Original subtitles

The Soma Horse Roundup is held in July.

This event reflects the training of ancient samurai.

The fierce Soma fought for the Tohoku area...

against the Date, Ashina, and Mogami.

Odaka Castle was their base.

Soma territory was not large,

but firmly united, the Soma held a strategic position.

They were known for their superior fighting men.

Masamune's great-grandfather, Date Tanemune...

married his daughter to Soma Akitane to cement a treaty,

but conflict resumed because of the provisions in his will,

and many years of warfare followed.

The battlefield of generations past...

became the scene of Tojiro- Masamune's first battle.

MASAMUNE, THE ONE-EYED DRAGON

Episode 7: First Battle

Screenplay: James MIKI

Original Story: YAMAOKA Sohachi

Music: IKEBE Shin'ichiro

CAST

Date Terumune: KITAOJI Kin'ya

Katakura Kojuro: SAIGO Teruhiko

Kita: TAKESHITA Keiko

Date Sanemoto: RYU Raita

Endo Motonobu: KOUYAMA Shigeru

Kosai Soitsu: OTAKI Hideji

Lady of the East: IWASHITA Shima

Subtitles Transcribed from JN Productions by: Avallach

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

Director: HIGUCHI Masahiro

Tensho 9 (1581)

So you fight in your first battle?

How time flies.

Please tell me how a samurai should behave.

First, compose yourself. Impatience makes one lose.

Do I appear impatient?

You strain at the bit, as if you're going to bolt.

I am sorry.

Do you hate the enemy?

Huh?

A general must not hate anyone.

Hatred will merely make you go berserk.

You cannot pray down your enemies or save the world.

Hatred will always be your downfall.

Keep your soul's eyes open, and you will understand.

Thank you, sir.

One more thing...

I want you to make a promise to the Buddha.

What is it?

That you never let others see you sleeping!

You must never lie down.

As a leader, you must...

Impossible! One cannot live without sleep.

Sleep sitting up!

You may lie down only when with a woman.

Never let anyone else see you sleeping.

Yes.

If you complain of a cold and lie around anywhere,

you are a lazy good-for-nothing.

By the way, Kojuro...

Yes.

Did Lord Tojiro's other initiation go smoothly?

What do you mean, sir?

Don't you know?

Did he consummate his marriage with Princess Mego?

I fear not...

He still hasn't?

My word!

To wed and not consummate is most wasteful.

Do so tonight!

You go for the battle tomorrow. You may lose your life!

It's Tojiro.

I'm sleeping here tonight.

Let me stay.

Why?

Must you ask? I am your husband!

What's the matter?

Please excuse me.

Do you dislike me?

No.

Do you hate the Date?

No.

Mego.

Please excuse me.

Look at me.

Are you afraid?

Not at all.

Then look at me!

Mego, you have been at Yonezawa for a year and a half.

We fought and terrible things happened.

The retainers are worried.

They say you and I shun each other.

...that this marriage was a mistake.

But I disagree.

We were destined to be together!

We were born under the same star!

I care for you.

But for some reason, I can't be gentle with you.

My lord...

Tomorrow, I go to fight the Soma.

The battle will be fierce.

I may even die.

Before we part, for once...

I wanted to be a gentle man with you.

Will you destroy the Soma?

I'll cut them down with my own hands.

Soma is my mother's homeland.

My grandmother lives in Odaka Castle.

Lord Moritane is my uncle, Yoshitane, my cousin.

That cannot be helped.

Moritane is my own father's cousin.

Ou warlords are all related.

Why must family fight?

The Date will eventually threaten even the Tamura.

Not the Tamura!

Is that true?

Yes!

Will you swear?

My lord.

I can't swear!

Don't talk such nonsense before my important day!

Forgive me!

No!

Armor...

Remember, Tojiro...

The beginning is always important.

Always remain calm before your men.

Mother, I am no coward.

That's the spirit!

Fight bravely and bring home enemy heads!

I will.

After the ceremonies for battle,

Terumune's army went to the Hachiman Shrine at Yanagawa.

They prayed to the Date guardian deity for victory.

Listen well, men!

We have already clashed with the Soma over ten times.

Rusu Masakage and the others have crushed enemy forces!

Once our Yonezawa force arrive,

we can defeat the Soma in one fell swoop...

and settle an old score!

Mark this well!

This is Tojiro-Masamune's first battle!

The god of war will surely protect us!

Onward!

Terumune led 4,000 men against the Soma...

and made his camp at Kakuda Castle, Igu County.

With allied armies,

they had 12,000 soldiers.

Have some wild boar, my lord.

No!

Some wine?

Relax, Tojiro.

You seem quite worked up.

Sire, Lord Hatakeyama has arrived.

He has? Show him in.

Come in.

I'm honored to be granted an audience.

I am Hatakeyama Yoshitsugu of Nihonmatsu.

I am Terumune.

Thank you for coming personally to see me.

