"Toho Co., Ltd." "Presents" "A Mifune Production Production" "Are you in there?" "One coin won't be enough." "We may both be ronin but you don't have money problems." "You go on blabbering about conquering castles and armies without any evidence to back up your boasting in order to pocket stipends from lhara Takatane!" "I could expose your scam!" "This will be the last day I have to deal with you." "I'm gonna spruce myself up and get hired by Lord Takeda in Kai Province." "No hard feelings." "No hard feelings." "Wait." "Did you just say you're going to see Takeda in Kai?" "That's right." "That's right." "You've got connections?" "Takeda's trusted vassal, Itagaki Nobukata will be visiting Lord lmagawa's mansion tonight." "I'll use that opportunity to strike a bargain." "Hey!" "What's so funny?" "You think that obtaining a position is that easy?" "If I'm not hired, then so be it." "Let me give you some advice." "You're the kind of a man who lacks a likable personality but whose swordsmanship is incredible." "You ought to attack Itagaki as if you're trying to kill him." "Say what?" "!" "But... do not kill him, no matter what." "All you should do is assault him." "Itagaki is an important vassal, an aide to Takeda." "If you kill him, you'll not profit from it." "Shit." "A skit?" "!" "I do the assaulting, and you do the rescuing, right?" "So that's your true intention!" "If you don't want to do it, then don't." "But, it's the only way to obtain a position with Lord Takeda." "One for you... and one for me as well." "Who's there?" "!" "Who's there?" "!" "Announce your name!" "Announce your name!" "You've made a mistake..." "Announce your name!" "I am Itagaki Nobukata of the Takeda Clan!" "You're attacking, knowing I'm Takeda's vassal, Itagaki Nobukata?" "!" "Who are you?" "!" "Are you seeking a legitimate duel?" "!" "Or..." "I've been assaulted by a thief!" "I'm Itagaki Nobukata, a vassal of the Takeda Clan!" "A thief?" "Then, I shall assist you!" "Have you gone..." "cr... crazy?" "!" "Where are you, my savior from the lmagawa Clan?" "Where are you?" "Where are you, my savior from the lmagawa Clan?" "I took care of that thief for you, sir!" "However, I am not with the lmagawa Clan." "What?" "You're not a member of the lmagawa Clan?" "I am... a ronin from Ushikubo in Mikawa Province Yamamoto Kansuke!" ""Fuurin Kazan" "Samurai Banners"" "Produced by Mifune Toshiro Tanaka Tomoyuki Nishikawa Yoshio Inagaki Hiroshi" "Based on the Novel by Inoue Yasushi Screenplay by Hashimoto Shinobu and Kunihiro Takeo" "Photography:" "Yamada Kazuo Art Direction:" "Ueda Hiroshi Sound:" "Fujinawa Shoichi." "Music:" "Sato Masaru." "Asst. Director:" "Maru Teruo" "Lighting:" "Sato Sachiro Mixing:" "Shimonaga Hisashi 2nd." "Asst. Director:" "Tanaka Toshikazu Editing:" "Araki Yoshihiro" "Film Effects:" "Doi Saburo Effects:" "Chiku Cho Film Development:" "Tokyo Laboratory Co., Ltd." "Line Producer:" "Koga Shoichi" "Set Decoration:" "Takatsu Film Decoration Costumes:" "Kyoto Costumers Makeup:" "Yamadaya" "Special Thanks:" "Haramachi City, Fukushima Prefecture Somanomaoi Committee" "Starring:" "Mifune Toshiro" "Sakuma Yoshiko Nakamura Kinnosuke Ishihara Yujiro" "Nakamura Katsuo Nakamura Umenosuke Tamura Masakazu Nakamura Kankuro Ogata Ken" "Ozora Mayumi Harukawa Masumi Togo Haruko Sawai Keiko Kuga Yoshiko" "Hirata Akihiko Tsuchiya Yoshio Kubo Akira Nakatani Ichiro Sakai Sachio Tomita Nakajiro" "Sagawa Tetsuro Mukai Jun'ichiro Murata Kichijiro Yamazaki Ryunosuke Kagawa Ryosuke Shimizu Masao" "Togami Jotaro Nanbara Koji Shimura Takashi Tsukigata Ryunosuke Nakamura Kanemon" "Fight Choreography:" "Kuze Ryu Mifune Pro:" "Mifune Productions Nanaokai Tessen Group:" "Kanze Shizuo GreaterJapan Mounted Archery Society" "Directed by Inagaki Hiroshi" "March, Tenbun 22 (2543) Domain of Kai" "The Domain of Kai..." "So this is the Domain of Kai that I've dreamt of!" "Pardon me..." "Pardon me!" "Please excuse this intrusion." "Where are you from?" "Where are you from?" "I've come from Sunpu." "I can do nothing but be envious." "Huh?" "From here, the view of Kai Valley... takes my breath away." "If I were the Lord of this land, I'd build a castle right here." "Ha!" "You've got to be a blithering idiot." ""People are the walls." "People are the castle," so they say." "There are no true castles in Takeda's domain." "All the battles take place outside our borders." "Lord Takeda never allows battles to take place on his own land." "Uh-huh." "That's absolutely right." "I had almost forgotten that." "Ha!" "You'd better go back where you came from, before it gets dark." "You've come here to seek work, I bet, attracted by Takeda's mighty forces." "But you'd be of no use whatsoever!" "If you don't have any other business, then head over Miharu pass and be off with you!" "C'mon now, Yamamoto Kansuke let us drink up, and feel free to speak your mind." "Listen, Nobusato..." "Don't you ever forget that this man saved your father's life!" "Pour him a drink!" "Forget the formalities, and loosen up!" "We should let down our guard and just chat." "I don't know about others... but I won't tolerate such formality!" "You can trust me to take care of you." "I appreciate that, sir." "Don't be so formal, I said!" "I'll bet that you have some grand ambitions... so tell me of them!" "I cannot reveal my innermost intentions however, if I do serve you I vow to make Lord Takeda of Kai, the mightiest Lord in the nation." "Excuse me... perhaps I've gotten a bit drunk already." "Well said!" "That's just wonderful!" "Nobusato, don't turn your back on this man..." "Yamamoto Kansuke!" ""Conquer Suwa?"" ""Conquer Suwa?" Yes, sir." "And you say that another chance like this won't be forthcoming?" "Lord Hojo of Odawara... and Lord lmagawa of Suruga..." "These two are not only related to you, they're bound to you by treaties." "So, they won't be coming after us for a while." "Lord Saito Dosan of Mino is blocked by these treacherous mountains so, obviously he won't be able to move east towards us." "East, west and south..." "If those three directions pose no threat... then we'll strike North..." "This is our only chance to attack Suwa in Shinano." "But, Sir Nobukata the Lord of Suwa was married to our Lord's younger sister, Lady Nene." "No." "Now that the Lady has passed away our Lord is no longer related to the Suwa." "Let us suppose that Lord Suwa thinks the same way and joins hands with Lord Murakami of Northern Shinano." "What then?" "Nobukata..." "What you're saying makes good sense." "But, I can't believe you're saying it." "Excuse me, sir?" "We've often debated the idea of conquering Suwa but from the start, you have always been opposed to it." "Well, sir, that surely is the case but I was convinced by Yamamoto Kansuke that I was wrong." ""Yamamoto Kansuke?"" "He's a ronin that I recently engaged." "He has a knack for strategy and so I thought that he might be of use to us." "You've traveled to many domains..." "learned their customs and studied their defenses." "I'm also told that you are well versed in geography." "How many times have you been to Kai?" "This is my first time in Kai, sir." "Compared to other domains, what is your impression of Kai?" "The lands are fertile, the people are content and the army is strong." "What more needs be said?" "Unfortunately, however, there is one thing that it lacks." "What?" "We lack something?" "!" "Sir, this domain does not border on the sea." "Then, why do you seek a position here in the mountainous land of Takeda?" "Even without the sea, you have one thing that I truly love..." "Oh?" "And, what might that be?" ""Fast like the wind..."" ""Calm like the forest..."" ""Conquering like the fire..."" ""Invincible like the mountains..."" ""Fuu-rin-ka-zan":" "The banners of your House." "Yamamoto Kansuke..." "Your stipend will be 200-kan, and you'll lead 20 spearsmen and 80 soldiers." "Insufficient?" "Insufficient?" "No, sir." "Not at all." "Huh?" "It's you." "Don't tell me you got a position!" "Circumstances may require that I be buried here when I die." "Why you..." "You think you've got it made or something?" "!" "That's why..." "I wanted to once again see this view of the Kai Valley." "Stop daydreaming!" "You're making me sick!" "Lemme see, you got 5 bowls of rice, and maybe a single soldier?" "Oh!" "Are you Sir Yamamoto?" "Are you Sir Yamamoto?" "Yes, I am." "I am a newly-appointed troop leader, Ogiwara Yaoemon..." "I've been ordered to serve under you, sir." "Sir Itagaki told me that you'd headed out to Shimoshida Peak, and so here I am." "Oh... did something happen at this house?" "Not particularly." "From here the view of the mountains and rivers of Kai is just so wonderful, you see." "Buhei!" "What do you think you're doing?" "!" "At the very least, get him some tea!" "He's Spearsman Hatanaka Buhei, attached to my troop." "He may have a big mouth, but he's..." "Oh!" "Has he done something?" "!" "No." "But