Original subtitles

I, Amago Tsunehisa...

...will capture Kagamiyama Castle.

On June 13, 1523, the Battle of Kagamiyama Castle began.

It was a duel between the Ouchi and Amago armies.

Amago Tsunehisa had extended power along the Sea of Japan.

His next target was the Inland Sea area, where the Ouchi were in control.

The revolt in Itsukushima immobilized the Ouchi.

Tsunehisa took no time in advancing to Kagamiyama Castle.

It was a war involving provincial constables of Aki.

I don't want to be forced down by Tsunehisa.

Tsunehisa came with his grand army.

So Motonari unwillingly betrayed the Ouchi, to join the Amago army.

The fate of the Mori was on his shoulders.

Well...

I'm going to fight hard so that Tsunehisa will be shocked.

MORI MOTONARI

Episode 14: A Giant and A Baby

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 Yuki: Ichiro Maki

Ouchi Yoshitaka: Kazama Toru

Lady Aya: Azuma Chizuru

Ouchi Yoshioki: Hosokawa Toshiyuki

Shishido Motoyoshi: Ishida Taro Hisa: Matsukane Yoneko

Kikkawa Kunitsune: Kusanagi Kojiro Uyama Hisakane: Isobe Tsutomu

Kamei Hidetsuna: Kawahara Sabu Kurata Fusanobu: Otaka Akira

Kurata Naonobu: Numata Baku Yuasa Nobuyuki: Mikami Naoya

Kosanta: Nasa Kenshin Komatsumaru: Kitao Wataru

Lady Sugi: Matsuzaka Keiko

Amago Tsunehisa: Ogata Ken

Produced by: Kida Yukinori

English subtitles: Koala Fansubs

Directed by: Ochi Atsushi

June 1523 (Taiei 3) While the Ouchi-Amago conflict intensified,

AMAGO TSUNEHISA'S HEADQUEARTERS Amago Tsunehisa finally launched ...

... his attack on Kagamiyama Castle, one of the Ouchi castles.

The Mori had been on the Ouchi side,

but they yielded to Tsunehisa's continuous pressure and joined the Amago army.

Aren't you ashamed of coming this late?

AMAGO TSUNEHISA (Lord of Izumo) You should've joined me immediately.

You must have hesitated for a long time.

Your hesitation is obvious. You are not good at fighting at all.

Sire.

Thank you for coming to help me.

Since you joined us late,

I would like you to do something to distinguish yourself.

I would like your army to take the vanguard.

Certainly.

Sire?

KOMATSUMARU (Mori Clan Head) Certainly.

I'm the one who's going to fight for you.

Please talk to me.

You are not insightful, not decisive, and not a good fighter.

I thought it would work better if I talked to this 9-year-old lord.

Tsunehisa-dono.

I will take the vanguard fearlessly and capture the castle instantly.

I pledge this to you!

The battle began on June 13.

But the Ouchi stronghold, Kagamiyama Castle, was well guarded.

The Mori, who took the vanguard, couldn't capture it, no matter how many times they attacked.

KAGAMIYAMA CASTLE Reporting!

We beat off the enemy at Fort Three.

KURATA FUSANOBU (Kurata Clan Head) The Amago army is having a hard time.

YUASA NOBUYUKI (Kurata Clan Retainer) This castle is geographically hard to attack.

Mori Motonari must be crying now.

Well.

KURATA NAONOBU (Fusanobu's Uncle) He took Takeda Motoshige's head in his first battle.

We must be careful.

Sire, are you sure that we can win?

How fainthearted of you, Naonobu.

The Ouchi main army is coming soon.

Then, the Mori won't stand a chance.

MORI ARMY HEADQUARTERS

Pull yourself together.

Our casualties are getting greater and greater,

but we haven't got a foothold to attack them.

Moreover, Tsunehisa-dono keeps urging us on.

What do you think?

You told him you would capture the castle instantly.

But you are losing our credit.

Well, it is geographically hard to attack this castle.

Even if we want to attack from the First Quarter,

the castellan's uncle, Naonobu, built strong walls. We can't do anything.

The castellan, Fusanobu, is in the Second Quarter, which was built on a steep hill.

Nobody can climb to attack.

Isn't there any way?

We must find a secret path, if there is any.

That's impossible.

AIO MOTOTSUNA (Motonari's Half-brother) Motonari-dono.

