Original subtitles

Toyotomi Hideyoshi built the great Osaka Castle.

It was impregnable, like no other castle in Japan.

Why was it impregnable?

Its scale was incredible.

Its perimeter measured 1.2 miles on four sides.

December, 1614...

194,000 Tokugawa troops surrounded Osaka Castle.

The Toyotomi defenders numbered 96,000.

This was the Osaka winter campaign.

Osaka was bordred by the Yamato and Yodo rivers...

and the Bay of Osaka.

But its weak point was to the south.

Tokugawa Ieyasu established his main camp at Chausuyama.

And Date Masamune was also sent to attack on the south.

Enemy general, Sanada Yukimura defended the area fiercely,

and the Tokugawa forces were unable to break through.

Victory was won when a cannon destroyed the castle tower.

Terrified, the Toyotomi agreed to fill in the moats.

Dokuganryu Masamune (One-eyed Dragon Masamune)

Episode 43: Neko Moves to Uwajima

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

Princess Mego: JUNKO SAKURADA

Princess Iroha: YASUKO SAWAGUCHI

Tadamune Date: HIRONOBU NOMURA

Kojuro Katakura: MASAHIRO TAKASHIMA

Tsunamoto Moniwa: TAKEHIRO MURATA

Hidemune Date: KOICHIRO TSUJINO Princess Kame: MAYUMI HASAGAWA

Seibei Yanbe: RYOTA NAKANISHI Shogen Ishida: HIROAKI IIYAMA

Tadateru Matsudaira: HIROYUKI SANADA

Lady Yodo: KANAKO HIGUCHI

Yukimura Sanada: GO WAKABAYASHI

Munenori Yagyu: RENJI ISHIBASHI

Harunaga Ono: TAKAAKI ENOKI

Hideyori Toyotomi: KISUKE YAMASHITA Shigenari Kimura: SANSHO SHINSUI

Narrator: SEIJI KASAI

Lady Neko: KUMIKO AKIYOSHI

Kodai-in: KAORU YACHIGUSA

Ieyasu Tokugawa: MASAHIKO TSUGAWA

December 22, 1614.

Osaka Castle

Lady Yodo and Hideyori

kept the fight-to-the-death hardliners in check

and accepted Ieyasu's condition for peace.

The Tokugawa forces immediately entered

Osaka Castle and began to fill in all the moats.

Sir Date is here.

Bring him here.

I see you are all here.

First I congratulate you

on the acceptance of the peace treaty.

It's been a while.

I am happy to see you in such good spirits.

As you can see, I am not in a good mood.

Did we do something wrong?

You can be frank.

This reconciliation is Ieyasu's ploy.

What are you saying?

He cleverly caught us off-guard with his men

who's running amok.

Oh my. What do you mean by running amok?

I, Harunaga, will tell you.

Your men are bringing in load after load of gravel

and filling in all the moats.

That's the condition of the reconciliation.

That's not so.

Only the outer moats are to be filled in.

Oh dear. The other day, Sir Shigenari Kimura

came to our main camp in Mt. Chausu

and confirmed the conditions the retired shogun.

The retired shogun said the outer moat.

Not outer moat, all moats.

All moats!?

Leaving aside the main castle enclosure

the second and third citadel moats are to be filled.

That's outrageous.

Do you intend to render the castle defenseless?

Are you saying you're reneging on the treaty?

The treaty does not say all moats.

It doesn't say outer moat either.

- That's a flimsy argument! - That's our line.

Hold on.

To begin with, the filling in of the moat

was supposed to be done under the castle's magistrate.

We're saying we object to your troops come barging in.

This is most suspicious.

What's suspicious?

Have you hidden your gold in the moats?

That's ridiculous.

Or do you intend to keep the moat

so you can fight again?

We are samurai.

Once we signed the peace treaty

we'll honor it in the name of the taiko.

It's the same with us.

We've guaranteed Sir Hideyori's position

and your territories were not confiscated.

So you insist on filling in the moat?

Unless the retired shogun orders otherwise.

Then I will send a messenger to Sir Ieyasu.

As you wish.

Ieyasu Tokugawa, however had already left Osaka

so there was nothing the Toyotomi could do.

At the end of the year,

Masamune visited the taiko's legal wife Kodai-in at her retreat.

