Original subtitles

Please look at this screen.

This is the purification method used in a Catholic Mass.

Doesn't the handling and motions resemble something we know?

This is how a bowl is purified in a tea ceremony.

What do you think?

The procedures during a Catholic Mass were established long ago,

but for tea ceremony the steps were formalized during Nobunaga's era.

If there were no relation between these two,

then purification procedures overrode East and West.

If they were related, the opportunity was there.

The then Mecca of tea ceremony, Sakai,

had wealthy merchants like Hibiya Ryokei,

who enjoyed the tea ceremony and were Christians.

Many missionaries also resided in Sakai.

It is known that they did have a close association.

Perhaps Christianity and tea ceremony had a special encounter.

Nobunaga

Episode 37: "In Power"

Original Story & Screenplay: Tamukai Seiken

Music: Mori Kurodo

Original Subtitles TV Network Japan, Inc.

Transcribed and Edited Subtitles Kame Fansubs

CAST

Oda Nobunaga OGATA NAOTO

Oichi WASHIO ISAKO

Ikeda Tsuneoki MATOBA KOJI

Akechi Mitsuhide MICHAEL TOMIOKA

Shibata Katsuie TAKITA SAKAE

Sen Soeki ITO TAKAO

Lorenso INAGAWA JUNJI

Maeda Toshiie HASHIZUME JUN

Niwa Nagahide SUGIMOTO TETTA

Asai Nagamasa TATSUMI TAKURO

Takigawa Kazumasu SHIBA TOSHIO

Inaba Yoshimichi SHINODA SABURO

Luis Frois FRANK NEIL

Hashiba Hideyoshi NAKAMURA TOHRU

Sakuma Nobumori TANAKA KEN

Imai Sokyu SATO KEI

Hayshi Michikatsu UTSUI KEN

Producer: Yagi Masaji

Director: Shigemitsu Yukihiko

I am told that Hideyoshi first occupied the kyogoku-maru...

located between the hon-maru and ko-maru,

then proceeded to the ko-maru and finally the hon-maru,

where Nagamasa and Oichi were.

Kihachi...

The hon-maru has a rifle team lined up!

Set fire to that place!

Just set the place on fire and get them out!

Your subordinates speak very crudely.

Kihachi! Watch your words!

Setting the place on fire comes first!

Wait!

Sir Shibata...

What did you do with the kyogoku-maru and ko-maru?

We captured them both. Only the hon-maru remains.

I'll be the vanguard.

The lord's younger sister, Oichi, is in there.

So, what are you saying?

I want to save her.

Why? She is no longer an Oda.

She is an Asai now.

We could lose men if we dwell on that.

Or, has the lord requested that we save her?

No, the lord hasn't said anything.

Reporting!

What is it?

An Oda messenger is here to see you.

What should I tell him?

We will hear what he has to say.

Our army has captured the kyogoku-maru and ko-maru.

Only this hon-maru remains at this time.

Your father, Asai Hisamasa, nobly disemboweled himself.

Further fighting seems futile at this point...

and our lord would like to talk terms.

His conditions?

For you to turn over this Odani Castle.

Then he will not inflict any harm on you.

I understand.

Relay this to Lord Oda.

I, Asai Nagamasa, am a samurai.

To leave my castle and vassals and seek to live...

will taint the family name.

Therefore, I am unable to accept.

Also, Lord Oda has broken a promise he made to me.

I would be a fool to trust him twice.

The kyogoku-maru and the ko-maru have been captured.

My father has committed suicide.

I want to save you and the children.

A messenger is waiting for you.

Now leave with the children.

It's useless for you and the children to die.

Live for me.

Listen to what I say.

If you leave, I can fight without regrets.

I beg of you.

The children and I will die with you.

It's not allowed!

Your brother is waiting outside for you.

He sent a messenger at a time like this...

because he is worried about your well-being.

What other motives could he have?

Now go.

No, I don't want to go.

Please let me be at your side.

I beg you. I can't live without you.

You can live! You must!

Listen well.

It's hard for me to be separated from you.

But, if you die, our six years together will disappear in flames.

The enjoyable and happy memories will be gone like ashes.

If you live, then I can live within you.

And, because you live, I can live.

Do it! For me and the children.

I want to be with you in your warm thoughts.

Someone!

Take Oichi and the children to Nobunaga.

Please...

Just take them! Hurry!

My lord... Please don't!

Oichi... Farewell.

We are at the final stage of this battle.

Show them the Omi warrior's spirit!

Defeat these Oda soldiers!

This is how Nobunaga defeated Omi's Asai and Echizen's Asakura.

Nobunaga still had a long way to subjugate all of Japan,

but defeating Omi and Echizen...

had nonetheless expanded his sphere of control.

