"TOHO CO., LTD." "KILL!" "Executive Producer TOMOYUKI TANAKA" "Story by SHUGORO YAMAMOTO" "Photography by ROKURO NISHIGAKI" "Music by MASARU SATO" "Starring" "TATSUYA NAKADAI" "YURIKO HOSHI ETSUSHI TAKAHASHI" "TADAO NAKAMARU AKIRA KUBO" "SHIGERU KOYAMA EIJIRO TONO" "SHIN KISHIDA ATSUO NAKAMURA" "Directed by KIHACHI OKAMOTO" "TO THE EAST:" "YOCHI" "JOSHU" " MARCH 1833" "TO THE WEST:" "KOSHIBA" "Hey, ronin" "You there!" "What's your name?" "Where are you from?" "Do you have your traveler's pass?" "Answer me!" "I'm hungry." "What do you want?" "Don't yell." "It jolts my stomach." "What do you want?" "I heard a rumor." "They say ronin are wanted here." "So I've come all the way from Edo." "Go to Chamberlain Tamiya Ayuzawa's house." "Tamiya Ayuzawa?" "What now?" "I'm hungry." "All I've had for five days is water." "An old woman runs an eatery down the road." "Old woman!" "Feed me!" "Old woman!" "What?" "What did you do that for?" "I'll kill you!" "Don't yell." "It jolts my stomach." "You too?" "I'm hungry." "Don't bother." "Why?" "The old woman fed me before." "A nice woman." "She was too nice to live here." "She's dead." "Is that so?" "I thought the yakuza gave travelers free meals and lodging." "And this is the home of the yakuza" "You thought so too?" "So did I." "What do you think about this town?" "What do I think?" "I think it's in bad shape." "Peasants rioted here two months ago." "Rioted?" "And the yakuza led the riot." "Their boss was executed and left to rot." "That's terrible." "This is a terrible place." "I haven't seen a single yakuza in 20 days." "Neither the wild grass nor yakuza can take root here anymore." "Are you going to leave?" "Yes." "How about you?" "I just got here." "Maybe samurai can grow where yakuza can't" "I'll be a true samurai." "What's so funny?" "Don't yell." "I haven't eaten in five days." "Me neither." " Revenge!" " You're mistaken!" "I don't know you!" "You can't fool me." "You're superintendent Kinzaburo Ayuzawa!" " I'm not!" " You are!" "You killed my boss!" "I'm the Masagoro family's last henchman!" "Stop!" "I'm Tetsutaro Oikawa, not Ayuzawa" "I don't care!" "You're a samurai all the same!" "My boss was killed by samurai!" "Damn yakuza!" "I'm a yakuza too." "You're stealing his lunch." "You're wrong." "He lost it, and I found it." "It's not yours." "I'm sorry." "One's " "No, two are gone." "There are only two left." "Keep them." "Really?" "Thanks!" "It's so white!" " Dazzling white!" "The only people who can eat white rice around here are samurai!" "What now?" "As you see, I'm a yakuza" "Our code says to "repay a meal and a night's lodging"" "I'm indebted to you." "I'm not a yakuza" "You don't owe me anything for a couple of rice balls." "And anyway, I'm " "Busy?" "No time for a yakuza?" "You waiting for someone?" "Her?" " No!" "It's not her!" "Forgive me." "I'm going too." "Two rice balls aren't enough, but I may make it to the Ayuzawa house." "Ayuzawa?" "Hoping to grab the brass ring?" "Yes, and I won't let it go once I've got it." "Don't hold on too tight." "Silence." "I've no time for yakuza" "Where is Magobei?" "He's taking care of those officials with Denzo and Yaheiji" "This sword is just bamboo." "Please don't kill me." " Kill him?" " That's right." "Misrule under Chief Vassal Sachu Mizoguchi is getting worse." "I'm sure you understand." "Of course." "He caused all this corruption." "However, we must tie you up while we carry out our plan." "That chief vassal has a bad reputation." "I've heard about him all over." "I heard he's the cause of the riot, this Mizo" "Sachu Mizoguchi" "Right." "Mizoguchi" "But is it wise to kill him?" "What did you say?" "It could cause trouble later." "Real trouble." "There was a similar case in another clan two years ago." "You " "Is that Shinroku Matsuo?" " What about Mizoguchi?" " On schedule." "He left at dawn." "What did Ayuzawa say?" "He didn't say to kill him or not to kill him." "He depends on the strength of young men to set things right." "What about Chamberlain Moriuchi?" "Did you see Mr. Hyogo?" "What did Uncle say?" "He was out fishing." "The idiot!" "Fishing at a time like this!" "Magobei, forget about him." "Forget Uncle Hyogo!" "Shinroku?" "I'm tired of being a messenger." "I want to fight." "I know, but we need a messenger, and who else could do it?" "Please." "But " "Trust us." "We'll kill him." "You take care of the rest." "Watch over the castle and maintain contact with Edo." "That's more