that's a good thing." "Ogiwara..." "Ogiwara..." "Sir." "Will you let me have Buhei?" "As my own spearsman, that is." "Our forces will be heading off to Suwa soon." "Besides, he's the first person I met upon coming to Kai." "I'll feel better if he's around." "Sir." "Buhei, I hope that I can count on you." "Yessir!" "March, Tenbun 23 (2544) Takeda Harunobu advances on Suwa in Shinano with an army of 20,000 men." "Takeda's forces camp at Uizan plateau, near Suwa Castle." "Lord!" "If all you wanted to do was sight-see, why bring the army?" "!" "What, you too?" "!" "Toramasa was just scolding me about it as well." "S..." "Scolding, was I?" "!" "I was only saying that, since we've come this far if we don't attack at once, morale will suffer!" "Lord... we await your orders..." "Please order a general attack at once!" "Old men are too energetic for me sometimes." "Since you're so persistent..." "Nobushige, you go take the lead." "I shall command the reserves." "Brother, why won't you, our commander, lead us?" "!" "Was this just a spring outing, after all?" "Our objective is merely a small lakeside castle." "Why, then, should we launch a major attack?" "Kansuke!" "Is there something you want to say?" "It seems to me that you, my Lord, are not very enthusiastic about this campaign." "Silence, Kansuke!" "A newcomer shouldn't talk like that!" "Wait..." "Kansuke, are you trying to annoy me, so that I'll order a major attack?" "No." "We already know the outcome of this battle." "Twenty thousand of our Takeda soldiers have come here to Shinano, under the Fuurinkazan Banner." "That alone is enough." "Thus, all that remains are the negotiations." "Negotiations?" "!" "We were supposed to plan our tactics for tomorrow!" "Kansuke!" "Attacking the Suwa was your idea!" "Wait!" "Kansuke!" "You suggest that we negotiate..." "You must have something in mind." "Yes, sir..." "Leading our troops forward is not the only way to win." "If we could conquer Suwa without losing a single man, then..." "You mean, if Suwa could be bent to our will?" "Correct, sir." "But, this negotiation..." "The mission of the messenger will be very difficult." "Go, Kansuke!" "Bear our message to Takashima Castle." "Quiet down!" "Wait!" "Quiet down!" "Quiet down!" "Quiet down!" "Quiet down!" "Hold it!" "Quiet down!" "Hold it!" "Quiet down!" "Quiet down!" "Hold it!" "Quiet down!" "Quiet down!" "Quiet down!" "Stand back!" "Stand back!" "Quiet down!" "Stand back!" "Then, you're saying Lord Harunobu has no intention of attacking Suwa?" "The death of Lady Nene was most tragic for both families." "It had weakened our relationship, and allowed suspicions to arise." "In addition, Lord Takato has told us that you, Lord Suwa have joined hands with Lord Murakami of North Shinano in order to move upon Kai." "...in order to move upon Kai." "He really said that?" "!" "As this is a time for making peace I'd like to believe that there will be no need to investigate such allegations." "As a mere messenger, I can say no more." "No, you haven't told me enough!" "No, you haven't told me enough!" "Sir?" "Sir?" "Where will our borders be?" "Sir?" "They will remain where they are." "I've said that from the beginning." "Then, we agree on Datsugi being the border?" "Correct, sir." "We'll not lay claim to anything to the west of it." "All right." "I understand." "Thank you." "Tell Lord Takeda Harunobu that I agree to attend peace negotiations." "I do hope that you will once again be brothers-in-law." "I know..." "Indeed, this conflict wasn't something that I'd planned on and besides, I do not have anything against Lord Harunobu personally." "I will visit him in Kofuchu soon, as a "younger brother" should." "Perhaps I'll bring along some Suwa carp as a gift... and we'll drink together." "Princess Yu, I take it?" "She's my daughter by Lady Komishi." "Princess Yu, meet Yamamoto Kansuke, a messenger from my brother in Kofuchu." "I'm sorry, the Princess can be a little difficult to deal with." "Perhaps I spoiled her but in this age of war, that might be a good thing!" "Buhei..." "Buhei..." "Huh?" "Lord Yorishige of Suwa will be visiting again." "Oh." "That'll be his third time here." "Well... that's perfectly fine..." "But I just don't get it..." "Since March, it's been bothering me..." "Huh?" "I'm talking about the Princess." "When we concluded the peace everyone else in their castle was happy." "But, why... why was she the only one who did not share that feeling?" "If only Taro were of age..." "I've heard that Lord Suwa has a most beautiful daughter." "Oh?" "If Taro could marry her both houses would get along so much better, I'm sure." "Yes, but there's no way to stretch a child's age or height, now is there?" "Lord Suwa Yorishige visits Kofuchu in orderto strengthen ties." "Once in March..." "Once in April..." "This will be the third time." "He'll be staying in Nirasaki tonight." "By 9 o'clock tomorrow, he'll be arriving here, sir." "Ah, he's here so often..." "I'm all out of entertainments." "By the way, Nobushige... what do you think of the Lord of Suwa?" "Just your feelings about him... as a person." "To be honest..." "I think he is quite fearless." "He may be a relative through marriage but, this will be his third visit here, each time accompanied by only a few men... and in this day and age." "The blood of prestigious Suwa runs in him... shall we say?" "Amari... how about you?" "Sir..." "I believe that he'll be an asset to you, sooner or later." "Kansuke, what about you?" "I cannot... reveal my thoughts to you, except privately." "Fine." "Let us go out into the garden then." "Will you consider having him slain?" "Whom?" "!" "Whom?" "!" "Lord Suwa, sir." "Suddenly, the clouds burst and the rain descends..." "When is it that the cherry blossoms fall?" "Indeed, the downpour tears the blossoms from the trees." "What a merciful thing..." "that drenching is!" "Spring rain... falling like tears..." "Cherry blossoms." "Is there anyone who feels nothing when the blossoms tumble?" "I've been ordered to take your life!" "W..." "Wait!" "Yaoemon!" "Finish him!" "Yaoemon!" "Finish him!" "Yessir!" "Why..." "Why did you have to be so ruthless?" "!" "Lord Suwa is your brother-in-law!" "Why, then, did you do it?" "!" "Kansuke, was this your idea?" "Or did he order you to do it?" "It's got nothing to do with you, woman!" "Be still!" "Everything has been taken care of, sir." "Kansuke... why did you conceive the idea of killing Yorishige?" "I believe that we were both considering it, sir." "Huh?" "Certainly, we'd obtained peace, but it was odd for him to visit here three times since March." "As a token of formality... or because you were brothers-in-law this would obligate you to visit Suwa at least once." "That would have placed your life in jeopardy." "Kansuke!" "So, when are we attacking Suwa?" "That, my Lord, is something that you know very well." "Lord!" "Please order our troops out at once!" "Dispatch our men immediately!" "We must take advantage of Lord Suwa's death!" "No..." "It's too soon for us to attack Suwa yet." "Sir?" "Sir?" "Sir?" "Nobukata..." "Yamamoto Kansuke is a terrifying man, isn't he?" "I don't believe that our Lord is blindly following your advice." "But, oddly, his ideas are no different from yours." "He says that it's too soon for us to attack Suwa." "I am sure that's the case." "Otherwise..." "Why is it too soon for us to attack Suwa?" "!" "Wasn't the killing of their Lord... the prelude to an immediate attack?" "If we did attack them at once they would oppose us with all their strength and fight to the last man." "Thus, even if we won, the victory would be very costly." "I believe that it's wiser to observe their actions instead of attacking." "What if other powerful clans come to the aid of the Suwa?" "!" "With the House of Takeda at the height of its prosperity are there any nearby clans mighty enough to defy us?" "Watch and see..." "It'll become clear that they'll help us attack Suwa at a moment's notice." "Lending strength to the strong, and thus profiting from it... is common sense." "A great victory without losing a single soldier?" "Kansuke... you really are a terrifying man." "Just today, our Lord was saying that." "The Lord did...?" "The Lord did...?" "Yes." "In this age of war, survival requires complex conspiracies secret dealings and assassinations." "They're inevitable." "Kansuke... what is it that's deep inside your heart...?" "No... exactly what is it that you're planning to accomplish?" "!" "To seize castles, and land..." "Then seize more castles and more land." "At this moment, sir... that is all that Yamamoto Kansuke desires." "January, Tenbun 24 (2545)." "Takeda Harunobu attacks Suwa." "The Suwa Army sallies from Takashima Castle to Fumonji Temple." "The First Troop, led by Sir Itagaki has defeated the enemy at Fumonji, advanced past Shibusaki and is heading for Takashima Castle!" "Good." "He's strong!" "No one can