Original subtitles

In the year 1701, in a royal hallway of Edo castle,

Lord Akou assaulted Kira, a nobleman, with his sword!

Lord Akou was made to commit hara-kiri

as his vassals scattered as ronin, disguised as merchants and doctors...

Our story begins one year later, in a poor neighbourhood in Edo

By this winter morning,

sword fighting has blown out of fashion with the wind

For Rent

Wake up!

Morning time... Wake up!

Quick, wash your face and get down to the fish market

Let me sleep a little longer, Onobu...

You took the day off yesterday

The sun's already up!

Hurry up! I'll leave you behind

All this noise every damned morning

Please let me escape this dump

Is master Soza up and about?

What's your business with him? I'm sure you're up to no good

Do you have to put it like that? He needs my advice, that's all

Hurry, Pa, or they'll close the fish market

I'm taking the day off

You took the day off yesterday

What are you still doing in bed?

Good morning, Osae san

Already off?

The weather's so fine, I'll deliver the sewing I've finished

Good for you Off you go

Did you hear that?!

Who cares

Ouch! What the hell

Can't be helped in such close quarters...

Watch yourself

How's things?

You know they're never good

Right

At this rate, I'll never get Onobu to marry me

Fool, you know Onobu's going to marry me

There you go again

Later

HANA

I envy you

If your revenge plan goes well,

you'll be a rich and respected man

You can leave this seedy life behind

Lucky your father left you a score to settle

My father died peacefully that's no use at all

Hirano san, where to, today?

To the castle

Oh, to see your friend, the retainer?

Enough of that ingrate

I've got a relative who's assigned to the study in Edo castle

I am off to petition him for an official post

A good position in contact with the Shogun

I once did this man a favor...

Off already?

I must be on my way

Hey, ronin If you want the castle, it's this-a-way

Excuse me

You heard? He knows one of the government retainers

And has a relative in the castle study

Oh, no, the tale keeps getting taller and taller

I found him, your enemy

Not, again...

This time, I swear it's him

The water's perfect

I know another guy...

"Height 175cm, fair skin with regular teeth

WANTED

Ah, the marked cheek is on his face, not his backside...

Yes

Age?

Thirty

Thirty...

Much older looking since I last saw him...

Don't lose heart, Soza

Finding a man in Edo's sprawl is like winning the lottery

It could take 10 years, no, 20...

Hey, sis, another sake

Patience...

But he's the right height, right?

I'll go over it once more so listen well

Our shit fertilizes the rice paddies and fields

That's why the farmer pays money to buy it from the rich landlord,

who owns this tenement

And that money pays for New Year's rice cakes for all of us

You mean, rice cakes come from shit?

Well, not quite, but you're not far off, either

Useless, it's damp!

That's a fine sum Don't be stingy with those rice cakes

Save that line for when you've paid your rent

And I don't recall letting a room to that prancing idiot beside you

I'll work hard for lots of rice cakes next year

Yeah, let's do that

Despite the passage of time you've yet to avenge your father

Our entire family struggles to sustain itself

My frugal housekeeping permits me to forward this sum,

but alas, there is no more...

The samurai goes to the bath house daily,

thanks to money made off peasants' backs...

I bet... You've never killed a soul

Just like you've never used that sword against anyone

How the hell are you ever going to avenge your father?

“How the hell..."

I'll strike him with all my might and if that's not sufficient,

I'll take my life gracefully just like the cherry blossoms

That's the Warrior's way of death

This, my father taught me

One rainy night last spring,

the man who lived here, was ruined and decided to end it all

He got as far as slashing his wife's throat,

but then his only kid

turned on him and stabbed him

Hearing the noise I rushed over, this place was a sea of blood

Right about where you're sitting now...

The old man was bleeding to death, guts spurting

I wouldn't call that graceful...

I'd call it a massacre

That's what a man's death means

Don't talk about living and dying,

without being ready for the worst

Good morning, Soza san

Good morning

Are you going out?

Just to the toilet You, Osae san?

We're going to pray at the shrine You should come, Soza san

No, Shinnosuke

He's a busy man

Mother

Good day

Good day

What did you pray for?

That I may find my enemy soon

Mother?

That you may stay a sweet-natured boy

And you?

That Father will return safely

How can one god answer so many prayers?

Come here, come here and buy

Take a look at these toys, very popular!

I've got every kind

We go this-a-way, we go that-a-way

My husband died of a lung disease

when our boy was only two

Today is his monthly anniversary

I see...

Time keeps passing by and I haven't yet told him the truth

What does that say?

No tabs

What's a tab?

A tab? A tab means...

You want to eat now but pay later

Sada san's always asking for that

Actually, he never, ever pays his tabs, so we call

someone like him "a deadbeat"

How do you write “run out on debts?"

“Deadbeat?”

The way you write it...

