Original subtitles

Sales tax is Japan's controversial object of tax reform.

400 years ago, tax reform occurred a grand scale.

It was the "Taiko Kenchi" effected by Hideyoshi.

Even new territory was thoroughly surveyed,

and recorded in a register.

Thus, secrets of rich farmers were discovered,

and instances of tax evasion were exposed.

Land units were also revised.

Plots were decreased from 1,440 to 1,200 square yards.

This increased the taxes of the farmers.

Dissatisfied with this system and their new rulers,

Tohoku farmers, lords, and landed samurai rioted.

Under Hideyoshi's orders, rivals Date Masamune and Gamo Ujisato...

were sent to quell the uprisings.

Knowing how the people suffered,

Masamune went, ashamed to carry out his orders.

MASAMUNE, THE ONE-EYED DRAGON

Episode 26: Journey of Doom

Open up!

In the morning, Gamo Ujisato and Masamune...

planned to attack the rioters in Takashimizu Castle.

Sire! It's Genzaemon!

What is it?

I acquired a secret letter from Masamune!

Secret letter?

Date retainer, Suda Hoki, came to my camp,

and asked us to give this to you.

This isn't a forgery?

The written seal is definitely Masamune's.

Suda was sent to deliver this to Myoo Castle,

but he defected to our side.

Quite likely. It's written in a skillful hand.

"When Gamo forces attack Takashimizu tomorrow,

"strike them from the rear... Masamune."

What?

The wagtail seal is definitely Masamune's!

It's addressed to Bessho Awaji, leader of the rebels!

Damn!

So Masamune is conspiring with them!

Bastard. We must slaughter him!

Wait!

We're outnumbered. We'd be helpless.

If we wait, we'll be surrounded!

Ujisato went without us?

He bypassed Takashimizu and attacked Myoo Castle!

That wasn't the plan!

He means to confuse us and cut us out.

Send a messenger to Gamo.

Get an explanation!

Shigezane, prepare for battle!

Surprised by Ujisato's puzzling move,

Masamune was forced to fight the rioters in earnest.

Alerted by the secret letter, Ujisato took Myoo Castle from the rioters,

and kept Masamune under surveillance.

Sire!

The Date took Takashimizu and Miyazawa.

What?

The rioters voluntarily surrendered the castles!

I'm not surprised!

Our real enemy is Masamune.

Be very careful.

For now, just keep watch.

Send spies to watch the Date.

Yes, sir!

With a great army, Masamune surrounded Sanuma Castle, the main base of the rioters.

Having a secret understanding with Masamune,

the rioters freed Kimura Yoshikiyo and his son and left the castle.

The Kimuras asked to report to Lord Gamo about the riot.

Never hesitating, Masamune sent them to Myoo Castle.

Thank you for braving the cold to come so far!

We narrowly escaped with our lives,

and we owe it entirely to you, sir.

Congratulations.

You bore it well.

Out of anger, we thought to kill ourselves many times.

The rioters are not noble samurai.

They locked us up and jeered at us.

We were hardly fed!

It can't be helped.

This arose out of your incompetence.

Your retainers hid behind the regent's protection...

to steal the people's money.

Any woman they could lay their hands on, they raped!

Never...!

It's been investigated!

Forgive us.

Please keep it confidential.

Anyhow, have some food and rest.

Thank you for your kindness.

However, we have been generously entertained at Lord Date's camp.

We shall now return to Sanuma,

re-establish our camp and punish the traitors.

No!

With your men, you could never control the rioters.

You will have to stay here at Myoo.

Fear not!

I'll stake my honor on regaining my lands!

Lord Date has promised to send reinforcements.

Lord Date's power is known throughout the north.

The enemy flee when they see his insignia.

Ridiculous!

You don't know anything.

No man is more conniving than Lord Date.

What?

He conspires with the rioters to destroy us.

You're badly mistaken.

When he came to save us,

Lord Date rode into the castle, calling our names.

When he found us, he took our hands and wept for joy!

Don't be fooled.

Masamune lit the fire himself. And put it out himself.

I beg to differ...!

You're a fool!

We intercepted a secret letter from Masamune.

What's Ujisato trying to do?

He's working against us.

He avoids war council, saying he's ill,

and won't return the Kimuras to Sanuma.

Perhaps he believes you tried to poison him.

How weak. To be frightened by that.

We'll just have to be patient.

We can't move in this snow.

Yes, sire.

Pardon!

A letter from Nihonmatsu.

- Who sent it? - Lord Asano.

Suda Hoki turned traitor!

Is that true?

He took my secret letter to Gamo's camp!

The situation being serious, Masamune sent an explanation...

to Asano Nagamasa, Hideyoshi's representative.

JURAKUDAI, KYOTO

Woman, come forward.

Your name?

What is your name?

I am Mego, wife of Date Masamune.

Is that correct?

Yes.

You'd better not be lying.

We do not understand these questions.

