Original subtitles

TOKUGAWA IEYASU

Episode 6: A Trying Time

Original Story By: YAMAOKA Sohachi

Screenplay By: OSANAI Mieko

Music By: TOMITA Isao

Theme Song Performed By: NHK Symphony Orchestra and Keio University Wagner Society Choir

Narration By: TATENO Naomitsu, NHK Announcer

CAST

Matsudaira Takechiyo: MATSUDA Yoji

Odai: OTAKE Shinobu

Princess Kame: TAKESHITA Keiko

Imagawa Yoshimoto: NARITA Mikio

Zuifu: RYU Raita

Sekiguchi Chikanaga: SATO Hideo Sayo: KIUCHI Midori

Sakai Utanosuke: OGASAWARA Ryochi Ishikawa Aki: HAYAKAWA Jun'ichi

Okubo Shinpachiro: KAWAHARA Sabu Okubo Jinshiro: NAKATA Joji

Lady Keyo-in: YACHIGUSA Kaoru

Sena: IKEGAMI Kimiko

Imagawa Ujizane: HAYASHI Yoichi

Torii Tadayoshi: MIYAGUCHI Seiji

Takenouchi Kyuroku: TASHIRO Takahide Torii Mototada: KOYAMA Nagisa

Nabenosuke: TAKAYAMA Yukihisa Valet: ODAJIMA Takashi

Zen Master Sessai: KOBAYASHI Keiju

Kinoshita Tokichiro: TAKEDA Tetsuya

Takenouchi Namitaro: ISHIZAKA Koji

Produced By: SHIBUYA Yasuo

English Subtitles By: Koala Fansubs

Directed By: MATSUMOTO Morimasa

MATSUDAIRA TAKECHIYO (Ieyasu)

Four years after he moved to Sunpu,

he is turning twelve this fall.

Come on, show your spirit.

I knew it. Come on!

Not good at all!

TAKECHIYO'S RESIDENCE IN SUNPU CASTLE

How many times do I have to tell you?

Not done yet.

You said, "Show your spirit." I succeeded in thrusting you.

Are you a foot soldier?

Or a commander-in-chief?

I'm...

...a commander-in-chief.

I said, "Show your spirit."

That's my pick-up line.

Falling to it and pouncing on the enemy...

...is a foot soldier's job.

A commander-in-chief...

...must not be swayed by the opponent's actions.

How he should move his entire army?

You must remember that.

So there you are!

No fair!

So what?

You mustn't make an attack, but...

...you must fend off attacks from all directions.

As soon as you fend them off,

you oversee the entire army's movements.

Got it?

Now!

See?

Takechiyo died in action.

Without a commander-in-chief, his fief will be taken.

Jesus.

How shameful.

What a cowardly commander-in-chief.

Hey.

A commander-in-chief...

...must form strategies at any given time.

And yet,

you're still sitting on the ground.

Boy oh boy.

Show your spirit.

Come!

Good.

Let's stop playing.

Now, you're going to practice your swings.

Ready? 500 times.

Begin!

Good!

Harder!

Harder!

"His instructor is the Monk Zuifu."

"After Takechiyo moved over here,"

"he drops into Rinzaiji Temple every year."

"He is a traveling monk."

"Monk Zuifu thinks Takechiyo has an unusual personality."

"Takechiyo is unperturbed like a stone."

"But the next moment, he shows his fangs like a panther."

"He looks short-tempered, but he's easy-going and immobile."

"He takes a high polish and glows in different colors."

"You must be looking forward to seeing him someday."

"My duties in the meantime are..."

"...to teach him well about Okazaki, Sir Hirotada and you."

"I am telling him not to stand out."

Your grandmother in Sunpu wrote me...

...about your older brother.

Hey.

Saburo-Taro.

Genzaburo.

Come on.

Hurry up.

Your ally from Iga is in danger.

Hurry up!

There you are! Come on!

