"TRAlTORS OF THE DATE CLAN!" "OSHU city, SENDAl THE CASTLE OF LORD DATE TSUNAMUNE" "AOBA CASTLE" " Now, even the 'Roju' (ruling council) know of our lord's misconduct." "I fear this may put our clan in jeopardy." " Our situation is grave." "And Date Hyobu-sama in Edo...?" "Maybe he can help." " But, he just ignores us." " That makes it more difficult." "What about Harada Kai, the Edo Chamberlain?" " He busies himself with government construction work." "He's not interested in the lord's plans." " Government work may be vital... but he's our chamberlain." "Our clan's future looks very grim." "We must take serious measures." "Why not talk this over in the conference room?" " Yes, we must decide." " We'd better act quickly." "Question the lord's associates first, and punish the bad ones severely." " The elders need details from Edo first." " But...?" " Patience!" "This is such a grave matter." " But, we can't lose time." " We must act cautiously." "Don't be so rash." " l say, let me go to Edo and kill the villains." " Remember, there are no villains in the Date clan of 620,000 koku." "We can't tear the clan apart without proof." "A split could destroy the Date clan for certain!" "The shogunate would take advantage." "LORD DATE aki" " Take this to Aki-dono." " You're going to Edo?" " To save our clan." " l see." "Go then, don't worry about us." " Our Chiyomatsu is sound asleep." " He will miss you." " He has a firm hand, doesn't he?" "LOYALTY AND filial piety" " Where has he gone?" " He left for Edo early this morning." " What?" "Gone to Edo?" "That rash fool!" "Matsumae, come!" " Chamberlain, what is it?" " Tonomo went to Edo this morning." "Follow him." "Bring him back without fail." " Certainly, sir." "The chamberlain told me to take you back... but, after hearing you out, I agree with you." " Will you help, then?" " Yes." " Shimada-sama, it won't please you to know..." " Lord of Sendai's been with her again?" " Yes, and not only that..." "He wants to buy out her contract soon." " What?" "You're sure Lord of Sendai..?" " Juza-sama!" " Takao!" "I heard about it." " No!" "I swear on my life, I won't go to him." " l can't live either... in a world without you." " Sake is indeed the best medicine to kill sorrows." " What's that?" "Takao, do you like the design on your cup?" "Nine stars and three maple leaves?" " What do they mean?" " Nine stars is Lord Date's crest, the three leaves are for yours." "I've put them together." " You're mistaken..." "Three maple leaves isn't my emblem." " lt's not?" " The one to whom my heart belongs to forever... lt's the crest of hatamoto Shimada Juzaburo-sama." " Takao, how dare you?" " We ladies of the demi-monde still have our pride." "A man who tries to buy our love with money is a fool." " What?" "!" " l'm prepared to die here." " Right then, let's see you die!" " My lord, calm down!" "My lord!" "My lord!" " Out of the way!" " My lord!" " Our lord killed a courtesan named Takao." " l've heard about that." " We must do something." "I'll see Harada Kai." " Yes." " Waited long?" "I rushed home from work when I heard about your visit." " l'm sorry to disturb you, sir." " What brings you here in such haste?" " There's a lot of loose talk about our lord." " l'll accept responsibility for all of that." "I know I must, as Edo Chamberlain for our clan." " You say you are responsible?" " The government has entrusted me with construction of water works since last year." "It's taken up all of my time." "If I couldn't finish the work promptly, our Date clan would take the blame." "As for our lord's misconduct:" "it's my fault, because I neglected my duty as chamberlain." "I owe our clan elders an apology." "I'm determined to commit suicide to atone, as soon as the construction work is finished." " l see." "Now I've heard you out, sir." "I am relieved." " Will you remonstrate the lord, brother?" " And you too, Shume..." " By order!" " By whose order?" "Why must I be killed?" " You're a faithless vassal!" " You trapped me, damn conspirators?" "Shume, by Harada Kai's order?" "Not our lord's order, I trust!" " Prepare yourself!" " Sad, my brother was a decent man..." " You swine!" " l must