Original subtitles

In 1524 (Taiei 4),

Amago Tsunehisa and Ouchi Yoshioki started a more intensified struggle for supremacy.

The Ouchi, who lost their front-line base in Aki (Kagamiyama Castle),

tried to regain lost ground.

Their next target was Kanayama Castle.

The castle was owned by the Takeda, an ally of the Amago.

TAKEDA MOTOSHIGE (Former Takeda Clan Head)

Takeda Motoshige is going to get you for Kumagai.

The Takeda's previous head was Motoshige, who was killed by Motonari during Motonari's first battle.

To protect Kanayama Castle from the Ouchi army,

Amago Tsunehisa urged Motonari, the Takeda's archrival, to fight for him.

They will just use us to conquer the country,

and then dump us. It's obvious.

Motonari is still suffering from deep wounds caused by the key vassals' rebellion.

But he has to go to battle "as a helper" again.

MORI MOTONARI

Episode 18: A Naval Goddess

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

Inoue Motokane: Kataoka Tsurutaro

Akagawa Motoyasu: Nagashima Toshiyuki

Kodama Naritada: Masuoka Toru

Katsura Motozumi: Tsurumi Shingo

Fukubara Hirotoshi: Sasano Takashi

Shiji Hiroyoshi: Nakamura Baijaku

Sue Okifusa: Natsuyagi Isao

Naito Okimori: Onodera Akira

Kumagai Nobunao: Watabiki Katsuhiko

Amago Kunihisa: Shimizu Koji

Ouchi Yoshitaka: Kazama Toru

Ouchi Yoshioki: Hosokawa Toshiyuki

Noda Jiro: Matoba Koji

Kame: Hazuki Riona

Amago Akihisa: Takashima Masanobu

Hisa: Matsukane Yoneko Uyama Hisakane: Isobe Tsutomu

Lady Hagi: Takahata Atsuko Kamei Hidetsuna: Kawahara Sabu

Lady Sugi: Matsuzaka Keiko

Amago Tsunehisa: Ogata Ken

Produced by: Kida Yukinori

English Subtitles: Koala Fansubs

Directed by: Matsuoka Koji

His brother (Mototsuna) and vassals (Katsura Hirozumi and Watanabe Suguru) died.

Their deaths caused deep sorrow among the Mori people.

Motonari, who took over the clan, showed his fresh resolve to rebuild the Mori...

...in front of the altar for the dead people.

KORIYAMA CASTLE - However, before he established his new order...

...the Ouchi-Amago battle over Kanayama Castle became a real possibility.

The Amago urged the Mori to join their army.

Motonari hurriedly started interviewing candidates for his vassals to administrate his new order.

...is essential, I believe.

Thanks.

What do you think?

Did you find anyone who might be useful?

They are all worthless.

But, Motokane, you recommended so many.

Oh yeah!

I must find new key vassals for the lord at any cost. That's my job.

Motozumi. I'm trying to hire someone who will work with you.

KATSURA MOTOZUMI (Hirozumi's Son) - I'm good at running wild, but...

...I'm not good at reading and writing.

Please find someone who's good at reading and writing.

Next group is available, sir.

Kodama Naritada?

He's recommended by you, Shiji.

Kodama-dono.

Kodama Naritada.

What's the meaning of our next battle?

State your opinion.

I think it's a battle to clear grudges.

Your clan joins the Amago army, but...

KODAMA NARITADA - ...Kanayama Castle is owned by Takeda Mitsukazu.

Mitsukazu's father was killed by you, sire, during your campaign on Arita Castle.

So he must be holding a great grudge.

Furthermore,

I heard Kumagai Nobunao-dono is going to join the Amago army.

He must be blaming you for his father's death.

Sire.

After all, you are going to battle "as a helper".

Nobody wants to fight such a battle unless he gets something.

As for your upcoming battle,

I think you should join the Amago army to clear Kumagai-dono's grudges.

A battle is a fight between blades, you know?

That kind of thing...

How do you think you can do it?

How?

I'm good at deceiving...

Oh, no.

I'm able to win people over better than anybody.

Sire, please make use of me.

Your reading and writing skills?

I'm good at them.

Also, I'm the best arithmetician in my family.

