Original subtitles

The Mori, who won the Battle at Itsukushima,

built on the momentum of attacking Suo and Nagato.

Release!

In 1557 (Koji 3),

with Ouchi Yoshinaga's death, the Ouchi clan finally went to ruin.

The Mori rose as one of the most powerful daimyo lords during the Warring States Period.

I wasn't going to make the Mori big like this.

The best size is...

...the one that you can look out for every single vassal.

As Motonari worried,

the Mori were on the verge of dividing, over the distribution of their newly gained territories.

The Kikkawa, who were close to the Amago, wanted the northern territory,

while the Kobayakawa facing the Inland Sea wanted the coastal territory.

But Takamoto, who considered the balance for the entire clan,

couldn't agree with his brothers' claims.

Thus the three Mori brothers were put in an explosive situation.

MORI MOTONARI

Episode 43: A Letter to Three Sons

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

Eno: Takahashi Yumiko

Kikkawa Motoharu: Matsushige Yutaka

Kobayakawa Takakage: Megumi Toshiaki

Ko: Akimoto Naomi Sayo: Tanaka Hiroko

Kodama Naritada: Masuoka Toru

Katsura Motozumi: Tsurumi Shingo

Akagawa Motoyasu: Nagashima Toshiyuki

Mitsu: Iwasaki Hiromi

Amago Haruhisa: Takashima Masahiro

Shishido Takaie: Kase Taishu Amago Yoshihisa: Nakamura Shido

Kunishi Motosuke: Sakamoto Akira Awaya Motochika: Shionoya Masayuki

Fukubara Sadatoshi: Ishihama Akira Gin: Ikeda Yukiko

Tae: Miyamoto Nobuko

Produced by: Kida Yukinori

English Subtitles: Koala Fansubs

Directed by: Matsuoka Koji

KORIYAMA CASTLE (Aki Province) In the fall of 1557 (Koji 3),

Tae, maid for Takakage's wife Ako, moved over from the Kobayakawa clan.

Oh, my.

Oh, Great Lord.

Sorry.

Please come over here.

What about here?

- Great Lord, please come in. - Don't trouble yourself.

Please have a seat.

Tae-dono.

I'm happy to have you as my concubine, but...

...haven't you misunderstood something?

I'm over 60 now.

I don't have much longer to live.

And, as you know,

I'm Motonari the Mumbler.

You're not having a good life here.

You came here to nurse an old man.

Tae-dono.

As soon as you realize your misunderstandings,

go ahead and return ro the Kobayakawa tomorrow morning.

Great Lord, you're the one who misunderstood something.

As you get older and don't have much longer to live,

you want to have an amusing life, don't you?

We've been living alone for a long time.

If we live hand in hand, I'm sure we'll have many amazing experiences.

We can laugh together and get mad together.

That must be so amusing.

I guess so.

Great Lord.

Though I'm unworthy,

I hope you'll have me beside you as long as possible.

But, Tae-dono.

You should go back to the Kobayakawa.

The true joy of living together for a man and a woman...

...begins later in life. I agree with that.

But that applies to a man and a woman who have lived together since they were younger.

If you don't mind listening to my complaints,

or you can enjoy taking care of an old man.

you may stay here as long as you want.

Great Lord.

I, Tae,

am going to live by myself as Lady Ako's maid.

I am able to live by myself.

Did such a capable woman come here...

...only to take care of a man?

Only to listen to his complaints?

Actually, I'm not thinking of living with a man hand in hand.

The prime time for a married couple is when they bear and raise children.

After that, the two stay together even if they get tired of each other.

Great Lord.

Marital relationships aren't all about their history, experiences or time they spent together.

It's how deep and honestly they face with each other.

Great Lord.

If we live one day as densely as we live a year,

it'll be so much fun!

Three days are like three years.

No, ten days like ten years.

Look.

We can beat all the average couples out there.

- Great Lord, let's do our best from tomorrow! - Excuse me!

Please let Tae-sama rest for tomorrow.

Good night, Great Lord.

Have a good night sleep.

What are you being weak-hearted for?

Oh, shoot! I did it again!