report, my lord." "Shirakawa Tonomo was insolent, demanding to see you." "And as his brother, Shume, tried to restrain him, he killed Shume where he stood." " What?" "Killed him..." " Yes, sir." "He was so violent, my men were forced to kill him." " Come, somebody!" "Come, somebody, attend me!" "I want sake ls anybody here?" "Sake!" "Bring it quickly!" " My lord, you've been sick in bed." "I would not recommend strong drink." " Who cares what happens to me?" "I want sake now!" "Bring me sake!" "Takao... you!" "Damn your ghost!" "MANJl" " YEAR 3 (1661 ), in his MADNESS, LORD TADATSUNE died" "YOUNG KAMECHlYO, his SON, TOOK OVER AS THE LORD" " Asaoka-dono." " Yes." " Matsumae Tetsunosuke-dono." " Sir." " We, the elders, appoint you guardians to the young lord." "We expect you to serve him to the utmost." " The responsibility is heavy, but I will do my best." " As will I, sir." " Take good care of the lord." "Especially in our absence." "= Sir!" " My lord, I will return to Sendai in a few days..." "Here, I bring you an attendant, so you'll feel less lonely in Edo." " An attendant?" " Yes." "His father's name was Shirakawa Tonomo." "He was a faithful servant to the late lord." "Chiyomatsu, greet our lord." " My lord, my name is Chiyomatsu." "I will be a faithful retainer like my father." " Are you Chiyomatsu?" "From now on, you stay with me." " Asaoka-dono..." "We expect good service, mother and son alike." " Yes, sir." "My late husband would be proud." " You're a cold man, Tetsunosuke-sama." "Going to Sendai so hastily without telling me." " Oito-dono..." " l don't know you anymore." "I've been so lonely without you." " Listen, Oito-dono..." "Will you help me in a dangerous job?" "Help me, for the sake of the Date clan." "Your father is acquainted with Harada Kai." " Yes." " Oito-dono." " Doeki." "Look." "Surprised?" "The men signed here have joined the plot, to raise lchinokami-dono to the lordship." "They are determined to act for the clan." "And Lord Sakai Uta-no-kami, the 'Tairo' (Great Elder), is with us." "Will you do it?" " You want me to poison young Kamechiyo-sama?" " Will you?" "Will you make the poison?" "If you agree..." "You will have 500 ryo right now." "And be appointed court physician, with a 1 ,000-koku stipend." " 1 ,000-koku if I succeed...?" "And I'll get 500 ryo right now?" " What do you say, Doeki?" " Oito-dono, wait until the clan's problems are settled." " But Matsumae-sama, you must understand..." " l know how you feel." " Then..." " Please, be patient." "As soon as this case has been settled, I will make you my wife." " Yes." " lt's time you return, isn't it?" " No, a few minutes more, please." "By the way, the chamberlain called a doctor in last night, and talked with him." " Harada Kai summoned a doctor?" " Checked over as usual." " Hold on, my lord!" "Just a moment, please." "Shiozawa-dono." " Yes, sir." " Check this again." " Sir." "Sir..." "I checked it before the inspectors." " No, no." "Once more, before us." " Please, Young lord." " Shiozawa-dono. ls it not your duty to test our young lord's food?" "Try this for me!" " But, Matsumae-dono...!" " Shiozawa." "Quickly, do it now!" " Excuse me." "Help me!" "Help!" " Chamberlain, Tetsunosuke discovered the poison!" " Come closer..." " Chamberlain!" "One moment!" "A foolish thing to do, to kill a witness." " Silence!" " lt's as if you're covering up the conspiracy." " Silence!" " Chamberlain!" " Shut up!" "I was within my rights, as chamberlain." "Stop this insolent interference." "Fool!" " Mother, isn't the food ready?" "I'm starving." " Do you remember what I've said so many times?" "A samurai's son doesn't show hunger, no matter how hungry." " Yes!" " Look at the young lord." "Listen, Chiyomatsu." "Bad people may try to take our young lord's life." "So you must not forget to check his food." "You must serve him faithfully, for your father's sake." "Do you understand?" " Yes." " The chamberlain wants you." " Yes." " There!" "You're notjust a rat!" "Men!" "An intruder!" "Come here!" "How is the young lord?" " Don't worry about him." "He will be fine." " We must be more careful." "The villain used sorcery to sneak in here." " Hey, woman!" "Did