Original subtitles

In his youth, Masamune's image was that of a fearless warrior.

However, from 1590's,

Masamune mingled with the cultural elite of Japan.

And, having been educated in the Date tradition,

Masamune's genius as a man of letters flourished.

Masamune displayed extraordinary skill in poetry

and was highly prised by the likes of Konoe Nobuhiro.

In grief or joy, Masamune often danced or beat the drum.

In his later years, he spent 30,000 koku on Noh annually,

or the equivalent of 150 million yen today.

Masamune was also skilled in the art of tea.

He was no doubt proud of his friendship with...

Sen Rikyu, Furuta Oribe and Imai Sokun.

Masamune also made his own utensils for tea ceremony.

In his later years, he took up bamboo craftsmanship,

and wrote to Kojuro for some raw materials.

In Iwadeyama, where Masamune's clan was based,

the local people also took up bamboo crafting.

And the tradition still lives today.

Dokuganryu Masamune (One-eyed Dragon Masamune)

Episode 36: Decisive Battle

Screenplay by James Miki

Based on the novel Date Masamune by Sohachi Yamaoka

Music by Shinichiro Ikebe

Thome music performed by NHK Symphony Orchestra

CAST

Masamune Date: KEN WATANABE

Shigezane Date TOMOKAZU MIURA

Kojuro Katakura: TERUHIKO SAIGO

Princess Mego: JUNKO SAKURADA

Tsuta: MIKIKO OTONASHI

Masakage Rusu: KYOZO NAGATSUKA Sadatsuna Ouchi: MINORI TERADA

Tsunamoto Moniwa: TAKEHIRO MURATA Shigenobu Suzuki: MITSURU HIRATA

Akimitsu Ishikawa: GORO MUTSUMI Morishige Kokubun: ISSEI OGATA

Seibei Yanbe: RYOTA NAKANISHI Hyo-e Yashiro: KATSUKIKO YOKOMITSU

Mitsunari Ishida: OKUDA

Lady Yodo: KANAKO HIGUCHI

Sokun Imai: KEI TANI

Munenori Yagyu: RENJI ISHIBASHI

Yoshiaki Mogami: YOSHIO HARADA

Lady Neko: KUMIKO AKIYOSHI

Ieyasu Tokugawa: MASAHIKO TSUGAWA

Osaka Castle

In 1599, after banishing Mitsunari Ishida

Ieyasu Tokugawa moved to the west wing of Osaka Castle

and became the undisputed leader of Japan.

Sir Masamune Date is here.

Ieyasu used arranged marriages

to increase his power base,

marrying off his offspring to those of noted lords.

And, for his sixth son Tadateru,

he chose Masamune Date's eldest daughter Iroha.

I am happy to see you looking so well.

I am Iroha.

Princess Iroha is six years old.

Pretty and innocent. And she looks smart, too.

I ask for your guidance.

I'd like to give her a gift for her engagement.

Would you like a doll or a toy?

I'd like a doll.

All right. Then I'll give you a mechanical doll.

Thank you.

No!

And, how is Sir Hideyori?

Lady Yodo won't let me see him.

We can't let down our guard.

She's exchanging secret messages with Sir Mitsunari

and they are plotting something.

Why don't you kill Mitsunari immediately?

Say the word and I'll lead the army.

It's too soon.

I want to know who my friends and enemies are before I act.

The biggest question mark is Sir Uesugi.

Did he agree to come pay respects to you?

- No. - Why not?

Uesugi's chief retainer, Kanetsugu Naoe,

is a spirited individual.

It may take some time.

No!

It's Tsunamoto, sir.

Come in.

I have something to report.

Last night, Lady Ko gave birth to

your second son at my mansion.

What?

Mother and son are fine.

Is that so? A boy, is it?

I am so happy for you.

It was a great relief for me.

I'll give you a cash reward.

No, that's not necessary.

Not for you. For Lady Ko.

Oh, pardon me.

I'm going to give you a suitable mansion.

