is it bad?

Tadanaga came to say good-bye.

Tadanaga will leave for his new fief tomorrow.

Are you still here?

I planned to delay my departure until your recovery.

Go on to Sunpu!

Father...

Please clear the room.

Pardon me.

What's wrong?

Father...

I have something to ask you.

What's that?

When I went hawking at Himonyahara in Meguro,

I rested at Chojuin Temple.

I noticed a statue of Kwannon and Kongo Jizo,

which is uncommon for the backwoods.

When I asked about it, the abbot,

who was unaware of my identity,

said they were donated by the mother of the Shogun's child,

who prayed for her son's safety.

Isn't the "Shogun" you, Father?

Would you know about it, Father?

I don't deny it.

Then the child is my older or younger brother!

He is your younger brother.

Is he alive?

He is alive.

Where is he now?

Please tell me!

Father...

I could die tomorrow.

I wish to see my brother while I'm still alive.

Why do you wish to see him, Iemitsu?

He is my brother whom I have never met.

Don't tell anyone, now.

I swear by the gods.

My handmaiden Oshizu gave birth to my son.

His name is Komatsu.

He is now fifteen years old.

Fifteen years old?

I concealed his identity...

and entrusted him to Kenshoin at Bikuni Mansion.

But Ogou grew suspicious.

So I sent him to Takato in Shinano to avoid trouble.

Takato in Shinano?

Now Hoshina Masamitsu cares for him,

and I give 5,000 koku for the boy's support.

What a cruel thing to do!

Komatsu was a concubine's child.

Summon him back!

Let a sleeping child lie.

Lord Ogosho...

this is the dying wish of the 3rd Shogun.

My forehead is warmer than yours.

A few days later, a secret messenger was sent to Shinano.

When is he arriving?

At year's end.

You must tell no one.

Date Masamune

Gentlemen!

Good morning, My Lord.

Let's wrestle to shake off the cold.

What do you say, Sir Masakatsu?

Well, Sir Tadakatsu?

I have an errand to run.

Sakai Tadakatsu

Let's fight fairly!

Please deal with me kindly.

How is the Shogun's illness?

Tell me.

You must consider your age.

He really threw me in earnest.

Sir Tadakatsu is a skilled wrestler.

Toshikatsu...

Have the physician give Lord Masamune some medicine.

Very well.

No, please don't bother. It's not serious.

Now then...

I summoned you, the lord of Sendai, here because...

We are wrangling with the Court...

to have the Emperor come to the Kanto.

But we're at a standstill. Neither side is budging.

I know, My Lord.

Should we push ahead or pull back?

You're a skilled wrestler. Tell me your opinion.

Please speak freely.

It is my firm belief...

that the nobles will never yield.

But the 3rd Shogun cannot be made to suffer embarrassment.

You are quite right, My Lord.

What should we do?

This is very difficult.

You are a man of ingenuity.

I ask that you intercede in this matter for us.

Eh, Lord Ieyasu summoned Osaka's Hideyori to Nijo Castle, didn't he?

From that day forth, the power shifted.

Why not ask for a meeting at Nijo Castle?

Nijo Castle is the stronghold of the Shogun's house.

An Imperial visit there would bring pride to all samurai.

It is only a stone's throw from the Imperial Palace.

Still, the Imperial Palace is the Court's territory.

Nijo Castle is in shogunate territory.

If the Shogun so orders,

I shall go to Kyoto and negotiate the matter.

Father, Let's go.

Come, don't dawdle. Hurry, let's go!

I appreciate your gesture, but...

Father, face him like a man!

Hurry, let's go!

Hidetada's hidden child, Komatsu, came to Edo Castle...

with his foster father, Hoshina Masamitsu.

I am honored to appear before you, My Lord.

And for your exceptional kindness...

in allowing my son Komatsu to appear before you.

I thank you most gratefully!

I am Masamitsu's son, Komatsu.

I am overjoyed to have the honor of seeing you, My Lord.

Raise your heads.

Hoshina Komatsu (Hidetada's 3rd son)

Komatsu, how old are you?

I am fifteen, Your Excellency.

You have a fine face.

Thank you, Your Excellency.

Are you applying yourself to your studies?

- Yes. - Anything else?

I am learning fencing and swimming.

Swimming?

Hoshina Masamitsu...

You have a fine son.

Thank you, My Lord.

Come forward.

I shall give you a sword.

Come closer.

Thank you, My Lord.

This is a Kiyomitsu.

Cherish it.

I will, My Lord.

Obey your father Masamitsu in all things.

Do your best faithfully and with propriety.

Yes.

Komatsu is exceedingly bright...

and extremely popular with our vassals.

No doubt. It's in his blood.

Thank you, My Lord!

No, I don't mean you.

Oh, I guess I do.

After your manhood rites,

the Shogun will surely make a place for you.

Thank you, My Lord.

Let me see your face.

To be continued.

To be continued.