Original subtitles

In his quest for supremacy over Japan,

Hideyoshi had conquered Saigoku and Kyushu by 1587,

welding absolute power as regent.

All that remained to be conquered...

were the Hojo of Kanto and the Date of Oshu.

The Hojo had rejected repeated orders from Hideyoshi to submit.

In 1590, Hideyoshi surrounded Odawara with 220,000 men.

For 96 years, the Hojo had held great power.

Odawara Castle, their base,

was the greatest fortress on level ground.

It had withstood attacks from Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen.

So the Hojo were confident of repelling Hideyoshi.

Hideyoshi assembled a great army for a long siege,

and settled at Ishigaki Yama overlooking Odawara Castle.

Hideyoshi even mobilized a navy...

completely surrounding Odawara Castle.

Hideyoshi's dream of conquering all Japan...

was within his grasp.

MASAMUNE, THE ONE-EYED DRAGON

Episode 23: On to Odawara

Screenplay: 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

Ouchi Sadatsuna: TERADA Minori

Suzuki Shigenobu: HIRATA Mitsuru

Asano Nagamasa: HAYASHI Yoichi

Tsuta: OTONASHI Mikiko

Maeda Toshiie: OHKI Minoru

Narration: KASAI Seiji, NHK Announcer

Neko-Gozen (Lady Cat): AKIYOSHI Kumiko

Tokugawa Ieyasu: TSUGAWA Masahiko

Toyotomi Hideyoshi: KATSU Shintaro

Subtitles Transcribed from JN Productions by: Avallach

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

Director: HIGUCHI Masahiro

APRIL 22, 1590

KATAKURA KOJURO'S QUARTERS KUROKAWA CASTLE

As you know, I advised that he go to Odawara.

If anything happens to Lord Masamune, I must apologize by dying.

I shall also take you and Samon with me.

You won't regret dying, will you?

Never.

Are you sorry for Samon?

No.

I cannot understand Lord Masamune.

I told you many times.

He killed his brother to avoid a revolt.

Now the dissidents are suddenly loyal once more.

Then why doesn't he leave immediately for Odawara?

He went as far as South Aizu and lost his nerve...

He didn't lose his nerve!

At that time, he wanted to survey the situation.

Survey?

The Satake and Mogami delayed their match to Odawara...

to see what the Date would do.

What will neighboring clans do, if the Date march out?

Now that Lady Yoshi has been banished,

won't the Mogami attack us?

Lord Masamune only went on a scouting mission.

Our lord is bold, yet cautious.

He is no ordinary warlord.

He will secure the clan's safety and stability...

before he leaves for Odawara.

I'm sorry. Forgive me.

Father.

Oh, Samon, are you still up?

Come.

Yes.

MAY 5

Are the home forces prepared?

I'll take all of my men to Aizu, as ordered.

What about Nihonmatsu?

I'll send Ouchi Sadatsuna.

Not Sadatsuna. Send Ishimoda Saemon and Oeda Owari.

Sadatsuna will accompany us to Odawara.

How can you pick Sadatsuna over established retainers?

There's also Katahira Chikatsuna, Aoki Shuri, Inawashiro Morikuni.

We'll also take important Aizu and Nikaido retainers.

I don't understand. Why take newcomers?

When I explain why I attacked Aizu,

they will vouch for me.

I see!

What if they betray us?!

They were enemies, once!

Rest assured.

Their retainers will be left behind.

Their families will be our hostages.

I see! I see!

Shigenobu...

Am I proficient in tea ceremony?

Better than Hideyoshi?

I, Suzuki Shigenobu, have taught you everything I know.

You are not less proficient than the regent.

Were you invited to have tea with the regent?

Yes.

I attended the great party at Kitano Shrine.

Pretentious trash!

It was a historical first.

All those interested in tea were invited,

from noble to farmer.

1,500 tea stalls were built.

1,500!

A party of rabble.

The regent displayed his finest tea things and looked delighted.

An upstart showing off!

Tea is a warrior's art!

Useless in war!

Not so.

I'm taking my treasured tea things with me.

Sire!

You're not going on a picnic!

I know.

I see! I see!

Now you jest.

I'm not joking.

Lord Masamune has so ordered.

You are to return to your home in Iizaka...

to be safe in case the regent punishes our lord.

Be grateful.

Will Lady Mego return to her home?

