Original subtitles

Takamoto...!

Takamoto was only 41-years-old

when he was killed by an assassin sent by the Amago.

After losing the clan�fs head in his prime time,

the Mori had only 11-year-old Kotsurumaru to take over the clan.

Father.

I won't make Mother feel lonely.

Kotsurumaru had a coming-of-age ceremony and changed his first name.

Back then, a samurai boy having a coming-of-age ceremony

could receive a Chinese character from a higher-ranked man.

Such characters were called 'henki'.

Takamoto received the character 'taka' from...

...a powerful daimyo lord, Ouchi Yoshitaka.

The Ouchi went to ruin after that.

And Mori Motonari became the strongest daimyo lord in the Chugoku Region.

He asked someone high to give a 'henki' to Kotsurumaru.

The person was Ashikaga Yoshiteru,

the 13th shogun of the Muromachi Shogunate.

MORI MOTONARI

Episode 48: Terumoto Making a Debut

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 Terumoto: Morita Tsuyoshi

Lady Toshi: Otsuka Nene

Eno: Takahashi Yumiko

Kikkawa Motoharu: Matsushige Yutaka

Kobayakawa Takakage: Megumi Toshiaki

Ooba Katakane: Nakajima Hisayuki Kikkawa Motosuke: Shimizu Shin

Princess Tama: Matsumoto Megumi Kiyo: Shibata Rie

Kodama Naritada: Masuoka Toru

Katsura Motozumi: Tsurumi Shingo

Akagawa Motoyasu: Nagashima Toshiyuki

Fukubara Sadatoshi: Ishihama Akira Kunishi Motosuke: Sakamoto Akira

Yamanaka Shikanosuke: Yamada Jundai

Mitsu: Iwasaki Hiromi

Amago Yoshihisa: Nakamura Shido Kawazoe Hisanobu: Uesugi Shozo

Shinagawa Okaminosuke: Hayashi Kunishiro Hosokawa Takakore: Hisatomi Koreharu

Tachihara Yukitaka: Kadota Shun Nakai Tsunaie: Kashiwa Susumu

Tae: Miyamoto Nobuko

Produced by: Kida Yukinori

English Subtitles: Koala Fansubs

Directed by: Yoshikawa Kunio

In February, 1565 (Eiroku 8),

it had been two and a half years since the Mori's campaign for Izumo began.

The Mori approached Gassan-Toda Castle and didn't move an inch.

They were confining the Amago in their castle.

ARAWAI CASTLE (Mori's Main Camp, Izumo)

Meanwhile, Motonari fell ill on the battlefield.

Thanks to Tae, he was able to stand up again.

Look what Tae has.

How quiet.

I can't believe I'm on a battlefield.

Until the Amago run out of food,

I'm not going to move at all.

- Hey, Tae. - Yes.

After you go back to Yoshida,

tell everyone not to worry...

...because it's a quiet battle.

Yes, I will.

Even Motoharu-sama is hand-copying "Taiheiki" every day.

The Amago's Gassan-Toda Castle.

Without unnecessary bloodshed,

I'm going to take it.

Tae.

Wait for the good news.

Great Lord.

You're a man of supreme masculinity.

You're 69-years-old now.

You lost your loved ones.

You fell ill but stood up again.

And now,

you're saying, "I'm going to take the enemy castle without unnecessary bloodshed."

I have no way to do such a thing.

Seeing a man's power that is different from a women's...

...makes a woman get excited.

Great Lord.

I'll pray for your safe return.

I'll be waiting for you.

I'll...

...return safely for sure.

KORIYAMA CASTLE (Aki) Motonari's grandson, Kotsurumaru...

...was having a coming-of-age ceremony at Koriyama Castle.

Katsura Motozumi returned from Izumo to attend as Motonari's representative.

Shogun Yoshiteru gave you the character "Yoshi" from his first name.

HOSOKAWA TAKAKORE (Messenger from the Shogunate)

Now, call yourself "Mori Yoshimoto".

If I may humbly speak up,

I don't want to call myself Yoshimoto.

