Original subtitles

Masamune took up residence at Iawadeyama.

In the castle ruins stands a concrete statue of Masamune.

This statue bore witness to the turbulent modern times.

1935, for Masamune's 300th death-anniversary,

an equestrian statue was placed in Sendai Castle.

But in 1944, the statue was called to serve its country...

to be melted down for wa armaments.

And only the pedestal ramained in Sendai Castle.

Masamune returned to the pedestal in 1953.

Nowever, because of the scarity of goods,

it was the concrete statue, not the one on horseback.

In 1964...

the equestrian statue was returned to Sendai,

while the concrete statue was sent to Iwadeyama,

and welcomed warmly by the people.

The following day, the Tokyo Olympics opened.

330 years had passed since Masamune's death.

Dokuganryu Masamune (One-eyed Dragon Masamune)

Episode 30: Date Warriors

Screenplay by James Miki

Based on the novel "Date Masamune" by Sohachi Yamaoka

Music by Shinichiro Ikebe

Theme music performed by NHK Symphony Orchestra

Cast

Masamune Date: KEN WATANABE

Shigezane Date: TOMOKAZU MIURA

Kojuro Katakura: TERUHIKO SAIGO

Kita: KEIKO TAKESHITA

Princess Mego: JUNKO SAKURADA

Munoyasu Iizaka: HACHIROAZUMA

Nuinosuke Obara: FUJITA OKAMOTO

Bunshichiro Endo: SHIGEYUKI NAKAMURA

Tsunamoto Oniniwa: TAKEHIRO MURATA

Hidetsugu Hashiba: TAKANORI JINNAI

Nagamasa Asano: YOICHI HAYASHI

Narrator: SEIJI KASAI

Lady Neko: KUMIKO AKIYOSHI

Hideyoshi Toyotomi: SHINTARO KATSU

Late 1591 Iwadeyama Castle

It's a different kind of cold from Yonezawa.

It chills you to the bone.

Talk of weather is strictly forbidden.

We're told to send 1,500 men to the war in Korea?

That's not enough. I'm taking at least 3,000.

Three thousand?

Listen, Shigenobu.

We want to take twice the number to show

the country what Date warriors are made of.

With our land taken away and less income,

we're tight on money.

What about replenishing supplies and ammunition?

That's the responsibility of the fief caretaker.

Yes, sir.

Don't make easy promises.

I'm counting on you.

My lord.

Please clear the room.

What is it?

I need to discuss something in private.

Shigenobu, Hyo-ei.

Is it about sending troops to Korea?

Not so.

Don't you like Kakuta Castle?

It's not that.

Tell me what's making you unhappy.

All right. Ever since I was little,

I've tried my best to serve you with loyalty.

You have.

I do it for the clan.

Needless to say, so has Kojuro and Tsunamoto.

However, in this recent personnel change,

you appointed Akimitsu Ishikawa to the head position.

I want to know your reason

for bringing an outsider into a position above us.

Sir Shigezane.

Although he is an outsider,

Sir Akimitsu Ishikawa is our lord's uncle.

If you're talking uncles,

Sir Masakage Rusu should come first.

Masakage Rusu is a Date vassal.

Akimitsu is an adopted son of the Ishikawa

and is a lord of a fief.

Although they are both uncles, he ranks higher.

Ishikawa attacked us along with Ashina and Satake.

He negotiated a peace treaty at Koriyama for us.

You're too soft on outsiders.

Sir Shigezane! You're out of line.

Our lord is fair in his appointments.

Although Sir Ishikawa is nominally in the head position,

his income is only 600 kan mon.

I don't care about income.

I'm saying I'm not happy about serving under someone

who once was an enemy.

I owe Akimitsu.

What?

The reason Ishikawa and Tamura

didn't go to Odawara was because I stopped them.

Their fief was confiscated because of that.

That's even more unreasonable.

The rise and fall of a clan is pure chance.