Very well.

Naridata.

During the next battle at Kanayama Castle,

I want you to work very hard for me.

Am I going to battle, too?

Of course.

What's wrong?

I'm the best negotiator, reader, writer and arithmetician.

But... when I hear the word "battle"...

My breath is...

Shiji-dono.

Is he useful?

Get a grip.

Thanks.

Next.

Sire.

Akagawa Motoyasu...

...is a very useful man.

I strongly recommend him.

I am Akagawa Motoyasu, sir.

What's the meaning of our next battle?

State your opinion.

It's a good opportunity to see which clan, the Ouchi or Amago, is more powerful.

The Ouchi are trying to get a foothold to advance to Aki.

AKAGAWA MOTOYASU - So they'll stage an all-out campaign.

The Amago must be thinking the same thing.

If they can fight off the Ouchi and protect Kanayama Castle...

...the Amago will look even more powerful to provincial constables of Aki.

Sire.

You must examine the two clan's powers...

...and bet the future of the Mori on the right side.

Examine their powers?

We're going to battle for the Amago. We already made up our minds.

I know it.

However,

power is determined by future momentum, rather than current situations.

You can side with the Amago this time,

but you don't have to be fixated to that.

It's a vassal's job to find out the right path with the lord.

That's how he is.

Motoyasu.

How dependable of you.

Thank you for the kind words.

Um...

Do you have a strong body?

Of course.

He who cannot govern his body isn't a samurai.

Your reading and writing skills?

I'm good at both of them.

A samurai, who's only physically strong, will be ridiculed in the age to come.

Very well.

Well... all right.

Shiji.

Do you think they'll get along?

- I'm Kodama Naridata. - I'm Akagawa Motoyasu.

Please help the lord and work for the Mori.

I'm counting on them.

I, Motozumi, will make a full use of my body.

I, Naritada, will make a full use of my brains.

I, Motoyasu, will show more results than talking.

Excuse us.

Akagawa-dono looks so dependable.

I'm happy to have such a good vassal.

Well.

He, who can do anything, doesn't gain popularity.

He, who excels in only one thing, tends to gain popularity, you know?

- Not always. - Always so.

- I should have been a woman, who has only beauty. - Move, Matsu.

But people praise my personality and brains.

That's why people get jealous and I'm not popular.

- I've never heard of that, ma'am. - Shut up.

I know it very well.

Motozumi-dono isn't good at reading and writing, but does everything with his own body.

Someone like him becomes most popular.

Right?

I...

...like Kodama-dono.

In the age to come, brains are more useful than bodies.

Also, a man with a weak constitution brings out my motherly instinct.

To me, vassals, who are able to protect my lord, are the best.

After all, Akagawa-dono is the best.

The lord will be safe as long as Akagawa-dono is with him.

Your Ladyship, it's been six years since you got married.

But you never get tired of the lord.

Normally, most wives get tired of their husbands after one year.

That's the wives' fault.

Because they show their respects toward their husbands only in word.

But I show my respect toward my lord throughout my body.

That's why the lord feels good and is being sweet to me.

Men are so cute. I don't get tired of him.

The lord isn't interested in making concubines, so Her Ladyship has peace of mind.

I don't mind if the lord starts looking at other women.

He'll come back to me for sure. It's obvious.

He can play with other women a little bit.

In the summer of 1524 (Taiei 4),

Mori Motonari went to battle with his new vassals.

The Mori army was the Amago's back-up...

...to rescue Kanayama Castle (Sato County) that was surrounded by the Ouchi army.

OUCHI HEADQUARTERS

Message!

Excuse me, sire.

The Mori-Kagawa army, with the Kumagai in the vanguard, are approaching Nenosaka Hill.

I was waiting for them!

Please wait, sire.

I see.

Nenosaka Hill, huh? If they are there...

OUCHI YOSHITAKA (Yoshioki's Son) - Okimori! Okifusa!

- Let's go. - Sire.

No, you can't.

We'll wait for the morning.

If we rush and fail, we'll taint the Ouchi's name.

- Especially, since this is your first battle, sire. - Okifusa.

We'll wait for the morning.

Right, please wait.

Shut up!