important than killing." "We'll go to Shimpo Temple after we kill him." "Go back and wait for the good news from us." "Take the shortcut home." "Au right." "Well, everyone... do your best." "There are strong men in their ranks." "A Spearman named Matabei Murakami and a swordsman named Kyuma Noguchi" "Be careful." "Die, Mizoguchi!" "Keep calm!" "There's not many of them!" "Die, all of you!" "Death to all samurai!" "Die!" "Don't!" "They did it!" "It's done." "Go to Shimpo Temple." "Who will go to report it?" "It isn't over." "My experience tells me it's only just begun." "Why not send him?" "A vag rant?" "What he says makes sense." "Even if it was our obligation, we did just kill the chief vassal." "We'd better stay together till things settle down." "Yes, you'd better." "I'm indebted to you for a meal." "He saw us." "We should kill him." "Is Chamberlain Ayuzawa in?" "Tell him" "Moriuchi has stopped by again for a cup of tea." "Mizoguchi left for Edo?" "Is that true?" "That's strange." "But, old man, our lord in Edo sent for him." "That's why it's so strange." "I think it was a secret order from our lord." "Secret order?" "What kind of secret order?" "Well, he may have said something like," ""Eliminate Mizoguchi.'" "Eliminate?" "I don't mean killing him." "That would be too cruel." "Force him into retirement, so he can relax and nap." "Old man?" "So I thought I would write to our lord with that request." "I believe he ordered home confinement." "So?" "When we grow old, we're always hungry and sleepy." "Let me take a little nap." "Please do, Old Moriuchi" "Jurota" "Who is he?" "A new man." "What is your name?" "Hanjiro Tabata." "Tabata?" ""Ta" means paddy." ""Bata" means field." "You sold your paddy field for a sword?" "You fight like a farmer." "But you're strong." "You could be useful in battle." "Shinroku Matsuo?" "Yes." "What is it?" "Tetsutaro Oikawa sent me." "What?" "How did it go?" "Let me tell you." "Really?" "I'll inform the Chamberlain." "Wait by the garden." "Very dangerous." "Why attack me like that?" "He's the messenger." "I'm sorry." "Forgive me." "But it's your fault." "Why were you sneaking up on us?" "I wasn't sneaking up." "A cat was eating, and I didn't want to disturb him." "Thank you for your hard work." "Will you take word to Tetsutaro for me?" "And tell him what?" "Tell him I've made note of his message." "It's left me speechless." "Certainly." "Holding on tight?" " To what?" " The brass ring." "Perform well and you'll become a samurai." "Tabata." "Do you know him?" "Yes." "I mean no." "We met on the road." "Kill him." "Or he'll spread word outside the clan." "Our neighbors are vassals of the shogunate." "They might turn us in to the government." "Kill him." "Let me introduce myself." "Thank you for your attention." "I was born in Joshu." "Joshu is a big country." "My home is in Nonomiya, near Mount Asama" "Masagoro was my boss." "He was executed." "So I'm a loner now, wandering here and there." "My name is Busuke." "Nice introduction." "I'm Genta." "No introduction." "What?" "You can get yourself killed without an introduction." "Then I guess I'm out of luck." "You're an odd one!" "Did you let go of that brass ring?" "After the riot happened here two months ago," "Boss Masagoro and 30 peasants were executed." "Strange." "Death is in the air." "An assassin attacks without warning, but this one hesitates." "Well done!" "Takes skill to out like that." "Was it your strong farmer's arm?" "Me, a farmer?" "Or your desire to become a samurai?" "Ayuzawa told you," ""Kill him, or he'll spread word outside the clan."" "How did you know?" "The samurai you want to be like - They're like that." "How do you know?" "Because I was one." "You?" "I was disgusted with samurai life, so I left it." "That was two years ago." "So why long to be a samurai?" "A farmer just does." "You were one before, so you can't understand." "Two years ago, there was a riot near my town." "I saw peasants die like ants." "I won't be an ant." "I sold my land for these swords." "Now I'm going to kill you!" "Not like that." "A sword isn't a sickle." "An amateur should stab." "If you'd stabbed at me, then " "I'll stab you!" "Why don't you kill me?" "How can I?" "I slashed, I stabbed, but you didn't die." "Don't really kill me." "You can say that you did." "But what about the body?" "A yakuza is like an ant too." "Samurai wouldn't look for a worm like me." "Now I've killed you!" "I, Tabata, declare I killed