"I would like to begin one thousand days of solitude prayers to the Kashima Shrine." "Please allow me to do this." "Someone is calling me." "Someone is waiting for me." "Are you my guardian and ancestor Kuninazu no Mahito-sama?" "I see it now." "Opponent and my "Self"." "This is the heart of swordsmanship." ""Hitotsu no Tachi"." "Tsukahara Bokuden" "(Final Episode" " Bokuden Kenzan)" "Timer, Subtitles and Translation by Danburi Editor and QC by \( -o _ o-)" "Taiei 2 nen (1522 AD)" "News of my brother ShinEmon's new sword technique after one thousand days of solitude prayers has been spread throughout the land." "There were many masters of martial arts who came to "visit" him for the matches and the lessons." "Young master, what are you going to do with a wooden sword?" "(Matsumoto Bizen no kami)" "Oh no!" "Match is over!" "(Tamazukuri Hitachinosuke)" "Amazing..." "Young master, you're able to control your different stages at will." "During the match, I was worried several times but" "Chidori-gane didn't even scratch you." "That was a rare weapon." "I wonder if it came from a foreign country." "Yes, that's what I heard." "By the way, the "Hitotsu no Tachi" you obtained after 1000 days of solitude prayers," "I would like to see it as soon as possible." "Tsukahara-dono." "Thank you very much for today's lessons." "I see you are very diligent with these trainings even though you are so busy with your work." "My life is depending on it." "I have many enemies due to my incompetence." "If I do not improve my skills," "I may lose this head any day." "How dangerous." "I'm just kidding." "If you'll excuse me." "I'm not sure if he was really joking..." "His influence has no limits right now." "Some are on his side but.." "Some conservative retainers are not too happy with his sudden riches." "A newly rich upstart." "In this day and age, actual skills are more important than having the family name but..." "Hitachinosuke-sama is rumored that he accepts bribes." "Bribes..." "Not just a castle but I heard he rebuilt his own house too." "I heard you defeated another Kage-ryu user." "Yes." "Ever since the 1000 days of solitude prayers, your fame has spread even more." "I feel at ease, handing over the responsibility of the family to you." "It's still too early." "I'm getting old." "It's almost time." "However," "Hitachinosuke's growing impudence worries me." "I heard he comes to the training hall." "Yes." "He has some really good skills." "Expel him!" "A disciple like him will shame the school." "However, sword and politics are different." "No!" "Expel him immediately!" "It's hot." "Fine." "As the fame of the "Sword of Kashima" spread," "The Kashima great shrine is also regaining the former prestige." "Several years after the death of Monoimi-sama, another Monoimi-sama was found to take over the duties, and the palace was also rebuilt." "On the other hand," "The Castle has expanded near the shrine's borders." "The Large funds needed to rebuild the castle has taken a heavy toll on the retainers and the citizens." "The Villagers have increased their skills lately." "Quiet!" "It's a fight." "Watch out!" "You Ruffians!" "Retreat, retreat!" "Are you OK?" "That doesn't look good." "It's nothing." "Just a scratch." "Don't underestimate a sword wound!" "Who were they?" "I've never seen them before." "They're not from around here." "It must've been some assassins hired by someone." "Assassins?" "They attacked me after I sent my attendant off for some errands." "They may come back again." "Let me escort you home." "That will be great, thank you." "(Home of Tamazukuri Hitachinosuke)" "Do you have any idea who might've sent the assassins after you?" "I do." "I have some idea but I cannot pinpoint exactly who." "Many call me a wily vassal surrounding the lord." "If I may, why not listen to other's opinion a little more and take a little more time?" "If you rush things too quickly, you may anger some and fail to succeed." "You speak so strange." "Satake from Oota Castle and Edo from Mito castle, they are watching for an opportunity to attack Kashima." "A small territory such as Kashima will not survive if we take our sweet time." "Although it's small, it's still apart of the Daishou clan," "If the entire clan work together..." "Even the head family Fuchu can switch to the opposite sides." "Such thinking can spark family conflicts." "Nowadays, family conflicts are everywhere." "Just like Kubo-sama(Shogun) and the Kanrei family too." "It's not the time for old men to gather and deliberate." "Fortify the castle and prepare for war." "We must run this country with a strong fist." "You should know this well, Tsukahara-dono since you have traveled around." "Just as the rumors said, his home has been remodeled." "I smelled fresh wood scent." "However, I can see his side too." "I can't see him as a cunning retainer as my father and the others think." "If you see the other countries, you can't say that Kashima will not be involved in the