Original subtitles

We appear before you again.

Emperor Go-Mizuno-o was the son of Emperor Go-Yozei.

His mother was Chuwamon-in Sakiko from the Konoe house.

His younger brother had become head of the Konoe...

and was the present Chancellor.

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

was Hidetada's 5th daughter...

and granddaughter of the Tosho Dai-Gongen.

As for Emperor Go-Mizuno-o's children?

Consort Masako gave birth to Onna Ichinomiya Okiko...

and Onna Ninomiya,

as well as Prince Sukehito.

Is that all?

Huh?

What others?

I cannot say, Sire.

Why hide it?

Sukesaburo...

The Emperor's beloved Lady Oyotsu...

also gave birth to two children.

But Prince Kamonomiya died,

and Princess Umenomiya was eleven years old.

Any others?

There are none, Sire.

Without question?

Without question, Sire.

What about this empty space here?

I do not know, Sire.

AOI Tokugawa Three Generations

Episode 45 "Kasuga-no-Tsubone"

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

Masako SAKAI MIKI

Inoue Masanari AMAMIYA RYO

Acha MITSUBAYASHI KYOKO

Mito Mitsukuni/Narrator NAKAMURA BAIJAKU

Tenkai KANEDA RYUNOSUKE

Doi Toshikatsu HAYASHI RYUZO

Ofuku KIKI KIRIN

Producer: Kawaii Junshi

Director: Sato Jo

My Lord, on the 11th...

Prince Sukehito passed away at the Imperial Palace.

What did you just say?

Prince Sukehito has died.

Is that true?!

Medicines had little effect. He passed away.

Lord Ogosho!

He wasn't poisoned, I hope?

On June 11, 1628...

before he could become Crown Prince, Prince Sukehito died.

He was only two years old.

The shogunate's scheme to make Prince Sukehito Crown Prince...

vanished with the dew.

Raise your head.

Sire...

Kyoto Deputy Itakura Shigemune will make funeral arrangements.

Should any suspicions arise concerning the prince's death,

I asked Itakura to investigate thoroughly.

Offering condolences on your behalf...

will be Osawa Motoie.

Representing the Shogun will be Kira Yoshimitsu.

What should we do about the construction on the Retirement Palace?

Continue it.

I've heard that the Consort is with child.

Yes, My Lord.

A prince will surely be born.

Yes, My Lord.

August 2

However, when the mourning period ended...

I still wish to abdicate.

I give the Throne to Onna Ichinomiya.

Alright?

Onna Ichinomiya Okiko

What are you saying, Your Majesty?

Inform the shogunate...

I cannot bear these groundless accusations.

Outrageous!

What will you do?

Reject it.

Tell him we absolutely reject the rule of an Empress.

Yes, Sire.

Masanari...

Summon Konchiin Suden.

August 10

Sir Inoue! Stop!

I bear you a grudge! I must have revenge!

Have you learned your lesson now?!

Stop this madness!

Inoue Masanari has wronged me!

You're in Edo Castle!

Release me!

Reporting, Sire!

What's wrong?

Inoue Masanari was stabbed to death in the West Compound!

What?!

The killer was Inspector Toyoshima Nobumitsu!

Toyoshima Nobumitsu?

One of the shogunal guards who stopped him was badly wounded.

Had he gone mad?!

We don't know the details, Sire!

Pardon!

On August 10...

Lord of Suruga Castle in Totomi...

and West Compound Senior Councillor,

Inoue Masanari met with an untimely death.

He was 52 years old.

Masanari...

You arranged for a marriage between Sir Inoue's daughter...

and Torii Tadamasa's brother, Naritsugu.

Isn't that correct?

That is correct.

Were you aware that Sir Inoue's daughter...

was already betrothed to Toyoshima Nobumitsu's nephew?

I was aware of it.

Nobumitsu lost face when his nephew's marriage was canceled.

That was why he took revenge on Sir Inoue!

However...

A marriage must assure the prosperity of a house.

The Inoue could have hoped for no better match...

than the one with the Torii.

- But... - That was why...

I had planned to find another bride for the Toyoshima.

Did Nobumitsu agree to it?

It does not matter. In order to raise one's status...

Then I ask...

Enough!

No matter what the situation,

by killing a councillor in Edo Castle,

Toyoshima Nobumitsu committed a grave crime.

Ofuku should not be blamed.

Ofuku...

You may leave.

Pardon me, My Lord.

Shogun Iemitsu's wetnurse Ofuku...

controlled the Inner Chambers after the death of Ogou.

