Original subtitles

Now! Loose arrows!

The Battle of Arita (1517)

Mori Motonari defeated Takeda Motoshige during his miraculous first battle.

However, the Mori's Aki Province ...

AMAGO TSUNEHISA ... has been a target of this man's ambition.

I'm going to attack the Ouchi. I'll advance to the Inland Sea first.

I'm going to attack them slowly, gradually.

The Mori's only hope is the covenant -- that is,

"The Covenant of Provincial Constables."

Amago Tsunehisa of Izumo has been in secret communication with Aki constables ...

... for his long-sought dream of advancing to the Inland Sea.

This started destabilizing the covenant.

Motonari will be pressed to make another decision.

Mori Motonari is here!

MORI MOTONARI

Episode 11: An Angry Bride

Screenplay by: Uchidate Makiko

Original story by: Nagai Michiko

Music by: Watanabe Toshiyuki

Theme performed by: The NHK Symphony Orchestra Music performed by: Concert Regnie

Title calligraphy by: Mori Motonari Narration by: Hirano Keiko

CAST

Mori Motonari: Nakamura Hashinosuke

Lady Mii: Tomita Yasuko

Fujino: Kaga Mariko

Katsura Hirozumi: Kusakari Masao

Inoue Motokane: Kataoka Tsurutaro

Watanabe Suguru: Enoki Takaaki

Shiji Hiroyoshi: Nakamura Baijaku

Fukubara Hirotoshi: Sasano Takashi

Aio Mototsuna: Nishijima Hidetoshi

Lady Aio: Matsubara Chiaki

Sue Okifusa: Natsuyagi Isao

Takeda Motoshige: Shishido Kai

Lady Yuki: Ichiro Maki

Hisa: Matsukane Yoneko Uyama Hisakane: Isobe Tsutomu

Kikkawa Kunitsune: Kusanagi Kojiro Kamei Hidetsuna: Kawahara Sabu

Lady Hagi: Takahata Atsuko Attendant Kimura: Kohinata Fumiyo

Kikkawa Mototsune: Duncan Lady Matsu: Azusa Mayuko

Shojumaru: Iwabuchi Yukihiro Komatsumaru: Date Rikiya

Lady Sugi: Matsuzaka Keiko

Amago Tsunehisa: Ogata Ken

Produced by: Kida Yukinori

English subtitles: Koala Fansubs

Directed by: Matsuoka Koji

Motonari killed Takeda Motoshige during his first battle.

1517 (Eisho 14) Later on, by following Oda Nobunaga's example,

it was called "West Japan's Version of the Battle of Okehazama."

Motonari's valor was suddenly known throughout the Chugoku Region.

God of the Well.

Please protect Motonari-dono.

Oh, Kimura-dono!

Is anyone praising Motonari-dono today?

- Not yet... - That can't be.

- Try to recall. - Well...

Oh, yes. Last night, kitchen workers were talking about...

Really!?

If you find anyone praising him, keep me posted, all right?

Sugi-sama is bragging so much about you, as if...

Oh, Motonari-sama! You are here!

- Hisa, show it to him. - Yes.

No matter where I go, to shrines or temples,

people are talking only about you.

Look. I've been counting the number of people who praised you.

Sugi-sama.

Rumors about me aren't really good.

Oh, my. You're so humble. That's why people are impressed.

That's not what I mean.

If the rumors about me spread further, the Mori will be in danger.

Yeah, I know.

Men are more jealous than women are.

That's not it.

Other provincial constables would think the Mori are getting stronger.

They will put up their guard.

Then, we cannot make any move.

Don't get carried away, Sugi-sama.

A clan like us, just started gaining ground,

should try to remain low-keyed.

I know it.

That's what I've been telling everybody,

but they've been carried away. I don't know what to do.

When I pray quietly at a shrine, people spot me and get excited.

I'm so embarrassed.

I'm going to the shrine.

You just went early this morning.

Shut up.

I'm going to another shrine.

GASSAN-TODA CASTLE (Izumo) - Your operation to get provincial constables ...

... has been making solid progress, sir.

If we tear off one province after another, and isolate the Mori,

we can easily separate the Mori from the Ouchi.

LADY HAGI - My brother of the Kikkawa said,

he, too, had given up on the covenant.

- Kikkawa-dono, too? - Yes, sir.

The covenant is almost coming apart.

Please wait for a while, sir.

- It's cold today, isn't it? - Yes.

Mii-sama is here, sir.

Mii...?

The Kikkawa told me that they were sending us some seasonal gifts.

She is probably delivering them here.

No wonder why I was getting a chill.

She is tough to deal with.

MII (Kikkawa Kunitsune's daughter) - It's been a while.

Uncle.

How many times do I have to ask you to wear the outfit I chose?

