Original subtitles

Kai's Takeda Shingen and Echigo's Uesugi Masatora...

Kai's Takeda Shingen and Echigo's Uesugi Masatora...

finally had their fateful "grudge match" at Kawanakajima.

In August, 1561, Uesugi was first to leave Kasagayama Castle...

for Kawanakajima with 13,000 soldiers.

A short time later, Takeda Shingen left Kofu with 20,000 men...

and headed for Kawanakajima.

Uesugi first went to Yokoyama Castle,

which had a view of the whole Zenkoji Plain.

Then he headed to Mt. Saijo and camped there.

On the other hand, the Takeda troops first went to Mt. Chausu,

and then moved to Kosaka Danjo's Kaizu Castle.

The tactics for both sides were very ingenious.

They stared at each other for some time,

when Takeda made an offensive move to attack...

the rear of the Uesugi army.

In case the Uesugi troops decided to descend the mountain,

the main Takeda army moved to Hachiman Plain...

to create a pincer movement.

This set up the inevitable clash between the Takeda and Uesugi armies.

Takeda Shingen

Episode 27: "Battle of Kawanakajima" (Part 1)

Screenplay: Tamukai Masatake

Original Story: Nitta Jiro

Music: Yamamoto Naozumi

Original Subtitles TV Network Japan

Transcribed and Edited Subtitles Kame Fansubs

Narrator: Wakao Ayako

CAST

Takeda Shingen NAKAl KllCHl

Uesugi Masatora (Kagetora) SHlBATA KYOHEl

Lady Sanjo KONNO MlSAKO

Satomi DAlCHl MAO

Takeda Yoshinobu TSUTSUMl SHlNlCHl

Eri lKEGAMl KlMlKO

Hara Toratane SHlSHlDO JO

Obu Toramasa KODAMA KlYOSHl

Baba Nobuharu MlKl RYOSUKE

Obu Saburobei SHlNODA SABURO

Kosaka Danjo MURAKAMl HlROAKl

Kurashina Saburazaemon HAMAMURA JUN

Okuma Tomohide KATSUNO HlROSHl

Sanada Yukitaka HASHlZUME lSAO

Murakami Yoshikiyo KAMlJO TSUNEHlKO

Naoe Sanetsuna UTSUl KEN

Yae OGAWA MAYUMl

Yamamoto Kansuke NlSHlDA TOSHlYUKl

Producer: Murakami Satoshi

Director: Shigemitsu Yukihiko

August 15, 1561

Tonight, I would like to recount the 4th Battle of Kawanakajima.

Reporting.

There are 15,000 Echigo soldiers heading towards Zenkoji.

The spies have informed us that Uesugi Masatora's...

target this time is Kaizu Castle.

Well done.

Lord, you are going too fast!

Our flags shall never retreat!

We only move forward!

Nagao Kagetora has become Governor of Kanto...

and assumed a new name, Uesugi Masatora.

He will battle at Kawanakajima so he won't embarrass his new titles.

We do not want to face dishonor, either.

I, Takeda Shingen, as Military Commissioner of Shinano,

will chase the Echigo army out of Oku-Shinano.

Until today, I avoided having a head on battle with Masatora,

but this time it is different.

If we let him do as he pleases,

his army will increase in power,

other clans will join forces with him,

and we will lose complete control.

Thus, we must settle it once and for all.

This will be the battle for existence.

Kurashina Saburozaemon.

Half of my men will be injured during this battle.

Go to Erinji Temple...

and build a healing bath by Kawaura Hot Springs immediately.

I shall!

Yamamoto Kansuke.

Go with the Magistrate of Horse and Artillery...

and check out Kaizu Castle and Kawanakajima.

I will do as ordered.

Hara Mino-no-kami.

We have to win this battle at all costs.

Tell Obu Hyobu of Shioda Castle,

Baba Minbu of Fukashi Castle,

Sanada Yukitaka at Matsuo Castle,

and Kosaka Danjo at Kaizu Castle...

of the conditions and to be prepared.

Depart in advance with Obu Saburobei.

Do you understand, Obu Saburobei?

Then, Okuma...

Being a former Echigo vassal,

you must know well how Masatora battles.

Stay at my side and advise me accordingly.

We will show the world how powerful the Takeda army is.

May our great forefather bear witness!

May our great forefather bear witness!

May our great forefather bear witness!

That night, my son Harunobu observed...

the traditional Takeda victory dance.

This will be a battle of life or death.

Tonight may be our last time together.

Should I die, do not let it disconcert you.

Live for Kai and my children.

Yes.

I wish you good fortune in war.