withstand the power of Sir Itagaki's troop!" "Who could possibly match the swiftness of the troops he leads?" "!" "A message to report!" "The First Troop, led by Sir Itagaki, is heading for Takashima Castle." "Most of the enemy have abandoned the castle and fled north, along Lake Suwa." "Good!" "Good!" "Sir!" "We can take the castle without destroying it." "But, this is rather disappointing." "The prestigious House of Suwa is no more and it is sad that it was so easy!" "Who are you?" "!" "You cannot come here!" "You mustn't!" "Aren't you Lord Suwa's daughter?" "You mustn't come any closer!" "Please stay out!" "The Princess is about to kill herself." "Do not enter until she is done!" "You've had more than enough time to kill yourselves." "I will not die." "I will not die." "What?" "I've been fleeing your soldiers..." "because I don't want to die." "What are you saying, Princess?" "!" "No!" "No!" "Why must I die?" "!" "No!" "I don't want to die!" "If the daughter of such a prestigious house as Suwa behaves like this your family will bear the shame of it forever." "Silence, Kansuke..." "Are you not Yamamoto Kansuke, who came to negotiate peace last year?" "I tried to forget you, but never could!" "Your peace negotiations were a snare to trick and murder my father!" "All of us in Suwa know this." "You're ruthless!" "You're a beast who knows no remorse so how dare you talk to me about shame or my behavior as if you were a normal human being?" "!" "Everyone else is choosing death." "But I, on the other hand, want to live if only to see what'll happen to Suwa Castle and the Lake." "I want to witness it all with my own eyes!" "That is the reason why I want to live!" "Princess!" "Princess!" "Get off me!" "Get off me!" "Princess!" "Get off me!" "Princess!" "Princess!" "Get off me!" "Don't touch her!" "It's a woman!" "It's a woman!" "Guys, it's a woman!" "Stand aside!" "Go away!" "Go away!" "Clear the way!" "Stand aside!" "Clear the way!" "Stand aside!" "Clear the way!" "Clear the way!" "Stand aside!" "Clear the way!" "Stand aside!" "Stand aside!" "She is the daughter of Lord Suwa, Princess Yu!" "If anybody dares to touch her I, Yamamoto Kansuke, will slay him at once!" "Begone!" "Begone!" "Really, does that spoiled wench realize that she's a prisoner?" "!" "She's making us carry enough stuff to furnish a house and she's always complaining that she's tired, and making us stop!" "Now she says that she wants that plum tree over there!" "Buhei..." "We'll be taking the plum tree with us." "Huh?" "!" "Flowers, you see..." "are beautiful..." "Rather, I should say... we're blessed with beautiful things in this world." ""Flowers, you see..." "are beautiful..."" ""Rather, I should say... we're blessed with beautiful things in this world."" "Hey!" "Over here!" "What's so wrong about making Princess Yu my concubine?" "Well..." "What's the problem?" "Suwa isn't the only domain in Shinano province." "In Inadani, there's Lord Kiso Yoshimasa." "In Saku, there are Lords Oi and Banno." "Beyond that, there's Lord Murakami Yoshikiyo." "There are over ten enemies that we can count." "If we get too carried away these clans will be compelled to oppose us." "That doesn't sound like the Kansuke I know." "Even if I didn't want to, you'd advise me to join with Princess Yu..." "That's the Yamamoto Kansuke method!" "You desire... something immense in scale and out of reach..." "However... what I desire is right in front of my eyes." "I haven't seen her yet but I hear that Princess Yu is stunning." "In addition..." "I'm told she's quite strong-willed." "I want Princess Yu." "I want her, so I'll make her my concubine." "So persuade Princess Yu to become my concubine, without fail." "Understood?" "Without fail!" "Kansuke... are you really insisting that I become his concubine?" "!" "Are you?" "!" "Say it loud and clear!" "You denied yourself a tragic fate..." "Are you saying that a life of shame such as this... is inevitable?" "I didn't kill myself... because I wish to live in a manner of my own choosing!" "Had I known that I'd become my enemy's concubine I'd have killed myself back then!" "Your Lord deceived and murdered my father." "To me, he can only be my enemy!" "'Tis a world of kill or be killed..." "I am not bitter that my father was not fortunate in battle." "Had your Lord not slain him, my father might have done the same to him." "But even so, I could never become the concubine of my father's enemy!" "I will not!" "I will not!" "I will not!" "How long must you stay and bother me?" "!" "I understand that you wish to live in a manner of your own choosing but you are a woman, after all." "So?" "I hope that you'll bear a son who will unite Suwa and Takeda." "What?" "! "Bear a son?" "!"" "For you, Princess, it is your best chance for a rewarding life." "Your line will not end, as your son will carry both Suwa and Takeda blood." "Kansuke..." "Exactly what are you after?" "!" "Kansuke, who is she?" "She is the First Lady." "First Lady Sanjo, Takeda's wife?" "!" "First Lady Sanjo, Takeda's wife?" "!" "Yes, ma'am." "Nobukata..." "I heard that you and Yamamoto Kansuke are harboring a girl of Suwa lineage..." "Is that true?" "I do not know what she wants of me but there is no reason for me to hide." "Is she Lord Suwa's daughter, whom you captured?" "So she's come all this way just to become a concubine of the man who killed her father!" "How sad... who could want one's lineage to fade away...?" "Truly... who could want one's lineage to fade away...?" "Kansuke!" "Like you said the blood of Suwa must unite with Takeda!" ""What I desire is right in front of my eyes."" ""You desire... something immense in scale and out of reach..."" "Takeda Harunobu invades Shinano, using Suwa as his base." "March, Tenbun 25 (2546) Takeda Harunobu attacks Toishi Castle, in Murakami's domain in Shinano." "However, aided by the rugged terrain and expecting Murakami reinforcements..." "...the castle commander, Kasahara Kiyoshige, resists strongly." "I understand what you are saying..." "If we surrender to you and give you our castle the lives of our men will be spared." "It certainly is a merciful gesture on Lord Harunobu's part." "What shall we do?" "I have some words to say to the messenger!" "Please tell your most considerate Lord that he should feel free to attack us whenever he pleases!" "Then, you'll not surrender?" "Murakami's army will be here soon." "Then we will attack... and Takeda's army will be crushed between us!" "Not only you, Lord, but all of you, sirs..." "do not seem to have heard..." "What?" "!" "Three days ago..." "On March 7th Murakami's army was defeated at Uedagahara with the aid of our men, led by Amari Bizen and Yokota Bichunokami." "Surely you're joking." "No, this is no lie." "We Takeda lost many of our own men in the battle." "However... as Murakami's army is dispersed and in flight it can no longer support Toishi Castle..." "Which means that..." "Honored Messenger." "From what I hear, you have a strategist named Yamamoto Kansuke." "I'd like you to go back and tell your people something." "Since your attack on Suwa, we now appreciate Kansuke's tactics." "I..." "Kasahara Kiyoshige... haven't gotten senile enough yet to fall for a snare of his devising." ""If you rely too much on cunning lies and deceptions..." ""...eventually, people won't believe anything you say, even if it's true!"" "If Toishi Castle is unwilling to surrender..." "Shall we try to bargain once more, or besiege them and starve them out?" "Well, sir, as we lost many men at Uedagahara I feel that it's best for us to go back and replenish our army." "After all, we only attacked this castle as bait to entice Murakami." "So, if Murakami is unwilling to leave Kuzuo Castle..." "Kansuke... well?" "To leave, when Toishi Castle is in plain sight... that would be regrettable!" "What're you saying...?" "Our enemies already know what you've planned!" "No, that is not true." "An emergency messenger from home has arrived!" "Sir, I have a message to report!" "Tell me." "Tell me." "On March 13th, around 3 am Princess Yu delivered a child." "A prince is born, sir!" "What?" "Kansuke!" "Princess Yu bore me a prince!" "It's a boy!" "All right." "We will withdraw, as of tomorrow." "Give the orders at once!" "Yes, sir!" "Yes, sir!" "Yes, sir!" "Buhei!" "Buhei!" "Yeah?" "Buhei!" "Buhei!" "Oh!" "Yessir, yessir..." "Yessir!" "Buhei..." "Buhei..." "Yeah?" "Have you ever thought about fate..." "some great destiny or love?" "What?" "!" "Princess Yu gave birth to a prince." "Now that's something joyful!" "How so?" "'Cause we might be allowed to get plastered in celebration!" "Never mind!" "Go!" "Buhei!" "Buhei!" "Yessir!" "Yessir..." "What's beyond that... beyond that mountain?" "Ueda fief, in Shinano." "Ueda fief, in Shinano." "What's in Ueda?" "What's in Ueda?" "Murakami's Kuzuo Castle." "What's in Ueda?" "Murakami's Kuzuo Castle." "Murakami's Kuzuo Castle." "What's