"An East" " West Classics Release" "CHUSINGURA The Loyal 47 Samurai" "Produced by SANEZUMI FUJIMOTO, TOMOYUKI TANAKA  HIROSHI INAGAKI" "Screenplay by TOSHIO YASUMI" "Photography by KAZUO YAMADA" "Art direction by KISAKU ITO Music by AKIRA IFUKUBE" "Sound recording by YOSHIO NISHIKAWA Lighting by MASASHICHI KOJIMA" "CAST" "KOSHIRO MATSUMOTO as Kuranosuké Oishi" "YUZO KAYAMA as Takuminokami Asano" "TATSUYA MIHASHI as Yasubei Horibé" "TAKASHI SHIMURA as Hyobu Chisaka" "KEIJU KOBAYASHI as Awajinokami Wakisaka" "RYO IKEBE as Chikara Tsuchiya" "DAISUKE KATO FRANKIE SAKAI" "AKIRA TAKARADA SEIZABURO KAWAZU" "SOMEGORO ICHIKAWA MANNOSUKE NAKAMURA" "SETSUO HARA as Riku Oishi" "YOKO TSUKASA as Aguri Asano" "MICHIYO ARATAMA REIKO DAN" "KEIKO AWAJI MITSUKO KUSABUE" "SADAKO SAWAMURA CHIEKO NAKAKITA" "HISAYA MORISHIGE as Hanbei" "CHUSHA ICHIKAWA as Kozukenosuke Kira" "TOSHIRO MIFUNE as Gemba Tawaraboshi" "Directed by HIROSHI INAGAKI" "PART I:" "BLOSSOMS" "March 1701" "Every spring the Shogun sends greetings to the Emperor in Kyoto." "In reply the Emperor sends envoys to the Shogun's castle in Edo." "OKITSU" "Quiet!" "Be quiet." "The envoys are leaving." "Show your respect." "We pray for your success." "We await your speedy return." "Such a strain having nobles here." "Yes, and no tips." "A loss for us." "Imperial envoys." "Too bad." "They're assigned to our inn." "Don't take it out on your clothes." "Fold them up." "Yes, yes." "Too bad being an adopted son-in-law." "What's that?" "Talking to myself." "Master of this inn, but without an heir I'm nothing." "Complaining?" "Becuase I'm master of this inn great men talk to me..." "I hear the latest news." "I guess it depends how look at it." "Master, a crowd wants the bath water the nobles used." "To drink?" "No, to wash themselves." "They believe it prevents illness." "Give it to them." "And get me a masseur." "My shoulders are so sore." "People see nobles as gods, but in reality..." "In reality they're broke." "Say, did you lend him the money?" "Look." "What's this?" "For the loan I gave him." "A terrible hand." "EDO" "Make way!" "The Shogun's dog." "The August Dog is passing!" "RESCUE STRAYS." "HARM TO DOGS PUNISHABLE BY DEATH." "You are the Shogun's favorite." "My gift may not be worthy of you." "It is small, but a rare one from a foreign land." "With this I feel I hold the power over the world in my hands." "I am glad it has found favor in your eyes, my lord." "The imperial envoys arrive soon." "All is ready to welcome them." "I can rest easy with you in charge." "Kira." "Have Asano and Daté sent greetings?" "Yes, two bolts of silk from Daté." "Dried bonito, I think, from Asano." "What?" "Asano is now in charge of Reception." "Only bonito from him?" "But surely to you, as Grand Master of Ceremonies, he's been generous?" "No, I've received nothing from him." "How strange." "A post like Reception is the key to a lord's success." "Yes." "It's how we recognize his ability." "Especially Asano." "His vast estates have grown; he's added salt farms." "He's very rich." "Yes, yes, quite so." "You've also started salt farms?" "Ours can't be compared with his." "So recently I sent most politely to request his help." "But he flatly refused." "Refused?" "He said it was the former lord's secret formula." "So he couldn't tell even me." "And after I had sent gifts, too." "Now he needs you to help him." "Even the score." "He was free to refuse me, but it is my official duty to teach him." "There are many ways to teach." "Make sure he learns his lesson." "Time to go to the Castle, my lord." "At this hour?" "Actually, I'm going to bring the Shogun here." "You see, he visits me sometimes." "For a reason." "Feast your eyes." "Truly delightful." "I've kept you waiting." "I'm on my way." "What fun!" "The Shogun loves both learning and ladies." "What he wants, he is determined to get." "Our ranks differ, but we are alike." "Without a desire for money and women, life has no value." "With lust and greed as my values, I intend to live a long life." "Lord Yanagisawa even offered his own wife to the Shogun." "She agreed to it." "That is how he rose to his post." "Now there is nothing he cannot do." "Tomi, are you listening?" "Please live a long and greedy life." "What?" "Our son has been adopted by the mighty Uésugi Clan." "You have become Grand Master of Ceremonies." "You are related to Lord Yanagisawa." "What more could you want?" "I don't understand." "Why be satisfied with that?" "I'm only getting started." "Pardon." "Tachu?" "There was a messenger from Daté." "Again?" "And then one came from Asano." "Oh?" "What did he bring?" "Where is it?" "Is this all the head of Reception sends me?" "Tachu, Lord Daté is only assisting Lord Asano..." "Yet he sends this fine Kaga