If you keep taking care of them,

our clan will suffer.

Shigezane.

- I am Date's head. - I know that.

Are you saying you can't live with my decisions?

I'm not saying that.

If Priest Kosai were here,

he would have given you both hell.

Internal dispute is bad when we're off to war.

It's not a dispute.

I will die for my lord anytime.

I'm just letting him know my feelings

on the recent assignment.

Excuse me.

Sir Shigezane.

I understand how you feel.

All the hereditary vassals are up in arms.

But if we treat outside lords shabbily,

there is the risk that they will go over to Gamo and Mogami.

I know that.

But if I don't speak up, who will?

New Year 1520.

January 1520, first year of Bunroku

Iwadeyama Castle was bustling with

preparations to dispatch troops.

What gift?

It's to celebrate your sallying forth to war.

I'm asking who it's from?

That's...

How vexing... Answer me.

It's from Lady Ohigashi.

What?

Lady Ohigashi sent me a letter.

She said I should make sure you received the gift.

How foolish of her. Send it back to Yamagata.

It's unlucky to send back a celebratory gift.

I don't care. I have no reason to accept a gift from her.

Why not?

I hear Lady Ohigashi loves the kimono you gave her.

Kimono?

I hear it's made from a rare Nishijin cloth.

What are you talking about?

The letter thanks you for it.

I didn't send her a kimono.

How strange.

Shigenobu, was it you?

Of course not.

Could it be...

My lord.

Excuse me.

January 5th.

Masamune went up to Kyoto again.

On his way, he saw his child for the first time

in Munefuyu Murata's castle.

You did well.

Here, here.

Your son looks exactly like you.

It's a load off my mind.

Even if I'm unlucky and die in a foreign land,

I have nothing to regret.

Don't tempt fate.

You'll come back victorious.

All that stands in your way will be defeated.

I'm going to do my best

to make the Date name renowned across the sea.

That's the spirit.

Since you're the child of St. Mankai,

your son would be his grandson.

That's right.

Fortunately, his mother has a lot of milk

and he's very well nourished.

He's sure to be a gallant young warrior.

I name him Hyogoro.

Hyogoro.

On my expedition to Korea, it means a strong warrior.

That's a great name.

It's a suitable name for a Date heir.

Thank you.

Move to Iwadeyama Castle when the snow melts.

We have to find a good guardian for Hyogoro.

I will find a famous priest to educate him.

If possible, I'll get Priest Kosai back.

It's too soon.

Reporting.

An urgent message from Sir Nagamasa Asano.

Late last year, Sir Toyotomi resigned from

the position of kanpaku.

- What? - Is that true?

Yes. He handed over the position to Sir Hidetsugu.

So he's finally retiring.

Sir Tsurumatsu's death must have devastated him.

He's not retiring.

He's taking the rank of taiko

and intends to lead the army into Korea.

His highness the taiko?

As in taiko, the drum?

No, no. Taiko is the rank of the former kanpaku.

Hyogoro. Things are moving fast.

Isn't that so?

Very auspicious.

About the same time.

Hideyoshi's close confidant, Zejobo Inaba,

paid a visit to the Date mansion in Jurakudai.

Rumors have it that

an evil spirit has taken over Sir Masamune's wife.

An evil spirit?

His highness is very concerned

and will hold a special prayer vigil

tomorrow night at 8 p.m. at Fushimi Palace.

I appreciate the thought, but Princess Mego is very well.

Do not hide it.

It's true.

It must be some kind of mistake.

The order comes directly from the taiko.

I've been possessed by an evil spirit?

I fear it must be an excuse.

For what purpose?

His highness is known for his womanizing.

He's especially enamored of women of high rank.

Recently, he's been summoning

warrior lords' wives and noble princesses

to serve at his pleasure.

How disgusting... The true colors of an upstart.

But if you refuse, he will turn his anger on our lord.

I must obey his orders and go.

