Original subtitles

Seiryuzan Zuiganji

Family temple of Date clan,

...Seiryuzan Zuiganji in Matsushima,

...was completed in Keichou era, year 14, third month.

Because Masamune was very devoted to this one,

...you can still see grandiose and splendid shrine built...

...in the way of Momoyama's culture.

Surprisingly, shrine Zuiganji...

...has plenty of features like those one in castle.

A huge rocks rise on three sides.

Moreover, because of stone-gate, it isn't so easy to destroy it.

And there's Matsushima Bay on the south.

Matsushima Bay

Countless islands in various sizes are scattered there...

...so it's difficult to attack from the water.

Chourouzaka

Taking the direction from Sendai...

...there's only road over mountain pass called Chourouzaka.

And this was difficult part as well.

Plum of Great Man

Genna era, year two.

After the death of Tokugawa Ieyasu, there was a rumor about...

There are two kind of, red and white.

It is said that Masamune brought them home during Imjin War...

...and planted them himself on celebration for completing Zuiganji.

...second shogun Hidetada heaping blame upon Date family.

It is said that...

...while preparing for attack, Masamune barricaded himself...

...in Zuiganji in the end.

Place of honor

When opening the sliding screen at place of honor in main temple,

...there are rooms until the ceiling, only being 9 meter long and narrow.

The warriors acting as guard for master were hidden here.

They'd become a machine that jumped out every day.

Date Masamune...

...proudly commander of Sengoku era, chose Zuiganji...

...to be the place...

...where his reputation will be keep after he's gone.

Dokuganryu Masamune (One-eyed Dragon Masamune)

Episode 48: Contrarian Date-style

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

Princess Mego: JUNKO SAKURADA

Princess Iroha: YASUKO SAWAGUCHI

Tadamune Date: HIRONOBU NOMURA

Kojuro Katakura: MASAHIRO TAKASHIMA

Shigenobu Suzuki: MITSURU HIRATA

Shigenobu Suzuki: MITSURU HIRATA

Munenao Shiroishi: ZENPAKU KATO Sadamune Watarai: RYOTA SKANISHI

Shogen Ishida: HIROAKI IIYAMA Princess Furi: KEIKO HAYSHI

Hidetada Tokugawa: HIROSHI KATSUNO

Sokun Imai: KEI TANI

Munenori Yagyu: RENJI ISHIBASHI

Tsunenaga Hasekura: MUNEYUKI SATO

Masanori Fukushima: SABU KAWAHARA Geki Naito: SEIYA NAKANO

Narrator: SEIJI KASAI

Shigezane Date: TOMOKAZU MIURA

Summer, 1616.

The shogunate's disconcerting actions were

casting a pall over Date's Edo mansion.

Date Mansion, Edo

Mother.

A secret letter from Father.

What did he say?

If the shogunate army attack

he is prepared to meet them head on.

As I thought.

If it becomes war,

they will undoubtedly surround this mansion

to take us hostage.

Father says,

since he can't fight adequately with hostages

we must abandon the Edo mansion.

So be prepared.

Mother?

It can't be helped.

It must be a gut-wrenching decision for your father.

Please leave Edo with Sister.

If Sendai is too far,

how about a nunnery in Kyoto?

Did your father say that?

If you stay here, you will be in the way.

In the way?

I am the Date heir.

I don't want the shame of becoming a prisoner.

Are you going to resist?

Of course.

We will resist to the last man and die in battle.

Don't be hasty.

If we're surrounded,

hand over the mansion and submit quietly.

No. That is the ultimate disgrace of a warrior.

You're wrong.

An heir can only protect the clan by surviving.

Your father has done so many times.

This time we are facing the shogunate's huge army.

There is no chance of winning.

Father knows that very well.

Tadamune.

A man must not admit defeat until the very last.

Sendai is secretly fortifying.

Kojuro Katakura whose nickname is the demon

has been given the territory around Oppa Bay

and has been instructed to train the navy.

We must make haste.

Let's set a date to proclaim the call to arms.

Are you going to war?