war." "But, something is not right." "His word has reason." "But has no honor." "Without honor, people will not follow." "He may be too smart for his own good." "I hope things will not get out of hand..." "One day, an old friend came to Kashima for a visit." "Kansuke!" "It's been a long time!" "It's been a while." "Glad you came." "Yes!" "Is the whirling tides of Awa that amazing?" "Yes it is!" "Along with a roaring sound that even shakes the earth." "The water will make a very large swirl." "In the mountain, you'll find a bridge made out of ivy vines." "There you'll see a monkey hanging..." "like this..." "Yamamoto-sama is such a good story teller." "I've traveled all over the country and saw many unusual things." "Please tell me more later." "I must start preparing for dinner." "If you are staying in Kashima for a while, please stay here." "That's a good idea." "If you insist, thank you." "You schemer!" "You got to her good side already." "I got a place to stay in exchange for stories." "This is one of the tactics for taking control of the base." "You said you wanted to work for the good general and become a strategist." "Did you find one?" "A good general?" "There was one.. but, unfortunately, he passed away." "It was Ise Sozui-sama." "Sozui-sama." "Here I come!" "My first match after leaving Kashima was in Sozui-sama's presence." "Ise Sozui (Hojo Soun)" "I do miss him." "His territory had lower taxes than the other states." "That was the plan to enrich the life of the citizens and strengthen the country." "Instead of squeezing the taxes out of it's citizens to prepare for the war it was a much better plan." "Although he was old, it's too bad he died only a year after he fought and captured the Sagami area." "If someone comes to attack us we must fight." "And to prevent from being attacked, we may have to attack first." "If the sword is there to win, then you must keep killing with no end." "But.." "Is there any other way besides winning?" "Is there a way to win, without killing?" "He asked me if there's any other way besides winning" "I guess he wasn't able to avoid the fight." "Yes." "The Capital is in ruins." "I heard the Kanrei family's succession dispute caused another war?" "Hosokawa Takakuni-sama has won and purged anyone who went against him." "This domineering act is intolerable... even Kubo-sama has escaped the capital and retreated to Awa." "How can this..." "If Oouchi-sama was around, it would have kept him in place but." "Reigning supreme is a dangerous thing." "Yes." "I wonder how Tango-sama and Kano-sama is doing." "Here." "I went to Suou to visit them." "This was a letter from Hiraga-sama." "Oouchi clan has been at Suou since three hundred years ago." "(Home of Hiraga in Suou) now Nagato, Iwami, Aki" "Bizen, Chikuzen and Yamashiro, a total of seven territories are under the Oouchi rule." "This Hiraga family has served faithfully to our lords." "As old as the Great Meitoku war." "Our ancestors has fought alongside lord Yoshihiro-kou." "And my father accompanied the previous lord's Ootomo conquest and did great work..." "Here, stop crying." "The story has only just begun." "Here here..." "It's too early to tell him these stories." "No no, he's a precious heir." "I must teach him everything to prepare him to be the head retainer for the Oouchi clan." "Your grandfather is asking too much, isn't he." "Art of war, poem, Confucianism, a study of the traditional code." "These are the things to learn." "Current trend of theater dance, board game and ball game." "You'll need to learn to have fun too." "Yes, those are also important requirements to be in high position for the Oouchi clan." "Kano-sama married one of the retainers and gave birth to a baby boy." "Kano-dono had a child." "That's great." "The news of Tsukahara-sama's exceptional skills after the 1000 days of solitude prayers, has reached not only in Suou but throughout the country as well." "Nobutora-sama in Kai too mentioned that he would like to meet you." "Nobutora-sama?" "The Castle lord of Tsujigasaki" "Takeda Nobutora-sama." "Is he a good general?" "Although he's young, his skills for pulling the family together is enough to be recognized." "I will escort you... if you're interested to have a visit." "I'll see." "What does it say?" "Yes." "They defeated the neighboring state of Amago." "They also found a silver mine in Iwami and is secretly digging." "He also writes that they are planning to send trading ships to Ming again next year." "Sounds like they are really powerful." "However," "Tango-sama is worried..." "Will this last forever..." "Is there a sign of calamity?" "What goes up must come down." "He's concerned with too much confidence." "It doesn't sound like him." "It may be because of Kano-dono becoming a mother." "Concerned for the child's future will multiply the reason for worries." "I see." "He's asking both of us to come and visit him in Suou." "He would like us to teach the" ""Sword of Kashima" to all the retainers again." "That's