Original subtitles

1543: Arrival of Firearms

The arrival of firearms opened a new chapter in Japanese history.

Daimyo lords, who won battles through their own abilities,

declared themselves rulers in various locations.

Like them, in 1550,

Moronari finally united the province of Aki.

He became known throughout Japan as a daimyo (feudal lord).

Let's attack Bingo and Bitchu now to get the Inland Sea area.

I will lead your army.

Right. Let's fight together.

Meanwhile,

the Ouchi family had been the most powerful daimyo in western Japan for 200 years.

But the clan's head, Yoshitaka, was leading a sumptuous life.

That caused a financial collapse, higher taxes,

and the dissatisfaction of others.

Sue Takafusa, a key vassal who had been supporting the Ouchi,

finally decided to kill Yoshitaka.

He aimed at building a new province to survive through the war-torn era.

Mori-dono.

You're going to side with me, aren't you?

MORI MOTONARI

Episode 37: A Left-out Firefly

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

Mori Takamoto: Kamikawa Takaya

Lady Toshi: Otsuka Nene

Kobayakawa Takakage: Megumi Toshiaki

Akagawa Motoyasu: Nagashima Toshiyuki

Kodama Naritada: Masuoka Toru

Katsura Motozumi: Tsurumi Shingo

Ko: Akimoto Naomi Sayo: Tanaka Hiroko

Kunishi Motosuke: Sakamoto Akira Awaya Motochika: Shionoya Masayuki

Fukubara Sadatoshi: Ishihama Akira Kosanta: Nasa Kenji

Sue Takafusa: Jinnai Takanori

Era Fusahide: Takaoka Kenji

Naito Okimori: Onodera Akira

Ouchi Yoshitaka: Kazama Toru

Noda Jiro: Matoba Koji

Kame: Hazuki Riona

Murakami Torayoshi: Fujiwara Yoshiaki Reizen Takatoyo: Haruta Jun'ichi

Sagara Taketou: Shirai Akira Osai: Hatsuse Kaoru

Priest Isetsu: Yanagiya Kan Okabe Takakage: Okubo Satoru

Hotate Masanao: Harada Yoshio

Tae: Miyamoto Nobuko

Produced by: Kida Yukinori

English subtitles: Koala Fansubs

Directed by: Sano Motohiko

-- Summer 1551 (Tenbun 20) --

Six years have passed since Motonari lost Mii.

Encouraged by people around him, Motonari decided to marry again.

His concubine was a daughter of the Miyoshi family, a clan located in Bingo near the Mori fief.

Her name was Ko.

Thanks for waiting.

I am Motonari.

-- KO (Motonari's concubine, Miyoshi daughter) -- My name is Ko.

Though I am inadequate,

please have me beside you for many years to come.

Ko-dono.

Please serve Great Lord well.

Yes.

Great Lord.

Have you already forgotten Lady Mii?

Um...

That's...

I haven't been able to forget about her...

Oh.

But...

From now on,

I'll live on thinking only about you.

No, that's not what I meant.

I don't mind at all if you mourn for Lady Mii. That's what I wanted to say.

That's why I asked you.

People say widowers cannot forget about their late wives.

If you try hard to forget about her for me,

it looks phony. It makes me feel sick.

Excuse me, sir.

Yeah.

Shono.

How do I put...

She's not sexy at all.

A cool-headed woman like her ...

... is low maintenance. I like that.

-- TAKAYAMA CASTLE -- -- (Kobayakawa Takakage's residence) --

Tae.

I called you but you didn't come. You worry me.

- What's wrong? - Well.

I was about to come, sire.

She's crying.

I'm coming in.

I've heard that well-organized people get rid of unnecessary things.

I decided to trash all this today ...

... and put everything out.

I have memories for everything.

I can't toss them.

-- TAE (Takakage's wife Ako's maid) -- These sandals ...

... were from my father. He bought them for me when I started walking.

It brings up memories of my late father.

It makes me cry.

Oh, this box ...

... was used by my late mother. She used to keep rice crackers in it.

It brings up memories of her when she was young.

But this box is ...

... broken and bottomless.

Memories can stay even in a bottomless box.

All right.

Don't trash anything. Just keep everything.

You're making me happy, sire.

Please find a gap to sit down.

Gap, huh?

Tae, are you all right?

I'm fine.

I'm sorry.

- Oh. - Are you all right?

I'm fine.

Please have a seat.

Actually ...

... I received a letter from my brother, Takamoto.

He said my father is getting skinnier.

What?

Is he severely ill?

Oh, no!