I could express my feelings more openly than usual, thanks to Great Lord's high caliber.

But once again, that's how it ended!

Oh, no.

You made me fall in love with you, Tae-sama.

You said everything just right.

He might think I'm scary. Don't you think so, Gin?

She's so funny.

Sire, the Kobayakawa is...

Why are they opposing my idea?

They want ports.

The head Mori family takes the ports.

What are you going to give them, instead?

We can give them islands.

No, you can.

The biggest worry of Takamoto, Mori clan head, was...

...how to assign the former Ouchi fiefs to his clansmen, without causing dissatisfaction.

We have no choice.

Sire.

Alright.

What a nice day, sweetie.

Nice day, cutie pie.

Oh, my, your baby is crying.

SAYO KO Motonari had two concubines.

But at Takakage's insistence, Tae formerly became his third concubine.

My name is Tae.

I'm not able to have children, but I really love children.

Please let me love the babies you had with the Great Lord.

Nice to meet you, Tae-sama.

Nice to meet you, too.

Motoharu and Takakage are here. Excuse me.

Sire?

May I please be excused, too?

The Kobayakawa doesn't need such fiefs.

Takamoto doesn't know what he's doing.

None of us will be happy with midland fiefs.

The Mori doesn't think about the Kikkawa either.

They don't give much to the Masuda, the clan I won over.

They only care for the Yoshimi, who favored the Mori from the beginning.

This won't let me control Iwami provincial constables.

For heaven's sake.

He's assigning only at the convenience of the head Mori family.

He takes no account of the Kikkawa.

Motoharu, do you think so, too?

Well, well, well.

Hi, Takamoto.

We are happy about Tae-dono coming here. We were talking about that just now.

That matter is...

...completely unpleasant.

You two made the decision. I didn't hear anything about that.

You're very busy as the clan's head. We didn't want to bother you.

Right, Motoharu?

You put the cart before the horse.

Takamoto is right.

I didn't hear about that either.

Oh, Eno, you were here.

I just met Tae-dono.

Motoharu.

Takakage.

Don't forget what Father always says.

The Mori clan has three brothers and...

Eno.

And Takaie-sama. It should be managed by the five of us.

You ignored a women. I won't forgive you.

Motoharu and Takakage, you two always talk secretly and intimately.

You don't even come close to me.

I'm talking secretly and intimately with you, too!

A person like you is feeling that way toward us? What a shame.

What a shame.

Motoharu and Takakage, everybody praises you as amazing generals.

You two are belittling me and Takamoto.

What are you saying?

Mori Takamoto is indispensable for our clan.

That's what we always say.

That's enough!

By anybody's standards, I'm no match for you, Motoharu and Takakage.

Motoharu, you're the most valorous man in Western Japan.

You surpassed Father in warfare a long time ago.

Takakage, you're praised by everybody as a smart strategist.

You're skilled in winning people's hearts over with a smile.

And people say your skills are better than Father's.

You two are taking advantage of such reputations,

to pursue your own interests and make only selfish claims.

I'm racking my brain over fief assignment to everyone in the clan.

You don't know anything about my worries!

I'm not making selfish claims.

As the Kikkawa clan head, I'm making rightful requests.

Right, Takakage?

That's true, but...

...Takamoto, I understand your pains, too.

And, Eno, your anger is absolutely right.

Quit ass-kissing!

You change opinions by wind directions. That's why people think you're easy.

Easy?

Motoharu, is that what you think about me?

Stop it.

- Mori Three brothers are the envy of everybody... - Three brothers and...

...Eno.

I'll never compromise the Kikkawa's requests.

I'll never comply with such requests.

You want to make enemies of the Kikkawa?

Organizing is something that I can enjoy for the first time.

But I don't know where to begin.

It gets messy quickly, so please leave it alone.

Hey, Tae.

My children are fighting again.

Just leave them alone.

Are you all right, sir?

Yeah, I'm fine.

Well.

While they had one battle after another, they couldn't survive without teaming up.

Their foulness didn't stand out.

Once battles are over,

they make only selfish claims when it comes to prizes and fiefs.

That's the way it is, you know?

They are responsible for protecting their own clans.