She is our lord's wife. She must look after his home.

I will, too.

Silence! Who do you think you are?

Who do you think you are?

Obstinate woman.

Do you think our lord can love a barren concubine?

I am with child.

What?

I carry Lord Masamune's child.

Another prank!

Don't lie to avoid the situation!

You lied about it once before!

That was in fun.

This time, it's true.

Then have the doctor verify it!

No!

He is a man. I don't want to expose my body.

There, now! The whole castle knows of your lies!

Your conceit is unbearable!

Silence!

A disloyal woman who cannot obey in crisis...

cannot serve our lord!

Begone, Kita!

You are insolent to call me disloyal!

Our lord's son will never allow it.

With child?

I think it is a lie.

When I informed her that she would be sent home,

she suddenly said she was with child.

Is her belly big?

She said she just conceived.

You mustn't be fooled.

A woman will lie to achieve her ends.

Perhaps she will coax you into making written promises.

Summon Neko.

If she's lying, I'll kill her.

Leave that to me.

An execution will leave a bad taste in your mouth.

You must leave for Odawara with a clear mind.

The next day, Lady Neko was sent back to her parents.

My lord...

Odawara will be difficult.

That is why our lord is taking you, Kojuro.

A short-tempered man like me would ruin everything.

The future is uncertain for me, too.

You're just going there to die?

Our only hope...

Is the intervention of Lord Tokugawa, Lord Asano, and Lord Maeda.

Evil goblins. You can't count on them.

Kojuro...

We may never meet again.

I'd like to thank you.

Thank you for guiding a willful, blunt man like me.

Sir Shigezane!

Even when I disagreed with you, I inwardly agreed.

I couldn't stop myself from disagreeing.

I wanted to outsmart you, to impress you.

You've made me what I am.

Thank you for your kind words.

I'm interfering in your last night together.

I'll drink to your departure,

and dance one last dance.

Otsuta, please play the drum.

Certainly.

May 11...

Masamune's party left Aizu Wakamatsu for Odawara.

However, there were many Hojo sympathizers in Kanto.

With only 100 men, it was difficult to break through.

Your might is known in Kanto.

We should fight our way through.

That won't be necessary.

If we're detained here, it will be embarrassing.

A good excuse for tardiness.

We can't arrive after Odawara Castle falls.

Lord Hojo is a proud Kanto warrior.

Odawara Castle is more than a mile in length.

They have weapons and supplies to last over a year.

They might rally at the end of a long siege.

Siege is Hideyoshi's specialty.

Remember the famous siege of Takamatsu.

Reporting. A message from Lord Shigezane!

The Soma crossed our borders,

and are fighting the Watari at Komagamine!

What?!

So they've come!

Damn Soma...!

Taking advantage of our absence...!

Kuniyori, send the call to arms!

We're going home!

What did you say?

Hurry, Kuniyori!

We return north!

You're not going to fight the Soma?

The Mogami are behind this!

Masamune acted swiftly.

In one day, they had passed through Aizu...

and reached Yonezawa Castle.

"Date" was originally read "Idate."

It meant "heavenly warrior."

Masamune's lighting swiftness...

suited that name.

Watari father and son...

took over 200 Soma heads at Azuhata on the 18th.

A great victory.

YONEZAWA CASTLE Good work.

Masamune stayed at Yonezawa for a few days,

keeping the Mogami in check.

In charge of Yonezawa Castle was his uncle, Rusu Masakage.

Lady of the East is at Yamagata Castle...

under the protection of Yoshiaki.

She became a nun and is called Hoshunin.

Uncle, please don't speak of her.

She is no longer my mother.

Iizaka Muneyasu wishes to see you, sire.

Send him in.

Muneyasu.

The lord of Iizaka Castle was Neko's father.

I am honored to see you again.

State your business.

At the cost of my life, I say that I resent you.

Resent me?

Insolent wretch!

Please, sir.

I wish to discuss my daughter, whom you dismissed.

She deceived me twice. She said she was with child!

Upon returning to Iizaka,

she suffered a miscarriage!

Miscarriage?

She was pregnant?

A terrible tragedy.

The journey from Wakamatsu was a rough one.

The doctors say that was the cause of the miscarriage.

You're not fabricating this?

I am a warlord! I do not lie!

If you doubt my word, I'll kill myself!

Hold on!

Is Neko all right?

Her grief was so great, she remains in bed.

