"Eishou 8 nen (1511) September." "On August of this year" "My brother ShinEmon was requested by Hiraga-sama from the Oouchi clan to join the fight against the ex-Shogun Ashikaga Yoshizumi-sama and his troops and was rendered distinguished services." "Oh, look what you made!" "These are delicacies from the north." "I hope you enjoy it." "Please help yourself." "ShinEmon-sama." "Thank you very much." "ShinEmon." "Your work on this war has been outstanding." "I'm sure you'll receive special recognition from Kubo-sama later but would you consider becoming a retainer of this clan?" "If you accept, we'll help you with getting a new home and servants." "I appreciate your offer but young master must return to Kashima one day and be the successor to the Tsukahara family." "We cannot make such decisions on our own." "As I thought." "I must've been a little drunk to say such things..." "Truly Omitsu's sake makes me drunk..." "Really?" "I wonder if you'll start talking about marrying Kano-sama off to ShinEmon-sama?" "Mitsu-san!" "You've put ShinEmon-sama in a tight spot." "No, I'm not..." "I didn't mean that..." "Young master, I guess you can't handle a woman like you do with a sword." "Samon, watch your mouth." "Tsukahara Bokuden" "(Episode 4 Sword of a Single beat)" "Timer, Subtitles and Translation by Danburi Editor and QC by \( -o _ o-)" "Muromachi Ryuei (Ryuei is another name for the Shogunate)" "Shogun Ashikaga Yoshitada-sama who" "[Atsumori (Heike Monogatari)] won the Funaoka-yama battle is now a Shogun once again, with Oouchi-sama and Hosokawa-sama's support." "(Singing the tale of Atsumori)" "My brother ShinEmon's fame as a master swordsman has spread not only in the capital and eastern provinces but to the western provinces as well..."" "Sake." "(Rice Wine)" "I admire your dance." "That was the best dance in the country." "The best..." "Although you've won the battle you can't lower your guard yet." "Today, we are celebrating the victory against Yoshizumi and his followers." "What's wrong with having some fun?" "Oouchi-dono is just being overly cautious." "We will now announce the awards." "Oouchi clan guest, Tsukahara ShinEmon Takamoto." "Ha!" "A Job well done, for taking the head of the leader." "You.." "I think I've seen you somewhere before." "Um.. where...?" "He's Tsukahara ShinEmon, my guest at my palace." "I remember now." "Aren't you the one who defeated the "No competition"?" "Yes, he's been training my retainers the "Sword of Kashima" style." "I see." "Then," "Tell me what's your reason for being here at this capital?" "To spread the name of the Sword of Kashima to the world." "And then what?" "What is your wish?" "Is it rank?" "Fame?" "Or wealth?" "No, none of those." "This is... good." "Not for the greed, only just wanting to learn the essence of the sword, is that your wish?" "However, what he just said, is hard to believe.." "What do you mean?" "Don't wish for anything, don't want anything..." "Then why are you here to receive the award from Kubo-sama?" "Firstly, this celebration is for Kubo-sama and his retainers." "You're just a mere guest." "You being here will disturb the order of master and retainers, isn't it?" "I see!" "I see your point." "I, Yoshioki, did not think thoroughly." "However, at the last battle, it's a fact that he's accomplished a great deal." "Please overlook it this time." "I agree with him Takakuni." "This is a celebration." "Don't ruin the occasion." "I am very sorry." "However, his accomplishments at the battle..." "Rumors is that it was over exaggerated." "Really, such rumors..." "Such rumors can hurt Kubo-sama's reputation." "How about we get rid of the rumors, and this time in front of everyone to show his strength again." "Let's have a match." "I have an idea for an entertainment to celebrate the victory." "Really?" "I look forward to it." "Then who will be the opponent?" "It's not decided yet." "When I went to meet with Kubo-sama, I realized..." "This is not the place I should be." "I feel a longing for Kashima..." "Oh, yes." "What's wrong?" "According to the letter from master, there may be a war in Kashima too." "What?" "Tosa no Kami-sama, Bizen no Kami-sama everyone is trying very hard to talk Kashima's Lord out of it but.." "Meanwhile, at Kashima, there was a fight between Kashima and" "Shimofusa Kiuchi clan over territory." "Got the head of the leader and received a sword from the Shogun.." "He's achieved a great deal." "I'm glad I let him go for swordsmanship training." "The War in the capital should settle down after this." "But..." "Excuse the intrusion." "Ah, we've been waiting for you." "I guess our lord will not change his mind." "He's decided that there's no other choice but to attack the Komenoi Castle in Shimofusa." "However, we just lost the battle in Echigo." "Where do we find the funds to attack Komenoi Castle?" "There's no chance of winning