I haven't kept up with the political world.

How are the Date children?

They must be all grown by now.

I thank you for keeping them in your hearts.

Has Princess Iroha given birth to an heir?

Not yet...

There's no need to hurry.

Princess Mego had to wait a long time too.

You are right.

You are very lucky.

Warrior lords must have many children.

Thank you.

His highness was always lamenting about that.

There's one thing I would like to ask you.

As you wish.

Is Sir Hideyori in Osaka really the taiko's child?

I know I'm being extremely disrespectful.

But his highness never had children

with you or any of his many mistresses.

Only Lady Yodo had princes Tsurumaru

and Sir Hideyori.

And that was after he was fifty.

Didn't you wonder about that?

Are you saying Sir Hideyori is not his child?

Lady Yodo has a reputation.

First with Mitsunari Ishida

then with numerous young pages

and recently with her closest advisor Harunaga Ono.

Well? Please tell me your thoughts.

If he is not the taiko's child, what would you do?

It can't be helped.

We shall have to arrest the vixen who

deceived the taiko and the country

and behead both her and Sir Hideyori.

Is that Sir Ieyasu's idea?

No. It's mine.

That woman Yodo used the taiko's love for her

and disrespected you, his legal wife.

This is indeed a loathsome situation

and sensible people have been heartsick about it.

She's kept Sir Hideyori who should by rights be with you,

back at Osaka Castle and

is exercising power as she sees fit

to the point where she went to war with Sir Ieyasu.

Just that proves she is an uncommonly wicked woman.

Sir Masamune...

You don't understand women at all.

If she is the object of a ruler's affection

any woman would think she had gone to heaven.

It can't be helped if she becomes arrogant.

And they unconditionally love the children

they give birth to.

It's only natural that

all mothers would do anything in their power

to help their children seek distinction.

Lady Yodo is an ordinary woman.

I'm a woman, too.

Sometimes I was overcome by jealousy

sometimes cursed myself for not having an heir

and cried myself to sleep.

I feel for you.

However right is right, wrong is wrong.

If that's not observed we set a bad example.

As I see it,

Sir Hideyori looks nothing like the taiko

- if I were to guess... - Restrain yourself.

Hideyori is unmistakably the taiko's child.

- Remember that. - Lady Kodai-in...

How could a man in your position

cast aspersions on the Toyotomi heir!

Is that you true feeling?

Lady Yodo dismissed you as his legal wife

and usurped the Toyotomi clan.

Sir Masamune.

What will happen to the Toyotomi

if I stated that Hideyori was not the taiko's?

I can't bear to watch the family name that

the taiko worked long and hard to create

disappear with him.

The favored warriors who came to

the Toyotomi's aid will lose all hope.

But most of all,

what would I tell the taiko

who loved Hideyori more than anything?

I'm at a loss just thinking about that.

If I tell him Hideyori is not his child,

he would be driven almost insane with grief

and will never be able to rest in peace.

I will not be able to join him in death.

I wouldn't be able to face him.

Lady Kodai-in...

Even the most beautiful flower

has mud on its roots.

There's no need to bring that out in the open

after he is dead.

I want you to make sure

the legacy of Hideyoshi the country's ruler,

the taiko's incredible life and his renown

should be forever handed down through the generations

and never derided or ridiculed.

The taiko always held Hideyori on his knee and

pressed his cheek against his.

He doted on him.

Since the taiko made him his heir

Hideyori is his child.

I was misguided.

I ask your forgiveness for my insolence.

I will swear to the gods to protect Sir Hideyori.

I'm counting on you.

Nijo Castle

Well done.

With the moats filled in Osaka Castle is an easy mark.

So your intention is to attack?

It's not.

It's just a precaution

so that the Osaka forces will not revolt again

relying on the castle's defense.

Then you will not harm Sir Hideyori.

Harm?

You hold his life in your hands.

I have no intention of killing him.

That puts my mind at ease.

At ease?

It would affect the shogun's prestige

if you destroy the Toyotomi by foul play.

Even if you win the war, it will leave a grudge.

Have you forgotten, Sir Date?

Sir Hideyori's wife is Princess Sen.

Why would he kill the husband of

his granddaughter who is the apple of his eye?

That's why he personally brought this war

to an end with a reconciliation.