Genta!" "SHIMPO TEMPLE" "Shinroku!" "Did you hear the news?" "We did it!" "What is it?" "Is something wrong?" "Things have changed." "Completely." "Just now." "What do you mean?" "Mizoguchi disregarded our lord's order and left for Edo." "He was going to deceive our lord again." "As usual." "But disobedience means death." "Yes." "He'd be placed in confinement and forced to kill himself." "No problem, then." "It's a turn for the better." "No, a turn for the worse." "Ayuzawa made his move." "He says it's a move against our lord to kill a man on our own, even one our lord has condemned." ""It is a private grudge."" "He said that?" "Those were his exact words." "And he imprisoned Chamberlain Moriuchi" "My uncle?" "What did he do?" "You probably already realize that he may send men to kill the seven of you." "Kill us?" "This is Ayuzawa's doing!" "Yes, it's very clear now!" "That's why he didn't join us!" "He had us kill Mizoguchi so he could then move against us!" "After praising the strength of young men!" "It's the same." "Just like two years ago." "Did somebody say something?" "Who are you?" "What'll we " "What'll we do?" "Men may come for you any minute." "Go somewhere else, and quickly." "Yes, but what do we do after that?" "There are ways." "I'll appeal to our lord in Edo." "If we explain our true motive, he'll surely understand." "It's our last hope." "Try your best, Shinroku" "In five days " "In a week at the latest, I'll return with good news." "All of you, wait together until then." "All seven of you." "No matter what happens." "Where shall we wait?" "Do you know Mount Toride?" "There." "Where the boundary fort is?" "We'll wait for you there." "We'll be waiting." "See you there, then." "We're counting on you." "Oikawa" "Is it wise for all of you to wait here together?" "Why not go to Edo to appeal instead?" "But perhaps it's not my place to say so." "Thanks." "But you already repaid me for the rice." "We'll manage without your help." "But Tetsutaro, you don't lose anything by listening to him." "I'm aware he used to be a samurai." "But he's a vagrant now." "We must do it with our hands." "Samurai hands?" "Priest, yakuza can only bet whether it'll go well." "You mean this?" "I waited for you, Shimada" "Are you ill?" "Not really." "Uncle, I've found ten guards, ten archers and ten gunners." "Kinzaburo, get every one of the seven." "Shoot all those who fight back." "Kill them." "Yes, I will." "Game!" "What is it?" "Thinking about those seven men?" "Don't worry about them." "Excuse me." "Chino." "Come over here." "I heard Tetsutaro is here." "Is he hurt?" "I heard someone was wounded." "No, he's fine." "With a beautiful fiancee like you," "I'm sure he'll be careful." "Where is he now?" "You just missed him." "He went to Mount Toride." "Mount Toride?" "Priest." "There's been something on my mind." "It's strange." "Strange?" "Ayuzawa's killers should have gotten here by now." "Killers?" "Is Tetsutaro in danger?" "No, he's safe." "By the way, it was good." "It was truly delicious." "I ate one of his rice balls." "It was a treat." "You are?" "Just a yakuza passing through." "He was once a samurai " "He's really safe." "He'll manage." "If he doesn't," "I'll do something." "Don't worry." "I can't help it." "I don't think you can do anything." "We'll be at the fort soon." "Hold on." "There." "That place?" "Someone's there?" "Not now." "Guards stay there only in winter." "This place is better than I thought." "It's a wonder you remember it!" "I use to come here on hunting trips." "There's a well too." "I'm thirsty and hungry too." "That's right!" "I haven't eaten all day." "We can hold out for a month here." "Say, in the mood for a picnic?" "What a shame!" "I forgot sake and tea." "Never mind the tea, but we need sake!" "That was some mistake!" " One less pleasure." "All for the best." "Sake's bad for wounds." "Game!" "Priest." "What?" "My turn?" "You worried about the seven?" "You said they were safe." "Are they really safe?" "Yes, if they're united in mind." "I fear squabbles" "But without sake and women, they'll be safe." "We did our duty, didn't we?" "Yes, we're the vanguard of clan reforms!" "I wouldn't mind dying now!" "Let us all die together!" "By the way," "Chino's very beautiful, isn't she?" "The clan's prettiest girl." "It was very complicated until Tetsutaro won out." "Monnosuke Takei and Denzo Nishimura loved her too." "That won't do." "Won't do at all." "Rivals holed up