Come on!

Look at your poor build.

Look at me!

Every human must...

...build his body on his own.

A puny body has a puny spirit.

That's the attitude.

Good.

Let's have a break.

Get out.

Good.

This is roasted rice for you.

I'm going to eat this.

Idiot!

A Commander-in-chief shouldn't be picky about food like his vassals.

I know.

A Commander-in-chief must be satisfied with eating only the mist.

He must smile while he feels sad.

Got it?

Excuse me.

I'd like to ask you something.

What is it?

I'd like to know how to get to Shosho-Miyamachi in Sunpu.

Who are you visiting there?

We are going to a small temple called Chigen-in.

Oh, I know that temple well.

Right? Do you recognize her?

Carry the boy on your back.

He seems to be exhausted.

Here.

Hey, Nabenosuke.

That's all right.

A fine man should know how to take care of the little ones.

I'm very sorry.

- Thank you. - That's all right.

Men are tempered by burdens.

They aren't tempered by dressing and walking light.

Um...

In Shosho-Miyamachi,

Sir Takechiyo from Okazaki must be staying there now.

Yeah, he is.

Are you related to him?

Not anymore.

I was, when my husband was alive.

- So you are widowed? - Yes.

What's your late husband's name?

His name was Honda Heihachiro.

Oh, I see.

Hey.

You got to carry a good boy.

You're carrying a famous warrior's son.

You must follow his example.

Takechiyo had already heard about Honda's widow from Keyo-in.

She lost her husband and father-in-law in a tremendous battle.

Did she finally leave Mikawa because of poverty to become a vagrant?

Takechiyo, at an impressionable age, felt that...

...his blood was boiling.

Excuse me.

A messenger arrived from our homeland.

The messenger wishes to see you.

I'm not feeling well today.

You see him for me.

My lord.

Do you know how your vassals are living back home?

I said, I'm not feeling well.

Are you defying me?

I am!

Mototada.

"Our lord is suffering with us all."

That's what your vassals believe.

Why won't you see the messenger?

Torii Mototada.

He came here the previous fall to serve as Takechiyo's page.

He is a son of Torii Tadayoshi.

Who's the messenger?

Yes.

It is Honda's widow, sir.

What? Honda's widow?

I'll see her. Show her in.

Are you Honda's widow?

Thanks for coming all the way here.

I am extremely pleased to...

...see you safe and well, sir.

I'd like to start with a message from your mother, Lady Odai.

"You must be putting up with inconvenience every day."

"Please... please do not be discouraged."

"Please remain easygoing."

This is...

...a gift from your mother, sir.

I saw you earlier...

Well...

I want you to let your child use this during this winter.

It's too much for me to keep. I'd like to share.

We are unworthy, sir!

Thank you very much, sir!

He is...

He is the first boy I carried on my back.

Come here. I'll hold you.

Hey, Nabenosuke!

No need to be reserved.

He will be another arm for Takechiyo.

Right?

He's going to be a third generation vassal.

Yea.

- Don't your legs hurt? - No.

Good.

SUNPU CASTLE

This is Imagawa Ujizane, Yoshimoto's heir.

IMAGAWA UJIZANE

All he does these days is..

...play kemari (soccer), do tea ceremony and play with women.

Takechiyo.

Yes.

You look dashing today.

I changed my clothes because it's fall now.

Ha.

You don't have a castle, but you have clothes to change?

Well.

I'm oblivious by nature.

I just wear whatever I get. I've never noticed.

What a dummy.

What's the problem, sir?

Look. Aren't they playing good?

Well, a country bumpkin has been misplaced here.

I missed the good shot.

I'm sorry, sir.

Sir Takechiyo.

Yes.

Do you like watching kemari?

Yes, very much.

Oh?

I thought you were distracted by something else.

Well.

Hey, Sena.

Stay quiet.

You missed a good shot, too.

"Please see me under the aged pine tree at Shosho-no-Miya."