- And money, too. - Thank you, sir.

Name him Matajiro. Matajiro Moniwa.

Matajiro Moniwa?

As I said before,

raise Matajiro as your fourth son.

But since he is a boy, you have to...

Give me some time.

You have to make Lady Ko understand.

Is it inconvenient for you?

Er, of course not.

Thank you for trusting me with such a huge job.

I'll be the young lord's guardian...

He's not the young lord.

Don't forget.

You are Matajiro's father.

Reporting.

Please rejoice.

Princess Mego just gave birth.

What?

It is a boy, the heir you've been waiting for.

An heir?

Yes.

The future of the clan is secure.

Congratulations once again.

Tsunamoto.

December 8th, 1599,

Princess Mego finally gave birth to a boy at age 31.

Mego.

Great job.

Thanks for persevenng for so long.

This must be a great relief.

You must be elated.

Thank you.

You did well.

My Lord.

Here is your son.

He looks just like Father.

He's the splitting image of you.

Yes, he looks very clever.

Congratulations.

Don't let him catch cold.

No, sir.

Tsuta. Get Kojuro.

We must send an express messenger to Iwadeyama.

Masamune named his heir Toragikumaru.

Tora, for the strength of a tiger.

Kiku, for mercy associated with the flower mum.

It's a suitable name for an heir.

Ever since I was little,

I strove to be a warn or like Fudo-myo-ou.

Oh, the God of fire?

Even though he looks fierce, he is merciful.

I want Toragikumaru to be like that.

Congratulations.

- Congratulations. - Congratulations.

So you are now a father of three.

Four.

- What? - Er, three.

Hidemune, Iroha and Toragikumaru.

You called Toragikumaru the heir, Kojuro.

What happens to the firstborn, Sir Hidemune?

Now that the legal wife has a boy,

Sir Hidemune is disinherited.

Is that our lord's wishes?

No.

My Lord.

I am so happy.

This is the first time I felt so restful

since I married into the family.

I never imagined you'd have two children.

Will Toragiku become a good warrior?

He must.

We must choose a superior guardian

and a renowned teacher.

- Mego. - Yes?

I want to impress upon you

not to treat Hidemune with indifference.

I know that.

Toragiku is my child. So is Hidemune.

If Toragiku does not have the makings of a great warrior,

I will let Hidemune inherit.

You may not like it,

but for the preservation of the clan,

I need to name an heir that everyone consents to.

What you say is reasonable.

But Toragiku is very intelligent.

He will be a merciful leader

loved by both his vassals and his people.

How can you tell? He's just a baby.

I know so.

All right.

If Toragiku grows up healthy, there's no problem.

I will take good care of him.

We'll have to teach the brothers to love one another.

There is nothing more ugly

than a dispute between blood relations.

I can't stand that he's made light of

even though they are of the same bloodline.

Please don't be discouraged.

If you make sure he is educated well

and he excels both in martial arts and scholarship,

our lord will change his mind.

How?

He will have to reconsider

who is the most suitable to lead the Date.

So I should raise him to be a splendid man?

Yes.

A picture is worth a thousand words.

A warrior stronger and smarter than anyone...

Although he's the heir,

Sir Toragikumaru is Sir Hidemune's younger brother.

Don't let him best you.

Did you hear that, Hidemune?

Yes.

I will be very strict with you from now on.

It's all to make you strong.

Attack.

Don't think of me as your mother.

Attack.

Don't give up.

Again.

You're off-balance.

You will be killed by the enemy.

Young Lord.

What are you doing? Face your opponent.

Again. Strike.

Young Lord.

Young Lord...

Come back.

My Lady.

Spring, 1600.

Lady Neko was also pregnant with her second child.

Osaka Castle

I'm happy to see you looking so well.

I deem Kagekatsu Uesugi to have rebelled

and will go to war with him.

So I want you, Sirs Date and Mogami

to lead the advance armies.

I accept.

Thank you for the honor.

Please return to your fiefs posthaste

and get your armies together.

