Original subtitles

We'll side with the Ouchi.

A New Diplomatic Strategy

When all the other Aki constables were with the Amago,

the Mori switched sides to the Ouchi.

They changed their diplomatic strategy, because...

...they wanted to expand their clout by joining the Ouchi, who were desperate to conquer Aki.

This strategy of Motonari's was called "En Ko Kin Ko."

It means, "Tying with far provinces to attack near provinces."

This strategy was originally invented in China.

With this diplomatic strategy,

Motonari wanted to tie with the Murakami Navy that controlled the Inland Sea.

His encounter with Kame, Torayoshi's daughter, gave him an unexpected chance.

However, things didn't seem to go as Motonari wanted.

I'll tear it and dump it!

If anybody puts the lord in danger, I'll tear her limb from limb!!

MORI MOTONARI

Episode 20: An Illegitimate Woman

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

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

Lady Aya: Azuma Chizuru

Ouchi Yoshitaka: Kazama Toru

Ouchi Yoshioki: Hosokawa Toshiyuki

Sue Takafusa: Jinnai Takanori

Noda Jiro: Matoba Koji

Kame: Hazuki Riona

Amago Akihisa: Takashima Masanobu

Hisa: Matsukane Yoneko Amano Okisada: Yamamoto Mitsu

Lady Sugi: Matsuzaka Keiko

Amago Tsunehisa: Ogata Ken

Produced by: Kida Yukinori

English Subtitles: Koala Fansubs

Directed by: Iso Tomoaki

Spring 1525 (Taiei 5)

Where was Tu Fu?

In the sixth year of his marriage, Motonari fell in love with someone else.

Kame, goddess of the Murakami Navy... - This will do!

...moved out of Innoshima Island, to stay with Motonari in Koriyama castletown.

Sire.

Are you going out?

I'm going out to check on the fields in my fief.

Didn't you see them yesterday and the other day?

Um... That's...

The fields are so precious to the Mori.

They are like my children, you know?

I'll be right back.

Chiyojumaru, Eno.

Be good, all right?

Got it?

I'm going now.

Fujino.

Fujino!

What do you think?

The lord has been acting funny.

Can you spy on him?

Mii-sama.

You finally made up your mind!

That makes me happy.

I'll find out anything for you.

Is he trying to side with the Amago without telling Ouchi-dono?

It's a girl.

Girl? He promised not to take any girlfriends or concubines.

But I guess that's now what men would do.

All the other lords have concubines and made children here and there.

I know that's the way it is these days, but...

He promised me!

Are you telling me to do an infidelity investigation?

I've trusted the lord.

Fujino.

Did I do anything wrong?

I might have made him feel lonely without realizing.

Fujino was always staying well-informed.

It wasn't hard for her at all to find out where Motonari went.

Look, Kame. This is a well-written poem.

I'll read it for you.

Listen.

"Though a country be surrendered hills and rivers still endure;"

"And spring comes again to trees and grasses"

"Where petals have been shed tears,"

"And lonely birds have sung their grief."

"Where petals have been shed tears,"

"And lonely birds have sung their grief."

My homeland, Innoshima, is a beautiful place, too.

KAME (Murakami Torayoshi's Daughter)

Waves... Quiet inland sea...

White sailboats come and go...

Golden tangerines sweeten ocean breeze.

But you left such a place, to stay with me.

It wasn't easy to carry those tangerines all the way for you.

Did you think I peeled it for you?

No.

I wouldn't do such a thing.

You said you love me, didn't you?

I don't take personal care of you, because I love you.

I know many women find joy doing such things.

But that's what housewives do.

If I start doing it, you'll get bored with me soon.

We should just tell each other something we don't know...

...while we laugh together and get mad at each other. Don't you think that's better?

Because I love you, Motonari-dono...

...I don't want you to get bored with me or I don't want to get bored with you.

He did such a thing...?

Mii-sama.

You should see that girl.

You have no men in your life. Don't talk like that.

Sorry.

I'm just upset.

I have no men in my life, but Sun Tzu said this.

"If you know your enemies and know yourself, you can win a hundred battles without a single loss."

Mii-sama.

Once you know your enemies, you're almost winning.

OUCHI ARMY

Meanwhile, Ouchi Yoshioki launched his campaign on Aki provincial constables.

He besieged Komeyama Castle that had switched sides to the Amago.

