Original subtitles

Tales of Zatoichi

The Flower that Bloomed with the Lullaby

I'm sorry.

Oh, a blind masseur.

- What are you doing? - I'm trying to get a persimmon.

You want some?

Yeah, that's a big persimmon all right.

There's plenty more at the top of the tree, but I can't reach it.

You won't get in trouble for this?

It's okay. I know the people who live here.

All right then, you want me to grab some for you?

Please.

That's a stone statue of Jizo.

Oh, I'm really sorry Mr. Jizo.

Well, I'm just gonna use you as a stool to get up there.

Yeah, keep going.

To the left. Left.

Hey!

Oh, it's you, Taro. If it's you, then I don't mind.

How's your grandpa doing?

Oh, so-so.

So-so, huh? That's good.

I don't mind if you take the persimmons and sell them to get medicine.

But you shouldn't take them without asking.

I'm sorry.

Don't worry about it. If you ask me, I'll get plenty of them for you next time.

Oh, it seems like you got a lot. Well, get home safely.

Bye, bye.

Huh? Who the heck are you?

Oh, hi. It's a lovely day, isn't it?

It's a lovely day, but what are you doing up there?

Well, I was just thinking of climbing back down.

Oh. Hey, wait a minute. You're a blind masseur.

Yes, yes, hello. - Don't "Yes hello" me!

I'm surprised you climbed up there without any trouble.

I'm really sorry.

Get down here at once.

I'll help you out.

What? Really?

Yeah, you got me those persimmons.

Thanks a lot.

Oh, I'm so tired.

You're trying too hard.

I can't help it, I need to satisfy the customers, you know.

You must really be enjoying it.

Anybody need a massage?

Hey sister, do you need a massage? I'll make it real cheap.

If you want, I'll do the massage. How much will you give me?

Maybe sixteen mon for the entire body.

Hey Taro, you shouldn't be selling persimmons here.

Everyone's going to eat them for free.

I'm not selling persimmons. I'm looking for people who need a massage.

Massage?

Then can you give me one?

Of course.

See? You got a customer already.

You're pretty stiff.

You've been working too much.

If you don't get some rest, you're gonna get sick.

I don't care if I get sick.

Hey, you come to these places often?

Huh? You mean as a customer?

Yeah.

Well, sometimes women like you...

...call out to me.

For me, I'm very happy to be giving massages to women like yourselves.

But there are those who can't pay for the massages, right?

Yes. There are some.

Hey...

So what do you do then?

Some people pay by offering their body, right?

Hey, stop messing around.

You must make a lot.

No, I don't.

But they say that masseurs are very rich.

Well, I don't have that much.

Maybe about twenty or thirty ryo.

Thirty ryo?

I feel much better now.

Hey, you gamble?

Huh?

I really love gambling.

You assholes!

You're all a bunch of lazy fools! All you ever do is eat!

The prostitution house isn't making much money...

And the gambling place isn't doing well either! I feed you people, and for what?

Listen up! You give me all your earnings from this place!

Show me what you're capable of, people!

Our businesses is slow, and there are fewer customers these days.

That's right. Plus customers these days are very stingy!

What? Then beat some sense into those customers!

Master. The head clerk of a general store in Takasaki is here to see you.

General store?

Yes.

Let him in.

Yes.

Hey, what the hell are you people doing? Get back to work!

Come on, hurry up!

Lazy fools.

Well, well. Hello. - Well, hello, hello.

Now come in, come in.

Thank you for inviting me. - Well, well.

You must be the head clerk who deals silk in Jyoshu.

Thanks for traveling so far to this grassy part of the country.

Oh, don't mention it.

Don't be rude to the customer. Come on inside, please.

Right, we need some sake in here. Bring two or three good looking girls.

That's right, I'm sorry about all this.

No, you got this all wrong. I'm not here to have fun.

My master sent me here to find a woman named Ohisa.

Did we have a prostitute named Ohisa?

She wasn't a prostitute. You remember. That maid who had a son.

Oh, the woman who died last year?

What? Ohisa died?

Yes. Her cold worsened and he passed away at the end of last year.

I see.

And what about her son?

Tarokichi's doing just fine.

Persimmons for sale! Anybody want some persimmons?

It's about one mon each.

Anybody want to buy some persimmons?

Hey Taro. Did you sell any persimmons?