You can't do that.

If something happens to you...

Then, just like Rikyu's daughter,

I will commit suicide and die.

Princess Mego.

Cut my hair off from my body

and deliver it to Fushimi Palace.

I must impress upon him the dignity of a warrior's wife.

Do not be hasty.

We have to come up with a plan...

For example, why don't we let Lady Kita no Mandokoro

know about this and ask her for advice.

Unfortunately, she is in retreat at Arima Hot Springs.

Good evening.

Who are you?

I'm Naonobu Uchibaba, Date's hereditary vassal.

I'm accompanying Sir Date's wife, Princess Mego.

Where are you going?

As ordered, she is going to Fushimi Palace.

Let us pass.

At Kita's discretion, Princess To, the mistress,

was sent as Princess Mego's substitute to Hideyoshi

at Fushimi Palace.

No matter how you look at it, it is inexcusable.

Let's chop of her head and send it to the Date mansion.

Not so fast.

I want to see the substitute.

Summon Toranosuke.

Toranosuke.

Thanks for coming in this cold.

Princess Mego, raise your head.

What's the matter?

Please... help me.

I am possessed by an evil spirit.

Is that so?

I want to see the face of the possessed.

Show yourself, evil spirit.

Help me. Please exorcise me.

Show your true self.

Who gave you orders?

I am Mego.

I am Masamune Date's wife.

Are you trying to fool the taiko?

Raise your head.

You're not bad looking.

This room is cold.

The other room is warm.

I can't you let you catch a cold and start coughing.

Right?

Let's go to a warm place and talk about your future.

Come, Mego.

That will be all, Toranosuke.

Date Mansion, Kyoto

It must be snowing in Oshu.

I hear Iwadeyama is a nice place.

It's too soon to tell.

Congratulations on the birth of your son.

Sir Tokugawa sent some silk.

I have good news.

Your mother is safe.

She's living peacefully in Soma fief.

That's wonderful news.

I'm sure you'll get to see her soon.

Look forward to it.

By the way, Mego...

Yes?

Was it you who sent a kimono to Yamagata?

That was uncalled for.

- I apologize. - Insolence.

How dare you use my name to send a gift.

Please forgive her.

- It was at my suggestion. - What?

No, it was my idea.

How unwise.

The Mogami household must be deriding my weakness.

Are you never going to see Lady Ohigashi ever again?

This doesn't concern you.

Excuse me. I apologize profusely.

Know your place.

You are Mego's maid, not my guardian.

You have every right to be angry.

- Don't be so defiant. - I'm not.

There's another matter that will incur your ire.

What happened?

- I... - Let me tell you.

- Princess Mego. - You may leave.

Kita!

Where are you?

Here, sir.

Who ordered you to send Princess To?

It was my idea.

- Is that the truth? - Yes.

Then I order you.

Go get her back from the taiko at once.

I'm sorry, but I can't...

Didn't you think of Date's prestige?

Because I did, I steeled myself

and sent Princess To.

That's hubris.

How dare you, a servant, give my mistress away.

I did not have time to consult you.

What?

Iwadeyama was so far.

Is that all you have to say for yourself?

I have a request.

Please kill me and send my head to the taiko.

If you tell him that a foolish servant

did wrong in your absence,

he would not be angry and you can save face.

How dare you dictate what I should do!

Do you really value Princess To that much?

Which is more important...

the continuation of the Date or a mistress?

If we incur the ire of the taiko,

the Date will be destroyed.

If you don't understand that,

you're not fit to rule the country.

- Insolence! - No, don't.

- Don't interfere. - She did it to protect me.

Then I ask you.

Should I have gone to Fushimi?

Or should I have committed suicide?

Princess Mego!

- Kita is blameless. - Shut up.

Kita talked back to me.

Think of it as parental advice.

Kita raised you.

After your father died,

she instilled in you his aspirations

and after your mother left, she has served you

according to her teachings.

