AT THE RIVER'S EDGE (Ogawa no Hotori)
- lnui Sakunosuke is here.
- Come in.
Would you like some tea?
- No thank you. Please do not mind me.
- I see.
As a matter of fact,
Nakamaru Tokujuro has returned.
- Then...
- No.
Nakamaru has returned because of an illness.
- That means Sakuma is still...
- He has not yet been killed.
His whereabouts have already been found out.
But in Tokujuro's condition, he was not healthy enough to fight with his sword.
So he returned from Edo.
Of course the death penalty was imposed for Sakuma's desertion from the clan.
Now the clan must send another assassin.
So we discussed it.
And we have decided to send you, lnui Sakunosuke, as the assassin.
- I am very honored to be chosen for the mission.
But I cannot accept that order.
- I see.
I expected you to say so.
It may be a cruel mission.
But you must understand the reason we have chosen you.
We have agreed on the fact that
the one who can defeat Sakuma in place of Nakamaru Tokujuro
in this clan now is only you.
- But if we send three men instead of one...
- I've heard that Sakuma's wife who is with him
is an expert fencer trained in Jikishin-ryu style just like you.
- That's right.
- If we send two or three men,
his wife will fight alongside him.
It will be a dreadful bloodbath.
- That can't be avoided.
- The lord's intention is to kill only Sakuma.
He wants to leave his wife alone.
So if you go, her life will be saved.
Although she is a stouthearted woman,
she would not fight against her own brother.
- The master has returned.
- Couldn't they ask someone else?
Even though it is the lord's request, isn't it too cruel?
- We should not be critical about the lord's decision.
Watch your mouth!
- Of course I told him it was hard for me to accept the mission.
The councilor warned that the lnui family's status would be lowered if I decline the mission.
I accepted the mission since everything was already confirmed with the lord.
- What do you mean by lowering the lnui family's status?
- I'll explain.
Sakuma absconded from the clan two months ago.
And his companion was a member of our lnui family.
So you must understand that the clan could blame us.
- I understand that very well.
That's why we have been confining ourselves within our house
and have not stepped outside at all.
- That's true.
But within the castle, the rumor is spreading that his wife, Tazu,
persuaded Sakuma to abscond the clan.
- That's outrageous!
Tazu would never have done that.
- Still, some people spread that rumor.
But the lord has not punished any of the lnui family members.
If I decline the clan's mission now,
the councilor told me, it would be like trampling on the lord's generosity.
- That was the lord's order.
As Sakunosuke said, we cannot refuse.
- What are you going to do about Tazu?
- Of course, I will try to bring her home.
Sakuma was sentenced to death, but the lord has not blamed Tazu at all.
- What if Tazu fights against you?
- I don't think she will fight against her real brother.
- What are you going to do if she attacks you?!
- Then you have to kill her.
- Ah! Dear!
- I will not kill her.
Please leave it to me.
- What you did to Sakunosuke and Tazu was wrong.
What good did teaching fencing to them and Shinzo bring?
If he were not an expert swordsman,
Sakunosuke-dono would not have been chosen as the assassin.
And we would not be dreading a death match between brother and sister.
- Mother,
Tazu voluntarily asked to be trained in fencing.
- What an unfortunate girl she is.
- Is it Shinzo?
- Yes.
- What are you doing?
- I have been waiting for you to ask a favor, Young master.
- Yes.
- Young master, could you please take me with you on the trip?
- What are you going to do coming with me?
- For instance, it will be too much work for you alone to find where Sakuma-sama is.
- I know where he is roughly.
I stopped at Nakamaru's place on the way home from the castle, and he told me.
- Where is that?
- There is a town called Gyotoku in Shimosa further away from Edo.
' GYOtOKu?
- I heard the place is crowded with people visiting to worship the Narita shrine.
Someone saw Tazu shopping there.
Nakamaru has guessed that Sakuma and Tazu are living near that area.
- If you are looking for them at a place like that, it will be too conspicuous.
- Are you worried about Tazu, Shinzo?
