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On September 1, 1551 (Tenbun 20),

Ouchi Yoshitaka, the most powerful daimyo in Western Japan, committed suicide ...

... after being attacked by his key vassal, Sue Takafusa.

Sire.

This revolt was a painful choice for Takafusa.

Sue Takafusa, who was trying to revitalize the Ouchi,

attacked in neighboring provinces immediately.

Takafusa's moves finally became a threat to Motonari,

who controlled the province of Aki.

-- HOTATE MASANAO -- If you're not going to seize power,

why are you making your clan stronger?

To protect my family.

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

Takafusa, who is trying to expand the Ouchi desperately,

and Motonari, who is trying to protect Aki.

The two are finally heading for the fateful showdown.

MORI MOTONARI

Episode 38: A Decision at Age 59

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

Akagawa Motoyasu: Nagashima Toshiyuki

Kodama Naritada: Masuoka Toru

Katsura Motozumi: Tsurumi Shingo

Kikkawa Motoharu: Matsushige Yutaka Kobayakawa Takakage: Megumi Toshiaki

Fukubara Sadatoshi: Ishihama Akira Kiyo: Shibata Rie

Kunishi Motosuke: Sakamoto Akira Awaya Motochika: Shionoya Masayuki

Sue Takafusa: Jinnai Takanori

Era Fusahide: Takaoka Kenji

Hironaka Takakane: Sagawa Mitsuo

Naito Okimori: Onodera Akira

Amago Kunihisa: Shimizu Koji

Noda Jiro: Matoba Koji

Kame: Hazuki Riona

Mitsu: Iwasaki Hiromi

Amago Haruhisa: Takashima Masanobu

Shishido Takaie: Kase Taishu Murakami Torayoshi: Fujiwara Yoshiaki

Kawazoe Hisanobu: Uesugi Shozo Otomo Haruhide: Mitsui Tomohiro

Hotate Masanao: Harada Yoshio

Produced by: Kida Yukinori

English Subtitles: Koala Fansubs

Directed by: Kobayashi Takeshi

-- Spring 1552 (Tenbun 21) --

Father.

Sue-dono is going to have Otomo Haruhide-dono from Bungo as the new Ouchi clan's head.

I heard that.

I'm impressed.

It's a good choice to have.

Otomo Sorin's younger brother.

Yes.

And Haruhide-dono is late Yoshitaka-dono's nephew.

Sue-dono will take charge,

but he has a just cause of keeping the Ouchi lineage.

Moreover,

adopting a boy from the Otomo means that ...

... the Ouchi are extending their influence to Kyushu.

We are an Ouchi ally,

but we must stay alert. Sue-dono is a boar-like warrior.

Why don't we make a preemptive move,

and take a bullish stance?

Takamoto.

I just finished writing Sue-dono.

I wrote,

"It is truly auspicious to adopt Haruhide-dono from the Otomo in Kyushu."

I'm congratulating him from the bottom of my heart.

I know exactly how much you're worried.

Sue Takafusa is a boar-like warrior.

So he must be triumphant now.

He is not the type to be carefully considerate of ...

... other important clans, including the Mori.

He's triumphant now.

If you take bullish stance, it'll work negatively.

But ...

... if you don't take bullish stance when you need to,

you'll be taken lightly.

Exactly.

But ...

... it all depends on who your opponents are.

Takamoto.

When you take an action,

you must read your opponent's personality.

You must take measures according to your opponent's personality.

If you take bullish stance to Sue Takafusa now,

you'll be smashed instead.

I understand well.

Sue Takafusa, who forced Ouchi Yoshitaka to commit suicide,

was suffering, because he drove Yoshitaka's son to his death.

Why don't we have some drinks?

-- ERA FUSAHIDE (Takafusa's key vassal) -- That'll put you to sleep tonight.

I'm sodden with drink every night.

Young Kidomaru-sama was killed,

but you shouldn't blame yourself too much about that.

He ascended to heaven with his father, Lord Yoshitaka.

He might be rather happy now.

That big star ...

... looks like Kidomaru-sama's eye.