beyond that?" "Beyond that is Kawanakajima, and then Zenkoji Temple in Nagano." "And, beyond Zenkoji?" "!" "And, beyond Zenkoji?" "!" "I guess that'll be Echigo Province..." "I guess that'll be Echigo Province..." "And, beyond Echigo?" "!" "I guess that'll be Echigo Province..." "There's nothing beyond that!" "Just the vast, open sea!" "Good." "I see..." "I see it!" "I see it now, at last!" "Why the need to cancel our trip home?" "Why must we attack once again?" "!" "When we were planning our strategy before... it didn't occur to me I didn't see the whole picture..." "I couldn't be certain." "I don't understand!" "Explain yourself!" "The men in Toishi Castle cannot defend it without reinforcements." "However, they're doing their best, while waiting for help to arrive." "So, we know we can take Toishi Castle, by executing a full-scale attack!" "No, sir, that's absolutely the worst possible idea." "What?" "!" "We offered to negotiate with them only because both sides knew we could defeat them." "Even so, they refused to accept our terms." "So, if we leave now, they will not hinder us, but we'll be looked down upon as cowards." "Such will be the consequences." "That is why we must not leave!" "Friend and foe alike, all must consider the Takeda Forces to be powerful!" "In fact, the Takeda army must become even stronger in the future." "Don't lecture me, I know that already!" "But, what about the lives of men we may lose in exchange for the acquisition of Toishi Castle?" "!" "No... we won't be losing many men." "It'll take us but half a day to seize the castle." "Kansuke, that doesn't make sense!" "Stop playing with words!" "Wait." "This is how we'll take the castle..." "I'll repeat once again!" "Listen carefully..." "The army that you in the castle have waited for was as you can see... obviously defeated at Uedagahara." "Here are the heads of Mochida Danjo Abe Jinpachi... and thirteen other generals..." "Furthermore... over twelve hundred warriors were killed..." "These are the heads of those defeated by us:" "The Takeda Forces!" "If you think that these are props of some kind send a messenger here." "Feel free to check as much as you'd like!" "After losing the battle at Uedagahara Murakami retreated inside his home, Kuzuo Castle!" "You've been waiting for aid in vain..." "Alas, not one warrior will come!" "Lord Takeda's wars are not won by intimidation or deception!" "Wherever our Fuurinkazan banners go, anyone who obeys us will be spared." "But, anyone who dares to oppose us will be destroyed at once!" "This is the way of the Takeda!" "If you are going to surrender take Lord Kasahara's flag down from that watchtower." "If it isn't down in two hours we'll storm your castle, and none will be spared!" "Even to the women and children, no mercy shall be shown!" "This will be the fate that all of you shall meet!" "A prince is born, carrying Takeda blood... and Suwa blood." "I don't know what sort of life he will lead but, for now... he sleeps so peacefully." "I must say... that I appreciate your coming here." "I see that you came here without even stopping at your home first." "Yes." "A messenger told me about the battle." "Congratulations." "No, we cannot celebrate yet." "If Murakami was an average foe, he would've defended Toishi Castle." "But instead, he patiently waits for us." "Murakami is no ordinary enemy." "I fear that our war with Murakami..." "will be long and difficult." "But..." "Kansuke, I'm sure that you'll soon be chasing Murakami out of Shinano." "I'm counting on you..." "Ma'am?" "...to protect my son, I mean." "Kai and Shinano will eventually be... under Lord Takeda's rule." "I want my son to become..." "Lord Takeda's successor." "Kansuke..." "Kansuke..." "Ma'am?" "You told me to keep on living... and I did so." "You told me to come to Kai... and I came to Kai." "You told me to become the Lord's concubine... and I submitted." "Give birth to a son, you said..." "and I have born a son." "I've done everything you told me to do." "All aspects of my life..." "my body and soul have become what you desired." "Isn't that right, Kansuke?" "I ask you, Kansuke..." "Please take care of my son." "By the time he comes of age the Takeda domain shall not just include Kai and Shinano." "I believe it will also extend far north, to the sea and shall include many, many more domains!" "Young Lord..." "I am so glad that you've been born..." "Young Lord..." "I am so glad!" "Young Lord, your parent is not Lord Takeda... or even Princess Yu!" "Young Lord, your parent is I..." "Kansuke!" "Young Lord, it is I..." "Kansuke..." "who's your true parent!" "I'll do everything for you, Young Lord so that something very great will most certainly be yours!" "Kansuke will not fail you!" "Since March, we haven't had to order our men out at all." "Choyo "Double-Nine" Day:" "Sept. 9th." "A day for viewing Chrysanthemums." "It's rare for us to celebrate Choyo Day as peacefully as this." "To be calm... as in "Calm like the forest..."" "Since Sir Itagaki was placed in charge of Suwa, he hasn't shown up here much which makes it even quieter." "...which makes it even quieter." "No... there's still a noisy one left!" "The more our Lord's strength becomes renowned throughout the world the more enemies he will make." "There's no way that Murakami will remain quiet for long." "But, I doubt that lmagawa or Hojo will make a move at this time." "Then there's the "Tiger of Echigo..."" "Nagao Kagetora must be dealt with most carefully..." "He surely lives up to his name!" "All is peaceful in our fief and the rice harvest is bountiful." "I must congratulate you on this Day of Choyo." "Congratulations, sir." "Very well." "I must announce one more item on this joyous occasion." ""Shi-ro:" Fourth-Son." "It is about my son, Shiro, whom Princess Yu gave birth to this spring..." "At the insistence of the Princess..." ""Katsu-yori:" Victory-Depend." "...we've decided to rename him "Katsuyori."" "It was..." "Yamamoto Kansuke who came up with the name." "From now on, my son will be known as Takeda Shiro-Katsuyori!" "When he fights, he will "win." Also, he's a man we can "depend" on." "What's wrong?" "!" "Hey!" "What's wrong?" "!" "Uesugi Norimasa's army is on the march together with detachments seconded from Musashi and Ueno and they're heading for Fuefuki Pass!" "How many are they?" "Do you know how big their forces are?" "They number... about twenty-two thousand..." "Deputy:" "An official directly subordinate to the Shogun." "I never dreamed that Uesugi Norimasa, the Kanto Deputy, would show up!" "These last few years, Hojo has pressured Uesugi, and he's had many setbacks." "Perhaps he has come to Kai in order to reverse his fortunes." "Uesugi Norimasa... he must've decided to stake his life!" "Sir, please authorize me to..." "lead my men out to Fuefuki Pass!" "Instead, please, allow me!" "Wait!" "If the enemy is headed for Fuefuki it'll take us too long to gather our men from the north." "Lord..." "I believe that Sir Itagaki would be the ideal man to defend the pass." "You mean, recall Itagaki from Suwa?" "We all take for granted the strength of the men under his command." "All right!" "Recall Itagaki at once!" "Nobushige will take over Suwa!" "Yes, sir." "Men!" "Men!" "Lord... please allow me to relay your orders to Sir Itagaki." "Very well." "Go!" "Hey!" "...before the enemy gets through Fuefuki Pass!" "That's all I've come to tell you!" "Oh, my..." "Am I exhausted!" "Is that what you came all this way to tell me?" "That..." "That is all..." "I have come to tell you, sir." "Kansuke, I already knew that much before you got here!" "No, I don't believe that you realize the true nature of the situation!" "At the beginning of a battle, your men are as strong as demons but if things drag on, they begin to tire!" "Nonsense!" "No..." "In every battle I've seen you fight, it's always been like that." "Nonsense!" "Kansuke... you will come with me to fight, will you not?" "If you march now, and face their troops at Fuefuki Pass you will not be needing me, sir." "Oh, would you shut up!" "I know that!" "Well, then, Kansuke..." "rest up here." "Yes, sir." "As soon as I recover, I'll catch up with you." "Behold, Kansuke!" "Oh!" "So splendid, all in red!" "Acting on Nobusato's recommendation we've painted all our armor, helmets and flags red so that we'll stand out to all our enemies, as well as to our allies!" "Spearsmen on horses..." "Itagaki warriors all in red..." "Their undefeatable strength... will be apparent to just about anyone!" "Well then..." "Kansuke!" "The battle began at 9 am..." "As Sir Itagaki's men are always masterful at the onset of battle they easily destroyed the enemy's vanguard at Fuefuki." "1,219 enemy warriors were slain." "By 11am, Sir Itagaki's men had won... a magnificent victory!" "On October 7th, Lord Takeda arrived leading the main army, facing 16,000 enemy troops." "But, hearing the news of Sir