Auntie, please bring out the kimono I chose for him.

- Oh, yes. - I'm telling you all the time.

You look too great in this kimono.

Because you look too great, you look scarier than you are.

I'm always telling you that you should look off-guard sometimes.

You went to Kyoto for a battle. What were you doing there?

Arm!

Um... I was fighting there.

A man, who is good at only one thing, cannot survive in the future. Right, Uncle?

Did you learn from Ouchi Yoshioki-dono's sense of fashion?

Yes...

- Here. - You look great.

You look completely off-guard. This is how you're supposed to be.

You know, Uncle?

Your kimono can make other people become off-guard and intimidated.

A Kimono is like a weapon.

A man, who is trying to get the Inland Sea ...

... should look like this.

The Inland Sea? What are you talking about?

I chose the color of the Inland Sea. Aren't I great?

Huh? What are you talking about?

Uncle, you're almost winning in the Inland Sea.

Mii's father, Kikkawa Kunitsune, was called over ...

... shortly after that.

Why don't you marry Mii off?

To who?

To Motonari. Mori Motonari.

Well...

KIKKAWA KUNITSUNE (Mii's father) - He got Takeda's head,

but the Mori don't have much power yet.

And Motonari is the second son.

I don't think he will be beneficial to my clan or the Amago clan.

Please make her, even if you don't think so.

Why are you fixated on Motonari?

Motonari-dono?

Since I gained fame, I knew I would be getting an offer of marriage.

They really want you.

Kikkawa's daughter?

The Amago are behind them.

If I marry a girl who is related to the Amago,

Ouchi-dono will get upset.

That's right.

But you are not the heir, Motonari-dono.

You're the head of a branch family, the castellan of Sarukake Castle.

Amago...?

The Python?

Once it has an eye on a target, a python won't let the prey go.

I'm against that.

Amago Tsunehisa's wife and Kikkawa's daughter are related.

Our clan has been Ouchi-dono's favorite.

We will be in danger, if we accept such a marriage.

INOUE MOTOKANE - Ouchi-dono finally secured our trading activities.

Our trading will be in danger again.

LADY YUKI - They know about our partnership with the Ouchi.

How could they send such an offer? What does that mean?

KATSURA HIROZUMI - The Amago must have taken the Kikkawa in.

FUKUBARA HIROTOSHI - The bond among the nine constables in the Covenant ...

... doesn't seem to be reliable now.

WATANABE SUGURU - The Mori are not able to fight alone ...

... without help from the other provincial constables.

Is that true, Shiji-dono?

SHIJI HIROYOSHI - Yes, my lady. Unfortunately...

The Amago already took many constables in. We cannot rely on the covenant anymore.

- So the Covenant is dead? - Yes, my lady.

That caused another stir.

If Motonari-dono becomes an Amago in-law...

- The Mori will be in his hands...? - Aio-dono.

Motonari-dono isn't that kind of person.

LADY AIO - You don't know what other people are thinking.

The bond between the Amago, Kikkawa, and Mori ...

... must have already been established by my daughter, Lady Matsu.

I sent my much-loved daughter away, but they trampled on my motherly feelings.

I'm so vexed.

Why are they asking Motonari-dono, and not Lady Matsu's brother, Mototsuna?

What a thing for me to say.

That was just nonsense by an upset mother. Please disregard it.

I'm grateful for your consideration, Aio-dono.

SARUKAKE CASTLE

I'm against this marriage.

I realized something by seeing the late lord and Lady Yuki.

A wife from a powerful family belittles the husband. Nothing good happens.

The Amago are like a python.

So Demon Kikkawa's daughter must be a snake.

The Ouchi are called "the Viper."

To secure our clan's future, a snake might not be a bad idea.

For Heaven's sake!

I don't want the snake girl to breathe on Motonari-sama.

We'll keep the snake girl...

Oh, no. We'll keep the Amago the Python and the Ouchi the Viper.

That's the only path for us to take.

Or better yet, the Mori should become a snake, too.

Like the Eight-headed Serpent, Motonari-sama, as the second son, should become one of the heads.

The main family becomes the other head.

Even if one of the heads is chopped off, the Mori clan will survive.

- Shiji-dono!! - Well, Sugi-dono.

Our clan is in danger now.

If the future of our clan will be secured by taking one of the Amago girls...

That's right!

We cannot rely on the Covenant any more.

- If the Mori are isolated... - Shut up!

The clan? The Covenant? Isolated? Stop making excuses!

Shiji-dono, you don't even care how Motonari-sama is feeling.

I will not ...

... forgive you!!

Oh, Sugi-dono. He's thinking about the clan's...

Forget about the clan!

I want to know:

What are your true feelings?

Well...

I have wanted to ...

... find a wife on my own and marry the girl I love.

That's my Motonari-sama!

