Original subtitles

In tracing the roots of the Date family,

the name of Fujiwara Kamataki appears.

His 17th-generation descendant was Nakamura Tokinaga.

For fighting bravely at Oshu with Minamoto Yoritomo,

he was given the territory of Date.

Tokinaga then look the name Date Tomomune,

and became the founder of the Date line.

14th-generation Tanemune laid the groundwork...

for the Date to be the rulers of Oshu.

Tanemune became governor of Oshu...

and used 2 sons and 3 daughters in political marriages.

However, 15th-generation Harumune...

revolted and fought his father, Tanemune.

Terumune became the 16th lord...

when fighting among the daimyo was intense.

Surrounded by clans who wanted their lands,

the Date had to maintain a constant vigil.

The 17th lord was Dokuganyu Masamune, the One-Eyed Dragon.

MASAMUNE, THE ONE-EYED DRAGON

Episode 9: Ambition

Screenplay: James MIKI

Original Story: YAMAOKA Sohachi

Music: IKEBE Shin'ichiro

CAST

Date Masamune: WATANABE Ken

Date Shigezane: MIURA Tomokazu

Katakura Kojuro: SAIGO Teruhiko

Princess Mego: SAKURADA Junko

Oniniwa Sagetsu: IKARIYA Chosuke

Mukaidate Takumi: YAMAGATA Isao

Date Sanemoto: RYU Raita

Endo Motonobu: KOUYAMA Shigeru

Miyoshi Hidetsugu: JINNAI Takanori

Date Terumune: KITAOJI Kin'ya

Mogami Yoshiaki: HARADA Yoshio

Nene: YACHIGUSA Kaoru

Lady of the East: IWASHITA Shima

Hashiba Hideyoshi: KATSU Shintaro

Subtitles Transcribed from JN Productions by: Avallach

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

Director: HIGUCHI Masahiro

October, 1584...

Terumune suddenly retired

and announced Masamune's succession.

My lord! Are you really retiring?!

Don't look so angry. It's unseemly, Yoshi.

The castle in an uproar!

I expected it. They'll quiet down.

I doubt it! The Date are strong because of you.

Just wait.

I'm resentful.

Why?

You did this without saying a word to me.

You don't want Tojiro to succeed me?

That isn't so.

Then stop moping!

I had to do it to unify the clan.

I grieve for Jikumaru.

What?

We have two sons, yet one must go to...

That is the fate of second sons.

Please don't send Jikumaru to the Kokubun.

Then I will not speak against your decision.

Taking advantage of the situation?

My Lord...!

I'll think about it.

Let him marry Koma, of the Mogami.

No, I said!

How pitiful!

Jikumaru.

Yes, Mother?

Fear not. I will see to it that thing work out.

Yes.

Mother...

It's Masamune. I came to pay my respects.

Enter.

Come forward.

I have the honor to inform you.

Under father's orders,

I am to succeed him as lord of the Date.

Congratulations.

Now prove your ability to the world...

and strive for the best.

Thank you for your kind words.

Congratulations, Brother.

Congratulations.

Jikumaru, are you studying hard?

Yes.

Make your body strong, too.

If anything happens to me, you will lead the Date.

That is unlucky talk.

Do you plan to go to war?

Perhaps.

Your reckless nature worried the retainers.

Mere skill in battles does not make a good lord.

I know, Mother.

Though retired, Father is still young.

I intend to rely heavily on his counsel.

This was so sudden, I have no present for you...

Please don't bother.

I am never without the prayer beads you gave me.

Late in October,

Masamune became lord of the Date.

Terumune's daring move made those dissidenting to reconsider,

and quickly reunited the clan once more.

Raise your heads!

I, Tojiro Masamune,

accept the leadership of the Date from my father.

From now on, I shall be your leader.

Serve me well.

Men, let us all give Masamune our support,

and work for the prosperity to our clan.

Greetings, Bontenmaru!

How could you have forgotten me?

Tokimunemaru?!

Indeed, I am. Now I am known as Togoro-Shizegane.

Shigezane, sit down!

Pardon my rudeness.

Sorry I'm late.

You never change.

Because of your succession,

I have also benefited.

Benefited?

Following Lord Terumune's example,

my father Sanemoto retired, so I am lord of Omori Castle.

A welcome rejuvenation for the clan.

Hamada Kagetaka and Harada Samanosuke...

also succeeded their fathers.

What about you, Sagetsu?

You're old now. Let Tsunamoto take over.

Tsunamoto still lacks experience.

No. He's a fine warrior.

You wouldn't know!

No need to be angry.

He's praising your son.

Perhaps he hates to relinquish his property.

What?!

Calm down. You're before our lord.

Bother!