silk..." "Two boxes of a hundred gold pieces, and paintings by Shinyu Kano." "Asano is mocking me!" "That's all I can think." "So it seems." "Tachu, when I sent you to ask about the salt farms..." "We did our utmost--a European vase and two hundred gold pieces." "But he returned them." "And now, when he needs my advice, he sends one paltry roll of silk." "Chamberlain." "Gengoemon, you're so rushed." "I just heard that we sent Lord Kira much less than Daté did." "Yes I've heard." "Do something!" "Fujii is with out lord about it." "A word, my lord." "Lord Daté gave Kira..." "Daté has his way, I have mine." "But..." "I don't like bribery." "I hate it!" "It's the cause of corruption in the government, isn't it?" "As long as he teaches me..." "I will honor Lord Kira, and treat him with due respect." "Thank you for your concern." "But I will do as I see fit." "Have you been here long?" "A little while." "You always stop when you see me." "Tomorrow I must leave for Denso Mansion." "Until the envoys go back?" "Yes, we must converse with them at night as well." "It's my duty and can't be helped." "A brief separation." "We can't even talk to each other." "Don't say such sad things." "Play the koto for me every day at this time." "I know I'll hear it wherever I am." "I will, with all my heart." "Please carry out your duty safely." "Yes." "Kuranosuké wrote me a letter from home." "He too is concerned." "With his letter and your music, I'll do well at my duties." "What?" "Asano's chronic illness has flared up?" "He knew I was coming to inspect." "Yes, but suddenly..." "Suddenly what?" "He didn't want to see me, so he is ill?" "Of course not." "Can he carry out his duties?" "I feel better." "Lady Asano's medicine helped." "Tell Lord Kira I will join him." "Lord Asano, no one can take your place in this important role." "Are you aware of that?" "I had a sudden attack today." "That is no excuse." "To fall ill at such a time is a grave error." "It is negligence." "Forgive me." "That was my official opinion." "But I am here unofficially today." "Take good care of yourself." "I feel better now." "Thanks to the medicine from from your lovely wife?" "Show me around then." "Everything seems in order." "A gorgeous screen by Yusho." "Worthy of your famous clan." "Yes, even I, Grand Master of Ceremonies, find no fault here." "I am unworthy of your praise." "Please tell me where I may be lacking in the future." "Very well, I will teach you some of what I know." "Yes, I humbly ask you." "In a position of this kind, gifts are of the utmost importance." "Head of Reception means head of gift-giving." "Understand?" "Answer me if you do." "Yes." "It is crucial to be generous to those you meet along the way." "The word will spread, you will be well liked, your duties will ease." "It's expensive, but it leads to success if you are careful." "The more generous you are, the better the results." "Understand?" "What is this, Lord Asano?" "Old mats in the room where you will receive imperial envoys?" "Is this fulfilling your duties?" "I have apprised you fully of all the requirements." "Old mats will not do!" "But when I asked the other day, you said they needn't be changed." "I said that?" "You are joking." "No." "You said it." "An old man's memory slip?" "Not in something so important." "Change them." "But there's no time to change five hundred mats now." "Still, I hear you are rich." "Maybe you can if you pay enough." "But there is a way not to have to waste so much money." "if you used your money wisely..." "Understand?" "Anyway, this won't do." "My lord, it sounds as if Kira will overlook the mats if we pay him." "But you know the Kemmu Code expressly forbids bribery." "It's supposed to stop corruption in the government." "Kira is easy to bribe, but my integrity won't allow it." "But in such an emergency..." "Your lord is an obstinate man." "Indulge my pride." "My lord, please let me handle the changing of the mats." "Gengo, can it be done?" "If our clan's honor is at stake." "You make it sound easy." "But five hundred mats by morning?" "I'll do it if I have to enlist every mat maker in all Edo." "Gengo, thank you." "Pardon." "I am Takebayashi, vassal of Asano." "Are you mat makers?" "No?" "I'm sorry." "We're mat makers." "Mat makers?" "Keep calm." "Refuse and you're dead." "Refuse what?" "Oh, yes." "Keep calm!" "I am Takebayashi." "My life depends on the favor I have to ask you." "I understand." "But to send over all my hands on such short notice..." "But I am Gengo Otaka humbling myself before you." "I beg you." "I'm sorry, but your humility is none of my affair." "I see." "It can't be helped." "I don't understand what..." "What are you doing?" "Committing hara-kiri." "What?" "Not here, please!" "So, you'll