"I have good news for you."

"From Tsuru."

Miss Tsuru?

Where are you?

Here. I was waiting for you.

Oh, Sir Takechiyo...

Did you send me the prank letter?

No.

I asked Princess Tsuru to write that.

Why did you want to see me...

...at a place like this?

I'm in love with you.

I'm going to take you as my wife.

I'm...

...going to ask Lord Yoshimoto for permission.

I want you to marry me.

What made you...?

I can't.

Why? Do you love somebody else?

No, I don't.

Then, I'll take you.

Well... that's...

You don't like me?

That's not it...

I'll make any promise.

- I'll get you whatever you want. - No.

Sir Takechiyo.

You're still a guest here. You can't return to Mikawa for a while.

You haven't reached manhood yet.

That's why I want to make promises with you.

Listen.

I'll become the number one samurai of the Kaido region (Pacific Ocean side).

Wait.

Listen, Sir Takechiyo.

Earthly matters are all sad, you know?

You have obligations, something to put up with.

No! I love you!

Stop being such a baby.

Because I love you so much.

Be a good boy. Let me go.

I'm not a good boy!

I'd rather be a bad boy.

I don't want to let you go.

What a troublesome boy.

Don't be mad.

Your anger...

...makes me sad.

A Commander-in-chief crying?

Now.

I can hold you.

So, listen to me, all right?

Sir Takechiyo.

Sir Takechiyo.

How did it go?

It went well.

Went well?

So Princess Kame will...?

She'll wait for me until I become the number one samurai of the Kaido region.

That's a child's trick.

I'm not a child.

If that's the case,

do you think that's allowed?

Then, why did you write the letter for me?

I wanted to give up on her.

I want to help the man I love,

even if I feel sad in my heart.

That's how I feel, you know?

Who's the man you love?

You!

I'm in love with you, Sir Takechiyo.

I've been patient because I'm much older than you.

Sir Ujizane moved on me in the meantime...

You didn't know how sad I was.

I'm vexed.

You're so mean.

You're thinking about another princess.

Sir Takechiyo...

Sena was trying to win Takechiyo's heart out of her pride.

It was also a game.

But Sekiguchi Gyobu, who liked Takechiyo...

...was seeing a different picture.

He misunderstood it benevolently.

Go ahead. Come closer.

As you may know, your vassals often plead to me...

...to return you and your fief.

I'll return everything eventually, but...

...how dare they be ignorant of my favors?

I am very sorry, sir.

So...

...I decided to show them more favors than you deserve.

Why don't you...

...marry Otsuru?

Yes?

That'll make you my nephew.

Who wants to let his dear nephew go?

I'll hold your manhood rites at the right time.

Even after you reach manhood,

I'll keep you until you become capable enough of governing Okazaki.

- Got it? - Yes, sir.

Actually,

Sekiguchi Gyobu asked me for permission to...

...let Otsuru marry you at all costs.

Yes.

Good.

Kame just got a marriage offer from Iiyo Buzen.

So I can congratulate both of them at the same time.

- What do you say, Takechiyo. - Yes.

I am truly honored, sir.

Even if he is given an unreasonable demand,

he, as a hostage, could not say anything else.

But Princess Kame's possible marriage disturbed his mind.

Thank you, sir.

Go ahead.

- You may speak up. - Thank you.

Yesterday, I was distressed seeing my clan's hardships and many vagrants.

Shortly after, I forgot all about that because of my selfish thoughts.

It was shameless conduct.

Right.

You must put the highest priority on studying now.

Behave yourself and accumulate virtues.

Yes.

- First, control your breath. - Yes.

If you breathe unsteadily, you cannot do anything.

Yes.

Calm down, then...

...you'll see Buddha's desperate longing for someone...

...who is able to quell the war-torn country.

Therefore,

you must train your body and mind now.

Yes.

BEAR MANSION

Two more men are...