You of all people know that.

If she was insolent, I apologize for her.

Please understand why she did it.

I can't forgive her.

Giving Princess To away on her own volition, without

waiting for my orders, is a serious crime.

Leave Kyoto at once.

Return to the fief. You are under house arrest.

House arrest...

I don't deserve such mercy. I thank you.

Kita.

I pray for a long and healthy life for you.

You're leaving me as well?

Although I served you for a long time,

I couldn't do a thing for you.

I will not forget my debt to you.

Sister.

Please don't blame our lord.

According to samurai code,

he reluctantly put you under house arrest,

but he understands how you feel.

Please don't worry.

My work here is done.

Eventually, his anger will fade.

- This is goodbye. - Sister.

Here is something to tide you over.

I don't need it. Princess Mego took care of me.

In any case, take it.

I'll have Tsuta prepare a house in the castle town

and give her instructions.

- Kojuro. - Yes.

- Tsunamoto. - Yes.

Be careful of water in foreign battlefields.

I shall.

Serve the Date well for my sake as well.

Do not be afraid to die.

Don't let others best you.

I will not.

Well then...

Sorry to keep you waiting, Masamune.

- I'm glad to... - Thanks for coming.

I'm Hidetsugu Toyotomi,

imperial advisor and minister of the left.

Belatedly I congratulate you...

Enough.

I'm tired of formal speeches.

Oman. This is one-eyed dragon Masamune.

I have heard about you.

Oman is a great dancer.

I shall have her dance for you. Yes? Yes?

Thank you.

Let's drink. Bring some sake!

Yes, sir.

By the way, Masamune.

Has the taiko said something to you?

I mean... about me?

Nothing in particular.

You can be frank.

We're bosom buddies.

He said to support the kanpaku

and be loyal till the end.

Didn't he say I was young and not up to the job?

Of course not.

I'm not that stupid.

I've had adequate schooling and dabbled in letters.

I'm okay in battle.

You are correct.

It's the taiko who is too able.

Don't compared me to an old man who's accomplished so much.

Mokunosuke. Raise you heard.

Masamune. Do you recognize him?

Is that you, Tohachiro?

It's been a long time.

What in heaven's name are you doing here?

Are you surprised?

Tohachiro Awano has changed his name

to Mokunosuke and is now my confidant.

You must be joking.

He is not.

His highness allowed him the use of part of him name

and he calls himself Hidemochi.

Sorry, Masamune.

The reason I retained a man who absconded from the Date

is because he is familiar with the situation of

Oshu warrior lords, and he's pretty clever.

Do not trust him.

Tohachiro was my brother's personal guardian.

He banded with others and plotted treason.

I ask for forgiveness.

I look back at that and am totally ashamed...

- I don't want to hear it. - Masamune.

Let bygones be bygones.

Mokunosuke praises you highly

and tries to strengthen our bond.

However...

Masamune. Forgive him.

About the same time,

Kojiro Date's other guardian, Nuinosuke Obara,

was headed to Chokokuji Temple in Mt. Shana.

The remains of Sir Kojiro?

Where has his remains been enshrined until now?

In Hokke Temple, Mt. Kofuku in Shinobu fief.

But, with the recent reallocation of lands,

Shinobu became Gamo territory.

So I had to remove his remains in a wicker basket,

so I could find another resting place.

Does your lord know about this?

No, he doesn't.

Please understand.

Sir Kojiro has been disowned for seven generations.

Even if I officially requested it,

I will never get permission for a reburial.

This is a problem.

Why did you chose our temple?

It is by secret order of Lady Hoshuin.

Who is Lady Hoshuin?

It is the Buddhist name of Lady Ohigashi, exiled in Yamagata.

Priest. I beg you.

Sir Kojiro could have been a lord if times were right.

He lost his life for the sake of his clan.

How am I to make his soul rest in peace?