I pray for your continued success in war...

from the bottom of my heart.

Take care of Sanjo.

I will protect her with my life.

You should not cry when you are with child.

When a mother cries, the baby will be weak.

When a mother laughs, the baby will be happy.

Tears are prohibited.

I know what this battle will be like.

What will it be like?

Kawanakajima will be stained with blood.

Who said that? Don't worry about it.

It is not that dangerous.

Isn't that so, Satomi?

Yes.

You just said that Kawanakajima would be a bloodbath.

You have a habit of not listening to the end.

I said that there are such rumors about Kawanakajima,

but I meant to add that we don't need to worry.

I won't listen to such excuses.

You are like a child.

Please look after her.

My Lord.

I know that this is a perilous battle.

Please take me with you.

I cannot.

My only desire is to...

remain at your side until the very end.

I beg of you, please.

Because this is a perilous battle,

I cannot take you with me.

I am not afraid.

I know that.

But, I cannot take a woman with me on a journey of death.

I am not a woman. I am a Takeda warrior.

You know that women can deceive the foe.

Please let me work for you there.

I want to be near you!

Satomi.

I have a request.

Remain here at Tsutsuji-ga-saki and guard over the Lady Consort.

Take care of Eri's soon to be born child.

Eri's child is not mine.

How can you be so cruel?

I can ask because it's you.

I could not give you anything.

Not even a child.

Forgive me.

I will give you my heart now.

Farewell.

My Lord.

Please return safely.

Tie it more tightly.

Yes.

Forgive me.

Don't worry about it.

It is bad luck if it breaks outside the door.

If I am still in the house, it is good luck.

I'm sorry.

They say there is no place like home,

but Kai has become my hometown.

We no longer have floods,

and the town is increasingly lively.

A time may come when there are no more battles.

Kanichi.

Yes.

Become a priest and pursue a life of studies.

Yes.

Kinu.

Alright?

Yes.

Kanichi. Take care of your mother in my absence.

Yes.

I'll be going.

I'll pray for your good fortune in war.

I'll pray for your good fortune in war.

August 18

My son Harunobu departed Kofu on August 18.

Meanwhile, Uesugi Masatora and his 13,000 men entered...

Meanwhile, Uesugi Masatora and his 13,000 men entered... Yokoyama Castle, which overlooked Zenkoji Plain.

Yokoyama Castle, which overlooked Zenkoji Plain.

So, that is the roof of Zenkoji Temple.

Yes. That is the Sai River that glistens over there.

The Hachiman Plain and Chikuma River are there.

Kaizu Castle is beyond the Chikuma River.

There it is.

They have built it into a fine fortress.

If we continue our advance,

we can surround Kaizu Castle before dark.

Let's take the castle before Shingen arrives.

This time, not a foe will escape alive.

Has the Takeda army left Kofu yet?

We have not received word.

Shingen has already left Kofu.

Get me a map.

Our goal is not in taking Kaizu Castle,

but in getting Shingen's head.

The Takeda troops shall be destroyed.

We will set up camp on Mt. Saijo.

Allow me to speak up.

Mt. Saijo is only 1.2 miles from Kaizu Castle,

and in enemy territory.

Shingen could attack us from the back and front.

I know that.

This battle shall decide all.

We can find a way out of the difficulty.

However, Your Lordship...

I have met Shingen three times in 8 years,

but Shingen has avoided a battle each time.

I will not permit that this time.

We will enter into enemy territory and lure him out.

Should Shingen surround us,

we will charge down the hills and finish him off.

When we are prepared to die, we can only live.

If we plan to live, then only death is left.

Get the troops ready.

Kaizu Castle

This is Kaizu Castle.

This man, Kasuga Gensuke, was its commandant,

who had renamed himself Kosaka Danjonojo Masanobu.

Reporting. Lord Obu of Shioda Castle,

Lord Sanada of Matsuo Castle, and Lord Baba of Fukashi Castle...

have arrived with their armies!

I'm glad to see you all!

The fog at Kawanakajima gets heavy in the spring and fall.

It rises from the Sai and Chikuma Rivers.

Particularly from September to October,

it is so heavy you can't see a step ahead.

When does it appear?

Usually after several sunny days, a windless evening,

and a suddenly chilly night, the next morning it is white.

You can't see a thing until the sun is up.

Kawanakajima is bordered by two rivers,

so the fog is not of the ordinary.

Is that right?

Are you a Takeda man or a Uesugi man?

Can you tell the day before a fog?

I have never erred in 50 years.

Let me visit you one night again.

What's this?

What's this? Just a token of appreciation.

Just a token of appreciation.

