Original subtitles

Takeda Shingen

Takeda Shingen

The Boshin War broke out in March, 1868...

between the Bakufu loyalists and lmperial loyalists.

As soon as the war broke out,

a soldier took over Kofu Castle as an lmperialist leader.

His name was ltagaki Taisuke.

As the leader of the freedom and people's rights movement,

his famous words were,

"ltagaki may die, but liberty never."

Itagaki Nobukata was his famous ancestor...

who served Takeda Nobutora and Harunobu.

Going back 300 years in history,

Itagaki Nobukata left Kofu to attack Uedahara in Shinano.

Takeda Shingen

Episode 11 : "The Tiger of Echigo"

Screenplay: Tamukai Masatake

Original Story: Nitta Jiro

Music: Yamamoto Naozumi

Original Subtitles JN Productions, lnc. (Hawaii)

Transcribed & Edited Subtitles Kame Fansubs

Lady Kita/Narrator: Wakao Ayako

CAST

Takeda Harunobu NAKAl KllCHl

Nagao Kagetora SHlBATA KYOHEl

Lady Sanjo KONNO MlSAKO

Satomi KAlCHl MAO

Princess Koi MlNAMlNO YOKO

Gensuke MURAKAMl HlROAKl

Hara Toratane SHlSHlDO JO

Obu Toramasa KODAMA KlYOSHl

Baba Nobuharu MlKl RYOSUKE

Hara Masatoshi KOBAYASHl KATSUTA

Amari Torayasu HONGO KOJlRO

Murakami Yoshikiyo KAMlJO TSUNEHlKO

Taki YUKl MElKO

Sanada Yukitaka HASHlZUME lSAO

Naoe Sanetsuna UTSUl KEN

Yae OGAWA MAYUMl

Itagaki Nobukata SUGAWARA BUNTA

Producer: Murakami Satoshi

Director: Shigemitsu Yukihiko

Sir ltagaki Nobukata has arrived!

I am against attacking Murakami Yoshikiyo now.

After our attack on Shiga Castle,

I sent spies to infiltrate the Murakami territory.

Murakami is the leader of Kita-Shinano provinces...

and supports the Saku.

We are not certain of his army's strength.

If we attack him head-on, we might lose.

Then we must crush Murakami.

If Murakami supports Saku,

we cannot take Saku unless Murakami is destroyed.

We don't need to hurry to conquer Saku.

It must be done now!

Do you think we can lose to Murakami?

Tell me!

My lord...

War is a contest of wits. I cannot predict the outcome.

However, the Ueda territory is strategic to Shinano.

The Murakami will fight to the death.

Their warriors are many and brave.

If they fight like men possessed,

we might be facing a difficult battle.

Don't all warriors fight like men possessed?

I mentioned that because...

the Murakami troops remember our attack on Shiga Castle.

If they lose, they know the men will all be beheaded,

and their women and children taken to Kai and sold.

I took such measures to make them fear the Takeda!

Do you object to my methods?

No, indeed!

No delays!

I want to conquer Shinano as quickly as possible!

Unless we do, Kai cannot be made secure.

Then, let us discuss this at another war council.

No war council!

We attack at the start of the new year.

Prepare for battle!

February, 1548

Harunobu is attacking at last? MURAKAMl YOSHlKlYO

He boasts that he will take Katsurao Castle in two weeks.

Naive wretch.

We must avenge the Shiga!

I want his head.

He will not surround this castle!

February 13

Nobukado! Pull yourself together!

It's cold.

Reporting! About 2,000 Murakami troops have come to Uedahara!

They are making camp across Chiku River!

Murakami Yoshikiyo has come?

Yes, my lord.

Thank you. Go now.

He's fighting us outside of the castle.

Hear me!

Kill every last Murakami soldier!

We shall also make camp at Uedahara,

and end it tomorrow!

We don't need to bother capturing the castle.

Prepare to depart!

Please wait, my lord!

What is it?

Please wait two days before you proceed.

Why? The enemy is before our very eyes.