Lord Date supported the riots in Osaki and Kasai,

and rose up against the regent.

He incited the rebels, and has cornered Gamo Ujisato.

Please wait!

As you know,

the Date have sworn to serve the regent, with never-ending loyalty.

There must be some mistake!

Silence!

We have undeniable proof.

A letter from Masamune.

Please investigate carefully.

After many battles, a warlord has numerous enemies.

This might be a false accusation!

- False accusation? - Yes!

The Date live by noblest ideals of the samurai.

Don't be conceited.

Forgive my impertinence!

However, my lord would never betray the regent.

It is unthinkable!

To prove his loyalty,

he has obeyed the regent and sent Lady Mego to Kyoto!

You dare lie before the regent?

Masamune must have sent an imposter.

Imposter?

Raise your head.

Your name?

Mego, wife of Date Masamune.

Don't lie! Give your real name!

She is Lady Mego!

You insist on lying?

I, Ishida Mitsunari, will investigate.

I said no more, Lord Masamune is...!

Stop!

Stay in your quarters till further notice.

She's the real thing.

Her eyes weren't lying.

I think she is an imposter.

If she were his real wife, Masamune would not let her die so easily.

Her eyes showed no fear.

Neither is Masamune an ordinary youth.

He banished his own mother...

and killed his brother with his own hands.

He would not show special mercy to a wife.

You are absolutely right.

Masamune is inhuman.

But...

What a fine woman she is.

Those eyes...

Masamune has long been known for his cruelty!

That's Masamune's way.

That Ujisato...

Complaining because Masamune took the initiative...!

Good-for-nothing wretch.

Lord Asano sent a message.

The Date will control this territory. You are to leave for Aizu.

Preposterous!

Osaki and Kasai belong to me!

They are beyond your ability.

I'll not bungle it again!

It's a disgrace to be sent away!

I share your disgrace.

However, it's foolish...

to fight the Date in this snow.

Fear not.

Masamune will be summoned to Kyoto...

and beheaded for treason!

If he does not go to Kyoto, we can defeat him in spring.

Sire...

You said we should go to Aizu,

but the Date will not let us pass.

That's a major consideration.

- A guide? - Yes.

They leave Myoo Castle tomorrow.

They ask that Date Shigezane or Rusu Masakage guide them.

- A convenient hostage! - Refuse them!

- It might not be wise. - Uncle...

Unless we send a hostage,

Ujisato will ask Kyoto to send reinforcements.

That would worsen our position.

- I'll go. - Wait!

If I don't go, we'll be ridiculed as cowards!

- You're falling into their hands! - We must bear it!

Ujisato can destroy the Date with one word.

But we can't let Gamo have his way!

Morishige... You're the hostage!

I?

Kokubun Morishige?

Masamune's uncle, the lord of Kokubun Castle.

Impudent wretch! Is Masamune trying to make a fool of me?!

He's probably sending Morishige to spy on you.

What a coward.

Send him away!

I won't have anyone but Shigezane or Masakage!

I should've gone!

Swell-headed wretch!

We must act soon.

The longer we wait, the better it will be for Gamo.

It's YOUR fault for coming back!

What's wrong? Please eat.

What do you think?

Did our lord really turn against the regent?

A false charge.

Kyoto daimyo are arrogant.

They look down upon new daimyo, and find fault with everything they do.

Don't worry.

Our lord would never turn traitor...

with his dear wife in Kyoto.

That will never do.

There are times when a lord must fight for his honor.

I don't wish to hold our lord back.

Your admirable resolve is touching, my lady.

However, our lord would never abandon you.

It's Naonobu.

What is it?

Tamura retainer, Makaidate Takumi,

wishes to see Lady Mego.

Our retainer from Miharu?

She is here.

Sir Takumi! How nice to see you!

You are truly Lady Mego!

Are you well?

It's nice to see you.

I couldn't be happier to have this honor of seeing you!

Till I beheld you,

my heart was filled with needless doubt and anxiety.

But now, I can breathe a sigh of relief!

What do you mean, "needless doubt"?

There is an outrageous rumor in the town...

that the wife of Lord Date is an imposter!

I know.

Wishing to learn the truth,

the magistrates of Jurakudai summoned me to find out.

Do you serve the regent now?

Never!

I will serve the Tamura till I die.

What is your business in Kyoto?

I am glad you asked.

As you know, the Tamura arrived late at Odawara,

and their lands are to be confiscated.

Our lord, Muneaki,

is loath to give our lands to daimyo of the west.

He wishes to relinquish them to Lord Date, his relative.

He came to Kyoto to persuade the regent's advisors.

Thank you for accompanying him.

However...

after coming all the way from Takuma,

we were astonished to learn that...

Date Masamune turned traitor in Osaki and Kasai!

We lost our only hope and...

The truth is not known yet.

Just as they say Lady Mego is an imposter,

people enjoy tall tales.

They claim there is undeniable proof.

We cannot readily accept that.

The regent is furious.

