47 Ronin, The (1941)

[bunniefuu]

DEFEND THE HOMES OF THOSE

WHO FIGHT FOR A GREATER ASIA

A SHOCHIKU FILM

A CABINET INFORMATION BUREAU

SELECTION

THE LOYAL 47 RONIN (PART 2)

Produced by

SHINTARO SHIRAI

Based on the Play by

SEIKA MAYAMA

Screenplay

KENICHIRO HARA, YOSHIKATA YODA

Cinematography

KOHEI SUGIYAMA

Production Design

HIROSHI MIZUTANI

Set Design

KANETO SHINDO

Music by

SHIRO FUKAI

Starring

CHOJURO KAWARASAKI

KANEMON NAKAMURA

TSURUZO NAKAMURA

KUNITARO KAWARASAKI

CHOEMON BANDO

SUZEKO SUKETAKAYA

KIKUNOJO SEGAWA

SHOTARO ICHIKAWA

ENJl ICHIKAWA

KIKUNOSUKE ICHIKAWA

SHINZO YAMAZAKI

SENSHO ICHIKAWA

SEIZABURO KAWAZU

KAZUTOYO MIMASU

UTAEMON ICHIKAWA

YOKO UMEMURA

MITSUKO MIURA

MIEKO TAKAMINE

Directed by

KENJI MIZOGUCHI

In March of the 14th year

of Genroku (1701),

inside the shogun's castle, Lord

Naganori Asano of Ako, bearing a grudge,

drew his sword and wounded

Chief of Protocol Yoshinaka Kira.

Lord Asano was ordered to commit harakiri

and his domain was confiscated,

while Lord Kira received

no chastisement whatsoever.

The news sent a shock

through Lord Asano's ranks,

but Senior Counselor Kuranosuke Oishi

calmly considered their options

and settled on a course of action.

Vowing to avenge Lord Asano another day,

the retainers relinquished Ako Castle.

Kuranosuke's pretext

for yielding up the castle

was to petition the shogunate

for restoration of the Asano house.

Contrary to his true intentions,

the petition gained wide support.

If the petition were to be granted,

it would erase all justification

for revenge in the public eye.

As spring came a year later, Kuranosuke

agonized over his predicament.

AT THE EDO RESIDENCE OF MIDDLE

COUNCILLOR TSUNATOYO TOKUGAWA

Regent Konoe in Kyoto

wishes to persuade Kuranosuke

to enter his service.

He has sent a messenger

requesting that I approach the shogun

regarding restoration

of the Asano house.

But I hear that former Asano retainers

led by this same Kuranosuke

are plotting to raid

Lord Kira's residence and k*ll him.

Indeed, I have heard the same.

If I take this request

to the shogun,

the Asano house will surely be restored.

But that only makes me

hesitate all the more.

The Chinese sages teach us

that filial duty begins

with honoring our ancestors.

But as presumptuous as it may sound,

I believe there are times

when one must step beyond the sages.

Please go on.

In my lectures to you

on Japanese history,

I've tried to cover the points

one must keep in mind.

We are not Chinese.

Before blindly accepting

the teachings of the sages,

we must always remember

that we are Japanese samurai.

Well said. That is exactly right.

In all things, the samurai spirit

must come first.

Only then must one follow the sages.

If the shogun approves

the restoration of the Asano house,

it will make revenge impossible.

In the eye of public opinion,

justification for revenge will be gone.

What is it?

The messenger from Lord Konoe,

your father-in-law,

has come to pay his respects

before departing for Kyoto.

May I at least tell him

that you have agreed

to approach the shogun

regarding the request he brought?

Without some such -

No. I am still considering the matter.

Suke'emon.

So that's the master of this house?

I'd heard he was quite the scholar,

and I can see he's no ordinary rat -

I mean, lord.

Now, Suke'emon.

At your pleading,

I arranged for you to come,

even though I'm new to this house.

But today's noh performances

are a very important occasion.

You must be on your best behavior.

I know.

This way?

Come forward.

You used to serve

in Lord Asano's household, didn't you?

Who was the man

with you in the garden?

My brother, Suke'emon Tominomori,

whom I received permission

to invite for today's performances.

Your brother?

One of the ronin from Ako

wished to see our noh?

Is he aware that Lord Kira

will be coming for today's performance?

I'm told your name is

Suke'emon Tominomori.

What was your status

in the Asano house?

I was a man of no account,

receiving but a pittance.

Is that right?

Did they call 200 koku a pittance

and a samurai who carried

the lord's missives to other daimyo

a man of no account?

You are too far away.

Come closer. Take a cup.