To aid us, Lord Hatakeyama has sent 50 cavaliers...

and a hundred guns for foot soldiers.

Excellent! I am most grateful.

I have always been friends with Sanemoto.

When I heard you were arriving,

I wished to send a small token of my good will.

I understand this is the young lord's first battle.

Congratulations.

I thank you again.

Tojiro.

Yes.

I am Date Tojiro-Masamune. Pleased to meet you.

I pray that Hachiman, god of war, will protect you.

Let us drink.

Thank you.

Go ahead.

The lord of Nihonmatsu Castle was a fearless warrior,

but his clan was small.

However, Terumune considered the personal visit a good omen,

even if he might have come to spy on them.

We should go back.

Not yet!

The horses need water.

It's useless to fight! ...Retreat!

Young lord!

Get him!

That's the young lord!

Kuniyori!

No, sire!

Sire!

Sire!

Insolent curs!

Why did you leave camp without permission?!

Forgive us!

Who suggested it?!

I did. I wanted our lord to see the aftermath of battle.

I asked to see!

Fool!

What if common footsoldiers had taken your head?!

I regret my error!

War is not a game!

Forgive me!

Why didn't you stop him?

I am terribly sorry, sir!

Sire, you are right to be angry,

but the young lord fought most bravely!

he cut down the attackers,

and fought with great fury!

Thereby saving my life!

That was wrong!

For disobeying, you are all confined to camp...

till further notice!

Yes.

Kojuro.

You're getting swell-headed, aren't you?

You get promoted by currying favor with Lord Terumune...

and ignore your superiors!

What do you mean?

Today, you ignored me and gave orders to the men!

Is that true?

Outrageous.

I humbly apologize.

Your orders confused the men,

and two footsoldiers were killed.

Become a bonze and apologize to Lord Terumune!

Are you listening, Kojuro?

I am Lord Tojiro's guardian.

So what?!

In performing my duties, I may, at time, offend my comrades.

"Comrades?"

You insolent greenhorn!

Pardon!

Wait, Kojuro!

Let me go.

Insolent!

Stop it, Kojuro!

You're a sneaking rat!

You plan to manipulate Lord Tojiro and take over!

I have no such intention!

Then watch what you say!

Know your place!

Enough!

We are at war.

Calm down, Kojuro.

Please forgive me!

Enough. Let's drink and make up.

When you were surrounded by the enemy,

what were your thoughts?

At first, I cowered in fright.

But after crossing swords several times,

I felt calm.

The blood raced through me.

And racing about was almost fun.

With the enemy so near,

the moment of truth was thrilling!

Despicable.

What?

Mark me, Tojiro...

At times, a general must be a coward.

If he fails, the battle is lost.

The entire clan will be lost.

So you must not die.

Your duty is to live as the strength of the clan.

Yes.

That is not true for retainers.

It is their duty to die for their lord.

Therein lies the true meaning of loyalty.

That's how samurai is.

A general and his vassals are...

...facing each other over death.

Father.

I am sorry.

Reporting!

The young lord has returned.

Tojiro had returned to Yonezawa after a month at battle.

Welcome home.

Have you been well?

Yes.

I am happy that you are safe.

Is the war over?

Not for a long while. The Soma are strong.

I will rest and wait for word from Father. I go back soon.

Oh...

I'll bring something to eat.

No. I must pay my respects to Mother.

Congratulations on your safe return.

Thank you.

You've grown to be a fine warrior.

I'm taller now.

Have you taken enemy heads?

Several, but I engaged no high-ranking officers.

They say you fought common footsoldiers.

Yes.

The future lord of the Date must not do such things.

Most unseemly!

I didn't look to engage them!

I could not help it.

They say you committed a breach of discipline.

Sir Munefuyu was complaining the other day.

He fears for the future of the Date.

I'm sorry.

If word gets out, you will be laughed at.

They'll say you are not fit to be a general.

And Mego is still not accustomed to our ways.

She avoids you.

A fine pair you make.

Jikumaru...

Welcome home, Brother.

Have you finished penmanship practice?

Yes.

Look at that ink...!

It doesn't come off.

What's the matter?

Begone!

Has something offended you?

Mother hates me.

That's not true!

She hates me!

Lady of the East is with child.

With child?

That is probably why she is irritable.

I worried about you every day.

I don't want to talk!

Leave me alone!

I want to be with you!

Before you left for battle,

you were gentle with me,

but my words were unworthy of a samurai's wife.

Enough.

I'm not fit! I cannot be a warlord!

My lord...

I can hear them.

The vassals are laughing at me!

No. You are compassionate! And strong!

I know you are.

Don't try to comfort me!

Aren't you the reincarnation of St. Mankai?

I care for you.

Whatever trials there be,

I will stay by your side forever!

You are my only reason for living.

I was terribly lonely without you...

Mego...

My lord...

The war with Soma dragged on.

Meanwhile, Terumune, with diplomacy and foresight,

exchanged gifts and letters with Oda Nobunaga's vassals,

such as Shibata Katsuie.