There's about five more left.

Then I'll buy them from you later. - Thank you very much.

The dealer has a twenty-six. Anybody have it?

Dealer wins.

I'm next.

You're going to gamble too?

I thought I'd make some money off of it.

Really? Can I watch?

You can help me out with your eyes.

What? Thirty ryo?

Isn't he a good customer?

All right, we'll squeeze everything out of his pocket.

- Who the hell are you? - We didn't call for a masseur.

I was just wondering if I could join you all.

- You? - Yes.

It's just that I love gambling more than my daily meal.

Hey mister. We're not playing with dice.

They're plates.

Even if you like gambling, you can't possibly read these plates, right?

Yes. That's why it's interesting.

So how much can I bet on this game?

Really?

It's all right, it's all right. I don't care how much you place.

You can bet as much as you want.

Oh really?

My stomach is feeling very cold from these gold coins.

Hey dealer.

Can you let me be the dealer for once?

- You're going to deal? - Yes.

All right. Go ahead.

Come this way, please.

Excuse me. Thanks.

Excuse me. Sorry about that.

This way.

Okay, thanks.

Here. These are the plates.

Yeah, thanks. Thanks a lot.

Oh, you're one sly guy.

You gave me the plates upside down because I can't see, huh?

All right. Place your bets!

Go ahead! Place your bets!

Come on, come on!

Come on, come on!

I'll bet on this maple leaf for two and a third ryo.

It seems that you folks like the maple leaf.

All right then. Maple leaf it is.

Hey mister.

Next!

Empty. It's an empty hand.

Gimme one more. It's a bust.

Hey kid, what are they?

Cherry blossom and chrysanthemum.

Cherry blossom and chrysanthemum aren't for two and a third ryo. I'll draw again.

- What is it? - A deer.

A deer!

Oh great. I guess we'll have to stop at two ryos and three mon.

I have three ryos here so let's see how it goes. I'm just out of luck I guess.

You're really something, mister.

You're like a professional dealer.

He's really something.

Mister, you ain't no amateur, are you?

Flattery won't work with me. All right. Here we go!

Hold it.

I have twenty-five ryo.

I have it laid out in front.

And adding to what I have, it's now thirty-five ryo.

It looks like you folks are betting like crazy this time around. I like that.

I too have thirty-five ryo. Now we can play a fair game!

Here we go. Are we ready?

Oh, this one's the dealer's plate.

Get me one more!

Kid, what is it?

It's a pine tree.

That's great, then I need to get a plate with the moon on it, eh?

Come on, come on, show me that moon!

It's red!

Moon.

It's red!

Hooray!

It's a red plate. I guess these are all mine now.

Asshole! You punk!

Hey! You're no ordinary masseur, are you?

I'm just an ordinary masseur.

You! Don't mess with us!

You got a good-looking face that wants to get messed up?

You punk!

Inosuke! What the hell are you doing?

Take these boys with you and get our money back!

Yes! Let's go!

Hot... hot...

It's hot!

Huh? Your bag was full of stones?

I don't have that much money, you know.

Mister, you really can't see anything at all?

Yeah, I can't see anything.

You have a sword inside that cane?

Yeah.

That's so cool.

Something smells really good.

It's the noodle shop.

- You hungry? - Yeah.

Can I get a bowl of noodles?

Me too.

Got it.

Hey mister, can you stay over at our house?

You'll let me stay?

Yeah.

Can you give a massage to my grandpa?

I sold the persimmons so l can pay you for your service.

Okay, I'll do it.

The son of the general store owner?

Our Tarokichi?

Yes. He is definitely my master's son.

I was the one who made her quit her job despite their fate.

And the master wants me to bring back Tarokichi...

...so that he can be his successor.

I could never bring myself to say this, but it seems like I'm taking him back.

Really? That boy, huh?

Get in.

Okay, okay.

Thanks.

Grandpa, I brought the masseur. You want him to give you a massage?

You want me to give you a massage? Is your health really bad?

Grandpa, I'll get your medicine.

If you're a masseur, then you must be blind, right?

Yes.

Oh, I'm glad.

It must've been Providence that brought us together here.

Take this and go with Tarokichi...

...to a store owner named Sobei in Takasaki.

What? A store owner in Takasaki named So--

No matter what happens...

...don't go walking the streets...

