Original subtitles

About the time Nobunaga won the Battle of Nagashino,

he was assigning his vassals to various castles he captured for control.

He assigned Hashiba Hideyoshi to Omi's Nagahama Castle;

Niwa Nagahide to Sawayama Castle;

Sakuma Nobumori to Nagahara Castle;

Shibata Katsuie to Chokoji Castle;

Akechi Mitsuhide to Sakamoto Castle;

Takigawa Kazumasu to Ise-Nagashima Castle;

his second son Nobukatsu to Ise-Matsugashima Castle;

and Oda Nobukane to Anotsu Castle.

In addition, in Kyoto and Sakai,

Yamato's Shigisan Castle was under Matsunaga Hisahide;

Yamashiro's Shoryuji Castle to Hosokawa Fujitaka;

Settsu's Arioka Castle to Araki Murashige;

Takatsuki Castle to Takayama Hida-no-kami;

and his ally Tokugawa Ieyasu watched over Mikawa and Totomi...

from Hamamatsu Castle.

Other than Tokugawa Ieyasu, Nobunaga's vassals just followed his orders...

and had no claim to their assigned domain.

Nobunaga sent out vassals to rule on his behalf.

This allowed him to collect taxes.

Thus, Nobunaga's vassals exploited the lands...

and robbed the small land owners of power.

Nobunaga

Episode 39: "A Change in Ruler"

Original Story & Screenplay: Tamukai Seiken

Music: Mori Kurodo

Original Subtitles TV Network Japan, Inc.

Transcribed and Edited Subtitles Kame Fansubs

CAST

Oda Nobunaga OGATA NAOTO

Kicho KIKUCHI MOMOKO

Rui TAKAHASHI KEIKO

Onabe WAKAMURA MAYUMI

Ikeda Tsuneoki MATOBA KOJI

Oichi WASHIO ISAKO

Shibata Katsuie TAKITA SAKAE

Hosokawa Fujitaka KATSUNO HIROSHI

Akechi Mitsuhide MICHAEL TOMIOKA

Lorenso INAGAWA JUNJI

Maeda Toshiie HASHIZUME JUN

Niwa Nagahide SUGIMOTO TETTA

Araki Murashige HONDA HIROTARO

Takigawa Kazumasu SHIBA TOSHIO

Inaba Yoshimichi SHINODA SABURO

Luis Frois FRANK NEIL

Hashiba Hideyoshi NAKAMURA TOHRU

Sakuma Nobumori TANAKA KEN

Hayashi Michikatsu UTSUI KEN

Kano Zuiten HIRA MIKIJIRO

Producer: Yagi Masaji

Director: Komatsu Takashi

Summer 1575

After the victory in Nagashino, and without resting,

Nobunaga sent a large army into Echizen...

and did a through clean-up of the Ikko Sect.

This horrifying act left Echizen in ruins.

Hey! Why are you rushing?

Forgive me.

Rushing the blind is hazardous. Fool!

Who is in the grand hall?

Lady Rui and Sir Hayashi.

Lady Rui is there?

Yes.

You may go.

You can't go there alone.

Don't stick your tongue out at me!

Yes.

I didn't know that Lady Rui would be there.

Fall, you stupid man!

Reporting. Zuiten has arrived.

Send him in.

Zuiten at your service.

We're glad you made it.

What happened to your guide?

I came alone.

That's terrible. Hayashi?

It's unkind to make him walk alone.

Reprimand you subordinates.

No, please don't bother with a man like me.

What are you saying? We don't want you to get hurt.

I appreciate you feeling that way.

I will be more careful from now on.

Why didn't you ask for a guide?

Yes, forgive me.

We were wrong for not providing him with one.

Young men these days have changed.

I should have been more careful.

We received word today of a victory with Echizen.

So I invited you for the celebration.

I am so honored.

However, Hayashi...

Zuiten's clothing looks a little shabby.

You are right. Zuiten's old age has made him sloppy.

That's not it, Sir Hayashi.

You said when you lost your heavenly powers,

you also lost all desires to dress up.

No, Sir Hayashi, I never said that.

I live so poorly, I cannot afford to.

Without vision, imagine the darkness I face.

It is a horrifying and lonely life.

I feel like I am living in hell.

Zuiten, don't get carried away.

No, Zuiten lost his vision praying for the Oda.

