All language subtitles for The.47.Ronin.1941.JAPANESE.WEBRip.x264-VXT

DEFEND THE HOMES OF THOSE
WHO FIGHT FOR A GREATER ASIA

A SHOCHIKU FILM

A CABINET INFORMATION BUREAU
SELECTION

THE LOYAL 47 RONIN (PART 1)

Produced by
SHINTARO SHIRAI

Based on the Play by
SEIKA MAYAMA

Screenplay
KENICHIRO HARA, YOSHIKATA YODA

Cinematography
KOHEI SUGIYAMA

Production Design
HIROSHI MIZUTANI

Set Design
KANETO SHINDO

Music by
SHIRO FUKAI

Starring

CHOJURO KAWARASAKI
KANEMON NAKAMURA

KUNITARO KAWARASAKI
YOSHISABURO ARASHI

CHOEMON BANDO
SUKEZO SUKETAKAYA

KIKUNOJO SEGAWA
SHOTARO ICHIKAWA

ENJI ICHIKAWA
KIKUNOSUKE ICHIKAWA

SHINZO YAMAZAKI
SENSHO ICHIKAWA

HARANOSUKE BANDO

RYOTARO KAWANAMI
JOJI KAIEDA

MITSUSABURO RAMON

KAZUTOYO MIMASU

UTAEMON ICHIKAWA

MITSUKO MIURA

SHIZUE YAMAGISHI

Directed by
KENJI MIZOGUCHI

EIGHTY YEARS AFTER THE TOKUGAWA
ESTABLISHED THE SHOGUNATE IN EDO,

THE SHOGUN HELD SWAY
OVER MORE THAN 300 DAIMYO LORDS.

THE LAND WAS AT PEACE,
THE PEOPLE WERE CONTENTED,

AND SAMURAI DISCIPLINE
GRADUALLY GREW LAX.

THEN CAME MARCH 14
IN THE 14TH YEAR OF GENROKU (1701),

WITH THE FIFTH TOKUGAWA SHOGUN,
TSUNAYOSHI, ON THE SEAT OF POWER.

Mr. Kajikawa,
if you don't mind my asking,

for a task so weighty as conveying
Lady Tokugawa's thanks

to the imperial messengers,

why didn't you consult me directly
as to proper etiquette?

What could Lord Asano
possibly know about it?

Yes, sir.

When you know
I've been chief of protocol

for more than 40 years,

why did you ask a man
like Lord Asano?

Yes, sir.

He may have been ordered
to act as host to the envoys,

but he is not a man
of sufficient experience

to properly conduct
important government ceremonies.

Many others before
have served in the same position,

but not one of them
was as ignorant or as rude in manner

as Lord Asano.

Today, for the last time,

the shogun receives the envoys
to present his message.

They are already here in the castle.

When the ceremonies are over,

I will let you know at once.

Kira! Know my rancor!

Let me go!

Take him inside!

Get his sword!

Let me go!

The sword! Drop the sword!

I speak in my official capacity.
Release him! Mr. Kajikawa!

There is a screened area
in the Palm Room.

Remove your ceremonial dress

and revert to standard attire.

Yes, sir.

Doctor! Doctor!

We've been sent

To question you
about your conduct today.

We will speak according to
the prescribed forms.

For what reason

did you ignore where you were
and attack Lord Kira today?

My most abject apologies.

My conduct was inexcusable.

I bear not the slightest ill will
toward the shogun.

A personal grudge led me
to lose sight of time and place

and draw my sword.

Did you intend to kill Lord Kira?

I failed to do so
by a mere inch or two.

It is a grave disappointment.

Now I can but submit
to my due punishment.

What was this personal grudge?

There is no point
in airing the details now.

I only regret
that I failed to kill Lord Kira'

and left him
with only superficial wounds.

You will no doubt
laugh at my ineptitude.

I can but ask that I receive
the customary punishment.

The ceremony
for the imperial envoys

has been moved
to the Kuroshoin Chamber.

No, I am shocked.

I've done nothing
to draw Lord Asano's ire.

What's that? It's Asano!

He's coming this way!
- Be still!

I really can't believe it.

Such a wild rampage.

Obviously, Lord Asano
has gone quite mad.

Did you touch your own sword?

I can't believe you'd ask
such a thing.

Ceremony and decorum are my office.

Not only was I on castle grounds,
but today's ceremonies

were of paramount importance.

I did everything I could
to avoid his sword.

That's how he got me
in the back too.

How very proper of you.

I'm grateful for your kind words.

- Are they ready?
- Yes.

Oh, this is wonderful!

When my lord left
for the castle this morning'

he looked so terribly grim.

So I urged him to return early,

as soon as he completed his duties.

He smiled sadly and said
his troubles would be over today.

He should be returning shortly.

We must give him good company
and cheer him up.

I'm counting on you all.

Yahei Horibe and Gengoemon Kataoka

have arrived from the castle
with a message.

What is it?

What is your message?

What is your message?

Today, in the Pine Corridor
of the castle'

our lord drew his sword on Lord Kira

and wounded him.

I reported your deliberations
to the senior councillors

and have just received
their instructions.

Lord Kira remained mindful of the setting
and is to be praised for not fighting back.

Dr. Yoshida shall provide medicines,

and Dr. Kurizaki shall treat his wound
so that he may recover fully.

He may depart the castle
at his convenience'

accompanied by attendants
from his office.

As for Lord Asano,

earlier today,
with no regard for time or place'

he drew his sword on Lord Kira to settle
a private grudge - an unpardonable breach.

He is to be placed
in Lord Tamura's custody

and is ordered to commit harakiri.

One moment, sir.

With regard to this order,

I respectfully request
a brief deferral.

I make bold to state my views.

I readily assent to delivering
Lord Asano into Lord Tamura's custody.

Beyond that,
I am unable to accept this order.

I appeal for a reconsideration.
- What?

As we indicated before,

Lord Asano's conduct
during our official investigation

has been truly admirable.

He expresses no ill will
toward the shogun

and candidly stated that he acted
upon a personal grudge.

On all counts, he has responded
in a manner worthy of a samurai.

Lord Asano is a daimyo
of 50,000 koku.

Ordering immediate harakiri

fails to show respect
for his stature.

Insignificant as I am,
so long as I serve as inspector,

I am unwilling to carry out
what I deem a misguided order.

A misguided order?

For Lord Asano
to sacrifice his family honor

and ignore not only his own position
but the nature of the occasion

may have been madness.

But Lord Kira is not without blame.

Samurai should be judged
by the samurai code.

The councillors praised Lord Kira

for remembering where he was
and not returning the attack,

not even placing his hand on his sword.

They considered this
highly commendable.

One wonders what the world is coming to
when such trivial deeds are praised.

He could only flail about in panic
at the sight of a few drops of blood.

He was too cowed to draw his sword,

but it was wrong of me
to think him a gutless coward.

No, Lord Kira recognised
he was in the castle

And that no sword may be drawn
so near the shogun's chambers.

But when all is said and done,
I would have to say

that Lord Kira
is a disgrace as a samurai.

Okado!

He thinks only
of his family and stipend'

looking over his shoulder
and considering only his own gain.

I can but conclude he has
completely lost his spine as a samurai.

It appears that the council
attributes today's disturbance

solely to a deranged Lord Asano
erupting in violence.

As one of the appointed inspectors,
I cannot readily concur.

Further inquiry is needed as to whether
it was one man's madness or a feud.

There may be merit in what you say,

but this matter has already
been taken to Lord Yanagisawa.

His decision has been made.
It is too late to request a change.

However, your views are duly noted.

I must beg your pardon.

If this was Lord Yanagisawa's decision,
then I protest all the more.

With all due respect,

Lord Yanagisawa and Lord Kira
are distantly related by marriage.

Such an obvious show of favoritism

will be an affront to the daimyo
without hereditary connections.

I wish to ask Lord Yanagisawa
to reconsider his decision.

Desist! The shogunate does not
second-guess its decisions.

All the more reason, then,
that the first decision must be right.

It is our responsibility
to point out the correct path.

The decision has been handed down.

It's not an inspector's place
to question it.

If you insist, you will regret it.

I do insist.

My loyalty to the shogun and his rule
compels me to speak.

Please announce me
to Lord Yanagisawa.

I will not!

What is right or wrong
is not for you to say!

Please announce me!

Please announce me!
- No!

I beg you! Please announce me!

No!

- Please announce me!
- No!

Lord Okado.

Middle Councillor Tsunatoyo
asked me to relay his words.

In the 70 years
since the Osaka Sieges ended'

the land has been at peace
and the samurai have grown lax.

Your conduct today
was that of a true samurai.

He wished you to know
that he will not forget it.

I relayed your message.

Okado.

When I told Lord Asano's retainer,
Gengoemon Kataoka'

that you had personally granted him leave
to bid his master farewell'

he was deeply grateful and said
he would never forget your kindness.

It was nothing.

I know how Lord Asano's retainers
must feel.

Thank you for coming.

May your heart be at peace.

Kiyo.

It's time.

Kiyo.

Yes, my lady.

At this hour,
at the Tamura residence'

our lord will end his life.

- Don't try to stop me!
- Counselor!

Do you think following our lord
in death will please him?

Lord Kira was allowed to leave the castle
without chastisement.

