Original subtitles

I'm...

...retiring.

Retiring?

I'll never attend conferences.

Takamoto's will is...

...the Mori's will.

During the Warring States Period,

men, who became clan's heads, were confronted by harsh challenges.

In the Chugoku Region,

Ouchi Yoshitaka, son of the wise lord Ouchi Yoshioki, and...

Amago Haruhisa, heir of Amago Tsunehisa who conquered the San-in Region in his lifetime,

both of them had tragic deaths.

Haruhisa couldn't surpass Tsunehisa.

I wonder how much he suffered.

I want something, even one thing,

that makes me surpass my father.

To surpass his father Motonari,

Takamoto, the Mori clan's head, is starting his ordeals.

MORI MOTONARI

Episode 45: Man's Caliber

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

Mori Takamoto: Kamikawa Takaya

Lady Toshi: Otsuka Nene

Kikkawa Motoharu: Matsushige Yutaka

Kobayakawa Takakage: Megumi Toshiaki

Lady Ako: Fujiyoshi Kumiko Mimi: Nishina Fuki

Kunishi Motosuke: Sakamoto Akira Awaya Motochika: Shionoya Masayuki

Kodama Naritada: Masuoka Toru

Katsura Motozumi: Tsurumi Shingo

Akagawa Motoyasu: Nagashima Toshiyuki

Mitsu: Iwasaki Hiromi

Inoue Harutada: Namase Katsuhisa

Hirasa Nariari: Sato B-saku

Shishido Takaie: Kase Taishu Fukubara Sadatoshi: Ishihama Akira

Amago Yoshihisa: Nakamura Shido Kawazoe Hisanobu: Uesugi Shozo

Hotate Masanao: Harada Yoshio

Tae: Miyamoto Nobuko

Produced by: Kida Yukinori

English Subtitles: Koala Fansubs

Directed by: Sano Motohiko

January, 1561 (Eiroku 4)

The first conference of the year...

...was about to begin at the renovated Koriyama Castle.

Motonari already announced his retirement,

so he didn't attend the conference.

Everything was supposed to be done by Takamoto.

As the new year starts,

I'm going to tell you my resolutions as the Mori clan's head.

Thanks to all the efforts you have made,

the Mori became such a big clan.

But we got too big.

we cannot keep our eyes on every corner.

I want to start this year by solving the problem.

First, I'm thinking of hiring capable people as new key vassals.

That's a good idea.

We got big, so we need more people.

I'm thinking of these two people.

Oba Katakane.

Hayashi Narinaga.

They were both key vassals for the Ouchi.

The Ouchi...?

Why aren't you choosing someone from our clan...

...and picking from former Ouchi men who surrendered us?

We aren't familiar with Suo and Nagato provinces.

So we should appoint someone who used to govern those provinces.

What you think makes sense, sire.

For new assignments, we should definitely employ the right people.

One more thing.

Some of you are good at governing a big fief...

...while others are good at keeping an eye on Aki Province.

I want to pick someone to keep an eye only on Aki Province.

In short,

you are kicking someone out who's not able to do big jobs, aren't you?

Why do you interpret it that way?

- That's not it. - Sir.

Who did you pick?

Sire.

Please go ahead and tell us.

Katsura Motozumi.

Awaya Motochika.

Motozumi, I want you to focus on your job as the owner of Sakurao Castle.

Control everything involving the towns of Itsukushima and Hatsukaichi.

Motochika, I want you to guard Koriyama Castle, which became larger.

And I want you to train the young warriors of our clan.

You're giving me a job for side-tracked people in a turbulent age.

I didn't know that you thought so lowly of me!

You should just tell me to leave service.

I can save face that way.

Excuse me!

- Hey, take it easy. - I see.

You're hiring two men, so you need to kick two out.

I'm not good at math, but it makes sense to me.

They've been single-hearted in fighting hard for the Mori.

How can you dare disfavor them!?

That's not it!

Everyone is fit for different jobs.

Motozumi and Motochika.

I just want you to devote all your energy to your ideal jobs.

Sire.

I think we should discuss this matter another time.

I would like to close today's conference.

Give me...

...some time to think about it.

Katsura-dono.

Excuse me.

You're too honest, sire.

Personnel revisions always create discomposure.

You need to learn how to communicate using a better choice of words.

I just thought...

I should tell everyone what they are good at or inept at.

Your sincere wishes...