Itagaki's great victory their confidence was boosted a hundred-fold and they were able to rout the enemy... killing over 4,700!" "It was a superb victory for the forces of the Takeda!" "Lord Takeda and the majority of his warriors will return in three days." "Sir Itagaki and Sir Yamamoto have informed me that they and their men will remain at Fuefuki, to be on the lookout." "After Murakami is..." "Nagao of Echigo, huh?" "Yes, sir." "And, while we're at it we could deal with lmagawa of Suruga as well!" "We'll carve out a new, grander, Takeda fief that will stretch from the northern to the southern seas." "Our century of civil war, that which began with the Onin War will then come to an end." "A new Japan is about to be born." "You have giant dreams." "My... it's too big, even for a dream!" "Alas, it'll be impossible... for it to be done during our Lord's lifetime it is simply impossible, I'm afraid." "Two or three years for Murakami..." "ten for Nagao of Echigo and five years for lmagawa." "So, give it fifteen or sixteen years." "By then, Prince Katsuyori will have come of age." "Lord Takeda already has three sons by his first wife." "Why should we accept Prince Katsuyori, a concubine's son, as the future Lord?" "Sir, Prince Katsuyori is a son born to Princess Yu." "Princess Yu... in all the world, she is the most beautiful." "Princess Yu... the wisest, and most steadfast." "As Prince Katsuyori shares her blood nobody else could possibly become the heir of Lord Takeda!" "I can't support such a thing, you know that." "You see, I am a descendant of Takeda Genji, like the family of Shinra Saburo before my time." "The House of Takeda had prospered but the protection of our lineage matters more than prosperity!" "For me..." "I have a family and..." "the lineage to protect." "I cannot selfishly try to realize my fantasies, like you want to do!" "But, even so, Kansuke it would be a good idea to move Prince Katsuyori to Suwa as soon as possible." "You know how First Lady Sanjo can be and many warriors accept orders from her directly." "If Prince Katsuyori remains in Kofuchu who knows what sort of tragic fate awaits him because of a dispute over family affairs?" "Both Prince Katsuyori and Princess Yu should be moved to Suwa as soon as possible." "Suwa used to belong to her family." "Besides, I'm at Takashima Castle." "B..." "But... then..." "Well, I've got nothing to do with whether or not Prince Katsuyori becomes Lord Takeda's heir." "However it is my responsibility to decide how to deal with Suwa's former rulers." "I, Itagaki Nobukata, promise to raise Prince Katsuyori to be the finest warrior in Japan!" "I hope you are not cold." "We'll be arriving in Suwa before long." "How I miss Suwa..." "The lake is frozen by now, is it not?" "Yes, ma'am." "There are no large lakes in Kofuchu." "I grew up watching the lake in Suwa, so each year, around this time, I get nostalgic about it." "From now on, you'll be able to see the lake in spring, in autumn even when it's frozen." "You can see it anytime, as often as you wish." "What?" "Kansuke... whatever do you mean?" "Princess, I must ask that you, and Prince Katsuyori, reside in Suwa from now on." "For the time being, you will live apart from Lord Takeda." "Yaoemon!" "We're going!" "Living at Takashima Castle would only make the Princess relive many unpleasant memories, so... 2-ri:" "A little less than 4 kilometers." "...we arranged for a mansion in Kosaka Kan'on Temple, about 1-ri to the south." "Thank you for all your kindness." "But, Kansuke..." "I'm assuming that you've convinced Princess Yu to live in Suwa." "You've obtained her agreement, I hope." "As we both know, the Princess is most strong-willed." "There was no way she'd accept this, had I told her back in Kofuchu." "Then... you haven't told her any of this yet?" "!" "Well..." "I sort of mentioned it, on the way here." "Now that she's here, she can't do much about it." "You're so heartless!" "You're like that in everything you do!" "So... what was her reaction?" "She is so upset with me... that she hasn't spoken to me since." "Why am I not surprised?" "!" "I wonder if we should be doing this...?" "As for getting scolded by the Princess..." "I am used to it." "Anything wrong, sir?" "The Princess?" "!" "The Princess has fled." "Her escort Kayano must've taken responsibility by killing herself." "Yaoemon, you'll risk your life for me, will you not?" "My life has been yours from the beginning." "You must not... tell anyone about this." "Leave no trace of this whatsoever." "Do you understand?" "Yes, sir!" "I shall not fail you!" "I'll try to find the Princess." "She couldn't have gotten too far." "Princess!" "Princess!" "Princess!" "Princess!" "Princess!" "Princess!" "It is I, Kansuke!" "Are you all right, Princess?" "Kansuke... what are you doing here?" "!" "Let me be blunt..." "I will go back, to be with Lord Takeda." "I do not wish to live in Suwa!" "Wh..." "Why?" "!" "Will you..." "let me have my way?" "Whatever your heart desires, I will ensure that it becomes a reality." "In that case... you may open the door." "Yes, ma'am..." "I am most glad that you are safe!" "Princess!" "You're not cold, are you?" "Are the wounds on your feet hurting you?" "Moreover..." "I am sure that you are hungry." "Please try to bear with me until we get back to Suwa." "Kansuke... you just don't understand, do you?" "Ma'am?" "Hunger pangs, or annoying pain from the wounds on my feet are nothing compared to the suffering of my life." "Of course, I understand very well what you are going through." "No... you do not!" "Then... if I'm allowed to say so I am sorry that I never realized how hard it would be for you to be away from Lord Takeda." "Kansuke, that's not all." "Ma'am?" "Despite everything that is expected of me, I ache to be with Lord Takeda." "It is impossible for you to understand the reasons why." "I will tell you." "I want to take his life!" "I want to take his life, with my own hands!" "But, that's only natural, isn't it, Kansuke?" "After all, he killed my father!" "What's the matter, Kansuke?" "You need not worry about anything." "Because, for the time being, I only wish to see him once more." "But when tomorrow comes, I'll want his life once again!" "And, the day after tomorrow..." "I might only wish to see him again." "He's the fiend who killed my father..." "and took me for his own and yet... he's the one who fathered my Katsuyori he's the one who adores me." "As long as I live these two feelings will be at war within me." "Kansuke... do you still think that you understand just how I feel?" "!" "Intermission" "Tenbun 27 (2548) The Takeda and Murakami armies clash at Uedagahara once again." "Attack!" "This is so picturesque!" "Our men will be attacking the enemy's First Troop." "The men are so strong!" "When it comes to commencing an attack, he's without equal." "3-cho:" "About 330 meters." "3-cho to go until we face the enemy's Second Troop!" "Attack!" "Go!" "He's so strong..." "as always." "At this rate, the fight will be over soon." "If we don't get going, we'll miss the action." "Oh!" "Itagaki's men have been split into two lines?" "!" "The enemy's Second Troop broke through our vanguard!" "Sir Nobushige's Second Troop shall attack!" "Wh..." "What the?" "!" "That banner with the letter "Jo..." Whose is it?" "!" "The letter "Jo..." It is the banner of Murakami Yoshikiyo!" "The man leading them is the general of the enemy:" "Murakami Yoshikiyo!" "Murakami...?" "!" "Kansuke, Murakami's leading them from the front!" "We've got to have his head today, no matter what the cost!" "The Third Troop, Tsuchiya Yoemon's men, will attack!" "Why must we retreat?" "!" "Why can't I and my staff go and kill Yoshikiyo?" "!" "Why do you think we've formed a Kakuyoku formation?" "!" "No more than a hundred of their men will escape our trap!" "If we retreat now, Sir Baba's men can advance and destroy them all!" "No, we will not retreat!" "Not matter what happens, we won't do that!" "Please, this is not the time to indulge oneself!" "What will you gain by personally killing Yoshikiyo?" "!" "What?" "!" "Sir, we won't make it..." "If we retreat, they'll get us from behind." "If we move elsewhere, they'll outflank us!" "We won't prevail if we retreat now!" "Guard our Lord!" "We'll wait here... then we'll attack them all at once!" "The horsemen!" "Charge!" "Takeda Harunobu..." "Here I am!" "We now know that Murakami can never oppose us again." "The way today's battle progressed was highly unusual." "Clearly, Yoshikiyo staked everything on this battle." "Yet, he not only failed to destroy you, but he also lost most of his men." "It's doubtful he can do much anymore, all by himself." "Which means that, from now on..." "Kansuke... how many more years will it take?" "Sir?" "Until the day we take Nagao Kagetora's head!" "No matter how many years it takes, we shall certainly see it happen!" "Sir Itagaki Nobukata has died