If you have no special business with me,

I beg to be excused.

Never mind, then.

But the man from Honjo

you wish to glimpse

will not be arriving

for quite some time yet.

Will you still not come closer

and accept a cup?

I think not.

Sake offered by grand daimyo

in stiff settings

does not particularly

delight the palate.

Very interesting.

A man who speaks his mind.

Keep your distance if you wish,

but stay and talk with me awhile.

Suke,

you're wrong to think

that wretched rat Kira

will linger in the sewers

of Honjo forever.

There's no telling when he could escape

245 miles away to Yonezawa.

As father of Tsunanori Uesugi, lord

of the 150,000-koku Yonezawa domain,

he could retire to his son's castle

and the protection of his retainers.

It wouldn't be long

before he died a natural death.

You may grind your teeth and glare

at Yonezawa Castle, but it will be too late.

This is your house.

You may say whatever you please.

Well, well.

Even this Oishi fellow in Yamashina

must find you a handful.

I suppose you're thinking,

"Say what you want. You just watch."

But from where I stand,

even Oishi, sad to say,

has made one terrible blunder.

Oishi is Oishi, and we are us.

I understand Oishi

has changed since last year.

The debauchery I hear of

can reflect no ordinary change.

Whatever it reflects,

it is taking place.

So if Kuranosuke

has had a change of heart,

does that mean the rest of you

will abandon your loyalty too?

I don't suppose a man of your station

knows of such things,

but in the kitchen they use

something called a tub,

which is held together by a hoop.

If that hoop breaks,

the sides fall apart.

No one can scoop up water

with one flat piece of wood.

Suke'emon,

if you and your fellow ronin

have a secret purpose,

you should not think of it

as purely private.

For you to achieve your aim

would be for hundreds of thousands

of samurai across the land to achieve it.

I do not wish to stand in your way.

To do so would be

to lose my way as a samurai.

To lend one's own samurai spirit

to support another's -

that is the true and sympathetic

spirit of the samurai.

Idle people may entertain

all manner of idle thoughts.

Suke'emon,

I do not inquire out of passing whimsy.

We are now

in the 15th year of Genroku,

and the spirit of the samurai

is in sad retreat.

Even if it means begging you

with bowed head,

I want to know

you indeed have a plan.

I know you're determined

to say nothing

and that I ask the impossible

in pressing you to tell me.

Look me in the eye, Suke'emon.

As a loyal servant

of this great land of ours,

I want to believe in you.

Then if I may,

I'd like to ask you this.

I've heard the present shogun

is a very suspicious man

who dislikes daimyo houses

of good reputation.

Of the 20-some lords

whose houses have been abolished,

not one had sullied his name

with womanizing or other bad behavior.

Every one of them was

well respected by his peers.

When my master, Lord Asano,

drew his sword at the castle,

I believe you were in attendance,

and you must have known

the decision handed down was unfair.

My master was ordered to commit harakiri

and his lands were confiscated,

while his adversary Kira

received no chastisement at all.

When you turned a blind eye to that,

was it from fearing

the displeasure of the shogun,

who might deem any meddling

to be a grab for power?

Suke'emon, you mustn't -

No, wait.

Let's hear the rest, Suke'emon.

On that occasion,

if you who are a direct descendant

of Lord Ieyasu

had spoken but one word,

my master surely would not

have had to die the way he did.

And yet...

and yet...

you preach to me and my brothers

of the samurai spirit?

It is a little too convenient,

and the kind of favor we can do without.

Right.

An entirely understandable response.

I will press you no further.

Supposing you did have

a secret scheme in the works,

you wouldn't want to admit it.

And, quite as you say,

I am in no position to ask.

But that still leaves the problem

of Regent Konoe's request.

He says he wishes to take

Kuranosuke into his service

and wishes me to approach the shogun

about restoring the Asano house.

His messenger was here again

even today.

And Suke,

restoring the Asano house

was originally Oishi's own request.

If it is granted,

then no matter how you may feel,

revenge against Kira will be impossible.

My lord! My lord!

For you to request restoration

of the Asano house on the one hand,

while pursuing revenge on the other,

is not justifiable to the world at large.

What do you intend to do

about restoring the Asano house?

I'll be going to the castle tomorrow,

and I intend to speak to the shogun.

I beg you, my lord!

I beg you, my lord!

Lord Kira has arrived.

Go forth to receive him.

No, Suke'emon!

Have you gone mad?

Let go!

If Lord Tsunatoyo goes to the castle

tomorrow, today is our last chance!

You can't stain this house

with blood now!

There must be a better way!

If I don't do it now,

Kira will die a natural death!

