Original subtitles

I'm going to defeat the Ashina of Aizu!

The Ashina were the greatest clan in the Tohoku.

They surpassed the Date and Mogami in strength.

From Yonezawa, there were two general routes to Aizu.

One was over Itaya Pass on the Sendo.

This is the present Nakadori Road through Fukushima.

This is the main route linking Yamagata and Fukushima.

The other route was a shortcut over Hibara Pass.

Today it is a scenic route overlooking Lake Hibara.

In 1888, Lake Hibara was created by the eruption of Mt. Bandai.

The old Hibara route lies at the bottom of the lake.

In winter, the area is snowbound,

closing the road for as long as four months even today.

This was the route Masamune chose.

MASAMUNE, THE ONE-EYED DRAGON

Episode 10: A Man's Ability

Secreenplay: James MIKI

Original Story: YAMAOKA Sohachi

Music: IKEBE Shin'ichiro

CAST

Date Masamune: WATANABE Ken

Date Shigezane: MIURA Tomokazu

Katakura Kojuro: SAIGO Teruhiko

Kita: TAKESHITA Keiko

Princess Mego: SAKURADA Junko

Oniniwa Sagetsu: IKARIYA Chosuke

Kosai Soitsu: OTAKI Hideji

Endo Motonobu: KOUYAMA Shigeru

Date Terumune: KITAOJI Kin'ya

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

Tensho 13 (1585)

What is the matter?

Before departing,

Lord Masamune had a strange dream.

His stomach was burned with a charcoal fire.

Kojuro told me.

That is a lucky dream.

Lucky?

Yes.

Fire (hi) on stomach (hara).

It means our lord will capture Hibara.

Do not worry.

This will be Lord Masamune's first campaign as our leader.

The entire clan, even his footsoldiers,

are excited and in high spirits.

He is sure to be victorious.

HIBARA PASS, MASAMUNE'S CAMP

Harada Samanosuke and Oniniwa Tsunamoto are back!

Samanosuke is back! Sekishiba was taken!

What happened?

Not to worry.

- It's just a scratch. - Hold up, Samanosuke.

Samanosuke!

Forgive me, sire!

Water!

Give your report.

Matsumoto Danjo of the Ashina joined us,

and the battle was going well.

But Hirata Taroemon told the Ashina about our forces.

What?!

The betrayer we confided in?!

The enemy broke through our weak points.

We defended our position,

but we lost many men, and had to retreat.

I was wrong about Taroemon.

I made a terrible mistake!

Outrageous! I knew I should've gone!

Calm down, Shigezane.

Thank you, Samanosuke.

Tend to your wounds.

Forgive me, sire!

Stop it!

Fool!

Samanosuke!

Take him.

Yes, sir.

Let's go, Samanosuke.

If Sekishiba was taken...

We'll have to attack from right here.

Hibara is not a satisfactory position.

What?

With each attack, we'll suffer.

What should we do, then?

We should retreat and wait for another day.

No!

What of the Date honor?!

We'll be laughed at by losing from the start!

A useless loss of lives is more embarrassing.

Do we take a suicide corps to Oshio Castle?

Without an inside betrayer, we'll die like dogs.

Inside betrayer?

How about Inawashiro Morikuni?

Inawashiro Morikuni?

Right. The other Ashina retainers treat him coldly.

He might betray them.

What's that?

Kojuro...

We can't lose this battle.

Yes!

The older retainers are worried about us.

Excuse me.

My armor!

Father...

Mother...

Watch me.

Meanwhile at Tateyama Castle,

Terumune was concerned about the battle.

You may have been hasty in retiring.

It's dangerous to rely on Inawashiro Morikuni.

The young men are too hot-blooded to be sensible.

Perhaps I should go to Hibara.

What for?

As an advisor or instructor.

Don't meddle, Sagetsu.

I'm dying to go, myself.

But it would surely disgrace Masamune.

You can't be worried about that!

A man grows by overcoming adversity.

What if the lord of the Date is captured, and his head cut off?

We'll just say he lacked the ability.

That's not what he promised!

Sire!