together." "Does Chino have a strong spirit?" "Yes, though you wouldn't know it to look at her." "Monnosuke had a chance, but she insisted she must be with Tetsutaro." "That's even worse." "It'll be like setting off dynamite if she goes up there." "Excuse me!" "I serve the Kaji family." "Is my mistress here?" "She left quite a while ago." "I'm sure she went to Mount Toride." "On my way here I saw 30 men headed that way." "She went there too?" "Yes." "You go bring her back." "Don't you think it's strange?" "The fact they were found out so soon." "Strange indeed." "I must hurry too." "But Tetsutaro said only samurai " "It's not for them - it's for myself." "To find what I lost as a samurai." "I don't follow you, but I'll excuse you for losing." "You must be joking." "I won the game." "The losing card again." "I took you on for this work." "The men I sent ahead are friends of the traitors." "Some of them may harbor the same thoughts." "So you're the only men I trust." "Kill every one of the traitors!" "In return, I'll make you samurai." "Chamberlain, I would rather " "Squad leader, you'd rather have money?" "I will pay you, Jurota Arao, ten ryo for every man." "Ten for every man?" "Leave at dawn tomorrow." "Build up your strength until then with sake and women." "This is Shinroku's horse, but he left for Edo." "Why is it here?" " No loitering." "Greetings." "Greetings." "Use those ronin?" "Yes." "There would be trouble if my men killed the seven." "So the ronin will fight the seven." "It's a private grudge." "It began as a private grudge, and it will end the same way." "It's no concern of mine." "What is your men's work?" "They won't show themselves." "They'll remain hidden and shoot down any samurai, with a master or without, who attempts to flee." "They'll also fire on both sides while they're fighting each other." "It's just a cat." "Shinroku betrayed them." "He'll keep them waiting in vain." "It's Chino!" "Please open up!" "Tetsutaro." "What brings you here?" "I came here to tell Tetsutaro something." "Did you come alone?" "Chino, some water." "Men are coming!" "Here?" "Are you sure?" "About 30 men are coming right behind me." "They'll be here soon." "You're tired, but you'd better go back." "There's a secret path." "I'll take you." "Chino." "Kisuke!" "Kisuke!" "Intruders!" "You're dreaming!" "Aren't you going out?" "Not interested in sake and women?" "I'd rather have money." "I want money." "We're risking our lives tomorrow." "I won't die." "No, I mustn't die." "You go alone." "I see." "Stingy_" "Wait!" "I think you're an honest man." "Well, yes." "I only know how to stab." "Go to the Hisago" "There's a woman named Yo there." "Yo?" "You mean Oyo?" "Is she your woman?" "No." "She's my wife." "Give her that and a message." "What message?" ""Wait a few more days."" "That's all?" "That's all." "Hanjiro" "Who is it?" " Me." " Oh, it's you, Genta" "Fool!" "You're dead!" "Why did you come here?" "Don't worry." "I'll disappear." "Do you know where an old man named Moriuchi is?" "No." "I see." "By the way, this is a bit of a gamble, but would you think about betraying Ayuzawa and siding with the seven?" "Fool!" "I may not look like it, but I'm an honest man." "You mean " "Yes, I'm siding with the seven." "A beautiful girl asked me for help." "Tears melt me." "Then we're enemies?" "Clearly so." "Are you going to kill me?" " No." "I'll stab you!" "What's that?" "I can't sleep." "I thought I'd write down what's happened." "If Ayuzawa succeeds, what we did may be hushed up." "We'd better write down the truth with our own hands." "I hadn't thought of that." "Shinroku will reach Edo tomorrow night or the next morning." "Oyo g" "Who is Oyo?" "Are you Oyo?" "I'd like to talk to you." "Listen, newcomer," "I bought her!" "She's our squad leader's woman." "Hand her over." "What's that?" "Who cares?" "I paid for her, so she's mine!" "What are you doing?" "You!" "Any objections?" "Let's go." "Wait four or five days?" "He said that?" "Yes, he said to tell his wife." "His wife?" "He still thinks of me as his wife?" "I wish I had died back then." "We were engaged." "You're the daughter of a samurai?" "Father was sentenced to die for a mistake he made." "Mother and I were banished from our clan." "Mother fell ill." "I didn't know what to do." "I thought of killing myself." "He searched me out and came to see me." "If my ailing mother hadn't been around, I would have already been dead." "He gave up being