Original subtitles

When Date Masamune was born to Lord Terumune,

ambitious warlords were fighting for the lands of Ou.

The Date were an illustrious old family, respected by its neighbors.

To the north were the Mogami, supervisor of Dewa Province.

And to the south were the Ashina of Aizu.

In addition, the Soma, the Uesugi, the Satake, the Tamura,

the Nikaido and the Ouchi waited for their chance to conquer.

These warlords arranged marriages...

in order to make allies of their rivals.

However, in many cases, the peace was soon broken,

and bloody battles ensued.

Date Masamune's mother, Lady Yoshi, was a Mogami from Yamagata Castle.

It took two hours on a fast horse...

to get from Yamagata Castle to Yonezawa Castle.

During the age of civil wars,

parents and children fought each other as enemies.

A leader who could unify the Ou territory...

was yet to appear.

MASAMUNE, THE ONE-EYED DRAGON

Episode 2: Fudo, God of Fire

Screenplay: James MIKI

Original Story: YAMAOKA Sohachi

Music: IKEBE Shin'ichiro

CAST

Date Terumune: KITAOJI Kin'ya

Bontenmaru: FUJIMA Ryota

Kita: TAKESHITA Keiko

Oniniwa Sagetsu: IKARIYA Chosuke

Date Harumune: KANEKO Nobuo

Date Sanemoto: RYU Raita

Endo Motonobu: KOUYAMA Shigeru

Kosai Soitsu: OTAKI Hideji

Lady Yoshi (Lady of the East): IWASHITA Shima

Subtitles Transcribed from JN Productions by: Avallac'h

Subtitles Editing/Timing: Koala Fansubs QC by: Kame Fansubs

Director: HIGUCHI Masahiro

Bontenmaru, the son of Lady Yoshi,

lost his right eye to smallpox at the age of five.

Young lord!

Let go!

The evil spirits must be chased away.

Have patience!

Mother!

Young Lord!

Young Lord!

I have heard unsettling news.

You asked me to serve as the young lord's guardian.

Moreover, Kita is also serving in that capacity.

But now you want another guardian?

If my services are inadequate,

I shall kill myself in apology.

- Sagetsu. - Quiet!

Hear me!

I want to hire a scholar for Bontenmaru.

A famous scholar-priest.

Someone like Priest Kaisen, who taught Takeda Shingen.

Priest Kaisen?

Koan...

As a Confucian scholar, you have traveled and seen much.

Can you suggest anyone?

Among Kaisen's disciples are the celebrated Nikairomon.

One is Kosai of Tokoji Temple.

The other is Daichu of Unganji Temple.

I've heard of them.

These are the best scholars in the land.

The second best are...

Never mind. I want the best.

But...

No one will come to the wilds of Ou?

Do anything!

I'll go and ask in person.

He can have land or a temple, if he wants.

Priest Kosai or Priest Daichu...

One of them must be Bontenmaru's teacher!

- Reporting! - What is it?

Exorcist Chokai is here on urgent...

Important news!

Important news!

Hey!

Please listen...

Bontenmaru is the reincarnation of Saint Mankai!

Saint Mankai?

He was the priest in Lady Yoshi's dream.

How do you know?

As I prayed to exorcise the evil spirit from the young lord,

the form of Saint Mankai appeared in the holy fire.

Our great founder of mountain asceticism,

Saint Mankai had only one eye!

Heaven be praised!

The heir of Date clan is the reincarnation of Saint Mankai!

The rumor quickly spread throughout the town.

Upon hearing the news, the people were struck with awe and reverence.

Be careful.

That's the way. Just a little more.

Three more inches.

One more inch...

A little more...!

You got it!

Young Lord!

What is this?

We were picking persimmons.

You mustn't let him climb trees.

What a terrible guardian.

What if he gets hurt?

I am sorry.

Come here, Bontenmaru.

Come.

Mother!

You mustn't climb trees.

Come here.

Please put your feet.

Bonten.

Yes?

Do you remember this?

What about you, Ojako?

Yes?

It is a wild grape.

No, it is Bontenmaru's right eye.

I kept the eye that you lost to smallpox.

But you�re the reincarnation of Saint Mankai.

Saint Mankai had no use for this eye.

This eye came from my body.

It should be returned where it came from.

Back it goes.