Sirs Satake and Nanbu will follow shortly thereafter.

We do not need reinforcements.

We can handle this ourselves.

No, the Uesugi are formidable.

Particularly, Kanetsugu, Naoe, in Yonezawa castle,

is a renowned warrior and a war strategist.

You must not underestimate him.

Thank you for your concern.

I will depart for Edo very soon.

You're going to Edo?

You two attack Uesugi from the north.

I'll attack from the south.

Hold on.

If you leave for Edo,

Kyoto Osaka will be undermanned.

Lady Yodo will take advantage or tne situation

and invite Mitsunari Ishida along with Mouri, Shimazu

Chosokabe and other western warriors to rise against you.

I know that.

If the western lords do rise,

your rear will be exposed.

It all depends on whether they rise first,

or we defeat Uesugi first. This is the moment of truth.

It's our honor to be appointed

to be the advance army against Uesugi.

They are a formidable enemy,

but if the clans unite, there is nothing to fear.

We will defeat him and let the world know

the Date are fearless.

Don't worry and wait for good news.

Sadatsuna will be the caretaker in Fushimi.

You should take his advice in all matters.

Yes, sir.

- Neko. You, too. - Yes.

Do not cause any trouble.

I know that.

Take care of the baby.

Thank you.

- Hidemune. - Yes?

- Iroha. - Yes?

You two are siblings.

All three of you must love each other.

- Got that? - Yes.

Louder.

Yes.

June 15, Masamune left Fushimi.

Yoshiaki Mogami also left for Yamagata.

Ieyasu remained in Edo as Hideyori's representative,

Kitanome Castle

and monitored the other lords.

Thank you all.

Iwadeyama is not ideally located

to launch an attack on Uesugi.

So we'll set our main camp here in Kitanome Castle.

This is Sir Sokun Imai,

Sir Tokugawa's representative.

He's here to keep an eye on us.

I am Sokun Imai.

Pleased to meet you.

I don't like that he's here to watch us.

Sir Tokugawa doesn't trust the Date.

Refrain yourself.

Sir Sokun is the acknowledged tea master.

What does a tea master know about wars?

Shut up, Monshige.

It's rude to speak that way to Sir Tokugawa's representative.

Hyo-e Yashiro at your service.

Good. Come closer.

It's been a long time, sir. You look well, My Lord.

Apologize and explain yourself in our lord's presence.

When you went to receive Kakuda Castle,

why did you kill Shigezane's wife and children?

That's because those in the castle

would not obey the lord's orders.

Who do you thin you are?

We don't need to investigate that any further.

Sadamune.

Although he killed your sister Tose,

you said you'll forgive Hyo-e.

That's right.

Listen. We can't win a war

if there is discord within the clan.

Sadamune.

Exchange toasts with Hyo-e and reconcile.

Yes, sir.

Thank you, sir.

From Kitanome Castle,

Masamune mounted an all-out attack.

on Shiroishi Castle where the Uesugi forces were dug in.

But their counterattack was equally fierce

and he faced an uphill fight.

...Sir Naiki Ishizaka killed in battle.

The Uesugi forces are formidable.

If you don't buckle up, the situation will deteriorate.

Send out the fourth brigade.

Fourth brigade attack.

Fifth brigade circle to the right.

Honshige, right. Go right.

The Watari forces have arrived at the castle.

Third rifle brigade up front.

Third rifle brigade up front.

Oh?

Who's that warrior on horseback?

He's charging alone from the hill

into the enemy.

Who's that stealing a march?

He carries the bamboo and sparrow insignia.

Shigezane.

I am Shigezane Togoro Date.

Who wants to fight me?

It's Sir Shigezane.

He fights magnificently.

So he's finally back.

Order all troops to attack.

Don't let Shigezane die.

I am happy to see you.

It's been a while.

It's good of you to return.

The camp is elated.

I hurried here because I heard there was a battle.

I knew you'd be warting for me.

Thank you for coming all alone to help.