He demands that Lord Date appear before him.

Our lord is coming to Kyoto?

If he is innocent of treason,

he must prove it to the regent.

Let me ask...

It's fine, if they are only rumors,

but what will you do, if it is true?

I am a samurai wife.

Rather than live in shame, I would kill myself.

Noble words, my lady.

You are truly a faithful wife.

I, Mukaidate Takumi,

will give my last ounce of strength to aid the Date and Tamura!

MYOO CASTLE

I am Date Shigezane. I shall serve as guide...

Having been summoned to Kyoto,

Masamune was forced to send Shigezane as hostage.

Gamo Ujisato left Myoo Castle the following morning.

Masamune hurriedly left for Kyoto.

On the way, he visited Asano Nagamasa in Nihonmatsu.

Poisoned? Lord Gamo draws rash conclusions.

What about the secret letter?

As stated in my many letters, it is definitely a false charge.

Though I made an enemy of Lord Gamo,

I am not so foolish as to defy the regent!

Waku Sozei sent me news from Kyoto.

First, it is rumored that the "wife" you sent...

is an imposter.

Absurd!

Of course, she is his wife.

If she is not, all Date will submit to execution.

Another thing...

At the castles of the rioters, there were Date banners flying.

That's what Lord Gamo said?

In the confusion of battle,

enemy flags often get mixed with ours.

That's what Lord Gamo probably saw.

Another thing...

Why didn't you send a report that the riots were quelled?

I believed it was Lord Gamo's responsibility.

This is a difficult situation.

I hope you don't doubt me, Lord Asano?

I cannot doubt Lord Ujisato's report.

I'm shocked.

Since Odawara, we have become good friends.

I have bared my soul to you.

I believed that you, of all people,

would convince the regent of my innocence!

Don't overestimate me.

Everyone in Kyoto favors Ujisato.

If I alone support you,

I myself shall be suspected.

Do you intend to let me die?

Hear me.

From what I can see,

everything depends on the validity of the letter.

Is there hope?

Please return our vassal, Suda Hoki,

who defected to Lord Gamo.

If we interrogate him, he will tell us why he told such a lie.

Suda Hoki went to Kyoto.

What?

He went with Ujisato to appear before the regent as a witness.

This time, he would surely be executed. He was doomed.

Masamune rode on to Kyoto with a heavy heart.

As a boy, he had dreamed of riding into Kyoto.

He never dreamed it would be to die.

You said you'd rule Oshu?

I did.

- You want to rule Japan? - Yes.

It might not be merely a dream.

Unlike me, you have a strange madness.

A strange ferocity. Like Oda Nobunaga.

The light of Self; the light of the Way.

Depend on your own self.

You are surrounded by the strength of youth,

in the like of Kojuro and Shigezane.

Your generation now rules the Date.

Bontenmaru.

Tojiro.

Masamune.

Yes?

Tonight, for some reason, I'm terribly happy.

I'll live a long life.

I want to witness your exploits.

Remember, never fear an enemy's strength.

Never laugh at an enemy's weakness.

Yes, Father.

Is this a monster?

It is the god Fudo Myo-o.

He will heal your eye.

Let us pray.

Why does a god look so fearsome?

Well...

I'll tell you.

His fierce countenance punishes evil.

Fudo Myo-o is a kind god.

Despite his appearance, he is filled with compassion.

Kita.

I wish to be like him.

What flower is this?

A bellflower.

What color is it?

Purple.

Close your eyes.

I'll ask again. What color is it?

Purple.

How do you know?

- Tokiminemaru? - A bellflower is purple.

I didn't ask that!

Is this purple?

How can you answer without seeing it? Lazy boy!

It's purple.

What?!

In my soul's eye, it is purple.

Over here, Father!

Does it hurt?

Then say it doesn't hurt.

It doesn't hurt!

Then say it hurts!

It hurts!

Do you hate me?

No!

Good.

Laugh, when you want to cry.

When it's hot, say it's cold.

This is the secret of perversity.

At times, a general must be cowardly.

If the general is killed, the battle is lost.

The entire clan will be destroyed. This is why you must not die.

You must live on, for the sake of your vassals.

Yes.

It is different for vassals.

It's their duty to die for their lord.

Therein lies the meaning of loyalty.

That is the samurai.

A warlord and his vassals are bound together by death.

Damn!

Forgive me! I was careless!

It can't be helped! We must wait!

Why do you hesitate?

Would you shame the Date because of your father?!

We mustn't be hasty!

Masamune! You're lord of the Date!

We'll suffer eternal disgrace!

Masamune!

Do you want to rule Japan?!

Gunners, make ready!

Masamune!

You're lord of the Date!

We'll suffer eternal disgrace!

Masamune! Do you want to rule Japan?!

Spring, 1591...

Masamune crossed Mt. Hakone.

Would he be able to return home?

Once more, Masamune would have to cast himself...

of the mercy of the powerful Hideyoshi.