No, that's not the way it is.

Listen.

I...

...decided to partner with the Kikkawa, the Kobayakawa, to build the unshakable Mori.

And I've tried to build a clan centered around Takamoto.

They all know about that, but how...?

You should retire.

What? Retire?

I already did, a long time ago.

Please sit down.

Your retirement isn't real.

That's the worst.

You said you let Takamoto-sama take over your clan.

But you're still wielding real power.

If you take this chance to put him in charge of everything...

...and retire completely,

everybody has no other choice than uniting under Takamoto-sama.

Oh, that's...

...what I want to do.

But,

I can't put him in charge yet.

An old man's clinging to it forever. How shameful.

Even if he isn't dependable yet,

he'll grow more once you put him in charge.

You're...

...saying whatever you want.

Yes, I am.

To live a day like one year,

this much is enough.

What your heard now...

...must be announced immediately as the Mori clan's decisions.

- Next agenda. - Sire.

I would like to show you something.

This is...

...the official seal of the king of Japan.

It proves that the owner can represent the Land of the Rising Sun...

...and trade with Ming China.

This seal was given to the Ouchi. We own it now.

This is our chance to utilize the Ouchi's assets...

...and let the Mori's name be known far and away.

Sire.

Speaking of the Ouchi's assets,

you should think about Kyushu first.

Stabilizing Kyushu ensures our supremacy in the Inland Sea.

But the Otomo is in Kyushu.

You can't attack them easily.

Takakage does anything for the Kobayakawa.

That's why he even wants to beat enemies beyond the sea and gain more fiefs.

Motoharu is in an ill mood, because there's not much talk about Iwami.

- Shut up. - No, I won't!

What?

Come on.

Thanks to the Kikkawa and the Kobayakawa, the Mori became more powerful.

So the three clans should unite and try to go to Kyoto together.

Right.

Under the king's seal, the three clans must unite and go to Kyoto.

Unite!?

What a laugh!

- The three clans haven't reached any agreement. - Motoharu.

Are you digging up the fief matter again?

That's right!

Motoharu, you're such a persistant pest!

Unless that matter is settled, I cannot unite with anybody!

I'm the Kikkawa clan's representative.

Otherwise, I cannot face my vassals and my people.

Motoharu, that's the same for me.

I'm returning to you the Saijo Basin that you promised to give me.

Instead, I'd like to have Nomijima Island in the Inland Sea.

If you do that, we'll be sincerely single-minded with the Mori.

Takakage!

You're using the discussion I started...

...to do everything only for your own clan!

Quit that!

Inland Sea? Kyushu?

Everybody's looking only outside.

Do you think you can leave the Amago alone and they'll go to ruin by themselves?

Don't be shocked...

...when I attack you as an Amago ally.

Motoharu, wait.

Wait!

Sit down here.

Listen.

From now on,

everything must be discussed by you all...

...and follow Takamoto's decisions.

I'm...

...retiring.

Retire?

Oh, well.

This is...

...the real retirement.

Great Lord.

I haven't heard anything about that.

I'll never attend conferences.

Everything...

...must be done by Takamoto's decisions.

Takamoto's will is...

...the Mori's will.

Everyone.

Got it?

Motoharu-sama and Takakage-sama must follow you, head of the Mori.

Please do everything as you believe.

How encouraging, Motoyasu.

I want to get along with my brothers.

Why don't you write your brothers and sister?

That's a great idea.

If you show them your strong determination,

they'll understand for sure.

Setting Takakage aside,

Motoharu and Eno are like fireballs.

Eno.

He's throwing eggs on the Shishido's face.

I don't care.

Outrageous!

They haven't written back to the lord.

The lord is being distressed like that.

Motoharu and Eno are so immature.

Here.

I made you space to sit down.

- Please find a gap to sit down. - What are they thinking?

The lord is really upset this time.

He's saying he's going to see Father in Suo and tell him everything.

Father is in the middle of subduing revolts by jizamurai (local samurai/farmer).

Why don't you send Motoharu-dono and Eno-dono to see the Great Lord?

If you don't tell them that Takamoto-dono will be there,

they'll run into each other.