We waited ten days! Why can't he serve us?!

Morikune would gladly serve us, but his son refuses.

The Iwashiro clan is divided,

and Morikuni can't move!

That's useless!

A stalemate!

Silence!

I won't be beaten by the Ashina!

Stop, sire!

Let me go!

Stop it!

Let me go!

Assemble the troops!

Control yourself, Masamune!

The situation is critical!

Losing your composure will affect the entire army!

Impertinence!

You dare to lecture me?!

You may kill me if you wish,

but let me say this...

strategy is important in war.

You must know when to charge and when to withdraw.

Rushing madly about without a plan...

is the height of folly!

Please have patience, sire.

The horses and men are exhausted.

Please give the order to retreat.

Goto Magobei!

Yes.

You and your men stay here.

Build a fort...

and defend Hibara!

Thank you for the honor, sire!

We go back!

The next day, Masamune returned to Yonezawa.

Their unexpected defeat...

weighed heavy on their hearts.

At any rate, you did your best.

Forgive me, sire.

Do not be discouraged.

It was wise to retreat. You didn't lose.

Don't humor me. I still lost.

I've disgraced the Date name.

You must not say that.

It will influence the retainers.

It's already too late.

Even the farmers and other subjects...

are speaking of your defeat.

I am deeply embarrassed.

Pull yourself together.

It wasn't a crushing defeat.

It was a trial.

Absurd!

His ability as leader is being questioned!

It wasn't serious.

Go again and destroy the Ashina.

That's right.

Even Hideyoshi was beaten at Nagakute by Ieyasu.

Ieyasu himself was once beaten by Takeda Shingen.

Sagetsu.

Wasn't it you who said it was too soon for...

Masamune to take over?

I said it too soon for Tsunamoto to succeed me.

Same thing.

It is not!

Stop it, Sagetsu.

Masamune didn't only lose lives and the clan's honor.

He lost your trust!

Will the retainers follow him against the Ashina again?

I ask my lord...

Please come out of retirement...

and return to Yonezawa Castle!

What are you saying?!

It is the only way to stop the ridicule...

and appease the retainers.

Masamune should wait until he receives more training,

and can be a true leader.

Don't be impudent!

You'll make Masamune feel worse.

You must think of the future!

I'm saying such things because I love Masamune!

Silence!

The lord of the Date is Masamune!

I'm retired. How can I interfere?!

Sire!

Get away!

Sire!

Away, I say!

My lord!

Stay away!

They were from your mother!

Leave me alone!

So you finally gazed upon hell?

Hell?

In your soul is paradise and hell.

The Buddha is most kind.

He allowed you a glimpse into hell.

Abbot, what should I do?

What would a priest know?

Tell me!

Do I step into hell or turn back?

You cannot turn back.

A samurai's path is the road to hell.

You must go through hell to enter paradise.

You kill, take castles, fear betrayal, suffer nightmares.

That is the samurai's destiny.

Mother says I should relinquish the leadership.

That means I lack a leader's ability.

It's true that I failed miserably.

I cringe just thinking about it.

I feel so frustrated, I cannot sleep.

I want to curse myself and slit my belly!

Step down and you will find relief.

Why not become a bonze?

Paradise will be even closer.

I cannot!

If I give up,

I'll be the object of ridicule forever!

Then you must fall into hell.

Stop saying, "hell!"

I'll defeat the Ashina and show Mother!

You're going to battle to win your mother's praise?

What?

That's fine, too.

If you're killed, I'll gather your bones.

Such impudence! Do you mock me, too?!

No, it's just an example.

I don't want to hear examples!

Then, what do you want to hear?

How do I recover from this defeat?

How do I regain my men's trust and defeat the Ashina?

Which hand did you hear?

The right hand or the left hand?

Think about it.

Welcome home.

My lord...

Please take them.

Whatever she may have said,

she is still your mother.

You must not destroy her gift from your manhood rites.

You gathered them together again?

Yes.

Please don't hate your mother.

Every mother loves her child.

It is out of love for you that she scolds you.

I know, because I'm separated from my parents.

Mego...

