Original subtitles

I'm going to take over our clan.

In 1523,

Motonari became the Mori clan head at age 27.

"As a support pillar, I have taken over the eagle wings of the Mori family."

Motonari wrote this poem and showed his mettle to become the head, despite his position as the second son.

However, his succession did not go smoothly.

The Mori clan was swaying wildly between the two factions...

...vassals who supported Motonari and other vassals who supported Mototsuna as the guardian for an adopted heir.

Why don't you adopt an heir from the Amago, just for form...

...to let Mototsuna-dono control the Mori as the real head...

...along with Katsura-dono, Watanabe-dono?

Katsura and Mototsuna, who couldn't take control of the clan, were cornered now.

Another storm was approaching the Mori.

MORI MOTONARI

Episode 16: His Younger Brother's Rebellion

Screenplay by: Uchidate Makiko

Original Story by: Nagai Michiko

Music by: Watanabe Toshiyuki

Theme Song Performed by: 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

Inoue Motokane: Kataoka Tsurutaro

Watanabe Suguru: Enoki Takaaki

Katsura Motozumi: Tsurumi Shingo

Fukubara Hirotoshi: Sasano Takashi

Shiji Hiroyoshi: Nakamura Baijaku

Lady Aio: Matsubara Chiaki

Aio Mototsuna: Nishijima Hidetoshi

Katsura Hirozumi: Kusakari Masao

Watanabe Kayou: Katsumura Masanobu Hisa: Matsukane Yoneko

Uyama Hisakane: Isobe Tsutomu Kamei Hidetsuna: Kawahara Sabu

Lady Hagi: Takahata Atsuko Attendant Kimura: Kohinata Fumiyo

Kosanta: Nasa Kenji

Lady Sugi: Matsuzaka Keiko

Amago Tsunehisa: Ogata Ken

Produced by: Kida Yukinori

English Subtitles: Koala Fansubs

Directed by: Kobayashi Takeshi

Summer 1524 (Taiei 4) - Motonari refused to adopt the heir from the Amago...

...and became the Mori clan head.

Mori vassals were split into pro-Motonari and anti-Motonari factions.

Motonari's caliber as a clan head is being tested now.

Sire.

Why don't you get ready for bed?

Fireflires! How cute!

Oh, the small one...

That one is me.

Something is going to happen.

The small one just went home.

You worry too much, sire.

You think so?

Yes, I do.

Please change now.

GASSAN-TODA CASTLE (Izumo) - Meanwhile...

...the Amago were opposing to the Ouchi over Kanayama Castle in Aki.

Sire.

To withdraw from Hoki Province and fight the Ouchi openly,

why don't you capture Aki Province first?

Sire, our neighboring constables already agreed to join us to attack Kanayama Castle.

Well, well. They finally got how powerful we are.

Katsura-dono is coming today. He's probably giving you a good reply.

Motonari became the clan head by force.

But he must know how scary it will be to make an enemy of us.

Katsura Hirozumi-dono is here, sir.

Ah! Please come in!

Excuse me.

We were waiting for you.

Thanks for coming all the way.

KATSURA HIROZUMI - It's been so dry.

Your people must be suffering.

- Well, they aren't going to battle... - Summer clouds are up, so...

...it'll be nice if we have shower now.

- Fields are dry with drought... - Wait.

You didn't come to talk about the weather, did you?

You didn't come with your reply to my campaign on Kanayama Castle.

I wanted to make the Mori clan bigger and stronger.

That's why I've been in secret communications with you.

But everything I did went wrong.

Motonari-dono doesn't have the mettle...

...to make his clan bigger and stronger, or to make a new era.

I wish he had half of your mettle, Tsunehisa-dono.

But it was my fault to have brought such consequences.

I was relying on you too much.

What are you thinking now?

I...

...will take a different path from yours.

Isn't...

- Isn't there any other path? - I cannot think of one now.

Where's Katsura-dono?

He's going to slay Motonari.

Sire?

Are you saying he's going to raise a rebellion?

I agree with you, Katsura-dono.

No, Mototsuna!

Listen to me, both of you.

I understand your dream of making the Mori stronger.

LADY AIO - But your idea is reckless.

Your dream never comes true, as long as you're afraid of recklessness.

You don't have to throw your life away for your dreams!

AIO MOTOTSUNA - I cannot trust Motonari anymore.

He agreed with me to adopt the heir and looked happy when he held my hands.

But next morning, he betrayed me and took over the clan.

I cannot work for a lord that I don't trust.

Aio-dono.

We should slay Motonari-dono and make Mototsuna-dono become the head.

That's the only way for us to rebuild the Mori.