Matsumae Tetsunosuke send you here, to spy on our mansion?" "Speak up, now!" "Speak up!" "Talk!" "If you don't, you won't survive!" "Stubborn thing!" " Kinbei." " Sir." "Sad girl..." "You should have told us." "Sooner or later, all who learn the chamberlain's secrets must die." " Kosuke-sama!" "Under my obi... a letter!" "Please... give it..." "to Matsumae-sama." " l'm happy to see you so well, my lord." "I'm here to celebrate on behalf of all your vassals." " The lord's condition was truly grave for some time." " Lord Kamechiyo's health is our greatest concern." "Asaoka-dono... I'm grateful for your fine service." " Reporting!" "Young lord, Tairo Sakai Uta-no-kami has sent" "Kuzugiku cakes, to celebrate your strong recovery." " Let the messenger send our fond regards to Tairo Sakai." " Yes, ma'am." " "Kuzugiku" is my favorite!" "Bring me some." " Yes, my lord." " Young lord, you must be mindful of your health." "You'd better save the cake for later." " Asaoka-dono, please, it's the young lord's favorite." "And it's the tairo's gift." "A few pieces will do no harm." "Please, my lord, have some." " Who are you?" "!" "Such disrespect to the lord must be punished, even in a small child." " Take the young lord inside." " "Asaoka, left behind all alone..." ""Runs to her son's dead body..." ""Lets fall the tears that she withheld." ""The mother inside weeps and weeps, and then..."" " Well done, brave Chiyomatsu." "I'm proud you've done your duty." "You understood the lessons I taught you, and took the poison cake meant for your lord." " "Every mother loves the same way." ""Every mother keeps her child from poison..." ""while I made mine taste every poison." ""What kind of mother am I...?" ""And what poor son, born to be a samurai..." ""made this terrible sacrifice to loyalty?" ""Loyal as she herself is..." ""she's only a woman inside." ""No wonder she sinks, lost in tears." ""Embracing her son's cold body in an empty hall."" " lt's good you've atoned for your past, Kosuke." "I thank you for revealing Harada Kai's wicked plot." " Sir..." " But Oito-dono was a tragic loss." " Yes, sir!" "In MONTH 10 OF KANBUN 10, (1670)" "chief chamberlain DATE aki APPEALED TO justice lTAKURA" "ABOUT THE TREACHEROUS DEEDS OF HARADA kai AND DATE HYOBU, KAMECHlYO'S UNCLE" " This is your appeal." "I will hear your defense against these 34 charges." " l take leave to say this." "As you know, Aki-dono is Chief Chamberlain of the Date clan, and respected by all." "I fear that he takes advantage of this, and he plans to seize power as our young lord's advisor." "That's why he troubles you with these charges." " He claims it was you who conspired with" "Hyobu to lead Lord Tsunamune astray to wallow in the vice district." "What is your answer?" " This claim is a joke." "Can a vassal inspire wickedness in his lord?" "Exposing our late lord's misdeeds, spreading word of our shame." "is this what a relative of Date should do?" " l don't reveal my lord's vices for my own sake." "But I can't bear witness to your wickedness, so I vow to clean our clan's house." "That's why I have come for your official judgment." "Please, allow me to submit proof of his sinful deeds." "He employed Dr. Doeki to make poison, in order to kill Young Lord Kamechiyo." "He promised Doeki in writing, a stipend of 1 ,000 koku." "He sent a ninja into the mansion, to kill our lord." "I have witnesses to this, and here is... the proof." " Kai, did you write these letters?" " A well crafted, but thorough forgery." "I have never seen these before." "And who is the witness?" " Sugano Kosuke, your retainer." "You know him." " Nonsense!" "Your witness is an ignorant commoner!" "Will you accept the word of such a man?" " Silence, Kai!" "Stop these brazen lies!" "We know you wrote them!" "And your seal is on these letters." "Kai, can you explain them away?" " Lord Justice!" "This is Date Aki's wicked plot." "The seal looks like mine." "But in truth, I don't use it in this fashion." "I bind my seal with hair." " With hair?" " l anticipated this could occur." "So, I press a hair into my seal when stamping." " Kai's answers seem clear and reasonable." "I see no reason to