I am prepared to besiege Katsurao Castle,

but I have not thoroughly inspected Uedahara.

I will go tonight. Please give me two days.

Absurd! I can't wait!

My lord...

We must know how the Murakami are moving.

A two day wait would be favorable.

They chose Uedahara for a reason!

We must find out why!

We must fight when the time is right!

Now is the time!

Let's go!

Please wait!

Please!

A camp administrator has his duties!

I cannot let you march into uncharted battlegrounds!

Please give me just one day!

Aside.

No! I must know about their troop formations,

the lay of the land and the enemy's movements!

Hara Masatoshi!

Aside, I say!!

The Murakami know Uedahara thoroughly!

They know every stump and hollow in the area!

Please wait until I have completed my inspection!

Aside!

I also ask that you wait, sire.

You know of our camp administrator's experience.

Why won't you heed his advice?

Itagaki, I am the lord, not you!

Will no one follow me?!

Our lord has so ordered. Let us go.

I'll lead the way.

Let's go!

My lord!

You...!

If you must go,

witness my death first.

Let go!

Prepare to leave!

My lord!

My lord!

Hara, you must not die.

You must not die!

You must live and look after our lord.

Our lord has won too many battles.

The moment of truth is nigh.

We leave him in your hands.

Let's go.

February 14

They are unfamiliar with Uedahara.

Ignore the troops.

Only one thing means victory. ...Takeda Harunobu's head!

He must not leave Uedahara alive.

If he does, we will all be killed and our families sold.

Tell our men so!

This day will decide it. Bring Takeda Harunobu's head.

We might be going backward to the rule of Nobutora.

A ruler's lot is difficult. They lose perspective.

We are old.

We can do but one thing for Kai and our lord.

This is our dying place.

For thirty years, we fought together.

I thank you.

Likewise.

We had troubles, but it wasn't a bad life.

We should be going.

When our lord signals,

I'll attack the enemy's east flank.

You attack the west.

Thank you for giving me the west.

It's closer to the Western Pure Land.

I'll be waiting for you there.

I'll come. Farewell.

We have the honor of being the advance guard!

We must take Murakami Yoshikiyo's head...

and repay our lord's kindness!

Show no mercy!

Kill as many as you can!

Kill them all!

200 are attacking our west flank!

1,000 are attacking our front!

We have surrounded 300 enemy troops to the east!

Never mind!

Onward!

Onward!

Please...

protect Kai...

...My lord.

Protect Kai...

Sir!

Take him to the main camp! The rest of you, follow me!

Avenge our lord!

Was that gunfire...?

Reporting! Itagaki Nobukata was killed!

Itagaki...?!

Our men on the east flank are being routed!

Tell Baba to help them.

Reporting! Amari Torayasu was killed!

Amari...!

Brother, withdraw!

Our troops will be hemmed in!

1,500 enemy troops are attacking our front!

Tend to your wounds!

Pull back before it is too late!

Reporting! Enemy troops are lurking in bushes everywhere!

Allow us to regroup!

Hurry! Give the sign to withdraw!

Itagaki...

Amari...

Camp Administrator, withdraw our troops!

No, we will be wiped out!

I'll take 200 men to attack the enemy's rear...

and confuse them!

Then, we will slowly withdraw, starting with Sir ltagaki...

Itagaki is dead! Amari, too!

I'll circle behind the enemy!

Tell all commanders to pull back gradually!

The enemy might come! Tighten security!

Let no one escape!

More stones!

Reporting! Morimura Kiyohide was killed!

We will win if we take Harunobu's head!

Remind our men!

Die...!

Reporting!

Saijo Yoshitada and Yashiro Dosai were killed!

Where's Harunobu's head?!

We broke into their camp, but could not kill him!

You may go!

Tend to his wounds!

Signal to retreat!

The enemy is retreating.

What shall we do?

After losing ltagaki and Amari,

we cannot continue the battle.

For now,

Iet's withdraw and return to Kai.

Brother will not withdraw.

He means to avenge ltagaki and Amari.