...and don't get caught in the public eye.

Got it, and you're giving this to me?

Now I can rest in peace.

Rest in peace? Now what am l gonna do with a thing like this?

Grandpa, it's your medicine.

Grandpa, what happened?

He's not saying anything.

What?

Hey, grandpa!

Say something!

He's dead.

He's dead?

Grandpa!

It seems like I came to the wrong place at the wrong time.

How could you die before hearing what I had to say?

That's just not fair.

- Here, have some drink. - No, no, I really shouldn't.

I should go see the boy tonight.

Oh, don't worry about that. I'll take you to him.

Really?

Then I guess...

Boss.

What is it?

I need to talk to you now.

Excuse me for a second.

Here, drink some.

What is it?

What did you say?

I kept you and fed you since you were good at gambling!

Now I don't need you anymore! Get the hell outta here! You asshole!

Hey!

Oshino!

Oshino!

What is it, lnosuke? What happened?

Oshino, I want you to flee with me.

You're telling this so suddenly. I don't even have my things ready.

- Who cares about your things! - But I can't go like this.

Hey. You don't want to be with me?

I'm just sick and tired of this life.

We can leave this place together.

- Where are we going? - It doesn't matter!

Well, if I'm with you, l can go anywhere and be happy.

I won't let you suffer. I'll...

Listen up.

In an hour, I'll be waiting by the cedar trees at the outskirts of the town.

Please be there.

I'll be waiting for you, okay?

Are you in there?

Thank you for helping me at this time of day.

Well, we're almost there.

You just have to deliver this Tarokichi to the store owner?

Yes, if I can do that, then my job here would be done.

I see.

Yes.

I'll deliver the kid for you.

No, you don't have to do that.

- You wanna drink? - No, I'm okay.

We're gonna send you off to the afterlife.

If you deliver the kid, we can't make any money.

Thanks for bringing us the good news.

Fifty ryos.

Not bad.

Hey, masseur!

Come on outta there!

Bring that kid and come outta there!

There's a moon out in the sky tonight.

I don't really like it when it's bright outside. Why don't you come on in?

Something's wrong. Nobody's coming out.

They couldn't have gone that far. Go after them!

Oshino.

Oshino!

Inosuke, you...

I brought you some clothes.

Now let's go!

Oshino, now we can be happy.

We can leave all this dirty business behind us. I promise...

...I'll never let you go.

Yeah, but this is the sixth time you said that to me.

No, I'm serious. Listen, I'm serious this time.

This time, I'm really serious.

It's okay.

I don't care if it's your sixth time or sixtieth time saying it.

I'm really happy when you say those words to me.

Oshino...

Oh, it's you Taro.

Sister...

What are you doing here?

I should ask you the same thing.

I'm going to Takasaki.

Why are you going to Takasaki?

My grandpa died.

So this masseur is going to take me to Takasaki.

Really?

What are you doing here, sister?

What? Well, I'm going back home as well.

Sister. Thanks for letting me make a lot of money the other day.

What did you say?

Oh? It seems you have some company.

Ah, it's you. The guy who handed me those plates.

You two are in love huh? I guess you folks are leaving town secretly.

You bastard!

Hey masseur! It's your fault that we have to do this!

- lnosuke... - Will you just stay out of this?

You bastard! I'll get you, bastard!

You!

Ow... that really hurt!

Okay, I've had it. Come on! Get over here!

Get over here? You're going crazy!

Hey! Hey you!

Wait a minute! He's crazy? How could you say that to my man?

How come you have to get involved?

I can't believe you're angry over such a...

You bastard! Shit!

That's enough!

Something unexpected might happen.

Some people lose their lives by accident too, you know?

Hey, are you all right?

Hey, did it hurt?

Shut up!

Inosuke!

What are you looking for?

Well do you see... you see that document anywhere?

Oh great.

If I lose that, what could l possibly say to your grandpa?

I can't believe it.

That kid is the son of a very famous silk dealer in Jyoshu named Sobei.

- Are you sure? - Yeah.

It's written right here with the birth date and the parents' names.

It even has an umbilical cord in it.

I got it.

That masseur is delivering the kid to his father in Takasaki to make money.

Well that masseur did seem a bit peculiar.

Hey, what are you going to do with that?

I'll take this and head over to Takasaki.

You go on and deceive that masseur to come with the kid.

