Original subtitles

Mori's key vassals at the clan's conference.

They had their own castles and vassals, too.

The Mori clan was an alliance of independent lords.

The Mori clan's head was coordinating them.

He didn't have enough power to ignore his vassal's voices.

As the Mori became more powerful in Aki...

...the clan's head started growing in strength.

We used to hear everything.

After Takamoto-dono becomes the head, he moves everything without asking us.

Inoue Motokane, a veteran vassal who served the Mori from Motonari's father's times...

...was taking the clan's head lightly. He finally tried to assassinate Motonari.

During the last 30 years after Motonari took over the Mori clan...

...Motonari allowed Motokane to act high-handedly.

But he had to make a grave decision now.

That means he had to make a vast change to the relationship between the Mori clan and its vassals.

MORI MOTONARI

Episode 35: The Last Traitor

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

Lady Toshi: Otsuka Nene

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

Sue Takafusa: Jinnai Takanori

Kikkawa Okitsune: Kyomoto Masaki

Naito Okimori: Onodera Akira

Ouchi Yoshitaka: Kazama Toru

Noda Jiro: Matoba Koji

Amago Kunihisa: Shimizu Koji

Amago Haruhisa: Takashima Masahiro

Fukubara Sadatoshi: Ishihama Akira Hirasa Nariari: Sato B-saku

Kunishi Motosuke: Sakamoto Akira Awaya Motochika: Shionoya Masayuki

Mimi: Nishina Fuki Kiyo: Shibata Rie

Kikkawa Tsuneyo: Omori Hiroshi Sagara Taketou: Shirai Akira

Kazawa: Nakahara Kazuhiro Terabatake: Matsui Norio

Lady Sugi: Matsuzaka Keiko

Produced by: Kida Yukinori

English Subtitles: Koala Fansubs

Directed by: Kobayashi Takeshi

May 1549 (Tenbun 18)

Inoue-dono poisoned it?

Is that what you're saying?

Father!

You should kill him immediately!

I exceptionally agree with Motoharu this time.

He hasn't sent his troops and hasn't completed his duties on castle renovations.

And he embezzled.

Great Lord pretended not to see anything.

But his food was poisoned. He has a good reason to kill him.

No, it's not the time for that.

What are you saying, Father?

This is the time!

He will learn from this mistake and make another plot for sure.

It'll be too late then!

Motoharu is going to the Kikkawa. After that, you'll be in more danger.

Takakage.

I...

...am not going to kill him hastily.

Everything...

...should be done when the time is right.

Father.

You have an idea, don't you?

I poisoned the food, but...

...Motonari isn't aware of that.

Are you sure?

Great Lord appears to be oblivious, but he is pretty wakeful.

No.

He's not aware of that.

I killed the ninja who poisoned the food.

But...

...we should stop doing this, trying to kill Motonari-dono.

We'll be in danger.

I was ordered to retire.

My life has ended.

When I think of that...

...I keep having dreams of my parents.

Every parent expects something from his newborn baby.

He thinks, "My baby might achieve something great."

I just ended up being a man...

...who was ordered by someone to retire.

Most people cannot leave their names.

Only a handful of them can do it.

I will kill Motonari for sure.

I cannot stand atop even if I can kill him.

But I'm going to kill him.

Do you want to die, Master?

At least, I want to have a brilliant death.

OUCHI YOSHITAKA'S MANSION (Yamaguchi)

Christians, huh?

I cannot imagine what kind of people they are.

- Sounds interesting though. - Yes.

Did you want to see me, sire?

Takafusa.

Christians are crossing the ocean now to see me.

Probably, their ship is loaded with paintings and treasures from Espana...

...things that nobody has ever seen.

Taketou.

Come to my room.

Let's find out on the map where Espana is located.

Takafusa, Okimori.

Come with me.

There is nothing we can say to him.

Takafusa.

Naito-dono.

Leave.

Naito-dono.

I made up my mind.

I already told Jiro.

We must have a different clan's head. Otherwise, the Ouchi cannot survive.