...waiting for the advent of a hero who unifies Japan.

The Imagawa, Takeda, Hojo and Uesugi...

I saw them all during my last trip.

They are all incapable.

But I don't know the Oda's intention yet.

Nobunaga is feistier than his father.

He unified his clan despite strong antagonism from his clansmen.

He's quite capable.

Is he capable enough?

He is.

He'll be able to work with Saito Dosan in Mino.

How was his meeting with his father-in-law?

I wish you could have seen it.

They met at Shotokuji Temple in Tonda.

If Nobunaga was off guarded, the viper would have captured Owari.

His intention was obvious.

But Nobunaga...

...knocked Dosan over on his first meeting.

On that day, Oda men were carrying...

...100 rifles and 500 vermillion-lacquered spears.

What? 100 rifles?

He knew that the viper was having a hard time getting rifles.

That's why he put on an impressive show.

Well... you must have arranged it.

Saito Dosan seeing that said,

"My sons will eventually hold Nobunaga's horse."

So the Mino-Owari alliance has been formed.

Their showdown against the Imagawa isn't too distant.

Then, one of them will be burned to ashes for sure.

We are just hoping...

...that new sprouts come out on the land of the Owari.

Speaking of sprouts,

I found an unusual sprout during my trip.

An interesting fellow emerging only during theses turbulent times.

KINOSHITA TOKICHIRO

Which clan does he belong to?

He's too far from any clan.

He's a traveling needle vendor.

But he keeps asking me how he can rule Japan.

And he works extraordinarily hard.

When he gets carried away,

he even has the nerve to teach me how to avoid starvation.

His method totally makes sense in terms of spirit, mind and nature.

He's pretty unusual.

I steamed taro potatoes.

Please help yourself.

Who are you?

This is the guy I was talking about.

What happened to my servant?

While I, Monkey am here, I can handle all the easy jobs like this.

I forced him to have a rest.

Do you call yourself 'Monkey'?

People call me the Needle-Selling Monkey.

Oh, I already tasted it for you.

Please have some.

Did you bring this?

Oh, no.

I found them here.

I see.

What a strange monkey.

I heard you know how to avoid starvation.

Why don't you teach me?

Oh, that's nothing to brag about.

For example, toilet.

Toilet?

"Please let me clean your toilet."

"That's my wish."

If I ask people like this,

no matter where I go, I get food.

After traveling around, did you find any lord you want to serve?

All in all,

Owari is the best.

What's your favorite part of Owari?

While all the other lords are nervous about guarding boarders,

Owari gives people freedom of passage.

Lord Nobunaga is smart.

I, Monkey, like that.

What does the freedom of passage bring to Nobunaga?

First, he gets appreciation from the people.

Travelers are troubled by toll collected at many checkpoints.

Just because the single cause of trouble was removed,

overjoyed merchants will come here from all over Japan.

They bring a lot more profits than the toll fees.

He completely ignores spies and secret agents.

He's bold enough to put all his cards on the table.

I, Monkey...

...fell in love with Lord Nobunaga.

Shall I open up doors for you to be employed by the Oda?

You don't need to.

Why don't you blow a bigger wind...

...that makes Lord Nobunaga really want me?

What?

Until warfare stops,

there will be more big battles.

Those who fight should be encouraged to fight now.

There aren't any capable single men except for Lord Nobunaga.

The sooner Lord Nobunaga discovers me,

the sooner peace will come to this land of sunrise.

Oh, I need to help out in the kitchen.

Excuse me.

What a weird fellow!

Well.

According to your insight, you can find historical turning points

in speeches by footloose fellows like him.

By the way,

I heard Takechiyo got a marriage offer.

Imagawa Yoshimoto...

...is trying to chain him down by kinship.

OKAZAKI

I can't accept that!

We shouldn't endure any more.

What do you mean by a princess from the Sekiguchi?

She's Lord Yoshimoto's niece.