He has the backing of Lord Uesugi.
There's nothing we can do.

Never mind that.

Tomimori.

What is it?

A man has come
from the Building Department.

What does it regard?

As we had been warned to expect,

as part of our lord's punishment,
this residence is to be seized.

All members of the household
must vacate the premises at once.

WORD OF LORD ASANO'S ATTACK

REACHED THE CLAN CASTLE IN AKO

IN THE EARLY MORNING
OF MARCH 19.

- Shigeto arrows, 26
- Check.

- Otorige spear, one.
- Check.

- Chutorige, 30.
- Check.

Damn. Another mistake.

Why do you rush so, sir?

Do you suppose the castle
will be seized immediately?

What will our lord's sentence be?

Here in Ako,
we can't know what's happening.

Do you suppose Counselor Oishi
expects the castle to be seized?

We can only wait
for the shogun's decision.

That's exactly what I'd like to know.

We just need to do
as Mr. Oishi instructs us.

Oishi's orders baffle me.

Do you think he may have lost his head?

We should be strengthening our defenses
and guarding all directions.

Instead he has everyone updating records
and working their abacuses.

It's unworthy of a samurai.

Is he really fit to be chief counselor?

He certainly gives us
much reason for doubt.

Hey, Yasoemon.

Yes?

Who authorized you to count our silver?

I'm in charge of castle accounts.

It was Mr. Oishi's order.

I'll thank you not to imply
I'm acting without permission.

Yasoemon! Wait!

Yasoemon!

After hearing the news of our lord,

how can you sit
fiddling with an abacus?

Kuranosuke is not
Lord Asano's only retainer.

He would not give such an order

without consulting
other senior retainers.

No, he is correct.
I instructed him to do it.

Thank you.
How much does it come to?

I've recorded the details here.

It comes to roughly 900 kan.

900 kan?

In rice that would be
20-some thousand koku.

Well above a year's harvest
for our clan.

I didn't realize there were that many
silver notes circulating in this domain.

How much gold do we have on hand?

Approximately 1 ,000 ryo.

A thousand ryo.

Tell me, Yasoemon.
By your estimate'

what sort of exchange rate
can we get?

Oishi, we are in a crisis

in which our master's house
may stand or fall.

Our first concern should not be money
but ensuring order in the domain.

I disagree.

If the House of Asano
is forced to leave'

exchanging notes for silver
will be an urgent order of business.

Our own safety
must be of secondary concern.

First we must provide
for the domain's farmers and townsmen.

That is how we best serve our lord.

No, farmers and townsmen
are of secondary concern.

Our first concern should be
allocating shares to household members.

I cannot allow that.

The Asano clan stands on the shoulders
of the four Ako counties.

The Ako counties do not stand
on the Asano clan's shoulders.

The populace must bear no loss
from the Asano clan's misfortune.

You are the counselor in charge
of seeing to that.

Please do so with all due haste.

Your pardon, sirs.

The lookout informs me
that some new messengers are arriving.

Could he tell who they are?

Soemon Hara and Sezaemon Oishi,
I believe.

Soemon himself has come?

Kuranosuke!

Why is a man your age acting as runner?
Sit up' Sezaemon.

This is a letter
from Hikozaemon Yasui'

addressed to you
and the other counselors.

So he was ordered to commit harakiri
the very same day?

The shogunate's displeasure was extreme,

and the residences in Teppozu, Akasaka,
and Honjo were all seized within the day.

And what became of the reception

for the imperial messengers
scheduled that day?

Were they postponed
due to the disturbance?

No, the ceremonies
were simply moved to a different room.

Otherwise, everything proceeded
according to schedule.

So all went smoothly?

I'm glad to hear it.

I'm very glad to hear it.

And what of Lord Kira?

He received no punishment.

No punishment?

Our lord may have lost his temper,

but the punishment handed down
was much too cruel and one-sided.

Do you have the letter with his sentence?
I would like to know the reasons given.

Here, sir.

Read it.

"Lord Asano,

owing to a grudge you held
against Lord Kira'

you ignored the occasion
and place to outrageously -"

Stop.

"Outrageously"?

Yes.

"To outrageously draw
your sword and wound him.

It is an unpardonable offense,

and you are hereby ordered
to commit harakiri."

Is that all?

Yes, sir.

Did he leave any final words
or a death poem?

Yes.

"I would like to have given you
some prior word'

but it was impossible,

so you will no doubt be much taken aback
when you hear of this day's events."

"You will no doubt be much taken aback
when you hear of this day's events."

Is that all?

Yes, sir.

"You will no doubt be much taken aback
when you hear of this day's events."

"...much taken aback when you hear..."

And his death poem?

Here, sir.

"Even more than cherry blossoms
scattered by the breeze

Memories of the passing spring
bring unbearable regrets"

"Even more than cherry blossoms
scattered by the breeze

Memories of the passing spring
bring unbearable regrets"

The debate goes on.

Yesterday it was
to die defending the castle.

Today it's to follow our lord
and slit their bellies.

I don't see the slightest movement
toward resolution.

The Ono faction wants to petition
for restoration of the Asano House

under our lord's brother, Daigaku,

so they urge
handing the castle over peacefully.

Hard-line loyalists
like Okajima and Takebayashi

regard such talk as betrayal
and I daresay would put Ono to the sword.

Your husband is the only man
who can bring everybody together.

What is his thinking?

Matsunojo says
he will go to the castle with father

and commit harakiri with him.

Is it true, Mother?

What are you two doing still up?

It's late. You should be in bed.

Sugi?

Where are you, Sugi?

Please see to the children.

I'm not sleepy!

Are both Father and Matsunojo
going to commit harakiri?

I can't sleep when I think about that.

Children of samurai
must not let such things upset them.

Your father told you that in times of crisis
you must behave as if nothing is wrong.

Have you forgotten?

No. Good night, Mother.

Good night, Aunt.

Although your husband and I
are cousins'

we are far apart in age and rank,
and it's not really my place to say this'

but I believe all thoughtful members
of the household

are eagerly awaiting his decision.

My husband is among them.

Kuranosuke tells me nothing.

I feel completely in the dark.

One thing I have noticed, though.

He seems to be fretting

over some important word
he is expecting to receive.

He will probably make his decision
when he receives that word.

What could it be?

I'm afraid...

I have no idea.

Junai Onodera,
our representative in Kyoto'

has just arrived by swift boat.

- Junai has come?
- Yes.

- By swift boat?
- Yes.

When did word reach you in Kyoto?

In a message relayed
from the imperial court'

on the 18th,
at about 7:00 in the evening.

And what are they saying in Kyoto?

Counselor,

there is some most comforting news...

I wish to report
to our lord's eternal spirit.

My first act on hearing the news
was to visit the imperial messengers'

Provisional Major
Councillor Yanagiwara'

Provisional Middle Councillor Takano,

and the minister of state
who led the party.

On behalf of
all Asano household retainers'

I offered abject apologies

for our master's grave breach
of etiquette during the envoys' visit.

I knelt in their entrance foyers

and apologized profusely,
with my head bowed to the floor.

But, Counselor...

almost as if they had agreed
beforehand on what to say'

they all spoke of how sorry they were
that Lord Kira had not been killed...

and expressed sympathy
for how we must all be feeling.

I was quite overwhelmed.

So they expressed no ill will
toward our lord's breach of conduct?

There is more, Counselor.

Although I fear it may be disrespectful
even to mention it -

It's been rumored that the emperor
himself was heard to say...

"It's a pity that Lord Asano
failed in his intent."

Some say they heard this
directly from the palace.

Lord Asano's recent breach of conduct

was a grave offense.

Whatever the bad blood
between the two men'

his action was a discourtesy
to your messengers.

You might well have deemed it
an act of treason.

Instead...

we hear expressions of sympathy
from within the forbidden walls...

and from noblemen of rank as well.

With these expressions...

Lord Asano is redeemed.

We need not regret
the extinction of the Asano name.

We need not lament
the loss of this 53,000-koku domain.

Had he been charged
with treason,

Lord Asano and his descendants

would have been banished forever
with nowhere to go.

His retainers
and others in his household

would have been followed by the stigma
of treason wherever we went.

No matter how desperately
we may have wished it...

Avenging our lord's death
would have been impossible.

But instead you said...

"It's a pity that Lord Asano
failed in his intent."

He is redeemed by your words.

He is redeemed by your words.

When you return to Kyoto,

kneel on the white sand
before the palace gate,

and even if only from afar,

offer the heartfelt thanks
of Lord Asano and his household.

Will you do that for me?

I will indeed.

Yasubei! When did you arrive?
We just got here.

Hello, Gengoemon.
Go back to Edo.

Why?

Everyone here is spineless.

We never should have left Edo.

Surely Oishi -

- If he knew his mind, we'd be fine.
- Just go back.

We're returning as well.
We'll make our own plans.

No, you mustn't leave now!
Stay and hear what I have to say!

But -

I understand what you say,
and I agree.

But at a time like this, we must all
hang together and keep our heads.

What harm is there
in hearing today's deliberations?

Then you can decide.

- We've heard all we need.
- Calm down.

Chuzaemon,

since you're Oishi's
right-hand man, I'd like to ask this.

Why would he petition
for the Asano house to be restored?

- Restored? Is it true?
- Why would he?

