Original subtitles

Kagoshima University library has a collection of volumes...

owned by Shimazu Hisamitsu with over 16,000 items,

including his own writings, that shows his level of scholarship.

Why did he study so much?

He was the son of the 27th lord, Shimazu Narioki,

and his concubine, Yura.

Yura was born in a merchant family and had an inferiority complex,

so she wanted Hisamitsu to be the next lord.

But, Nariakira was born from Narioki's real wife.

Nariakira was living in Edo and had relationship...

with central government, so Yura's attempt failed.

Nariakira was very intelligent and the wisdom of 300 years,

so there was a strong rivalry between Hisamitsu and Nariakira.

So he wouldn't lose to Nariakira, Hisamitsu studied fiercely.

After Nariakira died, Hisamitsu's son Mochihisa became 20th lord.

Hisamitsu was then called the "father of the country."

Thus, he became the real power in Satsuma...

and launched an effort reform affairs of the central government.

Finally, Hisamitsu's time arrived.

Tobu ga Gotoku

Episode 14: Sakurada Gate Incident

Screenplay: Osanai Mieko

Original Story: Shiba Ryotaro

Music: Ichiyanagi Toshi

Original subtitles: TV Network Japan, Inc.

Subtitle Transcription: Rashomon

Timing and QC: Kame Fansubs & Avallac'h

Narrator: Kusano Daigo

Cast

Saigo Kichinosuke: Nishida Toshiyuki

Okubo Shosuke: Kaga Takeshi

Iwayama Ito: Tanaka Yuko

Aikana: Ishida Eri

Okubo Masu: Kaku Chikako

Saigo Shingo: Ogata Naoto

Moriyama Shinzo: Tono Eishin

Oyama Kakunosuke: Kanie Keizo

Ii Naosuke: Kamiyama Shigeru

Tokugawa Nariaki: Kaneko Nobuo

Shimazu Hisamitsu: Takahashi Hideki

Producer: Yoshimura Fumitaka

Director: Hirayama Takeyuki

January 1860

You just came back.

How were things in Edo?

I came back to spur the Seichugumi to action.

I know nothing about Lord Hisamitsu's orders to desist.

Wait!

No! Didn't you say all was in readiness...

and you could leave the clan at any time?

The circumstances have changed.

Lord Hisamitsu asks us to wait...

for us to go together as a clan.

It can't wait!

The Mito men have already set the date on March 20th.

On March 20th?

We vowed to finish our late lord's work...

even if it meant renouncing our clan.

Not only the Mito men, but Arimura's brothers...

also await your instructions in Edo.

My brothers are ready to sacrifice themselves.

Our honor as warriors is at issue here.

Let's take this matter up with the clan office.

Please!

Please take it up with them.

All right. I'll go and work something out.

Are you sure that it's to be on March 20th?

Yes.

Didn't you recall the members of the Seichugumi...

from Edo to drive home Lord Hisamitsu's message?

Yes, but if we withdraw our support,

it goes against our code of honor as Satsuma samurai.

I understand Lord Mochihisa is going to Edo...

in March for his biennial tour of duty.

If they are taking action on March 20th,

his lordship will still be on the road.

That's correct.

As a precautionary measure,

please let the Seichugumi join the entourage.

It's the only way to contain the hotheads.

I understand. I'll ask immediately.

It's commendable of him...

to worry about Mochihisa's safety.

As I've said before, in the event that the Court...

requires protection, I will go to Kyoto to provide it.

However, nothing has happened yet.

There's no reason to dispatch troops.

When it is time, I will act upon it.

Tell Okubo to be patient.

That leaves Okubo to bear the brunt...

of the opposition's criticism.

If he can't keep his men in line, he has no worth.

Shingo!

Wait! Why are you avoiding me?

I've no time to waste on you.

So why are you wasting your time climbing a tree?

I'm not wasting it.

I'm looking at the situation in Kyoto.

I want to look, too. Help me up.

Stop it! If you climb trees dressed like that,

no one would take you for a girl.

I'll gladly shed all feminine trappings...

for the sake of the country.

If you won't help me up...

Shingo, the Saigo family's 3rd son, later known as...

Tsugumichi, had become a fine young man of 19.

Iwayama Ito, a childhood friend,

was a devoted Satsuma loyalist like Shingo.

Okubo...

What are you doing?

A hopeless case...

Okubo!

I heard that Hori's back from Edo.

How is the situation there?

It's nothing that concerns a woman.