We don't want her!

Were you ordered to organize this marriage?

It's time for us to make a decision!

What do you mean?

You guys are too weak-kneed.

You should act tougher.

- Tell us exactly how to do that. - Yeah.

The Oda have more skilled troops now than during Nobuhide's time.

Nobunaga is a rare valiant warrior.

Who else can confront them other than us?

We should be more confident and go for broke!

Go for broke?

Then, we'll be all done.

How about this?

We've endured all kinds of hardships.

Why don't we plead for him to...

...return Prince Takechiyo as soon as his manhood rites are done?

Plead to him? Why do you plead to him?

That's why you're being taken lightly by him.

Why you don't even try to say...

..."I want you to return Prince Takechiyo and his fief right now."

Of course we did!

But Lord Yoshimoto wants to keep him because of his young age...

...and wait for the right time.

You guys are chickens!

What did you say!?

What if we make Lord Yoshimoto get upset...

...and something happens to Prince Takechiyo?

So frustrating!

Then, you should ask him to promise...

...the exact date when he will return Prince Takechiyo.

You can't say such a thing!

That's why you guys are chickens!

I can't forgive your insult!

That's my line!

What helpless people you are!

This is not women's business. Refrain!

No, I won't!

If only my husband or father-in-law was alive,

they wouldn't let such a disloyalty happen...

What? Did she call us 'disloyal'?

Yeah, you are.

In this important meeting,

you two tried to draw your swords out of personal reasons.

You two are the worst disloyal vassals!

Think it over.

During the last four years,

men weren't the only ones who suffered.

Women and children had hardships that men didn't know.

That's why we can't endure any more.

Listen to me.

A women's hardships are different.

Imagawa soldiers, including the rank-and-file,

come in and take rare items.

Then, they have the nerve to rape the women.

A wife was raped in front of her husband.

She bit her tongue to die.

A girl gave birth to a fatherless child and went mad.

That's why, even a widow like me, smears her face with charcoal.

Whenever we find them on road,

we kneel down on the ground or avoid the road.

But none of us complained.

None of us showed a white feather saying, "I'm done."

Did we?

If you aren't ashamed of yourselves to women and children,

I won't stop you. Go ahead and kill each other.

Kill each other to your hearts content and... kill me.

Mrs. Honda.

I was wrong.

Forgive me.

We were wrong, too.

We apologize.

She is right.

We, all, must work together to back up Sir Sakai.

Elder.

What's most important is...

...to find out Lord Imagawa's true intention...

...whether he is going to return Prince Takechiyo and his fief or not.

Now.

Regarding the matters of his manhood rites and marriage,

we will leave everything to you two.

Why don't you ask Lord Yoshimoto,

"When Prince Takechiyo reaches manhood,"

"can we take him to his ancestors' graves in Okazaki?"

That's a great idea.

Yeah, great idea.

SUNPU

As soon as he returned Sunpu,

Sakai Utanosuke was informed of something unexpected.

I've been waiting for you, sir.

- Lady Keyo-in's condition has worsened suddenly. - What?

Please go to Chigen-in Temple as soon as possible.

Got it.

Don't cry.

Grandma is just returning to the soil.

You shouldn't cry.

Grandma...

Now.

Let's continue.

At some future date,

Lord Yoshimoto will be going to Kyoto.

When he goes,

he'll make you accompany him.

If you go with him,

Kariya and Agui will be fierce battlefields.

Your precious mother, who sent me here, will be on the battlefield.

Don't forget that.

Yes.

Listen.

I'm sure...

I'm pretty sure that...

...your mother is thinking about something good for you.

My mother's thinking about something for me?

Grandma.

Are you saying, someday,

...I will have to attack my mother's castle as her enemy?

Sir Takechiyo.

You must find that out.

Yes.

When the Oda and the Imagawa fight,

you mustn't be bound by any obligation.

You must find a way to survive.

I want you to do so.