We must nip this revolt in the bud.

Unless you send a punitive force

there will be no revolt.

I disagree. Date is devious.

Edo Castle

We can't let down our guard for a second.

Honda and Sakai both say so.

If we go to war,

the shogunate will suffer huge losses.

Are you saying we will lose?

We won't lose.

It's very simple to destroy the Date.

It's not too long ago that

the retired shogun preached the preciousness of peace

and established the samurai taboo.

If you start a war again

the peasants and people will be bitterly disappointed.

The shogunate may lose credibility.

But if we do nothing

it will affect the shogunate's prestige.

If we leave them alone,

they may admit the error of their ways

and take appropriate action to crackdown on the Christians

and deal with Tsunenaga Hasekura.

Both Honda and Sakai advised me to attack Date

and destroy him.

Those two are

exceptionally hostile against non-hereditary lords.

Their intention to raise

the status of hereditary lords

by spreading the war

to destroy the Mori, then Shimazu after Date

is very apparent.

Please tell me the truth.

Do you hate Sir Date?

Not particularly.

Then to maintain the peace

please refrain from sending a conquering army against Date.

Do you have any other ideas?

The retired shogun had an alternate plan.

What was that?

The old carrot and stick approach.

Sendai Castle

We'll conceal the navy in the mouth of Kitakami River.

When the enemy invades Yokokawa and Oppa

we'll catch them off-guard and turn the tide of battle.

That's good.

I'll lure them into the trap.

It reminds me of the Kasaki Osaki Riots.

What I fear most is a betrayal from our allies.

If they see it's a losing battle they may turn in droves.

Let's take hostages.

Hostages?

We'll gather the wives and children of the lords near Onagawa.

That won't work.

Even I have given up on Mego and Tadamune.

Reporting.

A letter from Sokun Imai.

Sokun Imai?

What does he say?

It's about an engagement.

Engagement?

How strange.

At a time like this? That's laughable.

And who's engagement is it?

Tadamune's. The shogun is arranging a wife for him.

What?

What's going on in Edo?

Who is the intended?

The retired shogun's granddaughter

and Terumasa Ikeda's daughter, Princess Furi.

Oh, her.

Shigezane.

If this is true, what do you make of it?

Let's see.

If it's true then you should accept with gratitude.

But I can't believe it's true.

I think the shogunate realized your resolve and relented.

Something untoward must have happened.

Someone must have advised

to maintain peace through an arranged marriage

than to go to war with Date is the better plan.

Yes, a conciliatory overture.

I don't want to jump at it only to find it's a trap.

Unfortunately, we would have lost this battle anyway.

So why don't we take our chances

and bet our survival on the marriage?

- I agree. - Listen, Shigezane.

Hidetada makes light of me.

What do you mean?

The retired shogun offered his sixth son Tadateru

as Iroha's husband.

Then Tadamune was to marry his daughter Princess Ichi.

Princess Ichi died young so the marriage didn't happen.

But it's plain that the retired shogun valued us.

But Princess Furi is only Hidetada's niece.

You're right.

So we will be inferior in status to the shogun.

If Hidetada is willing to give us his daughter

that I will gladly accept.

That's not what I expected.

The current shogun is offering peace to Date.

Yes, I understand that.

The security of the Date can only be secured

Date Mansion, Edo

by this marriage with Princess Furi.

That's why Sir Yagyu and others who favor the Date

paved the way for this marriage.

I really appreciate that.

Refusing this order will embarrass the shogun.

Please try to persuade your father.

My father is the vice shogun.

If he is dissatisfied with Princess Furi

he will not yield.

We won't get anywhere with that attitude.

This means the shogun will send an army.

You realized that, don't you?

We are prepared.

Oh dear. Like father like son.

Now my life is in danger too.

My husband's contrariness isn't anything new.

I apologize on his behalf.

Damn him!

How dare he take advantage of me!

Oh dear How childish of Sir Date.

He lives up to his reputation a one-eyed dragon.

This is no laughing matter.

Your stupid idea made me lose face.

Not just that, it allowed Masamune to buy time.

