Original subtitles

Princess Mego married Date Masamune when she was eleven.

She was a descendant of the great Sakanoue Tamuramaro.

She came from Miharu, Fukushima Prefecture...

across Abukuma River and the Ou Mountains to Yonezawa in Yamagata.

"Miharu," the name of Mego's homeland comes from...

the three flowers of spring.

Plum. Peach.

And Cherry.

Here, these flowers bloom at the same time in spring.

It is a town where the coming of spring is anxiously awaited.

Mego was the only child; she had no brothers.

Her father, Tamura Kiyoaki, married Mego to Masamune,

to have one of their children for his successor.

It was a marriage of convenience.

Mego's new home, Yonezawa, is a land of heavy snowfall.

The January snowfall in Yonezawa is nearly ten times that of Miharu.

What would Mego have thought of the snow in Yonezawa?

MASAMUNE, THE ONE-EYED DRAGON

Episode 6: Execution

Screenplay: James MIKI

Original Story: YAMAOKA Sohachi

Music: IKEBE Shin'ichiro

CAST

Date Terumune: KITAOJI Kin'ya

Katakura Kojuro: SAIGO Teruhiko

Kita: TAKESHITA Keiko

Oniniwa Sagetsu: IKARIYA Chosuke

Mukaidate Takumi: YAMAGATA Isao

Endo Motonobu: KOUYAMA Shigeru

Muraoka: ASARI Kazuyo

Lady of the East: IWASHITA Shima

Subtitles Transcribed from JN Productions by: Avallac'h

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

Director: HIGUCHI Masahiro

Lady of the East is here.

Your play was beautiful.

Thank you.

Have you reconciled with Tojiro?

The young lord will not speak to her.

You attendants keep getting in their way.

No...

Then why did Tojiro try to execute you?

Forgive me. It was entirely my fault.

Guardian Kita is to blame, too.

Despite Lord Terumune's orders, she neglects Mego's training.

My lady, we have been told to train the princess.

That is a mistake.

You alienate yourselves to protect the princess.

The Tamura took residence in Date land.

We mean no harm!

Lady Mego...

Yes.

Move to my quarters tonight.

I shall train you personally.

Manners, penmanship, halberd practice...

Are we to come, too?

Only Princess Mego.

I beg of you, please...!

Insolence! Who do you think you're speaking to?!

Silence!

What will we do?

You will be informed.

How pitiful.

Why cry?

How terrible you will feel all alone...

I'm not a child.

As a bride of the Date, I will serve my mother-in-law.

Please bear it for awhile.

I, Muraoka, will do my best to see that you are happy.

One, two, three, four...

One, two, three...

That's it.

Aren't you clever, Jikumaru.

Here I go.

Princess Mego is here.

Come in.

I hope you are well.

Go to bed, Jikumaru. Go with Tsuru.

Good night.

Good night.

Children are sweet.

You shall see, when you have your own.

How sad for parents to send their children away to marry.

However, warlords must bear the pain.

So must their children.

When you marry into another family, you may feel uncomfortable.

You must miss your parents.

It was the same when I came here.

You see, Mego...

You and I are the same.

We were both sacrificed for our families.

We "sacrificed" should be good friends.

Thank you for your kindness.

Don't be so formal.

You are my daughter-in-law.

I must teach you our ways.

I'll have to teach you a lot, as a mother-in-law.

But if you will be my friend, I will always be yours.

Thank you.

Though a bride, you are still young.

So is Tojiro.

You must wait a few years till you can truly be man and wife.

Stay here till then. Use the room next to mine.

Ochako will see to your needs.

Yes.

Ochako, are you here?

Yes.

Bring some Toshoji sweets for Princess Mego.

Yes. Right away.

Sir Sagetsu...

Is it about Princess Mego?

Yes.

You can't do your job as guardian?

No, that's not it.

You're lucky to be rid of those attendants.

Lord Terumune hasn't said anything.