Which hand did you hear?

The right hand or the left hand?

Neither.

One alone cannot make a sound.

They can only be heard together.

Two together?

I see!

Mego, you've helped me see the light!

Lord Hojo?

Yes.

I'll send a letter to Hojo Ujimasa.

They will attack the Ashina and Satake from the south!

Will they fight, though?

They will if we do. They stand to benefit.

Pincer attack?

Yes.

From now on,

we must take everything into consideration,

and work with allied forces!

Yes, sire! I'll send the letter immediately.

In conference?

Come in. What is it?

Inner Minister Hashiba Hideyoshi sent me a letter.

What? Lord Hideyoshi?

What did he say?

He has been appointed junior first ranked advisor to the Emperor...

and his surname is now Fujiwara.

Imperial advisor?

Yes.

He asked that I kindly inform you.

Has Ieyasu surrendered?

All things considered,

he's been ensnared by Hideyoshi.

From sandal-carrier to Imperial advisor!

Quite a jump. He is no ordinary man.

Perhaps you should send a gift...

to congratulate Lord Hideyoshi on his appointment.

That won't be necessary.

We'd be acknowledging his appointment.

The Date don't need to bow to Hideyoshi.

You need not worry about that.

It's just extending your courtesy.

I'll join the Hojo and stop Hideyoshi!

It's outrageous for an upstart to be named Fujiwara.

We Date are descended from the Fujiwara.

Hideyoshi's power is more than anyone can imagine.

Before long he'll subjugate western provinces, Shikoku and Kyushu.

Motonobu, you should consider retiring.

My advisor is Katakura Kojuro.

I need no advice from old men.

Hideyoshi sat in his newly renovated Osaka Castle...

as daimyo came to pay their respects and give congratulatory gifts.

OSAKA CASTLE

What is it?

What do you think?

Wine?

No.

You guess.

I don't know.

This is from Lord Imai of Sakai.

From Europe?

It's a rare gift from Europe.

Hold out your hand.

It's "konpeito," a star-shaped confection.

A confection?

Try it.

Be careful. Lord Hideyoshi always plays tricks.

Fool! It's real this time.

Eat. How is it?

It's very good.

Sweet, isn't it?

You two have some.

Yes.

Thank you.

You're so kind, sir.

How is it?

Good?

To me, the daimyo are like this candy.

If we shake the container,

they'll come rolling out and bow to me.

Soon I'll have Shikoku, Kyushu, Kanto and Ou.

They'll all pop right into my mouth.

All except one...

That Ieyasu.

Hardheaded wretch.

He sticks to the bottom of the pitcher...

and won't come out.

He's out! Ieyasu's come out!

Eat!

Ieyasu came out! ...Eat!

TATEYAMA, TERUMUNE'S CASTLE

Will you accept?

I will serve him with my life, my lord.

Good.

I won't worry if Masamune has a good man like you.

I am unworthy of such praise.

Therefore, I'd like you to take a wife.

As befits a bannerman,

make a home and produce heirs.

Fortunately, there is a woman who loves you.

You jest!

No. Even Yoshi says she's perfect for you.

Could it be...?

Guess.

Out with it.

Could it be Kita...?

What? Kita?

You're in love with Kita?

I...

I see! So that's it?

I'm sorry.

Have you told him?

We've hit a snag.

Why not let them speak to each other?

Ochako, come in.

Yes.

Wait a minute.

Let me handle this.

Have you told him how Ochako feels?

I...

You and Ochako both came here from the Mogami.

You understand each other.

Go, Kuniyori.

Don't worry.

I'll take care of everything.

Pardon me!

My lord...

Listen...

Did Kuniyori refuse?

Ochako, I'm sorry.

Kuniyori would like to decline.

Decline?

How rude! A retainer shouldn't disobey!

Kuniyori loves someone else.

Who is it?

I didn't hear.

Tell me!

I don't know.

My lord! Tell me!

I don't know, I said!

Lord Jikumaru!

Lord Jikumaru!

Splendid, sire!

You try it, Tohachiro.

Yes.