They'll have no other choice than talking with each other.

Then, I'm going to Suo, too.

It might be bothersome for Father,

but it needs to be addressed before it gets protracted like the revolt.

SHOEIJI TEMPLE (Suo)

Motonari in Suo was visited by his quarreling children, Takamoto, Motoharu, Takakage and Eno.

Thanks, thanks a...

Everyone.

Thanks for coming to see me all toge...?

Let's serve them sake.

That's right.

Thanks for coming.

I'll start from you, Motoharu.

I didn't come with them.

Right.

Father, you called me over. And I found everyone else is here.

Hey, Eno.

You guys should drink together and talk all night long.

- Eno. - No, I'm going to bed now.

I'm tired.

This is a rare chance. Please make yourself at home.

Sit down.

Give him a cup.

Alright?

Here, Motoharu-dono.

Have a drink.

What kind of maneuver is this?

Takakage must have done this.

He's really good at this kind of cheap trick.

Don't talk to me like that!

Motoharu and Eno, your hearts are still immature.

Eno.

He's right.

Father.

I don't need to rely on my siblings.

Everybody is so selfish. Not worth talking with them.

You're making the Great Lord feel bad.

We're leaving now.

Go ahead and talk frankly with each other.

- That's a good idea. - Right.

Let's go.

Be nice each other, alright?

Hurry, come with me.

My sons don't know anything.

Hey, Tae.

This is what people are saying.

"Mori brothers are like three arrows; they don't break easily."

"The fine younger brothers are helping their older brother."

I planned this to find out if there is anything we can do.

But I overdid it.

My nose. Nose.

Wipe my nose.

- Come, Tae. - Yes.

This is a good chance.

I'm going to write a letter to my children.

Letter?

Yeah, it's about my beliefs and wishes...

Oh, yeah.

I should give them a lecture.

Stop it.

In every generation, young people hate to get lectured.

That's why...

...I'm going to lecture them nicely so that they don't dislike me.

Who wants to read that?

And you have a "beat around the bush" personality.

How much "rambling" will your letter have...?

Even I don't want to read it.

Yeah,

I'm...

...an "indirect" man.

GASSAN-TODA CASTLE (Izumo)

Good news, Father.

The Mori are on verge of breaking up, because of sibling quarrels.

This is a chance for us.

We should take advantage of it and take the Iwami silver mine back.

Sibling quarrels?

They'll be fixed soon.

Yoshihisa.

Drink.

I'm so jealous.

I'm the only son.

I've never had sibling quarrels.

Are you lonely?

Who's lonely?

That Motonari is suffering? What kind of quarrel is that?

They must be really venting their feelings to each other.

That kind of quarrel is good.

Scary quarrels are...

...when someone doesn't vent her grudges or hatred,

and ignores her opponent!

The opposite of love isn't hatered.

It's indifference.

Are you saying I'm ignoring you, sire?

I killed your father Kunihisa. I can't blame you.

That's nothing unusual during this chaotic period.

I don't hate you or ignore you.

- Great Lord. - What?

This is too wordy and indirect.

- Here. - Where?

Look, this is it.

Hey, Tae.

This is...

...the bottom line.

- No, you just... - Read this.

Look, you already wrote it earlier.

Here.

You're right.

Hey.

- Tae. - Yes.

How's this?

For his children,

Motonari stayed up all night writing a very long letter of fourteen lessons.

Look at this.

Isn't this well-written?

"As the matter of our family name, Mori,"

"its reputation should be intact forever."

"It is crucial that you to keep that in mind and work hard for that."

This is just like Father.

It's very long.

Long.

He stayed up all night long to write this?

Yeah, he stayed up all night long and...

...he's sick in bed now.

- Sick in bed? - Yeah.

This really shows how much he is concerned.

"You might find my writing style to be hard to understand,"

"But I would like you to guess the meaning and pick up my feelings."

No other general writes like this.

What a "wordy, indirect" letter he wrote.

"Needless to say,"

'As you might already know,"

He writes phrases like this three, four times.

If he thinks we already know,

he shouldn't have written a long letter like this.

Look, Eno.