Her power was unrivaled and immeasurable.

Now, as to the punishment of the Toyoshima house.

Suden, what do you say?

To cause bloodshed in the castle...

and kill a loyal vassal is a most grievous crime.

Of course the Toyoshima house will be abolished,

and his entire family must be punished as accessories.

That is exactly what I believe.

Please allow me to speak, Sire.

The crime of killing a senior vassal is indeed grievous,

but the insult of a broken engagement...

was something a samurai could never bear.

The crime occurred in the castle!

Where else but the castle can a Hatamoto confront a daimyo?

Not in the daimyo's home.

And he is always guarded going to and from the castle!

Tadayo, what do you say?

I fear what Tadakatsu says is also correct.

If all Toyoshima family members are punished as well,

samurai pride will eventually fade,

and we will be as the common people.

But the Inoue must save face.

I understand...

The shogunate sentenced to death...

Toyoshima Nobumitsu and his 12 year old heir Shuzen,

abolishing the Toyoshima house.

However, no other family members were punished.

September 26

About the Shogun's chief attendants...

They are sometimes called "senior attendants,"

"elders,"

and at other times, "senior advisors."

Conformity is lacking.

So, from now on, they shall be called "Senior Councillors."

Senior Councillors?

That's right. Senior Councillors.

Toshikatsu...

Named as Senior Councillors...

Lord of Maebashi Castle, Sakai Tadayo.

Lord of Fukaya Castle, Sakai Tadakatsu.

Lord of Mouka Castle, Inaba Masakatsu.

Lord of Sakura Castle, Doi Toshikatsu.

Toshikatsu will also serve as such in the West Compound.

On September 27, Imperial Consort Masako gave birth to a second prince.

But their joy was to be short-lived.

The prince died after only ten days.

Ogou...

What should I do?

After you died, only bad things have happened.

It's vexing, but the nobles say it is divine retribution.

Ogou...

Say something.

Your grief is justified,

but the Consort is 22 years old.

She will surely give birth to another prince.

Do you think so?

I shall have the Five Great Temples offer prayers.

Ogou, I'll be counting on your help, too.

Ogou...

Next year is the Year of the Serpent.

The Dai-Gongen was born in a Tiger Year.

The Ogosho was born in the Year of the Hare.

And you were born in the Year of the Dragon.

After Tiger, Hare, Dragon, everyone says...

the 4th Shogun will be born in the Year of the Serpent.

That's absurd.

If you should have an heir next year,

Tiger, Hare, Dragon and Serpent is a lucky order,

and the Shogun's house will grow even mightier.

Tiger, Hare, Dragon, Serpent...?

In rearing children do men achieve growth as well.

Please visit the Inner Chambers.

The daughters of nobles are not to my liking.

You don't need to visit your wife.

There are many beautiful women here.

I'll think about it.

Please do.

I see...

Father was born in the Year of the Rabbit?

Yes.

No wonder he's so timid. Only pricking up his ears.

I was born in answer to the Dai-Gongen's prayers.

I am no Rabbit's child!

December 22, Hidetada's second son Lord Tadanaga...

married Oda Nobuyoshi's daughter, Princess Nobu.

Tadanaga was 23 years old. Princess Nobu was 15.

This marriage with the Oda was your mother's fondest wish.

Congratulations.

I wish to honor Mother's name...

by obeying her wishes and having children.

Do so, do so.

You are married, so have children now.

Don't hold back for Iemitsu's sake.

Thank you, Father.

How is life at Sunpu?

The weather is mild,

and the people's lives exceedingly serene.

All testaments to the Dai-Gongen's influence.

That is excellent.

I was thinking of moving the gold and silver at Mt. Kuno...

to Edo Castle soon.

The government funds at Mt. Kuno...

are kept there under orders of the Dai-Gongen.

Shogun Iemitsu inherited those funds.

But the funds are to be used for war...

if Edo Castle should ever be destroyed.

But what if the funds should be used to attack Edo Castle?

Do you think I would turn traitor?

Not at all!

If Sunpu is destroyed first,

the funds would fall into the enemy's hands.

That's insulting!

Just do it!

Do as Iemitsu says!

Then, in exchange for the funds, give me Osaka Castle.

Fool!

You're a mere daimyo!

If you displease Shogun Iemitsu, your house will be abolished!

I am the Shogun's brother!

The Shogun's brother? There is another besides you.

Come closer.

Closer.

I can tell you only now...

I have another son.

What?