Lady Yoshi hates me and is always scolding me.

I cannot perform my duties!

Weakling. You are under Lord Terumune's orders!

But...

Do you work for yourself or for your clan?

For my clan.

Then don't hesitate. Get the young lord back!

Sir Sagetsu...!

If not, kill yourself in apology to our lord!

Kita was Sagetsu's real daughter.

However, when Kita was born,

Sagetsu was furious that she was not a boy,

and divorced her mother.

Terumune went to Toshoji Temple, north of Yonezawa.

He had heard Priest Kosai was visiting there.

Terumune's uncle, Koho, was Abbot of the temple.

Hey, boy.

Yes?

Where's the abbot?

At the graveyard.

Tell him the lord of Yonezawa is here to see him.

Yes!

Would you be Priest Kosai?

I am.

Good.

I am Date Terumune. I wrote you several letters.

My word!

Disciple of Grand Master Kaisen, Kosai Soitsu...

had mastered studies in Buddhism and Chinese classics.

he was already famous throughout Japan.

For generations, we Date have governed Ou Province.

A good ruler must be educated...

to serve as an example to his subjects.

I must have you as an instructor to my son, Bontenmaru.

If you wish, I shall build you a temple in Yonezawa.

Or I can grant you a sizeable fief.

Stop it, Terumune.

Uncle...?

It is rude to make such an offer to a Zen priest.

Fish cannot be caught without bait.

However, I do not want to tutor a warlord's son.

What?

Do you know Oda Nobunaga?

Of course.

Since defeating Imagawa Yoshitomo at Okehazama, he has been sweeping westward.

Then he set fire to Enryakuji, killing thousands of priests.

Such are good warlords.

They do anything to achieve their ambitions.

If I tutor your son, will you not destroy yourself?

Heaven forbid!

Magnificent.

A great talent, surely.

It is probably the priest of the shrine, Katakura Kageshige.

Katakura Kageshige?

Yes.

The stepfather of guardian Kita.

Is that so?

Where is Kageshige?

My father is away.

You are Kita's brother?

Yes, my lord.

I am Katakura Kojuro.

You are Kita's brother?

Yes.

Your playing was beautiful.

I shall long remember it.

This is for you.

Thank you, my lord.

Won't you come and serve me, as your sister does?

Serving as a junior page,

Katakura Kojuro was a skilled fighter and scholar.

Terumune was pleased.

Terumune demonstrated great skill in human affairs.

He promoted capable men regardless of their status.

Chief vassal, Endo Motonobu was the son of a mountain priest.

Oniniwa Sagetsu was the son of a country samurai.

You despise me...

because I went to the Mogami when Bontenmaru was sick...

That's over with. I'm not so vindictive.

Then return Bontenmaru to me.

I will raise him.

A noble's son must be raised by guardians.

You can change the custom!

And invite mockery?

Bontenmaru is a quiet child.

He dislikes appearing before people.

I fear for his future.

Should he have such a young guardian?

Even the elders were complaining.

Kita isn't his only guardian.

He has Motonobu and Sagetsu.

A famous priest will be his teacher.

Don't worry.

Bontenmaru must be crying...

...every night, missing his mother.

Absurd.

This way.

Please stop it!

Young Lord!

Young Lord.

Do not kill needlessly!

Young Lord!

Kita.

Yes?

- Kita. - Yes?

Am I ugly?

Am I?

Not at all.

You have manly face, just like your father.

However, if you behave violently,

your soul will become warped and ugly.

Young Lord?

Is this a monster?

This is Fudo Myo-o god of fire.

He will heal your eye.

Let us pray.

Why does a god look so fearsome?

Well...

I'll tell you!

His fearsome looks repel evil!

Fudo Myo-o is a gentle god.

Unlike his external appearance,

he is full of compassion.

- Kita. - Yes?

I want to be like him.

Bontenmaru did?

He said that?

Many times.

He said a ruler must be like Fudo Myo-o.

Well said!

He is indeed the reincarnation of St. Mankai!

You're right, sire!

Such fortune!

I must thank you, too.

Oh no, my lord!

Kita.

Bontenmaru is a young sapling given to the Date.

For our subjects' sakes,

tend to him and help him grow into a great tree.

Yes.

I know it's difficult, but bear with it for my sake.

Someday my wife will appreciate you.

Yes.

Reporting!

