"In 1554, the Takeda formed an alliance with the Imagawa and the Hojo." "From the Imagawa to the Takeda, from the Takeda to the Hojo, and from the Hojo to the Imagawa..." "They all had their daughters marry the heirs of the other clans." "Thus establishing the three province alliance." "That provided security to the Takeda who had to confront Echigo." "Meanwhile, Yu was inflicted with a serious illness." "Did something happen?" "Yu coughed up blood." "I kept it from you, but..." "This isn't the first time." ""Swift as the wind"" ""Silent as the forest"" ""Conquer like the fire"" ""Unmovable as the mountain"" "FURIN KAZAN" "Episode 41:" "THE PRINCESS' DEATH" "Original Story by:" "INOUE Yasushi" "Screenplay by:" "OMORI Sumio" "Music by:" "SENJU Akira" "Theme Music Performed by:" "NHK Symphony Orchestra Theme Music Conductor:" "TAKASEKI Ken Performed by:" "The Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra" "Title Letters by:" "KAKINUMA Koji Narrator:" "KAGAMI Sachiko" "Period Consultant:" "SHIBATSUJI Shunroku Customs Consultant:" "FUTAKI Kenichi Architecture Consultant:" "HIRAI Kiyoshi Wardrobe Consultant:" "KOIZUMI Kiyoko" "Sword Fighting/Martial Arts Coach:" "HAYASHI Kunishiro Conduct Coach:" "NISHIKAWA Minosuke Horse-Riding Coaches:" "TANAKA Mitsunori, TSUJII Keiji" "Cast" "YAMAMOTO Kansuke:" "UCHINO Masaaki" "TAKEDA Harunobu:" "ICHIKAWA Kamejiro" "NAGAO Kagetora:" "Gackt" "OBU Toramasa:" "KANEDA Akio" "BABA Nobuharu:" "TAKAHASHI Kazuya" "KAWARAMURA Denbei:" "ARIZONO Yoshiki" "TAKEDA Nobushige:" "KASHIMA Noritoshi" "KOMAI Masatake:" "TAKAHASHI Issei OBU Masakage:" "MAEKAWA Yasuyuki" "Hazuki:" "MANASE Juri AKIYAMA Nobutomo:" "ICHINOSE Hidekazu" "TAKEDA Yoshinobu:" "KIMURA Ryo Shiro:" "IKEMATSU Sosuke" "SANADA Yukitaka:" "SASAKI Kuranosuke" "Princess Ogoto:" "KONNO Mahiru" "Shima:" "OMORI Akemi" "Ritsu:" "MAEDA Aki" "Princess Yu:" "SHIBAMOTO Yuki" "OSUGA Kyubei:" "MURAI Katsuyuki IMAGAWA Ujizane:" "KAZAMA Yujiro" "MATSUDAIRA Motonobu:" "SAKAMOTO Keisuke Princess Mari:" "KITAMURA Kiraki" "SAKUTA Osamu Kaiawase Coach:" "OGOSE Kimiko Yamanashi Dialect Coach:" "KASAI Kazuhiko" "WAKAKOMA KURATA PRO." "HIMAWARI THEATRE GROUP KUROKI PRO." "TOHAI THEATRE GROUP" "Photographed in Cooperation with:" "Yamanishi Prefecture Nagano Prefecture Niigata Prefecture Tateshina City in Nagano Prefecture" "TAIGEN Sufu Sessai:" "IBU Masato" "NAOE Sanetsuna:" "NISHIOKA Tokuma" "IMAGAWA Yoshimoto:" "TANIHARA Shosuke" "AIKI Ichibei:" "KONDO Yoshimasa" "OKUMA Tomohide:" "OHASHI Goro" "KAKIZAKI Kageie:" "KANEDA Kenichi" "MUROZUMI Torasada:" "KATO Takeshi" "Jukei-ni:" "FUJIMURA Shiho" "USAMI Sadamitsu:" "OGATA Ken" "Executive Producer:" "WAKAIZUMI Hisaaki" "Produced by:" "NAKAMURA Takashi Art Direction by:" "SHIMIZU Kensuke Technology:" "TANAKA Mitsuru Sound Effects:" "ISHIKAWA Takao" "Photography by:" "SASAKI Tatsunosuke Lighting by:" "USHIO Hirokazu Audio:" "SANGA Masaru Image Art:" "KATADA Naoyuki Continuity:" "SATO Hideki Editor:" "ABE Tadashi Art Direction Manager:" "MATSUTANI Takafumi" "Directed by:" "SHIMIZU Kazuhiko" "EARLY SPRING, 1555 OSAKA KANNON-IN, SUWA" "Princess Yu, Sir Yamamoto is here." "Kansuke is here?" "Kansuke, it's been a while." "I am pleased to see you well..." "Forget the flattery." "Yes." "Shima, I would like to see Lake Suwa." "The winds are still chilly outside." "I heard it's warm this year." "Shima, please..." "Sir Yamamoto, please take care of her." "Did you come with the lord?" "Yes." "The lord is at Takashima Castle now." "He should be here in the evening." "Kansuke..." "I don't wish to live long." "Or should I say, I can't live long." "The lord must know that, too." "Princess!" "It's all right." "I am not saddened by it." "I can only rely on you to take care of things for me." "Please take care of Shiro..." "Please make sure he doesn't end up unhappy..." "That is the only concern that I have." "If the Suwa god will allow me to be reborn..." "I would like to be born as a man in my next life." "If I have to live in this warring era," "I want to be able to fight my utmost best with the lord and you." "I want to administer government." "Even if I end up as your enemy." "Kansuke, will