Original subtitles

Juugoro Kosugi had accepted an assassination job for 50 ryo.

His target lived under the roof of that house.

Mother!

Mother, hurry!

Now, now, don't be in such a rush or you'll fall.

He had come here today to get a look at his target.

O-Yae, hold still a minute.

There... let's make you pretty.

Here...

There! What a beauty!

All right, then, we'll be off.

Right, go along. Take care, all right?

Good day, Madam.

What on earth could be evil about that woman?

No good.

I don't feel like it.

The assassin lives in two different worlds.

He has a "daytime face" as well as a "nighttime face".

He leads a quiet life, inconspicuously, in a corner of Edo.

Baian Fujieda has an acupuncture practice in Shinagawa Daimachi.

His good friend Hikojiro makes his living as a toothpick artisan...

The agent, or "Motojime", who refers assignments to such...

... assassins is known as the "tsuru" in this industry.

The assassin relies only on the word of his "tsuru", who tells him...

... and pours his soul into his work, at the risk of his own life.

BAIAN THE ASSASSIN

BAIAN - EARLY SUMMER RAIN

Sorry, we're closed for the day.

Kosugi!

It's been a long time... Baian.

What's going on?

You see, Hiko and I have been worried about you.

Forgive me.

But something's been lying heavy on my mind.

Well, come inside.

Wait... I have a bath drawn. Why don't you go wash up?

The fish shop just delivered some fresh bonito.

After your bath, we'll have it with some sake.

All right.

An assassination?

From the Otowa motojime?

And the problem is... my target is a woman.

Her name is O-Nobu, the wife of a kimono fabric merchant named Itoya.

According to the motojime, she's even more treacherous than any man could be.

"If such a woman were allowed to live, good men could never rest easy..."

But I just don't see what he's talking about.

I just don't know what to do. That's why I came here.

Kosugi...

How many have you killed so far?

Two.

Why would the motojime drag you into this world?

No, don't get any wrong ideas.

It's not the motojime's responsibility alone.

I feel that I owe him for looking out for me.

You could even say that it was I who volunteered to take this assignment.

Even so...

I asked the motojime look out for you since you'd become a fugitive...

...and now my plan has backfired on me.

It doesn't matter, Baian.

I'm a man who's killed his own comrades from the dojo.

I have no choice but to leave everything to fate, and accept it gracefully.

This life is hell.

But, you still might have a chance of going back to a normal life.

However, a woman's out of the question.

That's how powerful the impact of killing a woman can be.

I have no intention of trying to lead a normal life anymore.

It's just that I can't bring myself to kill a woman.

I've worked in this industry for a long time...

...but I've only accepted an assignment on a woman once.

But that one time has left its mark, deep at the bottom of my soul.

It's dark and grimy, and weighs heavily on me.

Do you understand?

I see...

It's just as I thought.

I have an idea. Since you've accepted the job, there's no going back.

But conveniently enough, I've just taken on a job myself.

Needless to say, the target is a man.

Why don't we trade each other's assassinations?

Would you do that for me? Baian...

Yes, but you can never breathe a word about this to anyone.

Because it means violating the assassin's code.

Is that clear?

It's clear.

So who is my target?

A ronin named Taheiji Uchiyama. I haven't gotten a look at him yet.

Taheiji... Uchiyama.

Rumor has it that he's quite the master swordsman.

All right, just take your time evaluating him and get the job done.

Is everyone ready?

The dice are going in...

Place your bets now!

- Evens! - Odds!

- Odds! - Evens!

Evens!

We have both dice for odds and evens. Call it!

We have odds.

Next round.

Is everyone ready?

He's the one sitting behind the pillar...

Place your bets now!

- Odds! Odds! - Evens!

- Evens! - Evens!

Odds!

Any more bets?

Evens!

We have both dice for odds and evens.

Call it!

He seems quite prosperous for a yojimbo at a betting parlor.

I'm sure he's got some sordid business going on the side.

I see.

You should call it a day.

All right.

Oh, and...

One more thing...

I'd like you to think it over one more time.

Think what over?

You can still make a clean break.

After this job, why don't we go to the motojime and settle this matter.

No, Baian. This is my business, so please stay out of it.

My mind is already made up.

Don't forget that I've agreed to assassinate a woman in your place.

It's not just a matter of trading one job for another.

I want you to go back to being the man you were... Juugoro Kosugi.

That's why I agreed to kill the woman.

Fine.

I'm heading to Itoya's.

Oh!

Welcome!

Thank you.

Miss Yae, you shouldn't play here.

Now be a good girl and play over there.

