Original subtitles

I'm going to attack Koriyama Castle head-on,

leading the entire Amago army.

In August of 1540 (Tenbun 9),

the famous siege of Koriyama Castle began.

It was one of the three greatest battles of Mori Motonari.

Amago Akihisa's 20,000-man army was counterattacked...

�by the only 1,200-man Mori army.

A head-on confrontation would give Motonari no chance of winning.

The Mori had only one choice to survive.

With reinforcements from the Ouchi,

the Mori could fight off the Amago.

If they couldn't get reinforcements, however,

the castle would be captured by starvation tactics.

Sue Okifusa has died.

Since the Ouchi lost their mainstay, they cannot afford to help the Mori.

Koriyama Castle was on the ragged edge.

The Mori clan was about to have the biggest crisis.

MORI MOTONARI

Episode 24: Showdown at Koriyama Castle

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

Mori Takamoto: Kamikawa Takaya

Inoue Motokane: Kataoka Tsurutaro

Akagawa Motoyasu: Nagashima Toshiyuki

Kodama Naritada: Masuoka Toru

Katsura Motozumi: Tsurumi Shingo

Fukubara Hirotoshi: Sasano Takashi

Shiji Hiroyoshi: Nakamura Baijaku

Watanabe Kayou: Katsumura Masanobu Hisa: Matsukane Yoneko

Kunishi Motosuke: Sakamoto Akira Awaya Motochika: Shionoya Masayuki

Kosanta: Nasa Kenji Shojumaru: Ando Kazushi Tokujumaru: Tomita Shigeo

Ouchi Yoshitaka: Kazama Toru

Amago Kunihisa: Shimizu Koji

Kikkawa Okitsune: Kyomoto Masaki

Toshi: Otsuka Nene

Sue Okifusa: Natsuyagi Isao

Sue Takafusa: Jinnai Takanori

Kame: Hazuki Riona

Amago Akihisa: Takashima Masanobu

Uyama Hisakane: Isobe Tsutomu Kamei Hidetsuna: Kawahara Sabu

Lady Sugi: Matsuzaka Keiko

Amago Tsunehisa: Ogata Ken

Produced by: Kida Yukinori

English subtitles: Koala Fansubs

Directed by: Matsuoka Koji

In August 1540 (Tenbun 9),

to conquer Koriyama Castle,

Amago Akihisa led a 20,000-man army with the Shingu Party and Kikkawa Okitsune ...

... heading southward on the Iwami Road.

We have ...

... no other choice than taking refuge in the castle.

Until the Ouchi army comes,

we'll hole up in the castle.

The Ouchi army won't come.

There's no chance of winning. We must make peace and avoid fighting.

Then, Takamoto-dono's head will be chopped off!

That's how war-torn eras are.

Inoue-dono!

You're putting it too bluntly!

Okay, okay.

You're right. It'll work out if the Ouchi army comes.

But the thing is, if we can hold up until then.

The Amago army is too large for the size of their provisioning and logistics troops.

Small logistics troops, huh?

Yes, because we just finished harvesting rice.

So they're relying on that?

I think so.

I see.

-- KORIYAMA CASTLE -- -- (Aki) --

Sire.

We'll keep our people in the castle.

Why is that, sire?

We have 3,000 people.

They don't fit in here.

If we take everybody in, it'll be dangerous, even if they're from our fief.

It'll be easier for spies to mingle in.

Ridiculous.

The Amago want rice from Yoshida Village.

This is a kind of tactic.

Our people will come here with as much food as they can carry.

Furthermore, we'll get 3,000 extra soldiers.

True.

True.

The Amago must be trying to loot food from our people.

What's more, they want to use our people as porters.

Listen.

If our people come here with as much food as they can carry,

it'll be an absurd miscalculation for the Amago.

I see.

Post the proclamation in the castle town.

Tell all our people to stay in this castle.

Got it?

Hurry up.

Motonari's tactics of keeping all the people in the castle ...

... was something that nobody expected.

But it was a huge and dangerous gamble.

What a lively battle!

Moo-moo, quack-quack.

If we're going to die, we'd rather have a lively party.

This isn't good.

Battles are determined by the will to fight.

In the midst of Moo-moos and quack-quacks,

how can we fight the Amago's 20,000?

We're not fighting.

We're dying.

Right.

We're dying merrily.

Shut up!

Everybody is getting ready to fight.

How can you believe our death?

20,000 soldiers are coming. We're destined to die.

Since that's our destiny, we should stop struggling. We should just enjoy.

That's the right path of a human.

Fighting to the end without quitting is the right path of a human.

Fujino-dono.