I may be a woman, but I'm still a member of the clan.

Women can be just as patriotic as men.

No, women have their own way of serving the country.

To be dressed like that at your age.

Be more considerate of your father.

Frugality and courage are desirable traits...

in both men and women of Satsuma.

People will still call you 'Iwayama's Tomboy.'

What are you saying? If I didn't dress like this,

I'd be leered at and never have the chance to talk...

to you about the cause or anything.

But, you just leave that matter to us.

In Kyoto, women, such as Sister Nomura Moto,

are also working for the Imperial cause.

So why can't I?

When Lord Hisamitsu goes to Kyoto...

with his 3,000 men, I want to go, too.

Please put in a good word for me, Mr. Okubo...

The Mito party has already decided on March 20th.

We'll be in time if we leave now!

Wait! We've already drawn a warning from our lord.

When it's time to rise, we must do it with...

the whole clan's backing or it will come to naught.

It will be too late.

What can we do if we don't stick together?

I won't let some letter stop me!

Let's not depend on Lord Hisamitsu. Let's leave!

I agree. There's no other way.

There's no helping it. We leave the clan.

As the brother of Saigo Kichinosuke,

I'll be the first one in to protect the Court.

Well said, Shingo! We won't let you die alone.

Shingo, how can you call yourself a man after that?

What?

You joined the Seichugumi,

vowing to uphold Kichinosuke's instructions.

A warrior can't go back on his word.

It's Lord Hisamitsu who speaks with a forked tongue.

That won't matter once we renounce the clan.

Leaving the clan is the only course for us.

All right, then go!

Only, kill me before you do that.

Shosuke!

I won't stop you any longer!

I can't go on living after failing to make you heed me.

I wouldn't be able to face Kichinosuke...

or our young lord. Anyone will do -- kill me.

Okay, I'll do it.

Please stop!

You don't need to stop him.

To kill or be killed, that is the way of the warrior.

To hold the master's orders above life itself,

to follow the leader's word no matter what happens,

so the spirit of the Satsuma warrior was drilled in me.

Shingo, after I'm dead, you slit your belly.

Why must Shingo do that?

After Kichinosuke left specific orders...

to wait until the time was right,

his own brother can't live to disobey him!

In Edo, plans had been advanced to March 3rd.

The time was 8:00 a.m. on March 3, 1860.

Farewell, my brother.

I always thought that we would die together.

You have the important duty...

of reporting this deed to those back home.

I'll be praying for your success.

I, Arimura Jizaemon of Satsuma,

will, without fail, strike the first blow.

Then, farewell.

Jizaemon...

Edo Castle near Sakurada Gate

Seki Tetsunosuke of Mito was the leader of the group.

They were 18-men strong.

Arimura Jizaemon was the only one from Satsuma.

Here they come!

Not yet.

I have a petition.

Who are you?

I've killed Regent Ii!

Arimura Yusuke hastened toward Satsuma...

with news of the successful attack.

Several days later, he would meet up with...

Mochihisa's retinue on its way to Edo.

So they did it!

So a Satsuma warrior beat the Mito...

in taking Ii's head. What a feat!

Because of the incident, Lord Mochihisa's retinue...

has turned back to Satsuma as you instructed.

What's happened to Arimura Yusuke?

He's being escorted into town under heavy guard.

When he arrives, bring me the particulars right away.

So Satsuma took Ii's head after all.

Yes, it was taken by my brother, Jizaemon.

This is truly good news!

Though it vexes me that they stole a march on us.

He sacrificed his life to give us reason...

for sending troops to Kyoto.

Lord Hisamitsu won't remain still...

after hearing Yusuke's report.

And how is Yusuke?

Since his guards were Satsuma warriors,

they looked the other way while we talked all night.

He told me all about the attack.

Looked the other way? As if he was a criminal!

Whether he'll be set free or not...

depends on the Seichugumi's action.

The incident took place. Now that Yusuke who...

witnessed it is here, it's time for us to take action.

However, the ruling issued by the clan...

that night was an unexpectedly harsh one.

Seppuku?

And it must be done before the night is out.

Why?

He's guilty of bringing trouble to the clan.

That's absurd! Yusuke and Jizaemon fulfilled...

the obligation to the Mito for us!

How could they praise him one moment...

and declare him a troublemaker the next?

How could you return with such an order?

Hold on there.

I don't care what happens to me.

But unless something is done,

Satsuma will become the biggest liar in Japan.