November 1573

1573 marked the fourth year of the Genki Era,

as well as the first of the Tensho Era starting on July 28th.

Nobunaga had requested this change.

In the fall, Nobunaga entered the capital...

where the shogun no longer resided.

For two days he held tea ceremony parties...

and invited Sakai's wealthiest merchants.

I understand little of the tea ceremony,

but this day Nobunaga was the host...

and the guests were Sakai's wealthiest merchants.

The tea master was Sen Soeki.

He will later be known as Sen-no-Rikyu.

How unusual to see white plum blossoms in the fall!

It's as if we missed winter and are in spring.

Seeing seasonal things first is truly enjoyable.

When you see a gopher's head appearing out of the ground,

you realize that spring has arrived.

The fullness of the plum blossoms is indeed spring.

Wouldn't you agree, Sir Soeki?

Yes. I am moved by His Excellency's refinement.

To make the blossoms bloom out of season...

must have taken years of long labor.

If we dwell on that, we cannot enjoy spring.

Labor belongs to another discussion.

You are correct.

By the way Sokyu...

Yes?

I face grave problems to rebuild this nation.

Ishiyama Hongwanji Kennyo is my enemy.

He orders Ikko riots wherever I go...

and interferes with my creating a new government.

Yes.

It would be an understatement to say...

that Hongwanji's Kennyo is supported by Sakai merchants.

My request is to stop such support.

If you oblige, then when a new government is intact,

I will offer special positions.

For example, handling the nation's finances,

or my stamp of approval to trade with China or the Europeans.

How about it?

I will wait for a favorable reply in a couple of days.

I hate to wait.

Yes.

Soeki...

Yes.

Serving tea is not an easy task.

You can make tea, but the world still exists.

Father Gabriel came to Japan to succeed the late Father Torres as head,

but he had a disagreement with Father Organtino.

The issues were very complicated,

so it is translated into Japanese.

Father Organtino. Do not forget.

I am the head of the Japan mission.

It is not you. It is me!

So if I say it is not the numbers,

but the degree of their faith,

what is wrong with that?

You are not seeing Japan for what it is.

This is not Rome, nor Paris.

It is Japan of the Far East.

We are trying to convert Japanese.

I know that. But, look at the Kyushu Christians.

According to the late Father Torres' report,

Kyushu now has 30,000 Christians.

We are talking about 30,000.

But I have seen them. They are not Christians.

They are imposters.

They just feign to be believers...

so feudal lords can trade with the Portuguese.

They fooled Father Torres.

There are massive profits for Daimyo trading with the Portuguese.

They would approve the spread of Christianity...

and offer 1,000 converts a day if we wanted that.

We would be fools to believe we were successful.

If such figures were being reported to Rome,

as a Father, he was unforgivable.

I can't forgive him for that!

I cannot believe what you are saying.

Father Torres and Father Xavier came to Japan almost 30 years ago.

The Japanese knew nothing of the almighty God.

They had no interest at all.

But they remained in Japan to spread the word.

The result is 30,000 Christians in Japan.

You claim they were imposters,

but how can you tell the difference?

They may have been ordered to become Christians by the daimyo,

but what's wrong with that?

God never refuses a man who comes to him.

If it were true, he would have welcomed him with open arms.

Isn't it our mission to change imposters to genuine believers?

Only imposters can become real.

Our challenge is those who don't know God.

Father Torres was remarkable because...

he made 30,000 people realize the existence of God.

Whether they truly believe or not,

needs to be proven later.

Father Organtino...

you have been poisoned by these people.

Father Gabriel was from an aristocratic family,

and was a brilliant man,

but he was not fit to be a missionary.

His arrogance drove believers away.

New Year's 1574

I never dreamed I would spend New Year's like this.

There is no Ashikaga government in Kyoto now,

and the shogun himself is homeless...

and must rely solely on the power of the Mori.

The land is truly in your hands, Your Majesty.

We vassals must be better guarded...

and keep an eye on the other domains.

Though Shingen is gone from the east,

the Takeda army still remains.

To the north are Echigo's Uesugi and the Mori are in the west.

Ishiyama Hongwanji stirs up riots throughout Japan...

and still no one has been able to control them.

For us, it is important to think of today, rather than yesterday,

and tomorrow, rather than today.

After we rest for three days,

each of you return to your castles and do your best.

Today, drink to your heart's content.

To be made head of Tamonyama Castle...

in addition to Sakamoto Castle is some success!

I am thankful.

I thought only I was successful until yesterday.

But you were ahead of me when I realized it.

To think you are head of two castles...

It's only because Tamonyama Castle is close to Sakamoto Castle.

No, luck is behind being successful.

Without it, one can't be successful.

Be wary. I'll steal that fortune one day.

