Original subtitles

Mii...!!

Motonari and his wife Mii loved each other and lived together.

He loved Lady Sugi as his own mother. The two ladies died one after another.

Something started changing in his mind.

Motoharu, I'm going to adopt you away to the Kikkawa.

You're taking her clan, aren't you?

We're going to outsmart them.

With both mountainous and marine provinces, the Kikkawa and the Kobayakawa...

...the Mori will have two big strongholds.

Motonari had already sent Tokujumaru to the Kobayakawa.

He is trying to get the Kikkawa clan, too.

It was his ambition to build a monolith-like Aki.

Now, I can live as I like.

Motonari will be reborn as a great wartime military commander.

MORI MOTONARI

Episode 33: His Sharp Knife-Like Strategy

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

Fujino: Kaga Mariko

Mori Takamoto: Kamikawa Takaya

Inoue Motokane: Kataoka Tsurutaro

Akagawa Motoyasu: Nagashima Toshiyuki

Kodama Naritada: Masuoka Toru

Katsura Motozumi: Tsurumi Shingo

Shiji Hiroyoshi: Nakamura Baijaku

Mori Motoharu: Matsushige Yutaka Kobayakawa Takakage: Megumi Toshiaki

Inoue Harutada: Namase Katsuhisa Mimi: Nishina Fuki

Kunishi Motosuke: Sakamoto Akira Awaya Motochika: Shionoya Masayuki

Kikkawa Okitsune: Kyomoto Masaki

Kumagai Nobunao: Watabiki Katsuhiko

Amago Kunihisa: Shimizu Koji

Mukunashi Kagekatsu: Funaki Kazuo

Noda Jiro: Matoba Koji

Mitsu: Iwasaki Hiromi

Amago Haruhisa: Takashima Masahiro

Kobayakawa Shigehira: Takahashi Yuzuru Princess Ako: Mifune Mika

Kawazoe Hisanobu: Uesugi Shozo Kosanta: Nasa Kenji

Kikkawa Tsuneyo: Omori Hiroshi Oshio Uemonnojo: Ed Yamaguchi

Tasaka Zenkei: Ishiyama Yudai Hakura Akihira: Yoneyama Michifumi

Hotate Naomasa: Harada Yoshio

Produced by: Kida Yukinori

English Subtitles: Koala Fansubs

Directed by: Matsuoka Koji

Tenbun 16 (1547)

Hey, Mii.

Without you...

...I cannot support myself unless I fight risking my own life.

Hey, Mii.

To make the Mori more stable...

...I must use my own hands to build a new Aki.

I...

I must...

...personally unify Aki like a monolith.

Hey, Mii.

I'll...

...take your clan, the Kikkawa, for the Mori.

I'm...

I'm going to adopt Motoharu away.

How beautiful.

Here. How's this?

MIMI MORI MOTOHARU (Motoharu's Wife) (Motonari's Second Son)

Oh! There is another bud.

This one? Alright.

This has beautiful foliage, too.

Sire.

Flowers really are able to show the season's transition, aren't they?

Enough of transition. Hurry up.

I don't want people to see me picking flowers.

These are for our room, you know?

We're married. We must do all the fun things together.

I'm not having fun.

Ah, this is good, too.

See?

It's fragrant.

You're really getting along well.

Flowers suit you better than spears.

Somehow Mimi-dono started looking pretty.

Woman's face changes when she is loved my her man.

The only thing is that she wants to do everything together, but...

...she is really devoted to me.

Sire.

Sire.

I'll arrange these in our room.

Take this one, too.

See Ya.

The Great Lord will make Kikkawa his own.

The conflict between Okitsune-dono and Tsuneyo-dono is deepening.

The Great Lord will take this chance...

...to adopt you away in a breath.

- Please be prepared. - That's what I want.

Father is a demon now.

He is so dependable.

Did you find anything?

HOTATE MASANAO (Continental Trade Merchant) - Yes.

This is the record of iron trading related to a Kikkawa key vassal, Oshio Uemonnojo.

I secretly contacted an iron merchant in the Kikkawa fief.

I found out...

...that most profits have gone into Oshio's pocket.