That's what he is even now pondering.

Surely the time for pondering has passed.

What do you think
we traveled all this way for?

Do you feel no bitterness
for how our lord died?

Of course I do.

Then what's left to discuss?

What is to happen to this castle?

Will it be handed over to the shogunate?

I couldn't say.
Today's deliberations will tell.

Do you disdain us for being from Edo
and refuse to tell us?

Not at all.

The counselors remain divided
and have not yet reached a decision.

While the decision waits,
the shogun's army is at our borders,

and his appointed inspectors
will arrive any day.

And you say they still cannot
reach a decision?

I'm afraid so.

Soemon, you've been here for some time.
What have you been doing?

When you preceded us here,

we thought you'd represent
our views to those here at home

and assert the inadequacy
of the shogunate's decision.

But now we've arrived to find -

I know, I know.
But you must be patient.

It's not that simple.
The people here have their own concerns.

Such as taking care of themselves.

Watch your tongue, Yasubei.

Look around you.

Everyone here has brought
his short sword

as well as a cotton robe,
possibly never to see his family again,

prepared to die.

The Edo men aren't the only loyalists.
The men at home are loyalists too.

Do you think committing harakiri
will assuage our lord's feelings?

Wouldn't it just make us a laughingstock?

That's not what I want.

Since our lord's harakiri,
the Kira residence has been on alert,

with 150 men on watch every night.

Why?

When we go about town,

those who recognise us
gaze at us approvingly,

expecting us to attack Kira's
residence at any time.

I don't know the intentions
of you here at home,

but those of us in Edo
cannot rest as things are.

Nor can we.
But what we do is up to Oishi.

It's not for us
to question his decision.

Have faith in him and be patient.

I have no faith in him.

These last five days
I've seen his views shift like sand.

I have no faith in him.

Is something wrong?

No.

In one short month,
you've lost a lot of weight.

You've lost more than me.

You shouldn't worry so much.

Thanks.

Why are you being so formal?

Depending on today's
final deliberations,

this may be our final farewell.

Father, Tokubei Izeki has come.

Tokubei has come?

So he's still kicking around, is he?

And he's come back.

He's shouting that if you
don't make up your mind,

he'll go to the castle and appeal
to our late lord's memorial tablet.

He always was a willful fellow.

Even as childhood friends,
we were always butting heads.

I suppose he had
other colorful things to say about me.

He said you need the pus drained
from your spine to take a stand.

He brought butterbur leaves
wrapped in paper,

saying they're excellent
for promoting drainage.

Sounds just like him.

Father, why can't we enter the castle?

Just hold on a minute.
Since I'm not allowed to enter right now,

I have to badger Kuranosuke first.

Kuranosuke!

Tokubei.

Do you still recognise me?

You turned your back on this castle once.
What brings you back?

What brings me back?

How can I sit idly by
with my master's house in crisis?

Go home.

The Asano house is no more.

Kuranosuke!

Are there no plans
to defend the castle?

Will you meekly hand it over?

What have they been paying you
1 ,500 koku for?

You're supposed to rally the household
in our lord's absence.

Will you give up the castle
just because they say so?

If I have to leave, I will.

That's up to today's deliberations.

What?

There are many different views
among the retainers.

I will not listen to one
who was disgraced.

- Damn you!
- Father!

- Are you his son?
- Yes, sir.

My name is Monzaemon.

- How old are you?
- Fourteen.

When did you shave your head?

On our way here,
at a teahouse in Fukugawa.

I borrowed a razor
and asked to be made a man.

My father has drilled into me
since I was young

that I should be prepared to die
for the House of Asano.

Please, sir,
allow us to enter the castle.

Even after his dismissal, my father
has remained loyal to the Asano house.

Please!

Brave words,
but I will not hear of it.

I cannot allow you and your father
to enter the castle.

Go home to Kojima

and live modest but long lives
among your own affairs.

Kuranosuke!

I'm not talking to you.
I'm talking to your son.

Having you come to join us
with your head shaved like a man

is indeed most gratifying.

But even if we do choose
to make a stand,

accepting the help of banished retainers
to resist the shogun's enforcers

would be deemed
a stain on our late lord's name.

It would shame the entire household.

But, Counselor -

Monzaemon,

you must understand
I have good reason for what I said.

I have to enter the palace!

You may not.

I must!

You may not.

I must!

You may not!

Counselor!

Ah, Juroza and Kataoka.

So you've returned from Edo too.

Counselor, I wish to ask a question.

When our enemy Kira
remains in uncertain health,

why would you petition
for the house to be restored?

I wish to know your true intentions.

- My true intentions?
- Yes, sir.

I take it you object
to the idea of restoring the house.

But if our lord's hasty act
brought his house down,

does it not do him honor
for his retainers to try to rebuild it?

It does not!

You don't think so?

Our lord did not act
in madness or confusion.

He knew that to draw his sword
in the castle

would mean the end
of the Asano house.

Yet so great was his bitterness,

he drew the sword
that must not be drawn.

All that's left for his loyal retainers
is to swiftly dispatch

the object of his bitterness.

Among his last words,

our lord expressed regret
that his sword fell short and Kira lived,

and he wept bitter tears.

Does that mean nothing to you?

Counselor, even if our lord's brother
Daigaku is given back the house

with a small fief of 10,000 koku,

how could he go out in public?

Only when Kira has been killed
can he show his face.

I can't accept anything less.

Even if the shogun made Daigaku
lord of all Japan, China and India,

I couldn't accept leaving
our mortal enemy Kira alive.

I won't accept it.

Counselor, what are your intentions?

- I will not reveal them here.
- Why not?

We have our final deliberations today.

If everyone's still arguing
their different views,

I won't be able to state
my final decision.

Before the meeting,

I need everyone to swear they'll follow
my decision, for better or worse.

How did it go?

Everyone in the hall
has given his imprint in blood.

How many men?

Fifty-one.

The fate of the Asano house
is to be decided

by a mere 51 men?

Do as Kuranosuke says.
Give your imprint on the pledge.

I'm still considering.
Perhaps later.

- Yasubei?
- Later.

Juroza?

I intend to return to Edo.
I will not make this pledge.

Magodayu?

I'm still considering.

- Gengoemon?
- The same.

I suppose by now Matsunojo
has honorably committed harakiri

with his father Kuranosuke.

I was born the son of a samurai too.

I should have been able
to join them in the castle

to die a glorious samurai's death.

Don't say that.

It's what you get for being born
the son of a hot-tempered man.

Lament all you want,

but I can't be reborn
a man of good sense at my age.

It was your misfortune
to be born my son.

Resign yourself to your fate.

Only a day or two remain
before we must hand over the castle.

We can prolong
the decision no further.

With the passing days,
more have chosen to go their own ways.

Of the original 300 men,

you who remain with us today,
firm to the death,

number little more than 50.

Though you've all shown
matchless loyalty,

I demanded pledges from you
in a rather thuggish manner,

without revealing my intentions.

Under the circumstances,
I needed to be doubly sure.

Having asked the impossible once,

I come before you
to ask the impossible again.

First of all,

I want everyone here
to leave the castle at once,

and proceed to the Onrinji Temple
outside the castle grounds.

Secondly, you must not
henceforth discuss

the shogunate's decision
or its fairness,

and no critical words
must pass your lips.

Thirdly, you must all pledge
to put your futures entirely in my hands.

Though it may seem otherwise,

standing up to the shogun's officials
would be taking the easy way out.

If we refuse to hand over the castle,
the shogun's army will attack,

we will all fight to the death,
and that will be the end of it.

But to hand over the castle
as a demonstration of submission,

while also remaining faithful
to our ultimate aim -

this is the path that looks easy
but is in fact difficult,

a path that only
true men of virtue can walk.

My intention

is for us to reject the easy way
and pursue the difficult,

to climb the steepest path
a man can climb.

Now I would like to know
what each of you thinks.

Feel free to speak frankly.

If I may be so forward,

we may now be ronin,
samurai without a master,

but we can never forget
that our master's enemy still lives.

That goes without saying.

To remember that

is the same as remembering
how our late lord was forced to die.

We can never forget
that Kira still lives.

I will sign the pledge!

Counselor, I will sign too!

I will too.

- I will sign the pledge.
- I will as well.

That makes everyone, sir.
Everything is in your hands.

We trust our lives to you.

So all are in agreement...

to follow me to the end?

With this decision made,
all else will await the right moment.

I want you all to leave the castle
in an orderly manner.

Like our fathers before us,

we have served in this castle
for many years.

From the paintings on the doors
to the trees in the garden...

everything here
bears special memories.

This is the last time
any of us will see these things.

Quietly bid them all farewell.

Tokubei!

You fool!

Even your son!

You damn fool!

I don't mind if I was a hasty fool.

I can see I jumped
to the wrong conclusion.

When I saw everyone leaving
the castle,

I realized you must have another plan.

You have a secret plan, don't you?

We've been friends
since we were just boys.

Tell me what it is, Kuranosuke.

Your spirit always burned brighter
in the face of adversity.

There's no way you'd just quietly retreat.

I know you're up to something.

For the sake of my son,
who's already gone ahead,

tell me what you're up to,
Kuranosuke.

To raid Kira's residence and kill him

is to protest
the favoritism shown him,

cast aspersions on the shogunate,

and expose the unfairness of its ruling
before the entire land.