Even if she attacks, I would never kill her.
But if you are worried, you can come with me.
- Thank you.
Then I will begin my preparations.
She has been always a strong-minded woman.
But she has never before talked to my father in that manner.
Take good care of my mother.
- Yes.
How long is the trip going to be?
- It takes ten days to get to Edo.
- That is far away.
- Yes.
- Please be careful.
- Tazu will
fight me, won't she?
- With the weather like this,
we should be able to go over Jyuoh Pass while the sun is still high above.
- It is the beginning of the nice season.
- Yes.
- Let's go.
- Did Tazu-sama also go through this road?
- Yes.
- Pardon me. May I ask a question?
- Yes.
- About the punishment for Sakuma-sama,
was it so severe that he had to abscond from the clan?
- No one expected that things would turn out this way.
Sakuma wrote a memorandum concerning the clan's agricultural administration policies.
Since the great harvest failure that happened two years ago,
the rice crops have not recovered to their normal harvesting condition.
Crops in the domain were still wasted.
So Sakuma wrote down his opinions
about reforming the agricultural administration policies in 18 items.
But of all things, he submitted it directly to the lord.
That was the beginning of this trouble.
His ideas for the reform were reasonable.
But it was also harsh criticism of the policies
administered by the lord
and his personal assistant, Shikazawa Gyohaku for the last two years for the farming villages.
- A rude memorandum like this has never appeared in the past.
We must do something about this urgently or your dignity may be harmed.
- So all the administrators were urgently gathered.
- A mere officer criticizing the lord's hard worked out plan is
outrageously rude!
The lord was extremely upset about this.
And he was suspicious if any of the council members authorized
this opinion to be reported.
- No, we know nothing about this at all.
- Shikazawa-dono, please tell that to the lord.
- I am not sure if the lord would listen to someone like me.
In any case,
men in administrations should clearly display how Sakuma would be disposed of.
- Shikazawa Gyohaku was a personal doctor to the domain master's family.
He was also a scholar who has been teaching the lord for many years.
But after a while he started to meddle in governance.
And he became so powerful that even the administrators were afraid of him.
All of the lord's reform plans were done following Shikazawa's advice.
I believe that Sakuma's real purpose of that action
was to get Shikazawa out of
the clan's politics.
But the lord was
putting a lot of effort into agricultural administration
for two years since the great harvest failure.
But Sakuma's memorandum
did not show any concern for the efforts by the lord
and denounced all the policies taken by the lord.
At that time, it was still not too late to conclude the matter without incidents.
But...
- You can raise your heads.
Hotta, what did you do about the matter concerning the memorandum?
- Yes, sir.
Sakuma's action was truly disrespectful.
Therefore we think he should be severely punished.
But for the last two years,
the crops within the domain were wasted
just as Sakuma has described...
- That's enough preliminary statement.
- Yes. - Please wait.
- Sakuma, refrain yourself in the lord's presence!
- I am afraid but I must speak again.
- Refrain yourself, Sakuma!
- The last harvest failure was caused
not only by the bad weather, but by several management failures as well,
lack of water irrigation, and designations of wrong cultivation.
It was caused largely by the wrong agricultural administration.
We must stop all the temporary measures and bring the farming villages
to their original state first and start the reforms as soon as possible...
- Sakuma, aren't you being too rude?
- Yes, I am aware that I am being rude.
- What?
- The man forgot his position as a personal doctor
and meddles with clan politics without any deep knowledge.
I am begging you to stop listening to that advice.
Please!
- Although it was for the people and farmers,
a mere deputy local magistrate criticized government policies in front of the lord.
It would never be forgiven.
- The reform ideas written here are the ten things that need immediate attention.
- From the research we conducted
the last few days by investigating the villages within the domain,
we learned that almost half of the crops valued at 30,000 koku were wasted.
Some farmers gave up the land and villages.
- A few days later, men at the administration... - There are many of those farmers we learned.
thought that it was a good opportunity to bring the clan's policies back in the right direction.
