Original subtitles

TACHIBANAYA

Pardon me.

Have some sake.

In about half an hour, someone will be coming to see me.

He'll be accompanied by a woman. I trust you understand.

Yes.

When your guests arrive, shall I show them in here?

If you'd be so kind.

I know I don't have to tell you this, but...

...not a word to anyone else.

Understood?

Only too well, my lord.

Excuse me.

The samurai's name is Jinzaemon Kawamura.

He serves the Kii clan as one of its stewards.

This tea-shop near Kishibo Shrine is called the Tachibanaya and...

... it serves as the lodging of choice for the Minister of Kii.

The assassin lives in two different worlds.

He has a "daytime face" as well as a "nighttime face".

He leads a quiet life, inconspicuously, in a corner of Edo.

Baian Fujieda has an acupuncture practice in Shinagawa Daimachi.

His good friend Hikojiro makes his living as a toothpick artisan on the...

... outskirts of Asakusa Shioiri Dote.

The assassin relies only on the word of his agent, or motojime, who...

... tells him "this man cannot be allowed to live, for the sake of mankind..."

... and pours his soul into his work, at the risk of his own life.

BAIAN THE ASSASSIN

Baian the Assassin The Wandering Chopsticks

Baian the Assassin The Wandering Chopsticks

A woman saw you do it?

She was hiding in the closet.

I have no idea why...

And what did you do with her?

What did you do with her?

She got away from me.

It was so sudden... I completely froze.

I never dreamed anyone would be hiding in a place like that.

Baian, don't tell me...

...that you've been set up?

Otowa was the motojime for this assignment. There's no way...

At any rate, I'd better go see what kind of commotion you've caused.

Don't set foot outside this house until I come back.

All right?

It could be that my luck's finally run out.

It's not like you to talk like that.

You were seen carrying out an assassination.

We can't allow her to live.

Looks like the place is in an uproar. Can you tell me what happened?

I hear that somebody just passed away. A customer, you see...

A samurai from Kishu.

How did he die?

It was his heart. They say it suddenly stopped beating.

- His heart? - Yes.

So that means he died of an illness?

Yes. A pity, isn't it?

It was so sudden. His people are only just taking his body back now.

When I was walking past the door of the detached room, I heard...

...a strange moaning sound coming from inside, so I checked to see...

...and I saw Lord Kawamura lying on the floor.

I stepped inside and called out his name over and over until he went limp.

And that scared me...

...so I ran away.

There's something about this affair that I just can't figure out.

I didn't think I should rely on gossip, so I stopped by a nearby tea-house.

As luck would have it, the girl there helps out at Tachibanaya when it's busy.

I had the chance to ask her about the incident and there's no question.

The girl who witnessed your assassination is a parlor maid named O-Toki.

For some reason, she didn't utter a word about you.

Is there a chance that this girl knows you, Baian?

O-Toki?

No. I only caught a glimpse of her face, but I'd never seen her before.

Is that right?

Did you get a look at her face?

No, there was no way. Tachibanaya's been closed ever since.

They're still in an uproar inside. I hear that the man you assassinated...

...had a lot of clout among the Kishu samurai.

Of course, there's no doubt that he was an evil man...

Now then, the food's ready.

Right.

What's the matter?

Wandering chopsticks... it's not like you, Baian.

I don't know what to make of all this.

It's not a matter of making anything out of it.

Whoever witnesses an assassination...

...must be sent to the afterlife, no matter what.

That's the code of the assassin.

Of course, that's not something you need to be told, Baian.

True... you're absolutely right, Hiko.

You're absolutely right, but...

Hiko! Perfect timing!

Please, come inside! Hurry up, now!

Ah, Hiko! You came at the right time. Give me a hand, will you?

- Huh? - I need a hand, all right?

Ready?

- What am I supposed to do? - Hold him, that's what!

- Ouch, ouch, ouch! - Hey, could you let us through?

Be careful, all right?

- Ouch! Ouch! - His feet should go there.

Could you get me my needle?

Right.

It's chaotic in here!

It hurts!

Ouch! Ouch!

How is it?

What do you say? I could apply a needle or two if you want.

I have a whole new perception of your work now.

That's a tough job you've got, Baian.

I wish I knew why I keep getting more and more patients.

When you're inserting a needle into someone's body, there's absolutely...

...no margin for error. Or so I was taught.

Once the day's work is done, it's time to unwind.

Oh, thanks.

- Baian... - Oh, sorry to put you to work like that.

Yes, well... you're a real slavedriver, you know.