His second wife, Ko-dono,

is too organized. So he can't relax.

Oh.

She's too organized? Is that why his appetite is down?

She must be really good at organizing.

Um... so...

My brother and Lady Toshi are looking for one more concubine, who can make him relax.

Otherwise, he might remain tense and die, they said.

I wonder if there is any one for him.

I know.

How about Nomi-dono's daughter? Her name is Sayo.

She is a Kobayakawa woman.

She will make our ties with the Mori stronger.

So her name is Sayo.

She doesn't cause stress, does she?

Not at all.

She's not organized at all.

Sayo-dono has arrived.

Nomi's daughter, Sayo, passed Kobayakawa Takakage's test.

-- SAYO -- -- (Motonari's concubine and Nomi's daughter) --

She came to live with Motonari as his second concubine.

Sit here.

My name is Sayo.

We are talking about politics now.

Sayo-dono, please rest in your room.

Ko-dono is here.

I want to be here, too.

Oh, in that case,

just stay here.

Hey.

Hotate-dono.

Oh, where were we?

Iron trading is getting more active these days.

It appears to be coming from Yamaguchi.

I thought so.

The biggest customer now is Sue Takafusa-dono.

Isn't Sue-dono ...

... secretly asking you to deliver weapons and provisions?

She knows it well.

Sue-dono must be rising in arms against his lord.

No, he isn't.

You don't have to hide it from me.

Great Lord.

The sun is going down.

Why don't you quit talking about something like that?

I want to be alone with you.

This is an important discussion.

Please wait for him alone in your room.

I don't want to be alone.

Great Lord.

Sayo-dono.

He is going to your bedroom tonight and tomorrow.

Go to your room.

You, too, Ko-dono.

Stop bossing me around.

-- TONDA-WAKAYAMA CASTLE (Sue Takafusa's residence) -- Meanwhile,

the rumor that Sue Takafusa would attack Ouchi Yoshitaka was growing day by day.

Even common people in the Ouchi fief were abuzz with the rumor.

It's been a while.

Why are you on high alert?

Sue-dono. I came here as Lord Ouchi's messenger.

He wants you to work in his office.

You agreed with me.

I thought you were going to rise up against the Ouchi mansion.

-- ERA FUSAHIDE (Takafusa's key vassal) -- We're all prepared.

We can attack the lord anytime.

I agree with you, Sue-dono.

I know the fastest way to save the Ouchi is to attack the lord.

Still...

I wonder if there is another way to change the Ouchi. Without attacking him.

That's too lenient!!

I already gave it a good deal of thought. That's why I'm rising.

But he is a direct descendant of the Ouchi.

I've been serving since Yoshioki-dono's times.

I don't want to see the Ouchi lose its direct line.

In that case,

you must protect the lord and fight against me. That's the only choice you have.

My lord is going to attack Lord Yoshitaka.

But he doesn't have any thought of becoming the Ouchi clan's head.

He's telling us to appoint an Ouchi man as the clan's head.

This isn't a revolt for a takeover.

I don't want other clans to destroy the Ouchi.

I just want to make the Ouchi stronger by attacking Lord Yoshitaka.

Nobody understands me though.

Naito-dono.

You don't need to side with me.

Nobody wants to draw a sword against the innocent Lord Yoshitaka.

I don't want to.

I'm not going to attack young Kidomaru-sama.

I'll raise him well.

After he grows up,

I want him to become the head of the Ouchi clan.

That's a blessed relief.

Once again, I pledge to move with you, Sue-dono.

Oh, my.

How beautiful.

Yes.

Naito-dono is late.

I hope he didn't get killed by Sue-dono as a starter for his revolt.

Calm down.

Takafusa will never rebel against me.

He's not that kind of man. I keep telling you.

The rumor of his revolt is everywhere.

You trust people too much. Why don't you stop doing that?

Ah, Kidomaru.

Look at the left-out firefly. It's glowing.

The season of fireflies is over. Its friends are all gone.

It's not aware of that.

Fall is around the corner.

How carefree the left-out firefly is.

Naito-dono! How did it go?

Kidomaru, let's go.

- Osai. - Yes.

Naito-dono. How did it go?

Sire.

Sue-dono said he can't work in your office for a while.

I tried to convince him faithfully.

That's not what I'm asking.

Is he preparing for a revolt?

When is he rising in arms? That's what I'm asking.

Sire.

As far as I saw, his castle didn't have any signs of being on alert.

I thought so.

Takafusa would never revolt against me.

I can't believe what you said, Naito-dono.

Don't tell me. Are you siding with Sue-dono?

How insolent!!