Now, then. Please, come inside!

You need to prepare for your daughter's upcoming marriage?

We will be happy to assist you!

- Come on! Bring out our entire stock! - Yes, sir! Right away!

Pardon me.

Oh. Thanks. Listen, I'll take it from here.

Are you sure? Well, all right, then...

Really, now, it's hard to tell if he's even got a pulse or not!

The rumors are true, Baian.

It's the Head Clerk, Gihei, who's really running that shop.

So the husband, Heisuke, married into the family?

That's right. His wife, O-Nobu, is the daughter of the house.

Heisuke's the third son of Matsuya of Honjou Futatsume.

He doesn't have much to say, and he's a quiet man...

Nobody believed he'd ever have what it takes to run a bustling business like that.

Even so, he's managed to hang on somehow, for 8 long years.

Thanks to that Head Clerk you mentioned?

But he never treats his master with disrespect.

He's careful not to appear dominant, and he's been loyal to him.

And what do they say about the wife?

Being that she's the daughter of the house... I hear she's very arrogant.

That husband of hers can hardly be expected to stand up to her.

But that's typical of any married couple.

Does she deserve to die?

Whether she does or doesn't, Kosugi accepted the assignment to kill her.

And that means that there's no other option but to do it.

Let's assassinate her soon, so Kosugi can get some peace of mind.

If you're reluctant to do the job, Baian...

...l'll be glad to do it for you.

I won't ask for a single mon.

There's no reason Kosugi should have to mire himself in this world of ours.

Hiko...

I know exactly what you're saying.

Anyway, no matter how you look at it, I know I don't have much time left.

These days, it seems to me that...

...I can actually hear the murmur of the River Styx.

I hear that a lot, too, these days.

No, you have nothing to worry about!

Besides, it would break someone's heart if you died, wouldn't it?

Don't be ridiculous!

What? Wait, I didn't mean O-Mon... I was talking about your patients.

Right?

I'm sure you've got a special friend or two yourself, Hiko.

The only friend I have in this world is you, Baian.

- My name is Taheiji Uchiyama. - Please come in.

Daizennosuke Aoyama...

He's a daimyo worth 48,000 koku from Mino Domain.

Apparently Taheiji Uchiyama went to see someone there.

A down-and-out ronin visiting a daimyo at his Edo residence?

About an hour later...

...when he emerged, he seemed very overjoyed for some reason.

No... something definitely made him a happy man.

I'm certain he received some kind of good news.

I wonder what it could be.

I was thinking that perhaps he was appointed to work for the Aoyama clan.

Since I was a ronin myself for so long, as was my late father...

...that might explain why I'm able to sense that.

After that, I saw Uchiyama head straight for town with a spring in his step.

He went into a bar and started drinking sake.

You could see that he was beside himself with joy.

Kosugi...

Don't start enjoying this assassination business too much.

I won't.

So? What do you think?

About what?

Do you think you can handle it?

Actually, that's not something I need to ask you.

O-Ume, I want you to go on ahead and take O-Yae home.

What about you, Mother?

I need to take care of something, all right?

Take this, buy some sweets.

Come along, Miss.

Oh...

Something on your mind?

A difficult patient, maybe?

That's right.

I've decided to take the case, but I have no idea what the problem is.

That's why I was so preoccupied.

What a strange patient... is it a woman?

Yes.

Is she beautiful?

I don't know about that...

O-Mon!

O-Mon!

Go on.

What about tonight?

Huh?

Tonight!

Yes, I'm staying.

Good.

What? What are you laughing about?

The guest I was just with. He comes here once a month.

He says he runs a novelty shop in Akasaka, but...

The truth is...

Huh?

My boss says when he was passing through Tomizawa, he saw him coming...

...out of a kimono fabric shop called Itoya, leading a little boy by the hand.

So is this guest of yours the master of Itoya?

Yes. He's being deceitful in order to cover up his secret affair!

His companion always shows up later... very stealthily!

Listen, O-Mon...

When his lady friend gets here...

...would you let me spy on them from the secret room?

Again? That's so tasteless, Doctor!

I enjoy spying on two people in the middle of a tryst.

What am I going to do with you?

O-Mon! O-Mon!

O-Mon...

The more distinguished establishments had private rooms equipped...

... with secret compartments.

The proprietor monitored patrons who were either dubious-looking...

... or appeared to have something weighing heavily on their minds.

Depending on what they heard, they could summon the police...

... or in some cases prevent double suicides.

We'll be ordering one of your fine meals later on.

But for now, we need to talk in private. So please, wait until we summon you.

Thank you very much, sir.