I get it.

While Okitsune was at the Amago castle...

...Oshio was fattening his own wallet freely, doing so many bad things.

That's it.

Great Lord.

We can use this.

Tsuneyo's faction already decided to kick out Okitsune's faction.

They're waiting for our instructions.

If this can oust Okitsune and his faction...

...the Kikkawa will beg your permission to adopt Motoharu-dono, their previous head's grandson.

Things will turn out just as you want, Great Lord.

Father.

You can take the Kikkawa without bloodshed.

Motoyasu.

Naritada.

Send this proof to Tsuneyo immediately.

Drive Okitsune out.

Father, what are you going to do?

Hotate-dono.

Thank you for your hard work.

Hereafter, I would like you to handle all the businesses related to the Kikkawa.

Oh.

I didn't do a lot to help you.

Actually, I found out something unbelievable.

Iron mined in the Kikkawa fief is transported to Itsukushima through the Mori fief...

...and then, to Sakai, Ryukyu and Choseon by sea.

Oshio had Inoue-dono handle all the iron going through the Mori fief.

Inoue-dono was scraping off the commissions to the Mori.

Really!?

I'm going to arrest Inoue Motokane.

No, you cant.

- Then, we'll kill him. - No.

Our vassals won't remain silent.

You shouldn't belittle Motokane's power.

If you make a bad move, he'll fight back.

Then, our clan will break apart.

I'll make a move.

Wait for a while.

Until when?

Until the Kikkawa matter is settled.

KIKKAWA OKITSUNE'S MANSION - Sire.

Oshio is not doing any good for the Kikkawa's future.

KIKKAWA OKITSUNE (Kikkawa Clan Head)

KIKKAWA TSUNEYO (Anti-Okitsune Faction) - I want to talk it over with you today.

You're so childish, Tsuneyo.

"Okitsune-Tsuneyo conflict was deepening."

When I was gone at the Amago castle...

OSHIO UEMONNOJO (Pro-Okitsune Faction)

...the Kikkawa wouldn't have survived without Uemonnojo.

He was managing our clan as if it belonged to him!

MORIWAKI SUKEARI (Anti-Okitsune Faction)

He is the main culprit who tries to let our clan go down.

We cannot overlook his behavior anymore!

When you hold the fort...

...you cannot do your job just listening to everybody!

He is still trustworthy to me.

Sire.

Please read this.

That's the proof of Oshio's embezzlement.

- You still trust him? - Tsuneyo-dono.

Are you going insane?

I have no idea what that thing is!

Sire.

They're trying to frame me.

If you stand up for him, sire, you're guilty, too.

Your position will be at risk!

Uemonnojo...

Bastard!

Sire, you must take responsibility, too.

Are you going to kill me?

You are going to retire with Senboshi-sama.

The Kikkawa clan will have Mori Motoharu-dono.

Please retire without any worries.

Everything...

...was plotted by Motonari, wasn't it?

Okitsune was finally ousted from office.

KORIIYAMA CASTLE (Aki) - It's with the greatest pleasure that...

...things went as Tsuneyo-dono and Moriwaki-dono wished.

We came over to ask your permission to have Motoharu-dono as our head.

He's too good to adopt away, but...

...he is a grandson of the former head. Must be most suitable.

I'm counting on your assistance.

Thank you very much.

The Kikkawa and the Mori are deepening their friendship.

It is truly auspicious.

We are going now.

The coup d'etat was successful as Motonari wished.

By sending his second son as an adoptive son...

...he finally took the Kikkawa clan.

I'm going now.

Wait.

Motokane.

I have something to tell you.

About what?

We know everything.

What are you talking about?

We've been pretending not to see it for a long time.

Your highhandedness and embezzlement is not tolerable anymore.

What the heck is that?

Right?

What is the lord saying?

Sire.

What do you have as proof to accuse me...?

Silence!!

You were scraping off the commissions from iron trading, weren't you?

This is the proof!

I did business and made profits.

That was all for the sake of the Mori clan.

There are two sides to business.

The clan has acknowledged the way I do business.

When our clan sided with the Amago and lost the way of trading...