Please don't have a battle if possible.

OK.

All the crops will be ruined!

August 19

Even if they are our foe, they look powerful.

They are so close.

I wish we could just attack them.

If we attack from the side,

we could kill 500 to 600 in the rear.

They must have about 12,000 or 13,000 men.

Look, they are going up Mt. Saijo.

What are they scheming?

It seems like the entire army is going up.

Why aren't they surrounding this castle?

August 26, Mt. Chausu

Reporting. The Echigo army of 13,000 men...

has camped at Mt. Saijo for 8 days without any sign of movement.

No sign of surrounding Kaizu Castle?

We can hear drums every night as if they are enjoying a Noh dance.

Return to Kaizu Castle and order them not to move until we arrive.

It seems Masatora knows of your plans.

The fact that he passed by Kaizu Castle and camped at Mt. Saijo,

shows that he is prepared to settle things with this battle.

He chose Mt. Saijo, which could easily be enclosed,

to lure us out.

If we approach Mt. Saijo,

he will attack us in full force by charging downhill.

Okuma. What are your thoughts?

His strength doesn't lie in the use of tricks,

but in his ability to read what his enemies are going to do.

He is probably absorbed in watching the Noh dance.

Just absorbed in watching the dance...

August 29

His Lordship's troops have arrived.

Shingen's army entered Kaizu Castle...

For 10 days after this,

Harunobu and Masatora merely glared at each other.

Then, on September 9th...

Allow me to speak.

Look at the sunset.

The western skies are burning.

What is it?

It has been 20 days since we came to Mt. Saijo.

Unless we take action soon,

the morale of our troops will deteriorate.

Just bare it a while longer.

Shingen will move soon.

He knows I am luring him out.

Look over there.

See all that smoke from Kaizu Castle?

The soldiers must be preparing supper.

This is the first time I have seen that much smoke.

There might be movement tonight.

Get the men ready.

We will make our move tonight.

Until we move, Masatora will stay at Mt. Saijo.

We will just have to take his invitation.

The enemy who lures is usually more vulnerable.

Kansuke!

Are you sure about the fog?

Yes. The man claims he has never erred in 50 years.

Tomorrow there will be a heavy fog.

We had several sunny days and a windless night.

There will be a thick fog over Kawanakajima tomorrow morning.

Let's use that to our advantage and win this battle.

Baba. Tell me your ideas again.

The enemy has their camp at Mt. Saijo,

thus, climbing up the hill is not advisable.

We must get them out to Hachiman Plain.

My troops will go by night up the mountain behind Mt. Saijo...

to attack from the rear.

The enemy will be surprised and flee down the mountain...

and into Hachiman Plain.

Meanwhile, the main body of troops will leave the castle...

to encamp at Hachiman Plain.

You can cut down the enemy in the fog.

I hope Masatora will not realize that...

you are planning an attack from the back.

It seems that Masatora has eyes in the back of his head.

In either case, we cannot go up Mt. Saijo.

We can only attack from the back and meet him from the front.

Even if he sees through our strategy,

this is out best choice.

Kansuke.

Check the enemy's encampment at Mt. Saijo from Mt. Yakushi...

and inform me if there is any sign of movement.

To use tomorrow's fog to our advantage,

we must move tonight and use a pincer maneuver.

Let's depart!

Keep the noise down.

Those fires mark the summit of Mt. Saijo.

His camp is impressive.

There are too many campfires!

Let's get closer.

The entire troop will go down the hill.

Tell everyone that we will descend softly.

My Lord. Are we going to surround Kaizu Castle?

Kaizu Castle is already empty.

The God Bishamonten has informed me.

The enemy is behind us and in front of us.

We will attack the ones ahead of us first!

Reporting!

Due to the fog we cannot be sure,

but we heard troops departing from Kaizu Castle.

Hurry!

Kikumaru.

Have you increased the campfires?

We have doubled them.

Increase them further. Make is showy!

Shingen is on Hachiman Plain!

The enemy is making a move.

I must inform Lord Obu on the back ridge.

Heigo. Go to Hachiman Plain and inform Lord Takeda.

Tell him there are signs of movement.

Be careful.

Heizo. Stay at my side.

We will break through the enemy's line.

Even if I die, go towards the back ridge.

You should meet up with Lord Obu.

Let's go.

Heizo!

Come out!

Come out!

Never mind about me! Go!

I can't do that! Hang onto me!

Never mind me. Go and inform them.

Let's go together!

Your injury isn't bad.

Heizo. Leave me and inform them. Hurry.

I am taking you with me!

Please stand up!

We shall end here for tonight.

To be continued.

To be continued.