Tell Neko...

I'm sorry.

Tell her I apologize.

After leaving Yonezawa Castle,

Masamune took a strange course.

He turned toward Yamagata, away from Odawara.

Moreover, he went west,

and entered Echigo through Oguni Pass.

Then he turned toward Odawara on the Shinano Road.

Was he stalling for time?

Or was it a show of defiance?

SOKOKURA

Surrounded by Hideyoshi's 220,000 men,

nothing could enter or leave Odawara Castle.

Upon his arrival on June 5,

Masamune was given quarters at Sokokura, a spa in Hakone.

We are surrounded by steep cliffs.

If they attack, we are finished.

They stuck us at the floor of a valley.

Is this how they treat the administrator of Oshu?

After all, we did arrive late.

We're like helpless fish. Fate will take its course.

We may not even get to see the regent.

We might all be executed.

We'll go down fighting.

It's too soon to give up.

We came in time for the fall of Odawara Castle.

If we're only allowed to help attack the castle...

Kuniyori...

Tell the men...

Until we receive some word,

they are to behave themselves and wait.

Yes, sir.

Let's all bathe in the hot springs...

and get a good night's rest.

Let us dream of running Hideyoshi ragged.

Not so loud!

The next day, there was still no word,

and Masamune's company grew restless and nervous.

Finally, on the 7th,

distinguished samurai arrived at Sokokura...

as emissaries of Hideyoshi.

They have arrived.

This is Lord Maeda Toshiie.

Lord Asano Nagamasa.

Lord Maeda Gen'i.

Sir Seyakuin Zenzo.

Sir Inaba Zejobo.

Raise your head, Lord Date.

I am administrator of Oshu, Date Tojiro Masamune.

It is an honor...

to meet such distinguished men as yourselves.

Thank you for coming.

Are you comfortable in Sokokura?

Thank you.

The accommodations are most fine.

Lord Date...

We are here as emissaries for Regent Hideyoshi.

First...

Please explain your conspicuous tardiness.

Hojo sympathizers in Kanto tried to intercept us.

We were forced to take the Shinano Road.

The regent is also displeased that...

you have repeatedly refused to pay your respects to him.

Why have you not come to Kyoto to pay your respects?

In this case, "paying respects" meant submitting to Hideyoshi as his vassal.

You are absolutely right.

I should have gone immediately to pay my respects.

However, there has been continuing strife in Ou.

As administrator of Oshu,

it was my duty to suppress the unrest.

Being so occupied, I was unable to go to Kyoto.

Why did you conquer Aizu and take Kurokawa Castle?

In 1585, Lord Ouchi Sadatsuna ruled the Sendo.

He was a Date vassal,

but he defected to the Aizu, so we fought him.

When that resulted in my father's death, we also conquered Nihonmatsu.

Thereupon, Ashina Yoshihiro, Satake Yoshishige,

and Iwaki Tsunetaka attacked us.

In the end, we were also forced to conquer Aizu.

Ouchi Sadatsuna surrendered and joined the Date,

so I have brought him as a witness.

Please feel free to question him.

Tell me...

Mogami Yoshiaki is the brother of your mother?

Yes.

Why are you enemies?

Yoshiaki persuaded my vassal Ayugai Munenobu to revolt!

You have also broken with the Soma.

After the death of my father-in-law, Tamura Kiyoaki,

Soma Yoshitane tried to take his lands.

What about Osaki?

We clashed over border disputes.

Satake, Aizu, Iwaki, Mogami, Soma, Osaki...

it's surprising that they all are enemies.

Every one of them attacked first.

You are partly blame!

That is shocking to hear...

Lord Date, you came to assist in fighting the Hojo.

Don't you think a hundred horsemen are rather few?

If I had brought a large army,

Ou would be torn with strife.

I left my armies behind...

to save the regent the trouble of pacifying Ou.

Save him the trouble, huh?

You mean to return Aizu to the regent, then?

Return Aizu?

Answer me!

First, let me ask...

is Hideyoshi here on Imperial orders?

Yes, he marched here on Imperial order.

Then I don't return Aizu, I transfer it to him.

What?

The Date have always revered the Emperor.

The reason I conquered Aizu...

was so that I could safely welcome the regent!

Therefore, I don't return Aizu, I transfer it to him!

You got me!

Very well.

I'll give your explanation to the regent.