Now that we're no longer at peace

and times are turbulent again,

I think I can be of use to you.

Please allow me to return to the clan.

That goes without saying.

Tsunamoto, sake!

Yes, sir.

Thank you, sir.

Forgive me for the countless discourtesies.

I'm the one who should apologize.

I am ultimately responsible

for the death of Tose and the children

during the retaking of Kakuda Castle.

Forgive me.

I've forgotten all about that.

We'll consider I never had a wife nor children.

Why don't we leave it at that?

I'm sorry.

Tsunamoto!

Where's the sake?

Right here.

Congratulations.

A weight has lifted for the first tame in two years.

I feared Sir Uesugi would have commissioned you.

In fact, I rejected a 50,000-koku fief offer.

Fifty thousand?

The Uesugi propositioned me.

So the rumors were true.

I'm glad I refused.

Or else I would have had to fight you.

What position will you give Sir Shigezane?

He would not be respectable without a castle or vassals.

I don't care.

No, tell me what you desire.

Then, assign me to Sir Akimitsu Ishikawa.

What?

I've matured some while I was on my own.

Shigezane.

You are my right-hand man.

Even if we have a spat,

I forbid you to abscond again.

I understand.

But in exchange,

I want you to remain true to your original intentions.

My original intentions?

You couldn't have forgotten?

You said that one day you will rule Japan.

Kojuro, Tsunamoto, Shigenobu.

Date Mansion, Kyoto

Where is Sir Hidemune?

In the study since this morning.

Has he been shut up all day?

By Lady Neko's orders.

Poor thing.

Anyone here?

Where is Princess Mego?

Reporting.

An emergency.

Sir Mitsunari Ishida has taken up arms.

What?

The Mouri, Shimazu, and Kobayakawa armies

will arrive shortly in Fushimi.

Is that true?

We must leave at once.

Please get ready.

Where are we to go?

I think the mansion in Sanbongi is best.

Our lord said that in an emergency,

we were to look to Lady Kita no Mandokoro.

Please hurry.

Osaka Castle

July 17, Mitsunari Ishida arrived in Osaka

formed an anti-Tokugawa western alliance,

and named Terumoto Mouri as the commander.

Mitsunari.

Thank you for coming.

Thank you, My Lady.

Please excuse my appearance.

And what is this secret business?

I would like to receive Sir Hideyori's license

to attack Tokugawa.

Lady Yodo...

Alas, I can't comply.

That's unexpected.

Unfortunately, both Hideyori and the Emperor

have given Tokugawa official papers to attack Uesugi.

We are in the right.

I am sure the taiko will applaud my efforts

on behalf of the Toyotomi.

Since you've raised an army, do your best.

However, victory depends on the luck of the day.

If the Toyotomi clan dies out along with the western army,

all is lost.

The western army consists of seasoned veteran warriors.

We would never lose to Tokugawa's rebel army.

I am very grateful for your loyalty.

First, go out there and get Ieyasu's head.

Then, you shall have a license to do whatever you please.

I want Ieyasu's head.

Oyama, Shimono

Ieyasu heard the news that Mitsunari had taken up arms

in Oyama, Tochigi Prefecture.

He's finally on the move.

Just as you expected.

- Munenori, I'll return to Edo. - Yes, sir.

Hideyasu, you remain in Oyama.

I'll send your brother Hidetada to Utsunomiya.

Help each other and stop the Uesugi forces.

Yes, sir.

Reporting.

An urgent message from Sokun Imai.

On the 25th, the Date army took Shiroishi castle by force.

That is wonderful.

Write a reply to Masamune.

Masamune should remain in Shiroishi.

Do not move his army without permission.

Yes, sir.

Iechika.

Yes, sir?

I hope Yoshiaki Mogami won't betray me.

My father has sworn eternal loyalty to you

and is strategizing how to defeat Uesugi.

You can't win a war by just strategizing.

He shows no signs of raising an army.

I understand. I will send a message to him at once

and tell him to attack Yonezawa.