A letter from Priest Kosai.

Priest Kosai?

Good news! He'll come!

Indeed, prayers do move Heaven!

Call Motonobu!

Yes!

We must get him before he changes his mind.

At the earnest request of Terumune and Abbot Koho,

Kosai entered Shifukuji Temple in 1572 (Genki 3).

Situated outside Yonezawa along Mogami River,

Shufukuji Temple was the finest Zen temple in Dewa Province.

It was the family temple of the Date.

Terumune made Kosai the 13th abbot,

and built a school, treating the priest generously.

I was impressed after reading your grandfather Lord Tanemune's code.

The Date love of scholarship and the arts is admirable, indeed.

Moreover, the young lord is the reincarnation of Saint Mankai.

Saint Mankai?

I, Exorcist Chokai of mountain asceticism,

brought him into this world with a prayer staff.

This is a problem.

Should I, a Zen priest,

teach the reincarnation of St. Mankai, an ascetic?

Then you should introduce him to the way of Zen.

I will teach him morals,

Koan will teach him Chinese classics.

I am a Confucianist!

Shut up.

Lord Terumune left everything to Priest Kosai!

A great lord must know how to perform incantations.

I shall rely on your help from time to time.

No matter how many teachers he has,

fortunately, the young lord has only one eye.

"Fortunately"...?

Though our teachings might clash, they become one in his eye.

That may be true.

However, I am Abbot of Shifukuji Temple.

You cannot enter without my permission.

Reporting!

Sir Sanemoto has arrived.

Show him in to the temple school.

Yes!

In answer to Kosai's request,

a classmate was chosen for Bontenmaru.

It was Date Sanemoto's son, Tokimunemaru.

In addition, three capable pages were made their attendants.

I am honored that my son has been included in your school.

A fine boy. A year younger than the young lord?

Right.

Though he is young, Tokimunemaru is my cousin.

Not so. He is Lord Terumune's nephew.

How strange...

Isn't Sir Sanemoto Lord Terumune's uncle?

I shall explain.

How strange...

Sanemoto's wife is Lord Terumune's sister.

What?

The uncle married his niece,

so Tokimunemaru is both cousin and nephew to Lord Terumune.

A Zen dialogue.

It will take ten days to mediate this.

Marriages of convenience not only involved daimyo,

but was popular among retainers.

The purpose was to perpetuate the household.

Marriages between relatives were not uncommon.

These pages serve as attendants.

Yes, yes.

I am Oniniwa Sagetsu's son, Tsunamoto.

Kita's brother?

Yes.

They have different mothers.

Shut up.

I am junior page Obara Nuinosuke.

Nuinosuke.

I am Katakura Kojuro.

Katakura Kojuro.

He is also Kita's brother.

Three siblings?

Kita and Kojuro have different fathers.

Different fathers?

Kita and Tsunamoto have different mothers?

I don't understand at all.

Explain it, Sagetsu.

It's silly.

Don't be ashamed, Sagetsu.

Very well...

I married Motozawa Gyobu's daughter,

and she bore me Kita, but no son.

Then my concubine, Makino Gyobu's daughter...

bore this son, Tsunamoto.

So I divorced Kita's mother...

and married Tsunamoto's mother.

You divorced Kita's mother, and married Tsunamoto's...?

Kita's mother took Kita and married Katakura Kojuro...

That's Katakura Kageshige.

Oh, right...

Therefore, he gave birth to Kita...

No, that's wrong.

She married Kageshige and gave birth to Kojuro.

Who did?

Kita.

I'm not Kojuro's mother.

Of course not.

Sir Sagetsu...

Will you start from the beginning again?

I told you...!

I married Motozawa Gyobu's daughter!

Enough already!

Why must Tokimunemaru be included in the class?

Competition will make a better student of Bonten.

Bontenmaru is successor to the Date clan.

Others cannot be treated equally.

It was Kosai's idea.

He's in charge.

Could it be a conspiracy?

Conspiracy?

Sir Sanemoto might be plotting with Kosai...

Absurd!

if anything should happen to Bontenmaru,

the next ruler in line to be successor is Tokimunemaru.

Uncle has no such ambitions.

You can never tell about people.

He always urges me to have more brothers for Bontenmaru.

Forgive me, Yoshi.

As you know, my grandfather Tanemune had 22 children...

extending his line throughout Ou.