Do you know Hoshina Masamitsu of Takato?

I do.

Masamitsu's adopted son, Komatsu,

is my son by a maid.

Know this...

though Komatsu has the blood of the Shogun,

out of respect for Ogou,

he lives quietly in the hills of Takato.

How old is he?

How old are you, Tadanaga?

I am 23, Father.

Komatsu is 18.

And yet, how dare you?!

Your voice of dissatisfaction with the Shogun,

and ask for Osaka Castle?! Outrageous!

New Year's 1629...

daimyo paid their yearly respects at Edo Castle.

Hidetada and Iemitsu sent greetings to the Court...

through envoys Osawa Motoshige and Kira Yoshifuyu.

This did not please Emperor Go-Mizuno-o.

No return greeting was sent to Edo.

Nagasaki Magistrate Mizuno Morinobu...

became Magistrate of Osaka and Sakai,

while Lord of Bungo Funai Takenaka Shigeyoshi...

became Nagasaki Magistrate.

As ordered, Lord So Yoshinari of Tsushima Fuchu...

sent observers to Korea...

and returned their castaway sailors.

My Lord...

Enter.

The physician says the Shogun is extremely ill.

He has smallpox.

Smallpox?!

On February 2 Shogun Iemitsu fell ill with a high fever.

Smallpox contracted in adulthood was deadly.

The mortality rate was fifty per cent.

Masakatsu...

As decreed, the 4th Shogun must be...

either Gorohachimaru of Owari...

or Nagatomimaru of Kishu.

To be decided by Yorifusa of Mito.

Whatever are you saying?

My last will.

Nonsense!

The Shogun cannot lose to mere smallpox!

Heaven sent you in answer to the Dai-Gogen's prayers!

He will surely protect you!

I have bidden the head priests of the Five Great Temples...

to pray for your recovery.

Lord Tadanaga of Suruga has come to visit, Sire.

Keep him out.

I don't wish to see anyone.

Shogun Iemitsu even refused a visit from his wife.

Messengers met daimyo who were coming to pay their respects,

ordering them all back to their provinces.

All we can do now...

is to entrust him to the great Buddha.

But we cannot leave him to the great Buddha.

If His Excellency does not recover,

the land will be torn asunder over the selection of an heir.

Please beg the Buddha for help.

Beg him to take my life...

in place of the Shogun's.

Please, Archbishop!

If my prayer should be granted,

I shall take no medicines for the rest of my life.

March 17, Ogosho Hidetada visited Ueno Toshosha for the first time.

He prayed for the recovery of Shogun Iemitsu.

As if the prayers had been answered,

after fighting the illness for a month and a half,

happily, Shogun Iemitsu recovered.

On April 17, Iemitsu visited the Nikko Toshosha...

and thanked the Dai-Gongen for his protection.

May 22, Edo Castle

Raise your heads.

We are honored to be in your presence, Your Excellency.

And, thankfully, you have overcome your illness.

We congratulate you, Your Excellency.

The Court conducted prayers for me.

I thank you.

Thank you, Your Excellency.

What is the reason for your visit?

The Emperor again sends an informal notification...

to step down in favor of Princess Onna Ichinomiya.

Not again...

We humbly beg that you reply, Your Excellency.

What is the reason for the notification this time?

His Majesty suffers from a painful swelling.

Physician Nakarai Tsusen-in recommends...

moxa treatment and acupuncture.

But the August body must never be marred by needles or burns.

So abdication is the only way to receive this treatment.

After conferring with the Five Families,

it was decided that abdication was the only way.

Are you certain that this is correct?

Do you question the Emperor's word?

No, but the shogunate will send physicians...

to determine whether such a treatment is warranted.

We refuse.

Why?

To doubt the contents of an Imperial order...

is a glaring and rude insult, sir!

If the Emperor should abdicate, a woman will succeed him!

This is not the first time a woman will be sovereign!

Found it?

I found it!

When was it?

During the Nara Period.

So long ago?

Genmei, Gensho, and Koken were all female sovereigns.

Who was last?

Empress Shotoku, who died in 770.

How long ago was that?

Calculating from 1629...

Eh! It was 859 years ago!

859 years ago?!

June 5

Raise your heads.

We are honored to be received in audience, Your Excellency.

Thank you for your gracious hospitality, Your Excellency.

Toshikatsu...

We respectfully respond to His Majesty's notification.

As for his wish to step down in favor of Onna Ichinomiya,

the shogunate deems it too soon.

Too soon?!