I'm sorry.

Apologies don't cut it.

You have every right to be angry.

But this is where you show what you're made of.

Get to the point.

Sir Date said he wanted your daughter.

How conceited!

I have an idea.

What?

Why don't you adopt Princess Furi?

Adopt her?

Even the contrarian Date can't refuse then.

This is a great idea.

I knew you'd come through.

I won't do it.

The shogun will not bow to the wishes of

a mere non-hereditary lord.

You're not bowing to his wishes.

We're making him an offer he can't refuse.

Please reconsider.

Please forgive my numerous rudeness.

I am greatly appreciative

of your extraordinary consideration

Year's End, 1616

for my son Tadamune, and for the Date.

Now that you're engaged, Tadamune is my son-in-law.

You don't need to be deferential.

Thank you, sir.

My father depended on you

and you and he were very close.

He must be very please with this engagement

and smiling with satisfaction in heaven.

I hear you will be transferring his remains from Mt. Kuno.

You're right.

In the near future he will receive the title of

Tosho Daigongen from the emperor

and will be enshrined as a god-lord in Mt. Nikko.

Tosho Daigongen is a suitable name

for Japan's ruler Sir Ieyasu.

I pray that the god-lord will protect the Tokugawa

till the end of time.

I couldn't be happier.

Like my father, I'd like us to be close.

What wonderful words.

I will do all I can to maintain peace in Japan.

How auspicious.

The Date are now relatives of the shogun.

Now let's drink a toast to seal the deal.

Come closer and have a cup.

I have a question for Sir Date.

Yes?

What has happened to the Christians in Date domain?

Do not worry.

I have posted three edicts within the domain.

Three?

May I explain?

The first edict.

Christianity is a crime. Renounce immediately.

Or else the penalty is death or confiscation of property.

Second. Those who report Christians practicing in secret

will be rewarded.

Third. Missionaries will be expelled from the domain.

However, those missionaries who renounce are excepted.

Is that true?

Yes.

As you heard.

Sir Date is very sincere

and I see nothing that would question his loyalty.

Fine.

Thank you, sir.

That's wonderful.

Tadamune, remember this.

A man mustn't fear anyone, not even the shogun.

If you show you're determined there will always be a way.

Make calamity an opportunity.

That's the secret of Contrarian Date-style.

- Got that? - Yes.

I'm sorry I worried you, Mego.

Not at all.

I won't ever make you sad again.

When a bride arrives from the shogun's family

Date will be secure.

Never divorce your wife.

Don't be silly.

Princess Furi is still young. She's just turned eleven.

The same age when I married you.

That's right.

You gave me a playhouse set as a wedding present.

Playhouse set?

What happened to it?

I've kept it in a safe place as my treasure.

We were a young husband and wife.

Father.

Did he say anything about Sir Tadateru?

No.

- Didn't you ask him? - It's not for me to interfere.

If I mention it and displease the shogun

it may jeopardize Tadamune's engagement.

Then please ask him after the wedding.

Iroha. Father is drunk.

I don't wish for a reinstatement.

I'm just reproachful of

the way the shogun is treating his own brother.

I told you to forget it.

You'll do Tadamune no good if you keep harping on it.

You should forget him

and start thinking about remarrying.

How can I? God won't permit it.

Don't talk about God. Christianity is banned.

What?

I hear the Sendai clan is persecuting Christianity.

It can't be helped. I'm just following orders.

Christians will never renounce

no matter how severe the persecution.

Some will, some will not.

I will follow God for the rest of my life.

Shut up.

I have a retainer named Juan Goto in Sendai Castle.

He is the head of the Christians.

He calls himself John and is a church organizer.

Juan says if he can't practice his faith,

he doesn't want my mercy nor does he care about his life.

He aspires to the treasure of heaven not those in life.

So I said to him...

You can believe in Christianity in your heart.

However, do not consort with missionaries.

You may not proselytize either.

Also, you may never tell anyone

I said you could believe in Christianity.

- Father! - Don't ask.

You have to come to your own conclusion.

Tadamune.