You write "step out"...

with "on your debts"

means “run out"

Let's try that again

Abacus and Writing Lessons Clear the abacus for the next calculation...

Abacus and Writing Lessons

That's 7 pence

Eight pence

Five pence

Two pence

Three pence

If you're going to teach, why not teach swordfighting?

What's the point in a world with no more war? Idiot

But a samurai teaching the abacus?

Got nothing to do with avenging...

As they say, “Hunger is a terrible master..."

"Hunger's the master"

The point is, a man

doesn't need to read if he's got the guts to fight

As they say here, “Only the countrymen keep their money"

We spend our money as soon as we make it. Who needs calculations?

You're not even from around here

You're in the way, move

What do you want in there?

Soza san to teach me how to write

You, too?

At least I'll learn how to write my own name

You have no guts You should learn, too

Damn it

"My own name" my ass!

I'll never write a single word, until the day I die

Everyone finished?

Can you believe Kenbo's learning to write?

He's smart

and good looking

Good bye

See you tomorrow

Clinic

Isn't he going to inherit the martial arts academy?

Yes, his father was a grand fencing master

A samurai teaching kids to write...

It's not right

You... should investigate

He may be have ties to Kira

I warned you about this

Even scattered, it's risky with too many of us in town

All right Not to worry, it's nothing

Though I can't heal much more than this

Soza san, is this the first time you've met Kichiemon?

Yes

I'm Kichiemon

I'm Aoki Soza-emon

Soza san has come from up north, to avenge his father

I see

Revenge, huh...

It's been over two and a half years now, with no leads...

Two and a half years, I'm sorry

But why here? Any special reason?

These places often shelter strangers

A good place to seek my enemy...

Strangers?

Master Aoki, what do you do for fun?

Fun?

My pleasures are... Bathing and...

I also keep birds And I like to play Go

Kichiemon also enjoys Go Why not challenge each other?

Yes, an excellent plan

Over a game of Go...

Yes It was at a Go tournament

"You've called halt four times" “No, it's only three," that's how it began

"You're just an idiot, how dare you call me a liar! Draw!"

I'm so sorry

He always longed to die at war

Dying over a silly dispute

Must have been a shame

At least...

If he had died in a manner more worthy of a warrior...

One moment

I've always been...

handy this way

That's all for today, Soza san

So I stand at 7 wins, 3 losses Do come back

Welcome

Don't stare

Done yet?

Not yet

Tell me when you're done

I hope it's a lot

A lot, a lot

A lot, a lot

Revenge?

That's right It's just a play

A play?

This'll be your first

Every spring festival, Shigehachi writes a script and we stage a revenge play

Despite his looks, this guy's smart

Despite my looks...

I've got more confidence in my brains than my guts

Same goes for me

The crowd paid us well last year

Osae san looked so pretty in her costume

Osae san, too?

They only love our show so much,

half aware it's a farce,

because real fights are so scarce

We make money...

Thanks to those cowardly Akou ronin who can't avenge their Lord

Did they beat you up, Shinbo?

No

What then?

They made fun of me

How?

They said I live like a pig in a rubbish heap

What the hell?

And that everyone who lives here is trash

Who the hell said that?

Don't get so upset, they're just kids

Besides, they're right

They said "why bother buying trash, just sell your own"

That'd be me

Got that right

What's wrong with my work?

Bring the brat here I'll beat the shit outta him

Hurry up, bring the brat

Soza san

Teach me to use a sword I really want to beat them

Sounds great Teach him, Soza

Act like a samurai for once

My father made me promise no fighting outside the academy

That's pretty useless

I'll teach you

Come here

Hold this

Grab this tight Hold it in front of your belly

Hold it really straight

Lift it straight up and... Bring it down

What's going on here?

Shinbo's practicing vengeance

For the play?

No, the genuine article

Swing it down hard And shout

Oto san What would you do in his place?

I'd learn how to take a punch without getting hurt

How's that?

Let 'em hit you where it doesn't hurt and call it quits

Who taught you that pathetic trick?

My dad, before he died

What a legacy!

Your mom's a real terror...

Yup, it's come in real handy. Thanks, Dad

Don't force it

Give it here Hold this, straight, straight

When you're ready to strike...

That's it

Shinbo, come on, hit me like you mean it

Hey, that's dangerous

Come and get me, crybaby

You want to win, right?

Listen

It's no good swinging like that useless Lord Akou

Swords are made for thrusting

Got it? Try it

That's right, that's good

Aim at their knees and ankles,

where it's hard and it'll hurt

That's cheating...

Say, noble samurai

Why don't you come after me?

I think not

It's childish to take on an amateur

No need to worry

I want to show Shinbo, fencing learned in a dojo, is useless in reality

Find any fish?

Watch out!

Mago!

He's useless...