However, we have lost this battle.

Please speak to our lord, Sir Nobushige.

Unless we leave Uedahara, our losses will be greater.

We haven't lost!

The Murakami suffered great losses, too!

An all-out attack might rout them!

Do not speak so lightly at a time like this!

Our lord is strong, but too young.

One must know when to withdraw.

Someone should tell him.

Newcomer, you are impertinent!

Because of my incompetence,

Itagaki and Amari were killed.

Camp Administrator...

They chose this battle for their dying place.

You are not to blame.

They died to admonish our lord.

I am sure Lord Harunobu has taken it to heart.

Are you in pain?

I have seen for myself what war is.

Although I may die, I will never leave your side.

Reporting!

Has Katsurao Castle fallen already?

We engaged the enemy at Uedahara.

Itagaki Nobukata and Amari Torayasu were killed.

Have our forces lost?

No. Both sides suffered great losses,

and retreated to opposite sides of the Chiku River.

What of our lord?

He is safe.

Itagaki and Amari...?

Yet Harunobu will not leave?

He plans to avenge Sir ltagaki and Sir Amari.

Go and tell Harunobu...

No matter what has happened,

he must withdraw his troops and return to Kofu.

Yes, my lady!

However, Harunobu would not heed my words,

and stayed more than twenty days at Uedahara.

Itagaki and Amari were killed...

because of you.

After watching you these last two years,

I felt a great apprehension.

Blinded by your victories,

you believed you were invincible,

and battled twice in one year.

Each time, you lost countless soldiers.

Though conquests prove a man's worth,

don't you realize that two wars in one year...

cause your subjects great suffering?

Though it may be for the sake of your clan,

I have never heard of a clan that prospers...

on a mountain of corpses!

Didn't ltagaki and Amari give their lives...

to help you open your eyes?

If not, you would never lose both of them in one day's fight.

You banished your father to another land.

It was not merely to be ruler.

You revolted out of concern for your clan and your people.

Kai does not belong to you alone.

Kai is very dear...

to your vassals and subjects...

and even to women such as l.

Harunobu...

A ruler's life is harsh.

You chose this life for yourself.

One's personal self must be sacrificed for great causes.

Unless he is willing to forget his own self,

a lord cannot help his clan survive.

Please think on this very carefully.

I've never seen such a battle.

I thought I would die in the main camp.

Men in the main camp don't die! Right?

You couldn't die there if you tried!

Don't get so smart! ...Acting like a lord!

Hard work will earn you a horse and rewards.

Are you saying we don't work hard?

Gensuke! Do you know how we suffered?!

We were running from the enemy all night!

The samurai never came to help.

They made us throw stones,

and left our squad all alone!

Do you know how many of us died?!

Gensuke?!

Five of us died!!

Five...!

Heizo, I didn't know. ...Forgive me, will you?

At that time, a fierce warrior appeared in Echigo.

It was Nagao Kagetora.

Naoe Sanetsuna

I cannot allow my older brother to attack me.

Wrongdoers must be punished!

I shall fight for justice.

Though he is my brother,

I will punish him and show no mercy!

In December, Nagao Kagetora defeated his brother Harukage,

and became administrator of Echigo at Kasugayama Castle.

Nagao Kagetora was later to become Uesugi Kenshin,

Harunobu's mortal enemy.

I now take command as administrator of Echigo.

Therefore, let my resolve be known.

I reject war without good cause.

However, no man will bring chaos to the land.

If we must fight for the right,

I shall go, even to the ends of the earth...

to mete out justice!

War must never be waged for self-gain!

We must carry out the will of the gods!

Never forget that.

It is rumored that Takeda Harunobu of Kai...

has ravaged Shinano and has his eye of Echigo.

I do not know what sort of man he is,

but if he should attack us,

I, Nagao Kagetora, will wreak heaven's vengeance upon him!

Although Harunobu would become Nagao Kagetora's mortal enemy,

they did share common qualities.

But, that is another story.

I end my tale for tonight.

To be continued.

To be continued.