...will be understood by them later.

Well, what do you know.

If he asked us in advance,

we could have wrapped up the meeting better.

Motozumi.

I'm sorry.

Well, Great Lord.

What the lord said is right.

Although I feel a bit sad, I'm not young any more.

Instead of governing a new province,

I can do a better job by focusing on the castle I already know well.

Motozumi.

Thank you.

I'm...

...doing right things.

Sire?

But I...

...am not able to manage people.

Motoharu manages people powerfully...

...with his dignity that every warlord is expected to have.

Takakge manages people with a smile...

...by using his extraordinary brain.

Great Lord.

- I got good herbs. - Did you?

I'll make you live until you're 150-years-old, all right?

I'm studying hard on perpetual youth and longevity.

So I'll master the secret of longevity.

That's not important now.

- Hey, Tae. - Yes.

Is Takamoto feeling pressed?

Compared to his brothers,

I think he is too honest when he does things.

If you find your merits, even a single merit,

you can use it as your strength throughout your life.

But young people don't notice their merits.

Right.

Rather than the aggressiveness that Motoharu and I have,

vassals respect Takamoto's gentleness more.

Gentleness and sincerity are plain. They don't stand out.

That's why he is irritated.

I'm sorry.

We live on a ball, so it rolls good.

Sire.

I heard there is ocean on the other side, too.

If so, ocean trade will expand more.

I envy you, Hotate-dono.

You think the unthinkable, live freely,

and make a living by your favorite trading.

I have no power, but...

...I must carry those three stars.

My father and brothers...

...are something.

But the one who most resembles your father...

...is you, sire.

- I am? - Yeah.

You complain often.

Just like your father.

Sire.

When you're not confident,

you should eat something.

Why, it's so chilly out here.

Are you viewing the moon?

No, I was just telling him he is just like the Great Lord.

You complained, sire, didn't you?

Please listen well, sire.

Your truthful sincerity is...

...much loved by everyone, you know?

Sincerity and earnestness are the most important to every person.

You already have both of them.

Everybody compliments me about my earnestness and sincerity.

Those two points represent...

...foolish honesty.

What are you saying?

You're widely known as one of the good souls.

I'm a good soul.

My father and brothers are good men.

That's what it is.

Sire?

Sire.

Sire.

For Heaven's sake.

You didn't encourage him at all.

That's right.

I just...

...believe sincere and earnest men will win eventually.

"Sincere, earnest, and good soul" aren't compliments to men at all.

Same for women.

"Gentle, bright and good soul" are only for helpless women.

How true.

Well, even so,

sincerity is truly important, I think.

OK, OK. Here.

TAKAYAMA CASTLE (Residence of the Kobayakawa Clan)

The lord is suffering that much?

Nobody knows what to do with him,

even the Great Lord, Lady Toshi, Hotate-dono and myself.

The Great Lord thinks you are the best person to solve this problem.

That's why I came over to ask you for help.

Takamoto-dono is the most compassionate lord in this country.

Some people criticize the Great Lord and his younger brothers.

But nobody criticizes Takamoto-dono.

How true.

The Great Lord, Motoharu-dono and my lord...

...always make moves on their own.

Those three are selfish men, so nobody knows where they're going.

Takamoto-dono tightly controls them.

That's why vassals can do their jobs without worries.

He's the keystone.

Yeah, that's it!

That's what I wanted to say.

Harutada-dono is such a smooth talker.

The lord is trusted by everybody for his sincerity.

You can't use the word 'sincere' to the lord.

You can't use it.

Yes?

I feel sorry for Takamoto-dono.

Sire.

Please consult with Motoharu-dono and take any good measures.

Please, sir.

Would you?

Would you?

GASSAN-TODA CASTLE (Residence of Amago Yoshihisa)

The Mori will attack this castle eventually.

I'm no match for the three Mori brothers.

Stop acting weak.

Yoshihisa, you're of the lineage of the wise generals, Tsunehisa and Kunihisa.

You must be proud and confident of yourself.

I don't even know how to fight or what to do as the Amago heir.

I wanted my father to teach me a lot!

Your father wasn't that good.

The Amago depend on Tsunehisa and Kunihisa.

They were both marvelous generals.

I'll teach you about them.

Mother!

Please leave.

I don't want you to criticize my father.

Please leave.

Is that what you're supposed to say to your mother?

The Amago head is me.