All right! Tsunamoto is head of the Oniniwa house!

Thank you, Father!

Shigezane...

Yes, sir.

I hear you are a resourceful and good warrior...

with great promise.

Be Masamune's right arm, and if anything should happen,

bring the retainers together and lead them.

I will, sire!

Katakura Kojuro!

As captain of the bannermen, serve Masamune always.

Yes, sire!

Shiroishi Munezane...

Harada Samanosuke...

Goto Magobei...

Oniniwa Tsunamoto...

You will belong to Masamune's council.

Masamune's very life will be in your hands.

A word of caution, if I may...

Speak.

The advisors are far too young.

A youthful lord should have older advisors.

Rusu Masakage will be their instructor. Don't worry.

Be counting on you, Masakage.

Yes, my lord.

Masamune's lords sent messengers with their congratulations.

Reporting. Representing the Tamura Clan,

Sir Makaidate Takumi is here.

They come on the pretext of offering congratulations,

but they actually want to observe you.

To see how capable the new lord of the Date is.

The retainers are here, also.

Speak boldly, like a lord.

Send the visitors back in awe.

I will.

Sir Mukaidate is here.

I am honored to meet you.

On behalf of my lord, Tamura Kiyoaki,

I extent our sincerest congratulations.

Lord Masamune, son of the great lord Terumune of Oshu,

is the reincarnation of Saint Mankai.

We believe that he will be a great man,

like a dragon soaring in the skies.

A dragon?

Seeing Lord Masamune in person...

strengthens my belief.

Is Lord Kiyokai well?

He is in excellent health.

The Tamura are my in-laws.

I hope we can always be friends.

Yes, sire.

My lord is eagerly awaiting further good news.

What do you mean?

I beg your indulgence...

Speak.

The Tamura have no heir.

They just have one child, Princess Mego.

They cannot!

Lord Terumune agreed to it when the princess came here.

Only if Mego has children.

But she must.

If she has no children within two years,

she goes back to the Tamura!

Lord Hatakeyama Yoshitsugu came from Nihonmatsu.

Pine trees in Nihonmatsu (Two Pines) are all two-pronged, I hear?

How you jest.

I did hear it.

One side leans toward Date, the other toward Ashina.

How harsh.

My lord, this is supposed to be a happy occasion.

Forgive my rudeness.

I wished to know, for my information.

Very well.

The pine represents fidelity.

However, since our tiny clan is surrounded...

by the Date, Ashina, Tamura, Soma, and others,

we try to be friendly with everyone.

It's shocking to be called two-pronged or fence-sitters.

Then I will go to Nihonmatsu and see for myself...

where your loyalties lie.

For the Mogami in Yamagata, Ujiie Morimune came with a gift.

I can learn from Uncle's exploits.

He plotted against the Tateoka and destroyed the Kaminoyama.

He starved the Sakenobe into submission,

and persuaded rebels to destroy Muto Yoshiuji.

Lord Yoshiaki is a master strategist.

Rather than strategist, he's a scheming backstabber!

The unification of Ushu will also benefit the Date.

Please understand.

Mogami Yoshiaki's invasion of the north continued.

In June, he lured Lord Shirotori to his castle.

Please come closer.

Lord Juro...

Don't get up. You'll get worse.

My life is at an end.

I would like to ask a favor of you.

Anything. I will be your son's father-in-law-to-be.

Thank you.

Since Yoshiyasu is young, I fear for the future.

Please govern our territory until Yoshiyasu is grown.

I will. I swear to the gods to protect Yoshiyasu.

Thank you.

I have written it here.

Please read it and keep it as proof.

I will.

Lord Yoshiaki!

What's this?

Wretch...! You ticked me...!

Going with the tide of success,

Yoshiako attacked and forced Oe Takamoto to kill himself.

Yoshiaki's ambition was fulfilled, for now.

Reporting. Lord Ouchi Sadatsuna is here.

Send him in.

He's come at last.

He cannot be trusted.

Lord Ouchi...

I hope you are well.

Thank you for coming in person.

This is my successor, Tojiro-Masamune.

I am Ouchi Sadatsuna of Obama.

My heartfelt congratulations on your successorship.

I pray the Date will be prosperous for all time...

and that the gods protect the young lord.

I am honored.

The Ouchi have long relied on your friendship.

Please continue to help our clan.

Don't lie!

That was long ago.

Now you befriend the Ashina and Satake,

and betray the Tamura, our allies!

It was no betrayal.

Lord Tamura misunderstood our true intentions,

so we were forced to break relations with him.

With your help, we would like to make a peace treaty.

Is this true?

Yes.

I, Ouchi Sadatsuna, pledge to serve only the Date.