We should just launch an all-out, head-on attack on the First Quarter to break through.

No.

We only lose more soldiers. That's a poor strategy.

What?

We must make some strategy.

Do you have any idea?

No.

That's not good at all.

WATANABE SUGURU I don't agree with Mototsuna-dono, either.

An all-out attack is one of the fighting methods to break through.

But...

It works only when you are far understrength.

What about you, Katsura-dono?

KATSURA HIROZUMI Watanabe-dono is right.

But we are in a deadlock now.

We need to gain momentum again. Even with some more sacrifices,

we should just start a short-term, decisive battle.

That's the best.

Aggressiveness alone doesn't bring you victory.

There must be a way.

Motonari-dono, you are always like that.

You just buy time, and hope that the storm will go away soon,

and you end up bringing an even bigger storm!

Had you sided with the Amago right away,

Tsunehisa-dono wouldn't have told the lord to go to battle with us!

OUCHI YOSHIOKI'S MANSION (Yamaguchi) Meanwhile, the Ouchi couldn't send reinforcements ...

... right away to Kagamiyama, because of the revolt in Itsukushima.

Isn't Yoshitaka here yet?

LADY AYA (Yoshioki's Wife) Um, I already told him ...

... that it's an important meeting about his first battle. He's coming soon.

OUCHI YOSHIOKI

Sire. Don't scold him.

Sire.

What are you doing?

Why are you backing off?

OUCHI YOSHITAKA (Yoshioki's Heir) That's it!

Here's the prize.

-- Next. -- Yoshitaka!

-- Go! -- Yes, sir!

Yoshitaka!

You know what kind of clan we are, don't you!?

Even the shogunate isn't functioning now because we left Kyoto.

The Ouchi are controlling this country.

How can you play all day long!?

I didn't choose to be born into the family that controls the country.

Rather than fighting, I like to read,

to dance, to write poems, to play and to talk with many people.

You want me to control the country,

but you're expecting too much of me.

Yoshitaka!

You're way out of line to your father!

I cannot even guide my own son.

No wonder people in Itsukushima rose against me.

Father.

I respect you, Father.

Not because you control this country,

but because you developed a great capital of arts and learning, here in Suo.

That's all because the most powerful family in Western Japan won a war.

Father.

Mother.

I will go to my first battle with dignity,

and work hard for the Ouchi family all my life.

But I'd like to tell you:

I didn't want to be born into such a family.

SARUKAKE CASTLE (Aki Province)

FUJINO LADY MII What a terrible heat rash.

Chiyojumaru-sama.

These peach leaves work really well.

FUKUBARA HIROTOSHI Fighting in this hot weather isn't a good idea.

I haven't heard anything. I'm worried.

We won't lose.

But I'm worried about Komatsumaru-sama. He has a delicate constitution.

I hope heat doesn't harm him...

I wonder if Motonari-dono is all right.

He'll come home alive.

I'm not worried about him at all.

Right?

Blessed sun.

Please protect the lord.

I can't stop worrying about him.

MORI ARMY HEADQUARTERS

"Kagamiyama Castle"

Isn't there a way?

I want to give Tsunehisa a scare.

Motokane.

INOUE MOTOKANE You're still in touch with the Ouchi, aren't you?

Can't you use your contact to find out a secret path to Kagamiyama Castle?

We're fighting against the Ouchi over one of their castles.

Do you think the Ouchi will tell us where secret paths are?

We have no choice. Otherwise, we cannot capture the castle.

Kurata Fusanobu, the castellan of Kagamiyama Castle,

is a loyal general, who is good at fighting.

Nothing will work.

He is a great general, Motokane,

but his uncle, Naonobu, seems to be a greedy man.

He is cowardly, greedy, and restless.

I see.

Kurata Fusanobu,

and his uncle, Naonobu.

A loyal man,

and a greedy man.

Motokane.

I'm coming up with a plan.

Kosanta.

Spread a rumor among the Kurata army.

Tell them the Ouchi can't send reinforcements because they're stuck in Itsukushima.

And then

... set the stage for my meeting with Naonobu's aide.

Understood, sir.

Several days later, as Motonari ordered,

Kosanta brought over Kurata Naonobu's vassal, Yuasa Nobuyuki.

I'm Motonari.

YUASA NOBUYUKI (Kurata Naonobu's Vassal) Are you saying...