you be able to beat me?" "Battles don't match a woman like me..." "Because I easily fall in love with my enemy." "No..." "I don't want to be a man or a woman." "If I can be reborn, I want to be a waterfowl like that." "A bird that can fly anywhere, with no home or status to hold it back." "No!" "You must remain who you are, and live always..." "Or I will be in a bind..." "It is a habit of mine to put you in a bind." "Princess!" "Kansuke!" "Kansuke..." "Look!" "Aren't the peach blossoms beautiful?" "Will you get me that branch?" "Let's show it to the lord." "Yes." "Yu, I would like to hear your opinion on it." "My opinion?" "Kansuke, I'm referring to "that"." "Well, that's..." "About our next expeditionary force." "Kansuke and I don't know what to do." "Expeditionary force?" "We will have to battle against Echigo, but..." "Some of the Shinano people are acting suspiciously here." "I've left the Kiso clan alone until now..." "Are you referring to Kiso Yoshiyasu?" "That's right." "Should we attack him before we battle Echigo?" "Kansuke and I are having a hard time deciding." "So I wanted to ask you about it." "I'll leave that decision to you." "If you tell me to attack Kiso, then I will." "If you tell me to attack Echigo, then I will." "The decision is yours." "The decision is mine?" "Kansuke and I have wracked our brains on this." "But we still can't decide on what to do." "If you decide on it, we won't have regrets." "Isn't that right, Kansuke?" "Yes." "Why don't you attack Kiso?" "Kiso, first?" "Let's attack them." "After you defeat Kiso, send a princess to the Kiso chief." "What?" "You want me to send a hostage to the defeated?" "No." "It will be a political marriage." "If you let your daughter marry the son of the defeated Kiso chief, then you won't have anything to fear anymore." "The Kiso clan will pledge their loyalty to the Takeda." "I understand." "We had never thought of that." "Meanwhile, Sanada and Aiki were working on Zenko-ji Temple in Shinano, and securing Asahiyama Castle as their stronghold for their battle against Echigo." "The muskets that the Takeda army had collected were also delivered there." "ASAHIYAMA CASTLE, SHINSHU" "Oh, it's you, Hazuki." "Are those the muskets you got from Negoro, Kishu?" "That's right." "I boarded the ship with the Negoro clan." "It's nice on the ship..." "I want to go farther on the ship." "You should." "It's not that easy." "If I'm not around in the Takeda..." "No one will be troubled." "There are other marks-men with your level of skill." "Are you picking a fight with me?" "Your master will probably be in a bind, though." "Since he has no family, you are like family to him." "It's not what you think." "Why do you remain single?" "Because you can't find a woman?" "That's not..." "That's not it." "Then, why?" "Are you ill?" "Kansuke loved my younger sister in the past, and she was killed." "He's been alone since then." "That is why I can't only think of myself and..." "Does it matter?" "Denbei, you're a nice man." "Hazuki, what about you?" "Are you going to remain as a spy for life?" "Probably." "How do you get information..." "on the enemy?" "You're great at it." "Well... the easiest way is to find a man who will tell you anything in bed." "Have you abandoned your womanhood to that extent?" "Can a man do such a thing?" "Don't look at me like that." "When it feels good, I feel like I am lucky." "What are you doing?" "I don't want to hear it!" "Princess, we will be marching to Kiso right now." "To Kiso?" "Yes." "If we win, it'll be to your merit." "I will be back to report our victory." "If you will excuse me now." "Kansuke..." "If time will allow..." "Please stay a bit longer." "Yes." "I have a favor to ask of you." "Anything for you." "You must promise to do what I am about to tell you." "I will not disobey your order." "Listen, Kansuke..." "When you return from battle, you must take a wife." "You must get an heir for the Yamamoto family." "Do you understand?" "Princess... that is..." "I heard it from the lord." "That there's a nice girl." "I've already declined it." "But I heard she's still single, and waiting for you." "I missed