Takafusa is trustworthy.

He's impulsive and not sophisticated.

That's why he's trustworthy to me.

You're the same, Okimori.

My vassals are all trustworthy.

You're too naive.

Naito-dono.

Don't you think we should prepare our soldiers, too?

We should be prepared for any possibility.

Sire. Let's start getting ready.

Nothing is happening.

Stop talking about attacking or killing.

Like Takafusa, who cannot draw his sword against me,

I cannot draw mine against him.

When something happens, we can have a heart-to-heart talk.

Takafusa and I can do it.

Sire, I'll send the Mori a request of reinforcement in your name.

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

I received two letters.

One is a request of reinforcement from Sue Takafusa-dono.

The other is a request of reinforcement in the name of Lord Yoshitaka.

It's written by Sagara Taketou-dono.

So the rumor of his revolt is true.

How can a loyal man like him...?

The current Ouchi aren't warriors. They are nobles now.

They cannot beat the Sue army.

The Ouchi are 10,000-strong in total.

Sue dono's army is 3,000-strong.

But the Sue army is ...

... a group of brave souls personally trained by the God of War or Sue Takafusa-dono.

Well.

I think we should side with the Ouchi.

In the long term,

we have a better chance if we bet on the Ouchi.

But it seems that only Sagara-dono is giving orders.

You're right.

They don't seem to be desperate.

I guess he has no intention of fighting.

The Mori support neither side.

Even if we join the Ouchi, we can't save Lord Yoshitaka.

If Lord Yoshitaka is killed, western Japan will change drastically.

As Takamoto said,

it might be Sue-dono's brief dream.

We should watch this closely to the end,

and then decide on our next moves.

Are you telling us to give up on the Ouchi?

Takamoto.

You shouldn't be lost to emotion.

Even if we move now, we gain nothing.

Don't make any move for now.

Jiro.

You look pale.

Takafusa is rising in arms tomorrow.

I must let Takafusa into the Ouchi mansion.

Lord Yoshitaka knows nothing.

Soldiers are attacking in his mansion. I'm letting them in.

But he knows nothing.

He is so unsuspecting.

Is your heart aching, Jiro?

Takafusa's thoughts are right.

Still...

I see.

You already made up your mind.

But you wanted us to baby you. That's why you called us over.

Jiro.

Times are about to change greatly.

You live in such times.

That alone makes you fortunate.

What I'm going to do ...

... isn't causing any trouble for the navy?

No.

That has nothing to do with the navy.

Jiro.

You should "roll with the times".

Otherwise, you'll regret for sure.

Anyone touched by me will never die.

You will never die, Jiro.

On August 28, 1551 (Tenbun 20),

Sue Takafusa headed for the Ouchi mansion in Yamaguchi, with his grand army of 3,000 men.

Sire!

Sire.

You may.

The 3,000-strong Sue army is heading here.

What...?

-- REIZEN TAKATOYO (Ouchi key vassal) -- They are coming from two directions:

through the Tokuji gate in the north and the Hofu gate in the south.

They are launching a pincer attack on Yamaguchi.

- Call Naito Okimori. - He's siding with Sue.

What...!?

Then, call Sagara.

He disappeared.

Everyone else, except for me and a couple of other vassals, is siding with Sue.

- Sire... - Please run away immediately.

I'll prepare for that.

Hurry.

Father!

Father.

Kidomaru.

Come with me.

Escape to Myokiji Temple in Miyano.

Please take me with you.

I can't.

It's dangerous.

If I die with you, I will be more than happy!!

I'll survive with Kidomaru at all costs.

You can see me soon.

Hurry and run away!

Sire?

Sire!!

Take care of Osai.

Release!

The Sue army arrived Yamaguchi and launched a fierce attack on Yoshitaka at Hosenji Temple.

Yoshitaka decided to wait for the Mori and other clans' reinforcements.

But his soldiers started running away one after another.

He was totally helpless in front of the tidal waves of the Sue and Naito armies.

Sire.

Please prepare yourself.

I'm going to survive.

Yoshitaka snuck out of Hosenji Temple in the dark of the night.

He fled to the mountains with only a small number of soldiers.

But the Sue army was chasing after him.

Sire.

We should hurry.

It was the grave of Ouchi Yoshioki, Yoshitaka's father.

His father only knew the Ouchi like the rising sun.

Father.

I am very sorry.

Father.

I, Yoshitaka,

didn't want to be born into such a prestigious family.

But I cannot let such a prestigious family go down.

Kidomaru and I ...

... will survive for sure.

We'll survive.

So please forgive me.