a samurai for me." "I wouldn't know, but I guess that's true love." "That's right." "He gave me this for you." "If possible, don't take customers for a while." "One more thing." "Go get me some food and sake." "And a girl who smells nice." "Let's see." "A girl who smells like the earth." "The earth?" "How can I explain?" "Like the earth!" "Can't you sleep?" "No, I can't" "I'm afraid!" "Something bad is going to happen." "I can feel it." "Your nerves are on edge, being shut up with all these men." "No!" "You're trembling." "Are you cold?" "No." "I'm afraid of the men's eyes." "Monnosuke's eyes." "Denzo's eyes." "Monnosuke Denzo" "I can't believe it." "A situation like this gets everyone on edge." "But we're samurai who've done a great thing together." "But can you really tell what is in their hearts?" "Even Vassal Matsuo " "Shinroku did something?" "He looks serious, yet he sent me a love letter once." "Going for a ride, Shinroku?" "Or running away?" "Who's there?" "I see." "Running off in the dark." ""Hide until it's all over." "When I become chief vassal, I'll call you back then"" "Chamberlain Ayuzawa told you that, right?" "You're that vagrant!" "Brother, it's you!" "I've been looking for you all day." " Brother?" " Yes." "I'll be your henchman" "What'll you do with him?" "I hadn't thought that far ahead." "I can't stand traitors, is all." "Can't stand him?" "Then let's kill him." "No, wait." "Don't joke around." "He's a witness." "We're taking him to Mount Toride at dawn." "That's no fun." "You're still here?" "I told you I didn't want any powdered monster!" "Get out!" "They'll scold me!" "That's not my concern." "Wait." "Let me see your hand!" "You've held a hoe?" "Have you planted rice and harvested it?" "Why did you do that?" "The smell of the earth!" "What's that peasant doing?" "Say, Tabata!" "We're leaving, Hanjiro!" "Nice day, isn't it?" "I think I'll talk to the men that are coming for us." "Even our lord couldn't rein in Mizoguchi's misrule" "There were plots to kill him." "Kinzaburo Ayuzawa and Gendayu Shimada led one of them." "They'll understand if we explain." " I'm against it." "What good would it do?" "Wait for Shinroku He'll come." "And if he doesn't?" "How can you say that?" "You doubt him?" "He's one of us!" "I don't doubt him, but something could happen on the way." "No, you doubt him!" "You don't trust him!" "Or maybe you don't trust us!" "Stop it, Monnosuke!" "You're our leader, Tetsutaro" "I'll do as you say." "Kinzaburo, I want to talk to you!" "Can you hear me?" "I want to talk to you!" "There's nothing to talk about!" "You are villains who have disobeyed our lord's orders!" "Come out and I'll let you die with dignity." "Otherwise we'll have your heads!" "Watch out!" "Gendayu Shimada, answer me!" "Genta, guards are everywhere." "Guns and bows are all around us." "What now?" "Genta!" ""A tiger at the front gate, a wolf at the back."" "There's a saying like that." "Yes." "But... isn't "the courage of a cornered mouse" another one?" "Get a horse ready and wait for me." "Will you be all right?" "Win or lose, it won't matter much." "You think so?" "I'm Yagenta Hyodo, a former samurai." "I've been waiting for you." "The more the merrier Let me join you." "But he's a total stranger!" "So are we." "Newcomer, help with the packs at the end of the line." "Thank you." "Please set that down." "I'll carry it." "Very well." "You!" "Congratulations." "Who is he?" "Who?" "Genta, the man you were to kill." "I'm Yagenta Hyodo Nice to meet you." "I killed a man " "I killed a man for the first time." "That was a worm, not a man." "I wish... the worm... had lived a little longer." "Endure the pain." "It will heal faster this way." "The cloth." "The chamberlain's men!" "Thank you." "What's in all this?" "Food for ten days." "That long?" "This may be forward of me, being new and all, but is staying here for ten days is a good idea?" "I'm against it." "We'll get this over with after we rest." "But we can't see anything from here." "Another job for a newcomer?" "I'll go have a look." "Excuse me." "Someone's coming!" "Looks like Matsuo!" "Shinroku?" "Shinroku's back?" "The clothes are his, but the face isn't" "That's Genta, the vagrant!" "Genta?" "Why'd he " "He betrayed Shinroku?" "You betrayed us!" "No, Shinroku did." "The proof is in his clothes." "No time." "I'll fight and talk at the same time." "Attack me, but don't really strike me!" "We're back where we started." "Someone