Grandma?

Grandma!!

Lady Keyo-in was a mother to Takechiyo, who had lost his own mother.

After she moved to Sunpu, she flew low and lived the life of a recluse.

She left this world quietly.

My mother died...?

It was on the 23rd...

...a quarter to sunset, they said.

Prince Takechiyo...

...did not let anyone be around her body that night.

Lady Keyo-in left with her worries about Takechiyo's future.

But Takechiyo had to face another major trial.

Young Lord.

A secret messenger just arrived from Rinzaiji Temple.

Elder Sessai succumbed to an illness.

What? Is he ill?

Elder Sessai hasn't told Lord Yoshimoto yet.

He wants to see you first.

Please hurry.

I see.

Mototada, no need to accompany me.

Bring my horse.

Elder Sessai.

How are you feeling?

I don't know.

Winter has come.

Yes.

Now.

Your spring is around the corner.

I must give you seeds of life...

...and seeds of volition.

Yes.

Lord Yoshimoto told me about your future marriage with Princess Tsuru.

But I didn't want that to happen for your sake.

What do you mean?

Don't you get it?

You're getting another burden.

A great burden called obligation to the Imagawa.

If you take a wife from their clan,

your child will be blood-related to them.

That's why I was against that.

But I reconsidered and agreed.

It's better to have more burdens in life.

I realized that.

Yes...

By the way...

What happens after I die?

Listen.

I'm certain that Lord Yoshimoto will hurry and go to Kyoto.

He'll be prompted by my death and rush things.

Why is that, sir?

Because all he has in Sunpu is Ujizane.

He cannot stop worrying about the Hojo.

That's why he rushes things.

When he rushes things in a battle,

he must push enemies away with a grand army.

His first batch will be...

...you, of course.

When that happens,

your wife is in Sunpu, you know?

Once married, you will have a child.

Your wife and child are taken as hostage,

while you're pressed to choose a side.

Then, what will you do?

Do I have to answer now?

Do you know why I'm giving you such homework?

Why did I call you over before Lord Yoshimoto?

Takechiyo learned the hard way...

...that Sessai loved him more than Yoshimoto.

As a Buddha's disciple during the turbulent time,

Sessai showed a stern and sublime love by telling Takechiyo Buddha's wishes.

Elder Sessai!

I would like to answer now!

I...

...will forget about my wife and child to sit on the fence.

If that meets the Two Truths taught by Buddha,

I'd be happy to die in action.

But, if I see Buddha's wishes on the other end,

I will flatly refuse orders, even Lord Imagawa's orders!

Idiot!

What a stuck-up fellow!

- Say that again! - Yes, I will.

Even Lord Imagawa's orders!

Takechiyo.

Why do you casually say things you don't know?

You don't have a wife and child.

If one can forget about his wife and child easily,

there aren't any agonies in this world.

Your mother is praying in Agui for your safety.

She's trying to communicate with you.

That's motherly love, you know?

How dare...?

Don't cut off ties so easily!

That's treason against the heavenly will!

Do you think Lord Yoshimoto will allow that?

Please forgive me!

Listen.

The wrong type of suffering won't save my soul.

It'll destroy you, too.

And earthly scenes of carnage will keep going on.

I'll suffer!

I promise! Please forgive me!

Good.

Is this...

...goodbye, sir?

No.

From next spring,

I'll hide my buds in your body.

Take care of yourself.

I will.

That was a heartbreaking farewell.

Yoshimoto was surprised by the seriousness of Sessai's illness.

He ordered six physicians to administer medicine.

But Sessai finally left this world.

His grandmother told him to avoid conflicts against his mother.

Sessai told him to show his own volition.

Both wills match in terms of...

...pointing out that next tragedy will be caused by Yoshimoto's trip to Kyoto.

I must respond.

Behind me,

my vassals are suffering in vagrancy.

I must respond to their expections.

End of Episode 6