We will be punished if we treat Zuiten lightly.

Hayashi.

Get him some new clothing.

Zuiten is now serving the ruler of this country.

If he dresses shabbily, it's a reflection on Nobunaga's integrity.

Very well.

Thank you very much.

I can't see, but I can visualize His Majesty.

Banzai! Banzai!

Kita-no-sho

We fought very hard this past month.

Now Echizen will be at peace.

There are no Ikko Sect followers left!

Shibata.

I will leave Echizen to you.

I am most honored.

Echizen is close to the capital and also to Echigo's Uesugi.

So build a secure castle here at Kita-no-sho.

And then Maeda...

Stay here with Sasa Narimasa and Fuwa Mitsuharu in Fuchu...

and support Shibata as overseers.

Yes, Sire. I will do my best to assist him!

Then, Akechi...

Immediately send men into Tanba.

Show them how powerful our army is!

Yes, sir.

Akechi and Hosokawa are old friends.

Why don't your families be joined by marriage?

The blood ties will be strengthened that way.

I couldn't wish for more.

I will see to it that it happens immediately.

It is my wish as well.

Then, Araki.

Go to Harima and bring back hostages.

Yes, sir.

We have gotten rid of the Ikko Sect in Ise-Nagashima and Echizen.

Now Ishiyama Hongwanji is like a bare castle.

We will attack his temple and kill Kennyo as well!

I don't care if one is religious,

but I can't forgive one who uses religion for personal gains!

This is not just the Ikko Sect, the same goes for other sects!

Shibata.

A domain is handled differently from a battle.

If you let the Ikko Sect be, they will spread like wildfire!

Be harsh on them and men will leave...

and cause the nation to rebel and diminish.

We must be principled and fair in our deeds.

All checkpoints are to be eliminated to promote business prosperity.

As for the Kyoto nobles,

have them receive larger stipends than before the battles.

I will pass them on to you as laws,

but you will be entrusted with this large domain of Echizen.

Be open and diligent in your duties.

Listen well, all of you.

We will go on to take over the country...

and I will be providing each of you with a domain.

Be loyal, honest, and dutiful or we'll be forced back to these warring days!

Betrayal will not be forgiven!

Betrayal will lead to your death!

Don't let me get suspicious of you.

His Majesty has returned!

His Majesty has returned!

Welcome back.

Why are you sitting here?

Everyone else greeted me at the entrance.

Forgive me, but since I am a 'returned item,'

I am thinking of my position.

So how many men did you kill this time?

I'll take a bath.

It's ready.

I'll be there shortly.

You may all leave.

Pardon me. Lady Rui is here.

Have her come in.

Is anything the matter?

It's nothing much.

If you are tired, we can talk later.

No, this is a good time.

I heard that Echizen was a difficult battle.

Yeah. Oichi just sarcastically asked how many I killed.

Think of what Oichi is going through, and let her be for awhile.

By the way, have you received any word from Okazaki?

You mean from Gotoku?

That's right.

Once or twice a year. Why?

I got a letter about a half month ago.

Something bothers me.

Here it is... Read this.

Okay.

This is not the first time.

She has written every so often since last year.

I didn't want to trouble you,

so I would write back and encourage her.

Marriage is difficult.

But, Ieyasu's wife is not with him at Hamamatsu...

and resides at Okazaki Castle.

His wife, Lady Tsukiyama, is the niece of the late Imagawa Yoshimoto...

and is very arrogant.

She has never gotten along with Lord Ieyasu.

I have heard that before, too.

After the Battle of Okehazama,

Ieyasu did not return to Sunpu and escaped to Okazaki Castle.

Shortly after that, he fought against the Imagawa,

so his wife and children in Sunpu were held as hostages...

and suffered a lot.

She has a grudge against her husband.

But, I feel sorry for Gotoku being a part of that discord.

Gotoku got married at the age of eight,

and this year will make eight years.

She's sixteen.

I can imagine her agony for eight years.

Can't you do something for her?

I suggest we leave her alone.

She has written three times. It's serious.

I'm sure her mother-in-law is very harsh.

But, Gotoku must not be willful.

We can't meddle in their family affairs.

Gotoku is now part of the Tokugawa family.

If the Oda family came to her rescue,

she will be even further into an uncomfortable situation.