must go to Edo." "You?" "I'll help." "The signal's an arrow at dusk." "An arrow?" "Withdraw!" "Wait, I belong on the other side!" "Chino!" "Dress a messenger in a girl's Kimono." "They may let a woman through." "I can't believe Shinroku betrayed us!" "That's why Genta tried to bring him as a witness, but something happened on the way." "That vagrant could have made it up!" "But Shinroku was one of us!" "We swore to live and die together!" "He couldn't be back so soon." "It rings a bell." "Before he left, he said," ""All of you, wait together until then." "All seven of you." "No matter what happens."" "So he could turn us all over to Ayuzawa!" "And " "What is it?" "We're back where we started." "We begin again." "I'll go, Tetsutaro_" "I'll go to Edo." "Why did I get shot?" "Those seven men are their targets!" "But they don't care if their guns hit you or me!" "Let's talk to the chamberlain's men!" "Understand now?" "Understand what?" "Samurai are no good." "No, I don't understand." "Not one bit." "Stop!" "We'll be beheaded!" "No use tending to it!" "I want my foot to look nice even if I die." "Konosuke's afraid." "He got in the first blow." "He'd brag if we had won, but now he's afraid." "What?" "You think I'm afraid?" "Don't quarrel!" "We're friends!" "Keep out of it!" "You said I was afraid, didn't you?" "I'll go out and fight!" "Kill me first!" "Please out off my leg!" "He could die like this!" "Can he move?" "I'll help him." "Only my arm is injured." "I'll carry him." "I see." "Give them a hand." "They're going down." "Have a doctor tend to it." "Don't worry about us." "I'll tell the Chamberlain." "Thank you!" "Take care." "I'm sorry!" "How cruel!" "What did they do?" "That does it!" "Let's fight them!" "Yes, let's fight!" "Wait!" "I'll kill the leader!" "But we must kill those seven first!" "Try to understand!" "Understand now?" "Understand what?" "What samurai are like." "No, I don't!" "One of those seven villains at Mount Toride may try to get to Edo." "Close the boundary towns and increase the guards." "Keep a watch on all roads to Edo." "Arrest anyone suspicious." "Even women!" "Do I look okay?" "I found some booze!" "Booze?" "Shoda, you knew there was some liquor here and you hid it from us?" "It's for medicinal purposes." "That's just an excuse!" "So this is why you've been staying up so late!" "So you could have a drink!" "Stop it!" "Shoda's been " "Let Yaheiji go to Edo." "He's a good horseman, and he'd look better in women's clothing." "Yaheiji" "What's wrong?" "Watch fires!" "Not even a rabbit could get out of here!" "They went out!" "Did I imagine it?" "I felt someone nearby." "Wait!" "A woman?" "Show your face!" "Busuke's waiting below with a horse." "You must reach Edo." "Their lives depend on you." "Yes, even if I die!" "You can't go if you die." "There goes ten ryo" "Only 60 left." "You're very good." "Your arrows all hit their mark." "Then you " "I see." "You saw me?" "Yes, from the beginning." "What now?" "You tell me." "I don't understand you." "You could've killed us if you were on their side." "I'm trying not to kill." "Then why did you kill the guards?" "Perhaps I killed myself by killing those five." "Yourself?" "Long ago there was a samurai named Yagenta Hyodo" "He had a friend dearer to him than a brother." "Something like what happened here happened there, and his friend killed the Chamberlain." "But his friend was a good man." "And seeing these seven men reminded you of him?" "Is that right?" "Exactly." "But Yagenta was so earnest and stupid." "He killed his friend, thinking it was his duty!" "He killed his friend, who had acted for his clan." "But that all happened long ago." "So the fool's making amends by helping these seven men now?" "I suppose so." "This is some fix." "I may have to kill you." "For personal reasons," "I need 30 ryo badly." "I must kill at least three of the remaining six." "So if you get in the way," "I'll kill you too!" "The same with me." "To save the six, I'll kill you!" "It's strange." "I don't feel like drawing my sword." "Me neither." "Kill or be killed - either would just leave an unpleasant aftertaste" "I think I'll go down the mountain." "With an ally watching out for them, those six won't stay alert enough, and I must find Chamberlain Moriuchi" " Moriuchi?" " You know him?" "Be careful." "You and Yagenta were friends?" "Friends?" "Don't joke." "We were enemies." "Enemies?" "Then I guess I did the right thing." "What?" "You