I called you here...

to discuss your marriage.

Yanbe Kuniyori wishes to have you for his wife.

Nonsense. I'm too old to marry.

Kuniyori shows great promise.

He will surely distinguish himself,

and add to the strength of the Date.

I'm grateful for your kindness, my lord.

However, I wish to decline.

Why?

I do not plan to marry anyone.

I shall remain unmarried.

That's foolish.

You have proven your loyalty.

You served Princess Mego and Masamune well.

Now you must know the happiness...

of making a home and bearing children.

Do you dislike men?

No.

Are you in love with someone?

This complicates things.

We're at cross purposes.

Forgive me.

Tell me who you love.

I can never name him.

I won't tell anyone.

You know who it is.

What?

I'm happy to have seen you.

Ochako is terribly depressed.

They say the path of love is never smooth.

Even married couples do not get along.

What have you been thinking of?

Such vague answers.

What kind of woman do you think I am?

How silly.

Tell me. You think I'm a stubborn, willful shrew.

You think I'm a terrible wife.

That's not true.

You have a soft heart.

Is that true?

That's why you're always meddling.

Stop it.

Please punish me, my retired lord.

You found an inside man?

Ouchi retainer, Lord Aoki Shuri will help us!

He won't be like Inawashiro, I hope?

We'll settle that score.

We were careful this time.

It was the age of power struggles.

If it proved profitable,

men were willing to switch sides.

An important strategy of war...

was to have betrayers cause a revolt in enemy territory.

Aoki Shuri broke away from Obama.

We must act now and attack the Ouchi.

We leave for battle!

Date Shigezane, Shiroichi Munezane,

Hamada Kagetaka, Harada Samanosuke...

Your troops will depart by 3 p.m.

Your destination is Karibanda, Mt. Tatsugo.

Bannermen leave tomorrow morning.

Make camp at Suginome Castle.

Wait!

I object.

You young men may suffer the same defeat as at Hibara.

Please reconsider!

Ouchi is an experienced fox.

I know!

Allow us to go as assistants.

We will help as tacticians.

No old ones!

We'll recover our honor ourselves!

If you fail this time, the Date will never rise again.

Don't worry!

Silence, greenhorn!

Sagetsu!

You're in our lord's presence.

Youth alone cannot win!

I ask Lord Masamune...

has our retired lord given his approval?!

What a strange thing to ask!

I, Masamune, am lord of the Date!

It's infuriating!

The old ones think we're babies!

It's only natural. They're more experience in battle.

Even Sagetsu called us greenhorns!

Forgive me. I apologize for my father.

You don't need to apologize.

We were classmates under Kosai.

We understand each other.

We had fights as children.

As Kosai said, the only way to paradise is through hell.

Indeed, Hibara was hell.

Tomorrow and the next day will be hell.

Sire!

I'm growing to respect Father even more.

The responsibility weights heavy on me.

Don't whine!

I'm not!

Preserving the honor of our ancestors is no easy task.

But I'll surpass my father.

If not, I'll never reach paradise or be a man!

Precisely!

How can a man prove his ability?

Of course, by winning a battle.

That's all?

The enemy will bow and your men will serve you.

You'll have more lands and any woman you want!

How you fight is important.

Your exploits must astound the world...

and stop the other daimyo of Oshu.

Tsunamoto?

I think it's having men who would gladly die for you.

Let me ask, then. Will you die for me?

Of course.

Any time.

I swear.

Need you ask?

Mego...

Yes.

Your father will be joining us in this next battle.

Shall I give him a message?

Tell him I'm well.

Is this all?

Tell him I sometimes dream of the Miharu cherry blossoms.

Will it be a big battle?

It might drag on.

Please be careful.

Please take care not to be shot.

Waiting is unbearable.

I worry day and night.

I wake up at every sound.

I fear so for you, I'm more dead than alive.

If I could only be at your side...!

Don't cry, Mego!

Tears are unlucky.

Forgive me.

In 1585, Masamune led his army through central Fukushima,

to fight the Ouchi at Obama Castle.

This time, he could not afford to lose.

End of Episode Ten