Cheater

Listen up, Shinbo

This way, they'll never bother you again

If that's not your style,

get that guy to show you how to take a punch without getting hurt

Somebody... Look after Soza san

Hey, there's a sudden chill in the air

Taking a few days off

Daddy, you're home!

It's spinning

It's caught

You're right

Other way

This time the other way

- Welcome home - Thanks

What's that?

It was just lying there

Someone was in a hurry

I'm home, baby

Can you hear?

Hirano san...

Are you all right?

Do you have a stomach ache?

Hirano san...

Hey, Sada san!

Look what a mess you made of the floor The landlord won't like this

Get a doctor, quick!

He'll be fine, it's the third time And the sword's bamboo

He tries to commit hara-kiri every spring

- Pathetic - Ouch

Listen, if you do this on the floor, it's a pain in the neck to clean up

If you must, do it on the dirt floor

Answer me

Oh, no!

Soza san, please get Dr. Onodera

Soza san

What a bunch of hopeless losers...

Bamboo...

Osae san...

Thank you

I could've sworn he was taller

Enough of your stories

Give me the money

Money?

Oh, hello

Pick it up

Sada san I'm grateful

What for? I was in the mood for something sweet

Actually, Sada san

Why so serious, suddenly?

I've already found him... Kanazawa Jubei

Changed his name

Heisuke, right?

He's a laborer in Kawaracho

That widow he's living with is a beauty

- You knew! - Yeah, I knew

- Since when? - For a while

- But you... - Listen

Have you told anyone else yet?

Then let's keep it secret

In this day and age, this samurai revenge thing's out of style

Besides, with your skills, you're doomed

Think I can have another?

Another, please

So, sell any?

Not this crap

Welcome home, Soza san

Another day

Off to the bath with Sada? Treat me, sometime

Wish I'd get a good job

Tried buying scraps?

No way!

Why?

Stinks

Figured

What do you see, Mago?

I see night

Say, Soza san

What will happen to your bird?

I wonder...

Is he stuck underground forever?

It's dark and it's cold and he won't like it

I wonder if my father's underground somewhere

Shinbo...

Don't tell my mother

She still thinks he's going to come home

Sure

Let's pray again, that your father's in some place warm

On his deathbed, my father held my hand and begged,

“Soza, please avenge me"

But I'm a hopeless swordsman, and haven't fulfilled this task

His one dying wish

That is my inheritance

Inheritance?

Yes

It's why I have to pay back his enemy with my own hands

Is that true?

I can understand your feelings, but this is how I see it

If, after living his whole life,

your father left you nothing but hate,

it would be unbearably sad

Mother, come

"Owing to my imminent starvation,

"I pray you will send funds

“upon receipt of this letter

"May I inquire, Father,

"whether you are happy and healthy?

"Hope you will take

“the very best care of yourself

"Yours, Sakutaro"

That's what it says

So, how will you reply?

Reply?

I have no reply

What, a samurai?

So spoilt

You have no skills

I wouldn't be so proud if I were you

What's the big deal over those two swords you have?

The village dumpling-maker serves them three at a time

Whenever he gets that drunk,

he brings old letters in for me to read

He never once sent a reply,

so he's bad for business...

Soza san,

why do you think samurai exist?

Why?

Peasants grow rice

Merchants sell things

Just as that drunk said,

samurai alone make nothing, and sell nothing

The samurai were meant

to live, giving and taking life at war

Time has passed and war is over

But the samurai remain

I'd say that's the root of their troubles

Say, that gives me an idea

Will that lazy Oishi ever come to Edo?

That's why I keep saying

We should've attacked the Kira mansion when they forced our lord into hara-kiri

But that chief retainer...

He's hopeless He and his son are both sex maniacs

The father chases female ass, the son chases male ass

Old man Kira's retired now...

At this rate, he'll die of old age before we can kill him

Onodera san, it's hardly the time for poetry

Oh, sorry

But there's nothing gained by panicking

"A prayer for a despised enemy's

"longevity"

Revenge, revenge!

"Art thou Akiyama Gengobei?"

They're making a racket Are they trying to rub it in?

"My son and I...

"rain drenched and windswept...

“The trials and...

“The trials and tribulations of such times..."

Mocking the Warrior's sacred vengeance

They won't get away with this

"Now, fight and fight fair"

"I cut my enemy down in warrior's vengeance, not petty motives

"Now you deserve revenge"

Listen, Soza This isn't the Kabuki

No need to overdo it

And now, "Not so fast, just a little wait, please"

That's my cue to step in and mediate

Hey, can I say the "Not so fast" line?

The part's way too much for you

Do the best with your "Revenge!" part

For once, I want a big part

You're lucky to even get any lines

"It is a day for admiring blossoms

“Can you face the gods if your swords draw blood among the temple-goers?

"Out of respect for me, won't you postpone this fight?"

And if the enemy also does a little dance, the crowd will applaud

Soza san, excuse me

I'd like to discuss something

What is it?