again." "Princess Mari, try it." "PRINCESS MARI" "I got it!" "Congratulations." "Princess, you always beat me." "She's still young, so I'm sure she will forget about me quickly." "It doesn't matter who it is." "Take a wife to preserve the Yamamoto family name." "I can't entrust Shiro to a man who doesn't have family cares." "Do you understand?" "Princess..." "Do you understand?" "!" "You've done enough for me." "From now on, cherish yourself." "For my share, too." "Princess!" "Promise me!" "Promise me, here and now!" "Kansuke!" "Yes, you have my word on it." "Kansuke... thank you." "I pray for the prosperity of the Yamamoto family." "I pray for your victory in battle." "Harunobu headed to Kiso Valley for battle." "Then he started building a fort at Yabuhara, to use as his stronghold, against his attack on the enemy at Kiso-Fukushima." "YABUHARA, KISO VALLEY" "Akiyama Nobutomo, the guardian of Takato Castle in Ina nearby, was put in charge of building this fort." "Lord, the fort will be completed in about three days." "Good work." "It was rather sudden, wasn't it?" "I'm sure the plan is not flawless." "Yes, it is." "With a fort at Yabuhara..." "We can next attack Tamataki Castle." "Then we can..." "That looks like a scout." "Reporting!" "The signal fire went up!" "What?" "The Echigo forces have come out to battle us." "In April of 1555," "Nagao Kagetora marched out to Kawanakajima again." "Thus, the second battle at Kawanakajima broke out." "Nagao Kagetora set up camp at Zenkojidaira." "Whereas Takeda Harunobu suspended his campaign in Kiso and led his main army to Otsuka, along Sai-gawa River." "With Asahiyama Castle secured by the Takeda," "Kagetora could not advance further south." "The enemy has set up camp along Sai-gawa River to block us." "What should we do?" "Harunobu is right across the river." "Let's turn it into a decisive battle." "But if we cross the river first, then the forces at Asahiyama Castle will sweep over our base at Zenkojidaira." "If the Takeda forces cross it first, we will have a chance at victory." "But the cautious Takeda will clearly not make any move." "This Asahiyama Castle is a wedge for us." "Let's just crush it then." "Meaning, invade it?" "If we do that, we will likely be attacked from the rear by the main Takeda forces." "I wasn't thinking of invading it." "We'll build a castle north of Asahiyama Castle, across Katsurayama, along Susohana River." "If we can secure our back and right flank with that castle, then we'll be on equal grounds with Asahiyama Castle." "Which will bring us on equal ground with the Takeda." "KATSURAYAMA CASTLE" "A makeshift castle?" "The enemy is quite brilliant." "We won't be able to move carelessly now." "As a matter of fact, when we run out of provisions, we will be doomed with the enemy surrounding us." "Yes, that's right." "Echigo is nearby, so they will have ample provisions." "The building of that castle is a brilliant strategy." "This is no time to be praising the enemy." "By having Katsurayama Castle built, the battle turned into a standstill." "With both sides unable to grasp the chance for victory, they glared at each other for 200 days." "Then on October 23, 1555, the era name changed from Tenbun to Koji." "Lord, we cannot keep this up any longer." "Let us negotiate peace this time." "Peace?" "You want us to make peace with Nagao Kagetora?" "We'll give up Asahiyama Castle, to have him withdraw." "Asahiyama Castle won't last much longer in this situation." "How will you persuade Kagetora?" "I'll ask Lord Imagawa Yoshimoto to mediate." "Chuang-Tzu said, "If the bond of union is of Heaven's appointment," ""they hold in the same circumstances to one another."" "I cannot trust Takeda Harunobu, who defies Heaven's will." "In that case, please believe me." "Sir Sessai is a high priest that trained at Kennin-ji Temple in Kyoto." "Aren't you also the military strategist for the Imagawa?" "This is truly embarrassing, but..." "I just can't stand to see bloodshed in this country." "All right." "I'll save your face." "If Harunobu discards Asahiyama Castle, then we will withdraw our forces." "Killing anyone other than Harunobu