Thank you, my lord.

Gentlemen...

Asano Nagamasa's wife was sister of Kita-no-mandokoro.

He was Hideyoshi's brother-in-law.

Maeda Toshiie was building the great province of Kaga.

Seyakuin Zenso was Hideyoshi's spokesman.

Zejobo and Maeda Genin were famous strategists.

How impressive!

The most famous warlords of the day!

They paid proper respect to the lord of Oshu.

They probably came to observe our lord's ability.

Ability?

Our lord responded brilliantly, not yielding a step.

They were struck with admiration.

How will Hideyoshi take that?

Reporting.

Lord Yuki Hideyasu has arrived.

Yuki Hideyasu?

What does he want?

Tokugawa Ieyasu wished to see you secretly at his camp.

Lord Hideyasu will take you to him.

Yuki Hideyasu was Ieyasu's second son,

the adopted son of Hideyoshi.

Halt!

I'll join you.

Come right ahead.

What happened to your right eye?

Did you lose it in battle?

I left it home.

Home?

My left eye is enough to fight at Odawara.

My right eye must keep watch over Oshu.

To "look" good!

IEYASU'S CAMP

Father.

I have brought the "Terror of Oshu."

Lord Masamune...

I am honored to meet you.

I am Date Tojiro Masamune.

I'm Ieyasu. Thank you for coming.

Thank you for allowing us safe passage...

through Echigo, Shinano, and Kai.

Such a roundabout route?

He would have been executed.

Time was needed for the regent's anger to subside.

You beat me.

You aren't safe yet.

For your age, you are a man of great ability.

Asano Nagamasa and Maeda Toshiie...

marveled at your eloquent explanations.

They said you are truly the One-Eyed Dragon of Oshu.

It is most embarrassing.

However...

Hideyoshi is no ordinary man.

It might be unwise to speak with too much eloquence.

A good argument will be useless if you lose your life.

Use discretion.

Use discretion.

I shall follow your kind advice.

Hideyoshi is devoted to the pursuit of elegance.

To his camp...

he has summoned Noh players, poets, and tea masters.

I have heard...

even the famous Sen Rikyu is here.

Yes.

Forgive me, but being a country samurai,

I would like to attend a Kyoto master's tea ceremony.

It would be a lifelong honor to see Rikyu perform.

Please arrange it for me.

A worthy request.

I'll consider it.

Thank you, my lord.

But that's not enough.

You need one more thing to save your neck.

A novel idea.

A novel idea, My lord?

For example, something witty.

Or a gift.

With this prolonged siege,

the regent is suffering from boredom.

Let's see what a country daimyo can do.

Leave the rest to chance.

And Hideyoshi's mood at the time.

Thank you for your kind advice.

However, there is something I don't understand.

What is it?

You have been particularly kind to the Date.

Even on this occasion.

I am curious as to the reason...

I see.

Not knowing my intentions, you are apprehensive?

No...!

I am...

...weary of fighting.

If we kill you, we will have to fight in Oshu.

In my youth, ambition drove me to kill everyone in my way.

However, as I grow older,

I look for other solutions.

War costs many lives and our subjects suffer.

The first rule of war is...

to gain surrender without bloodshed.

If possible,

I wish to have Odawara Castle surrender peacefully.

Besides, Hojo Ujinao is my son-in-law.

I can sympathize.

I understand you executed your own brother before coming here.

It must be quite shameful for you.

How sad.

Masamune received a summons to Hideyoshi's camp...

on June 9, 1590.

Sire, please allow me to accompany you!

There's no need. Wait here for instructions.

But...

Kuniyori, the cords.

Such cords are most unlucky!

It's for a reason. Do not interfere.

ISHIGAKI YAMA HIDEYOSHI'S CAMP

Lord Date Masamune has arrived.

Send him in.

- Please. - Thank you.

Take note of his appearance.

I have arrived.

I count on your support.

What's that get-up?

A dead man's garb!

I am prepared to face the regent's wrath.

Lord Ieyasu! This is no joke!

How dare you mock the regent!

Change immediately.

Wait.

This is amusing.

The greatest lord of Oshu in death garb.

He'll be beheaded on the spot.

I am aware of that. I have no qualms whatsoever!

I will take you to him.

The regent is at the command post.

There he is.

End of Episode Twenty Three

Historical Information Provided by: Kodaiji Temple