Not here May I come to your place?

Oh, don't bother I won't stay long

Please don't make a fuss

Ouch, ouch...

He's just sipping tea quietly

Hurry up and jump her, man

Despite his looks...

Um...

I don't know if I should be asking you this...

But it's too late to ask Shigehachi san...

Um...

What do "Drifting log mokki"' and "Udonge flower" mean?

Mokki... you mean?

It's one of my lines in the play,

but I've never been able to figure out what it means

Mokki...

I wonder how you write it...

A mouki is...

The characters are "blind" and "turtle"

A turtle, worn out with swimming, finally rests refuge on a floating log

The "udonge flower" blooms once every 3 thousand years

Because the rare “udonge" flower resemble a spider web,

“udonge" has slowly come to mean

the spider's web as well...

Mokki?

All done

Soza, don't be so nervous It's just acting

How will you manage a real revenge?

“Cherry blossoms are blessed only when they have all fallen"

When it's time for a samurai to die, one hopes to fall gracefully,

like these cherry blossoms

Make sure you do, on your fourth try

“Only the countrymen..."

You're not from here, right?

I bet cherry blossoms fall gracefully 'cause they know

they'll bloom next year

Otherwise, they'd never give up

A point for Mago

"Not exactly, but not far off, neither"

Right, “neither"

“Hunger is a terrible..."

You don't really understand any of it

A revenge! A revenge!

A revenge! A revenge!

How was I?

Just fine

Shit

- What? - Some guys I'd rather not see

- What? A big tab? - Enormous

I know, will you take my "Not so fast" line, too?

Me?

Don't worry, you can do it

"All to avenge this grudge, my son and I,

"rain drenched, windswept,

"by the trials and tribulations of such times..."

"Meeting you like a mokki reaching driftwood

“the flowering of the udonge..."

“Now fight, and fight fair"

"I cut my enemy down in Warrior's vengeance, not petty motives

"Now you deserve revenge"

It's your moment!

What's the hold up?

Hurry up

Kill him

Not so fast!

We've heard she avenges her dead husband

In these peaceful times, a fine example of a warrior's wife

To ignore her plight would disgrace any samurai

An excellent chance to showcase our samurai training

Though we may be inadequate, we offer our assistance

A gracious offer, but my son and I,

must do this with our own hands...

Listen, I'll strike both his arms

- You, his legs... - Strike

Once he's disabled, you deliver the deathblow

"Not so fast!"

So fast

Coward - Lessons Available

How about taking his wife or child hostage?

I can't do that

Set his house on fire and get him as he escapes...

Attack him in bed?

Sada san

Retribution must befit a samurai...

But if by some miracle you succeed,

you'll win vast lands

There's got to be a way to avenge him without risking your life

Are you taking this seriously?

I am

You sure? I don't think it's just that you're weak,

you've got some other real hesitation about seeking revenge

Oh, I know

You've fallen in love with that beautiful widow

Quite the stud, you widow-killer!

"Widow..."

How about a mask?

Hello Oh, you had your baby!

Uncle?

Soza

His eyes are just like yours

Cut it out, you're wrong

What? He's not your child?

Uncle! Think about it I only left home 3 years ago

This boy is at least 8 years old

Is that so?

What's your name?

Shinnosuke

Your age?

Eight

Children these days grow up so fast...

I've kept you waiting

Why, thank you

Shinnosuke, come with me Soza san has important business

It's not so important

I feared his spirits might be low

Thought I'd take him to a brothel to distract him

But I'm relieved at what I see

There's absolutely no need for my concerns

I worry because he's always been a little immature,

but how's "it" going?

Uncle

What "it?"

I mean... with his pen

Oh... he's very skillful

Excellent

Onobu across the street says she's really improved because of him

That's amazing

My boy's getting better at it every day

What? Your boy!

Isn't he on the young side?

I was at least 12...

What will you do

for your father's anniversary next month?

Ah, yes...

When they find out "Shy Soza"

has quite a set-up here in Edo,

it won't just be relatives talking, it'll be the entire clan

Watch it, Ma!

Shut up!

You useless ass!

This place is full of life Wouldn't mind moving in myself

I swear I'll go to the fish market tomorrow

Please open up, Onobu

Onobu? Where's Onobu?

Uncle, let's go

But what about Onobu...

Take care

What on earth, have you been up to,

these 3 past years?

I am deeply sorry

You think apologies are enough, you idiot

I sent you off to avenge your father,

as if you had succeeded,

you might have slightly improved

your pathetic reputation

But not even a single lead...

The monthly allowance

the clan provides you

is not inconsiderable

Monthly?

Brother, there's another reason why he hasn't located

his enemy...