Starting today, I want you to confine yourself in your room.

Please stay in your room.

Why is that?

Because I'm in communication with the Kikkawa,

I'm supposed to be beheaded.

Please don't worry.

Let's go.

Thanks.

Is everyone all right?

Everyone.

Oh, sire.

You'll feel cramped here, but I want you to stay strong.

You're protecting us. We appreciate it.

We won't lose to the Amago!

Everyone.

We'll never lose.

Don't worry.

The Amago army went southward on Iwami Road,

and set up camp behind Koriyama Castle, on Mt. Kazakoshi.

-- AMAGO HEADQUARTERS -- -- (Mt. Kazakoshi) --

-- AMAGO KUNIHISA (Shingu Party Head) -- - We, the Shingu Party, will show our real strength.

-- KIKKAWA OKITSUNE (Kikkawa Clan Head) -- - Akihisa-dono.

If you capture Koriyama Castle, please give it to me.

-- AMAGO AKIHISA (Amago Clan Head) -- - Good.

I'll give it to you, Okitsune.

Our real enemy is Ouchi Yoshitaka.

Koriyama Castle is a mere stepping stone.

I'll capture it in no time.

Sire.

This is major.

There are no people in their castle town. Not even a single mouse.

What?

Search it!

Bring the torch.

In search of food, the Amago army broke into houses in Koriyama's castle town.

But they got nothing.

They just set fires.

-The Amago are nothing! -That's right!

Hey, look!

My house is burning!

What? My house is burning harder!

Keep burning!

Sire.

Nobody is upset.

They're full of energy.

The Amago are just 'unkaku'.

'Unkaku' means 'guests from Izumo.'

They're just 'unkaku' !!

What a lively, enjoyable battle!

Let's join them.

Fukubara-dono.

"Amago-dono, from Izumo, is unkaku."

"Drag them down and run over them." That's how the song goes.

Motozumi.

The Amago will make a move to get food.

I'll leave Tsurugiri to you.

Yes, immediately.

Let's go, Kayou.

The enemy!

The enemy!

Retreat!

The Mori cut the enemy's food supply lines.

It was their tactic to weaken the Amago's strength.

Back then, these tactics were called "passage cutting."

The Mori engaged in cutting supply lines and harrying the Amago army.

-- OUCHI YOSHITAKA'S MANSION -- -- (Yamaguchi) --

But this game was in the hands of Ouchi Yoshitaka in Yamaguchi, Suo.

It is a petition from my father, Motonari.

-- OUCHI YOSHITAKA -- -- (Most Powerful Daimyo in Western Japan) --

Sire.

Please send your troops to the Mori.

Please, we beg you.

Motonari-dono is holding on well.

-- SUE TAKAFUSA -- -- (Ouchi Vassal) --

-- MORI TAKAMOTO (Motonari's First Son) -- -Thank you.

If you help us, we'll win for sure.

Very well.

Sire.

I'll send troops now.

Wait.

I'm not going to help them.

Our goal is Kyoto.

I don't want to lose my soldiers before that.

Sire.

If the Mori loses, the Amago will take Aki.

If you lose Aki, you'll lose the San'yodo Highway. Your path to Kyoto will be cut.

But I don't lose my soldiers if I don't help them.

Are you going to leave the Mori to die?

Other provinces will give up on the Ouchi.

They would think, "The Ouchi won't help us if we're in trouble."

I see.

I'll send troops.

But keep them at Hofu.

Are you sending them, just for form?

Sire.

Please rethink your plan to go to Kyoto.

First, you must forge solid footing.

Don't go to Kyoto.

-- SUE OKIFUSA -- -- (Takafusa's Father) --

If you show him Kyoto, the Ouchi go down!

Don't go to Kyoto...

The Ouchi army left Yamaguchi,

but they stayed in Hofu. They didn't try to go to the Inland Sea.

Why aren't his troops advancing?

-- TOSHI (Naito Okimori's Daughter)-- -They will, for sure.

I'm sure.

You're too naive.

The lord wants to go to Kyoto. He doesn't want to lose his soldiers.

He was going to keep his troops in Hofu, from the beginning.

No.

He said they can't go further because they don't have boats.

They're waiting for the navies to work with them.

-- KAME -- -I'm from a navy, so I'll never be tricked.

I've never heard of something like that.

He's helping your clan, just for form.

He may not look it, but he's not naive at all.

Motonari-dono often whines.

He whines while he thinks about something scary. That's why I like him.

Just wait and see.

Motonari-dono won't die like this.

--KORIYAMA CASTLE -- -- (Aki) --

The Amago are coming!

They're coming!

After recovering, the Amago army approached the castle.

