Original subtitles

You're early

Is it that season already?

I could not visit on the anniversary this year, so...

Oh, she must be so happy

to have you visit every year

Aunt Fusa was always alone,

so at the very least we should visit her

Let me snap it for you

Is around here okay?

Thank you

You are Urai Noe-dono

Forgive me, you are now a member of the Isomura family

You have probably forgotten

I am Tezuka

Tezuka Yaichiro

ah...

It seems like you've remembered

Back then

forgive me for my rudeness

I did not think I would meet you in a place like this

It's almost as if nothing has changed since then

Since then?

It's nothing,

I've bothered you long enough

Excuse me,

Where are you heading?

I was just on my way to visit my father's grave. Today is the anniversary

Oh, I see

well then

Have you found happiness in your life now?

...Yes

I see

I was worried, so I am glad to hear that

I'm back

Welcome back

Welcome back

Oh, sakura!

Yes

Is this okay?

Thank you Setsu

Sister

Did something good happen?

Why?

This morning when you came from the Isomura house

you looked somewhat sad

Nothing happened

The sakura really is pretty!

Yes

Mother

Huh?

Do you remember Tezuka-sama?

Tezuka-sama?

Tezuka Yaichiro

The man who talked to us before I married into the Isomura family

Ah, the story that Kana-sama from Saiki came and told us

Did something happen to Tezuka-sama?

I wonder if he was ever able to find a good partner

What brings this up suddenly?

Now that you mention it, just a while ago

when I met Kana-sama, we talked about this

It seems that Tezuka-sama still does not have a wife

I wonder why

eh?

Why is Tezuka-sama still single?

It must be because the family is a single mother raising a single child

He was also quite disheartened about you it seems

Cut that branch

It will be much neater that way

Thank you for your patronage. I hope to see you again

Thank you

Here you are

I'm sorry to have you prepare this for me all the time

It's become quite late hasn't it?

Please give our regards to Mrs. Isomura

Yes

Well then

Sister!

Were you together?

Yes, on my way back from school, I bumped into father

Father, it's been a long time

Let me see you off

Ok

Shinnosuke, you've become quite dependable since last time I saw you

Yes, because of Tezuka-sama's training

Tezuka-sama?

Yes, Tezuka Yaichiro-sama

He's teaching swordsmanship at the school's dojo right now

Oh, that's how it is

Where is Tezuka-sama employed now?

It should still be somewhere near Gougata

Oh

When he asked if he could marry Noe,

it was right around the time that I was transferred to Edo

and began working in my current position

I hear he practices an uncommon kyosui sword style

and is quite the swordsman

and is quite the swordsman People also say he is an earnest man...

People also say he is an earnest man...

But it was because his dad died early

Ieaving only his mother to take care of the family

For a girl, there would be much to worry about in such a family

Then is there nothing to worry about in her family now?

Why did you reject Tezuka-sama's offer?

My previous husband, who passed away, had a friend

who was called an expert swordsman

His manner of speech was rough and rude

When I saw what reckless behavior he had when he drank

I thought I could never be a wife of someone who used a sword

Tezuka-sama is not that kind of person!

It seems like he knew of you from very early on

Before you married the late Tsuda-sama,

didn't you used to go all the way to Kougai city to study tea ceremony?

Yes

From a dojo you pass on the way there,

Tezuka-sama was always watching you it seems.

At our school's dojo,

I heard a colleague joking about it

Noe arranged these before she left

Noe

What if you came back to live with us?

Eh?

you mean like aunt Fusa?

Not like that

Shinnosuke

You will also be getting married in two to three years

If I'm at home, I will hurt your chances at marriage

I don't care about that

The other party will care

Thanks, I'm fine from here

Make sure you study hard, okay

So long

Have you found happiness in your life now?

Don't you get it?

It's already past the deadline!

Forgive me!

If I could have three more days...

Tomorrow

Even if you have to sell your daughter, bring it tomorrow

Father, I've returned

Welcome back

Hello Genkichi

Welcome back

Hello

Mother, sorry for returning so late

You certainly took your time. Looks like you got carried away chatting

This is from my mom

She sends you her regards

Don't we already have enough of these?