They are doubting that.

They think once the moat is filled in

he will attack and annihilate them.

You're well versed on their situation.

Masamune is on familiar terms with the Osaka forces.

I'm not.

However, I personally felt the anger of those

in Osaka Castle concerning the filling in of the moat.

Are they that angry?

They say a cornered mouse will bite the cat.

If we drive them against the wall

they will go to war heedless of the outcome.

I had the moat filled because I didn't want to go to war.

- Is that the truth? - Sir Date.

- Restrain yourself. - I want to know.

Since it is his true intention,

the retired shogun and the shogun will retreat

to Sunpu and Edo respectively.

You're withdrawing the troops?

That's right.

Masamune.

Have you known me to lie?

No, never.

But sometimes, you forget.

- Forget? - For instance,

when I subjugated the Uesugi

you gave me a letter granting me one million

but I wonder if you remember that...

Oh, I remember now.

Oh, I forgot.

Your eldest son...

It's Sir Hidemune.

Yes, I grant Hidemune 100,000.

What?

As promised, I will make him a lord of a domain.

I thank you, sir.

The main Date family of 620,000

and the 100,000 branch family

how much is that together?

It's 720,000.

I thank you for your consideration.

And this territory is it in Oshu?

No.

Then is it in Kanto?

No.

I'm giving him Uwajima in Iyo.

Uwajima, Iyo?

It's in Shikoku.

It was Sir Tomita, lord of Shinano's territory

but he misgoverned the land

causing discontent among his people

and was dismissed.

Well? Are you dissatisfied?

Oh, no.

Then show some enthusiasm.

New Year's, 1620.

An urgent messenger arrived at Date's Edo mansion.

It really is good news.

Hidemune being appointed to the lord of a domain

is proof of Date's prosperity.

It was worth the wait.

Brother. Congratulations.

- Congratulations. - Congratulations.

Thank you.

This is exile.

Exile?

Please watch what you say. It's a 100,000 appointment.

What's the good in

receiving a rundown domain at the end of the south seas?

Home is where you make it.

If you rule wisely and be merciful to the populace

it will become paradise.

Then you go.

What a strange thing to say.

As a warrior descended from the Date bloodline

he would be more useful if given a domain in Oshu.

If he is far away,

it's only natural he will be estranged as years go by.

What do you think, Hidemune?

I believe it's the retired shogun's far-sightedness.

What do you mean?

It's his scheme to separate the Date to east and west

to weaken its power.

I agree.

Yet, I think it's wise to gratefully accept.

Hidemune!

If we show dissatisfaction he will take away the reward

and the retired shogun will be displeased.

Well said.

If you take that to heart,

you will become a renowned and enlightened lord.

Yet, Uwajima is away.

We have Princess Kame here.

Her father Naomasa Ii is Sir Ieyasu's chamberlain

so perhaps he can approach him informally

and ask him to reconsider the domain for Hidemune.

Do not make reckless overtures.

There's not a moment to waste.

Tsunamoto. Clear the room.

I want to talk to Lady Neko.

Yes, my lady.

As you say, Uwajima is far away.

And it is an unfamiliar land.

I understand you want the best for Hidemune.

We can't know right now

whether the retired shogun was sincere in his grant

or if he has an ulterior motive.

But since our lord has accepted

you must honor his decision.

In principle you are right.

- But, if Naomasa Ii... - Silence.

Date will lose face

if we rely on the wife's father.

This will make or break Hidemune.

Because it will, he must be obedient.

It seems you don't understand the weight of 100,000.

But Sir Tadamune will inherit 620,000.

I was out of line.

Since Hidemune is a mistress child

he is lower in status after all.

But a mother's love for her child

is not bound by status.

It's no different.

I consider Hidemune my child, too.

Whether you believe it or not

I have been worried about Hidemune's future

more than Tadamune's.

Listen, Lady Neko.

It's not that Hidemune and Tadamune

are different in status.

It's their destinies that's different.

Destiny?

Since this was determined by the gods

there's nothing that can be done.

I think how one deals with one's destiny

is the makings of the man.

You must know...

Our lord overcame many difficulties

suffered great miseries

to become the renowned lord that he is today.

Trust Hidemune

and send him off cheerfully.

I... What will happen to me?