We'll meet just after noon on the grounds of Kiyomizu temple in three days.

Don't get there too quick. Just after noon in three days.

Hey wait, lnosuke.

You're not trying to trick me, are you?

I'm trying really hard to have a family with you. Can't you just trust me?

Hey lnosuke, you promised that you wouldn't do that kind of thing anymore.

I just want to be with you and start a family.

If I go to Takasaki, I can make about five-hundred ryos.

Five-hundred ryos...

That's right. So please do this for me, okay?

Sister!

What happened?

Taro, please take me with you.

What happened to your man?

He ditched you, didn't he?

I wanted to stay around a bit longer.

I was worried about Taro.

Wow, Taro. You're carrying around so many things!

- You want me to carry that pot for you? - Yes.

Ouch!

Ow, ow, ouch!

Hey mister, she says her feet hurt.

Wait for me!

My feet hurts.

Ow, ow, ouch!

It really hurts!

Wait for me!

Damn!

Sister, are your feet all right now?

Yes.

Hey. Is there something wrong with reaching Takasaki early?

Damn!

Don't start anything until we get to Takasaki.

Is Taro asleep?

Yes.

Where were you born?

A place called Takada in Echigo.

It's filled with lots of snow.

I see. What about your parents?

I don't know.

I'm sure they're somewhere.

Even if I see them, I probably wouldn't recognize them.

When I came of age, they sold me.

I don't know my parents' faces either.

You too?

When I came of age, I was blind.

They say a kid can grow up without having parents...

...but it's better having them around.

We don't want to let Taro go through life by himself, do we?

His grandpa died without hearing what I had to say.

But did that document say anything about making money off of this Taro?

Oshino...

Since you're silent, I'll take that as a yes.

Mr. Ichi, are you sure you didn't read what was written?

Sorry.

Oshino...

You really love lnosuke?

He's the only person who says he wants a family with a woman like me.

His words are the only thing that has kept my life meaningful.

If you really love him, then you shouldn't let him do bad things.

Oshino!

Ah, lnosuke!

What are you kidding me? I already made the deal!

If I bring this document along with the kid, we can get three or five hundred ryos.

If we have five-hundred ryos, we can do whatever we want!

You see, I don't want to sell that boy for money.

Inosuke, please... give that document back to Taro.

You asshole, I can't give away my meal ticket to that masseur!

- Now go get me that kid! - Please give it back!

Hey, don't you want to be with me?

Do what I tell you!

I can't do that. Please, just give it back!

Give it back. Please!

You! Hey, hey, hey!

Inosuke, are you...

Yeah, I'll even kill you, just to get the money!

You really need that money? - Of course!

If you interfere, I'll kill you! - Sister...

Hey, give me that document.

Do you know what you're saying? You tricked my wife!

Give it back.

You bastard!

I'll kill you!

Kill me if you can!

Next time, your head won't be attached to your body.

Please forgive him, Mr. Ichi. Don't kill him.

He's very precious to me.

If you're going to kill him, kill me too!

Please. Okay?

Oshino...

Hey!

Thanks a lot, but your job is done.

Hand over the kid!

You're the one who's going to deliver the kid?

That's right.

The kid's umbilical cord is inside.

Take it along with the kid.

Go.

Taro.

Let's go.

Let's go. Hey. Hey.

Mister.

Now, now, let's get the boy inside.

Thank you, thank you.

It seems that you went through lots of trouble to get here. Thank you very much.

I showed the document to my master, and Tarokichi is definitely his son.

So we'll be taking good care of him from now on.

Yes, thank you very much.

Oh, I'm really sorry about this, but this is just a token of our gratitude.

Please take it.

Now if you will excuse me. Now, let's go, let's go.

Mister!

No! No!

- Mis-- - Ah, come this way now.

Mister!

Mister!

Mr. Ichi...

A reward from the kid's father...

I hope you two can be a happy couple and live your lives with your heads up.

To Be Continued...

On the anniversary of his mother's death, he swore not to use his blade for once...

But the long blade of hatred targets Zatoichi.

With Kinya Kitaouji as the special guest and Shintaro Katsu as the director...

Tune in for the next episode of Zatoichi, "A Memorial Day and The Bell of Life"

Tune in for the next episode of Zatoichi, "A Memorial Day and The Bell of Life"