Sue-dono.

You're wrong.

We must just kill the apple-polishing Sagara.

Then, you must work as the lord's close aide to change his thoughts.

Treason never achieves any good results.

I thought so, too.

That's why I gave him lots of candid advice.

You saw that.

But...

...I realized.

It's not all Sagara-dono's fault.

That's just the lord's nature.

As long as he is the clan's head...

...the Ouchi is getting worse.

I'm not an Ouchi member.

But I think Takafusa is right.

If Lord Ouchi was the navy head...

...I would have killed him a long time ago.

You two see everything in black or white, because you're young.

You should remember there is grey between the two colors.

In this world...

...grey things often bring the best and gentlest results.

Powerless clans can choose grey to survive.

But we're the Ouchi.

We're supposed to prosper for the next 1,000 and 2,000 years.

We need a difference clan's head.

Let's go.

Great Lord.

I just reported to Her Ladyship's Buddhist altar.

This is Toshi.

She is the lady of Koriyama Castle now.

I'm counting on your help, everyone.

LADY TOSHI (Takamoto's Wife) - My name is Toshi.

I secretly visited Lady Mii in this castle when she was ill in bed.

It brings up memories now.

Please guide me for many years to come.

Gentlemen.

I am her maid. My name is Kiyo.

KIYO (Toshi's maid)

I have raised her like that since she was little.

Kiyo!

Toshi-dono.

From now on, many things will happen to the Mori.

Stay calm no matter what happens...

...and keep supporting Takamoto.

Yes.

No matter what happens, I'll help him feel secure when he fights.

I'd like to support him without being seen.

I'll learn unfamiliar things one by one...

...and I am determined to make this castle a peaceful place for him.

Did you hear that, Takamoto?

She is the first feminine woman in the Mori clan.

Yes.

I had never heard a Mori woman saying...

..."help someone without being seen" or "making the castle a peaceful place."

I am moved.

How true.

All the Mori women want to fight with spears.

Great Lord!

I want this spear.

Um... that's...

Oh, Your Ladyship!

It's been a while.

After I move to the Kikkawa, I want Motoharu-dono to teach me...

- You can't take this. - Sire.

Excuse me.

Great Lord.

Please watch him for a while.

I'm checking our stuff.

But he keeps bothering me.

Oh, Your Ladyship?

MIMI (Motoharu's Wife)

I am Motoharu's wife. My name is Mimi.

Mori men are all kind.

So women can relax here. Please do not worry.

Excuse me.

Excuse me.

They relax too much, don't they?

Come with Grandpa.

What's wrong?

Let me see.

This is how we are.

Did you want to see me?

I wanted to talk with you in private, too.

Shiji.

I...

...have no intention of killing only Inoue Motokane.

I'm going to kill every man in his clan.

What did you say?

As long as there is a man like Motokane, who acts as he pleases...

...and even poisons someone's food...

...the Mori clan cannot become a monolith.

But that's all done by Motokane only.

His clan's members are acting like that, because they're ordered by Motokane.

Are you going to kill those people, too?

The Mori must become an unshakable monolith...

...with Takamoto at its center.

That must be shown distinctly.

Are you going to kill every man of his clan...

...to set an example?

I have no choice.

Great Lord.

I didn't know you were that cold-blooded.

Great Lord.

I said, "I wanted to talk with you in private."

Now I know what you're thinking. So I can tell this to you at ease.

I, Hiroyoshi...

...want to retire.

What?

I've been wanting to since Takamoto-dono became the clan's head.

Without younger and more flexible brains...

...the Mori cannot survive for many years.

You don't have to retire.

You have changed, Great Lord.

In the past...

...you would have never said something like kill every man in Inoue-dono's clan.

But now...

...you're trying to make a preemptive move to survive through this war-torn era.

I beg you.

Don't retire.

I don't know...

...what to do without you.

This is the first time you complained in a long time.

Shiji-dono.

I escorted them here.

Sadatoshi.