- You're making me happy. - Well, that's...

I'm relieved.

A man with such a belief will never be successful. So he can survive.

Have a long and relaxed life. Then, you'll be the winner.

Shiji-dono, please turn down their offer of marriage.

Sire.

KIKKAWA'S MANSION

How ugly I am...

FUJINO (Mii's maid) - Fujino.

Do you know?

Marriage talks seem to be going on behind my back.

Well, I don't know.

I have a feeling that it's one of the provinces in Izumo.

Or it might be the Ouchi clan.

No, my lady.

Don't expect too much. Or else, you'll cry if you guessed wrong.

Fujino, you always think too negatively.

If you focus on the bright side, something bright will happen.

Mii-sama, your brightness is an illness.

I'll marry into a fine family and give birth to many manly sons.

Fujino...?

What's the matter?

Sorry. Did I say too much?

No.

I'm going to say this, only to you, for the first time.

I've reached this age, but I've never slept with a man.

I've been taking care of you since you were a baby. But you'll beat me soon.

Fujino.

Mii-sama.

No matter who you marry, I shall accompany you.

Sire, we'll go this way.

Halt.

Are you Mori Motonari-dono?

I'm Amago Tsunehisa.

Amago Tsunehisa?

That little brat has become such a handsome young man.

"Shojumaru-dono."

"After you master how to draw strong bows, I'll see you on the battlefield."

Remember?

Yes.

If I had known that you would be able to kill Takeda Motoshige with strong bows,

I would have slain you then.

You said Takeda Motoshige was killed by a stray arrow.

Yes.

Fortunately, he was shot by a stray arrow.

What a good stray arrow.

It's not easy to shoot the target from 50 ken (100 yards) away.

More than ten arrows flew toward Motoshige.

No, it was an accidental stray arrow.

You provoked Motoshige and make him come within range.

Was it an accident?

Yes.

It was an accident.

You already know that a small province should remain low-key to survive.

That's an obsolete idea.

When I was 27, I rebelled against my masters, the Kyogoku clan, and was banished.

I roamed around for two years, living from hand to mouth.

Then, I rose again and dragged the Kyogoku clan down.

Because I thought such a belief wouldn't work any more.

Nobody thought one could drag one's master down.

But I did.

Motonari-dono.

You're living in such times.

I'm unfit for dragging my master down.

As lord of a small province, I want to protect my family and have an uneventful and long life.

That is the most difficult thing for samurai to do, I believe.

I'm going to have an eventful and long life.

I'm 60 years old. Everything begins from now.

Why don't you ...

... join hands with me?

If I say no, arrows will fly, won't they?

I decided ...

... to accept their offer of marriage.

What!?

Is it for your clan?

Didn't you say that ...

... you want to marry the girl you love?

I met with Amago Tsunehisa-dono.

I was careless and he ambushed me in the hunting field.

I was surrounded by his men.

If he had given a signal,

I would have been dead.

That state of mine on the hunting field ...

... really represents the current state of the Mori.

As things are,

the Mori clan will be crushed by the Amago.

I still want to marry the girl I love.

But...

such a thing won't work.

I learned that the hard way.

I'm sorry.

It's my fault.

Because I was carried away and bragged about your achievement...

It's not your fault at all, Sugi-dono.

Sugi-dono...

You celebrated my first achievement like my real mother, didn't you?

I'll never forget that.

I feel sorry for you, Motonari-sama.

That's all right.

I made up my mind.

Go ahead.

If you fall in love with someone, you can make her become your concubine.

No.

I don't want to have concubines at all.

I think I will never find a concubine ...

... who is pretty and perfect, just like you.

KIKKAWA'S MANSION

Mori Motonari.

What did you say?

Mori?

And a second son?

That's right.

How big of a fief do they have?

The Mori of Aki has 3,000 kan. Motonari of the branch family has 300 kan.

I don't want to.

I don't want to marry such a man or marry into such a family.

KIKKAWA MOTOTSUNE - I'm begging you as your older brother.

For the sake of the Kikkawa clan, I want you to marry Motonari-dono.

Mii, Motonari-dono is quite a general.

He is very promising.

Mii-sama.

Uncle Amago is pushing for this marriage talk, isn't he?

I'll turn it down to him in person.

Wait.

Our clan will be in trouble.

Very well.

I will marry Mori Motonari-dono.

If I disobey him, the Kikkawa clan and Auntie will be in trouble.

However...,

I'll marry him against my will. Please remember that.

Therefore, if something happens, I'll come home right away. I won't bear anything.

The Amago are extending power rapidly.

We, the Kikkawa clan, want to manage Aki, Izumo and Iwami Provinces, by working for the Amago.

To that end, we must buy the Mori over, at any cost.

Sir, I will send you a detailed report on what is going on in the Mori.