Kiyo! You too have prior obligations

to the Asano house!

Don't stop me!

I'll help you!

I'll lead you to him

so you can k*ll him.

In tonight's noh,

Lord Kira will perform

as Tomomori

in Benkei on the Boat.

I'll lead you to him then.

- Insolence!

- My lord! Please let me go!

Did you think I was Kira, you fool?

Where would it leave Oishi and the others

if you k*lled Kira now?

Please let me go,

or I'll be forced to take you -

What?

I don't care who you are!

I will not spare -

Have you lost your head, Suke'emon?

To slice Kira up -

is that all you want?

Is simply offering Kira's severed head

at Lord Asano's grave

enough to avenge your master's death?

Why?

Do you not wish,

even if you ultimately fail to k*ll Kira,

to carry out a plan of vengeance

for which you need have

no pangs of conscience or regret?

While the right hand seeks

to restore the Asano house,

the left hand

attempts to cut Kira down.

You are trifling with just cause

and misreading public sympathies.

Don't you understand that?

Kuranosuke does.

Having impulsively asked

for the Asano house to be restored...

he hides his true feelings

as he goes one day to Shimabara,

the next to Gion...

to drink bitter and torturous sake.

The torments of his heart...

the sadness of his heart -

You ignorant fools haven't the first idea

what he's going through.

Suke'emon,

even if Kira ultimately

lives out his allotted span...

and dies a peaceful death,

if you and your fellow ronin

conduct yourselves with prudence...

and with good judgment, never

betraying the nobility of your cause,

then what more would you gain

by taking his gray head?

Indeed, if you would seek revenge

as men of virtue,

then your every step until you strike Kira

must accord with duty and fidelity.

That is the path

to a truly worthy revenge.

Suke'emon,

would you cast these principles aside?

Would you deprive Kuranosuke

and your fellows

of dying honorably as men of virtue?

It was wrong of me.

That's the cue for Tomomori.

Counselor!

The decision has come!

And it's excellent news!

These two have come from Edo

with the word we've been waiting for.

Counselor, the appeal regarding

our lord's brother, Daigaku -

Wait. Let's go inside.

Now, tell me your news.

Allow me to omit

the usual formalities.

Our lord's brother is released

from the strict house arrest

he's been under since last March.

His lands of 3,000 koku

are to be confiscated,

and he's placed in the custody

of the main branch

of the Asano house in Hiroshima.

I see.

So Master Daigaku

is to be under confinement?

He's to be in the custody

of the main Asano family in Hiroshima?

I see.

Counselor,

all the torments

you have suffered until now...

can be put to rest.

No doubt

you've all thought

that my recent behavior

was quite reprehensible -

indeed, unspeakably outrageous.

Although it seemed

necessary at the time,

petitioning to restore the Asano house

under Master Daigaku

was the worst mistake of my life -

an ill-considered decision

that could not be undone.

Perish the thought, but had the house

been restored under Master Daigaku...

with a small fief

of some 20,000 koku,

then no matter how we might fret

and gnash our teeth,

in the public perception

we would no longer have been justified

in attacking Kira's residence

to avenge our lord.

Even slitting my belly before

our lord's grave at Sengaku Temple

could not have adequately

atoned for my error.

I was in anguish.

It has been a painful burden -

until today.

Counselor...

now we can finally avenge our lord.

Yes.

We will now seek out

our enemy Yoshinaka Kira.

Even with the 150,000-koku

Uesugi house standing behind him,

we need have no fear.

I want you two to return

to Edo at once

and inform our brothers there

that I will be arriving shortly.

THE 15TH YEAR OF GENROKU (1702),

DECEMBER 14

LADY ASANO'S RESIDENCE

IN AKASAKA, EDO

This is the day your husband died.

Must they make such a commotion?

Even if they're of no relation,

must they be so inconsiderate?

They're young

and excited

about the coming new year,

especially after the end-of-year

housecleaning yesterday.

I just need to concentrate

on praying for my husband's soul.

You came to Edo from Ako to serve

in the Teppozu residence, didn't you?

Yes. We hope your journey went well,

so near the end of the year.

Your conscientious service

is much appreciated.

Is your mistress well?

Yes. She will be delighted to see you.

Godayu, please inform our lady.

Kuranosuke Oishi, former senior

counselor at the castle in Ako,

has come to Edo

and wishes to see her.

- Ochiai.

- Yes?

As counselor

in charge of household affairs,

do you think it wise?

He has come expressly to see her.

I see no reason to deny him.

Please announce him.

- This will not do!