Hidemune will be in Uwajima

Munekiyo will be sent to Iizaka...

where do I belong?

It's written on your face...

that you want to accompany Hidemune.

You are right.

Since Uwajima is a new territory

there will be many inconveniences.

If Hidemune, still young, fails now

he will be a laughing stock.

I'd like to go with him as his guardian,

and make sure he governs well.

That's not all, is it?

What's most painful for you is to let Senmatsu go.

Senmatsu was Hidemune's heir and

Lady Neko's first grandchild.

Go to Uwajima.

Will the lord permit it?

Tell him you will get rid of the mice in Uwajima.

Me, the cat, getting rid of Uwajima's mice?

Lady Neko.

We've know each other for a long time.

At times I begrudged you, at time I hated you

and I spoke harshly to you.

Forgive me.

Not at all.

I too was discourteous unbecoming to my station.

Forgive me.

I wish you a long and healthy life.

Princess Mego.

Hidemune, the founder of

the Uwajima clan worth 100,000,

packed for his move and in February

moved to Date's Kyoto mansion.

Lady Neko accompanied him.

In any case, it's a big deal

to be appointed the lord of a 100,000 domain.

How auspicious.

Are you satisfied, Neko?

Yes. There is no greater joy for me.

Thank you, sir.

Take good care of Hidemune.

Get along with Princess Kame.

I know, my lord.

Hidemune.

It's an honor to go to Iyo as a daimyo lord.

You have to have a firm resolve

to rule a new territory.

Work hard to

honor your superiors and love you inferiors

so that people will be heard to remark

he truly is a lord of the Date clan

an incomparable wise ruler.

I will do my best.

I will take your words to heart

and make them the Uwajima family motto.

Listen, Sir Hidemune.

Depending on you,

the 100,000 may become 200,000 or 300,000.

Seibei.

I appoint you Hidemune's chief retainer.

Thank you, sir.

Although unworthy of the honor,

I will slake my life to obey your orders.

Genba Sakurada, and Saemon Kori

will be your ministers.

They're both loyal hereditary vassals of Date.

Discuss everything with them

and make sure you govern without mistakes.

Yes, sir.

Shogen.

I'm giving you a sword to celebrate the occasion.

Think of it as me.

Thank you, sir.

A ceremonial dress as well.

Once you get there, write to me often.

I will.

You, too Neko.

My lord?

I thank you for releasing me from your service...

I'm not.

You are Hidemune's guardian.

Live a long life and

see for yourself how Hidemune rules.

Thank you, my lord.

I will do my best for the Uwajima clan's prosperity.

But don't interfere. Just watch.

Senmatsu.

Grow big and strong.

Listen to your parents.

Good, good.

You've grown.

Neko, have you packed pickled plums?

Pickled plum?

When you're seasick, paste that on your navel.

It works.

Don't cry.

Tears are bad luck at a new beginning.

I'm sorry.

Kojuro, bang some sake.

- Treat all the people as well. - Yes, sir.

We'll drink throughout the night.

My lord.

February 28,

Hidemune and his entourage left for Uwajima by sea.

Masamune wrote a poem on the eve of their departure.

Osaka Castle

He said he's moving Sir Hideyori to Ise.

What?

Are they making us hand this castle over.

Yes.

That sly old geezer.

Is there no end to his treachery?

So the reconciliation was just a ruse.

It's just three months and he's intimating war.

He is intent on destroying the Toyotomi.

There's no help for it.

And your reply?

I told him we won't accept forced relocation.

Which means we're going to be at war again.

I want to start amassing at least 100,000 ronin.

Do you think we can win?

We must win this time.

Our inner moats are filled in.

What should we do?

It will be a disadvantage to hole up in the castle.

Then we should open the gates from the start and sally forth.

Sally forth?

First we set fire to the castle town.

We'll burn down everything in sight.

That's...

It's pure foolishness.

What?

I won't burn the town to protect ourselves.

It will only cause hardship for the townspeople.

It's unavoidable.

Needs must when the devil drives.

I'd rather go to Ise.

No!

Even if we are destroyed by the luck of the war

it will affect the Toyotomi's prestige

if we abandon this castle.

Do not worry.

We have an inexhaustible amount of money

to summon help.

The Christians are also very angry

at Ieyasu's wicked treatment.