He had good and powerful eyes.

I wanted to raise him well.

I wanted him to succeed the Ouchi well.

I must ...

... hurry and make the Ouchi bigger and stronger.

Otherwise, I won't be able to look at myself in the mirror.

Shortly after,

the Ouchi had Otomo Haruhide as their head, along with new vassals.

They were about to be reborn.

Takafusa.

-- OTOMO HARUHIDE -- -- (Younger brother of Otomo Sorin in Bungo) --

I'm going to give you a Chinese character from my first name.

From now on, call yourself "Sue Harukata."

I am very honored, sire!

Takakane.

-- HIRONAKA TAKAKANE (Ouchi key vassal) -- Pour your new energy ...

... into this newly born Ouchi as much as you can.

I'll reform the luxurious, noble-like lifestyle of the past.

I'll risk my own life ...

... to make the Ouchi an unshakable clan.

Let me reiterate.

-- SUE HARUKATA (Formerly known as Takafusa) --

The Ouchi is the finest of the finest clans.

We are supposed to seize power.

We shouldn't allow anyone to stand over us.

We should do anything to get stronger,

keep building power!!

And then, seize power for sure!!

Otherwise,

our killing of Lord Yoshitaka is meaningless.

Got it!?

I, Naito Okimori,

would like to retire now.

What?

We have new dependable vassals now.

I can retire at ease.

I have not much longer to live.

My body does now follow my mind, even if I want to work hard for the new Ouchi.

I see.

You've helped me for a long time.

Thank you.

Sue-dono, I'll tell you one thing.

Beware of Mori Motonari.

After Ouchi Yoshitaka died,

some provincial constables became hostile to the new Ouchi controlled by Sue Harukata and his warring faction.

Western Japan became volatile.

-- KORIYAMA CASTLE (Aki province) --

Father.

Thank you for coming.

Please come this way.

Father.

He is here.

I see.

Oh, you're here, Naito-dono.

Thank you for coming all that way.

Please have a seat.

I came here without any purpose.

A retired old man wanted to see his daughter.

Just laugh at me.

What are you saying?

Toshi-dono is taking care of everything for us.

We're causing her troubles.

Naito-dono.

Toshi is pregnant.

You're becoming a grandfather.

Toshi? Really?

Yes.

That's great!

I want to come here again to see my grandchild.

Oh, I don't want to hear that.

You're too young to get old like that.

No, my life is already over.

Oh, my. I don't want to hear that.

That's what old people say. They want us to feel sorry for them.

Kiyo!

Naito-dono.

Please take your time and relax tonight.

Please excuse us.

See?

The Great Lord and Lord didn't even ask you about the Ouchi.

They thought you're just a grumbling old man.

I did that on purpose.

I don't want them to ask me about the Ouchi and Sue-dono.

I have no intention of answering such questions.

Motonari-dono already knows my intention.

If you have energy to think that much,

you're too young to retire, aren't you?

Men who were born to be leaders and succeed in the world ...

... have something distinctive to make them become black or white.

Black is poison. White is medicine.

I am grey.

I cannot be poison or medicine.

I understand well now.

If the world has only black and white, it's too tiring for you to survive.

Thanks to grey, people don't spark off each other. They can keep a balance.

My greyish life might look boring to others,

but I think I've been helping the world to some extent.

However ...

... the new Ouchi are not capable of having grey things.

This is the right time for me to step down.

I am sorry ...

... for Kiyo's shallow-mindedness.

Mori Motonari-dono is black.

He is poisonous.

Toshi.

You should care about Takamoto-dono.

He is remarkable white. I think he is medicinal,

but Motonari-dono is too poisonous.

If he feels inferior to his father and tries to become like his father,

his precious whiteness turns grey, and then -- black.

Yes.

Takamoto-sama has different strengths than the Great Lord.

I am well aware of that.

Have a healthy baby.

Yes.

-- GASSAN-TODA CASTLE (Izumo) -- Meanwhile, Amago Haruhisa, guardian of Izumo and Oki,

was appointed by Shogun Yoshiteru as guardian of six more provinces, including Inaba and Hoki.