Have you heard what His Majesty has decided to do in the future?

No, I haven't heard a thing.

Do we continue to remain in Gifu?

That bothers me, too.

If anything should happen, we can't get there in time.

Do something about it.

That's right.

What do you want me to do?

Suggest a new castle be built in Kyoto.

You are the closest to the lord.

That's right. Be more responsible.

The same can be said for you men.

Akechi and Hideyoshi have overtaken you two.

At Ise Nagashima's Gansho Temple,

over 30,000 Ikko followers remain hidden.

That's a lot to clean up.

We will surround them and cut off their rations.

We lost many men last year from rifle fire.

We can't even talk to the Ikko Sect priests.

To be honest, I'd prefer not to fight them.

They drum and chant the Buddhist prayers...

It puts us to shame to fight with those priests.

Even the women and children are using rifles.

It's not a righteous battle.

Sir Takigawa, our job is to go in and clean up the mess.

There is no righteous clean up.

We just take away the litter.

I want to be part of a righteous battle.

You can't die in a cleanup.

If you do, you would be the laughingstock.

I wish to report.

Lady Oichi is here to see His Majesty.

Lady Oichi?

Yes.

I thought she was in Ise with Lord Nobukane.

She just arrived here.

Wait a minute.

Have her wait in the guest hall.

Don't let her walk around until I get there.

I come to express my New Year's greetings.

Thank you for your many considerations during the past year...

on behalf of my late husband Asai Nagamasa.

Alright. You may leave.

Yes.

I said you can leave.

Yes.

But, before that I want to thank you for one more thing.

I thank you for allowing me to wed into the Asai family.

Asai Nagamasa was a pure hearted, gentle man,

and an admirable warrior who knew nothing of betrayal.

Until his very last moments, he treated me well,

and chose death so the children and I could live.

I owe this all to you, Your Majesty.

I have heard rumors that you have Asai Nagamasa's head in your possession.

If that is true, please turn it over to me.

I want to keep my precious husband Nagamasa by me again.

Show me Aasi Nagamasa.

Asai Nagamasa...

Why did you betray me and run to Asakura?

If you had joined me and headed for Kyoto,

today we could laugh and talk together.

Because of you, I lost my younger sister.

There's an emergency!

Speak up.

Reporting. The other day, a mutiny occurred in Echizen...

and Sir Maeba committed suicide.

Then an Ikko uprising occurred and they captured Echizen.

What is this? Why was there a mutiny?

Sir Maeba's subordinates were opposed to his actions...

and they all became his enemies.

What is going on?

If the Ikko control Echizen, there will be turmoil again.

Hayashi.

Send word to Hideyoshi and Niwa and have them head to Echizen immediately.

Someone!

Did you call?

Get Maeda and Kawajiri immediately!

Hideyoshi and Niwa won't have enough men.

What about Muto, Fuwa, Marumo, and Wakasa's Takeda team for this?

That's a good idea.

I'll send a messenger.

Hayashi.

We will capture even more domains.

But, we must think of better ways to protect them.

When a commander is assigned to a castle,

have an Owari or Mino man right under him.

That way we can avoid betrayals.

When appointed to be a castle lord, a man's heart may change.

Nothing is more fearful than an ally-turned-foe.

Be on the alert.

That damn Hongwanji Kennyo!

He wants to take over Kaga and then Echizen.

I promise to abolish them from this earth one day!

A short time later the Takeda army invaded east Mino,

so Nobunaga did not personally invade Echizen.

A month later he entered Kyoto.

I am told that Nobunaga then made a bold request to the Imperial Court.

I would like to ask you for a favor.

Please ask for anything you want.

Among the Shoso-in treasures,

I have heard there is a legendary aromatic tree called the Ranjatai...

Yes, there is.

I would like to have that Ranjatai.

No, not all of it. Just an inch or two would be fine.

Since the Ranjatai is a national treasure, I wish to get a scent from it.

What do you think?

I can't reply on my own.

The precious Ranjatai is sealed and hidden from the view of anyone.

The eighth shogun, Ashikaga Yoshimasa,

was endowed with a small amount over a hundred years ago upon his insistence.

Since then, even though other shoguns have requested it,

it has never been approved for over a hundred years.

Oh, I didn't realize it was that valuable.

Please, allow me to have some all the more.

Eventually the emperor agreed.

Nobunaga's procession transferred to Tamonyama Castle...

near Shoso-in of Nara's Todaiji Temple...

and the Ranjatai was transported to his castle.

Then the seal was broken for the first time in 100 years.

This was the moment that Nobunaga felt more than at any other time before...

the magnitude of his power.

Even the emperor was at his disposal.

So everybody, until next time...

To be continued.

To be continued.