Hey! You brought pickled eggplant! Looks good.

These are great!

Baian, it's been 3 days now. Tonight you're going to be...

...frank with me, no matter what.

I apologize for causing you so much concern.

I've made up my mind.

I see.

That explains your "wandering chopsticks."

Was I really that indecisive?

Oh, you should've seen yourself. Hovering over one dish, then another...

I'm telling you, it was a sight to see.

I had no idea...

So what kind of decision did you come to?

I'm not going to do it.

What?

I've decided not to kill that maid from Tachibanaya.

It's baffling, really.

She didn't report what she saw to the authorities.

I just can't figure that out.

But either way, I've made up my mind not to kill that maid.

Excuse me, Baian, but you're the one I can't figure out.

A woman's not to be relied on. She forgets whatever happened in the past...

...she just lives from day to day in a haphazard fashion...

...she uses her mouth and body.

There's no telling when she'll have a change of heart, and start talking about it.

I know that.

If that happens and I'm arrested, then I'm prepared to accept my punishment.

Baian!

Sooner or later my number will be up.

If I'm careless enough to be witnessed during an assassination...

...then you can't really call Baian Fujieda a true assassin.

Hikojiro made up his mind.

If Baian wasn't going to kill her, then he had no choice but to do it himself.

There was no way that he was going to spare some woman's life...

...at the expense of Baian's.

Why had the woman kept her mouth shut about Baian until now?

Rather than investigate the reason, it would be far better to have her die.

Have some sake.

Oh, by the way, isn't there someone here named O-Toki?

Do you know her?

Well, you see, the last time I came to Kishibo Shrine...

...my children put her to quite a lot of trouble.

Here, this is for you.

Oh, really?

She was a very kind maid, you know. Does she still work here?

Oh, yes, she's still with us.

Is that right?

But unfortunately, she's out at the moment.

Oh? Where did she go?

This morning, a messenger came to tell her that her younger brother...

...had suddenly taken ill and so she took some time off to see to him.

She might be away for a few days, taking care of him.

Is that so?

You see, O-Toki has no other family but this younger brother of hers.

And where does he live?

At a bag-maker's shop at the foot of Kinokunizaka Hill in Akasaka.

He's an apprentice at a shop called Kagiya's...

...she said he was about to turn 20.

Oh?

At the foot of Kinokunizaka Hill...

Ah, yes, Kagiya's!

KAGIYA

KAGIYA

You mean your apprentice, Soutaro?

That's terrible.

It certainly is.

He has a high fever, and he won't eat a thing...

...and I hear he's been feeling nauseous since yesterday.

The doctor's been to see him, but he's not showing any signs of improvement.

Madam, that sounds exactly like the illness I had before.

I was treated by a certain doctor I know, and I got better right away.

- He's a highly-regarded physician. - Is that right?

Listen, Yakichi, do you think we could get that doctor to treat Soutaro?

I'm sure he will, if I ask him to myself.

- Do you think he'd come here? - I don't see why not.

All right, then. Soutaro's older sister is here now, nursing him...

- Tell her to come here, will you? - Yes, ma'am.

She'll be right here.

Could you go with her to ask for the doctor's help?

Yes, of course I will.

How fortunate that you dropped in now!

Because, you see... Soutaro has such a bright future ahead of him.

My husband's been so worried...

Just now, as he was leaving, he even suggested that we get another doctor.

Is that right? Then it's perfect timing.

- So is this Soutaro's elder sister? - That's right.

- Did you hear about the doctor? - Yes, ma'am.

My name is Toki. I'm very grateful for your help...

The woman was O-Toki... Hikojiro's intuition told him that immediately.

The way she moved belied the fact she wasn't from the merchant class.

From the way she carried herself, you could tell that most of her time...

... was spent tending to customers at the tea-shop.

- You're not tired, are you? - Oh, no, I'm fine.

Hikojiro didn't know the man. Neither did he know where they were headed.

But as he continued to follow them, he began to feel uneasy.

- It's just a little farther. - All right.

The man accompanying O-Toki could very well be a hired patrolman.

Well, now! Hikojiro, what are you doing here?

Oh, nothing.

Is Baian in?

Oh, yes. Just when we thought things had settled down...

...Yakichi the fan-maker dropped by with a young woman.

Dr. Baian excused me for the day, so I was just on my way home.

Fan-maker? You mean that fellow who just went inside?

That's right.

He lives nearby. He had a narrow escape from death thanks to Dr. Baian.

A real heavy drinker!

Well, then, have a good day.