Well, they always give the same thing

Taka

Yes

Please make some tea

Yes

How much longer are you going to make us wait for dinner?

I'm sorry

She said to have you make dinner once you got back

It's okay

More

Yes

Here

Oh

So Shouzaemon, what kind of return is there every month?

Normally, there it is about eight percent, but

I immediately discussed it with father and got an answer

You will never lose any money on it

so you can rest assured

I look forward to it

Wonderful

No no, not something like that

Because it's for you, Okazaki-sama, 10 more days, no...

Let's wait half a month

I am so grateful for this!

It's nothing

The master has returned

Welcome back

Father! Father!

Suwa-sama told me that, depending on the interest

he would be willing to deposit a large sum of money

Good work Shouzaemon!

Then, how much interest should we put on it?

What do you think, father?

What's with that look?

You still refuse me?

Do you care so much that

I was laughing about your former husband who passed away

It looks like you went back home today

Mother finally gave me permission to, so

Is it that important to visit the grave of your aunt?

It is matters of the Urai family...

Are you trying to say that your family is a higher class?

I'm not saying anything like that

Well, compared to a judge's 120-koku,

we money lenders have a mere 65-koku

But don't forget, we have more money than your dad

It seems Suwa-sama...

has taken a liking to me

If I can stay in his favor like this

good things will be coming my way

Just watch, my stipend will go up

I still have things to do...

I told you to quit it with that look! Or you can go back home!

Excuse me, you're already awake?

Good Morning. Can you check on that pot over there?

Yes

Taka!

Yes

Help me change

Yes

Have a nice day

Have a nice day

Have a nice day

Are you not tired?

Yesterday, didn't you walk

on the mountain path all the way to the temple?

Yes

The sakura was blossoming

Is that so?

It's going to be a fine season from now on

Yes it will

Here is your payment

Excuse me...

I thought you knew, but the prices here have gone up

As have the sales of kimono

From now on, the wage will be 45-mon

I'd appreciate it if you could could give your mother's greetings

to the lady of the house

I understand

Well then

From a dojo you pass on the way there,

Tezuka-sama was always watching you it seems.

I give up

Next!

Yes

Please

I give up

Are you okay?

Yeah, I'm fine

Suwa-sama returns!

Great work today!

You must be tired

More appear every day

Huh?

Those slimy guys who flatter Suwa-sama in hope of getting some of his money

Hyouma, that was loud!

See? That

I don't mean to say bad things about your relative, but I don't understand

Why swarm around a man like that?

Suwa Heiemon is a big zit on our clan

No, he's rotting pus

Hiding behind his lineage,

making himself agricultural administrator of our territory

It's not like you haven't heard the rumors

I know

If you exploit all the wasteland marked here,

how large will it be?

Roughly 200 hectares

Probably in less than 10 years,

you can expect to make 5000-goku

5000-goku

But in our current financial situation,

we have no energy to spare on developing new land

It's nothing more than a pie in the sky

That's exactly why

I am presenting a plan that will make that pie real

Ok?

If we can contract out this land to wealthy farmers,

It's very possible

But then the wealthy farmers

will be able to obtain vast amounts of land

It's a double-edged sword, isn't it?

Then listen to me

From our standpoint as administrators,

what on earth are we going to do

to fix our miserable financial situation?

While we foolishly discuss this,

the stagnation gets worse

If we don't begin developing land immediately to raise up our country,

we will have doomed our country for 100 years!

For sure, the increased revenue from developing new land...

is a matter of great urgency

However,

To do that by exploiting the farmers...

and making them cultivate the land, as in Suwa-sama's plan,

would be frowned upon by many

I think so too

Since the bad harvest three years ago,

I heard many in the village have trouble getting food

To increase their burden on top of that...

is just reckless

If we look ahead 10 or 20 years,

doing this will probably benefit our country

But to do this,

we cannot sacrifice

the future of our farmers

Father

Why does nobody raise any objections to Suwa-sama?

It must be because of his lineage to the daimyo after all

You have yet to understand

Newly developed land will be exempt from tribute for three years

to encourage development of new land

During that time, old land, regardless of their productivity...

will have their tribute rate raised

With all due respect...