They were about to launch a concerted attack.

Aim!

Loose arrows!

Go!

The Mori, with their people in the castle, fought well.

They held against the Amago attacks.

With support from Amano Okisada and the other constables on the Covenant,

they succeeded in repulsing the Amago's grand army.

Retreat!

We won!

The Amago sustained enormous damage and retreated.

-- AMAGO HEADQUARTERS -- -- (Mt. Mitsui, Aoyama) --

Sire.

-- UYAMA HISAKANE -- -- (Amago Army Staff) --

You should launch an all-out attack tomorrow morning.

I'll go for starvation tactics.

No, you can't!!

You must capture the castle before the Ouchi move.

Uyama-dono.

The Ouchi won't move from Hofu.

We'll take our time attacking the Mori.

Sire.

If you push or hold back at a wrong time, you'll lose a winning battle.

Now is the time for you to push.

-All-out attack, sire! -No.

I'll go for starvation tactics.

If the battle prolongs, they'll run out of food, because they have their people in the castle.

Their people will harm the Mori.

I'll wait until Motonari gets tired of holing up in the castle.

-- Fall 1540 (Tenbun 9) --

Two months passed.

Same for the western storage.

If we feed the people less, we'll be fine.

It'll be an uproar then.

What can we do?

Shall we kick out noncombatants, such as women and children?

That's too...

Then, what can we do?

Hold on.

Wait for your turn.

Hope we can get it.

Thank you so much!

Thanks, everyone!

Here.

I'll do it.

Here.

What?

Don't waste your strength!

Be patient!

Repeat.

"Wa Ga Yo Ta Re So, Tsu Ne Na Ra Mu."

"U Hi No O Ku Ya Ma, Kyo Ko E Te." Repeat.

You missed a stroke here. Got it?

-Sire, sire. -Hey.

Sire.

Sire.

I'm hungry.

Be patient.

If they capture our castle...?

We'll get killed.

I don't want to die.

Looks like the Ouchi are going to leave us to die.

If the Amago take time like this, we have no chance of winning.

Sire.

You should make Takamoto-dono prepared.

You wretch!

Wait.

How much food do you have?

It won't last 10 more days.

But the people dug wells, so we have plenty of water.

With that water, we can hold about 20 days.

Sire!

Please give me your soldiers!

I'll thrust into the enemy headquarters!

Calm down.

Their headquarters is in front of us. The other way.

-I know it!! -Quiet.

They're even more well-guarded at night-time.

Oh, well.

To be honest, I'm knocked out this time.

But...

Strangely, every time the lord faced dangers before,

he came up with a strategy nobody could think of.

We should make a wish to him, instead of God.

I can't wait to see what kind of idea he'll come up with this time.

I'm ashamed.

I don't have any good idea now.

500 ken (half a mile) to the enemy headquarters.

I wonder if we can manage to go 120 ken (240 yards).

There's nothing to hide here.

They can have full view from their picket lines.

I want to approach this far without being found by them.

It won't work, I guess.

Fog.

Ah, fog is coming.

Shojumaru, let's go and play.

Let's go and play.

Hey, Grandpa.

Sire.

As your wife, I would like to tell you how everyone is feeling.

The Ouchi army is coming.

-Calm down. -Sire.

Don't tell me you're going to yield to the Amago and make Takamoto-dono die.

20,000 soldiers surround us.

Are we just waiting to die? No other plan?

Can you find a way to move the Ouchi soldiers from Hofu?

The Ouchi army is coming.

Rather than making a bad move, we should stay in a nutshell and...

...find a way not to be smashed.

You're always like that, sire.

When it comes to this,

we should come out swinging and die fast!

Hey, Shojumaru.

Let's go and play.

Shall we, Grandpa?

Let's go and play.

Sire!

He irritates me.

Yeah, it's bad for the husband and wife to stay together all the time.

Since we holed up in the castle, I've been thinking a lot.

After the lord retires, he stays in the castle every day.

I can't stand it.

You don't need to worry about that.

Because we'll die soon.

After we die, I hope the lord is healthy but usually out of the house.

-- WATANABE KAYOU -- -- (Late Suguru's First Son) --

Hey Grandpa.

When one dies, what do you think he thinks?

I'll live forever.

I'm going to hell soon.

Takamoto and my people...

I'm supposed to take all the blame.

Even small children before the age of reason...

...might be starved to death.

You're not wrong.

Everyone is happy.

I know it.

Shojumaru.

Play with me.

Shojumaru, huh?

Grandpa is here.

I'm here.

I'm here.

Follow my claps.

Hey.

Grandpa.

Grandpa, Grandpa.