Oh, no.

I apologize.

- Kotsurumaru-sama! - This character from Shogun Yoshimoto...

...doesn't please you?

No, that's not what he thinks.

- He doesn't know... - That's not what I mean.

Hosokawa-dono.

Please forgive me for not taking the name Yoshimoto.

Why?

I would like to have the lower character from Shogun Yoshiteru.

May I call myself "Terumoto"?

Look.

They are in trouble.

Actually, Kotsurumaru-dono.

To receive a name from a shogun,

you need to offer an immense amount of money to the shogunate.

And...

...receiving his upper character in your name...

...costs a lot more than the other way.

The Mori already offered the amount for the upper character.

But my grandfather and father...

...didn't received names from shoguns.

I do not want to be the only one who received such an honor.

My grandfather and father always told me...

...to respect shoguns.

First, I would like to live up to my honor of having the name Terumoto.

And then,

if my first son receives the character Yoshi,

I will be more than happy, sir.

What a humble young lord.

Shogun Yoshiteru will be impressed.

Kotsurumaru-dono.

I understood what you said.

Thank you very much, sir.

I was moved.

Kotsurumaru-sama.

This story will be known throughout Japan.

True.

Well, I didn't know that...

...Great Lord and Lord were telling you to respect shoguns.

They never told me.

I was just being considerate as an heir.

It's really tiring to be an heir.

I declined Yoshimoto not because it was too good for me.

Think about it.

That's the same name as Imagawa Yoshimoto.

He was killed by Oda Nobunaga at Okehazama.

What an unlucky name.

And, if I receive the character Yoshi,

it'll sound like Amago Yoshihisa.

I don't want to be like other people.

Mori Terumoto.

Sounds new, sounds good.

Mori Terumoto.

Sounds so good.

Thus, Mori Terumoto was born.

Terumoto left Koriyama Castle to replace his late father Takamoto.

With Motoharu's first son, Kikkawa Motosuke,

Terumoto went to battle at Izumo where Motonari was waiting.

Thanks for coming, both of you.

Sadatoshi.

Katakane.

Good job.

You two...

...have grown good.

MORI TERUMOTO I, Terumoto...

...am determined to work bravely during my first battle.

KIKKAWA MOTOSUKE (Motoharu's Heir, Later Known as Kikkawa Motonaga)

I, too, am going to live up to the names of my grandfather Motonari and...

...my father Motoharu.

- Motoharu. - Yes.

Your son looks like you.

He's so handsome.

- Thank... - Thank you very much!

I am proud of looking like my father.

They are so dependable.

But we're having a drawn-out battle.

We just have to sit and wait.

By winning a drawn-out battle, we can destroy the Amago.

But that doesn't mean we capture Gassan-Toda Castle with our own hands.

Grandpa, don't you want to attack...

...and capture that impregnable castle?

He's right.

We haven't attacked the castle even once.

That's a disgrace for Mori men.

My grandsons are right.

Since my ancestor's times,

the castle has been a symbol of something beyond our reach.

Maybe that's why I am hesitating to attack the castle.

You two taught me a lesson.

Terumoto.

Under your command,

we'll launch a full-scale attack.

GASSAN-TODA CASTLE (Izumo)

The Mori conquered most of Izumo.

They blocked the ports and coasts, thrashed through rice paddies and fields,

and completely isolated Gassan-Toda Castle.

Do we still have enough food in the castle?

Yes, but we don't know how long this will last.

We'll run out eventually.

We must hurry planning how to break a corner of the Mori.

Excuse me, sir.

YAMANAKA SHIKANOSUKE (Amago Key Vassal)

Sire, the Mori are showing signs of launching a full-scale attack.

- What? - That's fine.

Let them launch a full-scale attack.

Hisanobu!

What a terrible thought you're saying!

This is an impregnable castle.

It will never fall.

We must strengthen our defense, attack the Mori as they climb up trying places,

and just kill them one after another.

The harder they attack us, the more damage they'll get.

Full-scale attacks surely work for the Amago.

But...