Guardian of eight provinces in total.

It's truly auspicious, sire!

Izumo, Oki, Inaba, Hoki and Mimasaka.

Bizen, Bitchu and Bingo.

They are all the Amago's provinces.

The Ouchi and Sue must be losing color now.

Even Amago Tsunehisa-dono, once called a great commander,

might be losing color in heaven, looking at your achievements.

Well, this is just the beginning.

I'm after rulership.

When I achieve that, late Great Lord can lose color.

Sire.

You are the closest to Kyoto than anyone else.

I am very proud of you, sire.

You're making me happy.

She used to more proud of her father.

She finally acknowledged me.

Now, sire.

Which of these eight provinces do you want me to govern?

Well.

I want you to govern Bitchu and Bingo first.

Bitchu and Bingo?

Well.

Let's drink together and celebrate.

The current Ouchi have no future. Everything looks auspicious.

Mitsu.

Father.

The Lord doesn't want me.

He received eight provinces.

But Bitchu and Bingo are practically governed by the Mori.

What...!?

He won't let you govern unless you fight and conquer those provinces?

I guess that's what he means.

Never mind, Mitsu.

I will conquer those provinces with my own hands.

You've been working so hard for him with your Shingu Party.

Is he telling you to work even harder?

Soon,

Kunihisa led the Shingu Party and fought against the Mori army in Bingo.

However, the Mori army, with young powers ..

... such as Takamoto, Kikkawa Motoharu, Kobayakawa Takakage ...

... and Eno's husband, Shishido Takaie, fought bravely.

The famous Shingu Party suffered a painful defeat.

I am very sorry.

Father!

Sire.

My father is not young anymore.

You made him fight against the Mori. Aren't you feeling guilty?

- You just don't want my father and the Shingu Party. - Mitsu.

No.

I want you to apologize my father.

Since you were little,

you never cried even when you were scolded by your mother.

But she always cries whenever her father is suffering. That's what I heard.

Your father is fortunate.

I hate you, sire.

What a terrible battle I had.

I...

I am ashamed of it.

-- October 1553 (Tenbun 22) -- -The Mori were gaining momentum.

With the Kikkawa and Kobayakawa's help,

they captured an important stronghold of the Amago, Hatagaeshi Castle in northern Bingo.

Sire.

Welcome home.

Takamoto.

Kotsurumaru has grown big like this.

-- KOTSURUMARU (Later known as Mori Terumoto) -- Oh, Kotsurumaru.

You look so handsome.

You look more like Grandpa.

Up, you go!

Everyone, you did very well.

You must be very tired.

We're not tired at all.

We've been busy talking about who will get Hatagaeshi Castle, the castle we captured.

Let me begin.

My lord, Sue Harukata, sent you a message about the next owner of Hatagaeshi Castle.

Hatagaeshi Castle will be given to myself, Era Fusahide.

Because it's a stronghold of central Bingo,

it should be governed by an Ouchi member.

That's what Lord Ouchi and Harukata-dono said.

That makes sense.

We did this for the Ouchi from the beginning.

Pleasing Lord Ouchi is good enough for us.

I conveyed the message.

Please keep up the good work.

We have no choice.

That's Sue-dono's idea.

- He's scared of the Mori. - Right.

Because we gained a foothold in Bingo too remarkably,

he must have thought it's dangerous.

He is Motoharu-dono's blood brother.

But he's hopeless!

What can I say?

But ...

... even Sue-dono is scared.

The Mori might have much more power than we think.

Sue-dono must have forgotten his original purpose.

He said, "I'll manage the Ouchi by asking help from others and talking with others."

But he's a tyrant now.

The Great Lord is right.

As long as we fight as an Ouchi ally,

we must accept whatever Sue-dono says.

Dada.

Kotsurumaru!

No, you can't.

I am sorry.

Everyone, listen well.

To avoid another vexation like this,

the Mori must be stronger. That's our only choice.

We must become a real monolith.

Without taking any side, even the Ouchi or the Amago,

we must build our own province.