would be meaningless bloodshed to us." "Thank you." "Sessai, there should be peace in Shinano for a while now." "Did you brilliantly capture Kiso, as well?" "I shall be leaving now." "How about another cup?" "No, thank you." "I am in a rush." "Please excuse me now." "Thank you for your assistance." "RINZAI-JI, SUNPU" "After fulfilling his duties as mediator," "Sessai returned to Sunpu." "Welcome home." "Motonobu, I want to drink saké." "Have it brought to me." "MATSUDAIRA MOTONOBU" "When you attained manhood, one of my wishes was fulfilled." "Yes." "I've been waiting for this." "From age six, I raised you with tender loving care." "You are worth all my efforts." "You need not fear the Hojo and the Takeda." "The Hojo are only focused on Kanto, while the Takeda are enrapt in greed." "They have no divine protection." "Yes." "You..." "After I am gone, you must support the Imagawa... and bring peace to the country." "Sir Sessai!" "Someone, help!" "I will keep my promise to you." "Sessai passed away that year." "Matsudaira Motonobu, the Imagawa hostage, would change his name to Motoyasu shortly afterwards." "He is the future Tokugawa Ieyasu." "Sessai died?" "Yes." "The fate of the Imagawa family would change drastically after Sessai's death." "NOVEMBER 6, 1555" " SUWA" "Another person's death was approaching." "Mother, Father is back." "Lord..." "Did you win?" "Of course." "Where's Kansuke?" "He'll be here shortly." "Lord..." "Please take care of Shiro..." "and Shima." "What are you saying?" "Shiro will be attaining manhood soon, so you must be there to see it." "How I wish to see him in his manhood rite..." "I already have a name for him." "It's Katsuyori." "Katsuyori..." "SHIRO (LATER KNOWN AS TAKEDA KATSUYORI)" "I took the character for "yori" to represent the Suwa family... to make the name, Katsuyori." "A general, with the blood of the Takeda and Suwa, will be born." "Yu... what do you think of it?" "It's a nice name..." "Please give him that name..." "You have my word on it." "As the mother of the Suwa family, you must celebrate for him." "Shiro..." "Isn't that auspicious?" "Live up to that name now." "Mother..." "How strange..." "Shima is crying." "I can hear Shima crying." "Am I dead already?" "But how strange, Kansuke..." "I am not flying like the waterfowl yet..." "I cannot see Lake Suwa yet..." "Yu..." "Hurry!" "Meanwhile, Kansuke was in Kiso." "While they were occupied at Kawanaka- jima, the Kiso forces submitted." "Even if the enemy has surrendered..." "You have not relaxed your defense." "That is truly a good thing." "Sir Yamamoto, we cannot let our guards down yet." "I heard the Kiso clan was split into two." "Between those who want to submit, and those who want to fight us." "In that case..." "If they still want to fight, they should attack us sooner or later." "They're attacking us as we speak!" "Kansuke!" "Denbei, what are you doing here?" "The Suwa princess has passed away." "You're lying..." "You're lying." "The princess..." "Princess Yu..." "Who likes to give me problems... and laugh..." "That princess is no longer in this world..." "That can't be true..." "That cannot happen!" "Episode 41:" "THE PRINCESS' DEATH The End" "PREVIEW OF NEXT EPISODE" "I gave Yu a warm burial." "Stop it!" "Lord!" "Why do we fight?" "It'll inspire Kagetora..." "Kansuke!" "My younger brother..." "Absconded." "It's like Heaven and Earth..." "Episode 42:" "A BATTLE STRATEGIST VS A BATTLE GOD" "Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture." "At Uesugi Shrine, where the Yonezawa Castle stood... is where Nagao Kagetora, alias Uesugi Kenshin is worshipped." "After Kenshin's death, the Uesugi family moved to Yonezawa, and they preciously buried Kenshin's remains in the castle." "There are many keepsakes of Kenshin at Uesugi Shrine." "The flag of "bi" was always hoisted at the main camp." "The flag of "ryu" was used as a signal for an all-out attack." "This is a "sakazuki" (saké cup) that was used on the battlefields by Kenshin, the saké lover." "This is the "biwa" (Japanese lute) that the music lover Kenshin played." "The Uesugi family treasures are still preciously preserved in Yonezawa."