killed him?" "No." "He's gone to get himself killed." "Get himself killed?" "What do you mean?" "He went to attack Ayuzawa alone." "He's a strange man." "Why did he go?" "To save Old Moriuchi" "All by himself." "He's a funny one." "But he's your enemy." "So it means nothing to you if he's chopped to pieces." "No need to keep watch anymore." "Get some sleep." "Tomorrow will be a busy day." "Stop!" "Open up!" "Don't kill him!" "Shinroku's clothes and swords." "But aren't you that vagrant?" "Where's Shinroku?" "Why are you doing this?" "Who asked you to?" "Some other clan?" "Or the shogunate?" "Why steal in here late at night?" "I don't understand." "Make him talk!" "Wait!" "Give him a moment." "Otherwise he'll die." "It's over if we kill him." "Why?" "A yakuza is no better than a worm." "I'd kill a worm in a second, but there's something different about you - and I don't like it!" "I hate dogs." "Dogs?" "So that explains all the cats." "What did the dog find out?" "Any other dogs spying around?" "Where are they?" "That's what I want to know." "Tell me and I'll take good care of you." "You will?" "With the money squeezed out of peasants you want to make me your house dog?" "Or your house cat?" "Continue." "Fool!" "That's no excuse!" "If a man went to Edo, a superintendent will come!" "Destroy all the evidence!" "Kill the seven men and Moriuchi and that vagrant!" "Get my men at once!" "Hanjiro" "Old man, help me." "Help you?" "How?" "I'll give you a lashing!" "Get his legs!" "Go!" "Let's go!" "Where?" "What?" "Oh, right." "Where'll we go?" "To my girl's place." "She's at the Hisago, a brothel." "A brothel?" "Nice." "I've never been to one." "I've always wanted to go." "Don't talk nonsense!" "Hurry up!" "Bastard!" "That bastard Ayuzawa!" "It serves us right!" "I told you so!" "I was right, wasn't I?" "We got caught!" "See, you fools!" "We're all fools!" "We'll be beheaded!" "Yes, we're all going to die!" "Let's share everything!" "If we're going to die anyway, let's share everything fair and square!" "Yes, let's share everything!" "I won't die like this!" "Let's share everything before we die!" "I won't die either!" "I'll kill the one who trapped us here!" "Tamiya Ayuzawa!" "Come out!" "Konosuke!" "That's enough!" "What are you grumbling about?" "We were prepared to die when we set out." "Nobody tricked us into killing the Chamberlain." "We took it on ourselves." "We risked our lives for our clan." "Didn't we, Fuji?" "We thought we were doing the right thing." "We didn't do it for praise or merit." "Did we, Fuji?" "Now the chips are down, but why grumble?" "Even if Ayuzawa's plot succeeds and we must die, it doesn't change what we thought was right!" "Do you agree or not?" "Why do you all complain?" "Stop it, Denzo!" "Nishimura!" "He was after Chino!" "He defiled her with his vile eyes!" "I couldn't stand it!" "Calm down!" "Give me your sword!" "No!" "I'm going out!" "Make Chino happy!" "Look!" "Our pursuers are gone!" "It's safe!" "Chino!" "Denzo!" "Where am I?" "The Hisago" "Who brought me here?" "He's still asleep." "Hanjiro" "Genta!" "You all right?" "Hanjiro." "What?" "What is it?" "Giving up on being a samurai?" "I haven't given up hope yet." "How can that old guy still be asleep?" "Old man!" "How long are you going to sleep?" "Stop it." "He's a Chamberlain." "He is?" "Ouch!" "Fawn a little if you want to be a samurai." "Don't, Hanjiro." "If I were you, I'd think twice." "Samurai aren't as great as you might think." "But " "I was born into a family of samurai." "I had to become one." "But I..." "I" "I'm willing to make you one if you insist." "Really?" "It's a little early for celebrating." "Those six men are still at the fort," "Yaheiji's in Edo, and Jurota Arao and his men " "Is he" " Is anything wrong with him?" "She's the squad leader's wife." "He needs 30 ryo to redeem her, so " "I see." "So that was it." "Chamberlain, when this is all over, will you raise the money?" "I don't know the details, but I'll take care of it." "Thank you." "Did you hear that?" "Go up and tell Jurota," ""The money's been raised." "Come down from the mountain."" "But what about Ayuzawa?" " We'll kill him." " All right." " Who will?" " Me." "I see." "Who's going to kill him?" "I am." "But you're injured." "He's the strongest swordsman in our clan." "Chamberlain." "We've looked everywhere for them, but we haven't found Moriuchi or the vagrant." "Are Moriuchi's men on the move?" "We don't