Uncle

Our Shy little Soza

has made a child with a beautiful woman

The child is already 8 years old

The sword is not merely intended

to inflict wounds and claim lives

When swords clash, life encounters life,

death encounters death, in a tempestuous conflict,

giving birth to a genuine dialogue

That is the samurai's joy and sorrow

That is the only path of the samurai

In these peaceful times which know no war,

the samurai must reveal this beauty

to the peasantry...

There are less of them... than 3 years ago

With war unlikely,

they know that fencing is useless in advancing their career

Look, here

Our enemy Kanazawa's, ancestral home

He'd been living alone with his invalid mother

Soon after he killed Father, his mother, unable to face the world,

and passed away...

I never knew

How sad for her

How sad?

How can you feel pity, brother?

He got what he deserved

But what did his mother have to do with it?

How can you be so soft?

Have you forgotten Father's dying wish?

I'm sorry

You're "sorry..."

You've changed these past 3 years

What sort of life have you been leading in Edo?

You have no right to pray at Father's grave

Observe my belated vengeance!

Prepare!

I avenge my father!

Take care of yourself

I've got a lady friend to visit here

Listen...

Your father was a prude, with no

enjoyment of life's subtle pleasures,

but now that he's gone, he's left a nice setup for you

The gods will punish you if you waste her

Revenge isn't the only way to demonstrate your devotion

Bye

Soza

Don't you think, that's overdoing it?

I'm a living creature, too

I deserve a better life

They say a dog's curse obstructs the birth of the shogun's heir

Maybe he ate one...

Fans, fans for sale

Sode san

Why would you be picking flowers?

What about you?

They're for my dead mother I don't have money to buy any

You look after your folks

Say, you're hurt

Another fight with gangsters?

You're hopeless. Why do you always get yourself beat up?

A mystery

Don't you have anyone special?

If I did, would it fill my stomach?

It wouldn't fill your stomach,

but if you had someone special,

maybe you'd be a little less reckless

You're such a baby, Onobu

You know, having someone special

would only make me more reckless

I'm just worried about you

Well cleaning, well cleaning

All right pull up

Slowly, slowly

All right, release

Release it more

Release it more

A little more

All right, lift it

Let's go help

Soza!

Making New Year's cakes and cleaning wells are work for a samurai's servant

Never heard of a samurai pulling a rope

Look, the landlord's new wife

He sure managed to get himself a beauty

He spent good money buying her out of a brothel

Not even been 3 years since the last one died

Money does make the world go round

He knows her?

The man gets around

"Why Sode san, you're as handsome as ever"

"You're looking pretty yourself"

"You mustn't, I'm a wife, now"

You sure married well

A landlord's wife is a long way up from a humble village

It wasn't my choice

You didn't choose the brothels, either?

No woman chooses the brothels

Women have it good Always got a job waiting

You really want to hear, all about how I survived,

these last 15 years?

I'll pass

Why won't you build us a decent outhouse?

Don't be foolish

I'm destroying these tenements to build new ones

Unfortunately, you'll be ringing in

the new year somewhere else

Interesting...

These days, it seems like my shit's been runny

I'll be with you soon

Cut it out, Dad

Can't you see, I'm eating

Shut up! It's none of your business what I say to my wife

Talking about your shit, at this hour! You're not Mago san

If you're going to fuss, fuss over the back rent you owe

Listen, Onobu, about Kenbo...

No matter how you look at him, Kenbo's your child

In 10 years, I won't even be able to tell you apart

I've got my hands full now

I'm in no mood to discuss your shit with you, Dad! Just shut up!

Here goes!

Sode san's out

Please, don't come here

Why not?

Because... whatever happened in the past,

I don't think Sode san can find happiness with you

You get right to the point, don't you

And you think he'll find happiness with you?

I just don't want to spend my whole life in this dump

Listen Remember this

When you leave, it'll be because you're worse off than you are now

They say there's a place over in Nakano where they feed strays

If we get thrown out of here, we can go

Fool. They only feed dogs, not humans

I was born in the Year of the Dog Still no good?

We're less than dogs to the Shogun anyway

Pisses me off

With so many of us, how come

we can't figure out how many men guard their mansion!

There has to be a way to figure it out

Kichiemon Don't you have an idea?

The volume of crap in the outhouse should give us a good idea

Crap?

Spoken like a true ex-peasant

Excuse me

Who are you?

What do you mean by that? I'm here to collect your rent

The question is, who are you?

We're ill... ill...

You're ill...?

No, no, we have no ill intentions

And nothing to do with Kira...

We're just wounded is all

There are quite a few of you...

Chief retainer arrived from Kyoto!

Oishi-sama's here!

All right, let's go

Finally!

Hey, wait, that's my umbrella!

Let's have a look

Oh, no

Your business is really doing well

No charge

But can you wait for the rent?

No extra charge

I'm begging you

If you take that knife, Dad can't work at the fish market anymore

You owe 6 months' back rent!

Besides, he never works anyway

Hey there

If all my tenants were prospective avengers, I'd actually collect rent

You're welcome to move in to my new tenement

Um...