- The stability of farming villages
- They investigated the wretched conditions... - directly inﬂuences the clan's foundation.
of farming villages based on Sakuma's report.
And they appealed to the lord.
- So we beg you to reconsider.
- And the lord finally realized his past mistakes.
- To personal doctor, Shikazawa Gyohaku.
We order you to stop your services starting tomorrow.
- What?
Who said that?
- Those are the lord's words!
- I repeat.
Those are the words of the lord.
- So Sakuma's memorandum brought the downfall of Shikazawa Gyohaku.
And the clan began the new reform of its agricultural administration.
- So what Sakuma-sama did was useful at the end.
- Yes.
But the lord's anger toward the memorandum never subsided.
As he noticed more of his own mistakes,
and realized more of Sakuma's arguments were sound,
it got worse.
He has a strong temper.
It was quite possible that the lord would severely punish Sakuma
who was under home confinement at the time.
When I think about it now, Sakuma should have done that differently.
But that man is stubborn when he knows that he is right.
He is too straightforward.
- Build up the dam! More water's coming!
Build up the dam!
- Bring that here!
- Over here!
- It's breaking!
- Don't be afraid! Move over! Here I come!
- Sakuma!
- Inui!
Inui!
- Sakuma! Over here!
. Ah! Don't give up!
Hey build it up here!
=Oh!
Let's block it!
- Having you here is like having 100 men's help.
- Let me take over!
- My mother and I used to laugh about it.
Sakuma and Tazu are very much alike.
Sakuma may have been prepared for all the consequences from the beginning.
Tazu knew about it too.
Let's travel slowly.
- But...
- It's all right, Shinzo. Let's travel slowly.
- Yes.
- Father.
"Ah!
- I brought you a cup of tea.
- Yes.
What's wrong?
- Nothing.
It should be blooming by now.
- Begin!
Strike to the body! One point!
Match two. Begin!
Strike to the head! One point!
Because of the rain, that's all for today.
- There was a farmer's house nearby.
Ah, thank you.
- Mother.
Are these Tazu-sama's?
- Yes.
When she was born, she was really a small baby.
She did not cry much at night and was easy to take care of.
When I held her in my arms, she just stared at me quietly.
Then she smiled at me sometimes.
Then as she grew older,
she started to follow and imitate everything her older brother did.
She and Shinzo were always following after Sakunosuke
and spent all day outside running around.
I have saved these for the future when you and Sakunosuke have a baby girl.
- You sit down here too.
- No, I am fine here.
- Just sit down here.
- Yes.
- Oh no! My sandal broke.
- Please take it off.
- Yes.
- What was wrong with the girl you met the last time?
- Huh?
- That girl was learning manners and etiquette at the Sasaki mansion, wasn't she?
- Yes, I am sorry about that.
- Mother is too eager to set you up with someone.
It's totally fine, if you feel you are not ready to get married.
- I am unworthy of your family's kindness.
- Stop saying things like that. You were born and raised in the lnui family.
You are like a brother for Tazu and me.
- I am deeply indebted.
- Is it better now?
- Yes.
- Is it too tight?
- It is fine.
- I wonder if Tazu could mend a sandal like that.
- Young master!
- I don't remember when you started calling me "Young master" instead of my name.
- Welcome.
- Thank you for your hospitality.
- Where did you come from?
- From Unasaka.
- You have come a long way.
Are you heading for Edo?
- No, Gyotoku.
- Ah, are you going to worship at the Narita shrine?
They say you will have a long life after worshipping there.
- Is that right?
- Show these two guests the way to their room!
' Yes!
- Look brother! I have finished.
- What is that?
- A castle.
- Right there.
- Shinzo! Tazu! Come away from the river's edge!
Come Tazu!
Look, the water level is going up! You'll be drowned.
That's enough!
' No!
- I don't care about you!
Getting scared will teach her.
Shinzo!
I'm coming!
- I don't want you, brother!
- Shinzo, you're almost there!
Come on! Come slowly.