Have you something to say?

Lady of the East's plan is clear.

If Princess Mego is with her, Lord Tojiro will visit.

I see. The princess is bait to lure Lord Tojiro?

I'm afraid so.

That's rude, Kita!

A guardian must know her place!

Move!

It's YOUR turn!

Right to left!

Once more! Put your back into it!

Above your head! Through the shoulder!

With more spirit!

Look your opponent in the eye.

Put your back into it.

Through the shoulder! Thrust!

Thrust!

Turn around!

Through the shoulder! Thrust!

Thrust!

Turn around! Through the shoulder!

Look your opponent in the eye!

Through the shoulder! Thrust!

Thrust!

Turn around! Through the shoulder!

Through the shoulder!

Put your back into it! Through the shoulder!

Lord Tamura Kiyoaki sent a letter and a gift.

He seems to be worried about Princess Mego.

You answer his letter, Tojiro.

Certainly.

What will you say?

That she is fine and getting accustomed to Yonezawa.

Good.

Pardon!

Attendant Muraoka wishes to see you.

Why?

It concerns the treatment of Princess Mego.

Send her away.

The guardian supervises all domestic affairs.

She doesn't need to report every detail to Lord Terumune.

Yes, sir!

Kojuro!

Kojuro!

Kojuro!

Go after the Miharu courier.

Miharu courier?

Oine saw Muraoka give him a secret letter.

Secret letter?

She may have written something against our clan!

I understand.

You're the courier from Miharu?

Who are you?

A Date retainer.

I wish to ask you something.

I didn't do anything.

I know Muraoka gave you a letter.

No!

We'll search you then.

No!

This will do.

I wish to speak to Attendant Muraoka.

Stand straight there.

What nerve!

Why are you trying to come between Lord Tojiro and the princess?

How strange.

I do not know what you mean.

You can't talk your way out of this!

What?

Don't pretend!

You wrote lies about us in your letter to Lord Tamura.

More wild accusations...

No.

We have your letter.

I know nothing about it.

I shall read it to you.

"Date heir, Lord Tojiro, is a fool, not fit to lead.

"The dissatisfaction of his retainers is quite apparent.

"There is danger that he may be disinherited.

"For the sake of Tamura,

"please take Princess Mego away...

"as soon as possible."

Where did you get the letter?

We made the courier confess!

Sneaks!

YOU'RE the sneak!

Brazen thieves!

Silence! You tried to cause a rift between our clans!

Return my letter!

Don't be ridiculous!

Then I shall appeal to Lord Terumune.

Do you think he will listen?

Why should you worry!

He'll execute you on the spot!

I'm resigned to it!

I'll be happy to die for my clan!

Very well! There's no need to dirty Lord Terumune's hands!

I will execute you!

Stand aside!

As guardian, I cannot allow such lies about Lord Tojiro!

As guardian, you must not act in haste.

You must dedicate yourself to serving Lord Tojiro.

You must not stay here!

Sister!

Wretch!

Your sword, Kojuro!

let me go!

Attendant Muraoka, have you any last words?

Please take care of Princess Mego.

Anything else?

Prepare to die, Kita!

Muraoka.

Muraoka!

Please take care of Princess Mego...

Kojuro...

This must be kept secret. Even the letter.

It will hurt our young lord!

I understand.

Go now.

Go!

Pardon!

Kita killed Muraoka?!

A fine mess.

Why on earth...?

I don't know, Kita claims it was a personal grudge.

A woman of Kita's character...?

Who can understand women?

Both sides probably argued because you took Mego in.

Are you blaming me?

Just a suggestion.

I was only thinking of Princess Mego!

Well.

What shall we do?

Are you going to inform the Tamura?

We can't ignore this!

I had Sadatoki take their bodies to Miharu.

...With a letter from Motonobu.

Princess Mego.

Were you listening?

Forgive me.

Don't cry. You are not alone.

Now you are a true Date.