Gotoku must learn to use her resources.

I am asking you realizing all of this.

At least, Ieyasu must not be aware of this.

Use your power to have Tsukiyama move to Hamamatsu Castle.

I wouldn't be able to do that.

You are laughing because you think your mother is naive.

No.

You are the supreme ruler of this nation.

You can do anything you want.

Use just a small part of that for your child.

I know this is being unreasonable.

To ignore a child crying for help,

and tending to state affairs, is not being a good parent.

Mother. If the Tokugawa were just Gotoku's in-laws,

I would go personally to straighten this out.

But, Mikawa's Tokugawa is a domain.

A large neighboring domain.

Meddling about Gotoku,

is meddling in the internal affairs of another domain.

That can't happen unless we are at odds.

I can't risk that for Gotoku's sake.

You are right to say that.

There are things you can't do.

I understand.

Mother, you don't understand.

Forget that I asked.

It's difficult to see Gotoku suffer.

But, I can't forsake a good ally for her.

Ieyasu's son and Okazaki Castle Lord Nobuyasu...

and his wife Gotoku were very close.

But, his mother, Lady Tsukiyama, was in power.

Look at this sword. There isn't a single chip.

Yes.

I went to battle twice with this sword.

I've killed many men. Yet not one chip.

Not even a scratch.

Yes.

This is one of those celebrated swords.

Is the blade harder?

Exactly. And, part of it is my skill.

That's what you were really getting at, wasn't it?

You may not know this,

but to kill a man without chipping the sword is very difficult.

It sounds very scary.

Lords have to be feared to have followers.

I am aspiring to be like your father one day.

My father is not a feared man.

He's gentle.

Women wouldn't know.

My Lady is here.

My mother?

Yes.

Nobuyasu...

Mother, please don't come here without my permission.

Why are you here during broad daylight?

Forgive me.

You don't need to apologize.

You are the lord of this Okazaki Castle.

The vassals are looking up to you.

You must get to work.

You may have defeated the Takeda army at Nagashino,

but Kai's Takeda are still in existence.

They may decide to attack again at any time.

A lord who is with his wife during the day...

will make his men lose the zest for fighting.

Now, get to work.

You don't need to repeat yourself. I heard you.

But Mother, why don't you go to Father?

I can take care of Okazaki Castle by myself.

How can I do that?

Without me, this castle would fall apart.

Gotoku...

Yes?

How much is our monthly expense for food?

No, I don't know.

Then, let me ask one more question.

How much does this inner chamber take to run?

No, I don't know.

You have been married for almost nine years,

and you don't even know that.

How do you plan to act as a wife?

Mother, it's natural Gotoku wouldn't know all of that.

You try to maintain all the control.

You don't know what it takes to be a wife.

A wife must make certain commitments.

What she doesn't know, she should ask.

If someone won't teach her,

she must work at it until they will teach her.

Doing nothing is just like a dog or cat.

Gotoku became a wife at the age of eight.

Unless you teach her, how would she know?

Don't cry.

Yes.

Place the blame on others,

and write ill of us to your father, Oda Nobunaga.

But, listen well.

You are now a member of the Tokugawa,

so even your father who rules the country cannot do anything for you.

Your father is now Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu.

And, I am your mother.

Never forget that.

Please endure this awhile longer.

This cannot continue forever.

I will talk to My Lady when it's a good time.

A smile matches you much better.

I want to return to Owari.

What are you thinking about?

Um... Your children are very conscientious.

I am grateful.

The older they get, the older I feel myself getting.

Yes.

Do you see any gray hair?

No.

I will be 42 this year.

Next year, I'm 43.

You are still young.

I'll build a new castle.

It takes three days to get to Kyoto from here.

If I build a castle near Lake Biwa,

I can be there is a day.

It would be perfect to keep an eye on the capital.

That is a good idea.

People see me as taking over with military power.

They think I like setting fires...

and making everything turn into a sea of flames.

But, I burn the old and bring in a new government.

I will build an enormous castle.

I'll show them visually what the new can bring.

I have dreamt of the castle I want.

It's nothing like we have seen before.

Shibata must be having a great time in Echizen.

To think that boy has Echizen under his supervision...

Shibata is the only one who can do that job.

Of course, that's the point.

He has Echigo's Uesugi to the north.

It has to be someone who is a fighter.