I can't help feeling that we're losing.

Mother?

Hisanobu, you take advantage of Yoshihisa's young age and act like the head.

I don't think we can win.

Are the Amago going to collapse?

On April 17, 1565 (Eiroku 8),

the Mori's full-scale attack began.

Come out, archers!

Loose the arrows!

During the drawn-out battle, the Mori obtained more soldiers.

A total of 20,000 soldiers started attacking the castle.

The defending Amago were 5,000-strong.

The Mori's military strength was overwhelmingly superior.

And the Mori divided their force into three...

...to simultaneously attack the three gateways to the castle.

The Mori's main unit led by Terumoto and Motonari...

...went to the Okomori-guchi Gateway in front of the castle...

...and smashed against Amago Yoshihisa's troops.

Charge!

The Kikkawa army led by Motoharu attacked the Shiotani-guchi Gateway on the right.

They dashed through the narrow uphill road.

Keep going!

- Father. - Let's go!

The Kobayakawa army led by Takakge attacked the Sugatani-guchi Gateway on the left.

They approached the castle by using unusual tactics.

Do not falter! Push forward!

Push forward!

But the understrength Amago fought back with skillful tactics using the steep hill.

They held the approaching Mori army off.

Do not falter!

Also, on the narrow road,

Yamanaka Shikanosuke launched surprise flank attacks...

...and kept the Mori army away from entering the castle.

Gassan-Toda Castle was protected by a stonewalling defense.

As Kawazoe Hisanobu predicted,

the Mori army's offense was gradually undermined.

After the 10 day-long fierce battle,

Motonari gave the entire army a command to retreat.

On April 28,

the entire Mori army returned to their camp in Arawai.

The Great Lord's letter made me relieved.

When I heard about Terumoto leading his army to shove into the enemy,

I was so worried.

"Terumoto did great for a first time warrior."

"He does everything good, but..."

"...he lacks seriousness for everything."

I can just imagine how he is doing.

It is an honor to lead his army, but he has a fiancee now.

PRINCESS TAMA (Eno's Daughter, Terumoto's Fiancee)

- I don't want him to die. - Princess Tama.

Let's have a wedding ceremony as soon as Terumoto-sama returns.

Yes.

Until then, Your Ladyship, please teach me the Mori's customs.

I, Kiyo, will teach you, ma'am.

I raised Lady Toshi to become such a fine lady.

I'll teach you everything.

You don't need to.

I'm Mori Motonari's daughter.

I know about the Mori more than anyone else.

With all due respect,

it's been twenty years since I came over here with Lady Toshi.

My life in the Mori clan is longer than yours.

I want Tama to learn something about the Mori today.

That's why I brought her to this room.

Tama, look at this messy room.

Eno-sama.

This is how Tae-sama is.

She gives the Great Lord a lot of good advice.

But she is poor at organizing.

I'm so ashamed.

I won't forgive your discourtesy to Tae-sama!

Are you going to tell her not to become like Tae-sama?

- How rude of you! - Kiyo.

- Let me say this. I can't stand it. - My mother...

...told me to become like Tae-sama.

This is what I always tell her.

Tae-sama is so smart that she can give the Great Lord various advices.

But men usually shun smart women.

Tae-sama has a fault that she is poor at organizing.

That's why the Great Lord feels comfortable with her.

What a heart-warming remark.

Oh, my, I'm sweating.

Tae-sama.

That's a rag.

Gassan-Toda Castle is impregnable.

We should make another plan.

We don't need another plan.

We retreated this time, but...

...the Mori were obviously dominant.

We should attack them again immediately.

I agree with him, Great Lord.

We put too many soldiers on the steep Sugatani-guchi Gateway.

That's why we were defeated by Shikanosuke's surprise attacks.

If we put more soldiers on the narrow Shiotani-guchi Gateway to break the castle gate,

we might be able to capture the castle right away.

I cannot agree to that idea.

I understand you desperately want to break the castle gate.

OBA KATAKANE (Former Ouchi Key Vassal) - But the deeper you enter the castle,

the harder it is for you to attack.