His Majesty should not abdicate...

until the birth of the next prince!

But that is unreasonable!

His Majesty is ill!

Silence!

We received word yesterday from the Kyoto Deputy.

Happily, the Consort has conceived again.

The child will be born in September!

What?!

You were hiding it from us!

No!

We knew nothing about it.

How very strange.

If the Emperor is ill, how can he easily sire a child?!

We do not know!

We repeat our answer...

Until the next prince is born,

the Emperor may not abdicate!

Thank you for coming!

Even if the Samurai Intermediaries did not know,

the Imperial Family and Court knew the Consort,

no Masako, had conceived.

True.

Tell him to abdicate and he refuses.

Tell him not to abdicate and he wants to.

In other words...

is he saying he refuses to obey the shogunate?

Exactly, Sire.

Toshikatsu... What should we do?

A ruler's anxieties arise from vassals lacking in ability.

First, we must ask that the Chancellor be dismissed.

Dismissed?

The Chancellor is the Emperor's younger brother.

That is why you must stand firm, Sire.

June 26, priests were punished...

for protesting against the rigid rules for temples.

Takuan was exiled to Kaminoyama in Dewa.

Gyokushitsu Sohaku was banished to Tanakura in Mutsu,

and others were banished as well.

This showed to the Court the shogunate's rigid stance.

Then on August 1, as requested by the shogunate,

Chancellor Konoe Nobuhiro was dismissed.

I have a favor to ask of you, Ofuku.

Anything you wish, Your Excellency.

Since the Consort is soon to give birth,

I ask that you go to Kyoto as my representative.

Go to Kyoto?

You will thank the Court...

for sending envoys to pay a sick call on the Shogun.

Absolutely not!

I have no high rank or status.

I could never represent the Shogun.

You are Senior Advisor in the Inner Chambers.

There is no need to hesitate.

Pardon me, but I am unworthy, Sir!

In other words...

I want you to spy on the Court.

Note, in particular, the Emperor's health.

A female envoy will not offend.

But...

The Shogun has so ordered.

Will the Emperor grant me an audience?

I'll have the Kyoto Deputy arrange it.

In mid-August...

the Shogun's wetnurse Ofuku left on her secret mission.

Oh, Shigemasa...

Reporting, My Lord.

Proceed.

On August 27 at the Consort Palace...

a princess was born.

A princess?

Congratulations, Sire.

It's hopeless.

Another princess?

Sire...

On September 12, having arrived in Kyoto,

Ofuku visited the Consort Palace for the first time.

Thank you for coming.

I shall be counting on your help.

Is the Ogosho well?

He is extremely well.

I was not able to have a son.

How disappointed the Ogosho must have been.

By no means, My Lady.

You will surely have another son, My Lady.

I have heard that the Emperor has not been well lately.

Both the Ogosho and Shogun are concerned about you.

There is nothing to fear.

The Emperor treats My Lady with utmost affection.

Please report that they get along exceptionally well.

I shall, My Lady.

Now, as for your request to see the Emperor,

neither Chancellor Ichijo Kaneto nor the Five Houses will agree.

Why is that?

You are an attendant in the shogunate.

No lowly wetnurse...

has ever before been received by an Emperor.

I must remind you...

I am here as the Shogun's representative.

We are well aware of that.

If I am not granted an audience,

how could I ever return to Edo?

Now listen...

In your youth, you served the Sanjo Nishi, didn't you?

Yes.

That is the key!

You shall ask the Sanjo Nishi for help.

As the sister of Lord Saneeda,

you shall have enough status. What do you say?

Ofuku...

Do as Acha suggests.

Very well, My Lady.

I'll send a message to the Sanjo Nishi.

Lady Acha...

Please give this message to Lord Saneeda...

If I am not granted an audience,

I, Fuku, will kill myself!

One month later, on October 10...

Ofuku, wetnurse to 3rd Shogun Iemitsu, appeared in Court...

and was received by Emperor Go-Mizuno-o.

His Majesty has heard...

of your recent visit to the Ise Shrine...

as the Shogun's representative.

He was greatly impressed by this.

Thank you, My Lord.

Therefore, he confers upon you the title of "Tsubone."

You may henceforth be known as "Kasuga-no-Tsubone."

Thank you, Your Majesty.

His Majesty offers you a cup!

Bow down!

Thus, Ofuku received the greatest honor of her life,

and became Lady Kasuga.

But this would infuriate the proud nobles...

and lead to a grave development.

Don't miss the next episode.

To be continued.

To be continued.