Good.

Shiroishi Castle

Sir Tokugawa left.

He led his army west to deal with

Mitsunari Ishida's army.

He's abandoned us to die.

He's ordered that we contain Uesugi's army

with Hideyasu Yuki and Sir Mogami.

That's dangerous.

We can't trust Mogami.

He's made no move to go to war.

If the Mogami betray us, we will be isolated.

Why don't you make peace with Uesugi for now?

What?

Are you saying we forsake Sir Tokugawa?

If we go cross swords with Uesugi,

Princess Mego and the others in Fushimi will be in danger.

In any case, let's see if Mitsunari or Ieyasu wins.

If the world falls into chaos

with rival lords fighting each other,

we may have a chance at taking the country.

A warrior like you shouldn't be used by Ieyasu.

Kojuro, send an urgent message to Edo.

Hint at a peace treaty with Uesugi

and give Ieyasu a fright.

That's our lord.

Edo Castle

Ieyasu who had headed west, stopped in Edo Castle

and watched the movements of the various lords.

It was mid-August when he received Masamune's letter.

Damn Masamune.

He's taking advantage of my situation to threaten me.

What shall we do?

Leave him alone.

It's enough if he immobilizes Uesgui in Oshu.

It would defeat the purpose if he fought and lost.

If Date betrays you and sides with Uesugi,

it would be disastrous.

Just give him some candy.

Candy?

Think what it is that Masamune wants most.

Think.

Ieyasu's reply came to Shiroishi Castle

in the beginning of September.

Is it good news?

Ieyasu promises to return Date's seven fiefs to us.

Seven?

It's a legal document.

Katta, Date, Shinobu, Nihonmatsu, Shionomatsu,

Tamura and Nagai,

altogether worth 495,800 barrels of rice.

- We did it. - Praise the God of War.

We can regain our ancestral land.

If we include our current fief worth 580,000 koku,

it will exceed one million.

One million...

That's generous of that stingy Ieyasu.

Congratulations.

Don't be too hasty, Tsunamoto.

If Sir Tokugawa wins, all is well...

but if he loses, this document is worthless.

We must defeat Uesugi.

But we reconciled with Uesugi.

We just have to contain him.

That's not so difficult.

Shigezane's right.

We can't miss this great opportunity.

This is getting interesting.

Masamune's decision brought

unexpected consequences for Mogami.

Kanetsugu Naoe, a confidant of Kagekatsu Uesugi

who signed the peace treaty with Date,

invaded Mogami territory from Yonezawa and Shonai.

Yamagata Castle was on the verge of falling.

Yoshiyasu, the son of Yoshiaki

who was now in dire straits, visited Masamune.

Reporting.

A messenger from Yamagata.

Yamagata?

It's Sir Yoshiyasu Mogami.

Please come in.

I am happy to see you...

Raise your head.

We are cousins. Don't be so formal.

Thank you.

What is it?

As you know,

the very existence of the Mogami is in jeopardy

and we are in extreme difficulty.

I do not owe Sir Yoshiaki anything.

I know that.

When I think of the long years of insolence,

I know this is a shameless request,

but we have no one else to ask for help.

Please send a reinforcement army.

I have reasons why I can't.

Please take a look at this letter.

Are you here on Sir Yoshiaki's behalf?

No, this is from Lady Hoshuin.

Bring it here.

Lady Hoshuin was Lady Ohigashi,

who had taken refuge in Yamagata

with her brother Yoshiaki.

Is mother well?

She is in good health.

My Lord.

Masakage Rusu, command the reinforcement army.

Take 500 horseback warriors a rifle squad of 700,

and head for Yamagata with Sir Yoshiyasu.

Yes, My Lord.

Thank you.

I will never forget this obligaton.

I'm not helping Sir Yoshiaki.

I am helping you.

Do your best for

the continuation of the Mogami clan.

I am not worthy of your words.

Please take care of Mother.

It was September 15, 1600.

The decisive battle for Japan was about to begin.