I am here to beg for your mercy

to rebury him in Chokokuji Temple

and offer prayers for him to enter Nirvana.

Please give your permission.

The head priest convinced by Nuinosuke Obara's sincerity,

prayed over the remains

and buried him on Mt. Munen, east of Chokokuji Temple.

Several days later,

leaving a letter of thanks to the priest,

Obara committed suicide.

The Kyushu warlords formed the advance army

for the Korean expedition.

The 53,000-men army, led by

Yukinaga Konishi, Kiyomasa Kato and Nagamasa Kuroda,

had already crossed the sea.

So it has begun.

If we include the western army that is to follow,

the army will number 158,000.

Well, well...

Waiting in the wings, assembled in Hishu Nagoya

at the main camp, waiting for the transport ships,

are the eastern army, including the Kinki region

numbering 101,000.

That's a total of 259,000.

Add to that the reserve army of 58,300,

the naval force of 9,200...

Japan will be empty.

We will depart Kyoto on March 17th

headed for Nagoya.

Accompanying us will be Sirs Toshi-ie Maeda and

Ieyasu Tokugawa, and Yoshinobu Satake.

Formidable warriors, all.

We'll look measly with just 3,000 men.

Bunshichiro.

Immediately gather dyers, tailors and ornament artisans.

What for?

To create battle dress for the Date army.

I'll use all the tricks to make 3,000 men

look like an army of 30,000.

Not good enough. He doesn't stand out.

Place golden stars on the back and front of the armor.

- Yes, sir. - A golden sun on the cape.

The butt end of the lance is dragging.

Use a chain to shoulder it.

Make it golden.

It must be heavy.

No. It's made of wood.

I like it.

Parade around.

All of the Date army was ostentatiously adorned with

gold, platinum, vermilion and black lacquer.

Some even had peacock feathers and fur for good measure.

The Kyotoites sending off the armies were flabbergasted.

They were lavish in their praise,

as the Date warriors exceeded their expectations,

and they became the stuff of legends.

Date sure knows how to put on a show.

The townspeople weren't surprised with

Toshi-ie and Ieyasu's parade.

Did you see their reaction to the Date parade?

It was so gorgeous,

it was like a parade of the guardian god of Buddhism.

They were like kabuki actors.

Leave Masamune here with me.

I don't want such an ornamental fellow

to be covered in dirt in the Korean war.

Philippines... Vietnam...

Oh. When I invade India, I'll take Masamune with me.

Raise your head.

April 22nd.

Masamune arrived at Hizen Nagoya Castle.

Hideyoshi, gauging the arrival of the warrior lords,

came at the end of April.

Your crossing the sea will alarm the Chinese.

They are sure to send a reinforcement army.

Nagoya Castle

That's fine. That's my aim.

If I don't go, it will affect the entire army's command.

The Genkai strait is rough,

and the foreign climate is harsh.

It would be catastrophic if you fell ill.

Both Sirs Maeda and Tokugawa share my view.

They are opposed to your going.

I think it's premature.

You don't have to come. You may go.

The emperor has sent word to stop you.

The emperor?

Treating me like an old man.

Date Camp

Due to Nagamasa's objection,

Hideyoshi's ship's departure was delayed

and the reserve army's stay in Nagoya dragged on.

I believe he should play without his queen.

I will remove the queen.

Tsunamoto is Date's best chess player.

It's not done to remove a piece against the taiko.

Yes, sir. Then play with equal pieces.

Thank you.

I will remove some of my pieces.

I will make the first three moves. Agreed?

As you please.

I'll start.

Three moves.

I win.

Sir Zejobo is here.

Reporting.

An urgent message from Sir Hidetsugu.

Bring it here.

You go first.

I'm returning to Kyoto.

Kyoto... I have to return to Kyoto.

- Your Highness! - Your Highness!

What's wrong?

Your Highness.

Mother...

Hideyoshi's mother,

Oomandokoro, was in critical condition.