If we block their reinforcement, the Takeda will be isolated. They'll come out of the castle.

- Then, we can fight them head-on. - Don't rush, sire.

Let's go now!!

Sire.

KUMAGAI MOTONAO (Amago's Vanguard) - The Ouchi are moving. They are 2,000-strong.

2,000?

The Kagawa and our army are only 400 in total.

No problem. We're from this area.

We can take our home-court advantage to fight to the full extent.

- However... - Sire!

The Mori's messenger is here.

Mori? What does he want!?

Send him back!

I'm Katsura Motozumi, vassal for the Mori clan.

We're here by the order of Amago Tsunehisa-dono.

My lord is wondering how we can help you tonight. He is waiting for your instructions.

What a grateful offer.

Please tell him that we don't need his help.

Sire!?

Kumagai-dono. This is what my lord said.

"Please feel free to give me any instructions."

We don't need his help!

I'm going!

He doesn't need our help?

Nobunao thinks I killed his father. I understand why he said so.

Right, but what shall we do?

The Ouchi are five times as big. The Kumagai cannot hold up.

Listen.

There is a cliff about 100 ken (180 m) behind the Kumagai camp.

Send troops there.

Sire, this is a golden opportunity to clear his grudges!

Right. Let's help him a lot and show our battle flags.

Oh, no.

I don't want him to find out we're helping him.

Sire?

To clear their bitter feelings, we must show them who is helping.

Oh, no. It works better if they don't find out.

Why?

You want others to know what you did in a battle.

That's how you get a good reward and good impressions from others.

Why you don't want them to know...? Right, Kodama-dono?

Right. Samurai should try to save his name, not his...

Don't need it.

Listen.

Deploy the troops on the cliff now.

Let's go!

The Mori army, led by Katsura Motozumi and Kodama Naritada...

...followed Motonari's instructions.

They secretly lined up on the cliff behind the Kumagai army.

Don't back off!

KUMAGAI ARMY - We should go for now...

OUCHI ARMY

Attack!

Retreat! Reteat!

Retreat!

Retreat!

Now! Attack!

Attack! Go forward!

Don't back off!

The Ouchi suffered a bad setback because of the Mori's surprise attack.

Ouchi Yoshitaka withdrew.

Don't back off!!

KUMAGAI HEADQUARTERS

Sire.

Mori's Katsura Motozumi-dono is here.

Thanks for your job.

You did great.

Kumagai-dono.

We're impressed with your brave fight.

My lord admires you.

Thanks for your kind words.

This might not end like this.

So he wants you to give him any instructions again.

Thanks.

Excuse us.

Did he say...

..."again"?

Yes.

Sire.

Somebody covered us from behind. Aren't they the Mori?

Right, in apology for Motonari's killing the Great Lord...

...they must have helped me secretly.

He deserves your praises.

You did an outstanding job, too.

Thanks a lot.

You're always thinking about the Mori and working hard.

Thanks, my gratitude to you.

My gratitude to you. Drink as much as you want.

You can eat mochi (rice cakes), all right?

- Go ahead. - That's your third piece.

He didn't seem to have noticed our help.

I see.

Kumagai-dono is here!

Show him in.

Why it's Kumagai-dono.

I was amazed at your brave fight.

Motonari-dono, it's...

It really shows that your family has superhuman braveness.

- I would like to... - Oh, well.

By the way, Kumagai-dono.

Do you like sake?

Or mochi?

Well, Kumagai-dono.

Which do you like better?

Sake.

Really?

- Hey, Shiji. - Please.

Please drink as much as you want.

Sake is the chief of all medicine for sake lovers.

I have sake drinkers and lightweight drinkers in my clan.

To make everybody happy, I have to give them what they like.

This is what my lord always says to sake drinkers.

"Sake is good. It opens up your heart. It's the chief of all medicine."

This is what he says to lightweight drinkers.

"Sake isn't good. It triggers fights. It's the source of all evils."

During this battle, Kumagai Nobunao swept the slate clean.

Kodama Naritada's plan to clean Kumagai Nobunao's grudges...

...was beautifully realized by Motonari's smart strategy.

Please drink.

Father.

OUCHI'S HEADQUARTERS IN ITSUKUSHIMA - I'm ashamed of myself.