Are you telling him...

...to kill his brother?

I have no intention of inviting him.

If you don't, I'll kill myself.

You don't want to work for the lord.

That's why you decided to stand against him risking your life, right?

Same for me.

Mototsuna.

Work together with your brother. That's best for the Mori, isn't it?

I've hated Motonari-dono, too.

You've been an obscure person, just because you were born from a concubine. I was vexed.

But...

I don't want you to become the leader by killing your brother.

We are living in times when fathers, sons and brothers kill each other for their clans.

Instead of killing each other, I want brothers to take each other's hands.

If the clan dies out because of that, that's better to me.

That's a women's logic!

No, it's a human's logic!

Mother, you don't understand...

...how much a concubine's child suffers.

You don't understand!!

Katsura-dono.

Please don't.

You and Mototsuna are so precious to me.

As a mother and as a woman,

I don't want you to die!

I don't want to lose you!

Katsura-dono!

KORIYAMA CASTLE

I don't believe that there'll be an uprising.

Katsura-dono went to Izumo, probably to ask the Amago for help.

Mototsuna wouldn't do that.

Sire.

I know you want to believe him, but you should stay alert.

I can't slay Mototsuna.

I don't think he can slay me.

It involves your life. You can't be that naive.

Mototsuna and Katsura seem to be planning for a rebellion.

FUJINO - When? Who will join them?

I don't know.

The Amago seems to be pulling the strings secretly.

I know what kind of news you got from them.

That means... the lord is aware of it and has made a move?

I don't know.

You tell everything to my clan, so I won't tell you.

I'm a Mori now.

A wife, who becomes her husband's family member, cannot do her job, you know?

Fujino.

I can't stop you from doing your job.

But I'll stop you only this one time.

- It involves the lord's life. - So...

...he already knows that.

Are you going to tell the Kikkawa clan?

- Don't ask me. - Fujino.

I beg you.

If something happens to the lord, I don't want to be alive.

Fujino!

Please, only this time! Don't tell them what the lord is doing! I beg you!

- Please raise your head. - I beg you!!

You care about him that much, Mii-sama?

I envy you.

Just like you, I really care about my job.

To me, my job is all about my life.

I'm too ugly to associate with men. This is the purpose of my life.

Please...

...understand me.

I'm the one who is wrong, because I became a Mori right away.

Fujino.

I will stop asking you anything.

I'll protect the lord, by any means.

Go ahead and do your job.

That's right.

Done.

Thank you very much.

Katsura-dono.

Why did you come over all of a sudden?

Kayou-dono. Your father must be proud of you.

You're splendid.

WATANABE KAYOU (Suguru's Son) - I'm flattered to hear that, sir.

Please.

What is it?

It's been so dry. How annoying.

We don't want a dry spell like this.

You came to talk about the weather?

That's right.

If I could be born again,

I don't want to be a samurai.

I want to have an easygoing life, talking only about the weather.

That's why I wanted to talk with you, about the sky and rain.

Well.

Sorry for bothering you.

Katsura-dono.

I was happy I met you, Watanabe-dono.

We need some rain.

I'm sure that there'll be an uprising.

My spies told me, too.

Sire, we'll tighten your security.

I also heard that Katsura-dono went to Watanabe-dono's mansion.

If Wanatabe-dono joins him, it'll be dangerous.

I'm...

...going to see Mototsuna.

Mother, my brother just came over.

Motonari-dono did?

I'm not going to see him. I want you to see him.

Why don't you see him?

Are you still thinking about raising a rebellion?

No, I'm not.

Really?

You aren't really thinking about that?

I can't slay my brother.

Mototsuna...

I escorted Motonari-sama, ma'am.

Oh...

Please come in.

Thank you for coming over, but...

...I'm sorry that Mototsuna is not here.

I came to apologize to him about the heirdom matter.

But I'm glad that I get to talk with you, for the first time.

Sire.

Please take care of Mototsuna for many years to come.

That's what I have to ask him.

I have to apologize to you, too.

I'm very sorry.

You didn't have a choice.

I know it well.

Sire.

Mototsuna is feeling inferior because he is a concubine's child.

Since his infancy, he's been feeling lonely.

If you favor him, he will get motivated and do anything for you.

Thank you for saying that.

Please.

As long as you are kind to a lonely child, he will never get side-tracked.

Mototsuna really wants to work for you, at your beck.

Please use him as your tool...

I just came back.

I just heard you are here. I'm sorry.

Mototsuna.

Will you accept my apology about this matter?

I betrayed you cruelly, Mototsuna.

I'm sorry!

I know it well.

Now, I'm happy that you took over our clan.