Father.

I want you to leave my room as it is.

Please.

KORIYAMA CASTLE

Mori Shonojiro Motonari-dono, the castellan of Sarukake Castle,

is engaged to Mii-dono of the Kikkawa clan.

I am pleased to announce his engagement.

Congratulations, my lord.

His wedding will be held in the spring.

We would like to ask Katsura-dono to organize the wedding banquet.

Motokane.

I want you to take care of Ouchi-dono.

The main Mori family must keep the bond with Ouchi-dono.

My branch family makes the bond with the Kikkawa and the Amago.

To survive, the Mori clan needs both the Ouchi and Amago.

That's why you are our hope.

Hope?

You are deeply trusted by Ouchi-dono, aren't you?

Keep the focus on strengthening your bond with Ouchi-dono.

It's all for securing the Mori clan.

I beg you.

"Itsukushima Shrine"

I'm feeling very pleased.

You called me over personally on your way home. I'm very honored, Sue-dono.

SUE OKIFUSA - You are the lord's favorite, Inoue-dono.

The Mori clan is bowing to the Amago now.

But I won't forget Ouchi-dono's generosity in securing our trading activities.

What are the Amago doing?

Yes, sir.

While Ouchi-dono was gone, they arranged Motonari-dono's marriage.

It is obvious that they are trying to get all the provincial constables in the Covenant.

We can do trading, thanks to Ouchi-dono. I won't forget his kindness.

- Ouchi-dono is like my life. I will... - I see.

Thanks for having worked hard.

- Come closer. - Yes, sir.

- Closer. - Yes, sir.

I'm telling you secretly, because I know how you are.

The lord is going home to punish Amago Tsunehisa on his own.

So there will be a battle?

It's going to be the biggest battle ever seen.

Sugi is moving out of her room for Mii, who is marrying into the Mori.

I'm sorry for making you work...

Don't worry. I have lots of memories here.

Are you feeling sad, my lady?

Moving out of your own room?

That's all right. I'm just going back to my old room.

The snake girl of the Kikkawa... She should live in a hole.

Hisa.

1518 (Eisho 15)

Mii's wedding procession was spectacular, as if she was showing off the Kikkawa clan's wealth.

They met for the first time on this night.

I am Mii, daughter of Kikkawa Kunitsune.

- Hisa. - Yes.

Hisa.

How is it?

Do I look like a beautiful mother?

Your beauty is dazzling, my lady!

Really?

They are coming!

Lady Sugi and her maid, Hisa.

I am Mii, my lady.

Please help Motonari-dono.

Yes.

This is Fujino.

Well, shall we go?

- Sugi-sama. - What a beautiful snake! I'm surprised.

Yes.

Well, that maid, Fujino, is so creepy.

She looked jealous of my beauty.

Jealousy makes me feel so good.

You're going to miss him, Sugi-sama.

Well, I don't have to take care of my son anymore.

I'm feeling refreshed now.

And I have a feeling.

What kind of feeling?

Don't ask me. Another love.

Lady Sugi... I've never seen such a beautiful lady.

Ouch!!

She is only beautiful. She's air-headed.

Ouch.

I'm tying it so hard that he won't be able to untie it easily.

Ow... Fujino!

I've already given up.

I hate sleeping with a man I don't love, and in such a shabby castle.

But I have no choice.

Mii-sama.

It's only a ritual...

I wanted to go home ...

... before I did this.

Oh, it's cold!

Shiji, Shiji.

What are you doing here?

I don't feel like doing it.

What are you saying?

She is a lady with lily-white beauty.

- That's why... I don't want to rape her... - It's not a rape!

You're going to make love with her.

Now.

Go.

Yeah.

I'm going.

It's cold!

The moon is up outside.

Really?

Thank you for having come all this way to marry me.

You are welcome.

It's cold outside.

Oh, I didn't mean anything.

I was named Mii, because ...

... I was born on a day of "mi."

A day of "mi"?

The day of the snake?

Something wrong?

Nothing.

Shall we go to sleep?

Yes.

Mii-dono...!

As you can see, I am completely unarmed.

My father told me to do this, as bedroom manners.

I cannot sleep in the same bed with you.

I'm going to sleep in the other room.

How insolent of you!

I even became naked. How insolent!

I'm going home!!

Wait.

Listen to me.

I was going to sleep with you, until now.

But...

You became naked just to show your innocence. I'm ashamed of myself.

I....

I have wanted...

... to marry the girl I love.

- That's why... - Motonari-dono.

Sire, I feel nothing for you, too.

If I don't have to sleep with you, I would be more than happy.

I like your assertiveness.

I like your honesty, sire.

Have a good sleep.

How insolent of him.

So cold...

She is the one who's insolent.

My feelings are hurt...

End of Episode 11

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