Fusanobu-dono, who is in charge of Kagamiyama Castle, should be killed by his uncle, Naonobu-dono?

The Ouchi's main army isn't reliable now.

So Kagamiyama Castle ...

... will be captured by the Amago.

The Mori hasn't cut its tie with the Ouchi.

Our words must sound trustworthy.

You shouldn't let the Kurata family go down.

Instead, you should make a deal with us.

If you do so, we can end this battle, without unnecessary bloodshed.

So the Kurata family will survive.

You have a reasonable trade-off in your mind, don't you?

In exchange for the head of Fusanobu, your clan's head,

we'll give the entire fief of the Kurata family to Naonobu-dono.

We'll save the life of everybody else, including your soldiers.

The entire fief, in exchange for my nephew's head?

And the Ouchi's main army isn't coming?

Naonobu accepted Motonari's condition and told him a secret path to Kagamiyama Castle.

The entire Mori army, led by Motonari, advanced on the secret path ...

... to attack Kagamiyama Castle.

The Mori army cornered the Kurata army in the Second Quarter, where Fusanobu was stationed.

KURATA ARMY HEADQUARTERS Hurry up!

-- Hurry up! -- We're in a crisis!

-- How did they find out the secret path!? -- Sire!

Sire. The Mori aren't our enemy.

Our real enemy is...

What are you doing!?

Naonobu, what are...!?

Sire, please commit seppuku.

You switched sides!?

If you do so, your wife, children, and vassals will be spared.

AMAGO TSUNEHISA'S HEADQUARTERS

With the Mori's work, Kagamiyama Castle will soon be handed over.

We'll make the clan's head, Fusanobu, commit seppuku immediately.

May we spare his wife, children, and soldiers?

Such a condition ...

... should have been consulted with the lord!

Motonari-dono proceeded without telling us, because he wanted all the credits?

Certainly not.

Motonari takes the cake.

Yes, sir.

Very well. I'll spare their lives.

Thank you, sir.

Motonari.

He takes the cake.

THE NEXT DAY

Kurata Fusanobu committed seppuku.

With Motonari's work, the Amago were able to capture Kagamiyama Castle in a day.

Motonari-dono.

KIKKAWA KUNITSUNE SHISHIDO MOTOYOSHI You made a splendid maneuver.

Indeed.

To think that we, the Shishido, have such a dreadful neighbor.

It horrifies me.

Sire, I'll inspect the head.

-- You shouldn't see the head now... -- Don't insult me!

This is Kurata Fusanobu's head, sir.

Sire, sire.

Sire.

Sire.

This is Kurata Naonobu-dono.

I'll spare Fusanobu's wife, children and soldiers.

Thank you.

Behead him.

Excuse me?

Behead Naonobu.

You betrayed Fusanobu and made him commit seppuku.

You want me to spare your life and secure your fief?

How dare can you say that!

Please wait.

Tsunehisa-dono, why did you accept the conditions?

Breaking a promise after gaining the castle means you abandoned your great cause.

I made no promise to Naonobu.

That's not fair, Tsunehisa-dono!

Tsunehisa-dono, please.

Please!

If you win your enemy over and treat him well,

you can easily spy on your enemy. Isn't that a better strategy?

Beheading him doesn't give you anything, Tsunehisa-dono.

Please don't, Tsunehisa-dono.

Tsunehisa-dono!

Don't.

Please, don't.

Please, don't.

Such a betrayer will surely betray me next time.

You seem to have been betraying me, Motonari.

Your maneuver went well, because you are still in touch with the Ouchi.

No, I'm not!

Really?

Then, how did you do it?

I had my spies investigate the paths to Kagamiyama Castle.

I said, "Motonari takes the cake."

I meant, "He is bold enough to have been in touch with the Ouchi."

No, I'm not!!

You don't deserve to be slain by me. You're worse than Naonobu.

SARUKAKE CASTLE

The Amago won a battle at Kagamiyama Castle,

but Mii hasn't heard anything about that.

Fujino.

Oh, yes.

Oooh, scary.

Scary.

Your Ladyship!

The lord is coming back!

-- Really!? -- Yes!

Welcome home, sire!

I'm happy just because you came home alive.

You're not injured. I'm happy, too.

I don't need anything, as long as you're alive.

Serve sake to everyone.