Hurry and tell me.
Your voice is fading.

I intend to stand up to the shogunate.

Good.

Now I'll go on ahead to the next life.
The rest is in your hands.

Tokubei, I will join you soon.

Don't be long.

I'll be waiting for you, Kuranosuke.

YAMASHINA VILLAGE, EAST OF KYOTO

SIX MONTHS AFTER
HANDING OVER THE CASTLE

Thank you for your hospitality, ma'am.

I'm sorry he hasn't returned
even after all this time.

We're grateful for the hearty meals
you've provided these three days,

but having been unable
to see Counselor Oishi,

we are left with no inspiring words
to take back with us.

Since we came here representing
the 17 retainers in Edo,

we really must find him
in Gion or Shimabara

and demand an explanation
before we can go home.

We should have taken things
into our own hands from the start.

It was a mistake
to listen to the counselor.

Well, we can decide what to do
on returning to Edo.

We may not meet again.
We wish you good health.

Mother, I'll take them to find Father.

Please do that.

Have you made up your mind yet?

Forgive me for being so insistent,

but your wisest course
is as your father says:

to leave your husband

and return to your family in Tajima.

It's one thing for him to ignore me,
your father's messenger,

but he's ignored
even his fellow ronin visiting from Edo,

while he spends three days and nights
cavorting in the pleasure quarters.

I think we can all see
where his heart really is.

It was in the year you were born

that I entered the service
of the lshizuka family.

I watched you grow up...

and when you married into this house,

I was given charge of your wedding party

as you proceeded from Tajima to Ako.

I cannot simply turn around and go home
when I see you so unhappy.

I'm determined to take you
back to Tajima with me.

You can take your children with you.

Surely then you can leave the Oishi family
without any regrets.

So long as Kuranosuke lives,

I have no intention of leaving
the Oishi family.

No matter how people may revile him
and rail against him,

I will continue to trust in him
and walk with him.

As his wife,
there can be no other path for me.

Pursuing his own personal pleasure,
he ignores his home and family...

and forgets his bonds of loyalty -
that's the kind of man he is.

A wife

sees an image of her husband

that no one else ever sees.

To my eyes,

his debauchery seems halfhearted.

It's as if he's suffering to death
over some secret torment

and seeks desperately to distract
himself in unhappy dissipation.

He will not tell me what it is,

but I wish to make
his suffering my own

and endure it with him
under the same roof.

- My lady -
- Please.

Let us speak no more of this.

And please convey what I've said
to my father in Tajima.

Imperial Regent Konoe sent Lord Shindo
to speak with Mr. Oishi

on a matter of some urgency.

Please wait here until he's free.

While some of us suffer in dire poverty,

Counselor Oishi steeps himself
in endless rounds of sake.

No wonder he's lost interest
in staking his life on our cause.

Well, well.

Good of you to come.

It's nice to see you.

Come, Kuranosuke.

How many times
must I drag my old bones here

before you'll accede
to Regent Konoe's wishes?

He's very serious
about desiring your services.

You should realize that by now.

I'm much gratified,

but as I've said many times before,

I feel it would be a betrayal
of my late master

to enter the service of another house

while the future of my former house
remains uncertain.

I must ask you not to press me
at this time.

Come, girls. Bring us sake.

Time for a party.

Leave us, ladies.

When you speak of the uncertain future
of your former house,

do you refer to the request
to restore the house under Daigaku Asano?

In fact, the regent spoke to me
this very day

about restoring the Asano house.

He instructed me to go to Edo

to ask his son-in-law,
Middle Councillor Tsunatoyo,

to take your request to the shogun.

He's sending you to Edo?

That's right.

As you're no doubt aware,
Councillor Tsunatoyo is in line

to become the sixth shogun.

You need have no doubt
that the house will be restored.

Especially since your house and mine
are related by blood,

I don't like seeing a man of your caliber
remain masterless for so long.

And it's awkward for me
when you keep refusing the regent's offer,

so I'll be going to Edo
to ask that the Asano house be restored.

Come.

Forget this obsession
with avenging your late lord.

You can't go through life
so stiff-necked.

It must be because
I started drinking early at the theater.

I suddenly don't feel very well.

Listen here, Kuranosuke.

We have a deal.

If the Asano house is restored,
you'll serve my master.

If you and your men
dare to create a disturbance

after the councillor
has spoken to the shogun,

it will be mud on the faces
of both the councillor and the regent.

Don't forget that.

Don't forget. Understand?

Don't forget
what I've done for you.

Counselor Oishi!

Who is it?

We heard. We heard it all.

Well, if it isn't Yasubei from Edo.

And Takebayashi too.

What we just witnessed -
is that your true intention?

Do you really mean
to serve Regent Konoe?

Once you've provided for yourself,
will you leave the rest of us to die?

Barely a year has passed and already
you've forgotten our lord's cause!

You've said enough, Takebayashi.

Have sake and women
rotted you to the core?

Would you violate our pledge
and deceive us all?

And you call yourself
keeper of our lord's castle?

Forget it, Takebayashi.

Counselor,
we came all this way to see you

representing the 17 men in Edo.

From now on,
we intend to follow our own counsel.

We wish you a happy and prosperous life.

Let's go, Takebayashi.
- I'm not satisfied yet!

I told you to forget it.

Father, I must beg your leave.
I'm going with them to Edo.

Matsunojo!

I need to speak with you.
Come closer.

The best-laid plans
have a way of going awry.

Water will always drip
from cupped hands.

In March of last year,
as soon as I heard of the incident,

I made a solemn vow

to kill the villainous Kira

and avenge our lord's death.

Our lord lost his father
while still a small child

and became head of the Asano house
when he was only nine.

I too had lost my father early in life

and succeeded to my grandfather's post
of counselor at the age of 18.

Over the next 20 years,

I watched him grow up
and served him,

feeling as if he were my own
younger brother, or even my child.

When word of his harakiri
arrived last March,

it could have pained no one
as much as it pained me.

To escape the castle
for a chance to avenge our lord,

I hit on the pretext
of petitioning the shogunate

to restore the Asano house
under his brother, Daigaku.

Of course,

the shogunate had already made clear
how it felt about Lord Asano,

so I assumed the petition
would be summarily rejected.

But people can surprise you.

Public sympathy quickly rose up
around us ronin from Ako.

Along the highways,
horse handlers and ferrymen alike

sang songs praising Lord Asano
and deriding Lord Kira.

That was when
my real torments began.

Sometimes not even the shogunate
can fight public opinion.

A short time ago,
I received a letter from Juzaemon Araki,

the inspector general to whom
we handed over the castle.

He spoke to the senior councillors
about restoring the Asano house

and said we should wait
for the decision with high hopes.

My heart sank
at this roadblock to my true desire...

but having made the petition myself,
I can only wait if I'm told to wait.

I've also heard

that our lord's relatives,
unable to stand idle,

are making the rounds of the officials.

And now there's this.

Unaware of my true desire,

even Regent Konoe has stepped in.

The single drop of water
that slipped through my fingers

has grown into a surging wave

that I'm powerless to stop.

Petitioning for restoration
was the worst mistake of my life -

an ill-considered decision
that cannot be undone.

Then why not attack Lord Kira
without waiting for the decision?

Matsunojo,

if it were that simple,
I wouldn't be suffering so.

To make such a request

and then launch a raid to kill Kira
without waiting for an answer

would be to thumb our noses
at the will of heaven, to trifle with fate.

It would not be a revenge

for which we could stand proud
before heaven and earth.

For now, all we can do
is watch the march of events...

and await the decision
on Daigaku Asano's fate.

Counselor, the decision has come!

It's excellent news!

These two have come from Edo
with the word we've been waiting for.

Counselor, the appeal regarding
our lord's brother, Daigaku -

Wait. Let's go inside.

Just a moment.

Now, tell me your news.

Allow me to omit
the usual formalities.

Our lord's brother is released

from the strict house arrest
he's been under since last March.

His lands of 3,000 koku
are to be confiscated,

and he's placed in the custody of the main
branch of the Asano house in Hiroshima.

I see.

So Master Daigaku
is to be under confinement?

He's to be in the custody
of the main Asano family in Hiroshima?

I see.

All hope of restoring
our master's house

is now gone.

Let us now carry out our long-cherished
aim as quickly as possible.

The group in Edo
eagerly awaits your arrival.

No doubt you've all thought

that my recent behavior
was quite reprehensible -

indeed, unspeakably outrageous.

I will prepare
to depart for Edo at once.

You will come?

Yes.

While I do not wish to rejoice

at others' misfortunes,

we can now - finally -

avenge our lord.

Counselor!

Yes.

We will now seek out
our enemy Yoshinaka Kira.

Even with the 150,000-koku
Uesugi house standing behind him,

we need have no fear.

I'm sorry to interrupt,
but I need to speak with you.

Later, Riku.

No, please go ahead.

With your indulgence, then.

What is it?

This is very sudden,

but my father in Tajima
has been outraged

by your profligate behavior
and shirking of your duty to Lord Asano.

He has urged me to leave you
and return to my family.

I therefore ask you

to divorce me as of today.

I see.

You wish to leave me?

You're willing to go back to Tajima?

Yes.