...I provided my own money, worked in a frenzy to protect the way of trading.

Now you're accusing me of illegan conduct and embezzlement.

How obnoxious!

You all know that, don't you?

During the battles at Arita Castle and Kagamiyama Castle...

...I provided a huge amount of money for the clan!

You all know that, don't you?

Don't tell me you don't know!

I am the Mori head now.

I cannot overlook your illegal conduct.

Retire now.

You're accusing me and telling me to retire.

The Mori doesn't need you Motokane.

We must be become a rock-solid monolith now.

While we have such a goal...

...worst of all is a vassal who thinks only about his own interest.

In my regime, you're not needed.

Retire.

Are you kicking out a vassal who's been serving since the head before last?

I'm kicking you out.

Retire.

Thus, Motonari accomplished his well-rehearsed purge of Motokane.

GASSAN-TODA CASLTE (Izumo) - Forward!

Advance!

To compete against the Mori, the Amago started making a new move.

AMAGO KUNIHISA (Shingu Party Head)

MITSU AMAGO HARUHISA (Haruhisa's Wife) (Amago Clan Head)

They are my handpicked vassals.

I am Kawagoe Hisanobu.

I am Tachihara Yukitaka.

I am Nakai Tsunaie.

Normally, people of our rank never get to see the Lord and Her Ladyship.

We are deeply touched by the fact that the lord chose us.

We will work hard for the lord throughout our lives.

We are honored to accept our duties.

It's obvious that Motonari masterminded Kikkawa Okitsune's retirement.

Motonari is a plotter.

To compete against the plotter, I chose smart men.

I cannot rely only on the Shingu Party's force forever.

It sounds like my father isn't smart because he leads the Shingu Party.

I guess the lord wants his own vassals.

Dumb people don't listen to you all the time.

You three.

Can do better jobs than the Shingu Party?

We'll do our best.

That's not what I'm asking.

Sire.

Do you really want to stay away from the Shingu Party?

Mitsu.

The lord must feel insecure with only the Shingu Party.

I am sorry.

They won't achieve any results now.

But I'll train them well...

...to become capable enough to replace the Shingu Party.

I'm not belittling the Shingu Party.

I'm just saying...

...a clan with many substitutes has the real power.

How's that, Kunihisa?

I said too much. You're right, sire.

Good.

My father's substitute? It's not something you can just make by training.

HEAD KOBAYAKAWA FAMILY (Nuta)

The Kobayakawa used to be a prestigious and powerful family of the Inland Sea.

However, some vassals at the head family, who want to maneuver the blind head Shigehira...

...are now trying oust Shigehira's key vassal, Mukunashi Kagekatsu.

Meanwhile, Tokujumaru, who was adopted into the branch family in Takehara...

...already reached manhood. He is now called Kobayakawa Takakage.

INOUE HARUTADA (Takakage's Aid)

I am sorry to be late.

Takakage-dono.

HAKURA AKIHIRA TASAKA ZENKEI (Anti-Shigehira) (Anti-Shigehira)

We asked you to come over, because we want Mukunashi-dono to retire.

Retire?

My shipment to Ming China has been missing.

Oh, that happens a lot in sea trade.

He ordered an expensive Chinese medicine that's supposed to cure the lord's eyes.

The missing shipment is our clan's treasures he sent to pay the price.

As a vassal, you naturally want to try anything that might cure the lord's eyes.

But...

...I am the one who sent the treasures against the opposition of the conference.

You lost the treasures and didn't get the medicine.

So you must retire.

Give me some time.

I'm looking for the shipment now. Please wait.

If you can't find it, you must retire!

No, he can't retire.

If I can't fulfill the responsibility, I promise to retire.

Takakage-dono, you witnessed everything.

Please do not forget what he just said.

I won't.

Something is fishy. Don't you think so?

I do.

They must be trying to kick out Mukunashi-dono.

They're probably hiding the shipment.

I'm going to write my father and ask for his advice.

So you want me to find the shipment?

That's right.

Sorry for troubling you all the time.

Takakage-dono made the right decision. I'm impressed with your son, Great Lord.

I, too, think the vassals are hiding it.