How shameful! Tazu, stand up!
- Tazu-sama. Tazu-sama...
- Taking you with me may be a good thing.
She may listen to what Shinzo says.
- Since we crossed the Tonegawa River, we only have 20 ri (49 miles) left to Gyotoku.
- Yes.
- Thank you very much.
Thank you very much!
- It has been seven days since they left Unasaka.
They must be near Edo.
- Yes, they probably are.
- Tazu does not know that Sakunosuke is coming.
I wonder if she is happy now.
- I think she is happy.
Accompanying her husband as the wife of samurai,
she is staying with him, right by his side.
LAST WILL
- It's been a while.
- Yes, half a year! - Yes, half a year.
Tea, please.
- How about a dumpling to go with it?
- Ah, that sounds good.
- You are Akiyama Matajuro!
I am Samon, the oldest son of Ota Hisaemon.
- I am his daughter, Shima.
- Akiyama Matajuro!
We've been looking for you for a year and ten months.
We have finally found you!
We are avenging our father. Fight us fairly as a samurai!
- Oh! ls it revenge? - A vendetta!
- You'd better stop. You will just lose your lives in vain.
- What are you saying?
- Samon, let's go! - Yes.
- Don't come out. Stay inside.
- Prepare to die!
- He's not drawing his sword.
- Why doesn't he draw?
- It is too pitiful to kill you two.
I will let you go this time. Go away!
- Stop the nonsense!
- Ah! That's a bamboo blade!
- That's a fake sword!
- That's just a fake!
- We won't let you escape!
- It will take them a long time to get their revenge.
- There are still people like that around.
- Being a samurai is very difficult.
' “ﬂu!
- Yes.
- Ah. Come in.
I want to give you this.
It has been 30 years since my father gave me this.
I was going to give it to Sakunosuke someday,
but he is only interested in swordsmanship
and has no interest in calligraphy at all.
It will be more useful to you since you write more.
- Father.
- Yes.
- Young master.
- Huh?
- Are you still up?
- Yes.
- I would like to talk to you.
- What is it?
- It is about when we find out where Sakuma-sama is.
- Yes.
- Sakuma-sama is wanted by the lord.
So the fair duel is unavoidable.
- Yes...
- I can only pray for good fortune in that duel for the young master.
But I have been thinking that Tazu-sama
should not be involved
in this duel.
- If that can be done,
it will be perfect.
Tazu is not the kind of woman who would let
someone kill her husband just because that is her brother.
If she is there, there will be trouble for sure.
- When we find out where they live,
we should go there when Tazu-sama is away.
Would you let me handle that?
I don't want Tazu-sama to see your duel with Sakuma-sama.
- That's enough for now. Get some rest.
- Yes.
- Is that the reason you came along?
GYOTOKU STATION
- I feel restless.
- Huh?
- Because I do not see any mountains reaching into the sky in this area.
- That's true.
- Excuse me.
- Thank you for your hospitality.
- When do you plan on leaving?
- I have not decided yet.
- Aren't you here to visit the Narita shrine?
- Yes.
- I have just returned.
- How was it?
- No, I did not find anything today.
- I see.
FANCY GOODS STORE
- This one suits you better, I think.
- Then I will take this one.
- You should not close the door!
You shouldn't, Tazu-sama.
- You don't like being with me?
Shinzo!
Don't look down.
Look at me.
Aren't you going to be lonely after I get married and am gone?
I will be gone tomorrow.
Please tell me you would be lonely.
- Yes.
I am lonely.
- Really?
- Yes.
- I cannot be a bride for Shinzo.
- Tazu-sama!
Tazu-sama!
- Please.
- This way.
- Please.
- Would you like a second?
- No.
- Welcome. Please escort three guests.
Thank you for waiting. Here are your dumplings.
FISH MARKET
- Thank you very much!
- You have no clue?
- Correct.
I am sorry.
- I will also look for them tomorrow.
- No.
Please leave it to me.
I will find them for sure.
- You need one 'Masu' (boxful)?