Can't you hold off...

Let us all live here a while longer

"Let us all live here?"

A fine phrase, but you're dreaming

No wonder they all take advantage of you

Don't talk to me like that, when you've never worked a day in your life

Or are you willing to cover everyone's back rent?

If you live here, you pay

My, my, the landlord making the rounds himself in this rain

My tenants are more likely to stay home in this weather. Easier to collect

Besides, I can't risk sending my gorgeous wife here

Who knows what might happen

What do you mean, "Risk?"

I heard You're childhood friends

You were engaged

What's that got to do with you?

Oh, how scary

Time to be going

Too bad, but she's my wife

I won't let you touch her

This fatty meat...

from that other white one was better than this black one...

Four of you eating from one pot?

You're all wet

Have a bowl and warm up

Don't mind if I do

By the way, that German or English doctor, Kaempfer,

who visited the Shogun,

sold him an elixir for immortality for 20,000 ryo

20,000 ryo!

I hear it's made of mermaid flesh

Wonder if it works

20,000 ryo is fantastic...

He's got no children so he's got to live as long as he can

Sure is greedy Just like a landlord I know

20,000 ryo, is like...

20,000 ryo is...

Hey... this...

Mind your manners Sit when you eat

What kind of meat is this?

This? What was it?

This is... you know...

You see it riding on that platform...

It's dog

Tastes pretty good

Today, it's a little tougher than usual

Than usual?

You know what'll happen if the Shogun finds out!

He won't, if you keep your mouth shut

Besides, you ate some, too

Hey, you can't eat and run Leave the knife in payment

I'll drive you out! Every last one of you!

Thanks for your patronage

Come back soon!

It's been 5 days now

Can't even go to work

You hardly work even when the sun's shining

But when it keeps pouring this way,

it even makes you feel poorly

Right?

I haven't been able to shit at all

How long?

It's 4 days now

It's 5 days for me

Look how bloated I am...

See?

You're right

What is it?

I've got no business with you

Move

Are you going to disappear again?

I hate the rain

When it rains, I always remember that night

I see your face against that bloody ceiling

I should've died, too, back then

If I had...

Is that how you've always felt? How sad

Cut it out

You're not the only one whose folks nearly killed you

What?

What do you want me to do?

Come with me...

Somewhere far away...

Of course not...

It's too late for that

I've got his baby, inside my belly

Is that so?

You're having a baby

You'll have a new family

That's good

Forget it

You have your baby,

become a mother,

get old,

and go all wrinkly

Can I watch you the whole time?

You live in a filthy dump, dressed up like a samurai

You'll never amount to anything, anyway

What's so great about being a samurai?

We were born better than you

Who says so? Bring him here

What!

Get 'em!

Wait!

What's with them?

Strange

Let's go

Yoshibo

Before you said, “What's so great about being a samurai?"

That's what Daddy says, when he drinks

I see... your father does

Daddy tells me to run from fights

But I hate running, so I had a different idea

People who are truly strong, don't fight without a reason

Your father must be a man of great character

Yeah

Excuse me

Oh, it's Mom

Hello

I live across the way

I'm sorry they've caused you trouble

Hey, Yoshi!

Were you fighting again?

What did you promise your father?

I wasn't in a fight, right?

Hi, Shinbo

Your mother said she has a few more customers to visit

Please wait for her a little longer

It's all right I'll wait until she returns

I'll be going then

Come play with my son again

Tomorrow

I wonder if Daddy will come home early

I wonder

He said he'd make me a wheel

Won't that be nice

There's a portrait of my father

Would you like to see it?

Of your father?

I know she looks at it secretly at night

Here it is

WANTED

Doesn't he look strong?

Don't tell Mother

What's wrong, Soza san?

I fell into the crap...

I... may be dressed up as a simple drug seller,

but in fact I'm a samurai

I say samurai, but I'm just a foot soldier, a former peasant

I see

So all I think about is wanting to die a samurai's death

Then I'll finally be a real samurai

That way, my son can truly live as a samurai's son

I can't leave him any land or money...

So it's the least I can do

Kichiemon san,

who taught you how to play Go?

After I began carrying swords, however badly

Everyone told me it would make me more like a samurai

I learned by watching

My father taught me

When I was a child

I'd forgotten that...

I learned more from my father than fencing...

You're very lucky

I'm grateful

Truly grateful

I'll pass on the basics of Go to Shinbo, soon

A revenge, a revenge... After a 3 year search for my enemy,

I, Aoki Sozaemon of the Matsumoto clan, have finally avenged my father

When cut down, a man...

The single, mortal blow ran from the right side to his back

What incredible swordplay...

My vengeance was a warrior's revenge Bear no grudge

Do you hate the man who killed your father?

I hate...

I hate him

The other day, your son stopped a fight...