Nariari.

It's been... how many years?

They've grown well. Please use them for the Mori clan.

Please regard them as my farewell gift.

FUKUBARA SADATOSHI I was ordered by Shiji-dono to travel across the nation...

...to study politics.

HIRASA NARIARI I stayed in Kyoto...

...to learn many different things.

Thank goodness.

Shiji, thanks.

Hinoyama (Fire Mountain) Castle (Kikkawa Main Castle)

In February 1550 (Tenbun 19)...

...Motoharu was adopted into the Kikkawa clan, accompanied by Hirasa Nariari and Fujino.

Thanks for waiting.

That seat is for...

I've been enjoying my retired life, but...

...I was called out because Motoharu-dono arrived.

Formally, I am his father.

Why do I have to come and see my son?

Well...

I don't think a young fellow like Motoharu is able to manage the Kikkawa clan.

Well, he was sent here as Motonari-dono's willing tool.

Make yourself comfy.

You're right. I'm inadequate.

But I'm delighted to take over my late mother's clan.

I'll remember that and work hard.

I'm more than happy to have a young force.

Are you all done with greeting?

Well, sire.

Please go ahead and change your seat.

Great Lord.

The lord will ask you to come over if he needs you.

Unless he calls you, please enjoy your retired life and stay there.

Tsuneyo.

Tsuneyo-dono is Motoharu-dono's vassal.

You're not allowed to call him with no honorific.

Well, then. Tsuneyo-dono.

Demon Kikkawa doesn't easily knuckle under someone else.

You can teach that to the lord.

I am sorry for his insolence.

Please understand his anger and forgive him.

Okitsune might rise in revolt against you, sire.

I already know that.

Hirasa-dono.

I'm disappointed.

Why are you being so spacey?

As soon as Okitsune took the lord's seat...

...why didn't you tell him that's my lord's seat?

I have to say everything.

That's annoying.

I'm sorry.

Okitsune sat there unexpectedly...

Human life is full of unexpected things one after another!

At this rate, do you think you can help the lord to manage Demon Kikkawa?

Mend your ways and brace up!

Yes.

Sire.

Your Ladyship.

I'll check your room.

So I'll have to live in this castle with Fujino-dono...

Don't worry.

- She's kind at heart. - Oh, no.

Um...

What's wrong?

I'll have to live with her...

I, Nariari...

...feel my heart starting to beat faster.

I, Nariari...

...fell in love with her.

A strong woman like her is my type.

You're so queer.

Strong women are beautiful.

- You can't! - Please stop!

Motonari is a scary man!

Let me go!!

- Master! - You can't!

"Sister Myokyu"

Mii.

Motoharu seems to be doing well at the Kikkawa.

Your son is rebuilding the Demon Kikkawa.

I'm...

...going to kill Motokane and his clan members soon.

I was waiting for Motoharu to leave this castle.

If Motoharu joins me...

...people, who resent the purge, might try to retaliate against the Kikkawa.

To forget my grief at the loss of you...

...I've been running flat out so far.

But...

...I have realized.

I...

...must make Aki like a monolith.

Mii.

Without killing every man of the Inoue clan...

...I cannot achieve that goal.

Mii.

You understand me, don't you?

Who's there?

- What's the matter? - What's going on?

Come out! Come out!

Great Lord!

Brace up!

It smells gunpowder.

Gun...?

Call a physician.

The intruder must in the castle.

We'll find him.

Wait.

I want you to wait.

How come?

I have an important announcement.

We're going to kill Inoue Motokane tonight.

Inoue Motokane disobeys his master's family...

...and tries to take a chance to take this clan.

Moreover...

...ever since he became the guardian of the Great Lord as a child...

...he's been acting high-handedly for forty years.

He disobeyed Great Lord's orders, moved gold around...

...and misappropriated other people's fiefs.

He has all these charges.

I already assigned you to attack his clan members' houses.

To Motokane's mansion...

...Shiji and I are going.

Tonight...

...we're going to kill every man in his clan.