Matsunojo...

is the Oishi heir
so he must stay,

but I wish to take Kichichiyo and Kuu
with me to Tajima.

I see.

You've thought it through carefully.

Kichichiyo has a weak constitution.

Perhaps he can become a priest
and pray for our souls.

I doubt he has the strength
to be a samurai.

No.

Right now,

you're in no ordinary
condition yourself.

Be careful of your health
on your journey to Tajima.

END OF PART ONE

DEFEND THE HOMES OF THOSE
WHO FIGHT FOR A GREATER ASIA

A SHOCHIKU FILM

A CABINET INFORMATION BUREAU
SELECTION

THE LOYAL 47 RONIN (PART 2)

Produced by
SHINTARO SHIRAI

Based on the Play by
SEIKA MAYAMA

Screenplay
KENICHIRO HARA, YOSHIKATA YODA

Cinematography
KOHEI SUGIYAMA

Production Design
HIROSHI MIZUTANI

Set Design
KANETO SHINDO

Music by
SHIRO FUKAI

Starring

CHOJURO KAWARASAKI
KANEMON NAKAMURA

TSURUZO NAKAMURA
KUNITARO KAWARASAKI

CHOEMON BANDO
SUZEKO SUKETAKAYA

KIKUNOJO SEGAWA
SHOTARO ICHIKAWA

ENJl ICHIKAWA
KIKUNOSUKE ICHIKAWA

SHINZO YAMAZAKI
SENSHO ICHIKAWA

SEIZABURO KAWAZU

KAZUTOYO MIMASU

UTAEMON ICHIKAWA

YOKO UMEMURA

MITSUKO MIURA

MIEKO TAKAMINE

Directed by
KENJI MIZOGUCHI

In March of the 14th year
of Genroku (1701),

inside the shogun's castle, Lord
Naganori Asano of Ako, bearing a grudge,

drew his sword and wounded
Chief of Protocol Yoshinaka Kira.

Lord Asano was ordered to commit harakiri
and his domain was confiscated,

while Lord Kira received
no chastisement whatsoever.

The news sent a shock
through Lord Asano's ranks,

but Senior Counselor Kuranosuke Oishi

calmly considered their options
and settled on a course of action.

Vowing to avenge Lord Asano another day,
the retainers relinquished Ako Castle.

Kuranosuke's pretext
for yielding up the castle

was to petition the shogunate
for restoration of the Asano house.

Contrary to his true intentions,
the petition gained wide support.

If the petition were to be granted,

it would erase all justification
for revenge in the public eye.

As spring came a year later, Kuranosuke
agonized over his predicament.

AT THE EDO RESIDENCE OF MIDDLE
COUNCILLOR TSUNATOYO TOKUGAWA

Regent Konoe in Kyoto

wishes to persuade Kuranosuke
to enter his service.

He has sent a messenger
requesting that I approach the shogun

regarding restoration
of the Asano house.

But I hear that former Asano retainers
led by this same Kuranosuke

are plotting to raid
Lord Kira's residence and kill him.

Indeed, I have heard the same.

If I take this request
to the shogun,

the Asano house will surely be restored.

But that only makes me
hesitate all the more.

The Chinese sages teach us

that filial duty begins
with honoring our ancestors.

But as presumptuous as it may sound,

I believe there are times
when one must step beyond the sages.

Please go on.

In my lectures to you
on Japanese history,

I've tried to cover the points
one must keep in mind.

We are not Chinese.

Before blindly accepting
the teachings of the sages,

we must always remember
that we are Japanese samurai.

Well said. That is exactly right.

In all things, the samurai spirit
must come first.

Only then must one follow the sages.

If the shogun approves
the restoration of the Asano house,

it will make revenge impossible.

In the eye of public opinion,
justification for revenge will be gone.

What is it?

The messenger from Lord Konoe,
your father-in-law,

has come to pay his respects
before departing for Kyoto.

May I at least tell him
that you have agreed

to approach the shogun
regarding the request he brought?

Without some such -

No. I am still considering the matter.

Suke'emon.

So that's the master of this house?

I'd heard he was quite the scholar,

and I can see he's no ordinary rat -
I mean, lord.

Now, Suke'emon.

At your pleading,
I arranged for you to come,

even though I'm new to this house.

But today's noh performances
are a very important occasion.

You must be on your best behavior.

I know.

This way?

Come forward.

You used to serve
in Lord Asano's household, didn't you?

Who was the man
with you in the garden?

My brother, Suke'emon Tominomori,

whom I received permission
to invite for today's performances.

Your brother?

One of the ronin from Ako
wished to see our noh?

Is he aware that Lord Kira
will be coming for today's performance?

I'm told your name is
Suke'emon Tominomori.

What was your status
in the Asano house?

I was a man of no account,
receiving but a pittance.

Is that right?

Did they call 200 koku a pittance

and a samurai who carried
the lord's missives to other daimyo

a man of no account?

You are too far away.
Come closer. Take a cup.

If you have no special business with me,
I beg to be excused.

Never mind, then.

But the man from Honjo
you wish to glimpse

will not be arriving
for quite some time yet.

Will you still not come closer
and accept a cup?

I think not.

Sake offered by grand daimyo
in stiff settings

does not particularly
delight the palate.

Very interesting.
A man who speaks his mind.

Keep your distance if you wish,
but stay and talk with me awhile.

Suke,

you're wrong to think
that wretched rat Kira

will linger in the sewers
of Honjo forever.

There's no telling when he could escape
245 miles away to Yonezawa.

As father of Tsunanori Uesugi, lord
of the 150,000-koku Yonezawa domain,

he could retire to his son's castle
and the protection of his retainers.

It wouldn't be long
before he died a natural death.

You may grind your teeth and glare
at Yonezawa Castle, but it will be too late.

This is your house.

You may say whatever you please.

Well, well.

Even this Oishi fellow in Yamashina
must find you a handful.

I suppose you're thinking,
"Say what you want. You just watch."

But from where I stand,

even Oishi, sad to say,
has made one terrible blunder.

Oishi is Oishi, and we are us.

I understand Oishi
has changed since last year.

The debauchery I hear of
can reflect no ordinary change.

Whatever it reflects,
it is taking place.

So if Kuranosuke
has had a change of heart,

does that mean the rest of you
will abandon your loyalty too?

I don't suppose a man of your station
knows of such things,

but in the kitchen they use
something called a tub,

which is held together by a hoop.

If that hoop breaks,
the sides fall apart.

No one can scoop up water
with one flat piece of wood.

Suke'emon,

if you and your fellow ronin
have a secret purpose,

you should not think of it
as purely private.

For you to achieve your aim

would be for hundreds of thousands
of samurai across the land to achieve it.

I do not wish to stand in your way.

To do so would be
to lose my way as a samurai.

To lend one's own samurai spirit
to support another's -

that is the true and sympathetic
spirit of the samurai.

Idle people may entertain
all manner of idle thoughts.

Suke'emon,

I do not inquire out of passing whimsy.

We are now
in the 15th year of Genroku,

and the spirit of the samurai
is in sad retreat.

Even if it means begging you
with bowed head,

I want to know
you indeed have a plan.

I know you're determined
to say nothing

and that I ask the impossible
in pressing you to tell me.

Look me in the eye, Suke'emon.

As a loyal servant
of this great land of ours,

I want to believe in you.

Then if I may,
I'd like to ask you this.

I've heard the present shogun
is a very suspicious man

who dislikes daimyo houses
of good reputation.

Of the 20-some lords
whose houses have been abolished,

not one had sullied his name
with womanizing or other bad behavior.

Every one of them was
well respected by his peers.

When my master, Lord Asano,
drew his sword at the castle,

I believe you were in attendance,

and you must have known
the decision handed down was unfair.

My master was ordered to commit harakiri
and his lands were confiscated,

while his adversary Kira
received no chastisement at all.

When you turned a blind eye to that,

was it from fearing
the displeasure of the shogun,

who might deem any meddling
to be a grab for power?

Suke'emon, you mustn't -

No, wait.

Let's hear the rest, Suke'emon.

On that occasion,

if you who are a direct descendant
of Lord Ieyasu

had spoken but one word,

my master surely would not
have had to die the way he did.

And yet...

and yet...

you preach to me and my brothers
of the samurai spirit?

It is a little too convenient,
and the kind of favor we can do without.

Right.
An entirely understandable response.

I will press you no further.

Supposing you did have
a secret scheme in the works,

you wouldn't want to admit it.

And, quite as you say,
I am in no position to ask.

But that still leaves the problem
of Regent Konoe's request.

He says he wishes to take
Kuranosuke into his service

and wishes me to approach the shogun
about restoring the Asano house.

His messenger was here again
even today.

And Suke,

restoring the Asano house
was originally Oishi's own request.

If it is granted,

then no matter how you may feel,
revenge against Kira will be impossible.

My lord! My lord!

For you to request restoration
of the Asano house on the one hand,

while pursuing revenge on the other,

is not justifiable to the world at large.

What do you intend to do
about restoring the Asano house?

I'll be going to the castle tomorrow,
and I intend to speak to the shogun.

I beg you, my lord!

I beg you, my lord!

Lord Kira has arrived.

Go forth to receive him.

No, Suke'emon!

Have you gone mad?

Let go!