He saved Shinbo, who lives in our neighbourhood

Our Yoshi...

Is that so?

How old is he?

Seven

He's not mine by birth...

Why don't you

start sending him to my private school next year

It would make Shinbo happy

A repeat performance of our spring revenge play

Very cool

It's so like Soza san

But, isn't it risky?

We screw up, we'll be in big trouble

But if we pull it off, we'll get at least 100 ryo

100 ryo!

With 100 ryo we can pay off all our back rent

and have some left That's 14 ryo each

I'm in!

I'm in, too!

Me, too

I want you all to play the excited passersby

Tomekichi san, I need you to find a pig

Can I please say that line "Now you deserve revenge"?

May I?

A samurai holds Justice dearer than life itself

Composed of Self and Beauty

He defends Justice and defending...

Enough of your crap Eat shit!

No,

even I won't eat shit until it's become rice cakes

Listen, "Eat shit" doesn't actually mean...

If you really want money, it has to be real

Turning it into a pantomime...

The whole point is, it's fake

I wouldn't dare kill someone

"Tall tales make flowers bloom but bear no fruit"

That's what they used to say

Well, I say, let's make a field of flowers bloom

Down to 9 ryo...

Don't you hate him! Don't you despise your father's killer!

No,

you're all wrong

Each of us has our own method of hating

Soza san is... Making that hatred...

It's larger than...

You see...

That's it!

Soza san has turned shit into rice cakes

Taken the shit inside him and made it rice cakes...

Osae san

"Shit this and shit that," is Mago's line

Turning shit into rice cakes inside you...

Amazing!

No, Mago, it's not like that

There's no way you can fake a corpse?

Leave it all to me

I've got enough bones

No, any fool can see they're dog bones

You can't fool a temple priest

Leave it to me I'll take it to my family's temple

Your father's a priest?

A priest?

Yeah, didn't I tell you?

The Jodo sect

All right

If you insist, I will help you with this plan

Should we succeed,

recommend me to your clan

- Your real motive! - What a nerve...

Can't I at least say "Not so fast!" I'll get it right

You always mix things up Shut up

Yeah, we don't need you to mess it up

Mago san, I'd like you to play the lead in this revenge

A revenge!

Took him 3 years but he avenged his father

What incredible swordplay!

Incredible

A revenge! A revenge!

I, Aoki Sozaemon have avenged my father's murderer,

I, Hirano Jirozaemon, did duly witness this revenge

Deadly combat

Well done!

It was deadly combat

The notices have been posted

In these peaceful times...

a truly commendable spirit

Now for the autopsy...

The mortal blow ran from his right side to his back

Felled by a single blow

When cut down,

a man bleeds so tremendously... I was shocked

Oto! Intestines!

You're right

How awful...

What will you do?

Do you still want to see it?

My beloved!

Daddy!

Darling!

Daddy!

He's got a red mark that matches this likeness

This avenging was a warrior's revenge

Bear no grudge

Shinbo, do you hate the man who killed your father?

I hate him

Do you want revenge?

Yeah

Your mother feels exactly as you do

So I can't tell you not to hate him

But you see...

If all your father left us...

was hatred,

how would he feel?

It might make him feel sad

So, now,

let's take what he left behind

and gradually make it into something better

I'll help you, Shinbo

Will you help me, too?

Yeah, I'll help you I'll play Daddy's part, too

That's right, J-I-R-O-Z-A-E-M-O-N

It worked, it worked

I can't believe we pulled it off

That idiot said, “Bury him with respect"

Otokichi, why are you crying?

Because Osae san and Shinbo...

Idiot, they were acting

But still...

Hey, Mago, you can stop now

Somebody pull off the matting

He's asleep

Seven ryo and 2 pence...

No guts spurting out

It was a single mortal blow

Too much noise to get any sleep tonight

Well, all that rain, I couldn't go out

I was stuck inside for so long... Right?

That's how it is

What do you mean? You call that an answer?

Don't ruin the celebrations

If we live together, we halve the rent

Live together!

Of course, we're getting married

I'm moving in with Oto san, too?

Sure, why not, Onobu You and Otokichi will be siblings

No, not siblings...

In any event, let's have a toast

Congratulations

Not for me

Congratulations

Suzuta ran off?

What's going on? That's news to me

"My mother, long bed-ridden in illness,

"has fallen into a bad condition and truly needs..."

A sick mother, huh

News to me

"If you commanded me to leave my mother,

"it would be like abandoning a part of myself..."

Says his mother's more important than revenge

On the eve of avenging, he loses nerve

He disgraces all samurai!

Hey, Terasaka

How many remain?

This month, Yano san, Seo san, Mori san,

and Suzuta san have left our company

We now number some 50...

This is why I told you...

We must strike now. Who knows how many will stay into the new year

Now, your dojo back home will flourish

All's well in the neighbourhood and I can head off to your clan as well

The wedding within this neighbourhood count to...