Yes, sir.

From now on, a lord must be

versed in etiquette and diplomacy

rather than strategies of war.

As the shogun's son-in-law, stay in our Edo mansion

and study scholarship and refinement.

You must excel in

the art of tea, Noh, kyogen, poetry and music.

I understand.

I propose to become an idiot.

Not a real idiot.

But to reassure the shogun and other lords

I'll spend all my time in idle amusement.

Well met, Sir Masanori Fukushima.

What?

Excuse me but let's have a sumo match.

Have you learned your lesson? You apple polisher!

My lord. Are you all right?

December 13, 1617.

Princess Furi, the second shogun Hidetada's

adopted daughter was married to Masamune's heir

Tadamune Date.

In the following years, the shogunate brains

abolished or reallocated many non-hereditary lords.

It aimed to sever the bonds of the lords and his subjects

and diminish the feeling of entitlement to the land.

In June 1618, Masanori Fukushima

a typical warlord of the the civil war age

who kept opposing the shogunate

had his domain Aki confiscated.

In August, 60 Christians

were burned at the stake in Kyoto.

Thus the shogunate's hold on political power

became stronger every year.

Tsunenaga Hasekura?

Sokun Imai told me in confidence

that the shogunate is already aware of the fact.

I see. He's come back as far as the Philippines.

We need to shut him up.

Are you saying we kill him?

Or he should live out his life in the Philippines.

I want to hear what Tsunenaga has to say.

I want to know about Spain and Rome.

That's dangerous.

If he comes home he will be arrested.

No, the Nanban mission had the retired shogun's blessing.

Not even the shogunate can touch them.

What are you going to do with Tsunenaga?

I bet the shogunate officials would be watching closely.

Don't worry. I'm an idiot.

What?

Since it's come to this,

I'm going to show them what an idiot I really am.

Oh, pardon me.

Even the one-eyed dragon succumbs to age.

One more dance.

That's enough. Sit.

We have to enjoy what little time we have on earth.

I understand you're my advisor.

That's right.

In the late Sir Ieyasu's place I may sometimes be harsh.

Then I ask you.

What character must a man have to rule the world?

Well now, that's a difficult question.

What do you think, Sokun?

Well. I think its compassion.

That's so ordinary.

In addition he must have scholarship and refinement.

Munenori?

I believe

benevolence, justice, courtesy, wisdom and loyalty

are the cornerstones of a good ruler.

The five Confucian virtues.

No, those are virtues all man should aspire to

it has nothing to do with class or status.

You have a point.

Then I want to hear what you have to say.

Sir Date.

Too much benevolence makes you weak.

Too much justice makes you inflexible.

I see. So have benevolence and justice in moderation.

That's right.

If you become soft,

the government will crumble like tofu.

But firm tofu is unpalatable.

So the gist of governance is

the harmony of theory and reality.

Too much courtesy becomes fawning,

too much wisdom makes you a liar.

Speaking from courtesy,

a shogun shouldn't have a child by a maid.

Sir Date!

But since in fact there is a child

it could be construed as fawning or lying.

Deception leads to lies.

Lies beget further lies ad infinitum.

I say so because I have done it.

Restrain yourself.

You're speaking to the lord.

Please forgive me if I offended you.

What happens if there's too much loyalty?

You will suffer a loss if you have too much loyalty.

Is that so?

You know what I mean.

A biased loyalty toward your hereditary lords

will be a great loss to you.

- Sir Date! - For instance,

if your hereditary lords decide to attack me,

I have no choice.

I feel bad about going against the late Sir Ieyasu's wishes

but I will have no choice but to oppose you.

You're drunk.

I think I've said too much.

Please understand it stems from my loyalty to you.

Too much benevolence makes one weak...

Too much justice makes you inflexible.

Too much courtesy becomes fawning,

too much wisdom makes you a liar.

You will suffer a loss if you have too much loyalty.

Although in Edo, Masamune pretended to be carefree,

once he was back in Sendai he became a careful governor.

Since we've had a lot of expenditures,

we can't send 2,000 men.