He says, "My daughter Eno should be treated the same as my three sons."

No other father would be considerate to his daughter.

I'm surprised that...

...Father complains everywhere, even in his writing.

"I killed so many people,"

"Sooner or later, I must reap what I sowed. That makes me depressed."

"Nobody thinks favorably of the Mori people."

Also, here.

"I have come this far with no exceptional talent."

"I want to rest as soon as possible, but I guess I'm not allowed," he says.

How could he complain this much...

Everyone.

Father is hoping that we will be bonded strongly.

Don't you want to grand his wishes?

Yeah, I do.

Sibling quarrels are over now!

I'm happy to be tricked by Father.

Takamoto, I want you to write back to him.

Sure.

Takaie-dono, may I?

Motoharu.

Takakage.

Eno.

Takaie-dono.

To be honest,

It's not easy for me to lead the Mori clan.

I'm always compared to my father.

But, with your unified cooperation,

even Father will be no match for us.

I don't want to hurt him, who is concerned this much.

Can you help me, everyone?

Takamoto.

You can't make people motivated only with your words.

I know it well.

Takakage, Motoharu, you two have your own clans and lands.

You can't return your lands without getting the fiefs you want.

As for the fiefs I'm giving you,

I will reconsider and try to meet your expectations as much as possible.

But I have to think about others, too.

Can you wait for a while?

Takamoto, do you always carry those notes?

Yeah.

I want to meet everyone's expectations.

I review and reconsider it in my spare time.

But it's hard.

We made you worry unnecessarily while we knew you were having a hard time.

We apologize.

They all get along now.

That's good.

What's good about this?

I stayed up all night long to write fourteen lessons.

Their reply is this short?

- Look at this. - Yes.

Oh, yeah! Tae.

Bring me a brush.

Oh, are you going to write more?

Yeah, I'm going to.

Takamoto shouldn't have written back to me on their behalf.

They were supposed to write me back individually.

I'm going to ask them what they think about that.

- Hey, Tae. - Yes.

This is the point.

If I write, "What would you think about that?"

I don't sound pushy, right?

Oh, my, your indirect considerateness.

You don't look like a general who rose at age 59 and conquered Itsukushima.

Oh, my, please rest yourself now.

- Please. - I'm fine. Bring me a brush.

- No, I can't. - Bring me a brush.

Bring me a brush!

Please watch your step.

Are you alright?

Thanks.

Tae-dono.

Thank you so much.

Great Lord's face has changed.

He has a happy face now, just like when he was with Mii-sama.

Oh, no. He is a worse mumbler than I heard.

I'm having fun every day with him.

It's hard to babysit him, isn't it?

This is nothing.

When he gets so "obscure",

I just leave him alone.

He always expects women to babysit him.

What shall I do when he gets old?

He's already old.

Oh.

You're right.

But, Fujino-dono.

You're still single and working.

I'm not able to do much any more.

But I arranged your marriage with the Great Lord.

That was my last service.

I have a place to work until I die.

What a happy woman I am.

How true.

Regardless of what other people say,

a woman is the happiest as long as she herself thinks she is happy.

I have no husband or children.

But I am happy to have been born.

Sayo-sama wants you to comfort him, because you're so good at it.

Come here.

You're okay.

You're gonna be okay.

Yeah? You want to go outside?

Let's go outside.

Let's go outside.

"Tomorrow, I'm taking him..."

You have only one unfinished business, don't you?

Singing a lullaby to a breastfed baby.

Here, Fujino-dono.

Good boy.

This is Fujino-dono.

There, good boy.

Good boy.

"Hushabye, sleep."

"Today is the 25th day of his birth."

"Tomorrow, I'm taking him to the shrine."

"At the shrine,"

"What shall I pray for...?"

"I shall..."

Fujino-dono!

Fujino-dono!!

Hey, Fujino.

Let's view stars together toni...

Fujino-dono...

...has become a star.

She had a beautiful last moment.

As if a wheel stops slowly...

Very slowly.

"What shall I pray for?"

Fujino-dono.

Thanks to you,

I could meet the Great Lord.

Thank you so much.

Fujino-dono.

End of Episode 43