If Lord Tsunatoyo goes to the castle
tomorrow, today is our last chance!

You can't stain this house
with blood now!

There must be a better way!

If I don't do it now,
Kira will die a natural death!

Kiyo! You too have prior obligations
to the Asano house!

Don't stop me!

I'll help you!

I'll lead you to him
so you can kill him.

In tonight's noh,
Lord Kira will perform

as Tomomori
in Benkei on the Boat.

I'll lead you to him then.

- Insolence!
- My lord! Please let me go!

Did you think I was Kira, you fool?

Where would it leave Oishi and the others
if you killed Kira now?

Please let me go,
or I'll be forced to take you -

What?

I don't care who you are!
I will not spare -

Have you lost your head, Suke'emon?

To slice Kira up -
is that all you want?

Is simply offering Kira's severed head
at Lord Asano's grave

enough to avenge your master's death?

Why?

Do you not wish,

even if you ultimately fail to kill Kira,

to carry out a plan of vengeance

for which you need have
no pangs of conscience or regret?

While the right hand seeks
to restore the Asano house,

the left hand
attempts to cut Kira down.

You are trifling with just cause
and misreading public sympathies.

Don't you understand that?

Kuranosuke does.

Having impulsively asked
for the Asano house to be restored...

he hides his true feelings

as he goes one day to Shimabara,
the next to Gion...

to drink bitter and torturous sake.

The torments of his heart...

the sadness of his heart -

You ignorant fools haven't the first idea
what he's going through.

Suke'emon,

even if Kira ultimately
lives out his allotted span...

and dies a peaceful death,

if you and your fellow ronin
conduct yourselves with prudence...

and with good judgment, never
betraying the nobility of your cause,

then what more would you gain
by taking his gray head?

Indeed, if you would seek revenge
as men of virtue,

then your every step until you strike Kira
must accord with duty and fidelity.

That is the path
to a truly worthy revenge.

Suke'emon,

would you cast these principles aside?

Would you deprive Kuranosuke
and your fellows

of dying honorably as men of virtue?

It was wrong of me.

That's the cue for Tomomori.

Counselor!
The decision has come!

And it's excellent news!

These two have come from Edo
with the word we've been waiting for.

Counselor, the appeal regarding
our lord's brother, Daigaku -

Wait. Let's go inside.

Now, tell me your news.

Allow me to omit
the usual formalities.

Our lord's brother is released

from the strict house arrest
he's been under since last March.

His lands of 3,000 koku
are to be confiscated,

and he's placed in the custody

of the main branch
of the Asano house in Hiroshima.

I see.

So Master Daigaku
is to be under confinement?

He's to be in the custody
of the main Asano family in Hiroshima?

I see.

Counselor,

all the torments
you have suffered until now...

can be put to rest.

No doubt

you've all thought

that my recent behavior

was quite reprehensible -
indeed, unspeakably outrageous.

Although it seemed
necessary at the time,

petitioning to restore the Asano house
under Master Daigaku

was the worst mistake of my life -

an ill-considered decision
that could not be undone.

Perish the thought, but had the house
been restored under Master Daigaku...

with a small fief
of some 20,000 koku,

then no matter how we might fret
and gnash our teeth,

in the public perception

we would no longer have been justified

in attacking Kira's residence
to avenge our lord.

Even slitting my belly before
our lord's grave at Sengaku Temple

could not have adequately
atoned for my error.

I was in anguish.

It has been a painful burden -
until today.

Counselor...

now we can finally avenge our lord.

Yes.

We will now seek out
our enemy Yoshinaka Kira.

Even with the 150,000-koku
Uesugi house standing behind him,

we need have no fear.

I want you two to return
to Edo at once

and inform our brothers there
that I will be arriving shortly.

THE 15TH YEAR OF GENROKU (1702),
DECEMBER 14

LADY ASANO'S RESIDENCE
IN AKASAKA, EDO

This is the day your husband died.

Must they make such a commotion?

Even if they're of no relation,

must they be so inconsiderate?

They're young

and excited
about the coming new year,

especially after the end-of-year
housecleaning yesterday.

I just need to concentrate
on praying for my husband's soul.

You came to Edo from Ako to serve
in the Teppozu residence, didn't you?

Yes. We hope your journey went well,
so near the end of the year.

Your conscientious service
is much appreciated.

Is your mistress well?

Yes. She will be delighted to see you.

Godayu, please inform our lady.

Kuranosuke Oishi, former senior
counselor at the castle in Ako,

has come to Edo
and wishes to see her.

- Ochiai.
- Yes?

As counselor
in charge of household affairs,

do you think it wise?

He has come expressly to see her.
I see no reason to deny him.

Please announce him.
- This will not do!

Ochiai, I needn't remind you

that Lord Asano's disturbance
at the castle last March

has reflected very badly

not only on Lady Asano's own family,

but on the main branch
of the Asano house in Hiroshima,

and on other relatives as well,

causing them all
a great deal of distress.

Some bannermen among them
were even relieved of their posts.

No, no! Do not announce him!

If the former Asano retainers
were to attack Lord Kira,

there's no foretelling the possible
consequences for this house

owing to Lady Asano's connection.

With restoration of the house
no longer a possibility,

it's beyond me why he would choose
to journey here to Edo

so close to the end of the year.

What if receiving him incurs
the displeasure of the shogunate?

Perhaps you make light
of such things

because you served your mistress
in the Asano house as well,

but as representative
of her own family,

I cannot allow this visitor
to be announced.

Ochiai, where is Kuranosuke?

Right in there.

Our mistress would like to see him.

I do not advise it, Lady Toda.

Our mistress is on her way.

It's so good to see you.

You're too far away.
Come closer.

With me in Edo
and you in the domain,

it's been a very long time
since we last met.

Has it been three years?

You look well, and unchanged.

Or so I would like to say,

but in fact everything has changed.

I wish to convey to you
my deepest sympathies.

It has been difficult for you as well
since the incident.

You look a little haggard.

Have some sake, Kuranosuke.

You've come through the snow.

You must warm yourself.

I'm much obliged.

Have another.

Perhaps you've heard I'm fond of sake,
but no, thank you.

A little snack, then,

to whet your appetite
for a successful revenge.

Ouch! You strike where it hurts.

Since you've braved
even the snow to come to Edo,

your purpose must be
of no ordinary importance.

There is nothing quite so wretched
as a samurai who's become masterless.

Only a handful
manage to make a living.

The rest barely scrape by,
shadows of their former selves,

hardly able to keep
their wives and children alive.

They approach me
with their various demands -

"Take up arms!" they cry,
or "Seek vindication!"

And having once been
the senior counselor

who spoke for our lord,

I could not ignore them.

I've hastened to Edo
to find those hot-blooded ones

who insist now is the time
to press the attack.

Rather than starve to death unnoticed,

they wish to die sensationally
attempting revenge

and be on everyone's lips -
a sad motivation, I'm afraid.

Kuranosuke.

It's not a woman's place to meddle...

but I've heard Lord Kira plans
to retire to Yonezawa Castle

in the domain of his son,
Lord Uesugi,

when the snow melts in the spring.

I have heard the same.

I believe the Kira household
fears what we might do

and is considering
all manner of stratagems.

Is it your intention, Counselor,

to allow Lord Kira
to go peacefully into retirement?

How do you intend to reach him
once he's behind castle walls?

Right now, you have only
to break into his residence.

I'm afraid it's not that simple.

Things don't always work
the way one wishes in this world.

How can you say such a thing?

That hardly sounds
like the way of a samurai.

Lord Kira is quite advanced in years.

He could die any day!

Among our men in Edo,
Yahei Horibe is 75,

and Kihei Hazama is 68.

They could be gone
by tomorrow too.

We can hardly base our plans on that.

With your smooth talk you dull
the resolve of even the most determined!

You betray your duty!

That's enough, Toda!

I can't bear it anymore!

That's enough.

Come what may, Kuranosuke was
senior counselor of the Asano house.

You must not cast indignities
upon him.

Kuranosuke.

I feel so sorry for my husband.

In a momentary fit of anger,

he brought down both himself
and his house,

and left his retainers...

to face the hardships of the world
without a master.

And now, for generations to come...

people will laugh at him
as a reckless simpleton.

Surely not, my lady.

I still think of his final words.

"I would like to have given you
some prior word, but it was impossible,

so you will no doubt be much taken aback
when you hear of this day's events."

When I heard those words,

I knew immediately
that they were intended

for you more than anyone else,

and they remain etched
indelibly in my heart.

I cannot bear the thought

that no one will avenge
the bitter wrong

for which he willingly gave up
his life and his house,

and that he will be made
a laughingstock for ages to come

as a careless
and short-tempered man.

Even if he did bring it on himself,

I feel so terribly sad for him.

I'm sorry.
I didn't mean to complain to you.

I'll now bid you farewell.

My lady...

I have a request.

This is the 14th,
the day our lord died.

Might I be permitted
to bid him farewell

by lighting some incense at his altar?

I'm sorry, but I will not allow it.

I personally would not stand
in your way,

but I do not believe
Lord Asano would be so pleased

to have you pray for his soul.

Lady Toda.

I brought with me

some verses I wrote -
mere trifles, really -

to while away the hours
of my idle life as a ronin.

I thought perhaps our lady
might find them diverting,

and I'd be most gratified
if she would read them sometime.