We're completely surrounded by the enemy.

AMANO OKISADA (Aki Provincial Constable)

Lord of Komeyama Castle, Amano Okisada, was cornered on the brink of defeat.

He secretly sent a messenger to the Mori, who was on the side of his enemy.

The Amano's Komeyama Castle is already surrounded by the Ouchi.

Their castle will be captured and they will all die in action.

Amano Okisada-dono secretly asked us to mediate a settlement with the Ouchi.

Why do we have to mediate?

We're with the Ouchi and they're with the Amago.

KATSURA MOTOZUMI - They should be defeated by Sue-dono.

INOUE MOTOKANE - Does mediation bring us any benefit?

I don't want to just spend money.

SHIJI HIROYOSHI Koriyama Castle needs to be repaired. We need money.

AKAGAWA MOTOYASU Sire, we should just crush the Amano.

What do you think?

Shiji.

Go between them. Start mediation immediately.

I already knew the Amano would ask me to do it.

Realizing this will be beneficial for the Mori.

I see.

KODAMA NARITADA We can make the Amano feel obliged, without fighting.

That's right.

"Tweet-tweet."

I just heard a nightingale in the garden. Did you hear that?

Grandpa.

Nightingales aren't around this season, you know?

Fukubara-dono.

You often mishear recently, don't you?

Well.

I did hear it.

I guess I'm getting old.

Now.

Who is it?

The lord lost his mother at a young age.

That's why he acts like a child to any woman.

Talking about music or poems is his way of acting like a child.

Girls misunderstand that as his love. It's so annoying.

He just wants to act like a child; he's not in love with you.

He's never acted like a child to me.

He doesn't have to, probably because he has Your Ladyship in his castle.

He can relax and act like a child with you.

You're making it easy for me.

Then, Kame-dono.

Please move into the castle as his concubine.

I don't want to cofine you in such a place and make you wait for the lord to visit you.

As a woman, I cannot overlook such a situation.

I'll make a room for you in the castle.

Please move into the castle, see the lord confidently...

...and be proud of having his child.

No, thank you.

If a man and a woman live together, they'll eventually get bored with each other.

What...!?

I'm just being happy to see him here.

Becoming his concubine means I have to see everything about him.

Once I know everything about him, he's just boring.

Same for the lord.

He'll get bored with me soon.

Oh, shoot! Kame!

I'm vexed!

He's never told me about music or poems.

I'm just taking care of his children!!

Great Lady! I'M SO VEXED!!

Calm down.

He's just tricked by a fox.

- I think he's tricked by a turtle (kame). - Hey.

Your Ladyship.

A man gets tricked by at least three female foxes during his life.

Three?

Where does that number come from?

That's what I think.

I was bewildered by a variety of lives a woman can have.

But I like living with the lord and his children.

Great Lady.

Are men attracted to women who are not homely?

Very well.

I'll see that Kame girl and tell her to break up with him.

No, you can't.

If you see her, everything will be messed up.

I don't think so.

You're an expert of love and relationships. I think you should see her.

Do you really think so?

All right.

I was Great Lord's concubine. I used to be one of the female foxes.

So I'm the only choice.

As a female fox, I can talk to another female fox.

NODA JIRO - I caught those fish for you, because...

...you probably don't get fresh fish in a place like this.

Kame-dono.

Why don't you go back to Innoshima with me?

Your father has been worried about you.

I'm not going home.

You are the goddess for the Murakami Navy.

By touching ships and swords, you can put divine spirits on us.

Let's go home.

I always pray for your victory and send my prayers through incense.

The fragrance of my incense must have reached your minds.

I'm not going home.

Are you in love with him that much?

Yes.

Kame, it's me.

Motonari.

Jiro.

I came here to take her back home.

Wait.

Give me a chance to explain.

You don't need to explain. I'm not going home.

Listen to this, Motonari.

The Ouchi, the Amago or any other clan needs the navy to win future battles.

But our navy will never become your allies.

We, the Murakami Navy, are proud warriors of the ocean.

Keep that in mind.

Excuse me.

Sugi-dono.

I am the lord's mother, Sugi.

I am Kame.

Lord is always being helpful to me.

I feel bad about the trouble I'm causing to Her Ladyship.

Her Ladyship?

Did you see my wife?

Yes.

She took her time to visit me.