help us?" "This is unfair." "Our clan's honor is at stake." "We won't make it at this rate." "Too slow." "Too slow!" "Can't you do it faster?" "What's happened to Yasubei Horibé?" "He remembered another big mat maker and went for him." "Must be Otokichi." "A drunk." "Yasubei the drinker going after a drunken mat maker." "Another round." "Another big one!" "Nice cheery voice." "And orders a big one instead of singles." "You understand drinkers." "Isn't that right, neighbor?" "You seem like a strong drinker." ""Seem" is not the word." "A bottomless pit." "Never full." "My kind of man." "And you?" "Never lost a drinking match, so I never have to pay." "I like that." "Shall we?" "I'll have to make you pay." "A barrel of saké here." "Otokichi, at last I found you." "Horibé, you're just in time for our drinking match." "Not now, please." "I need your help." "On my honor as a man of Edo, I'll help after this match." "No, come with me now." "No you don't." "We're about to drink our way to a fast friendship." "You can't take my drinking partner." "I'm very sorry, but..." "Your name, sir!" "I am Gemba Tawaraboshi, masterless samurai..." "Teacher of the Hozoin lance." "Will you finish by dawn?" "Please." "Leave mats to mat makers." "But I'm worried." "Worry about Horibé." "He took my place against a strong adversary." "Dawn already." "One more drinking spot." "I'm not done in yet." "I'll win." "You can't get me drunk." "There must be some reason I can't." "Could be." "Hard work serving a lord." "But leave mats to mat makers." "We did it." "All finished." "All done." "Did we do it?" "Mats as far as the eye can see." "We did it." "I'm so glad." "Please bear with the rest and complete your duties, my lord." "Yes." "You have upheld our name." "I can't thank you enough." "Please instruct me..." "Do I receive the envoys at the top..." "Or at the bottom of the steps?" "Are the envoys to be greeted at the top steps or the bottom?" "Once more." "Do I receive the envoys at the..." "Why are you asking this so late?" "Forgive me." "Please instruct me." "Do as you please." "You dislike receiving my advice." "I have no answer for you." "Lord Asano." "I am sorry for you." "Lord Wakisaka." "I heard." "Listen." "Any mistake you make would reflect on Kira." "He'll tell you." "Be calm and composed when he does." "Thank you." "Your duties end tomorrow." "Until then close your eyes, cover up your ears and play dumb." "Play dumb?" "The smallest upset could make your vassals homeless." "Please be cautious, Lord Asano." "Lord Asano, wrong place." "Get to your place!" "Quickly!" "Facing Lord Daté." "MARCH 14." "THE SHOGUN ENTERTAINS THE ENVOYS WITH A NOH PLAY." "Oh, I'm so sleepy." "What if we doze off at the play?" "Then I'll do this." "An hour till the ceremony." "Please take your ease." "You understand?" "You're late, Lord Asano." "I'm sorry." "I've studied this." "Lord Daté, are the elders' instructions clear to you?" "Make no mistakes." "Lord Kira, may I see that?" "Lord Kira!" "Since you don't like instructions, Lord Asano, you needn't see it." "Then I cannot carry out my duties." "Please let me see it." "If I fail, I will be punished." "Unless I see the instructions, I won't know..." "Lord Kira!" "Lord Asano." "It wasn't instructions." "It was only fire warnings and such." "But Lord Daté..." "Lord Kira is just being unpleasant." "Yes, unpleasant." "Why only to me, day after day?" "Come, it's almost time to meet the envoys." "One moment, Lord Daté." "Lord Kira." "Lord Asano." "Lady Keishoin wishes to thank the envoys." "Please inform me when the ceremony ends." "Most certainly." "Oh, if you have a request, please ask me." "He knows nothing." "Lord Kira!" "What do you want?" "Please show me the instructions." "How tiresome." "I said no." "Why not?" "What a face." "You'll be late meeting the envoys." "What are you doing?" "Let go!" "Asano!" "Watch yourself." "This is the Shogun's Castle." "Draw your sword here and your clan is doomed." "You know that?" "What...what are you doing?" "Apologizing?" "Then I'll listen." "I lost my temper." "I was rude." "Please forgive me." "You admit you acted like a country lord, you backwoods baron!" "You don't like being called that?" "You're ignorant, yet you scowl." "I can't stand the sight of you!" "Kira, you..." "Have mercy!" "Remember where you are!" "One more stab!" "You're inside the Castle." "Your clan will be ruined." "Calm down!" "Lord Asano drew his sword!" "A doctor!" "Lord Kira is injured!" "Wretch!" "Defiling my crest with blood!" "I beg..." "I beg your pardon." "Closer!" "Where are the envoys?" "Luckily, they didn't hear." "I see." "Everything went as planned." "But the Elders are meeting now." "Why?" "The rules are clear." "Keep to the rules!" "Calm