Gihei...

Why is it taking you so long to get rid of that Taheiji Uchiyama?

It will happen soon.

It won't be long now before I send that man to the hereafter.

There are people who will take care of such villains so discreetly.

I've hired someone for the job.

You've got to get it done soon. I had to pay another 100 ryo...

He just extorted another 100 ryo from me...

100 ryo...

The truth is, you're the one to blame for all this.

Ever since you were a girl, you've gotten yourself into trouble with men.

Many of your illicit lovers have continued to blackmail Itoya over the years.

And this has long been a major headache for me.

And now you've had to pay another 100 ryo?

To none other than Uchiyama, whom we hired to murder two blackmailers?

I daresay you had more than an intimate relationship with that ronin as well.

Well, just who in the world made me the person I am?

Who was it?

It's all your fault...

Now, now...

As long as we can get rid of Uchiyama, there'll be nothing to worry about.

In a few years, my son Chojiro shall become little O-Yae's husband.

Then, Itoya will be ours to run as we see fit...

Now then, from here on in, let's just adhere to the plan.

Tell me why...

Why won't you sleep with me more often?

Ah, so you're here.

I was planning to come see you later on.

No time for that now. I just saw the mistress of Itoya go out alone...

...so I followed her here.

You'll never guess who her lover is.

Huh?

Who is it?

The Head Clerk, Gihei.

Hey, for once, you're angry.

No, actually I'm crying.

What do you think? I'm certain that the man who commissioned this...

...hit on O-Nobu was her husband, Heisuke.

That makes sense. You may be right.

Then these two assignments, one on Uchiyama, the other on O-Nobu...

...my motojime knew that they are related but accepted both assassinations.

Who knows what he's got up his sleeve? That motojime is quite the sly old fox.

It is not your concern, Doctor.

Uchiyama is a murderer... and O-Nobu is guilty of even more heinous crimes.

Since the police won't deign to bring them to justice...

...it is our duty to do away with them both for the sake of all mankind.

Although I'm just as much a murderer...

I disagree with you on that, Doctor.

The assassinations that we carry out do not involve personal motivation.

There's a world of difference...

Still... as always, I must commend you on your perceptiveness.

I cannot divulge the name of the client who commissioned this job.

But as things stand...

The more I know about this sordid case, the more it makes me feel ill.

O-Nobu, the mistress of Itoya and Gihei, the Head Clerk, having an illicit affair.

Therefore, he's within his rights to murder them both in a fit of jealous rage.

But, if the scandal breaks out into the open, it will hurt his business...

...which in turn could compromise his only daughter Yae's future.

The thing is... the young girl O-Yae is...

...actually O-Nobu's daughter by Gihei, the Head Clerk.

What did you say?

And yet Gihei is planning to marry off his only son to O-Yae... his own daughter.

Half-siblings... can you believe that?

If it's for his own gain...

...he has no scruples about treating his own children as if they were dogs or cats.

I see.

And the master, Heisuke, knows everything?

That man is to be respected.

He appears to be absent-minded, but that's all an act... l'm sure of it.

Otherwise, he would've been poisoned to death long ago.

He told me the child herself is not to blame and despite knowing full well...

...that she's Gihei's daughter, he has always doted on her in a touching manner.

He's an exceptional fellow.

Doctor...

Are you satisfied now?

Listen, Motojime...

Oh, if it's about Kosugi...

Kosugi himself took the initiative.

Surely it is up to Kosugi how he chooses to settle this.

Do you not agree?

Yes, but he doesn't know what he's getting himself into.

Dr. Baian...

I know you've traded each other's assignments...

...and just this once I am willing to look the other way.

I suppose it doesn't matter who assassinates whom...

...so long as the job gets done as it should, I have no complaints.

Now then, Doctor, if you'll excuse me...

If only it would rain...

Please accept this money.

100 ryo received!

Yes, my lord.

Your stipend will be 100 koku. Your specific duties will be assigned later.

But you will most likely serve the concurrent post of combat instructor.

I couldn't be more grateful for such an honor, my lord.

It was a long ordeal, was it not? This is your reward for being so diligent.

Oh, no, Lord Nakanishi, it is all due to your kind efforts on my behalf.

Now I feel that I can finally face my late father...

Your late father was a very good friend to me.

I am only too happy to return the favor.

Still, since you asked me about being officially commissioned as a samurai...

...you have raised a vast sum of money for us, 250 ryo in all.

As you know, we live in a world that revolves around money.

It was by strategically allocating these funds that you could reap the results.

I'm sure it was quite a task for you to come up with it all.