For a celebratory drink.

Did we win?

You didn't look happy, so...

Sire.

I envy them.

I haven't been like that for a long time.

-- More sake! -- Drink more, gentlemen.

Otherwise, I'll drink it up.

Thanks for your hard work, everyone.

Drink as much as you want.

One more cup.

Sire?

Motonari-dono.

Really?

I'm going to Koriyama Castle.

You just came home.

The lord collapsed again.

-- Hey. -- Yes?

Motonari-dono doesn't look happy. Is that because the lord is ill?

What happened?

Tell me!

He is only 9 years old. Viewing the head was too much for him.

I understand why he's been having nightmares.

I'm very sorry.

Well.

I heard that's what he wanted to do.

I'm feeling happy now.

LADY YUKI He knows he is the Mori head.

I'm glad.

Komatsumaru.

The lord lost face, because they took Naonobu-dono's head.

No wonder he doesn't look happy with this victory.

Amago Tsunehisa-dono...

He is your uncle, Your Ladyship. How frightening of him.

Motonari-dono was all wrong!

What did you say?

He tricked and deceived someone to win.

He deserves this!

You're wrong.

A head-on confrontation would have made him lose countless lives.

He used maneuvering to minimize the casualties.

Battle is about fighting and losing your soldiers.

Battle is also about sweet-talking and persuading.

Maneuvering is a kind of weapon, I think.

Shut up!!

If you trick someone, you'll go to hell.

Anything that sends you to hell is all wrong.

I know it well, because I mastered the secret of Buddhism.

I hope Motonari-dono isn't going to hell.

I cannot stop worrying about him.

You're right, Great Lady.

However, if the lord goes to hell, I'm going with him.

So I want to let him do whatever he wants.

Right. That's a woman's duty.

He's getting sleepy.

Great Lady.

No matter what happens, I will be on the lord's side.

Please don't worry.

Did you hear what Fujino said?

I don't want an ugly woman to tell me about women's duties.

Well, Sugi-sama.

You didn't study Buddhism more than three days, saying, "I'm tired of studying Buddhism."

I'm not tired.

I just quit because I didn't want to become a Buddha by studying more.

Mii.

Yuki-dono doesn't blame me.

That's making me suffer.

Isn't Komatsumaru-sama doing well?

No.

Mii.

I...

During this battle...

Well, never mind.

I complain too much.

I heard about the battle.

I see.

I'm...

I'm only half-done.

I can't use cold-blooded maneuvering techniques like Tsunehisa-dono.

I'm half-done, no matter what I do. I can't find my own way.

You're still half-done. That's why you're the most promising.

One who has already found his own way has nothing else.

If you're still half-done, you can make anything happen.

If you're half-done, you're almost winning.

Sire.

Please complain about anything to me.

Once you step outside, I want you to become a dignified general.

After you come home, please complain to me again.

Mii.

"A daystar flickers in the west,"

"and flickers in the east."

"It flickers around because ..."

"... the world is only flickering (transient)."

"Flickering..."

"Flickering..."

Human lives are only transient.

They end in a blink.

Therefore, you should live the way you want.

Sire, you're doing nothing wrong.

KIZUKI GRAND SHRINE (Izumo)

This victory has been brought by the god of this grand shrine.

Since you built this shrine,

the god will protect you anytime, sire.

Sire, you received an urgent letter from Katsura-dono of the Mori.

The Mori lord will die sometime today or tomorrow.

We shouldn't let Motonari become the clan's head, at any cost.

His maneuver over Kurata Naonobu at Kagamiyama Castle...

You must think a lot of Motonari, sire.

I...

I don't want Motonari.

The key Mori vassals were all summoned only two weeks after capturing Kagamiyama Castle,

because Komatsumaru's condition took a sudden turn.

Please leave me alone with the lord.

Komatsumaru.

I'm sorry for having not given you a healthy body.

You should take it easy now.

Run to join your father now.

I'll sing for you, until you see your father.

Next time, you should be born with a healthy body.

"Hushabye, sleep."

"Today is the 25th day of his birth."

"Tomorrow, I'm taking him to the shrine."

"At the shrine,"

Komatsumaru!!

The Mori clan head, Komatsumaru, ended his 9-year-long life.

It was silent as if time stopped flowing.

The silence suggested the Mori's imminent turmoil.

End of Episode 14