The village has not recovered from the damage caused by the bad harvest three years ago

If we squeeze the farmers any further

many more will abandon their land

Silence! The time to act is now. Farmers must work for their country!

-But... - Silence!

Silence!

Yes

Have you heard?

Hm?

Suwa-sama is planning to build a second house

using bribes from the wealthy farmers

Bribes?

Yeah, it looks likes his extravagant lifestyle even includes a mistress

To fix the country's economy, my ass!

Using that as a pretext, to give his large farmer friends the new land...

and line their own pockets

That was their goal from the beginning

The rich get richer, the poor get further driven into a corner

At the very least,

that's what that man is doing

But around the castle,

there isn't a single person who will speak up

This field's productivity is in the middle range

It's crops will yield about 3-koku

Grandpa! Grandpa!

Oh, good job!

Huu! Try it

Sayo!

Sayo! Come here!

In this one year,

You've taught me so much Genkichi

You have such a happy look on your face

Mother

Are you okay?

Continuing the damage caused by the cold weather three years ago,

the crops from last year and the year before

no longer yield even 40%% of the usual harvest

With the long rainy season, the crops this year...

still have no chance of recovering, it seems

On top of that, many farmers forced to cultivate the new fields,

will not even be able to satisfactorily weed their own fields

What's more, for almost no money...

Suwa-sama will buy up all the damaged fields that the farmers will have to part with

and make them his

Do you have any proof?

There is no one who doesn't know in this territory

If Suwa-sama's policy is carried through,

it will be a fatal mistake

I implore you, please tell our lord in Edo the real circumstances of the village...

Enough!

It is not time for that yet

The sun only shines so much

The rice won't grow! The grain just won't expand!

Not only will we have no rice to eat, but no seed rice for next year!

You must know!

So a family can eat, every member is sold off until they must abandon the field.

It's not just 10 or 20!

We know

No!

You people don't know what it's like at all!

...what it's like not to have anything to eat!

Please. Give this letter to Suwa-sama!

At this rate, if the annual tribute is not decreased even slightly

the number of ruined farmers will only grow!

Yes yes

Your complaints will definitely be given to him

Now go home already!

Please

We beg of you

You won't go home yet?

Isogai, I'm counting on you

Yes

Go!

Mother

Yes

Sayo

Sayo

Are you okay?

It's already been two months since that

Yeah

Isogai was heading toward Edo carrying a letter from Yonekura-sama

His whereabouts are still unknown

There's also a rumor that it was the work of Suwa-sama's henchmen

Don't say things like that so carelessly!

Gosuke

What are you trying to do?

We are not trying to slack off

This is the rice we have desperately struggled to make...

not even leaving any to feed our child and elders!

Every day is just rain and more rain...

What more can we do?

Quit complaining!

Are you okay?

Pull yourself together

Confiscate Gosuke's field

Yes

What is it, Tezuka?

Are you crazy?

You are inside the castle!

It's Tezuka-sama...

The master returns

Welcome back

Did something happen?

The winds have changed

Eh?

Suwa-sama was killed

That fool Tezuka drew his sword inside the castle

Tezuka-sama?

Yeah, Tezuka Yaichiro

So, what happened to Tezuka-sama?

Do you know Tezuka?

No

I heard he walked to the grand inspector's residence in Sanaichou on his own

Tezuka-dono!

There's always someone fighting for justice in this world

Sometimes they pull off stuff like this, but...

what do they think they will accomplish?

Tezuka himself won't even make a cent off of it

It'll probably be... hara-kiri for him

As a result, I get to decide his punishment as well

Really, there is no way to fix an idiot like that!

What?

That look again!

You don't seem to be happy when I speak ill of Tezuka

Do you have something with that man?

You should be more temperate with your words

What?

You've been thinking that since...

you married into this family, haven't you?

I did you a favor by marrying a widow like you! Got that!

I told you stop looking at me like that!

What is going on?

This woman threw down our family crest

Always looking down on us...

She's hated us all this time!

Am I wrong?

Mother, since I married her, this woman...

Eyaahh! I told you, quit looking at me like that!

You won't stop?

Stop!