By the time when Kotsurumaru reaches his manhood,

I want to build such a province. Promise that with me.

I will never forget this.

Sue Harukata notified the Murakami Navy of an unbelievable policy.

He banned the navy from collecting a guard fee in Itsukushima, an economic base for the navy.

Father.

The Guard fee is a legitimate fee to secure navigational safety.

Yoshitaka-dono allowed us to collect it.

I don't know why they want to ban it.

Sue Harukata...

That's Harukata's idea!

Where are you going?

I need to cool down. Otherwise, I can't think of anything.

Jiro!

I'm gonna kill him.

Sue-dono is acting funny.

He gains nothing from having us as enemy. He already knows that.

I'm gonna kill him!!

Jiro.

I'm going to Yamaguchi by myself and negotiate with him.

What?

Because you might kill him for real.

No, I'm going with you!

It's better this time if a woman goes there by herself.

You said you don't use your womanhood as your weapon.

I'm not going to use my womanhood,

but I'm not going to forget that I am a woman.

Kame...

Don't tell me... You and Harukata are...?

Foolish.

I'm still in love with Motonari-dono.

Then, go ahead and become his concubine.

I don't want to be one of many.

I believe, in the future,

nobody will have concubines.

A husband will have only one wife.

When I am born again in such a time,

I will become Motonari-dono's wife.

You pretend to be strong,.

but you're only a girl who wants to become someone's wife.

Working hard alone as a woman makes me tired sometimes.

You'll be tired, so I'm going with you.

-- YAMAGUCHI (Suo province) --

Well, it's been a while.

We came over to talk about the Guard Fee.

Got straight down to business without saying hello?

Jiro.

What are you looking at?

Harukata, are you feeling sick?

No.

I just can't sleep.

Why can't you sleep?

If you stay beside me, I might be able to sleep.

After banning the Guard Fee, how can you dare talk like that?

Jiro, you don't need to deal with him.

Well...

I banned it not because I want to harass the navy.

I want to straighten maritime rules around Itsukushima ...

... and create order.

I can't allow certain parties to gain profits.

Your checkpoints in the name of security are simply illegal.

You just need money to create a new Ouchi.

You're saying you aren't diverting money to certain parties.

Instead, money is diverted only to you.

After banning the Guard Fee, you're receiving hefty rewards from merchants.

Merchants are paying you hefty rewards, but their ship's navigational safety isn't secured.

If this goes on, merchants will rise up against you.

The Murakami Navy was getting paid in exchange for our protection service.

You're taking money without doing anything.

Harukata.

You seem to be rushing.

Sue-dono.

Why don't you give it another thought and make good use of our navy?

I don't agree with your decision on the Guard Fee.

I wanted to kill you, Harukata.

But, as I look at your face like that,

I can't stop worrying about you, instead of killing you.

Harukata.

Aren't you blaming yourself for killing Kidomaru-sama?

Is that why you're rushing to seize power?

You banned the Guard Fee and receive rewards, because you need money for future battles.

Don't rush, Harukata.

If you move by force,

you'll be beaten by force for sure.

Our policy on the guard fee ...

... cannot be changed.

Jiro.

You worry about me the most.

I am sorry for giving you pains.

But I'm not going to reconsider.

Please go home.

Sorry!

Sue Harukata kept invading other provinces as if he was possessed.

Finally, he aimed at Yoshimi Masayori's Sanbonmatsu Castle in Iwami province, next to Motonari's fief.

Then, he requested the Mori to send an army to capture the castle.

We're not helping the Sue army.

If we help them now,

the Mori will have to start helping out in somebody's battles again.

We've worked so hard to ...

... make the Mori like a monolith.

But, sire.

We're not strong enough to refuse Sue-dono's request.

I agree.

I understand your point of view, sire.

But the Amago are becoming more powerful now as the shogunate's favorite.

If we disobey the Ouchi led by Sue-dono,

and something happens between the Amago and us,

we will be isolated.

Well-said, Takakage.

You're right.

Sue-dono isn't saying he's going to attack Aki.

For now, we should make them believe that we're on the Ouchi's side.