My father had 11 children, extending Date influence.

Lord...

I do not blame you.

But my retainers are worried.

I was even urged to take a concubine.

By whom?

By more than a few.

Please do as you wish.

Do take a concubine.

Sit!

Sit down, I say.

I don't want a concubine.

I want children by you.

Ten... even twenty.

Forgive me, my lord.

We beseech the gods to bless this woman with many children.

It was not merely out of greed that warlords had many concubines.

They wanted many children to populate their domains...

and to serve as pawns in political marriages.

Wait!

Bontenmaru and the other boys...

were to spend 21 days in Shifukuji Temple for training.

It was what is now called training camp.

The lord Buddha once told his disciples...

you must never depend on others.

You must rely upon yourself, and find the light in yourself.

Still, you do not yet have the light to show the way.

So rely on the light of the Way.

The Way is the truth of nature and the universe.

If you train hard without relying on others,

you will soon find your own light to show the Way.

You are your own master,

no matter how many masters you have.

Therefore, look to yourself.

Light of self and light of the Way...

This was the Buddha's teaching.

Still, I did not hear it directly from the Buddha.

It was passed from another to another and yet another.

Hey!!

- What are you looking at, Kita? - Y... yes.

If your mind is elsewhere, you cannot learn!

I don't care if you are a woman!

The young lord...

Fool! Would you interfere with his light?

Cold! Please stop it, Young Lord!

Stop it, Tokimunemaru!

Fool!

You reek of sake.

What do you want?

I came to see the lessons.

Did Lord Terumune order it?

I am chief guardian in charge of Lord Bontenmaru.

Get out.

Don't come here without permission from me!

How can you drink in the middle of the day?

Father!

Where is the young lord?

Outside, playing with Tokimunemaru.

Playing?

This school was built for the young lord.

Aren't you his teacher?

Play is important to training.

Don't make excuses!

What are you waiting for?

Bring the young lord here!

In order to train the young lord,

his attendants and guardians must first be trained.

A lord is nothing without good men!

If you profess to be his chief guardian,

sit down for a lesson!

Wait for me!

No!

Let me go, Tokimunemaru.

Wait!

Show me!

Stop it, Tokimunemaru!

Young Lord!

Kita!

How is Bontenmaru?

He is fine, but...

His eye...

Tell me.

The flesh is growing out.

A samurai's worth is not in his looks!

But Jinsai says that the poison in the right eye...

will spread to the left.

Why not cut it out?

The young lord is afraid.

1573 (Tensho 1)

Takeda Shingen is finally making his move.

He routed Tokugawa Ieyasu at Mikatagahara.

Did he take Ieyasu's head?

No, Ieyasu escaped to Hamamatsu Castle.

Then only Oda Nobunaga remains.

Takeda Shingen is confident and marching to Kyoto.

Shingen or Nobunaga... It will be a decisive battle.

I think Shingen will win.

No one is as skilled in battle.

This is serious. We may have to fight him.

We must tighten control over the retainers.

Sagetsu.

Yes.

What are the Mogami doing?

Yoshimori has become a Zen monk.

He will have nothing to do with clan affairs.

Second son Yoshitoki is shut up in Nakano Castle,

and vows to take his brother Yoshiaki's castle.

Foolish brothers.

Pardon!

What is it?

Prince Bontenmaru has stabbed himself in the eye!

His eye?

Yes.

My young lord!

Young lord!

Call Physician Jinsai!

Don't move him! He'll bleed to death!

Lord!

Get out of my way!

Bontenmaru!

Forgive me!

You're supposed to be his guardian!

- Show me his eye. - Yes, sir.

It happened so quickly.

He asked Kita to fetch some water...!

- Uemon. - Yes, sir.

Cut out his eye.

Lord!

Something must be done.

It's better to cut it out.

Do it...!

Anybody!

Do it!

If I may, sire.

Kojuro, I'll be counting on you.

Do your best!

Prince Bontenmaru...

Bontenmaru!

Stay away!

Bontenmaru!

Don't look, Yoshi!

Is he alive?

Pardon!

It is not serious!

I'm here, Bontenmaru!

He must be treated!

Yes. Let's go!

Bontenmaru!

Bontenmaru tried to carve his own destiny.

He, who was so afraid...

End of Episode Two