But still this is all like a dream.

You have all become castle lords with subordinates.

I added up all our men recently and we have at least 100,000 men.

If we move together, all of Japan can be conquered.

The next battle is with Ishiyama Hongwanji.

Takeda's army still remains in the east.

They are not a threat anymore.

I think after the battle with the Hongwanji,

we must fight the Mori of the west and Echigo.

Reporting. His Majesty is here.

We're building a new castle.

It will be near Lake Biwa by Mt. Azuchi.

We can get to Kyoto in a day from there.

The view is good and many roads converge there.

It will be easy to get to places.

Are you moving out of this castle?

That's right.

Niwa...

You will be in charge of construction.

Huh? Yes.

Make preparations immediately.

Yes.

Don't worry.

First, find a good location. Then gather men to do the job.

We will talk about the details after that.

Yes, sir.

We will clean up and rebuild on the other hand.

Otherwise, I can't do what I must in my life of fifty years.

Soon after, Nobunaga went to Kyoto...

and reported his conquest of Echizen to the Imperial Court...

and flaunted his superior power again.

He also accepted Imperial positions he had declined earlier.

One was Great Counselor of the Third Rank of the Imperial Court.

Another was General of the Right Guards.

The latter position was important because...

it was only given to the chief of warriors.

Then there was a month of celebrations and tea ceremonies.

I express my deepest congratulations.

You defeated the Takeda and then Echizen...

I, Kicho, would like to express my heartiest joy for you.

You have also been promoted to nobility,

and became the General of the Right Guards.

It is very auspicious. It is like a dream.

Years go by so quickly. It has been ten years...

Yes.

You haven't changed.

No, I have changed.

I have become one of the Sakai people...

and am fluent in the merchant language.

I know my prices around town,

and hardly take a loss anymore.

I can even make my own living now.

There is nothing I can't do myself.

You have become fluent in the Sakai language.

Some will think you are from Sakai.

Yes.

However, you can't live in Sakai forever.

No, I can. Sakai has become my hometown.

I'm building a new castle near Lake Biwa...

and am moving out of Gifu.

How about returning to the new castle?

I appreciate it, but...

Kicho...

What's wrong?

I haven't heard that name for a long time.

It feels strange.

It's like the name of a close friend of mine.

Kicho is your name. No one else's.

Kicho...

Kicho. I think of you from time to time.

Especially when I am alone at night.

I know what lies ahead for me.

I know where my ultimate road ends.

But, I must proceed with an army of over 100,000 men.

You don't know what may happen.

A mutiny may occur.

Men may remove themselves from my orders.

The army may split into factions.

I may die...

If I should be apart from you at that time,

I will be left with regrets.

Return to me.

Please let me think about it.

Just that I'm in a bit of a rush.

Nobunaga was not the only one in a rush.

Padre Organtino was painting hundreds of pictures...

to raise funds for the new church.

Then, Nobunaga fought the Takeda army who was invading east Mino...

and returned immediately to Gifu.

Shortly thereafter, he made an important decision.

His Majesty is here.

Face me.

I know you are aware of this already,

but I will be retiring as of today.

As of today, my son Kankuro Nobutada...

will be the lord of Owari and Mino...

and will be in charge of this Gifu Castle.

If anyone has an objection, speak!

If there are no objections, then it will be decided as such.

As the General of the Right Guards,

I must protect the peace of the country.

Nobutada will be the Oda master...

and I will be leaving the castle as of today.

All of you work hard to assure the Oda future!

Hayashi...

You will be Nobutada's first retainer.

Ikeda Tsuneoki...

Kawajiri Hidetaka...

Remain here and guard Owari and Mino.

Look after the affairs of the Oda, too.

Nobutada...

Explain your vision as the head of the Oda.

I shall be the Oda lord and succeed my father.

I will protect Mino and Owari with my life.

I will obey my father's wishes.

I will fight for a righteous cause.

I will not forgive those who run for greed.

We must clean and conserve on a daily basis.

I will retire and work for the nation.

Do your best for the nation.

To think my own son is the General of the Right Guards.

Then, I will go.

Nobunaga turned Gifu Castle over to his son...

and just took his tea ceremony utensils...

and headed for Sakuma Nobumori's castle.

It was a new start for Nobunaga.

So everybody, until next time...

To be continued.

To be continued.