Kita, tell me what really happened!

It would only bring shame.

You could be executed. You broke the law.

I'm fully aware of that.

Just say you executed them for the clan's sake!

Muraoka shielded Princess Mego and was arrogant!

Tell me everything!

I want to help you!

I'm terribly grateful.

I'm your father!

We're apart, but I care about you!

I don't want to lose my daughter!

Sir Sagetsu...

Hearing your words is enough for me.

My lady...

Are you feeling better, Kita?

Yes.

It will be cold tonight. I brought rice cakes and a kimono.

Thank you, my lady!

Ochako...

Yes.

You may go.

Thank you, my lady!

I am guilty of grave misconduct.

I have no words of apology!

Some are worried; some praise you.

I have come to find out for myself.

Who ordered you to kill the attendants?

Tojiro?

No one told me to do it!

You acted of your own will?

Yes.

We argued over a trivial matter...

My lady! Kita is lying!

I told Kita to kill Muraoka!

Absurd!

Kita is not at fault.

Please have Lord Terumune punish me!

Don't act so noble.

Act?

Whenever you lie, your nostrils flare.

If you did it on your own, it's all right.

Just let me tell you this...

If you hadn't killed them, I probably would have.

My lady!

Farewell.

Please wait!

Please take care of Lord Tojiro!

Both he and Jikumaru possess uncommon ability.

For the prosperity of the Date,

please help Lord Tojiro live happily...

with Princess Mego!

Please help him!

A few days later, the chief retainer of Tamura Clan,

Mukaidate Takumi arrived.

She served Princess Mego from the time she was born!

Her slaying without proper explanation...

dishonors the Tamura name!

The retainers are indignant.

Some even wish to fight the Date.

In order to pacify them, I must know the truth!

Your anger is justified.

However, the fight was a personal one.

It does not warrant public punishment.

Give me the killer, then.

The killer?

Our clan will investigate thoroughly...

and, if necessary, behead...

No!

What?

The fight occurred here. We'll administer punishment!

This is most unusual!

Muraoka was chosen by Lord Kiyoaki himself!

I can't allow a nameless cur to kill her!

She's not a cur! Kita is my daughter!

Sagetsu!

What did you just say?

Lord Terumune assigned Kita to be Lord Tojiro's guardian.

Hold!

Your daughter killed Muraoka?

Yes.

Do not make jokes!

Jokes?!

How can a helpless woman kill three people?

Kita is an expert swordswoman.

How strange.

You think, I'm lying?

No.

I thought the killer was the man...

who intercepted Muraoka's letter.

Letter?

What are you talking about?

Don't be ridiculous! You know.

We don't know!

He carried a vermilion- sheathed sword...

and was accompanied by a spearman.

You were the man?

Yes.

Where's the letter?

I burnt it.

Fool!

What did Muraoka write?

I don't remember.

Think!

Did you kill the women?

My sister did.

Lies will not help you.

My sister killed them with my sword!

I witnessed it.

You were there?!

Yes.

Why didn't you stop her?!

My sister stopped ME from killing them!

What?

My sister was calm.

She said a women's quarrel would not endanger the clan.

She sacrificed herself to end an evil.

What evil? Tell me.

Muraoka shielded Princess Mego...

and kept her from learning the Date ways.

She slighted our young lord!

When we tried to send the attendants back to Miharu,

they threatened to take Princess Mego with them!

Nonsense! Muraoka would never...

I did receive such a report.

I cannot believe what you say.

I wish to see Princess Mego.

No!

Very suspicious.

Why?

Sir Endo, the princess is well, I hope?

She is very well.

I wish to see for myself.

Seeing you will only make her homesick!

I represent the Tamura Clan!

it's outrageous to refuse my request!

I am a Date administrator!

Your suspicions are insulting!

The princess is not a hostage.

Then take her home!

What?

You're the ones who proposed this marriage.

We can't stand this constant complaining!

How dare you!

I can hear koto music.