Good-bye, Lady Toda.

Are you asleep, my lady?

My lady?

Who is it?

It's Toda.

I'm sorry to disturb you
in your sleep,

but I have something
I wish to tell you.

I wished to speak with you as well

and have been longing
for morning to come.

Could you not sleep?

I hope you won't think it silly of me,

but I couldn't help feeling something
wasn't right with Kuranosuke yesterday.

I've been awake all night
wondering about it.

I can't believe he'd come here on
the anniversary of my husband's death

only to sadden us
with such distressing talk.

It's simply not like him.

Indeed, my lady.

As he was leaving,

he gave me this small package

and asked me
to pass it on to you.

He said it contained
some verses he wrote.

"Trifles" he called them,
but I couldn't help wondering,

and I lay awake all night
fretting about it.

Hurry up and open it.

Goodness! Some gold coins.

It appears to be an account book

for the period since he left Ako.

There are detailed entries
for his expenditures

and those
of other former retainers.

Could this mean -

- Lady Toda!
- What is it?

Lady Toda!

What is it?

A short time ago,
a man in very unusual dress

pounded on our gate,

tossed this letter inside,

and then immediately departed
without giving his name.

In unusual dress?

It's signed by Chuzaemon Yoshida
from Ako!

Chuzaemon?
Hurry and open it!

"This morning at 3:00, 47 former Asano
retainers led by Kuranosuke Oishi

broke into Lord Kira's residence
in Honjo."

Forty-seven retainers
led by Kuranosuke!

"As planned, one party led by Kuranosuke
broke through the front gate,

while a second, led by Chikara Oishi,
broke through the back.

Striking down all resistance,

the men discovered
what appeared to be Kira's bedroom,

only to find the room empty,
with bedclothes scattered about,

and swords still on their stand.

Since Kira was not in sight,

the bedclothes were run through,
but to no avail."

Did they fail to kill him?

"After searching
the entire residence three times,

a voice was heard from a storage room
behind the bedchamber -

a voice was heard from a storage room
behind the bedchamber.

Takebayashi and Hazama
broke through the door with their spears,

and the man they dragged out
matched Kira in age and description.

They demanded his name and, looking
for the scar left by our lord's blade,

indeed found
a six-inch gash on his back.

There could be no doubt -

There could be no doubt
that it was Lord Kira."

The head.

We have brought you

the head of your enemy,
Yoshinaka Kira.

On March 14th of last year,

in the Pine Corridor of the castle,

your attempt to redress a wrong
ended regrettably.

Since the Asano house has favored
our families for generations,

sustaining us in our lives,
we could not stand idly by.

We joined in a pledge,

and from that moment until this,

with each day feeling like an eternity,

through rain and through snow,

shunned by others
and scorned by the world,

some not knowing
where their next meal would come from...

young and old alike
keeping their ardor high,

we longed only to hasten this day.

The old and the sick,

fearing their time might come too soon,

and wishing nothing more
than to die honorably in your name,

clamored for immediate action

without regard
for our chances of success,

and only with difficulty
was I able to restrain them.

Finally, in the middle
of the night just past,

we burst into Kira's residence
and took his head,

which we have now brought to you.

We have carried out your will,

so you may now release
your pent-up bitterness.

In the name of all of us,

I humbly report this to you.

For the great burden you have all borne
since the tragic incident,

I thank you on our lord's behalf.

In spite of your many hardships,

I am sure you now feel
a great satisfaction.

From 75 down to 15,
old and young alike,

you followed my orders well

and accomplished a great thing.

I would like to thank you all
personally as well.

Chuzaemon.

Suke'emon.

We have completed our pilgrimage
to our master's grave.

I want you two to go
to the inspector general's residence

and report all that has happened
since last night.

Suke'emon?

What's the matter?

I wish to remain with the group
to commit harakiri.

All that is left for us now

is to commit harakiri
before our master's grave.

I do not wish to be excluded
from that rite.

Heaven has smiled on us,
and we have succeeded in our aim.

I see no need to rush to our deaths.

How can you say such a thing?

We've persevered through hardships
until this day

so that we could carry out
a proud revenge

that would be deemed righteous
in the eyes of the world.

It would be easy for us now
to slit our bellies on the spot.

Although we acted out of loyalty,
to the shogunate we are criminals.

We must respect the shogun
and the law of the land.

As his loyal subjects,
we must obey the law.

Our duty now

is to refrain from selfish action

and quietly await our judgment.

Isn't that how we can best show
our constancy as true samurai?

Counselor, I will gladly go
to the inspector general's residence!

THE 46 RONIN FROM AKO
WERE PLACED IN THE CUSTODY

OF LORD HOSOKAWA OF ETCHU
AND THREE OTHER DAIMYO.

THE JUDGMENT
WAS LONG IN COMING,

BUT AFTER 50 DAYS,

THE RONIN WERE ORDERED
TO COMMIT HARAKIRI.

ON THE NIGHT OF FEBRUARY 3, IN
THE 16TH YEAR OF GENROKU (1703),

AT THE RESIDENCE
OF LORD HOSOKAWA IN SHIBA...

Please, my lord.
I cannot do it.

I beg you to charge someone else
with the responsibility.

Den'emon, you went to Atago Shrine

to pray for their lives to be spared,

so I understand why you don't wish
to be the one to tell them.

But it would be a cruel shock
for them to learn of the judgment

only when the shogun's messenger
brings the order tomorrow.

I beg your pardon, sire.

These flowers have just been delivered

from the home of Lady Asano
in Akasaka.

The messenger asked

that they be given
to the former Asano retainers

in our custody.

I'd like to know your instructions.

A gift from Lady Asano
to the loyal retainers?

She must have received word
of today's judgment.

She sent these flowers

to bid them a heartfelt farewell.

With a woman's touch,

she has made
a most thoughtful gesture.

That's it, Den'emon.

Present these flowers to Kuranosuke
and the others at once.

To receive flowers
while they are awaiting judgment

will surely suggest to them
their impending fate.

Do that, Den'emon.

Take them the flowers.

You say they are a gift

from Lady Asano?

Well, well.

Such magnificent blooms!

Finally we have some flowers
for our funeral.

No doubt the master of this house
is hinting at what we should expect.

Master Den'emon,

in return for your kindness
these many days,

we'd like to entertain you
with a variety show.

Excellent idea!

I intend to give
the best performance of the night.

Mine will be
the performance of a lifetime.

No, no, my ballads
will be the highlight.

The old folks in the other room
might scold us for the racket.

Let them.
It'll be the last time.

Let's get set up.

Plum blossoms are known
for their fragrance

Cherry blossoms for their blooms

People we cannot know by appearances

But only by their hearts

Gentlemen...

Lady Asano has most thoughtfully
sent us flowers.

Let us bid her
a final farewell from here.

No, let us simply
thank her for the flowers.

We can't have a show
without Soemon's dance.

Soemon! Soemon!

You called, sir?

- Give us your dance.
- Hear! Hear!

An excellent performance, as always.

Juroza, we still need
to hear your flute.

Sir.

I've just returned
from the drawing room,

where I thanked Lord Hosokawa

for his generous hospitality.

Ah, very good.

Actually, I have a favor to ask.

- Then perhaps I could have a cup of tea?
- Certainly.

Page, bring us some tea.

It would appear
that our long wait is over.

You will finally be relieved
of looking after us.

Let me express my deepest gratitude
for your many kindnesses.

Everyone in the household
is at a loss for words.

Please have some tea.

Thank you.

The favor I spoke of

concerns this boy.

Is he your kin?

No.

His father and I
have been friends since childhood.

He is a masterless ronin at present,

eking out a meager existence.

But humbled as he is,
he is still a samurai,

and he wishes his son
to be one too.

If only for half a day,
he'd like his boy to be near your men,

where he might learn a thing or two
about true samurai spirit.

So touched was I by his wish that,
even at risk of rebuke,

I dressed him up as my own boy,

hoping he might be allowed
to attend to your needs this one day.

That is the favor I wish to ask.

Do you play the shamisen?

Your fingers bear the mark of strings.

In my training as a page,

I learned some accompaniment
for dance.

Master Den'emon,
I'm sure your intentions are good,

but I think it best
that you abandon this plan.

I have no idea what may have
prompted this fabrication,

but I think you've gone too far.

Please, I apologize.

She's a woman.

As you can see, she's a woman.

But there were compelling
and unavoidable circumstances

that led her to dress as a man

and ask to serve as a page boy.

A woman doesn't need
to learn the way of the samurai.

Perhaps there's a particular person
among us whom you wished to see?

Yes.

I will not be angry with you.
Tell me his name.

Who is it?

Who is it?

Jurozaemon Isogai.

Please let me see him.

I guess this is the last time
we'll hear a nightingale sing.

I said this is the last time
we'll hear a nightingale sing.

Oh, was a nightingale singing?

Juroza, if you're that heart-struck
over her,

you should write to her.

Lament as you will,
there'll be no writing from the afterlife.

I can't take that liberty on my own.

Besides, I only used her
to get nearer to our enemy.

She means nothing to me now.

You need to think of her feelings.

Even if you were only using her,
you did promise to marry her.

I'll thank you not to poke fun at me
on the eve of our death.

Aren't you a little young
to be so hard on yourself?