You're not wrong.

Fog!

Fog's coming!

Fog...?

Fog!

Motonari's long-awaited mountain fog covered the Aki mountains in the morning.

Good.

Sire!

Are you...?

-I'm going to battle. -Please wait.

It's better to die here, rather than being killed out there!

I'm going out.

Sire! Don't go out!

Sire!!

Hurry up!

Move it!

250 years ago,

our ancestors moved here all the way from Bando.

This is the mountain fog that has protected us in Yoshida since our ancestor's times.

With the fog's help, I'm going to attack the Amago headquarters.

Everyone.

Thanks for...

...having worked so hard until today.

I'm telling you this, in case I don't come back alive.

I let everyone in my castle, because...

...I wanted to trick the enemy and give myself an edge in this battle.

I...

I...

...didn't try to protect you.

But you...

You dug wells,

fixed armor,

helped us,

and gave us courage.

As our refuge prolonged, you must have suffered so much.

Everyone.

Thank you...

Thanks for having fought with us.

I appreciate it.

I appreciate it.

Now is the time for me to repay you.

I'm going to battle.

Sire!

-Sire! -We're counting on you!

Let's go!!

-- AMAGO HEADQUARTERS -- -- (Mt. Mitsui, Aoyama) --

Get Akihisa's head!!

Motonari thrust deep into the enemy headquarters and threatened Amago Akihisa.

But the Shingu Party fought back. He had to retreat.

Open the gate!

The lord returns!

Sire!

Sire!

Sire, I'm happy to see you alive.

Hurray!

By going to battle himself, Motonari lifted the spirits of his vassals and people.

They're overjoyed.

But there's nothing I can do now.

Sorry.

I'm...

...a man of this level, after all.

The Ouchi have given up on me a long time ago.

Without their help, my castle will be captured.

And we'll die.

Sire.

It was good that we had sent Takamoto as a hostage.

Even if we get all killed here by the Amago,

Takamoto won't die. He's in Yamaguchi.

The Mori lineage won't end.

Sire.

Sending Takamoto as a hostage was a magnificent decision.

One hostage for every household. That's the secret.

Mii.

I'm proud of you and Takamoto.

"Dear Father and Mother,"

"I apologize for dying before you."

"From Shonotaro Takamoto"

Stop!

What are you doing?

If I die, my father can surrender to the Amago!

My father is better than me, in all aspects.

If I die,

it'll do good for the Mori!!

Please let me die!

Follow me!

Excuse me!

What is it?

Sire.

Please send me to help the Mori.

Sue-dono...

Let me tell you, at the risk of being beheaded.

Sire, you're trying to go to Kyoto.

Aren't you desperately trying to surpass your late father?

I, Takafusa, feel the same way.

By going to Kyoto, I wanted to fulfill my father's unfinished dream...

...and thrust my accomplishment under his nose.

But, sire.

Sons cannot surpass their fathers.

Even if you do better job than your father,

your father's blood in your body did it.

Rather than struggling to surpass your father,

you should always proceed by talking to him all the time.

That's what I realized for the first time, after I lost my father.

Sire.

Please chop my head off.

I want...

I want my father to surrender now.

I want to let him go.

Takamoto-dono is always talking to his father, too.

Sire!

I see.

Takamoto is the only one who still has his father.

I envy him.

Advance the army!

Yes, sir!

The 15,000-strong Ouchi army, led by Sue Takafusa...

...finally moved.

So the Ouchi moved?

Let's go!

In January 13, 1541 (Tenbun 10),

the allied force of the Mori and the Ouchi had a showdown with the Amago.

Please retreat, sire.

Our soldiers are exhausted.

It's reckless to fight the Sue army.

We're 20,000-strong!

Sue is nothing.

If our escape route is blocked, it's dangerous.

Sire.

It takes courage to retreat.

Right.

-If the Mori block our escape... -Good!

You can all go home!

I'm going myself!

Out of the way!

Please retreat!

I'll take the rear.

Please protect the lord.

Please.

Checkmate.

The Amago finally started retreating.

Loose arrows!

The Amago general Uyama Hisakane took the rear, trying to prevent the Mori marching.

Die!!

The bishop died...

Welcome home.

Congratulations, sire!

Hurray for the Mori! Hurray for the lord!

Hurray for the Mori! Hurray for the lord!

Hey, let me down.

Grandpa.

Grandpa...

Grandpa.

Grandpa...

He looks like Buddha.

Buddha died surrounded by rabbits, bears and so many others.

Fukubara-dono.

You died like Buddha!

Grandpa!!

Fukubara-dono.

The Mori will never die.

Please watch us.

End of Episode 24