That is Princess Mego playing.

Sir Mukaidate!

If you are not satisfied,

I will accompany you to Miharu...

and explain the situation before your retainers.

Then you may do anything you wish with me.

Don't be presumptuous!

We cannot let this affair divide our clans.

I shall be honored if I can sacrifice myself to prevent this!

They call you Katakura Kojuro?

Yes. I am Kojuro Kagetsuna.

Sir Sagetsu has a fine son.

He's not my son.

Kojuro was born after Sagetsu divorced the mother.

Blabbing, again!

I see.

I thought he was too good to be Sagetu's son!

What?

Sorry.

Kojuro, you may go.

Wait!

For Kojuro's sake, I will keep this secret.

Sir Mukaidate!

The slayer did it for her clan.

The slain did it for their clan.

So let it be.

Thank you!

The Date sent many fine gifts to the bereaved,

and the incident was dismissed.

The Tamura relied on the Date as allies

and wished to avoid needless fighting.

I'm grateful for your loyalty.

Thank you, sire.

If Tojiro is called "stupid and not fit to lead,"

the Date would have been humiliated.

You plan to become a nun, Kita?

Yes. I wish to pray for the women I killed.

Never!

Be her guardian and train Princess Mego well.

That is the best thing you can do for Muraoka.

My lord...

I increase Kokuro's stipend by 100 kan.

He will also have a house in town.

Thank you, sire!

Train Tojiro well.

Make sure no one can speak ill of us.

Sire! Don't waste your motions!

In the rain, your feet must be steady!

Have you forgotten? The enemy will attack your right.

You let your guard down.

Did you see me?

In my soul's eye!

Young lord!

Attend to it.

Magnificent! How did you learn...?

They'll attack me on my right.

They'll let their guard down, thinking I can't see.

I did.

I outfoxed you.

Sire!

Princess Mego.

It's Kita.

Keep out!

The young lord wishes to see you.

I don't wish to see anyone.

He wants you to see Noh performers from Kyoto.

I don't want to!

Please don't hurt the young lord's feelings.

Princess Mego...

I know you do not like me.

I am sure you must detest me.

But Lord Terumune spared me and bade me serve you as atonement.

I am under his orders.

Until Lord Tojiro succeeds Lord Terumune,

please let me serve you.

After that, you may punish me however you wish.

What's she doing?!

Mego!

Come, Mego! Father and Mother are waiting!

I do not feel well.

Not that, again!

Please excuse me.

No! Father brought the dancers here to cheer you up.

Come!

Please stop!

Don't stop me!

Young lord!

Please give her more time!

Where's Mego?

She isn't feeling well.

How stubborn.

I shall get her.

No.

It can't be helped.

She must still feel bitter.

Tojiro is hopeless.

He cannot control his own wife.

Sister-in-law!

Sister-in-law!

Sister-in-law!

Mego withdrew into herself and smiled for no one.

Tojiro stubbornly resisted and the spat continued.

Tensho 9 (1581)

In 1581...

The Soma suddenly crossed the border...

and attacked Watari Castle.

The Soma again?

Now is the time to take control, sire.

Control?

Mogami Yoshiaki's advice is northward.

And the Ashina are slowed by the death of Lord Moriuji!

They won't be fighting for awhile.

You're right!

Now we can rise against the Soma in full force.

Father!

Tojiro...

It's time for your first battle.

Yes.

The enemy is Soma Yoshitane.

The advance guard will leave today for Watari,

but you and I will wait for a good day.

Yes.

Young Lord...

Congratulations.

Uemon...

Yes!

For your first battle.

It was my father's gift to me for my first battle.

Thank you.

On horseback, a curved sword is good.

It's easy to strike downward.

I will come back with the enemy's head.

Never lose that spirit, my young lord.

Tojiro Masamune was now fifteen.

His heart was already at the battlefield.

End of Episode Six

Historical Information Provided by: Zuiganji Temple