That's better.

No!!

You don't know how scary Sue Harukata is.

He never feels obliged to someone, nor has a give-and-take relationship.

I'll help Yoshimi Masayori-dono.

I'm determined to fight against Sue-dono!

We can't win, sire.

Still, we have to beat him!

Have you forgotten our vexation at Hatagaeshi Castle?

Didn't we pledge to build a self-sustaining province at that time?

If we abase ourselves now,

we'll never be able to climb out of the Sue's control.

Even if we take risks,

we must win!

However...

even I don't know how to beat the Sue army now.

The Sue army is 10,000-strong.

We're only 2,000-strong.

Even with the Yoshimi, the Mori are no match for the Sue.

This is exceptional. Even if you all oppose, I'll fight against the Sue army.

That is it for today.

Sire!!

How absurd.

Takamoto.

I want to talk with you.

I have something to tell you three.

Listen.

I'm going to battle first, to show my intention of siding with Sue-dono.

I'm the clan's head.

You cannot do things on your own.

Listen well.

Takamoto, show your intention of siding with Yoshimi-dono.

What do you mean?

Make them believe that the Mori have two opposing opinions and cannot move.

Drag it out as long as possible.

We don't make any move.

This battle will be over while we don't make any move.

That's splendid, Father!

Some people call me Mr. Plot.

Well, well, I'm no match for you.

Father.

You are not getting old in vain.

Don't get carried away!!

Father.

I became Sue-dono's blood brother because I adore him.

Such a plot is shameful. I want to confront him fairly.

I'm still determined to fight against the Sue.

I, too, was greatly helped by Sue-dono's straightforwardness while I was in Yamaguchi.

I don't want to use plots to fight against the Sue army.

I want to challenge them squarely, to show our respect.

Father.

Aren't my brothers hard to deal with?

No shame or respect in battles.

After all, the Mori don't stand a chance by challenging them squarely.

That's why Father uses plots as fixes. That stands to reason!

Takakage!

Fixes!? What do you mean?

- Men should only go forward! - Motoharu!

Hey.

Stop it.

Soon,

I'm turning 59.

I don't want to lose what I've built ...

... by engaging in a battle I cannot win.

The Mori ...

... have become a clan much better than I wished.

We don't have to go forward any more.

Takakage was right.

Fixes are the most important than anything else.

- That's right! - Don't get carried away.

Father.

Such a thought is shameful.

I, Takamoto,

will not use plots.

Takamoto.

Listen.

If you want to engage in battles only with effort and guts,

you're not eligible for fighting.

Plotting ...

... isn't shameful at all.

The strongest...

The strongest weapon is ...

... your brain.

Your brain.

Despite a series of requests from both the Sue and Yoshimi,

the Mori ended up making no move.

They stuck to the two-timing diplomacy.

But Sue Harukata took hard-line measures.

Send the army to the Mori.

Trample their Nawashiro fief.

That's a great idea.

We'll devastate it so that it doesn't produce even a single grain of rice in fall.

Then, even Mori will have no choice than siding with us.

The Sue army instantly started trampling Nawashiro, the Mori's fief on the border.

I'm going to make a move.

I'm going to fight against Sue.

Father...?

Really?

Takamoto seems to have calculated Sue Harukata's reactions more accurately than I did.

If Sue's reign comes,

the Mori will be forced to obey him.

I'm going to fight.

Father.

- You don't want to lose. - I don't care.

- You said 59 is the age of defense. - I retract what I said.

Listen.

This is not a battle to help out someone else.

This is a battle to make the Mori stand on our own.

It's a battle for the Mori.

We cannot win.

I...

I am prepared to die.

I must stand up even if I know I'm losing.

Otherwise, I'll be so ashamed of myself.

Let's do our best ...

� to take a chance for victory.

Mori Takamoto.

Kikkawa Motoharu.

Kobayakawa Takakage.

You'll take a chance with me, won't you?

Prepare for the battle!

Yes, sire!!

Before turning 59,

Mori Motonari boldly challenged the Sue army with their overwhelming military power.

End of Episode 38