down." "Calm down!" "The trouble is between Lord Kira and Lord Asano." "No one else." "We are to investigate the motives behind this incident." "I will now question you formally." "When you wounded Lord Kira you were of course mentally deranged?" "No, I was not." "If you were, you will be absolved of any crime." "You were deranged, were you not?" "Not at all." "I regret with all my heart that I drew my sword in the Castle." "Please punish me." "You must have had a reason, and a wish to explain." "Do not hesitate to tell us." "I forbid him to explain." "Why?" "For what reason?" "We did not come to hear excuses." "But, Lord Kondo..." "If he was not mentally deranged, he is a criminal." "Our responsibility ends there." "Lord Asano..." "I am sorry." "Sorry only that Kira escaped." "Sister!" "I have just heard." "How could he do such a thing?" "The Asano Clan is doomed." "As his brother, I'll suffer too." "Our parents back in Hiroshima, and your parents too..." "Up until this moment, I was happy." "But what my brother has done makes me bitter." "Lord Daigaku, will Lord Kira live?" "I don't know." "What will they do to Lord Asano?" "I have heard nothing yet." "I must know as soon as possible." "Lord Daigaku, have pity." "Pardon." "A messenger reports that our lord is in Lord Tamura's custody." "Lord Daté." "You must feel relieved that your duties are over." "Yes, but I am disturbed over that unexpected incident." "Have you heard about Kira?" "No, not yet." "They let him go home without a reprimand, to see to his wounds." "Lord Daté, do you think it's fair?" "I do not." "What about Lord Asano?" "He wasn't allowed a word in his own defense." "They turned him over to Lord Tamura with orders to commit hara-kiri." "Late cherry blossoms, Lord Asano." "Especially lovely when they fall." "Soon the moon will rise." "Farewell on such a spring evening must be painful." "Isn't it, Lord Asano?" "Tell me if you have any messages for your clan at home." "I have nothing to say." "But my people will wonder when they hear of this day." "Enough talk." "All is prepared." ""Sadder than blossoms swept off by the wind..." ""A life torn away in the fullness of spring."" "I'm afraid." "So afraid." "But the injury is so slight." "Fortunately." "But he is of advanced age." "Anything could happen." "Hyobu, I married into the Uésugi family." "But I will risk my new riches to save my father." "Let me be a dutiful son no matter what happens." "Tsunanori." "Tsunanori!" "Help me." "I haven't had my fill of wealth or women yet." "And, thankfully, no one has censured me." "I want to live much longer." "I'll do anything for it." "If I'm called a coward, I'm proud to be one." "Help me." "Help me." "I'm counting on you." "MARCH 15, 1701" "COURIERS SPEED FROM EDO TO LORD ASANO'S CASTLE" "They're coming!" "MARCH 16" "MARCH 17" "MARCH 18" "Osei!" "Osei!" "Take care of her!" "I am Sampei Kayano of Lord Asano's clan." "We are on an emergency errand." "Forgive us!" "Forgive us!" "THE ASANO CLAN CASTLE IN AKO" "Father." "Everyone here?" "How is the town?" "Very quiet." "Wondering whether you will fight or surrender the castle." "We must decide that now." "I had hoped to live out my days uneventfully..." "A useless soldier in peacetime." "Quiet, please!" "The time for debate is over." "Let me sum up the arguments." "The choice is either to fight or to try to rebuild our clan." "That has been decided." "Oh?" "Which?" "Our lives belong to our late lord." "We can't surrender the castle." "We've decided to die fighting." "You agree to that?" "Of course." "All agreed?" "Anyone with other ideas, step out." "No one?" "Okano." "We are ready to die." "But has Kira died of the wound our lord inflicted?" "If so, we have no excuse for anger." "Your ideas would change too." "Is he dead, Chamberlain Ono?" "No, I think it's only a rumor." "Have you become reluctant to die?" "What?" "I am Kurobei One, samurai." "I have given my word." "I would like your advice." "Yes, ask me." "The problem is..." "I am responsible for the treasury." "We still have about 7,000 gold pieces left." "But our clan has issued 12,000 gold pieces in paper currency." "We are 5,000 short." "But we have given loans, and there is money we have not collected yet." "If we collect, we will cover it." "I'm relieved to hear that." "It doesn't matter to us, since we are going to fight and die." "But our paper money is used by merchants, fisherman and farmers." "It will disgrace our dead lord if we don't redeem it." "Quite true." "I would like permission to collect loans and taxes." "I want to do this before we fight." "Yes." "Please hurry." "Lord Wakisaka is on his way to Takatori Pass with 3,000 men." "He will take over our castle." "Please redeem the currency before that happens."