Thank you very much.
- Tazu-sama goes to the market at the riverbank every other day.
She does not return for about one hour.
- When will she go next time?
- The day after tomorrow.
- How long ago did you find her?
- It has been five days.
- Thank you for your hard work.
AMULET
- Shinzo.
- Yes.
- If something happens to me, please take care of the aftermath.
- Yes.
- Excuse me!
- So it is you, as I expected.
- This is the lord's order.
Please forgive me.
- I am dressed as you can see. Give me some time.
At last we have our third match!
- Yes. That's right.
- Young master!
Young master.
Young master...
- Tazu!
- Let's just leave now!
Young master!
- As the wife of Sakuma, I cannotjust let you go away.
We need to fight.
- Idiot! Put your sword down.
Sakuma knew it was the lord's order.
We fought a fair duel and he died.
This is not a matter that concerns women and children.
- That's a cowardly explanation!
If I were with him, I would not let Sakuma be killed.
Even if I had to fight my own brother...
- Don't be stubborn!
Disgraceful woman!
The duel is over.
Don't you understand that?
Silly woman!
- Young master!
You must not kill her!
- You are a foolish woman.
Cool your head in the river!
What were you going to do?
Were you going to draw your sword if I cut Tazu?
- I don't want you, brother!
- Shinzo!
Help Tazu get up.
Go on.
- Yes.
Tazu-sama!
Tazu-sama! Tazu-sama!
Tazu-sama...
- Shinzo...
- Yes.
Tazu-sama.
Tazu-sama...
Tazu-sama... Tazu-sama...
- Shinzo.
I will leave Tazu to you.
I am going back to Unasaka.
You two, give yourselves plenty of time to talk about the future.
You can go back home or stay in Edo.
You can do either.
- Sakunosuke-sama!
- Father!
Father!
- Yes.
HIGASHIYAMA Noriyuki
KIKUCHI Rinku
KATSUJI Ryo
KATAOKA Ainusuke
ONO Machiku
NISHIZAVVA Toshlakl HORIUCHI Masaml TERAIZUMI Ken NA MIKI Shlro IKEUCHI Mansaku TSUNA SHIMA Gotaro HATTORI Taeko NIKAIDO Takashl TA NA KA Yukl AYhTA TO5hlkl YAMADA Yuklnobu SHIGEMATSU Osamu YAMANISHI Jun
SASANO Takashi
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vosum/URA mm ICHIKAWA Aklo SHIBUYA m“ Also um KUMAGAI Hltoml VWATANABE mo SASAKI Moeml suzum Junko
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MATSUBARA Chieko
NISHIOKA Tokuma
FUJI Tatsuya
Translation by; Jiro MATSUKI Subtitles by; Merlin DAVID Authoring by; John GAINFORT
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Original Story: FUJISAVVA Shuhei from "Unasakahan Taizen" (Burlgeishurlju Publication) and "Yarni no Ana" (Shirlcho Library Publishing) Screenplay by: HASEGAVVA Yasuo - IIDA Kenzaburo Music by:TAKEBE Satoshi
Producers: SHIGIHARA Tetsuya - TAKEBE Yumiko YAMANAKA Kazuhiro - SAITO Kazuya SUGIURA Kei - MORIYA Choiku Associate Producers: KOBAYASHI Mihoko - NAGAHARA Atsuko Special Cooperation: ENDO Nohuko - ENDO Takahisa
Photography by: SHIBANUSHI Takahide Lighting by: OSADA Tatsuya Sound Recording by: TAKE Susumu Art Direction by: KANEDA Katsumi Set Decoration: OSAKA Kazumi Editor". OKUHARA Yoshiyuki Wardrobe: NIATSUDA Kazuo Casting Nlanager". HIBI Keiko Photographer". SAITO Kiyotaka Assistant Director". YANIADA Toshihisa Production Nlanager". TAKEOKA Ninoru
Fencing Choreography: TAKASE Masatsugu
Directed by: SHINOHARA Tetsuo