if we go to war with the Kiuchi-clan of Komenoi castle now." "Ise Sozui is behind Kiuchi-clan." "To have a conflict with Sozui-dono..." "I know that!" "However, with our lord's temperament, there's no stopping him." "Looks like there's no way to rebuild the great shrine." "Monoimi-sama." "What's wrong?" "I can't see it." "No matter how I try, I can't see the fortune." "ShinEmon's fortune..." "I can't see if it's good or bad..." "Has my power weakened...?" "Or..." "Monoimi-sama!" "Now, when I look back, this could've been the beginning of ominous events." "I wish my lord of Kashima would give up the thoughts of war." "I hope our prayers will reach Kashima." "It's no use worrying about it." "Anyway, how about having some Dango on the way home?" "Come hurry, hurry!" "This way." "That way!" "Good!" "Hey, what's this all about?" "It's a match with real swords." "Several Samurai with Chujo-ryu style is going to have a match with a swordsman called NanEi." "Let's go." "Sure!" "NanEi... never heard of him." "He's late!" "Maybe he found out we're Chujo-ryu sword fighters and he got scared." "What with the mask?" "You're late!" "Are you NanEi?" "(NanEi)" "Blade on both ends." "Begin!" "This will be difficult." "Yes." "The Length of a sword is 3 shaku (approx." "1m), Naginata is 6 shaku long." "But, in this case, even if you get close to him," "It's unsure if the sword will have any advantage...?" "You!" "You're making fools of us?" "!" "Oh no." "I give up." "How brutal." "He has strength and skills as well." "Young master." "I mean no harm." "My name is Tsukahara ShinEmon." "I followed you because I would like to ask you something." "That is a very rare Naginata, where did you get it?" "The way you fought," "That's not an action for a master of martial arts to take." "He was injured and admitted his defeat." "Why did you kill him?" "Do you fight just to kill?" "Are you afraid of dying?" "Every man dies someday." "Without knowing why you were born." "And without knowing where you are going." "Only.. fade.. away." "Young master!" "Young master, what's wrong?" "I couldn't move at all." "Don't worry about it, young master!" "You were just..." "You were just caught off guard." "I'm sure in a proper match, you won't lose to someone like NanEi." "I hope so." "Young master." "Excuse me." "ShinEmon-sama, my father would like to see you." "The Match in Shogun's presence has been set." "At noon, day after tomorrow at Kiyomizu temple." "And the opponent is?" "A Master of martial arts from Sakai, his name is NanEi." "NanEi?" "Are you sure?" "Do you know him?" "You look a little pale..." "I'm fine." "I humbly accept." "Sorry Samon." "One more time!" "Young master, please let me take a break." "If this was the real thing, who knows how many times you've been killed." "I know." "The Stance for the Naginata with a blade on both ends can be adjusted anyway he wants." "I know." "Even if you get close to him, you still can't win." "No, there's a way, somehow." "Please Samon, one more time." "Yes." "As you wish." "As usual, you've accepted a difficult task." "Difficult?" "Are you speaking of the match?" "Why did you accept?" "You could've declined." "Because this is how I live." "Yes I remember." "However, I would like you to promise me." "You will... keep the promise you made to me?" "Are you.." "Going to keep fighting?" "If that is my fate." "Please promise me... that you'll never die." "Why do you bring it up?" "ShinEmon-sama" "You looked troubled lately." "I, Tsukahara ShinEmon, will not be defeated easily." "Why won't you promise me." "I cannot make a promise that.." "I cannot keep." "If.." "Something were to happen to you..." "I won't be able to keep living." "Don't be foolish." "Foolish?" "I don't mind to be a fool." "ShinEmon-sama..." "Please.. don't die..." "I... don't want to die either." "(A room in the house of Hosokawa)" "Begin!" "ShinEmon-sama!" "Kano-dono!" "Just a dream..." "Dragons are living in the clouds." "There's the tail." "Where?" "Over there." "I see it." "There's the tail of the Dragon." "Shin-sama." "Oh.." "Omitsu-dono." "What are you doing?" "Just watching the clouds." "Right?" "Yes." "Clouds?" "Tomorrow is the day of the match, right?" "Ahhh..." "I'm ashamed to say this but.." "I can't seem to find a way to win..." "Then, why don't you just call it off?" "Shin-sama, there's no reason for you to be involved in this squabble between the Oouchi-sama and Hosokawa-sama clans." "Didn't you know?" "To do an official trade with the Ming you must first have a Kango." "A Kango is an authorization letter issued by the Ming." "Right now, the Kango is in Hosokawa-sama's hands." "Oouchi-sama wants this Kango more than anything else." "So, this squabble is over the trading rights?" "Oouchi-sama is working with us, the shop owners of Hakata." "On the other hand, Hosokawa-sama is with the shop owners of Sakai." "Yes, exactly." "I