I was eager for achievement, I didn't listen to Okifusa and had a humiliating defeat.

I am very sorry!

So this is what battles are...

I learned the difficulty in the hard way.

I, Yoshitaka...

...wanted to live up to the Ouchi name...

...and wanted to be praised by you, Father.

That's why I jumped the gun.

Yoshitaka, well-done.

But I lost. I did nothing.

That's all right.

We lost because of the Mori's surprise attack.

If you won by a surprise attack like the Mori's, I would have been depressed.

Even the shogunate in Kyoto kneels down to us, the Ouchi.

The Ouchi should never do surprise attacks.

I am happier with something else you did. You know what?

I did nothing to make you happy.

You did. You kept me in your mind during the battle.

That's because you have acknowledge me. Can I think so?

Acknowledgement from sons brings the greatest joy to fathers.

Father.

From now on...

...I will learn everything from you...

...will take everything over from you...

...and will make the Ouchi become the ruler.

Anyway, Motonari is pretty good, huh?

GASSAN-TODA CASTLE (Izumo) - In the Ouchi's rival, the Amago, too...

AMAGO AKIHISA (Tsunehisa's Grandson) ...a younger generation started rising.

Excuse me.

Sire.

I managed to finish our attack on the Hoki provincial constables.

I had to be away from Izumo for a long time...

...and was feeling guilty for not being part of your campaign on Kanayama Castle.

But you made a great win.

Please accept my greatest pleasure.

Well-done, thanks.

Well, my get-tough tactics worked.

Sometimes, you need the energy of youth to steamroll a battle.

I, Akihisa, feel that my time has come.

Uncle, thank you for coming all the way from the Shingu (New Shrine) Valley.

AMAGO KUNIHISA (Shingu Party Head) - I was telling the lord that...

...you called me over.

Sire, Ahikihisa-dono has grown great.

He uses our Shingu Party to make new tactics and make the Amago stronger. How impressive.

Sire, the trend of the times is turning toward young generals.

Please leave the future of the Amago to me.

Akihisa-dono, you're saying too much!

It's too early for you to take the lord's position!

- Right! - I'm not trying to take his position!

The lord is 66-years-old. I just want him to take it easy.

Sire, the Shingu Party will work hard to help Akihisa-dono.

How dependable.

Your capture of Odaka Castle was impressive.

Sire.

I'm confident that I'm able to make the Amago stronger and bigger.

No need to worry. Please leave it to me.

The port of Yodoi in front of the Castle. Did you capture it, too?

Port?

No, I haven't.

Getting ports is the highest priority.

Castles come second.

Leave it to me? He needs 100 more years to learn!

You want to resume the match from yesterday?

Sire.

Once the king is taken, a shogi match is over.

You don't want the Amago to be over when you're taken.

Why don't you yield little by little to Akihisa and the young people?

Akihisa isn't ready yet.

You can let him make mistakes to learn.

You know?

I've been worrying all the time.

Speaking of the Amago, it's always Tsunehisa.

We have the Shingu Party and many outstanding vassals.

But it's always Tsunehisa when it comes to the Amago.

This is an unfortunate thing.

If the king of the first generation sparkles, his clan will be over in one generation.

Why don't you let Akihisa take over?

Why don't you train him?

Then, he should ask me to teach him, shouldn't he?

Go ahead and begin.

I quit.

KORIYAMA CASTLE (Aki)

We could win this battle with your back-up.

Please accept our sincere appreciation.

That's all what Kumagai-dono did.

We couldn't be of much help. We're very ashamed.

With this momentum, the Amago are trying to capture Ueishi Castle.

Akihisa-dono is asking Motonari-dono to go to battle with him.

Akihisa-dono? Not Tsunehisa-dono?

Right. We want you to go to battle immediately.

I'm sorry to say this, but we just came back from a battle.

We don't have enough personnel or money now.

Well.

We would be happy to help Amago-dono immediately, but...

...unfortunately, our Yoshida area is having a rice harvest season.

Unless we finish it, we cannot be of any help to him.

I don't really want to say this, but...

...for your future battles, please let us focus on harvesting rice.

Please tell so to Tsunehisa-dono.