Nobody can disobey me.

Great Lady!

Despite what the Great Lady said,

your father was a marvelous general.

That's what I thought.

You must protect the Amato now.

Don't let the Great Lady boss you around.

I, Kawazoe Hisanobu,

will help you, sire.

I will do anything for you.

I'm counting on you.

He's waiting for you.

This way, sir.

Thanks for coming over in the rain.

Your letter gave me a pretty good idea of what you want.

You want to partner with me, right?

So...

How much are you going to pay me?

The entire Aki Province.

How bullish you are.

Do you think you can crumble the Mori with only my help?

Akagawa Motoyasu-dono, you're a top aide to Mori Takamoto.

If you're in our hand, we can win.

Takamoto-dono is known for his virtue.

I hear even he is having a hard time managing the Mori.

If Takamoto-dono is gone,

the Mori cannot bear its big size.

You are...

...telling me to kill the lord, aren't you?

We live in a period of gekokujo (the low overcoming the great).

Are you going to do it?

Let me think about it.

Akagawa-dono.

I put all my cards on the table.

You are not going to give me a bad time, are you?

Takamoto's plan of personnel revisions and hiring former Ouchi vassals...

...created discomposure among his clansmen.

Having worried too much,

Takamoto could not even hold another conference.

Thanks for coming over.

Motochika, you'd rather leave service to save face.

I understand that.

- But, you know... - But...

...the lord made the right decision.

The Mori got too big.

To keep managing such a big clan meticulously,

everyone must be assigned to his specialized area.

I just...

...didn't want to accept something.

Something?

My aging.

HINOYAMA CASTLE (Residence of the Kikkawa Clan)

Did something happen to Takakage-dono?

Takamoto is being depressed.

Takakage is asking me if there is any good way to encourage him.

I'm slaving away dealing with battles now.

I have no time for that.

I understand how Takamoto-dono is feeling.

Why is he being depressed?

Everybody thinks the Mori cannot survive without him.

Have you ever told him so?

I don't need to. He knows it.

Men are not supposed to verbalize everything.

You're wrong.

When you feel thankful, you must say, "Thank you."

When you care about someone, you must say, "I care about you."

Men, who can't do so, cannot be leaders in the age to come.

True.

Some leaders keep the same expression as if they have iron masks on them.

Who wants to work for such leaders?

Everyone thinks it is your older brother's job to work as the clan's head.

Nobody has thanked him. Am I right?

You two are right.

All right.

I'll write Takakage and tell him to have a drinking party at his castle.

We'll talk with Takamoto then, give him credit,

and thank him.

That's a good idea.

I'll tell him to invite all the key vassals we are working with.

Open-minded conversations are good for Takamoto.

Oh, sire.

You've grown so fast.

I must stay here to fight.

Nariari, you go there for me.

That doesn't make sense. You must go, sire.

No, you go for me.

Sire, you must go even if you cannot leave this castle.

Your Ladyship.

Even after all that we've told him,

he doesn't want to thank Lord Takamoto face-to-face.

- I'm right, aren't I? - Quiet!

If you already know,

you're supposed remain silent. Just go and thank him as my vassal.

Yes, sir.

For Pete's sake.

According to Motoharu's plan,

Takakage sent Motonari and Takamoto invitations to a drinking party at Takayama Castle.

What a smarty.

Takakage is holding a party. That's a neat idea.

How considerate he is.

Right, Tae?

Unlike the Mori head, who cannot even hold conferences,

the Kobayakawa head holds a drinking party.

Impressive.

Takamoto!

Why are you looking at the negative side?

You're the Mori clan's head.

You're twisted!

Sire.

The Great Lord doesn't drink, but please tell him...

...to take this chance and have a wild time out.

Excuse me.

Hey.

- Takamoto. - Great Lord.

Hey.

Wh... wh... what, Tae?

What are you doing?

What are you doing?

Great Lord.

No parent has to be considerate to his children.

Even you're thankful for everybody's considerations.

How can he act like a rotten woman?

No woman goes rotten until she dies.

Mother.

I gave it a good deal of thought, but...

...I wasn't born to be a clan head.

As for my duty of managing the clan,

I finally decided to return the duty to Father.

Mother.

I'm a bad son.

I'm sorry.

Takakage focused on developing the port of Nuta,

PORT OF NUTA ...that is now bustling with many traveling ships.