With the taiko looking down from heaven,

if we all united against a common enemy

we will not be defeated so easily.

Mother.

Then before the war starts,

please return Osen to Tokugawa.

Don't be foolish. Princess Sen is a hostage.

That is correct.

As long as Princess Sen remains in Osaka Castle

they can't attack with abandon.

It would be the shame of the clan

if I use a woman as a tool of war.

Then kill her.

Then kill Princess Sen with your own hands.

No. Please reconsider.

Hideyori is too lenient.

Don't be so magnanimous facing a decisive battle.

On March 18, on his way to Edo,

Masamune learned in Sunpu that

his sixth son Takematsumaru was critical.

He sped to Edo but it was too late.

Takematsumaru, just seven years old had died.

Takematsu.

Forgive me.

I was too late.

That night,

Tadateru Matsudaira came to offer his condolences.

Takematsu was a lucky child

to be missed so much by his parents and siblings.

My parents and siblings keep me at arm's length.

Even if I died, no one would lament for me.

That's not true.

All parents want the best for their children.

The retired shogun asked again and again how you were.

- You saw him in Sunpu? - I had an audience with him.

What did he say?

Will he attack Osaka?

Forgive me.

How thoughtless off me

when you are mourning your child.

Don't worry about it.

I, Kojuro, will answer.

For Sir Hideyori's own security

the retired shogun asked him to relocate to Ise

but the Osaka forces have rejected his offer.

The severing of relationships can't be avoided.

Just as I thought.

The ragtag Osaka army

threatened to set fire to the town?

That is correct.

As I see it,

the shogun has already decided to go to war.

I'm sure we will be ordered to send our troops soon.

Begging your pardon,

Date is in mourning

so please refrain from discussing war

- until after the funeral. - It's all right.

It's important that warriors are always prepared for war.

We can't be obsessed with the personal

and not see the bigger picture.

Excuse me.

I have a request.

Anything.

I've heard that the shogun

wants me to caretake Edo Castle during his absence.

It feels I'm still under house arrest.

I can't prove myself if I'm not allowed to go.

So I want you to put in a word on my behalf

so I can join the war in Osaka.

Which camp will you join if you go to war?

Meaning?

I hope you won't join the Osaka forces.

I have no intention of endangering myself.

No matter how many Christians they round up

the ronins are just that the enemy is the enemy.

I heard that the Osaka general Hideyori

is an insignificant philistine.

The retired shogun says

this war is to save Sir Hideyori and Princess Sen.

Oh? I don't get it.

He wants to release Sir Hideyori

from the shackles of Lady Yodo

and the evil spirits taking over the castle.

They say Hideyori is not the taiko's child but

the illegitimate child of Yodo and Harunaga Ono.

That's an outrageous lie.

How could a person like you be misled by a groundless rumor.

Ieyasu Tokugawa, the retired shogun

left Sunpu castle with his army on April 4.

Exasperated by the Osaka forces

raring for an all-out war

he had decided to punish them again.

The next day, Shogun Hidetada

also leading a huge army left Edo castle

and headed west.

I'm seventeen.

I know that.

Please order me to go on my first battle.

Take me with you to Osaka.

Enough.

I'm ordering you to be the caretaker of the mansion.

But you fought your first battle at fifteen.

The battle with Soma was not that important.

The siege of Osaka

is a battle with cannons and guns.

And I am not the commander-in-chief

so I don't know where I will be assigned.

You could die in vain getting hit by a stray bullet.

I am prepared.

I won't fall behind.

I will get the head of an enemy.

Fool!

You're the heir to the Date 620,000.

Father!

Listen, Tadamune.

What if something happened to the Date heir

who will become the backbone of the clan?

Hidemune has gone to Uwajima

and Takematsumaru is dead.

Your mother is grief-stricken and has taken to her bed.

If another bad news were to reach her

she would not survive.

That's why, if you do your caretaker job well,

that will indeed be a meritorious deed.

Your first battle is as caretaker or Edo mansion.

- Reporting. - What is it?

Princess Iroha wants to see you on an urgent matter.

Urgent?

Father.

What's the matter?

Early this morning,

Sir Tadateru suddenly left for war.

What?

He was shouting that he would take Osaka Castle

and left with 200 knights.

That fool! How dare he disobey orders.