Lord Hisamitsu said that he'd take over...

our late lord's work.

We'll force him to go to Kyoto if we must.

Lord Hisamitsu is our enemy.

You said that you got his agreement,

but only one of us was named to Lord Mochihisa's retinue.

I won't be deceived any further.

Let's all lay down our lives and plead with...

Lord Hisamitsu to spare Yusuke.

We'll plead for clemency!

Wait!

I was already prepared to give up my life.

But I don't think that our appeal will be heard.

Why not?

The decision came from the Council, not Lord Hisamitsu.

What?!

They're deferring to the shogunate.

Though we may stake our lives in appealing,

not even Lord Hisamitsu can overturn an official ruling.

We'll have to face the facts.

Then, are we to allow Yusuke to...?

We have the responsibility of getting to Kyoto.

It tears me up to have to say this,

but I can't die with Yusuke right now.

Allow me to say this,

I appreciate your concern for my brothers and me.

But, the Council ordered Yusuke's suicide...

along with words of pity.

At least, it's not an ignoble execution.

If his death will serve to send troops to Kyoto,

I would not want to create a stir here...

and deprive Yusuke of an honorable death.

Is that what you want?

It is.

Yusuke!

I expected to die in Edo or Kyoto.

If my suicide will enable our troops to get to Kyoto,

I'll be happy to die.

Thinking that it would be a disgrace if he delayed...

and had to be prompted by the officials,

Arimura Yusuke, assisted by his brother Shunsai,

performed seppuku that night. He was 26.

Amami-Oshima

I wonder what's wrong with him.

Husband, what's wrong?

A letter from Kagoshima came with the recent boat.

You've been recalled?

No, a Satsuma warrior killed Regent Ii.

You islanders probably have never seen snow.

Everything becomes covered with white.

It's like a silvery world.

I'm told that when the villainous Regent Ii...

was felled by the sword of justice,

the snow turned crimson with his blood.

What's wrong?

Aikana is with child.

With child?

That's what we came to tell you,

but what a bloody story you had to tell.

I'm sorry. I was feeling sick.

I should be sorry. Are you all right?

There's no need to worry.

This is a delicate period. You must take care.

So you're going to have a baby... my baby.

Aikana?

Please have a baby boy. Please!

I'm sorry for scaring you today.

According to the letter, Arimura Jizaemon took the lead...

for the Seichugumi by making off with Ii's head after...

killing him, and later performed seppuku to perfection.

I can't help but think that the child...

you're carrying is Jizaemon reincarnated.

Please have a healthy child.

It will be the first child for me.

It will be my first, too.

Jizaemon has avenged the deaths...

of Abbot Gessho and Hashimoto Sanai.

Please have a male child for me.

Aikana...

Male or female, the child will be ours, yours and mine.

Wait, what I wanted to say is...

I don't want to hear it!

I'm sorry. Whether it's a boy or a girl,

just have a healthy child.

So you are Okubo.

I am Hisamitsu.

You may speak to be directly.

Say what you will.

Speak. He has granted you permission.

You said that in the course of certain events,

you would carry out Lord Nariakira's plan.

Now that it has happened, we are prepared to...

give up our lives upon the lord's orders.

Desirous of instructions on sending our men to Kyoto,

I, Okubo Shosuke, heedless of my lowly status,

have requested an audience with you.

I understand. Thank you for coming.

As Arimura Yusuke was allowed an honorable death,

the Seichugumi feels that it should put aside its loss...

and move ahead. Thus, we humbly await your orders.

It was the decision of Shimazu Shimousa and...

the other councilors to punish the rebel samurai.

It is for that reason that I wanted to bring...

my request directly to you.

Satsuma and Mito were agreed that after...

the attack on Regent Ii, fire would be set to...

Edo Castle's Momijiyama and any shogunate officials...

who came to the scene would be killed.

That would have annulled all treaties concluded...

by the shogunate with the foreign powers.

When the men from Mito carried this part out,

Satsuma was to take up arms and guard the Court.

Please don't let this chance slip by. Give us the nod.

A subordinate does not direct his superior.

You may be a loyal warrior, but the world would be...

topsy-turvy if the superior will yield to his subordinate.

My late brother's last words were to protect...

the Court in the event of a calamity in Edo.

Aside from Ii's assassination, nothing else has happened.

I am the father of the lord of 770,000 koku Satsuma!

Did you think that I'd blindly follow...

some noisy agitators in Edo?!