I know it's impossible but we must.

I was the one who suggested

the renovation of the Edo castle's second keep

and it's Tadamune's first big job.

How about 1,800?

As my representative, Shigezane will not agree.

Then I'll write a letter of explanation.

You're stubborn as usual.

Look. My abacus is crying.

What about building officials?

We'll appoint Sadayori Oeda as Sir Shigezane's assistant.

Kiemon Ninomiya will be the building magistrate,

Tsuguemon Uehara the stone magistrate,

Hachiroemon Nakamura as chief...

What's the matter? Shigenobu?

- Are you all right? - Shigenobu.

- What's wrong? - Get the doctor.

Shigenobu. Stay with me.

Shigenobu.

My lord.

Let's send 2,000 men.

Shigenobu...

Shigenobu!

Shigenobu!!!

June, 1620.

This was the last of

Shigenobu Suzuki, the lord of Izumi

who from a dedicated worker became a business executive.

Masamune realized that most of the vassals

he had come through the turbulent ages with

were no longer alive.

August 26 of that same year,

Tsunenaga Hasekura finally arrived in Sendai

from the Philippines.

It had been seven years

since he set sail from Tsukinoura in 1613.

I am happy to see you looking so well.

Tsunenaga Hasekura has just returned.

Thank you for your long service.

Raise you head.

I missed you, my lord.

Life must have been so hard.

How were the Nanban countries?

It was very far way.

We arrived in Mexico City via Acapulco.

We crossed the sea and arrived in Madrid, Spain

and delivered your letter to the Spanish king.

The king was very pleased and gave you countless gifts.

They will arrive later so please take a look.

What happened in Rome?

The whole town celebrated our arrival

then we had an audience with Pope Paul the third.

I was granted citizenship and appointed a noble,

a very prestigious outcome.

Everything I saw and heard were surprising.

It was like walking through a dream.

That's great.

I'll look forward to hearing about your travels later.

What became of Sotelo?

He heard about the Christianity ban

and remained in the Philippines.

That's smart of him. You met Shogen Yokozawa?

Yes.

With your letter and wise counsel

I was able to come home safely. Thank you.

The world has changed.

I heard on my way home...

about the Osaka siege, about Sir Ieyasu's demise.

And the rise in Date's fortunes

is known throughout the country.

As you know Christianity has been banned.

Even in Date domain, they are subject to punishment.

That means trade with the Nanbans or the Red Hairs

is impossible.

Across the sea everyone is a Christian

regardless of age or sex.

There are churches in the smallest of villages

and everyone attends services morning and evening.

Tsunenaga.

You may never speak of Christianity again.

I'm telling you to forget.

Begging your pardon...

I know it's hard considering your seven years abroad.

But everything has changed.

If you speak out, I will have to punish you.

What about the Spanish Armada?

The Spanish Armada?

You said you will gather all the Christian lords

invite the Nanban ships...

What are you talking about?

I don't recall anything of the kind.

Were you dreaming?

Please listen.

Tsunenaga, are you a Christian too?

Yes, I am.

- I was baptized abroad. - That's unforgivable.

How could you, the head of the mission

without our lord's permission?

Since God created the world,

sooner or later Japan will be a Christian nation.

Silence.

Tsunenaga.

Go back home and go into seclusion.

Do not see anyone.

My lord!

Why then for seven years...

It can't be helped. Forgive me.

Tsunenaga Hasekura

became a casualty of the times.

After a month had passed,

Princess Iroha moved from Edo to Sendai.

The crackdown on Christians was intensifying

and Princess Mego, fearing the worst

had sent her home.

Father.

I'd like to see Tsunenaga.

Why do you want to see him?

I want to hear about the Nanban countries.

- I won't permit it. - Father.

Tsunenaga is a Christian.

Who made him a Christian?

Who sent him to the Nanban countries?

- You didn't kill him? - He's alive.

But he will never rejoin society.

Father. You are merciless.

Iroha.

I love you.

If you don't want to suffer the same fate as Tsunenaga,

don't make me angry.

Understand?