All language subtitles for The.Loyal.47.Ronin.Of.The.Genroku.Era.1941.1080p.WEBRip.x264.AAC-[YTS.MX]1.eng

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