Even so...

...every man in his clan?

I'm not sure about that.

Right.

Great Lord, why do you have to go that far?

To make a monolith-like Aki...

...and build enough power not to follow the Ouchi and Amago...

...the Mori must become more powerful.

To that end...

...we must kill Motokane and his clansmen.

Very well.

Very well.

Instantly, the Mori army headed for Motokane and his clan member's mansions.

Master.

Let's run away.

This is it.

Kill Motokane!

What are you doing?

Don't let a single man out!

Go!

Hurry.

Motokane.

What's going on?

Inoue Motokane.

For more than thirty years since my brother Okimoto died...

...we've been enduring the Inoue clan's high-handedness.

How vexed we've been...

We cannot put up with it anymore!!

What did I do?

Wait.

Do I deserve to be killed just by not going to the castle?

Do I deserve to be killed just by not sending my men to castle renovations?

Since Great Lord was little...

...I, Motokane, have been worked so hard for the Mori.

You all remember that, don't you!?

To mediate with the Ouchi...

...I poured my soul and body into that task.

For battles, I gave so much money that was beyond everyone's imagination.

Have you forgotten!?

Move.

I killed Inoue Nariyoshi.

I killed Inoue Motoshige and Yoshiro.

I killed Inoue Shin�femon-no-jo.

I see.

You're going to eradicate Inoue Motokane's clan.

You're going that far, Motonari?

Splendid!

I know very well.

You're going to sacrifice us to set an example...

...and to hold down resisters.

Motokane.

Slit your belly.

Why do I have to?

To slit your belly means...

...you're regretting your deeds and blaming yourself.

I'm not going to.

Motonari.

Is there any difference between someone who can leave his name behind...

...and someone who cannot leave his name?

There's no difference!

It's all about luck.

Luck is so unreasonable.

I won't take it!

I'm...

...not going to slit my belly in regret.

I'm going to do seppuku in a new way.

Doing seppuku with a gun...

How brilliant, Inoue-dono.

You tricked us up to the very end.

He killed every man in Inoue Motokane's clan.

I didn't know Motonari was that cruel.

Kunihisa.

I don't think Motonari's way was wrong.

That was splendid.

Nobody is trustworthy these days.

You must pave your path for yourself.

Motonari thought...

...he wouldn't survive without killing every man in the Inoue clan.

He has become formidable, hasn't he?

Now.

Go and get your prey.

That written oath was signed by the 238 vassals.

We all pledge to obey the punishment and judgment conducted by the Great Lord.

With this written oath, the Mori removed its town meeting-like constitution.

The clan established a regime with Motonari as the de facto supreme authority.

Motonari started heading down his path as a feudal lord.

Everyone.

Please work hard for the Mori.

Shiji.

I'm retiring as of today.

As the written oath says...

...I believe the Mori will never have internal feuds.

Now is the time for us to become an unshakable monolith.

With the Great Lord and the Lord, we must build a province...

...where people can live without worries.

Great Lord.

Keep going on the path you believe in.

Keep going, and then...

...a flower will bloom for sure.

Lord.

You'll be a magnificent lord who has different traits than Great Lord does.

You are a ship and your vassals are water.

A ship can float because there's water around it. Don't forget that.

I know it well.

Shiji-dono.

I grew up without Grandpa. You've been like my real Grandpa.

Shiji-dono.

Thanks.

Shiji.

Take care...

Take care of yourself.

I will go out and sell tea from time to time.

Just to get exercise.

"Why don't you have a cup of tea?"

"The famous tea from Kyoto..."

"...is served here today."

"With one sip, you'll forget about your hardships."

"With one more sip, you'll be in a dream."

From back then...

...you've been helping me a lot.

Keep going on the path you believe in.

Shiji Hiroyoshi.

He was a long-time vassal, who acknowledged Motonari's talent from early on...

...and continued to support Motonari officially and secretly.

Grandpa!

Please live long!

-Stay well. Shiji-dono.

Stay well.

End of Episode 35