in battle!" "Sir Itagaki has died in battle!" "Sir Nobukata..." "I... am without words..." "For me, nobody could possibly replace Sir Nobukata." "Now I feel as if I've been deserted, left all alone in a barren field..." "No..." "I'm not the only one left behind..." "There is also Princess Yu, and Prince Katsuyori." "You are a man who rarely voices your thoughts..." "But, please, at least for today I need you to tell me that you, like Sir Nobukata, will lend me your strength." "The reasons why he transferred those two to Suwa and what I plan to do; my treasured goals... these you know all too well." "No, I know not." "We all think differently." "However, Sir Yamamoto, I wonder if you're not being too indulgent?" "You don't kill the one who ought to be killed yet you seek to fight Nagao Kagetora... it's ridiculous!" ""The one who ought to be killed...?"" "The other woman." ""From the mountain that way..." "to the mountain this way..." ""What is it that comes dashing?" ""Popping out of its head are..." "two long and narrow..." ""...ears, sticking out..." ""Why, it's a rabbit, sitting..."" "Wow, now that's something!" "With that many kids, forget about battling armies and start worrying about the battling heirs!" "All right now..." "She may be a very important person..." "But, talk about a problem!" "I wanted to bear the Lord's children..." "even if it were wrong for me to do so." "Have you any idea why I've come here?" "No, I haven't." "But, I do sense something frightening." "To be honest, I've come to take your life." "Did the Lord order you to do so?" "If it's true... that the Lord ordered you to do so I'm willing to die, at any time." "I don't know her." "Nobody by that name." "You are certain that you do not know her, sir?" "No, never heard of her." "She's the daughter of a famous family in Ina Domain, the Aburagawa family the Princess Okoto." "You say that you do not know her, sir?" "Uh-huh." "What about her?" "So, what if I know her?" "If you insist that you don't know her, sir then I must personally slay her at once." "Did Princess Yu tell you to kill her?" "No, the Princess is not aware of this matter." "We must take care of it before she hears any of this." "It'd just be too disheartening..." "for me to have to tell her." "I need your decision, sir!" "No, you mustn't!" "Don't chop off the girl's head!" "No, she won't lose her head..." "But, Lord, you must lose your hair!" "What?" "!" "Are you telling me to become a monk?" "!" "From now on, you must not fight fate, and devote yourself to Buddhism." "In order to protect your family legacy, which has endured for generations I ask you to take a vow of chastity!" "Is that what you've dreamt of achieving?" "I want you to become a noble figure, one who will live on in the hearts of not just those in Kai and Shinano but those in a much larger world!" "So, I must become a monk?" "February, Tenbun 20 (2552) Takeda and Kansuke shave their heads and become monks." "It took Kansuke three years to persuade Lord Takeda to take holy orders." "Father, why did you become a monk?" "Now, now..." "Katsuyori..." "You see, your father played too many naughty games so the gods had to severely punish him." "Father, is that true?" "Well, I guess that's about right." "Kansuke, did the gods punish you, too?" "Alas, poor Kansuke had to go along to keep your father company." "No, I was punished by the gods as well!" "A very, very severe punishment indeed, straight from heaven!" "Come here now..." "Your father has become a monk in order to be reborn as a general even more powerful than he was before." "He has changed his name too to Takeda Shingen." "...to Takeda Shingen." ""Takeda Shingen?"" ""Takeda Shingen?"" "Yes." ""Takeda Shingen?"" "Kansuke, did your name change, too?" "Yes, I changed it to Yamamoto Kansuke-Dooki!" "...Yamamoto Kansuke-Dooki!" ""Dooki?"" ""Strong as a devil..."" "...and praying to live only to fight battles!" "Do you understand?" "This is the first time the three of us are drinking together." "That's right, now that you mention it..." "But, it doesn't feel as if this is the first time." "It feels like we were always like this." "Don't you think so, Kansuke?" "Lord..." "What's wrong?" "What's wrong?" "Nothing..." "You know, my bald head feels cold!" "Get me a hood." "Certainly." "Now that I've become a monk... and I can't lay my hands on women..." "If you wish to fight a battle, do so to your heart's content." "If you tell us to conquer Kiso, we'll do so." "If you tell us to conquer Echigo, we will." "We'll do whatever you wish, Princess." "Me?" "Why do you say such kind words to me tonight?" "At this moment, our clan is facing its greatest challenge." "Kansuke and I have done our best to consider all possible options but we haven't been able to settle on anything." "Say what's on your mind..." "I will decide, based on what you have to say." "First, I'd ask you to conquer Kiso." "And, to strengthen the alliance that exists between us and lmagawa and Hojo." "I believe that is very important." "Princess Yu and Kansuke... you are just like a married couple!" "Personally, I'd go for Echigo first..." "But..." "I'd do it the way that Kansuke would've or the way he might've wanted to do it." ""When our forces are at peak strength..." "that's the moment we'll take Echigo!"" "Kansuke, isn't that right?" "That's right." "That's exactly right, sir." "Excuse me, sir." "Sir Itagaki has arrived." "Really?" "Show him in." "So nice of you to come." "Just having drinks with my family." "Come on in." "Sanada Yukitaka of Ueda had sent us an emergency messenger, sir." "What's the matter?" "It contains news of what's going on with Nagao in Echigo, sir." "His perennial request to be appointed to the post of Kanto Deputy was granted by Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiteru on March 2nd." "So, not just Echigo and Noto... but he'll be in charge of all eight provinces in Kanto?" "Additionally, in honor of the event, his name will be changed to Uesugi as was strongly requested by his predecessor, Uesugi Norimasa." "That means, he's no longer Nagao Kagetora... but Uesugi Kagetora?" "No, sir." "Apparently, Kagetora has taken holy vows and thus had begun a new life as a devout Buddhist monk." "And so, he will go by the name of "Uesugi Kenshin."" ""Uesugi Kenshin..."" "Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen..." "February, Tenbun 24 (2555) The army of Uesugi Kenshin marches to Shinano." "Takeda Shigen's army camps at Unnodaira in Shinano." "They're nothing like the opponents we've faced in the past, sir..." "The army seems to be very confident, and proceeds without concealment." "Yet... they are marching in formation, and thus can fight at a moment's notice." "Uh-huh..." "The Echigo Army..." "So they're the Echigo Army." "The Takeda and Uesugi armies face each other at Unnodaira." "Forthree days, neither side moves." "You keep telling us to wait..." "How long must we do so?" "!" "Their six thousand against our fifteen thousand... we can wipe them out!" "Don't be in such a hurry!" "When they push, we'll pull back." "When they pull, we'll push." "For the time being, we'll continue to do this." "Sir, do you think the same way as my brother does?" "I do." "Uesugi Kenshin is young and full of energy." "He's all fired up, and will attack us any day now." "That's when we'll..." "Uesugi's army is moving!" "Lord, in today's battle... please do not even think of killing him." "It's sufficient for us to merely observe his fighting style." "I'm fully aware of that!" "It doesn't look as if they will attack us." "Perhaps they'll retreat." "What?" "!" "Kansuke, I could see him from here faintly... but surely, with my own eyes!" "Backlit by the sun... there was his white hood!" "I must thank you for coming from so far away." "You don't look pale at all..." "I can't imagine how you could be ill!" "She's been feeling better these last few days." "All of a sudden, I wanted to see your face, Kansuke, so I dispatched a messenger." "Please excuse my selfishness." "Not at all!" "Whatever you desire, I am in favor of it." "I'm feeling much better today." "Kansuke..." "Will you take me out to the garden?" "Yes, ma'am." "Kansuke... you're going back to Kofuchu, are you not?" "No, I will be heading over to Kawa- nakajima in North Shinano." "Kawanakajima?" "I think that the decisive battle between our Lord and Uesugi will be fought there." "Why do you think so?" "Should the armies of both sides assemble there the terrain is such that neither will be able to withdraw." "Are you feeling tired?" "This may be the last year in which we can talk like this." "You must be joking, ma'am!" "Such nonsense!" "No..." "I don't have much time left to live." "The Lord knows this already, I think." "I wish not to hear such words from you." "If you leave this world, Princess..." "I shall accompany you!" "However... at this point, I cannot allow myself to