I'll tell Akihisa-dono. I might send you another messenger.

As long as we are with the Amago,

we'll be used as their helpers forever.

Something seems to be going on in the Amago clan.

Uyama-dono and Kamei-dono used to come over for Tsunehisa-dono.

Now, Akihisa-dono and the Shingu Party come over.

The Amago won this time, but...

The Ouchi and the Amago's hidden thoughts over Aki started...

WINTER 1524 (Taiei 4) ...moving behind the scenes.

"The Mori-Ouchi Secret Negotiation Began." - Motonari-dono beat us up this time.

My lord said that's what Kumagai-dono did.

He's tough to deal with.

He was able to clear Kumagai-dono's long-held grudge that way.

Everybody knows Motonari-dono made the Ouchi withdraw.

Inoue-dono!

The Mori betrayed us again and sided with the Amago. It's unforgivable!

It's a piece of cake for us to attack Koriyama Castle today.

But the lord said, "Motonari-dono is too good to be killed."

Thank you for the kind words.

Inoue-dono, come closer.

If someone is too good to be killed, you should join hands with him.

What do you think?

It might be too early to side with the Ouchi.

But there seems to be something going on inside the Amago clan.

I heard Amago Akihisa is pretty strong.

What do you all think?

The Ouchi has been in power for 900 years. You cannot think lightly of it.

Naito-dono was desperately trying to win us over.

If we're siding with the Ouchi, now is the time.

I don't mean to be presumptuous, but...

...it is dangerous to side with the Ouchi.

Amago Kunihisa's Shingu Party is gaining its momentum.

I think the Amago's power is now getting closer to the Ouchi's.

Right, the main Amago army is only 30% of the Ouchi's, but...

...they might surpass the Ouchi with their mobility and ability to recruit.

What about you, Motozumi?

The Amago are... strong.

The Ouchi or the Amago?

We always sway between them.

Sire?

We'll side with the Ouchi.

Well.

Tsunehisa-dono has such greatness that I thought I could give in.

But I don't want to lose any more soldiers to fight "as his helper".

If...

If the Ouchi extend power over Aki in future...

...all the neighboring constables will side with them.

Before that happens...

Before that happens, we should side with the Ouchi.

Then, Yoshioki-dono will be pleased.

Now is the time for us to side with the Ouchi.

SPRING 1525 (Taiei 5)

Sire.

You're seeing the Ouchi gentlemen tomorrow.

You must look handsome.

- Look handsome? I don't care. - Sire.

A man should turn around and make 10 to 20 women faint one after another.

- All right? - I'm...

...not interested in other women.

Mii, how's this?

Look how handsome you are!

Sire.

A man, who makes 100 or 200 women faint one after another...

...loves only his wife.

This is the real joy of being your wife.

OUCHI HEADQUARTER IN ITSUKUSHIMA

Thank you for coming from Yoshida all the way to our headquarters in Itsukushima.

First, in celebration of the Ouchi and Mori's prosperity...

...shall we make a toast?

Motonari-dono.

I'm happy about your decision.

We would like you to guide us for many years to come.

Yoshitaka was just beaten by some anonymous army.

He ran away home.

But I think he had a good experience. What do you think?

Motonari-dono, you must be suspicious...

...if we really trust the Mori.

Oh...

No, I'm not...

You left us and sided with the Amago. It must be hard to answer.

I trust you.

In fact...

...I'm giving you fiefs.

Come closer.

Upper and Lower Fukawa...

Kabe, Nukushina and Kumura.

Thank you very much.

Let's wipe the slate clean and start on a new journey together.

In 1525 (Taiei 5),

the Mori left the Amago and become subject to the Ouchi again.

It was early spring when Motonari was 29-years-old.

Stand up.

Next.

What are they doing?

Who are you?

I'm Mori Motonari from Yoshida, Aki.

Mori Motonari?

You're a lord...!?

I just came out to sober up.

We're the Murakami Navy. We came to help Ouchi-dono for this battle.

Kame-dono is the guardian for our navy.

Those who are touched by her don't get hit by sword or arrow.

No.

Don't touch her, Shojumaru!!

Stop, Jiro!

Why...

Why do you know my childhood name?

End of Episode 18