know." "They'll make a move." "Be prepared for it." "Hey!" "What is it?" "Do you know where Genta is?" " He's upstairs at the Hisago!" " Hisago?" "It's turned warm." "The weather's mild." "Isn't today the spring equinox?" "IS it?" "I go to the Shimpo Temple every year." "Probably not a good idea to go out today, huh?" "I imagine not." "Is that Priest Doshin's temple?" "You know him?" "We were friends as children." "I see." "Will you lend me those fire tongs?" "I've been looking for you all night!" "This is terrible." "Those are serious wounds, aren't they?" "Who did this?" "Do me a favor." "Monnosuke may die." "We don't know if Yaheiji is safe either." "We must rely on ourselves." "I intend to get out of here." "What about you?" " So do I!" " Daijiro?" " Me too!" "Will it be of any use?" "Yes, I think so." "I think I can use my right hand." "How's this?" "Understand?" "Attack together!" "Wait!" "There's something we don't understand!" "Five of my men were killed!" "Who did it?" "I don't know!" "Doesn't this belong to you?" "No!" "Silence!" "I don't understand you." "Someone stole our bows and put out our watch fires!" "And now you're prepared for a fight!" "Do you intend to attack us?" "I don't understand you either!" "Why did you shoot two of our men?" "Why?" "Bastards!" "Jurota!" "Jurota!" "Jurota!" "Jurota!" "Now that Kinzaburo is dead, things have changed again." "I'll talk to Shimada" "Gendayu Shimada!" "Listen to me!" "Can you hear me?" "You should know how we feel!" "Shimada!" "We're going to leave this place!" "Don't shoot, Gendayu!" "Don't shoot!" "I'll go first." "Follow me one by one." "Hey!" "What's taking you so long?" "Run!" "Genta's going to kill Ayuzawa on his own!" " By himself?" " Yes!" "He doesn't have a chance without me, though." "He can't even crawl." "At the risk of repeating myself, don't kill him if possible." "I'll try not to." "At the risk of repeating myself, please don't go out." "You are repeating yourself." "I said I liked this place, didn't I?" "I'd like to stay here all my life." "Now hurry." "I'd like to hurry, but it hurts." "What?" "The priest?" "It's the equinox, and the anniversary of the death of the chief vassal, so he insists on holding a memorial service." "This isn't a good time." "But it can't be helped." "Arrange the mats and screens." "Prepare the family altar and summon the men." "We've come for the priest." "We'll wait inside." "We won't disturb anyone." "He finished too soon." "I told him to say the longest Sutra." "I'd like to offer you some tea." "I have several more places to go." "You!" "Men!" "Genta!" "You " "Who are you?" "A vag rant." "A vag rant?" "You can't be." "A vagrant couldn't do all this!" "I don't believe it." "Yaheiji!" "Hold on!" "Tell everyone!" "Superintendent Omori is about to arrive!" "He is?" "The superintendent's coming!" "The superintendent's coming!" "It's the superintendent!" "We won!" "The superintendent's coming!" " Really?" " Would I lie?" "It's about time!" "They've started!" " Who are they?" " Peasants." "Peasants?" "Helping us?" "Who would help the samurai?" "it's a festival." "A festival." "It's been two years since they last beat the drums." "They're all excited." "To tell you the truth, this and the festival " "It was all Master Genta's idea." "Genta!" "Where did he go?" "Yaheiji!" "He can't even move!" "He can't even move, and yet he's gone off somewhere!" "I'm hungry." "Genta!" "Hanjiro." "Genta, you wicked man." "What?" "Did I forget something?" "Yes, something important." "What is it?" "Oh, right." "Thanks for everything." "You forgot me." "Oh, right." "Congratulations." "Being a samurai becomes you." "Not that!" "You ran off without saying anything!" "Sorry." "I apologize." "Well, thanks for everything." "Fool!" "Take me with you!" "But you're a samurai." "I didn't dream it'd be such a hard life." "Wearing these things makes my shoulders ache." "My scalp is freezing." "Master!" "He came too?" "I'm not one to look after people." "And more are coming." "What the " "What's going on?" "I told Moriuchi, "I'm quitting the samurai life."" "He's an odd one." "He said to take them all with me and paid off all their debts." " So?" " So I'm sending them home." "But if some want to come with me, I won't refuse." "Where are you headed?" "I'm taking his ashes home." "THE END" "JOSHU" " MARCH 1833" "Don't quarrel!" "We're friends!" "Can he move?" "If a man went to Edo, a superintendent will come!" "Hanjiro."