You'll break with the Ashina and Satake?

Yes.

Tojiro.

Lord Ouchi sent men to help in the Soma campaign.

Forget the past, and let him serve you.

I can help in the peace talks with the Tamura.

Lord Sadatsuna...

Yes.

If you profess to serve the Date, I want proof!

Stay in Yonezawa and work for us.

You shall have a suitable mansion.

Masamune!

Answer me!

I am most honored.

I will gladly do as you wish.

Excellent! Let us drink!

Ouchi Sadatsuna got hung up.

Until his new mansion was built, he was kept in the custody of Endo Motonobu.

You handled it magnificently!

I, Shigezane, found it very satisfying!

The retainers are overjoyed.

They say Masamune's prowess will be known throughout Ou.

Let Sadatsuna return to Obama.

Huh?

It's time to be bold, but he's the lord of a clan.

Rather that shame him and be hated,

win him over to help subjugate the Ashina.

You're too kind, Father.

What?

Shrewd Lord Ouchi would not serve us so willingly.

He came to spy on us for the Ashina.

Not necessarily!

If we keep him in Yonezawa, we'll learn the truth.

Then we'll have an excuse to attack the Ashina.

You leave nothing to chance, Bontenmaru!

He's not Bontenmaru!

Sorry.

Kojuro.

Treat Ouchi's attendants well.

If any would betray him, hire them immediately.

Yes, sire.

I'm impressed!

Are you angry, Mego?

No, just sad.

What did Mukaidate tell you?

That I'll be sent back if I don't conceive in two years.

I said that for show.

I couldn't let Sir Tamura make demands of me.

Not before my retainers.

Come.

My lord...

Have the mountain priest pray again.

With a prayer staff over our room, we'll have children!

Did you see the roof?

A prayer staff is here.

Priest Chokai brought it.

I didn't know.

Forgive me!

Never speak of children again.

If you conceive, it's fine.

If not, it can't be helped.

If you fret, the gods will forsake you.

Don't be so sad. Smile.

Smile, I say.

Warlords with no children had to adopt their heirs.

Even Hashiba Hideyoshi, whose battle with Tokugawa Ieyasu ended in a draw,

had no child of his own.

It is Hidetsugu.

Enter.

Miyoshi Hidetsugu was the son of Hideyoshi's sister.

I understand you want Ikeda Kenmotsu for a vassal?

Yes, sire.

Fool.

You lost pitifully in the Battle of Nagakute.

You're responsible for the deaths of...

Kinoshita Sukezaemon and Kageyu!

After letting my good men die like flies,

you survived and have the gall to ask for Kenmotsu!

There's more.

Just because you're my nephew, you treat people like dogs.

Never...!

Silence!

I'll have none of your impudent excuses.

I know everything.

Whoever shames Hideyoshi must pay the price.

Do you want your head chopped off?

Uncle! Have mercy!

Hear me, Hidetsugu...

If anything should happen to me,

I had intended to make you successor...

and leave you all my domains.

I am most grateful!

Come closer.

You're "grateful?"

Please, Uncle!

Are you all right, Uncle?

Uncle!

Hidetsugu! What are you doing?!

My lord!

What have you done?!

I didn't...!

Forgive me, Uncle!

Are you all right?

Oh, Nene.

Am I bleeding?

You're fine.

Hey, Nene.

Yes?

I am the unluckiest man in the world.

I worked hard and fought furiously in battles.

But I must leave all the fruits of my labor...

to an outsider.

Nene...

Bear me a child.

A religious woman like you can have children.

Just one child.

Have my child.

It's too late.

No. It's not too late.

A barren woman is like a broken sandal.

I am not the only barren woman.

Sannomaru, Tatsuko, even Kaga...

They're all broken sandals.

My concubines don't conceive,

because they're waiting for you, my wife.

Understand?

Tensho 13 (1585)

How do you like living in Yonezawa?

It's very comfortable.

I am most grateful for Sir Motonobu's hospitality.

How is the work on the mansion?

The snows have slowed construction.

Therefore, I wish to ask a favor, sire.

Speak.

I fear I am greatly inconveniencing Sir Motonobu.

With your permission,

I would like to return to Obama, settle my affairs,

and return with my family when the snows melt.

I trust you really do intend to return?

Ouchi Sadatsuna is a samurai.

I promised to serve the Date and I will keep my word.

Then stay here in Yonezawa and send for your family.

I cannot.

I must gather my retainers...

and explain to them that we will now serve the Date.

Not only that...

For several years,

I have been friends with the Ashina and Satake,

and have received many rewards from them.

Since I am to serve the Date,

I must do the right thing, as a samurai.

I would like some time to pay my respects to them.

Your request is reasonable. Return when the snows melt.