Sugi-dono. I am Noda Jiro.

When I was little, my father was serving the Great Lord.

So you are Jiro? His son?

Oh, my. You've grown so much.

So you joined the navy?

Yes, her father saved me.

That's what it was.

Did you say you came to take her home?

Thank you for coming.

I'm going to stay here.

Sugi-dono, Her Ladyship made him such a fine lord.

I fell in love with the lord, who was polished by Her Ladyship.

You have no class, if you steal a man polished by another woman.

I don't want to degrade myself that much.

Stop talking selfish.

You already have no class, because you fell in love with a married man.

I cannot stop loving him.

That's right. How true.

You are right.

Motonari-dono.

I don't want to annoy Her Ladyship.

I'll be satisfied as long as I get to see you here. Please don't worry.

What a smart woman.

I feel like seeing myself when I was younger.

Kame.

Let me be honest.

I...

I do care about you.

But...

I care about Mii, too.

You don't mind that?

Motonari!!

How can you care about both of them!?

Stop, Jiro.

What he said really makes sense.

Same goes for me.

I might find one more man that I care about.

What a pioneering woman!

Kame-dono.

Good luck.

I have no courage to enter her room.

What should I tell Mii?

You and me both.

I said confidently, "I'm going to make her break up with him."

Everybody has concubines.

I'm the only one who has to be considerate to my wife.

It's your fault, sire.

It was your thoughtlessness to have promised not to make girlfriends.

I really thought so back then.

Orion's belt! How beautiful!

Orion's belt?

My father always said, "Orion's belt is the stars for the Mori."

I know...

...I should break up with Kame.

Children get upset when their fathers fall in love with other women.

When you were child, you hated me so much.

You stole my lip rouge and locked me up in a barn.

I wanted to choke you to death.

I don't want Chiyojumaru to feel that way.

Then, break up with her.

Jiro-dono is in love with her.

Jiro's brother died because of you.

If you steal her from him, you don't know what you're going to get.

I don't want to break up with her.

I...

...understand how my father felt.

He loved my mother and you.

He must have been torn two ways.

I understand him well.

Great Lord.

Your son has grown up to be such a selfish man.

He's just like you.

He is laughing, too.

Sugi-dono.

I'm sorry, but...

Do you mind if you see Mii with me?

None of my business.

A selfish man must clean up his own mess all by himself.

Mii.

Sorry I took so long.

- Chiyojumaru, were you being good? - Yes.

All right, good boy.

Hey, Mii. What are you doing?

I'm going home with Chiyojumaru and Eno.

Hey.

Why are you being mad?

That's what all the other lords are doing, right?

I hate men who break their promises.

I did play with her, you know.

So you just "played"?

Of course.

Men play with other women, to rediscover how good their wives are.

To a man, his wife always belongs to a different class.

You are special to me, Mii. You know?

Chiyojumaru, go and see Eno.

Here, come and play with me.

Thank you so much.

What made you approach that girl? What did you like about her?

You don't have to make a fuss over it.

What an ordinary answer from someone who talks about music and poems.

Well...

That's...

You get tired of eating rice soup every day and couldn't help eating a fresh fish...

Am I rice soup? Is that what you're saying?

- That's not what I mean... - Very well.

I'm going to play, too.

As a wife, I should rediscover how good my husband is.

A husband is special to a wife. You don't need to make a fuss over it.

I'll get a bowl of rice soup for you.

Hey, Mii.

I'm so sorry.

For Motonari, who couldn't tell the truth to Mii and couldn't break up with Kame...

...there was only one choice.

Kame, I thought it over last night.

Kame.

Can you move into my castle as my concubine?

After thinking and suffering, I realized that would be the best solution.

Kame.

Can you move into my castle?

I hate to be bound.

But you offered me that much.

That makes me happy.

I'll think it over.

You're making me happy.

KOMEYAMA CASTLE

Motonari, who mediated a conflict between the Ouchi and the Amano...

...concluded a military alliance with the Amano, to take them into the Ouchi side.

Gaining the enemy over without fighting...

Motonari's plan hit a jackpot.

SUE OKIFUSA (Ouchi Retainer)

Motonari-dono, you've become a remarkable general.

It was the day when Kame would give him an answer.

Kame.

Um...

Kame left me...

Mii.

I beg you.

Forgive me.