My, oh my...

I do hope you'll come...

Yakichi, you can go on home.

I'm going to go with this young lady to Kagiya's.

Are you, really?

- That's wonderful, isn't it, O-Toki? - But...

You're in the best of hands with this doctor. Everything is all right now.

Doctor? I'll be off, then.

Excuse me... Yakichi?

Is that you lurking in the kitchen, Hiko?

Uh, yes. Yes.

I hope you don't mind watching the practice while I'm gone.

Oh, sure.

I'm counting on you.

No need to be afraid.

You're the one who saved my life.

Now then, why don't you take me to my patient?

At last, Hikojiro was able to find peace of mind.

Surely Baian's assassin's needle would take care of that woman now.

He'll probably sleep like a dead man for the next few days.

But there's nothing to worry about.

When he wakes up...

Let's see... give him something good to eat.

Yes, Doctor.

Thank you so much, Doctor.

Truly... we had no idea that there was such a doctor like you to turn to!

I hope you will make yourself available to us as well, in the future.

O-Hama, we've troubled the doctor to make a house call at such a late hour.

Why don't you summon him a foot-carriage?

No, Master.

I'd like to tell something to this lady, as she'll be looking after him.

May I speak to her in private?

I see, Doctor. In that case...

Please be sure to let us know when you're leaving.

Why did you do what you did to Jinzaemon Kawamura?

Why did I kill him, you mean?

To avenge the death of someone who had been wronged by Kawamura.

Just as I thought...

That's what I thought...

I'd hoped that evil man would die for the longest time.

I'm not the only one, either. All of us maids at Tachibanaya...

He's a beast, that man!

Abusing his position as retainer of Lord Kishu, he indulged himself in every way!

He didn't just bring scores of women to the tea-house...

...he violated every single maid at Tachibanaya's.

But because he had the backing of Lord Kishu, Tachibanaya couldn't...

...lift a finger against him.

When I saw him getting killed...

...of course I was shocked at first...

...and terrified...

...but it didn't take me long to think, "Serves you right!"

Someone had stepped in for me...

...not just for me, actually, but for all the girls he had brought grief...

...and killed that evil man in our place. That's how it seemed to me.

And that's why...

That's why I told no one about you.

I see.

Still, why were you hiding inside that closet at the time?

My master told me to.

Chubei Tachibanaya?

Yes.

He told me to make sure I heard everything Kawamura and his guest discussed.

But for some reason, that day...

...even after Kawamura was killed, no guest ever arrived.

I would think not.

The so-called guest was just a ploy to get Kawamura to show up.

Listen...

You've eavesdropped on more than a few conversations in that closet...

...because Chubei ordered you to. Am I right?

And for your trouble, Chubei has been paying you some money.

Because you've played a crucial role for him... his secret set of ears.

Am I wrong about that?

The money...

I wanted the money.

Even if it's not much, if I just keep saving, little by little...

...then someday I'll have enough to buy my brother a little shop of his own.

We lost both our parents early on...

I have no one else in this world but Soutaro.

I've been working at the tea-house since I was 18...

...and so I've given up on the idea of ever marrying.

Soutaro told me that when he has his own shop, then he'll send for me.

And when that happens, I'm going to work hard to help him.

And when Soutaro marries, I'm going to be good to his wife.

I'll try to be like a mother to her, and get along well with her.

That's why I have to work hard to earn as much as I can until then.

I've even slept with some of the customers.

But among those men... Kawamura...

He took advantage of his position as a Kishu samurai and...

...even though he ravished me 3 times, he never gave me a single mon!

I don't know what it is those men are doing in secret.

But you can be sure it's all about sex and greed.

They're all just taking advantage of the Kishu clan's power!

I want you to tell your boss that you have to take care of your brother for now.

It'll be better if you don't leave Kagiya's for a while. Don't even step outside.

If you could tell me what kind of conversations you listened in on...

...according to Chubei's orders, that would help a lot.

Of course, for you to confide in me like that...

...l'll have to prove to you that you can trust me.

I want you to think it over.

I believe I may be able to help you in some way.

I'll be back in a few days.

Your brother will recover from his illness. You can rest assured.

Thank you.

- The bill has already been taken care off. - Take this and have a drink on me.

Really, sir? Thank you very much!

Take care.

It's a done deal, I hope?

Yes, it's done.

I see.

I'm glad to hear it.

I hope everything's ready to go.

Baian...

Don't tell me you haven't...

What are you talking about?

I went to Kagiya's to treat that woman's brother.