see." "Then that NanEi person is also somehow involved with the Shop owners of Sakai." "Are you... going to fight in tomorrow's match regardless?" "Yes." "Oh well, Shin-sama is truly a swordsman through and through." "A Great swordsman but ignorant of the world." "And also women's feelings..." "What are you saying all of a sudden...?" "I'm talking about Kano-sama of course!" "Why don't you withdraw from tomorrow's match?" "I can't do that." "But even if you can get close to the opponent, you still can't block the other blade." "I'm sorry." "Can you leave me alone for a while?" "(Kiyomizu Temple)" "(Match in Shogun's presence)" "He's late!" "So, he is NanEi." "He's a giant." "Ha." "It's not just in size." "I'm sure this will be an interesting match." "Begin!" "What?" "NanEi's a foreigner?" "What a disappointment." "It's over already..." "You are worthless." "Please stop." "Please stop." "You!" "Although he lost, he risked his life to fight on your behalf!" "Please stop this..." "Outrageous act!" "Shut your mouth." "Takakuni!" "You are really short tempered." "ShinEmon." "Your hand is all red with the blood of NanEi." "How beautiful." "This man.. has nothing to do with me!" "Take him away!" "Ha!" "It was marvelous, young master." "Get close from the beginning, and fight with sword stance before the opponent has a chance to set his stance." "Good strategy." "It wasn't a strategy." "If I'm going to die, I wanted to face him openly." "That's why I went close to him." "My body just moved instinctively after that." "I see." "Strike fast without any chance for the opponent to prepare himself." "It's a single beat technique." "Every man dies someday." "Without knowing why you were born." "And without knowing where you are going." "Only fade away." "What is that?" "Those were the words of NanEi." "That man who had to live as a foreigner in this country..." "I wonder how this country looked to him." "Here, young master." "Your hand is all red with the blood of NanEi." "How beautiful." "Am I truly seeking human blood?" "The smell of blood.." "I can't get rid of the smell." "I'm glad." "Kano-dono." "I'm glad." "You are safe..." "ShinEmon." "It was a splendid match yesterday." "And, the way you conducted yourself after the match." "I was touched." "To defile the dead body is inhuman." "However, that man NanEi" "I wonder where he's from and why he's here in the Capital..." "Why do you want to know?" "You should live for the "Now"." "Accept everything and live for the "Now"." "Yes." "You can stay here as long as you like." "Really?" "Yes, really." "We're truly grateful!" "Eishou 9 non (1512) October" "In the following year," "Kashima castle lord, Kashima Kagemoto-sama has gone against the chief retainer's counsel and went on to campaign against Komenoi in Shimofusa but..." "Move move!" "My lord!" "My lord!" "Move!" "Hurry and move!" "Someone!" "Find a doctor!" "Excuse me." "Bizen no Kami, am I going to die?" "Please stay calm." "Your injuries is not serious!" "Please save me..." "I don't want to die." "I don't want to..." "My lord!" "Kashima Kagemoto-sama, killed in action." "Over the succession, turbulent times is beginning in Kashima as well." "How many years has it been since I came to the capital?" "Well, see you." "Yes." "Excuse me." "Sorry for being rude, but are you" "Tsukahara ShinEmon-dono?" "Yes." "I am." "My name is Okutsu Genzaburo" "I work at Okura-kata (Finance department) in the imperial palace." "I saw your match last year." "I was most impressed with your sword skills." "I'm still in training." "Your words are too kind." "I'm embarrassed." "You are too modest." "Okutsu-dono!" "Oh, I'm sorry" "I'm so happy to see you and have taken too much of your time." "Please forgive me." "Not at all, thank you very much for your courteous greeting." "Then, hope to see you again." "Seeking for more stronger opponent and keep fighting." "That is the Avici hell that you'll never be able to escape." "The True enemy is within yourself." "Are you going to keep fighting even though you are suffering so much?" "I still cannot understand." "Tsukahara ShinEmon is my quarry." "I will not let you escape this time!" "I'll kill you with my Sword of Kashima!" "You'll become like me some day." "I am who I am!" "Yamaguchi-city of Yamaguchi prefecture." "It was built by the Provincial governor (Shugo Daimyo) Oouchi-clan." "Oouchi-clan who wished to advance to the Capital tried to create a town similar to the Capital in this Yamaguchi-city;" "It's taken several generations." "(Oouchi Yoshioki)" "Oouchi-clan was most successful in the time of Yoshioki who became Kanrei-dai (Representative of a Shogunate Deputy)." "Yoshioki worked with the shop owners in Hakata to do the Kango Trade with the Ming." "Yamaguchi is called the Capital of the west." "A successful cultured city in the civil war era, and the home of the Oouchi-clan."