Please don't ask me...

Since I was a ronin so many years, I learned about the underbelly of this world.

Once all of their tricks have been exhausted...

...the fortunate tend to use money to solve their problems.

From here on in, if there is anything you should need...

From here on in, as much as I wish... eh?

I see, so "the fortunate" carries a deeper meaning than it seems.

I am filled with envy.

Indeed.

At any rate, what you should do now is use these abundant funds...

...to make yourself presentable.

Tomorrow you will be meeting with our superiors, including...

...Lord Tanomo Hayashi, the Edo Retainer.

And in the coming days you shall be granted an audience with the Shogun.

Yes, my lord. I shall not waste any time in doing so.

Who's there?

What do you want?

Lord Taheiji Uchiyama, I presume?

And you are?

My name is Juugoro Kosugi.

Kosugi? What do you want with me?

It's time for you to die.

What the hell?

All right, then, dear... l'm leaving now.

You be a good girl, now.

Mother, I want to go, too!

No, I want you to stay here and wait for me, all right?

No! I want to go!

O-Yae, your mother's not going away to enjoy herself.

She's going for a hot-spring cure. You mustn't disturb her now.

Tomorrow I'll be leaving for Osaka myself. I have to take care of some orders.

That means that your father will be alone... he'll be lonely, don't you see?

O-Kine! Yohei! I'm counting on you to look after your mistress.

Yes, sir, we'll take care of her.

Now then, we'll be off.

- Have a good journey. - Please be careful.

The elderly maid and manservant accompanying O-Nobu...

... both had Gihei's implicit trust.

And they were the only ones who knew of Gihei and O-Nobu's affair.

Welcome! Would you care to stop for a hot bath?

Would you mind if I joined you, madam?

Not at all.

Excuse me.

Are you here for the cure?

Yes. Are you, as well?

Yes.

I am earning my living by going from hot spring to hot spring.

Oh, so that means you're...

That's right. As you can see, I'm a masseur.

Oh?

I didn't notice you before.

That's because I only just arrived.

If there's anything I can do for you, please let me know.

I see.

In that case, why don't I have you give me a massage tonight?

Yes, madam.

I'll be in the room at the back of the 2nd floor... the Fuji Room.

Thank you very much, Madam.

So what kind of technique are you going to use to massage my body?

Around that time, Gihei was walking along a mountain road...

...headed for Hakone.

Gihei had already gotten wind of the fact Taheiji Uchiyama had been killed.

But he had no way of knowing that O-Nobu's body had been found floating...

...in the bath at the Hakone inn, where everyone was in an uproar.

Well, what do you know! Aren't you the Head Clerk at Itoya's?

Yes. I am Gihei of Itoya. Who are you?

Everyone had feared there would be a drought that year...

... but the rain did come after all.

The only difference was that although the rainy season would...

... normally have been over by now...

... the early summer rain continued to fall in Edo.

It's not letting up at all.

Really! It's enough to make you lose spirit.

Listen, you're excused until my companion arrives.

Thank you very much.

By the way... Itoya... I hear they've been having a rough time of it lately.

That's right. The lady just passed away, I hear.

She'd gone to Hakone for the hot spring cure, and she fainted in the bath!

They say it must've been a sudden heart attack.

That's a shame, really.

And that's not all, either!

The Head Clerk, who'd set off for Osaka...

He passed away, too, while still on his journey!

Really? Does misfortune really come in pairs?

Sir, are you acquainted with Itoya?

Yes. Not especially intimately, though.

So if he lost both them, one after another, it must be quite chaotic at the shop.

Oh, no. The thing is, we all thought he was such a timid man...

...but suddenly he's become quite the competent merchant!

He's just pouring his soul into his business now.

It's a great relief to everyone in that shop, I'm told.

But since he's lost his wife, the master must be lonely.

But that's another thing, since the master married into the Itoya family...

Are you saying he's relieved about all this?

Now, now, you don't have to say it in so many words, sir!

Welcome home!

- Master, welcome home! - Well, I'm back.

Welcome home.

Have we received the materials for Koyanagi's order?

Yes, sir.

Father! Did you bring me something from your trip?

Oh, sorry. Listen, when it stops raining, we'll go to the Hachiman Shrine to pray.

What took you so long?

Hey, sorry about that.

I was over at Itoya's eavesdropping, you see.

- The thing is, Baian... - No, let's drop that whole subject.

What?

Excuse me, could you send up another bottle?

Yes, sir!

Hey, Hiko...

Once the rainy season ends...

...let's go settle things with the motojime once and for all.

We've got to get Kosugi out of this business.