die no..." "I cannot die even if I'm killed!" "I have three wishes..." "First, to behead Uesugi with my own hands." "Second, to see Prince Katsuyori's maiden battle with my own eyes." "And, third to see the Takeda domain stretch from the northern to the southern seas in a world that is at peace." "Kansuke, why don't you try to grow up a little?" "Indeed, you never change!" "You keep holding on to a dream... a big dream..." "On the other hand..." "I've tried to live my life in the way I wanted to yes, I feel as though I've done just that but I also feel as if none of my wishes have ever come true." "Kansuke..." "I ask this of you..." "Please take care of Katsuyori." "I do not want to die." "Not until I get to see his maiden battle with my own eyes!" "I do not want to die..." "Kawanakajima" "We need a castle around here." "A castle?" "Oh, I see!" "This is where we'll eventually battle Uesugi!" "With a castle here, "the strong shall be stronger," as the saying goes!" "It can be a small one, as long as it's well-guarded." "Two or three hundred soldiers stationed at the castle will deliver the final blow to the Uesugi army when they try to flee from my forces!" "I see!" "Of course, the Lord of the castle will be Prince Katsuyori and it is there that he'll have his glorious maiden battle." "Boss!" "Boss, Sir Itagaki is here." "I believe that we will be fighting the Uesugi by the spring, at the latest." "We should have more than enough time to build a castle here." "I see." "And...?" "A castle is definitely needed, sir." "And I request that Prince Katsuyori be assigned to the castle." "Prince Katsuyori... yes..." "Should our forces perish here at Kawa- nakajima, all would be for naught!" "We must endure, at all costs so that, no matter what, at least Prince Katsuyori will live on." "Are you saying... that, if we fight here, we'll lose?" "!" "We have always maneuvered our forces so that we only fought battles which we knew that we could win." "But, in a battle with Uesugi's Echigo army it's impossible to predict the outcome." "Both sides will lose many men, and the battle will become a wild melee in which preplanned tactics will be of no value whatsoever." "When that happens, it will become a battle of individual single combat." "Echigo's troops, who are used to bloody man-to-man fighting will, in the final stage of the battle, be far superior to our warriors who lack this kind of experience!" "I wonder if you're really the son of Sir Itagaki Nobukata." "It is Lord Takeda's wish that we destroy Uesugi right here." "I, for one, have lived to see that day." "Yet, you contend that we'll lose if we fight them here?" "!" "I lack eloquence, as you know." "Please forgive me for the way I say things." "I wish to win..." "No matter what!" "I do wish that we win the fight!" "But, to do that... you must not underestimate anything!" "Underestimate?" "!" "You mean, I'm underestimating something?" "!" "Wanting to win... and the ability to win... are two different things." "Please do not let your dreams cloud your vision." "If you follow too great a dream, it may lead us to a terrible defeat." "What?" "!" "Sir Itagaki!" "Sir Itagaki!" "Underestimated?" "!" "What have I underestimated?" "!" "Sir Yamamoto... please return to Takashima Castle at once." "Princess Yu... has passed away!" "On night of the 23rd she died peacefully at Kosaka Kan'on Temple." "Lord Takeda will be traveling from Kofuchu..." "Please leave at once!" "The funeral march will begin at 3am tomorrow..." "The procession will originate from the castle's north-west gate." "From there, it will proceed to the main gate... and then left to the cemetery of Kosaka Kan'on Temple." "For the incense rites, following Lord Takeda will be Prince Katsuyori..." "Sir Samanosuke Nobushige Sir Takeda Shoyoken..." "Sir Yamagata Masakage Sir Kosaka Danjo Sir Anayama Izu Sir Ryozuni Bungo..." "Life is strange..." "The Princess was able to live for ten extra years..." "On that day, had you intervened even a moment later I'd probably have killed her right here... and killed myself as well." "But, I am glad that she lived..." "She was happy..." "No... woman will ever live as happily... as she did... 7 Years Later, November, Genroku 3 (2560) Construction of Kaizu Castle at Kawanakajima is complete." "Starting next year, Young Lord..." "you'll be the Lord of this castle!" "I can hardly wait!" "Kansuke, when will you stop calling me "Young Lord?" "!"" "I'll be of age next year, you know that!" "You're absolutely right, sir!" "Indeed... it has taken us a long, long time to build this castle..." "Since your mother's passing how many times has Kenshin attacked us here in North Shinano?" "Three times." "First, at Tokura." "Next, at Nakanojo." "And, finally, at Zenkojidaira." "Due to all the battles we've had to fight at those places construction of this castle had to be delayed." "But, from now on... it is we who can attack Kenshin at any time!" "Kansuke, when will Kenshin attack us again?" "He'll be here sooner than you think." "Much sooner..." "Why do you say that?" "Kenshin attacked Hojo of Odawara, then disengaged in mid-battle." "Can you tell me why that happened, Young Lord?" "That's..." "That's because he's concerned about what our forces might be doing." "That's exactly right!" "As long as the Takeda army exists, he can't possibly control all of Kanto." "He tried attacking Kyoto twice, but failed and now that we've established this castle as a base for our army he must sit, pinned, in his home domain!" "The "Tiger of Echigo" will soon be heading to Kawanakajima." "But, we'd better not fight him until next year until after you, Prince Katsuyori, come of age!" "August, Genroku 4 (2562)." "Uesugi marches from Kasuga Castle." "He advances towards Kawanakajima with an army of 23,000 men." "The Takeda army consists of 28,000 men, organized into 28 troops." "It takes three days forthe army to depart from Kofuchu." "To Kawanakajima!" "To Kawanakajima!" "It has been a long time, Princess." "We've been busy fighting battles and building castles these last few years." "I'm sorry that I haven't been able to visit you often." "Please forgive me." "Princess, please rejoice... the time has come for my dreams to come true!" "Lord Takeda's army of 18,000 men, with our Fuurinkazan banners in hand is heading to Kawanakajima as we speak." "However, I have one regret and that is that Prince Katsuyori isn't of age yet and so, this won't be his maiden battle." "But, as long as we get Kenshin's head, lmagawa will be next so, I believe, there's no need to rush things." "Princess..." "I wish to be at your side as soon as possible." "But, as there are matters I must take care of first... please be patient." "Please give my regards to Sir Itagaki as well." "Young Lord!" "Th..." "That outfit!" "You mustn't fight, not until you're of age!" "Sir Nobusato, what's the meaning of this?" "Kansuke, don't worry." "As much as I'd like to, you know that I'll not go out and fight until I'm of age!" "Sir..." "But, you know..." "I look good in it, don't I?" "Sir..." "Nobusato told me, "Our First Troop, led by Kansuke, will be here soon..." ""...so wear the armor."" "Oh?" "Sir Nobusato said that...?" "I know that you're disappointed that this won't be my first battle." "He said that the least I could do was to let you see me in my outfit as if this truly were my maiden battle!" "Oh!" "Sir Nobusato told you that?" "!" "Well, Kansuke?" "Do I look all right?" "Of course you do!" "You look so perfect in it!" "In five years or so... without a doubt, you'll be the best warrior in the land!" "Kansuke, I understand that you're leading the vanguard this time." "Yes, sir." "In that case, I shall give you a gift." "Sir?" "Sir?" "Go!" "Hop on your horse!" "Go!" "Hop on your horse!" "Sir?" "Go!" "Hop on your horse!" "Sir?" "Sir?" "Come on!" "Go!" "Come on!" "Go!" "Sir..." "Come on!" "Go!" "Sir..." "Sir..." "Hop on your horse!" "All you men, don't be so modest!" "Hop on also!" "Sir!" "Hop on!" "Sir!" "This is the man who will lead you to Kaizu Castle the commander of the Yamamoto Troop of the Takeda Forces Yamamoto Kansuke!" "Everyone, let us wish him all the best!" "Hurray for Kansuke!" "Kawanakajima, on the Chikuma River Uesugi Takeda Saijo Mt." "Kaizu Castle" "Kawanakajima, on the Chikuma River Uesugi Takeda" "Kawanakajima, on the Chikuma River Uesugi Takeda 23,000 men 28,000 men" "It's as if they know that this could be their last chance." "Uesugi Kenshin... is even more prepared than in the past." "We either wait for his attack, or launch one of our own but, as he's much younger than you, Lord I'm sure he'll run out of patience and come after us first." "That'll be the moment..." "That'll be the decisive moment for us all!" "But, their men number 13,000..." "while we have 18,000." "With 5,000 less men, it's doubtful that Uesugi will even consider attacking us here at Kaizu Castle." "Do you think