One, two, three...

Eight marriages

- How was I as the lead? - Oh, excellent

Really?

Now with Otokichi and Onobu under the same roof

You fool, we're only siblings

Which means, if I can stand having you as my brother,

I can take Onobu as my wife?

What an idea...

As her brother, I can't allow that

You're a mere trash collector

If only it hadn't rained so much...

Mom...

So we end up attacking them in their sleep

How pathetic

News! News!

A revenge!

A revenge!

This chief Oishi's amazing

Acted the lady's man to fool the enemy

They say news of Aoki Sozaemon's revenge made him tougher

Says they figured out the number of guards by the privy. Sure original

That noodle shop owner is the chicken samurai who took off,

three months before it happened

No wonder his noodle broth tasted like chicken stock!

Chicken samurai

Sweet revenge buns here!

Don't miss out!

Listen up!

Here's the place where Dr. Onodera, the 6th most important

of the 46 avengers, lived in hiding

Preparing for death, he wrote many letters to his wife in Kyoto

He sent her this poem the day before the revenge

Listen up

“Thoughts once conveyed,

"in parting, seem yet unspoken"

He thought he had told her everything he had to say,

at this final parting, he fears much remains unsaid

Enough to make a grown man cry

I always knew there was something noble about him,

and I always refused his money

Buy some sweet revenge buns

Pay to see his house

Look, there he is

Mentor to the 46 avengers

Welcome home

What a result!

There's no result, we've done no harm

It's those 46 samurai who did harm

That's what I think, too

What they did was bad?

Of course it was, a sneak attack in the night

The whole swarm of them killing a poor old man,

that's cheating

But the landlord's getting rich

Those sweet buns marked "Loyalty" are selling like hot cakes

Mom's all excited about opening a street front shop

Where on earth can that coward be hiding?

Maybe he's hiding in the shit pile

Just a foot soldier after all...

I don't see what's funny

What's a shit pile got to do with a foot soldier?

I was putting on my attack robes,

when I remembered that Soza san had learned to play Go from his father

Yeah, both are black and white

Sada san!

I realized I'd never taught my son to make straw sandals...

And that thought...

See, Soza san saved Terasaka san

Um...

What! What do you want?

A word with master Terasaka

You ask him

No, you do it

What the hell is it?

You can't keep hiding like this forever, right?

Why not say that chief Oishi commanded you

to spread word of the avengers' exploits?

So, reluctantly, you had to leave the others

Assuming you'd agree to that,

we came up with these

I think we'll call them, "Kichi Buns"

We made them black and white, like those Go pieces you so enjoy

And naturally you can keep a tenth of the profits

Not bad, for a couple of bums

That's enough!

Revenge... is good for business

That's right Onobu

It's important to cash in, even on misfortune

That's right!

Me... It was only at the chief's command

that I report the revenge, that reluctantly, I...

No, it's true

I hadn't told anyone,

but I did not flee in fear, but for the good of the clan...

That's right, I've no time to waste

I must go home to give a full account to the families of the 46 samurai...

The flowers bloomed all right, but they bore some very strange fruit

Now what about those sweet buns?

What about them!

Hey, hear the latest? All 46 samurai committed hara-kiri!

Such noble men

But...

maybe now, he'll be able to teach his son to make sandals

Back at home

Hey, Shinbo. Come ask Hirano san to teach you fencing

After all this, boys won't need teaching, they'll need swords

Now, listen up. For samurai, the moment of death is all

As they say, “Cherry blossoms are blessed only when they have all fallen"

But... Just as Mago san said,

cherry blossoms only fall

to return again next spring

In even greater beauty

Say

Is there a private school around here?

OKADA Junichi

MIYAZAWA Rie

FURUTA Arata

KAGAWA Teruyuki

TABATA Tomoko

UESHIMA Ryuhei KIMURA Yuichi

KASE Ryo CHIHARA Seiji

HIRAIZUMI Sei EZAWA Moeko

NATSUKAWA Yui

KUNIMURA Jun

NAKAMURA Katsuo

ISHIBASHI Renji

TERAJIMA Susumu ENDO Kenichi

TANAKA Tetsushi NAKAMURA Yuji

KATSUJI Ryo ISHIDO Natsuo

Tommys' Masa MINAKATA Eiji

ASANO Tadanobu

HARADA Yoshio

Executive Producer : HISAMATSU Takeo

Development Producer : YASUDA Masahiro

Producers : SATO Shiho, ENOKI Nozomu

Cinematographer : YAMAZAKI Yutaka

Lighting : ISHIDA Kenji

Production Designer : ISOMI Toshihiro, BANBA Masao

Costume Designer : KUROSAWA Kazuko

Music : Tablatura

Presented by HANA Film Partners

Written, edited and directed by KORE-EDA Hirokazu