Thank you, my lord!

Taking his attendants,

Ouchi Sadatsuna left cheerfully.

Aren't you happy with Tateyama?

No, but why must we live so far away?

It's not far.

On foot, it's barely two hours.

Masamune is inexperienced.

You should be near...

Don't worry.

Since he's taking over,

I leave everything to his discretion.

A man is shaped by responsibility.

We'll leave the castle tomorrow.

Yonezawa Castle is Masamune's now.

The east wing will belong to Princess Mego.

Construction on our mansion has barely begun!

We'll stay with Muneshige for the time being.

I cannot understand you!

You should!

If I leave, the meddlesome old fogeys will follow suit.

We're cleaning house.

The Date will be rejuvenated and Masamune will be freer.

Am I a meddlesome old fogey?!

What?

You're retiring to keep me quiet! I know it!

Yoshi!

I refuse to go!

I won't retire!

I refuse to leave!

Fool!

They are coming.

Terumune left the castle with Yoshi and Jikumaru...

taking up temporary residence in Muneshige's mansion.

How fortunate that today is a lucky day.

My subjects, thank you for everything.

Don't cry Sagetsu.

I'm not going to die.

Forgive me, my lord.

Father...

If problems arises, which I cannot solve,

I will seek your advice. Please help me.

I've retired.

I won't listen to any more problems.

Mego...

Yes.

Take care to put out the fires.

Yes, Mother.

Keep fresh flowers at the altar.

Yes.

Be a good wife and serve as an example to your subjects.

Mother...

Take care of yourself.

You, too, my son.

Thank you.

Jikumaru, visit us whenever you want.

Yes.

Let's go.

Though the snows melted,

Ouchi Sadatsuna did not return.

I'll go to Obama. I'll drag him back.

Calm down, Shigezane.

We must do something!

He shamed the young lord of the Date!

Then we'll destroy him. This was Lord Masamune's intent.

Let us prepare for battle...

Ouchi is a notorious schemer.

There's a trap somewhere.

A trap?

He's probably conspiring with the Ashina.

While we're attacking Obama, the Ashina might attack Yonezawa.

But if we do nothing, we will be humiliated!

Ouchi will gloat over it,

and the other lords will laugh and make light of us.

Perhaps Ouchi has angered the Ashina...

and dares not leave.

Let us send envoys to learn the truth.

Then we can still break with him.

Masamune took Kojuro's advice.

You have been warring with the Tamura,

but joining the Date will solve this problem.

Did Lord Masamune say that?

Our former lord, Terumune, did.

If you return to Yonezawa,

your life and lands will be saved.

I am most grateful, but I cannot turn back.

If you are concerned about the Ashina,

give us a hostage for the time being.

Ridiculous.

I refuse, I say.

Lord Ouchi, give this careful thought.

Your very clan is in peril.

Though it invites destruction,

I won't go to the Date.

You will be willing to fight us?

Don't be swell-headed!

The Date greenhorn can't defeat the Ouchi.

It's like a mouse attacking a cat.

Mouse?

Go back to tell Lord Masamune...

You can't get eggplant from a melon vine.

A coward's son is a coward!

You wretch!!

Sagetsu!

Our guests are leaving!

Let us see you out.

Lord Ouchi...

The battleground will prove whether we are cats or mice.

It's war!

Off with their heads!

Slay him and display his head!

He must be punished, sire!

He is no samurai.

We must fight!

Please declare a battle!

Silence!

Sire.

Am I a mouse?

No!

A coward?

No!

Then you know my answer.

We fight!

Destroy the Ouchi!

Wait!

The Ouchi is not our enemy!

What did you say?

We don't fight the Ouchi.

I plan to destroy the Ashina of Aizu.

The Ashina?

Sire!

The Ouchi are hiding behind the Ashina.

Defeat the Ashina, and the Ouchi are nothing!

We must strike the enemy at its roots!

Well said!

We fight the Ashina!

The map!

Yes.

Gather 'round!

The Ashina and Satake will come to help the Obama.

But we'll come from the North...

Into Aizu from Hibara Pass.

What do you think, Masakage?

Indeed.

Before that, we should find someone who can spy on Aizu.

Can you think of anyone?

I have a skilled assistant from Aizu. His name is Hirata Taroemon.

Can he do it?

He's a shrewd man.

Then get him!

Yes, sire!

We fight the Ashina!

Let's do it!!

Just 6 months after becoming the clan's head,

19-year-old Masamune would challenge the Ashina.

The Ashina were the mightiest clan in the Tohoku.

Whether it was heroism or folly,

this battle would prove Masamune's ability.

End of Episode Nine

Historical Information Provided by: Sendai City Museum