so?" "Do you think that my strategy is faulty?" "Sir, are you not aware of it?" "Aware of what?" "Our men will all be leaving the castle today to attack Uesugi at Mount Saijo." "U..." "Under whose orders?" "!" "I see you've heard about it." "Are you really planning to launch this attack?" "!" "That's right." "That's right." "Do you have a specific reason?" "!" "Do you have a specific reason?" "!" "No, I don't." "Do you have a specific reason?" "!" "Only that..." "All of a sudden, I wanted to plan an attack." "Such an explanation is totally unacceptable!" "For over thirty battles, I have planned our strategy and not once have I failed!" "Now, in our present situation..." "Your strategies have never failed." "Each time, you and I were of one mind or, perhaps I got dragged along by your ideas." "But, at least this time around, I want to do it my way..." "Exactly as I please." "Exactly as I please." "Lord!" ""If you wish to fight a battle, do so to your heart's content."" "You know very well who spoke those words." "Very well, sir." "We shall carry out the attack, as you wish." "However, please allow me to plan the strategy." "First, we'll launch a frontal assault in Crane's-Wing and Fan formations." "We'll need to be prepared to fight using all these maneuvers." "The problem is... how do we lure the enemy from Mt." "Saijo out into the open field?" "My men will act as bait." "Of course, I am prepared to give my life." "If each of my men kills one of theirs, we can destroy twelve hundred." "In the meantime..." "In the meantime..." "We'll surround them?" "I see..." "It is a tactic that basically guarantees our victory but at the cost of the lives of many of our men!" "The attack on Mt." "Saijo will proceed as follows..." "The fog... as if heaven-sent... is more than we could hope for as we will use it to our advantage!" "13,000 men of the main force will be ordered to advance as close as they can to the enemy's position and launch an attack without waiting for the fog to clear." "That's the only way!" "You want our vanguard to surround the enemy?" "The enemy will not believe this to be our main force so they'll attack and head straight to Kaizu Castle, I believe." "In the meantime, our First Troop will leave the castle and move to Hachimangahara, where 3,000 of our men will attack the enemy from the flank!" "Victory will be ours, Kansuke!" "Sir Itagaki Nobusato will lead the vanguard." "Good!" "We're set!" "We shall not wait for tomorrow, but depart immediately!" "Our forces are ready to march." "Sir Itagaki Nobusato should be heading out soon." "Something's different about him..." "I've never seen him look like that before." "Buhei..." "Buhei..." "Huh?" "You were fifteen when you first came to work for me, weren't you?" "Uh-huh." "It's been almost twenty years since we began serving Sir Yamamoto..." "But... this time..." "I'm afraid." "I'm off!" "Sir Yamamoto... after my father passed away I came to consider you to be my father!" "Farewell!" "Hidden by fog, Takeda fords the Chikuma River and camps at Hachimangahara." "Itagaki Nobusato's assault on Mt." "Saijo is to begin at 6 in the morning." "What time is it?" "What time is it?" "A little past 6 o'clock." "Why don't we hear any battle cries coming from Mt." "Saijo?" "!" "I believe that the attack has been delayed, due to the fog." "But, it's way past 6 now!" "What's the matter with Nobusato?" "!" "The fog must be delaying their attack, sir." "What's taking them so long?" "!" "The fog might be dense but, by now we should be hearing battle cries from Mt." "Saijo!" "The fact that the fog is dense is highly advantageous to us." "The closer our men can get to the enemy, the better our chances." "It's unthinkable that Sir Itagaki Nobusato is failing, sir!" "I want to believe that!" "But, Nobusato might've..." "lost control of his troop formations perhaps due to this thick fog or perhaps or perhaps..." ""...or perhaps...?"" "Perhaps there were no Echigo forces at Mt." "Saijo for our men to attack!" "You must be joking!" "You must be joking!" "What other explanations are there?" "!" "Kansuke... find the watchman!" "Kansuke... find the watchman!" "Sir!" "Who goes there?" "!" "Who goes there?" "!" ""Wind!"" ""Wind!"" ""Mountain!" "Wind!"" "I'm Yamamoto Kansuke of the main troop!" "Are you the watchman?" "Yessir, I'm here with an emergency report..." "Several hundred cavalry have gathered on the field below!" "Are they our men, or the enemy?" "!" "Lmpossible to tell, in this fog, sir!" "Go!" "Go and check again!" "Yessir!" "Kansuke, what's going on at Mt." "Saijo?" "!" "There's not a sign of Uesugi's men, just as you suspected!" "What?" "!" "Uesugi also exploited the fog..." "by moving all his troops and has surrounded us here at Hachimangahara!" "You've made a major blunder, Kansuke!" "I am truly sorry, sir..." "The enemy has deployed across the nearby valley and is moving to the right!" "Several dozen of their horsemen are approaching from the east!" "Over 10,000 Echigo troops are advancing on both flanks!" "Lord!" "I have made a strategic error, sir!" "It is my first and only blunder!" "The battle has only begun." "Don't berate yourself yet!" "But... our main force, 12,000 strong, is not on the field of battle!" "Still, Nobusato's Men-in-Red will soon bring them back." "Until then, we must hold out with what we have!" "Charge!" "Nobushige's defensive action is quite remarkable." "Yes, sir..." "At present." "Akiyama's men on the right, and Yamagata's men on the left they're all holding up well, sir." "But, this is probably it..." "We can't hold out much longer." "Any sign of Itagaki's men yet?" "!" "Not yet..." "Not yet, sir!" "Nobushige's been killed?" "His was a splendid death, sir!" "Nobushige... if only you'd held out a little longer you could've heard our cries of victory!" "What an unfortunate man you were." "Lord..." "I am truly sorry, sir..." "Kansuke... remember what Princess Yu used to say..." ""If you wish to fight a battle, do so to your heart's content."" "This is a battle both of us wanted to fight." "So we must fight!" "We must!" "Lord!" "Lord, we must commit Baba's rear guard." "But, we cannot jeopardize the safety of our men in the center." "All right!" "Except for my guards, commit all our liege vassals!" "Yessir!" "Where are Itagaki's men?" "!" "Where are the Men-in-Red?" "!" "Sir..." "They're nowhere to be found!" "Sir Yamamoto..." "Please take care of the Lord." "As you must know, the rear guard won't last long." "I, Naito Shuri, and the liege vassals, will attack the enemy's main troop in an attempt to reverse the tide of battle." "Of course, I know that our chances are slim but, if we do nothing, we're doomed." "With the Chikuma River at our backs we've no choice but to attack, and fight to the death!" "Sir Shuri... you're not the one to carry out that task." "But you are indispensable, Sir Yamamoto." "You must survive as long as you can, no matter what." "I've been waiting to fight this battle all my life only to make a major blunder." "I know that my own life won't be enough compensation for my error but, please... allow me to do what you've proposed." "If we can hold them off for just two hours, it'll help our main troop." "Then, we might see things change to our advantage." "Are you going, Kansuke?" "Until Itagaki's men arrive..." "you must live on!" "The same goes for you, Lord!" "Farewell..." "Farewell..." "All right." "Go!" "We will attack the enemy's main troop!" "Do not be distracted by their auxiliary forces!" "Uesugi Kenshin's head..." "that is all we're after!" "Go for it, men!" "Any sign of Itagaki's men yet?" "!" "Not yet, sir!" "Not yet, sir!" "They're not here yet!" "Yaoemon!" "Yaoemon!" "Yes, sir!" "Any sign of Itagaki's men yet?" "!" "Not yet!" "We can't see them yet, sir!" "Buhei, how's our main troop?" "Sir, they're all right!" "Our Fuurinkazan banners still stand high!" "All right!" "We're going!" "There!" "Kenshin!" "Where are you...?" "Uesugi Kenshin, reveal yourself!" "Boss!" "Buhei!" "Buhei!" "Yessir!" "Yessir!" "How's our main troop?" "!" "Yessir!" "How's our main troop?" "!" "How's our main troop?" "!" "The main troop our Fuurinkazan banners..." "still stand tall..." "Buhei!" "Buhei!" "Watch out!" "Yaoemon!" "Yaoemon!" "Sir Nobusato!" "Charge!" "Victory!" "Lord!" "Princess..." "Princess Yu!" "I've led us to victory!" "We've won!" "Kansuke..." "We won the day at Kawanakajima." "But, we suffered heavy losses." "From a strategic standpoint neither side could claim victory." "It was a draw." "You fool!" "How could your judgment fail you, just when everything depended on it?" "!" "You were blinded by too great a dream too great a dream and by love..." "You fool..." "You fool!" "They each dreamed their dreams, and then left the world." "No plum tree remains in this farmyard now." "Only the mountains and rivers of Koshinenstu endure." "Mute witnesses to all that transpired here." "The End"