The Sue and other armies were cornering Yoshitaka gradually.

Yoshitaka was heading for Setozaki, a port on the Sea of Japan.

He was going to take a boat there to Iwami ...

... and ask help from Yoshimi Masayori at Sanbonmatsu Castle.

That was his last resort.

Go!!

Hurry!

The ocean at Setozaki was already occupied ...

... by a fleet of Jiro's ships, siding with Takafusa.

Jiro...

And you, Jiro.

You...

You, too...

Sire!

Lord Yoshitaka has been heading for Taineiji Temple in Nagato since dusk.

We're cornering him now.

Taineiji Temple?

He's prepared to die.

Don't kill Kidomaru.

Bring him to me with care.

Sire.

I will raise Kidomaru-sama well to become the Ouchi heir.

Please forgive me.

-- TAINEIJI TEMPLE (Nagato) --

Kidomaru.

Listen.

Leave here with Okabe Takakage.

He'll take you to a place that's not scary.

I arranged everything.

-- KIDOMARU (Ouchi heir) -- Are you slitting your belly, Father?

Kidomaru.

Survive at any cost and ...

... succeed the Ouchi at any cost. - Yes, sir.

Survive at any cost.

Yes, sir!

Take care of Kidomaru.

We'll block the Sue army at the main gate.

Sire.

Please have a brilliant death.

You served me to the end.

I won't forget about that.

I was a left-out firefly.

Takafusa, Okimori, Jiro,

and all of my friends were gone. I wasn't aware of that.

I wasn't aware that fall was approaching the Ouchi.

I was a left-out firefly.

You helped me.

Please accept my thanks.

Lord Yoshitaka is going to commit suicide!

We'll stop you here at all cost!!

Fine.

Attack!

Wait!!

Sire.

We're not attacking!

We're hoping ...

... he'll have an admirable death.

Thank you.

"Both the victor and the vanquished are but drops of dew,"

"but bolts of lightening ? thus should we view the world."

On September 1, 1551 (Tenbun 20),

Yoshitaka, head of the prestigious Ouchi clan, committed suicide.

His alleged death poem means, "Both the victor and the vanquished are transient;"

"they disappear instantly like dew drops or lightening."

Sire.

Sire!

Our men just succeeded in cornering Kidomaru-sama.

They'll kill him in no time.

What?

Didn't you get my order?

I ordered not to kill him!

Hurry! Rescue him!

Don't let him die! Hurry!

Hurry up!!

Go! They're up there!

Go!!

What's that voice?

They're after us.

Your father must have committed suicide.

I'm going to survive.

I promised.

There they are!

I'm going to survive.

For the sake of the Ouchi.

Great Lord.

Come in.

Lord Yoshitaka and Kidomaru-sama...

they passed away.

I see.

Takamoto.

Capture Kashirazaki Castle owned by the Ouchi ally, Hiraga Takayasu.

Father,

you told us to watch to the end before we make our next moves.

Is that what you meant?

You're hopeless.

We owe so much to the Ouchi.

I guess you're not seeing anything, Takamoto.

We owe the Ouchi so much. That's why we're taking that Ouchi castle.

If the Amago takes this chance to capture the castle,

Lord Yoshitaka's soul will never rest in peace.

That's just an excuse!!

You just want to use everything as an excuse to capture more castles!!

If the Mori don't take the castle as soon as possible,

it will be taken by the one who's trying to cut into Aki.

If the castle is taken, it'll be the enemy's stronghold for attacking the Mori.

Isn't that what you're saying!?

After all, you care only about yourself.

Father...

I cannot follow a father like you!

Fine. You don't have to follow me.

Takamoto.

I'm going to attack.

Thanks for having helped me for a long time.

I'm going back to Innoshima Island.

You helped me, Jiro.

You must be feeling terrible about Kidomaru-sama.

I know how you're feeling.

"Make the Ouchi survive for 1,000 or 2,000 years."

Then, for the first time,

people will realize that your revolt wasn't wrong.

Make achievements and make people say,

"Noda Jiro is the one for the Murakami Navy."

I am proud.

Proud of being a friend of yours, Jiro.

I am, too.

On Motonari's orders,

with Takamoto as in command, the Mori attacked Kashirazaki Castle,

defended by Hiraga Takayasu, an Ouchi ally.

He captured the castle in an instant.

Great Lord.

I successfully captured Kashirazaki Castle.

I see.

It's auspicious,

but I'm not happy about that.

I see.

Times were about to change greatly.

The Mori clan was the same.

A conflict between Motonari and Takamoto started developing.

End of Episode 37