I suffered after that, but I'll follow you for the rest of my life.

I'm always at your service.

Welcome home!

Sire?

Well...

So the rumor is true...?

That's how you felt, right?

Sire.

Please run away.

Don't worry.

I see...

The lord came over...

I knew he was already aware of that, but...

We have no time.

I agree.

Then, Katsura-dono.

We should do it tonight.

Tonight?

I'll attack into Koriyama Castle and kill the lord.

Mototsuna-dono, please surround the castle.

I'll roll into the castle with you.

We know the castle well. We should roll into it from the front and the back.

Mototsuna-dono, please surround the castle.

You don't want me to kill my brother.

I appreciate your consideration.

But please don't mind...

Mototsuna-dono, please surround the castle!

9 o'clock tonight.

I'll meet you.

Katsura-dono, I'm going to attack into the castle.

Hurry and go home, and get ready.

Father.

KATSURA MOTOZUMI (Hirozumi's Son) - I heard you're rising in arms.

Please allow me to go with you.

No.

You're still young.

And... you're our precious heir.

Are you prepared to die?

Motozumi.

Support the Mori clan and protect the Katsura family.

Alright?

Father...!

You can't.

Mother.

Please forgive me.

I'm sorry.

Go.

Mother!!

Go!!

I don't want...

...to see my son rising in rebellion!

Go!!

Go!!

Mother.

I'll accomplish it and come home for sure.

No!

Join hands with your brother!

My brother and I were born from the same father.

But I've always taken a step or two behind my brother, just because my mother was a concubine.

That must be...

...how you were feeling, Mother.

Earlier today, you desperately bowed to my brother, and said,

"Please use Mototsuna as your tool."

It was really hard for me.

Neither you or I need to grovel.

It's hard for me to slay my brother...

...but you didn't give birth to me, to let someone use me as his tool.

For my sake, for your sake...

...and for the sake of the Mori...

...I'll kill Motonari.

You aren't...

You aren't...

...wrong at all, Mototsuna.

Forgive your mother.

I was happy...

...I was born from you, Mother.

Mototsuna!!

There's no sign of Mototsuna-dono coming here.

He might have changed his mind.

Aio.

Take care of Mototsuna-dono.

Let's go.

This is Kosanta, sire.

Katsura-dono is coming here.

I already told Shiji-dono, so he should be here soon.

Sire.

An uprising, sire!

Sire, please put your armor on.

Is Mototsuna with them?

Probably.

We'll block all the places they can sneak in,

but they know the way around. Stay alert, sire.

Mii.

Protect Great Lady. Hide with her in the barn.

- Yes. - Hurry, go!!

Sire, hurry and get the armor.

Hurry up!!

Excuse me, but something is strange at Koriyama Castle.

What!?

Bring my horse!

Don't jump the gun, Katsura-dono.

I am Katsura Hirozumi.

Attack!

Attack!!

Katsura-dono!

Why...?

Why are you doing this?

Hisa, shut up... shut up...

Sugi-sama... It's a sea of blood out there...!

Calm down, O.K.?

Sire...

What a sad world...

- I didn't want to be born in such a world!! - How ungraceful of you, Hisa.

Well, what do you want to do if you can be born again?

I want to be born as a woman again...

...and want to have a baby next time.

I want to live with the lord and have this baby again.

I've never thought about that, so I don't know.

Next time, I want to marry someone...

...and want to have a life with love.

I guess you can't be too ambitious.

Firefly...

Katsura-dono!!

Katsura-dono!!

Please don't, Katsura-dono.

Katsura-dono!! Motonari-sama!!

Motonari-dono...

If there is anything you want to say,

spit it out.

I'm talking with Hirozumi.

Begone!

Hirozumi.

Tell me what you're holding in your guts.

For the sake of the Mori...

Because the Great Lord and Okimoto-dono weren't reliable...

...I did my best...

...to make the Mori function.

But...

Please understand...

...my intentions.

Hirozumi.

Only you're...

...responsible for this incident, aren't you?

Motonari-dono...

I'll...

...entrust the Mori to you.

Hirozumi...!

When you were born, sire...

...your first cry sounded like a wolf.

I still remember...

...it well...

...well...

...deep in my heart.

Katsura-dono...

It's my fault.

It's all...

...my fault.

I lost Katsura and Mototsuna.

I...

...killed them all.

Men and women...

...should all become fireflies.

They live short,

but they can light their bodies until they burn out.

They must be happy in their own ways.

Sire.

Katsura-dono and Mototsuna-dono...

...must have lived that way.

Their lives flared up...

...flared up...

...flared up, and...

...burned out to die.

End of Episode 16