Takayama Castle was standing on top of a hill overlooking the port.

When Motonari and others arrived the castle,

they were shocked at what Hotate Naomasa said.

Great Lord.

Lord.

I, Naomasa,

would like to leave service.

Every day, I am thinking while looking at the map attached to the ball.

I think, "There must still be some unknown countries and oceans."

Are you going on a voyage to find unknown countries?

That's not what I'm going to tell you.

As I do trading with Tenjiku (India) and Ming China,

I want to go as far as I can.

- As far as you can? - Yes.

As far as I can go on the blue ocean.

I think I will certainly find something tremendous.

Very well.

You're...

...built for being on the ocean.

Release yourself from...

...the limitations of this small Japan.

Do what you want, Hotate-dono.

Yes.

Thank you for your kind words.

Hotate-dono.

Can you take me with you?

Takamoto...?

Father.

I am sorry.

Every time I heard his stories,

I am too envious to fall asleep at night.

I'm determined to transfer my responsibilities to Kotsurumaru...

...and ask you to become his guardian.

Takamoto!

You're indispensable for the Mori!

That's not true.

With your and Motoharu's helps,

Father can build the Mori just as he wants.

Father.

Your first son is helpless.

Please release me from my limitations.

Takamoto.

Come to think of it,

my older brother died early.

So I, as the second son, had to become the clan head.

I had one hardship after another.

But I could come this far while complaining often.

I've been built for becoming a general.

I am sorry.

I can't help feeling that...

...I am built for something else, not a general.

Takamoto!

If you run away once, you will develop a habit of running away.

You keep running away, all the way to hell.

If you're serious about trading with foreign countries,

I'll take you to the ends of the ocean.

If you just want to run away from the way you are now,

I won't take you.

Takamoto-dono.

Would you like to play kemari (football)?

I'm not good at it.

We aren't mere constables, so we should enjoy playing kemari or writing poems.

But we're well-disciplined by Father.

I heard about that from Eno.

"Anyone, who forgets about his real job, will lose everything."

"You don't need any art or pastime."

"Just keep learning about maneuvering, strategy building and stratagem devising."

That's right.

Because of Father, Mori men are all poor at arts.

Right, Takamoto?

That's true.

In that case, I, Nariari...

...will play this flute for you, Takamoto-dono.

I'll play tsuzumi drum for you.

I can't wait!

Bring a tsuzumi drum. Hurry.

Good idea.

Well, then...

I'll dance.

Huh?

Are you serious, Father?

Takamoto.

Would you like to have another drink with me?

- Takakage. - Yes.

Thanks a lot.

Thanks for holding such a heart-warming party for me.

I made everyone worry and concerned about nothing.

I'm ashamed of myself.

Takakage.

I not running away.

I'm going to live as the Mori head.

Really?

Yeah.

Father's dance made me realize...

...that I have no way to beat him.

His dance was impressive.

I wonder how he mastered it while having continuous battles.

Such a thought...

...makes me cry.

Dance is not the only example.

Father works hard on everything behind the scenes.

I decided to support him...

...to reduce his hard work as much as possible.

Not only Father...

...but also my brothers and vassals...

...will be supported by me down to the root.

I will keep...

...supporting you all.

Takamoto.

- Takakage. - Yes.

There are two kinds of clan heads.

Heads as leaders and...

...heads as supporters.

- Takakage. - Yes.

Your party made me realize that.

Thanks again.

I was just told to hold the party and thank you...

...by Motoharu.

Motoharu did?

Yes.

He wrote me and told me to do so.

That klutzy Motoharu did...?

Is this his idea?

Thanks.

Father.

I, Takamoto...

...will support you and my brothers for the rest of my life.

What about ocean trading?

A habit of running away will lead me to hell.

Though I was under stress,

- I was acting like a rotten woman... - Wait.

Beautiful morning, isn't it?

It is.

Hey, Takamoto.

No woman goes rotten until she dies.

I, too, won't go rotten throughout my life.

I'll focus on making the best use of all the talent.

As you made use of small pieces of spare time,

I will make the best use of everyone in the Mori clan, even the small children.

Be prepared, Father.

Well-said, son.

In front of you, Takamoto,

even I become one of your pieces.

Takamoto.

Motozumi said...

...he wants to obey your order.

Same for Awaya.

They want to follow you...

...because you are the clan's head.

I'm so fortunate.

End of Episode 45