doubt them." "These letters, too, need examination." "We'll adjourn for today." " Kai, thank you for your trouble." "I waited anxiously at home." " You've done well." "You spoke cleverly at today's trial." " lt was a close call." "I escaped narrowly with my seal of hair." " l'm certain Date Aki will lose this case." "I have an idea on my part." "I'll call the next session at my house, without ltakura Naizen-no-sho." " indeed, that would help." "Isn't that so, Kai?" " But ltakura-dono is in charge of this case...!" " Lord Nabeshima visits Edo, the day after tomorrow." "I will send ltakura to greet him, and while he's away, I will try the case myself." "I will take the letters away from Aki." " So, Kai, we will win the case!" "That stubborn Aki, he'll have to commit hara kiri." " Reporting!" "Sir." "Matsumae Tetsunosuke-dono and Asaoka-dono have brought" "Young Lord Kamechiyo here to see you." " What?" "The young lord?" "Welcome, my lord." "I'm so happy to receive your gracious visit." " Aki, I appreciate your diligent service." " You're welcome my lord." "I can only do my best." " l am glad to see you well." "Thank you for your trouble on behalf of the clan." "Our lord was worried about you." " l look forward to seeing you win." "Take good care of your health." " Thank you, my lord." " l'll see you again." "residence OF TAlRO sakai UTA NO kami" " Justice ltakura Nizen-no-sho can't join us, he has business elsewhere." "So, I'm serving in his place." "Aki, and Kai, prepare for my examination." "As to the letters Aki submitted as proof, do you still insist they are forgeries?" " Yes, your honor." "I've never written such letters." "I believe Aki's plotting to get rid of Hyobu-dono and me." "I seek your kind understanding." " l see." "Aki, I'd like to see the letters again." "Show me these letters." " l take leave to protest." "The letters were examined already, by Itakura Naizen-no-sho-sama who confirmed they were Kai's own hand." "It's no use questioning their authenticity." " None of your impudence, Aki!" "As tairo, I'm entitled to examine them." "Whatever Naizen-no-sho says, I will make my own judgment." "Show me the letters." " Oito-dono told me, in this room..." " Come!" "It's a thief!" " l've decided these letters are forgeries." "They have no value as evidence." " Wait sir, one moment!" " Aki, you've accused Date Hyobu and Harada Kai of conspiracy." "But, in the absence of any evidence, we hereby decide to dismiss the appeal." " Just a moment!" "Please, wait a moment!" " Already finished your work, ltakura-dono?" " Lord Nabeshima arrived ahead of schedule." "So, I rushed back here." " l tried Aki's case myself, and found insufficient proof." "I've decided to dismiss the case." " This is unwarranted." "I received this appeal, and I'm in charge of this case." " There is no evidence here." "The case is frivolous." " But, Lord Tairo." "Look at this!" " A list of names?" " Yes, it lists Kai's co-conspirators." "Harada Kai." "Now, can you explain this list?" " Lies!" "It must be one of Aki's fabrications!" "I ask you to put Aki and me both to torture." " What did you say?" "You want to be tortured together?" " Yes!" " l've never heard of such a thing." "Asking to be tortured!" "It's natural to beg mercy from torture." "And, Aki is much older than you, Kai." "So you expect him to die first!" "You're gambling you can win that way?" "Shame on you!" "You rebellious villain!" "Remember where you are!" "This is a hall ofjustice, and we judge you in the shogun's name!" "What now, Kai?" "!" "Well?" "Kai!" "Confess your crimes!" " ltakura-sama asks for you." " What?" "ltakura-sama calls me?" " Aki." "Please, take this palanquin." "You have restored the Date clan of 620,000-koku." "Aki." "You must be a happy man." " Yes." " Sing, and be joyful!" " "My dream has always been..." ""to slay our foes in battle." ""Now, they are slain with ease... lN MONTH 5 OF KANBUN 11 (1671 ), LORD KAMECHlYO CAME OF AGE in MONTH 5 OF KANBUN 11 (1671 ), LORD KAMECHlYO CAME OF AGE "All around us they fall..."" "In MONTH 5 OF KANBUN 11 (1671 ), LORD KAMECHlYO CAME OF AGE" "AND THE EMPEROR appointed him LORD OF DATE 620,000 KOKU CLAN" "THE END"