a nice offer but.." "Suou is a bit far." "Young master must take over the family soon." "For me also... this may be the last chance for me to get married..." "I want to go." "To Suou." "Young master." "I want to meet Takeda Nobutora of Kai too." "You're not thinking of travel training... again?" "For some reason, I feel anxious to go around the country again." "To test the skills I've gained after the 1000 days of solitude prayers with the outside world to make sure." "Young master." "One more time..." "Travel once more." "Shortly after, the rebuilding of the shrine was decided." "Ryokai Shonin(holy priest) from the Ryosen temple has traveled throughout the country and has collected enough money." "Ha." "It's all thanks to the divine virtues of the Kashima deity." "Yes." "And Tsukahara-sama's exceptional work has also helped greatly." "The reason for the increase in donations from the warrior families was all because Tsukahara-sama spread the name of the "Sword of Kashima"." "ShinEmon." "Ha." "Great work." "Continue the excellent work for Kashima." "Ha!" "The matter of construction and relocation of the shrine," "Take care of it without fail." "Ha!" "The Shrine construction has been decided." "Young master's work was recognized." "Today is a good day." "I remember the day we left Kashima more than ten years ago." "While feeling the ocean breeze," "Young master was eager to fight in the name of the deity." "Yes." "My enduring prayers has finally come true." "Just as Monoimi-sama said." "The words you heard when you were a child." "You will inherit the Sword of Kashima and risk your life for it." "You have fulfilled your destiny." "I wonder if I really did." "I wonder if I really did enough?" "Young master." "Did he drown?" "That's a sword wound." "What's going on?" "What's going on?" "A body was found in the river." "He was killed with a single strike." "The killer must be exceptionally skilled." "That man?" "Ruffians!" "Retreat, retreat!" "This is..." "The way it's cut... by any chance, Bizen no kami-sama?" "Yes." "I wonder if he was killed to silence him." "Most likely." "Then... the one who hired the assassin was..." "Father, it's me, ShinEmon." "What do you want in this late hour?" "I have something I would like to consult with you." "Are you alone?" "Yes." "Since I heard you were inspecting the body," "I was talking with Bizen-dono." "You would know who was the killer." "Then, as I suspected." "I was planning to take care of it without anyone noticing." "It was my mistake to let him fall in the water." "Then, you were the one who used him as an assassin...?" "It wasn't Bizen-dono." "The one that sent the assassins was Tosa no Kami-dono." "My adopted father?" "We told each other to be more careful but" "Tosa-dono was thinking if we could just get rid of Hitachinosuke everything will settle down." "That man switched to Hitachinosuke side and was spying on us." "That's why I killed him." "Please wait." "What is this settle things and switched to Hitachinosuke side?" "What are you talking about?" "We are trying to oust Hitachinosuke and have Yoshimoto-sama retire from being the Castle lord of Kashima." "That's..." "Are you trying to overthrow the lord?" "We didn't plan on telling you this but.." "We can't hide it any longer." "If this becomes a battle, we must count on your skills." "A battle...?" "In times of construction and relocation of the shrine," "Yoshimoto-sama will go on seclusion for 37 days as part of the duties as a representative of the Kashima Shrine." "We are trying to convince him to retire after that." "If he does not accept the terms, then..." "We will settle it with force." "Fighting within the family will ruin the country." "The Lord is a vessel." "The subjects are water." "Water will help the vessel but will also capsize a vessel." "When a vessel goes against the tides when the government goes in the wrong direction, the subjects should intentionally capsize the vessel." "That's the way of the subjects." "Our lord only trusts Hitachinosuke and has lost the direction of the government." "It's wrong to let him stay unchallenged." "Many retainers have lost their income." "And the citizens are taxed to death, we can't contain their anger any longer." "However, please remember what happened with the Shogun and the Kanrei family." "The local governors and the local clans," "Everyone of them had infighting within the family and lost everything." "We want to avoid a battle as much as possible too." "That's why we're trying to persuade the lord to retire." "ShinEmon." "You must choose sides." "Are you..the one going to inherit the Sword of Kashima?" "Someday, you will risk your life" "for the Sword of Kashima." "Do you understand?" "Was the words, meant for me to fight in the battle?" "The One to inherit the Sword of Kashima." "Don't be afraid." "Take care of the matter with renewed spirit." "Is that the reason the deity granted me "Hitotsu no Tachi"?" "Mahiro." "What are you doing out here