You're leaving Yonezawa?!

Yes.

There are turbulent times.

I cannot be a lowly samurai forever.

I shall resign as guardian to Lord Tojiro...

win the favor of a lord...

and earn a name that will live in history.

You can do it here.

I can see that Lord Terumune likes you.

As Lord Tojiro's advisor, you will be heavily relied upon.

I have given this careful thought.

Please understand, and let me go!

Where will you go?

For now, I will go to Lord Takeda in Kai,

or Lord Hojo in Odawara.

With good fortune, I shall be a leader...

and show those Date retainers.

I understand.

Thank you, Sister.

Kakuda Castle

Sire!

Kuniyori? What's the matter?

I would like to be relieved of duty.

Why?

Have you grown disgusted with war?

The disgust is with my own self.

Your own self?

You are such a great man,

I am disgusted at my own foolishness.

Pull yourself together!

At times, passions even make me forget myself.

But I remember my men who bear the cold and hunger...

giving their all for the Date Clan.

A lord must repay such efforts.

My gratefulness knows no bounds.

However, you are too trusting of your vassals.

What?

Is there a traitor in our midst?

Yes.

At least one.

Who is it?

It is I, Kuniyori.

When I came as Princess Yoshi's attendant,

I was prepared to kill you...!

I know.

That's why I purposely kept you near me.

My word!

I eagerly anticipated your attack.

There were many opportunities.

But I found myself unable to draw my sword.

Now, I am fully devoted to your strength of character.

Moreover, Lord Tojiro even saved my life.

To draw my sword against you...

would disgrace me as a samurai!

To serve as an example to your vassals,

please cut off my head!

Fine resolve.

Face front!

That should do it.

You are reborn.

Now serve the Date.

Then...?

You are reborn, I say!

Sire!

My mind is clear now! I have no more doubts!

I will obey your orders.

As long as there is a sun in heaven,

I will serve the Date all my days!

That's all you're taking?

Yes.

A pitiful leave taking for a new beginning.

You should not go.

Your lord is Tojiro-Masamune.

You cannot serve two masters.

What are you saying?!

Have you forgotten?

When they questioned Lord Tojiro's ability to lead,

you spoke against them!

You said he shows uncommon promise...

and someday he will be a great lord!

How can you abandon him and go elsewhere?!

There's no greater disloyalty for a guardian!

You gave your consent!

If I refused, it would have made things worse.

You would have run off.

I believed, in time, you would come to your senses!

Absurd! It's too late, now!

I sold my meager belongings and bade farewell to friends.

Such foolishness.

What will Lord Tojiro do without you?!

Sister!

Listen to me, Kojuro.

Would a daimyo employ and rely upon...

such a shabbily dressed samurai?

Even if you do succeed,

successful warriors incur the jealousy of others.

They will say you are impudent, an upstart.

What should I do, then?!

I'm at the end of my rope!

Compose yourself.

And think of Yonezawa as a new land.

Be determined, as if in a new land,

and serve Lord Tojiro.

Then you can withstand any leadership.

If you serve the Date with distinction,

you will never be called immoral or disloyal.

You can make a name for yourself.

In Tensho 10 (1582),

as if they had waited for the snow to melt,

the Date and Soma returned to war in earnest.

Sally out!

Then with the surrender of Soma ally, Sato Kunai,

the tide turned in favor of the Date.

The enemy are retreating.

They cannot hold us off.

The second guard has started out.

The leader is Lord Tojiro.

What?

Right. The sparrow-bamboo crest.

I doubt that he will ever change.

He seems to love to fight.

That's Kojuro close at his side.

Lord Munetoki of Kakuda Castle, dead...

Chamberlain Harada Munemasa, killed.

Heroic deaths.

Hopeless! I wish I could lead them myself!

Are they losing?

By no means! Our forces win victory upon victory.

The Date will easily gain control of Igu County.

How is Tojiro?

He performs admirably!

He led 300 and the 2nd guard and routed the enemy.

I hope he doesn't get himself hurt.

Lady of the East was prone to fits of depression.

The baby girl born in December was weak,

and died within three months.

The Tate successor will be his son Munezane,

The Harada successor will be nephew Samanosuke.

Send out the decree.

Yes, sir!

How are we holding against the Watari?

My son Shigemune and Rusu Masakage...

have readied their troops. Fear not.

How about leaving Kakuda and making camp in Kosai Castle?

It's still too soon. Yoshitane will come to retake Kosai.

Heaven is on our side. We should strike now.

What about our provisions?

Nearly depleted.

Sagetsu is rounding up the farmers' hidden supplies.

Harvests were poor this year.

The countryside became a battlefield.

Farmers could not plant or harvest.

Pardon!

What is it?

A great disaster occurred in Kyoto.

Oda Nobunaga was killed.

What?

One June 2nd,

Oda Nobunaga was attacked at Honnoji by Akechi Mitsuhide,

and killed himself.

End of Episode Seven