I'll make it a joke, only this time.

- Is that because I confessed? - No.

Because you got burnt.

Men and kids are the same.

They learn things only by getting hurt.

Sire, you will never do it, will you?

- Maybe. - Sire!

I was kidding.

THREE YEARS LATER

Three years have passed.

When the Ouchi was in the final stage of conquering Aki...

OUCHI HEADQUARTERS (Itsukushima)

...Yoshioki summoned Motonari and other generals from front line, to tell them of an important decision.

So you were here, Father.

Everybody is waiting in the grand hall.

What is the matter, sir?

We were surprised because you often summoned us while we were attacking Shirai.

What is it?

Well.

I'm withdrawing from here. I'm going back to Yamaguchi.

What did you say, Father?

You don't think we already achieved our goal of conquering Aki.

We've been here for four years, to attack Aki.

With Sir Mori's help and Okifusa's hard work...

...most constables in Aki and the surrounding provinces came back to my side.

OUCHI YOSHITAKA (Yoshioki's Heir) - That's why we should take...

...this chance to crash the Amago now.

- Motonari-dono. - Yes, sir.

I want you to take care of our campaign on Aki.

Father.

We're all going home. I'm counting on you.

- Wait, Chiyojumaru. - Stop it.

KORIYAMA CASTLE (Aki) - Motonari returned to his family after being gone so long.

However, he was concerned why Yoshioki, who had dreamed of conquering Aki...

...changed his mind all of a sudden.

Sire, are you listening?

Sire.

Lord Ouchi went home suddenly.

Don't you think something is weird?

I do.

Going home now must have been against his wish.

If he has something else in mind, another battle might break out.

We should enjoy spending time together now.

Eno!!

How dare. I won't let you go.

Chiyojumaru, back me up.

Stop, you three!

OUCHI YOSHIOKI'S MANSION (Yamaguchi)

How strange of you. You've never wanted to view plum blossoms with us.

I might have come home just to view the plum blossoms with you two.

What's making you say something elegant like that?

While everything is wilted by cold, like black-and-white brush paintings...

...plums always bloom first.

They resemble the Ouchi family, for some reason.

They are strong, beautiful and fragrant.

I hope our family will remain like that forever.

LADY AYA (Yoshioki's Wife)

Spring breeze.

"Spring breeze blows, and plum trees endure night under the eaves."

"Their magnificent branches resemble my exalted father."

Yoshitaka.

Father.

He came home and viewed plum blossoms...

...probably because he knew he was dying.

He didn't tell anyone about his deteriorating health...

Father.

Ouchi Yoshioki, the most powerful daimyo lord in Western Japan...

...ended his 52-year-long life.

Takafusa!! How rude of you!!

I'm sorry.

I couldn't help it, because I saw such an inordinate number of plum branches.

I haven't trained him properly. Please forgive me.

My father wants the Ouchi to become like plums.

What the lord really wants is the rulership.

SUE TAKAFUSA (Okifusa's Second Son, Later Known as Harukata)

I, Sue Takafusa, will assist Yoshitaka-dono...

...and make him rule this country!

Yoshitaka-dono.

My son is like a wild boar, who doesn't think where he is.

But, please use him for any aim.

GASSAN-TODA CASTLE (Izumo)

Ouchi Yoshioki's death was instantly reported throughout Western Japan.

Sire, I looked for you all over.

What are you doing?

Look.

Beautiful sea bream, isn't it?

Ouchi Yoshioki made a new start in another world.

In truth, I'm celebrating a new start in my own life.

Now is a chance to attack the Ouchi. Is that what you're saying?

Sire.

AMAGO AKIHISA (Tsunehisa's Grandson) - Yoshitaka will probably take over the Ouchi.

A hardliner called Sue Takafusa will join his brains.

I heard this guy is really good.

But I'm confident, too.

Sire.

The Mori lost the backing. Now is our best chance to attack them.

I, Akihisa, will make a strategic plan immediately.

Make sure...

Make sure to be extra careful.

I will.

Yoshioki.

Is there anything delicious in nirvana?

Lord Ouchi is gone. We lost his backing.

It's only a matter of time before we become the Amago's target.

You should prepare yourself for the worst.

As the proverb goes, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained."

Stop being weak-hearted.

Stop being weak-hearted.

That's right.

You're right.

End of Episode 20