The prognosis is good.

And you're going to leave it at that?

That woman doesn't worry me.

Getting arrested would be suicide for me, anyway.

This is no time for jokes!

We always say that we're ready to accept that final moment, remember?

I'm going to take a quick bath. We'll talk about it in depth over sake.

Dr. Baian is a good man, isn't he?

Yes, he is.

He's a very kind doctor.

Elder Sister...

Yes?

Sing me a lullaby.

What's this? You sound like a child.

Please...

I'll do as you say, Sister, and get well as soon as I can.

Go to sleep, go to sleep... drift away to sleep...

Such a good little boy... go to sleep now.

The little boy's nanny, where has she gone?

She climbed that mountain, and went back to her home

What did she bring you back from home?

A little toy drum, and a toy whistle...

Two weeks later, O-Toki was murdered.

When they found her, she was with a Kagiya servant named Seikichi.

They had been felled with a single stroke from a sharp blade to a vital spot.

The murders were put down as the work of passing bandits.

Bags Kagiya In Mourning

Bags Kagiya In Mourning

Seikichi's family has already come to claim his body.

O-Toki, on the other hand, has no home to return to...

...so we've decided to lay her to rest nearby.

On your advice, Doctor, O-Toki had decided to cut her ties with the tea-house.

She was going to leave that job...

...and start working here as a maid, inside the shop.

Actually, that was our intention at first.

When her father passed away...

...we urged her again and again to come work for us.

But she told us that she didn't want to go into service at the same shop...

...as her brother, for fear that it would make him uncomfortable.

Their father was a skilled pipe artisan...

...and my husband was a regular customer of his.

And because of that relationship, we took in...

...Soutaro as an apprentice from the age of 13.

Did O-Toki go to Tachibanaya herself to tell him that she was leaving her job?

No, we sent our Head Clerk first.

He told us that Chubei Tachibanaya did not seem at all displeased.

In fact, he even said that it would be...

...best for her to work in a respectable business like ours.

After all, I'm sure he's not a bad person at heart, that Chubei...

Through his pipe-smoking hobby...

...he had become acquainted with O-Toki as a little girl, I hear.

That's right. And that was when O-Toki decided that...

...she would go to Tachibanaya herself.

Is that the only reason?

It was for the money.

For 6 long years, O-Toki had scrimped and saved 57 ryo.

She'd hidden it at Tachibanaya's, in a spot only she knew about.

She said that she didn't care about the clothes or accessories she'd left behind...

...but the one thing she had to retrieve was that money.

Money that this girl, who had no parents or relatives, had earned and...

...saved by working like a slave... all for the sake of her only brother.

We're so touched by those feelings she bore in her heart.

Who in their right mind could censure such a girl just because...

...she didn't want to give up that money?

But it was because she was walking about with such a large sum...

...that she fell prey to those bandits...

...and ended up like this.

It was a local farmer who found them.

We had sent Seikichi to accompany her, and the farmer found the name tag...

...on the charm Seikichi was wearing under his clothes.

It was on their way back from Tachibanaya.

You cured her beloved brother's illness, Doctor...

...and so O-Toki was always very grateful to you.

Ah, this is exquisite!

Well done, well done.

Your fondness for pipes is well-known, Mr. Tachibanaya.

I do hope it meets with your approval?

Come, come. I can find no fault with such a well-made pipe.

I can't wait to get home and smoke some tobacco in this pipe!

Those Kishu domain scoundrels who were consorting with Tachibanaya...

Do you think they'll be stunned enough to stop now?

On the contrary, his death might be a relief to them.

You know what they say... "Dead men tell no tales."

They killed that woman, O-Toki, to silence her.

After all, she knew far too many of Tachibanaya's secrets.

I see... I suppose you're right.

Either way, whatever they were up to will only be shrouded in darkness now.

It seems so futile, doesn't it, Baian?

That woman O-Toki...

All of her pain would soon be swept away and she'd be able to find happiness...

...that's how I thought it would turn out, but...

A pity I didn't do right by her.

Although she had witnessed him assassinating his target...

... Baian chose not to kill the woman.

Not only that, but at no one's request, he also avenged her death.

What made him act the way that he did?

Even Baian himself had no idea...

BAIAN THE ASSASSIN Preview

His wife, O-Nobu, is having an illicit affair with the Head Clerk.

Therefore, he's within his rights to murder them both in a jealous rage.

It's time for you to die.

What did you say?

I'll be glad to do it for you.

I won't ask for a single mon.

Baian the Assassin...

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