Stop this shameful behavior, Shouzaemon

I hope you understand what you've done

Beyond dirtying the Isomura family crest...

there is no place for you here

Genkichi

Thank you for all your help

Take care of yourself

Noe-sama too,

please take care of yourself

The snow is early this year, isn't it?

Yes, we better hurry

Mother!

Mother

What is it that makes you so angry?

You can see?

It's hard not to

Isomura came to the guardroom today

What did he want?

He came by to say that he had no intention of returning the engagement gift money

They say it's because Noe wanted the divorce

My my, they say Noe wanted it?

Yes

The man is completely hopeless

If we don't agree, they will report it to the inspector

Thinking back on how he flattered Suwa-dono,

it seems he's taken a liking to the inspector this time

In addition, he's been slandering Noe

Without thinking, I was about to grab my sword

Like what Tezuka-sama did...

Setsu

Can't you let it go?

We have no relationship with Isomura anymore

Happy New Year

Congratulations

Congratulations

That we can once again greet the new year safely...

I am grateful for this

Let us enjoy this new year we've been given in good health

How many years has it been since we've been able to...

gather like this and greet the new year?

Well, shall we eat?

Mother

Yes?

Are there any reasonable homes nearby?

Homes?

Thanks to the work I had to do in the Isomura house,

I've become quite good at sewing

If it's just for one person, I can manage

What are you saying?

Your father will never approve of that

But didn't Aunt Fusa leave home,

and live by herself?

Shinnosuke will soon be looking for a wife

I will only hurt his chances if I am here

Setsu is already 16 too

The next time you leave this house...

will be when you find a path to happiness

There's...

no longer any chance of that

It's not over!

-You're attack is too weak! -Yes

I surrender

Next

The sentence still hasn't been given yet?

Yeah, Tezuka-sama hasn't said anything in self-defense

It looks like he is quietly waiting to be tried

Pardon us

Father

What is it?

I've been talking to Hyouma, but...

isn't there anything we can do for Tezuka-sama

For example, we could ask our friends for help

to send a plea for mercy to the chief retainer

This isn't something you should be interfering with

But it's been four months since the incident

When I think of how long Tezuka-sama has been in the prison...

The administration is not intentionally dragging it's feet

That incident has moved the country

New land development is being re-evaluated...

as are annual tribute rates

It's returned to how it was originally

If Tezuka is given a strict sentence,

the farmers will not remain silent most likely

But, the issue is of bloodshed within the castle

A half-baked punishment would not uphold order

Moreover, there is the victim's lineage

At the administration meeting, we talked about waiting

until our lord returns next month, to ask about a decision

Until then, there is nothing to do but wait

how makeshift...

Shinnosuke, watch your words

Isn't that how it is?

The administrators are just afraid of being criticized if they give out a sentence

Isn't it just the same as when people sat on their hands...

while Suwa-sama ruled like a tyrant

Why did Tezuka-sama draw his sword...

for the farmers with no concern for himself?

Shinnosuke

One more month

Tezuka-sama's mother also...

must be very tired and with a heavy heart

Are you happy with your life now?

Mother

Hm?

Was there a reason why Aunt Fusa...

never got married even once?

There is a story to that

Eh?

He was an great person

Even though they had even decided on the wedding date

He suddenly got sick and passed away

After that, her health worsened

It's because she was always weak to begin with

Mother

Aunt Fusa...

might have found happiness in her life, right?

She must have...

always adored that person

Not like me, right?

No

You are just taking a small detour

Let me snap it for you

Is around here okay?

Excuse me...

Pardon me...

Oh, that sakura is beautiful

Yes

I think you might know not know, but...

I am from the Urai family, and my name is Noe

Urai-sama's Noe?

Yes

You are...

I see now

Noe

I often hear about you from Yaichiro

When you were married...

into the Isomura family, Yaichiro was very upset

But I always thought...

that one day you might...

visit the house like this

I've been waiting expectantly

Please come in

Shall I take that branch?

We mustn't let such flowers whither

Please come in

Yes

Since that happened

not a single person has come to visit

It's been so lonely

Noe, you would be...

the first to visit

Is it okay like this?

That's good