I brought you some tea.

Excuse me!

I heard that Seki Tetsunosuke of Mito...

has come as far as Kumamoto.

He's probably come to urge the dispatch...

of the 3,000 men we promised.

So why aren't we letting him into our domain?

Since the clan leader returned without going to Edo,

security has been tightened at the border.

It's become very hard to bring anyone in.

So what, if it's hard? Seki is the sole survivor...

from the band which attacked Ii.

Who knows what he suffered while getting here...

from that snowy Sakurada gateway?

I know without your telling me.

But you'd still turn your back on him?

Okubo, don't you have any feelings?

The time is not ripe yet.

Please look at this.

"Sad is the mother of those...

"who serve their lord faithfully."

It was written by Mrs. Arimura.

The sadness of being a mother...

is the feelings of Mrs. Arimura on losing...

both Yusuke and Jizaemon who took Regent Ii's head...

for the sake of justice and Satsuma's honor.

You'd ignore her feelings, too?

That's right, I will.

Why?

I've received word that all was quiet in Edo.

Edo is quiet?

Everyone thought that the Hikone clan would be...

angered by Ii's death and march upon Kyoto...

while the shogunate would fall upon the Mito clan,

but not a single clan took up arms.

Not one?

Upon reflection, the shogunate agrees that...

Ii went too far in persecuting not only...

the scholars and loyalists, but the Court itself.

Once their lord and house are secure,

no clan would move even if Satsuma rises.

That's why we can't help Seki.

Shingo, when a man carries out his ambition,

he must be bold or he'll never achieve greatness.

Seki was prepared for death at Sakurada Gate.

Though he made it to Kumamoto,

we've no choice but to let him die there.

Tokugawa Nariaki's Mansion, Mito

Outwardly, no big change was wrought by Ii's death.

The Hitotsubashi party remained under sentence.

Tokugawa Nariaki, who had been confined to Mito,

was now confined to bed, gravely ill.

Little by little, though,

signs of change were beginning to show.

In Kagoshima that spring, Shosuke was appointed as...

assistant financial officer, while Arimura Shunsai and...

Yoshii Kosuke became overseers of the foot soldiers.

This is a rare treat.

How pathetic!

Okubo must have made a deal with Lord Hisamitsu.

Satsuma folk don't indulge in malicious gossip.

My brother and I came out to find out...

if it is gossip or not.

When did you come of age, Kohei?

Shosuke served as my sponsor.

Shosuke's done a lot for my family,

but I had Shingo bring me here because I wanted...

to know why only Shosuke was getting ahead.

You should know why. It's his reward for...

serving up Arimura Yusuke and Seki Tetsunosuke.

You're being brutally frank!

Miso...

Does this mean that all the work Kichinosuke did...

for the late lord has come to a standstill?

If we think no more on it,

it's time for us to quit being Satsuma warriors.

How can a Satsuma man stop being a Satsuma warrior?

Please let us in on your plans.

There are no plans.

We young ones will just have to renounce our clan.

Wait!

We can't wait. If the adults won't move,

we young ones will have to avenge the Arimura brothers...

and fulfill our obligation with the Mito.

I made this soup, thinking you'd give us directions.

It was for nothing.

All right. Anyway, just wait till the time comes.

That's what Shosuke keeps saying!

Don't put me in the same class as Shosuke!

He's intent on gaining Lord Hisamitsu's favor.

I've had enough of the weak attitude of the clan...

and Lord Hisamitsu.

Then, let us join you.

It sickens me to even look upon Shunsai...

who's forsaken his brothers for a position.

All right, but first, let me have some of that soup.

It smell delicious.

Bowl!

Bad news?

No, nothing for you to worry about.

Lord Nariaki of Mito passed away.

Mito?

He's probably unknown to you.

Don't worry about it. It isn't good for the child.

Aren't I your wife?

Won't you tell me everything, good news or bad?

I won't cry again.

My stipend has been increased.

Stipend?

Anyway, it'll come in handy.

We'll have more to share with the others.

I'll throw it away.

The children will be here soon for their lesson.

I'd better get on with my weaving or...

I won't be able to work on the baby clothes.

Teacher...

You're here.

Unable to get the others to understand his plans...

to have Hisamitsu lead the troops to Kyoto with...

the clan's backing, Shosuke grew ever more isolated.

Meanwhile, Kichinosuke anxiously waited...

for information about Satsuma, Kyoto, and Edo.

To be continued.