How do you know?

Since the Ouchi lost to them,

I have conducted thorough research on the castle structure.

Then, you must have good ideas on how we should attack them.

A long drawn-out battle is the best. We must make them eat up their food.

You cannot capture the castle by just attacking.

Capturing a castle like that will bring an honor to the Mori.

No, Katakane is right.

Even with experienced warriors like you all,

it was impossible to capture the castle.

The stonewalling defense of Gassan-Toda Castle...

...has drilled into me.

As we planned,

we should stick to starvation tactics.

Spend a great deal of time...

...to win certainly.

Then, we can avoid unnecessary bloodshed on our side.

We can just sit and wait.

Not a bad idea.

Not a bad idea, but...

...it's boring.

Terumoto.

Battles are not games.

Yes.

After pushing the Mori away,

Amago Yoshihisa was feeling strong.

The Mori aren't as strong as I thought.

- We should sally out now. - No, sir.

If we go down the mountain, we're no match for the Mori now.

If we make them attack, we can clip their wings as we're protected by this castle.

But...

We're consuming food day by day.

Are you guys telling me...

...to starve to death while I'm protected by my castle?

I'll listen to you. I have no choice.

Sire.

You might get nervous when staying in your castle to fight enemies.

But the enemy's defense can get lower.

Their defense will fall apart at some point.

For now, we should just wait for that.

- But... - I can...

...make their defense fall apart.

What?

We just need to get rid of Motonari.

Meanwhile, accompanied only with two bodyguards,

Motonari secretly left his camp in Arawai.

After I confined you in Akama-ga-seki,

I summoned you here. You must be wondering what I want.

Great Lord.

I, Motoyasu,

am prepared to die at any time.

I was...

...in communication with Kawazoe for a while.

You might not believe me, but...

...I have no intention of switching sides from the Mori.

I've been just trying to spy on the Amago.

I told everything to the Lord.

Motoyasu.

Thanks for telling me.

Actually,

I summoned you here...

...not because I want you to die.

I want you to do one more job.

That's the layout of the Mori main camp.

And food and weapon supply routes.

My bedroom is marked there, too.

Give it to Kawazoe.

Are you...

...telling me to contact Kawazoe again?

To avenge Takamoto,

I want to capture Gassan-Toda Castle no matter what.

For that purpose,

I need to break the Amago from inside.

I need a checkmate for that.

Motoyasu.

Would you do this job for Takamoto?

Not for me.

It's for Takamoto.

For Takamoto-dono,

I'll do it.

"Taiheiki: Volume 36"

Grandpa.

What?

I'm afraid...

...of getting lazy.

I want to show I can fight better than anyone else.

Waiting is part of a battle.

If you get lazy,

you'll be brought down.

By the time you finish copying forty volumes of Taiheiki,

will there be some kind of move?

I don't know.

We'll see.

Your swordsmanship and penmanship must be scaring the Amago away.

Stop saying a foolish thing.

Don't distract me.

Father!

- Father. - What?

The Amago won't last long.

More than ten soldiers snuck out of the castle and surrendered to us.

They must be having a hard time managing people in the castle.

Grandpa.

Are we winning without fighting?

Takakage.

Kill five of them.

And send the rest back to the castle.

Why, Great Lord?

The soldiers, who are sent back,

will tell everyone in the castle.

"The Mori won't allow us to desert."

"We'll get killed if we leave."

Then, they won't abandon the castle...

...because they don't want to be killed.

They will try to endure it.

They surrendered us.

Why don't you encourage them to surrender?

Terumoto.

Listen.

Those who surrender at this point...

...are the mentally weakest ones in the Amago.

By leaving the castle,

those weak ones are giving their food to other people in the castle.

If you make weak ones stay in the castle,

the weak ones will consume as much food as the strong ones.

You...

...scare me, Grandpa.

August, 1565 (Eiroku 8) Thus, the Mori didn't allow Amago soldiers...

...to desert as they continued to besiege the castle.

The Amago started running out of food day by day.