He's been perceptive since childhood.

He seems to have grown more dependable after going through hard times at a different family.

He asked Father's advice instead of moving on his own. Excellent job.

If I were him, I would have been charging ahead on my own.

That's what's good about you, Motoharu.

Your strong muscles are so dependable to me.

I have more than strong muscles, Father.

You and Takakage always do something incredible.

That makes you two look dependable, too.

I'll have someone look for the ship immediately.

Well, Great Lord.

What's that look for?

You're trying to take this chance to take the head Kobayakawa family, aren't you?

Ridiculous.

Hey.

Sire, what are you looking at?

Nothing.

What's wrong, sire?

Nothing.

I'm just feeling sad for some reason.

Because I'm not perceptive, and have no strong muscles.

You can give such jobs to your brothers.

You are kinder than them, sire.

You have dependable brothers, just like your father.

That is great.

What are you doing?

What a beautiful sky.

It's raining. Can't see anything.

Motozumi.

I wish I were like you.

Oh, thank you.

Idiot.

Not good at reading or writing. And you don't know how to read people's minds.

- What? - Hey.

Having a brilliant father and brilliant brothers...

...makes the lord feel terrible.

He is brilliant, too. But his father and brothers are too brilliant.

The Great Lord's retirement is just in appearance.

So the lord's heirdom has no meaning.

Having a kind heart is not easy at all.

I must help him manage the Mori together as soon as possible.

I should be on more alert against him.

Sounds like he is no match for the Great Lord but he can get control of the lord.

You think so?

He doesn't seem to be a bad person.

Katsura-dono.

I wish I were like you.

July 1547 (Tenbun 16)

Okitsune's power was taken away.

He already handed over power to the Mori's second son, Motoharu.

However, a harder command was given from Motonari regarding the place of retirement.

I came over as the Great Lord's representative.

I, Kumagai Nobunao, came with him, as a Mori friend.

On behalf of the Great Lord, I am going to tell you the place of your retirement.

"Fukawa, in the Mori fief".

Fukawa?

It's only 2 miles from my castle.

And 6 miles to the Mori's Koriyama Castle.

I'm looking forward to be better acquainted with you as your neighbor.

Now I see.

I'll be tucked between Kumagai-dono and Mori-dono.

Motonari-dono is pretty sharp.

I can't make any move between you.

And Fukawa is too far from the Kikkawa and the Amago's castles.

We came over just to convey the message.

Please excuse us.

Kumagai-dono.

The Mori took your ugly daughter as a bride.

Is that why you're being their puppet?

What a bad daughter she is.

Kikkawa Okitsune-dono.

We'll be expecting you to move over to Fukawa promptly.

Sire, we can't find the shipment.

Mukunashi-dono must take the responsibility.

Kagekatsu is innocent.

He put all kinds of treasures against our opposition.

That only makes him guilty.

I'll retire anytime, but the lord must...

I'll be staying with him all my life.

Sire!

I found the shipment!

Is that true?

Hotate-dono!

I am Hotate Naomasa, foreign trade merchant.

I know the Inland Sea like my backyard.

Where did you find the shipment?

Mukunashi-dono.

The ship was anchored by Kusuna Island.

I made the ship set sail. Please do not worry.

Actually, Motonari-dono asked me to find it.

Motonari?

This is the shipment documentation.

Please verify if it is the Kobayakawa's shipment.

Hotate-dono.

Thank you very much.

I did all I could, but I couldn't find it.

It's no wonder.

The island is off route.

I'm sure somebody ordered to hide it.

I continue to do my best working with the lord.

I guess you have no objection.

Sire, if by any chance Tasaka and others are taking the clan...

...I think you should leave the clan to Takakage-dono.

I don't like Takakage.

I don't like anybody, except for you.

- Shigehira. - Oh, Princess.

I like Takakage-dono.

Please take medicine, Shigehira.

PRINCESS AKO (Shigehira's Younger Sister)

"To protect the Kobayakawa clan and the blind head Shigehira..."

"Princess Ako must be engaged with Takakage," thought Mukunashi.

June 1548 (Tenbun 17)

Hey, come over to Grandpa.