The shogun's messenger
is on his way?

When was that?

Sometime last July.

I learned recently
that Juroza was ordered

to find out as much as he could
about Lord Kira's residence.

Around that time,

I remember getting a letter
from him in Kyoto

saying he was studying
the Kira residence.

He was worried about attracting attention
if he lived alone

and felt compelled
to seek out a family connection.

As Juroza put it,

if he was going to be a samurai

he intended to advance enough
to have a horse and carry a spear,

and when he asked
her father Mokunoshin for her hand,

he laid bare
his sincere feelings for her.

Since Mokunoshin thought him
a paragon to begin with,

how could he possibly object?

His dearest daughter was to marry
a son-in-law he could be proud of.

Breaking out the 100 ryo he'd left
untouched even in the worst of times,

and selling off a suit of armor
for another 100 ryo,

he put together a fine trousseau

and hired the largest
pleasure boat on the river

for a grand reception,

fancier than any of us
could have imagined.

But on the appointed day,

Juroza never showed up.

The man sent to fetch him
found his home empty,

and no one could say
where Juroza had gone.

Stoic warrior though he was,

Mokunoshin's mortification
and indignation at this betrayal

was truly beyond words.

And then he read in a newssheet

about the December 14th raid
on Kira's residence

and found Juroza's name
listed among the attackers.

"That's my son-in-law!"
he wailed,

over and over,
his eyes streaming with tears.

Sir,

as his daughter
I couldn't bear to see him that way,

so I dressed like this to enter
where no women are allowed.

I beg you,
please let me see him.

In your desire to see Juroza,

aren't you merely being caught up
in the popular sentiment?

I hear people are speaking of us
as righteous warriors and men of virtue,

as if we're samurai without peer
in all the land.

You're young.
You were swept off your feet.

You should be bitter at his betrayal,

yet your heart
still wants to believe in him.

But it's really only
a momentary flight of fancy.

No matter how you look at it,
Juroza heaped dirt on you and your father.

You should despise him for it.

You should despise him
for the rest of your life.

You're too cruel.

You don't seem to understand
a woman's heart,

nor the human heart in general.

There's one thing
I really must know,

both as a woman and as a person.

I need to know Juroza's true feelings.

Was I really just used
to advance his hidden plot?

Did he never love me at all?

Or did he abandon me against his will
for the sake of a higher cause?

That's what I must know -
how he truly feels.

Miss Mino.

I now have a favor to ask of you.

It pains me to do this,

but for the sake of all my men,

I would ask you
to make yourself a sacrifice.

Juroza is a samurai,
and he has prepared himself.

I don't think he'll lose
his presence of mind.

But he's young.

If he sees you
and speaks with you now,

he might find his resolve shaken,

and he could fall to pieces
at the critical moment.

It's not so difficult to take up
a cause in the name of virtue,

but to carry one's initial resolve
through to the end

can be far more difficult
than one has imagined.

I don't wish to test Juroza's young heart
so near the end.

You're still young yourself,
with your whole life ahead of you.

Spend it hating Juroza
and you emerge from this unscathed.

Remember the bitterness
you felt last December

when he betrayed you
on your wedding day.

Carry with you
the anger you felt then,

let Juroza go to his grave
as a despicable liar,

and never stop hating him.

Could I ask you to do that?

Then all that matters
is a samurai's good name,

nothing is more important
than Juroza's final resolve,

and not only
does my humiliation mean nothing,

but I'm forever doomed
to wonder whether I was loved or not.

Is that what you're saying?

Den'emon.

Den'emon.

Isn't that the Otomeda girl?

I'll explain later. What is it?

Miss Mino, I can't let you see Juroza.

It was wrong of him to deceive
you and your family,

but there are times when a person
has no choice but to lie.

Look at yourself.

You've come here under false pretenses,
dressed as a man.

For you, under the circumstances,
it was a necessary lie.

Forget that you ever met Juroza.
That's best for both of you.

Now I must ask you to go.

Are you saying, sir,

that if it serves a higher purpose,
it doesn't matter who it may hurt?

I can't accept that.

If an expedient deception
ultimately gains the truth,

then the deception
does not end as a lie.

I came here under false pretenses,
dressed as a man,

but if I can see Juroza just once,
I will turn my deception into truth,

and I will find the truth
in Juroza's deception too.

Find the truth in his deception?

I beg you,
please let me see him.

Sir...

the shogun's messenger
is on his way.

Please be ready.

Den'emon.

Would you please fetch Juroza?

Certainly, sir.

Juroza at your service, sir.

Come in.

Since I am under reprimand,
I would prefer to stay here.

Juroza!

I believe you know Mokunoshin
Otomeda's daughter, Miss Mino.

Not at all.
We've never met.

Juroza!

The shogun's messenger
is on his way from the castle.

Never mind that.
I'm asking you about Miss Mino.

I do not know her.

The others are all waiting, Counselor.

We must prepare to meet our fate
and have no time for this. Excuse me.

- Wait, Juroza.
- The messenger, Counselor!

You're losing hold of yourself.

Now, Juroza,

take out your tissue pouch.

You carry in it

a fingerpick for the koto,

wrapped carefully in purple silk.

I want to see the gold crest
on that pick.

Show it to me.

Juroza...

when I said you had annoyed me

and I reassigned you
to a different room,

it was on account of this pick.

I know you're at a romantic age...

so I wouldn't hold it against you

that you secretly kept a koto pick
in your pouch.

But I was concerned
about the important test we all faced.

In gazing at your little memento

and thinking of its owner,

if you started pining to see her,

I worried that it might make you waver
from your original resolve.

The slap on the wrist
was intended for your own good.

Now, take it out.
Show it to me.

Please, sir,
do not press him further.

I am happy just to know

that Juroza has carried the pick
close to his heart

to this very day.

There's no need to ask him
any more than that.

You wish me not to ask
and him not to say?

You'd let the question go unasked
and the response unstated?

That's exactly as I would have it.

Juroza!

Tell your father
I am indeed his son-in-law.

I am his son-in-law.

Good-bye, Miss Mino.

"At the time Lord Naganori Asano

was responsible for receiving
the imperial messengers,

he perpetrated an outrage
within the castle

and was punished for it,

whereas Lord Yoshinaka Kira
received no chastisement.

Wishing to avenge their lord,

46 of Lord Asano's retainers
formed a conspiracy,

broke into Lord Kira's residence
with an arsenal that included firearms,

and assassinated Lord Kira.

It was an unpardonable act
of lawlessness

and a direct affront to the shogun.

They are hereby ordered
to commit harakiri."

Had we been given
the harshest possible punishment

and been sentenced
to beheading or hanging,

we would have deserved nothing less.

Your servant is profoundly grateful

that we are permitted
to perform harakiri.

Stepping out of my official role,
I will add a note of my own.

Lord Kira's son

has had his lands confiscated

and his house abolished,

and he is confined in the custody
of Lord Suwa of Shinshu.

I thought you might like to know.

Gentlemen.

Though he must remain afar,

Lord Hosokawa wishes
to pay his respects.

My master speaks:

"Despite many efforts on your behalf,

we have come
to today's unfortunate verdict,

and I express my deepest regrets.

At this juncture,
nothing more can be done.

As brave and righteous warriors,

may your hearts be at peace
as you prepare to meet your fate."

These were my master's words.

I trust everybody heard?

For the cordial treatment

we have received since December

we are deeply, deeply grateful.

Please relay our thanks to your master.

We have provided for your final needs.

Please take all the time you need
in making ready.

Your kindness in every detail...

leaves us without adequate words
to thank you.

Good sirs. Mr. Oishi.

Miss Mino!
Why have you done this?

It's as I said before -

so that my expedient deception

does not end as a lie.

What?

When I disguised myself as a man

and tricked my way into this house
that turned my father out,

I wanted in the end to show

my unwavering fidelity.

Mino!

Juroza!

Why did you have to act
in such undue haste?

When one of my fellow overseers

discreetly let Lord Hosokawa know
of your coming here today,

he was deeply moved
by Juroza's unwavering faith.

Having been sympathetic to the former
retainers' cause from the start,

he set aside his former displeasure
with your father,

restoring his house
and permitting him to return to service.

I'll call a doctor.
You must hold on.

No, Uncle Den'emon.

I am grateful...

but then my deception
would end as a lie.

When my father hears that I took my life,
I doubt he can go on living.

The Otomeda house must die out.

Only then,

only then can I fulfill
what Mr. Oishi asked of me.

For the sake
of the 46 loyal retainers...

my father and I
gladly become the sacrifice.

We gladly become the sacrifice.

Do away with the Otomeda house.

Let the Otomeda house die.

Mino.

May your heart be at peace
at the end.

I will join you shortly.

Juroza, it's time.
We mustn't tarry.

- After you, sir.
- No, you go ahead.

It's my duty to stay
until the last moment...

to witness the final steps
we must all now take.

Gengoemon Kataoka
has ended his life.

Junai Onodera,
please come forward.

Jurozaemon lsogai...

has ended his life.

Chuzaemon Yoshida
has ended his life.

Den'emon.

It seems

they've all ended their lives
without disgracing themselves.

We've carried through
our original intent.

Oishi.

Kuranosuke Oishi,
please come forward.

You must now excuse me.

THE END