alone?" "I had a dream." "A dream?" "I dreamt of the sword I saw with you when we were young." "I have an oracle for you that was entrusted by Monoimi-sama." "The time has come for me to tell you." "This was the last words from Monoimi-sama." "What ancestor/guardian deity would grant you is to bring peace to this world it is a "Heihou no ken" (Sword of harmony)." "The One who is granted with it must" "spread it to the world." "To respect harmony." "I was told to tell you this when you are unsure of your path and may be going to the wrong path." "I believe you already have the answer in your heart." "Please take the path that you believe in." "Yes." "Have you made up your mind?" "Yes." "We will work together and carry out the justice." "Do you agree?" "No." "I've decided to leave Kashima." "What?" "With "Hitotsu no Tachi"" "I'll leave for travel training again." "ShinEmon, are you scared?" "I'm not scared." "Then why are you going for travel training again?" "To master the "Heihou no ken"." "The Sword of Kashima is a defensive sword style" "It's ideal to win without a fight." "I believe "Heihou no Ken" which respects the harmony will be accepted by the founder of the Sword of Kashima, Kuninazu no Mahito-sama." "There's no way to win without a fight." "That's just a deception with clever words." "It's just an excuse for those who don't want to dirty their hands." "The only way to fix the world is by force!" "You... think you can leave Kashima?" "With the knowledge of our plans?" "Are you planning to silence me as well?" "It's my mercy not allowing... anyone else to kill you!" "He hasn't changed." "He gives no opportunity for the attack." "Young master." "You have made it this far..." "I was granted "Hitotsu no Tachi" from Kuninazu no Mahito-sama at the dawn of the last day of my 1000 days." "A union of the "self" and the other." "The Sword that becomes one with the mind of the opponent." "Who can avoid such a sword?" "It's not a skill, it's a matter of timing and stance." "You can't learn it just by training." "It will only work if you have a strong and clear mind." "I wonder if anyone is worthy to inherit this?" "I must find him." "It is my duty to spread the Sword of Kashima." "Is that the reason you are leaving for travel training?" "Yes." "I was killed by you a little while ago." "Think of me as I'm no longer in this world." "I have no regrets since I saw the "Hitotsu no Tachi"." "You should leave soon." "Don't get mixed up with the battle that may happen soon." "Oosensei." "Even if you hear rumors of troubles in Kashima, don't ever come back." "Even if we lose our life in the war, that is just our fate." "You have your own fate." "You must follow your own path." "A New era." "I heard the voice, the night I received "Hitotsu no Tachi"." ""Take care of the matter with renewed spirit."" "ShinEmon." "You should name your own style since you have received "Hitotsu no Tachi"." "How about Shinto-ryu?" "Just as the voice you heard." "Take care of the matter with renewed spirit." "Shinto-ryu." "I will gracefully accept the name." "Yes." "Then, I'll also change my name." "To what?" "Bokuden." "Boku as in Kiboku (tortoise-shell divination)?" "It also indicates your birth family Urabe Yoshikawa too, isn't it." "Shinto-ryu founder, Tsukahara Bokuden." "Bokuden-dono." "No matter how turbulent this world becomes." "Shinto-ryu must maintain the "Heihou no Ken"." "Just like a pure and straight path to the deity." "I will... pray for you from Kashima." "I will be going." "I'll pray for your success." "Please take care of mother and father." "Yes." "Both of you, please take care yourselves." "Please take care my brother." "I will." "Isn't it strange, lightning in the clear blue sky...?" "Young master... no, Bokuden-sama." "Just like the other time." "Yes." "The Great deity of Kashima is celebrating our departure." "Yes." "Then, let's go, we are leaving Kashima." "Yes." "On December of that year," "The ceremony for construction and relocation of the shrine was conducted without fail." "The Civil war of Kashima started two years later." "Bizen no kami-sama was killed in the war." "When my brother heard it while in his travels, he kept the promise he made to his teacher and did not return to Kashima and continued on with his journey." "Tsukahara Bokuden here I come, with Shinto-ryu." "The Home of Tsukahara Bokuden, Kashima-city in Ibaraki prefecture." "At the Kashima shrine, every year on September 1st, a festival called "Jinko-sai" is conducted." "Once a year, the deity will ride Omikoshi (mobile shrine) and parade the town of Kashima." "To spread the divine virtues throughout the town." "Competition in Japan Kobudo Demonstration exchange in October." "Along with Kashima Shinto-ryu, many other styles from all over the Japan to demonstrate the styles." "Master swordsman Tsukahara Bokuden who lived during the age of civil wars." "Bokuden's home land of Kashima is visited by many as a holy ground for the art of swords even now."