In June 1548 (Tenbun 17)...

...Motoharu as the Kikkawa clan head and his wife Mimi had a healthy baby boy.

Hey, Mii.

Can you see him?

A cute boy was born into the Mori.

Can you see him?

Takamoto.

Your engagement must be finalized now.

Sorry that I kept putting it off.

Toshi-dono must be waiting, too.

I'm going to Yamaguchi right after the turn of the year...

...ask Lord Ouchi to acknowledge Motoharu as the Kikkawa clan head...

...seek Takakage's audience with him, and then, finalize your engagement.

Father, thank you very much.

Takamoto, congratulations.

I will get along with Toshi-dono like a real sister.

Well, marriage is great, you know?

Really?

Winter 1548 (Tenbun 17)

Thanks for waiting.

Now, what do you want?

Great Lord.

Please send me to Yamaguchi before you.

I'd like to go first and prepare to welcome you, Great Lord.

Since I have been a link with the Ouchi...

...I think I can be of some help.

If I retire like this, I just tarnish my twilight years.

I will feel better if I can help you at the end.

I, Inoue Motokane, served three lords of the Mori.

Please give me the last chance.

I beg you.

I understand.

Motokane, I want you to go there first.

Thank you very much.

OUCHI YOSHITAKA'S MANSION (Yamaguchi)

What?

You're gonna kill Motonari?

Right.

I came here before him, because I need your help, Jiro-dono.

I have grudges against Motonari, but I've never thought of killing him.

I'm not small-minded like that.

I know.

But, after the Kikkawa, he is trying to reach for the head Kobayakawa family.

The head Kobayakawa family?

Without soiling his hands, he takes advantage of family feuds...

...lets people fight against each other, and watches for a chance to take other clans.

He already got the Kikkawa with the same tactics.

And he just knocked a wedge in the head Kobayakawa family.

I can't believe it...

If this goes on, your navy will be taken in, too.

My navy isn't fragile like that.

Motonari and Takamoto will do anything to unify Aki.

Jiro-dono.

They accused me regarding iron trading and ordered me to retire.

I've been working hard to develop and grow business inside the Mori clan.

You know how I did it, don't you?

But the new head Takamoto rebuked me in front of everybody...

...and humiliated me.

Motonari is truly fearful now.

I won't be surprised if he swallows your navy with his unthinkable plot.

If you care about your navy, you'd better get rid of him.

We can try to kill him while he is in Yamaguchi.

That's the only way.

Jiro.

The Great Lord is going to Yamaguchi to ask Lord Ouchi to acknowledge Motoharu's inheritance of the Kikkawa...

...and make Takakage have an audience with the lord.

I will hold the fort, so everyone...

Excuse me, excuse me.

I am sorry to be late.

Takakage?

What are you doing here?

We are not going to Yamaguchi yet.

Oh, Great Lord and the Lord called me to make various arrangements.

Great Lord.

Lord.

It's been a long time.

Everyone!

You guys have grown younger since I saw you last.

That's great!

Well, I really missed this castle that I grew up in.

Takakage!

Be quiet.

Listen.

I'm counting on you on this trip.

Sire.

You have grown dignified as a clan's head.

I'll finalize your engagement, so please put yourself at ease.

You don't need to go. It's already finalized.

Don't be carried away!

Motoharu...

I haven't seen you for a while, and...

...you still talk straightforward.

I really missed that!

Great Lord.

I don't have to travel with them. I'm relieved.

I might run a fever on the road.

Takamoto, I heard Yamaguchi women are pretty.

Don't know.

I heard Toshi-dono is pretty, too.

- Be quiet. - I heard she's pretty.

- Takakage! - I want to see her!

Shut up!

You luck-pusher, Takakage!

Your voice is too loud.

- What's that about? - You're too tall.

Hey, you haven't seen each other for a while. Stop fighting.

- Why are you trying to stop us? - What?

Our argument was caused by you.

Caused by me? What do you mean?

I'll finalize your engagement, sire.

Shut up.

Leaving for Yamaguchi where Inoue and Jiro are waiting in the wings...

Motonari's fateful departure was approaching.

End of Episode 33