The Lord is coming.

Hang in there, everyone.

We're getting provisions from Tajima.

It's coming soon.

Just a little more patience.

Did they die of hunger? Already?

No.

They were so hungry that they ate poisonous weeds and mushrooms.

Hisanobu.

Can't we get provisions faster?

It's already at the entrance of a by-path.

They'll bring it in under the cover of darkness.

- Hurry. - Yes, sir!

One more time.

Come, Motosuke.

Push harder.

What's wrong, Motosuke?

Push.

Harder, Motosuke.

Push.

You beat me.

This is it!

You're too strong, Father.

You've gotten stronger, Motosuke.

I'm having fun teaching you.

Your arms are getting stronger.

Father...

You're too strong.

- Father, you're... - Father.

I have a favor to ask.

On the Shiotani-guchi Gateway where we attacked,

there is a run-down temple. Did you know that?

No.

I heard that's the entrance of a by-path...

...that the Amago use to bring provisions in the castle at night.

What?

My spy heard a rumor that...

...something looking like provisions was brought into the temple.

Father.

If we attack them when they pick up the provisions up at night,

we can run the by-path all the way up to the castle, can't we?

- Please let me go. - Wait.

The back of the Shiotani-guchi Gateway...

That's too deep into the enemy territory.

If we go there under the cover of darkness,

our escape route might be blocked instead.

A night raid isn't good.

Instead, I'll give you some of my soldiers so that...

...you can launch an attack with me.

Let's launch a simultaneous attack and give them a blow.

Understood.

I want to distinguish myself in front of you...

...as soon as possible.

Terumoto?

RUN-DOWN TEMPLE BEHIND SHIOTANI-GUCHI GATEWAY

Terumoto secretly recruited soldiers from Iwami constables, but not from the Mori.

He snuck into the temple where the Amago's provisions were hidden.

Hurry!

Carry everything out before sunrise.

Attack!

Intruder.

Prepare to die.

Are you all right, sire?

Shinagawa.

Are you Yamanaka Shikanosuke (Deerman)?

I am.

Get him!

I was born in Iwami.

I am Shinagawa Okaminosuke (Wolfman).

- Okaminosuke (Wolfman) - Right.

SHINAGAWA OKAMINOSUKE (Masuda Clan Vassal) - My only dream is...

...to hunt deer.

So I abandoned my old name and called myself Okaminosuke (Wolfman).

Interesting.

Get out.

Sire.

Listen.

Leave me alone.

Sire! Please run away!

You must be the Mori's Young Lord.

Get his head!

Do not falter!

He's here!

- Uncle. - Come with me.

Terumoto!

How many allies, including Shinagawa...

...did you kill?

If you die, the Mori will lose the heir!

Great Lord, you said...

...we should make them get starved as soon as possible!

I tried to stop their food supply.

I did the right thing.

Hey.

Terumoto.

What kind of consequence did you bring?

We lost precious allies.

By doing so, you...

...caused damage in the Mori army!

- Hey. - Father.

- Out of my way. - Please stop.

- Out of my way. - Father.

- Father! - Hey, Terumoto!

Terumoto.

Listen well.

The most shameful thing for a warriors is...

...to steal a battle, you know!?

- Remember that! - Terumoto.

Terumoto.

How are you going to atone for this?

Terumoto.

Apologize him now!

Terumoto!

Answer me!

I, Terumoto...

...wanted to steal a battle from Motosuke.

What?

Motosuke...

...can learn from such a fine father.

I was...

...so jealous.

Copying "Taiheiki".

Fencing practice.

Fencing instructions.

I don't have...

...a father who does such things with me.

I wanted to show everyone...

...that I could fight better, even if I had no father.

I...

...really miss my father.

I'm jealous of Motosuke...

...because he has a father.

Hey.

Terumoto.

Your Grandpa was ten...

...when his father died.

You were ten?

I was.

Terumoto.

Even a boy, who lost his father,

can interact with his father again.

That's when...

...his father's dreams...

...come true with his own hands.

Father.

End of Episode 48