Ochiai, I needn't remind you

that Lord Asano's disturbance

at the castle last March

has reflected very badly

not only on Lady Asano's own family,

but on the main branch

of the Asano house in Hiroshima,

and on other relatives as well,

causing them all

a great deal of distress.

Some bannermen among them

were even relieved of their posts.

No, no! Do not announce him!

If the former Asano retainers

were to attack Lord Kira,

there's no foretelling the possible

consequences for this house

owing to Lady Asano's connection.

With restoration of the house

no longer a possibility,

it's beyond me why he would choose

to journey here to Edo

so close to the end of the year.

What if receiving him incurs

the displeasure of the shogunate?

Perhaps you make light

of such things

because you served your mistress

in the Asano house as well,

but as representative

of her own family,

I cannot allow this visitor

to be announced.

Ochiai, where is Kuranosuke?

Right in there.

Our mistress would like to see him.

I do not advise it, Lady Toda.

Our mistress is on her way.

It's so good to see you.

You're too far away.

Come closer.

With me in Edo

and you in the domain,

it's been a very long time

since we last met.

Has it been three years?

You look well, and unchanged.

Or so I would like to say,

but in fact everything has changed.

I wish to convey to you

my deepest sympathies.

It has been difficult for you as well

since the incident.

You look a little haggard.

Have some sake, Kuranosuke.

You've come through the snow.

You must warm yourself.

I'm much obliged.

Have another.

Perhaps you've heard I'm fond of sake,

but no, thank you.

A little snack, then,

to whet your appetite

for a successful revenge.

Ouch! You strike where it hurts.

Since you've braved

even the snow to come to Edo,

your purpose must be

of no ordinary importance.

There is nothing quite so wretched

as a samurai who's become masterless.

Only a handful

manage to make a living.

The rest barely scrape by,

shadows of their former selves,

hardly able to keep

their wives and children alive.

They approach me

with their various demands -

"Take up arms!" they cry,

or "Seek vindication!"

And having once been

the senior counselor

who spoke for our lord,

I could not ignore them.

I've hastened to Edo

to find those hot-blooded ones

who insist now is the time

to press the attack.

Rather than starve to death unnoticed,

they wish to die sensationally

attempting revenge

and be on everyone's lips -

a sad motivation, I'm afraid.

Kuranosuke.

It's not a woman's place to meddle...

but I've heard Lord Kira plans

to retire to Yonezawa Castle

in the domain of his son,

Lord Uesugi,

when the snow melts in the spring.

I have heard the same.

I believe the Kira household

fears what we might do

and is considering

all manner of stratagems.

Is it your intention, Counselor,

to allow Lord Kira

to go peacefully into retirement?

How do you intend to reach him

once he's behind castle walls?

Right now, you have only

to break into his residence.

I'm afraid it's not that simple.

Things don't always work

the way one wishes in this world.

How can you say such a thing?

That hardly sounds

like the way of a samurai.

Lord Kira is quite advanced in years.

He could die any day!

Among our men in Edo,

Yahei Horibe is 75,

and Kihei Hazama is 68.

They could be gone

by tomorrow too.

We can hardly base our plans on that.

With your smooth talk you dull

the resolve of even the most determined!

You betray your duty!

That's enough, Toda!

I can't bear it anymore!

That's enough.

Come what may, Kuranosuke was

senior counselor of the Asano house.

You must not cast indignities

upon him.

Kuranosuke.

I feel so sorry for my husband.

In a momentary fit of anger,

he brought down both himself

and his house,

and left his retainers...

to face the hardships of the world

without a master.

And now, for generations to come...

people will laugh at him

as a reckless simpleton.

Surely not, my lady.

I still think of his final words.

"I would like to have given you

some prior word, but it was impossible,

so you will no doubt be much taken aback

when you hear of this day's events."

When I heard those words,

I knew immediately

that they were intended

for you more than anyone else,

and they remain etched

indelibly in my heart.

I cannot bear the thought

that no one will avenge

the bitter wrong

for which he willingly gave up

his life and his house,

and that he will be made

a laughingstock for ages to come

as a careless

and short-tempered man.

Even if he did bring it on himself,

I feel so terribly sad for him.

I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to complain to you.

I'll now bid you farewell.

My lady...

I have a request.

This is the 14th,

the day our lord died.

Might I be permitted

to bid him farewell

by lighting some incense at his altar?

I'm sorry, but I will not allow it.

I personally would not stand

in your way,

but I do not believe

Lord Asano would be so pleased

to have you pray for his soul.

Lady Toda.

I brought with me

some verses I wrote -

mere trifles, really -

to while away the hours

of my idle life as a ronin.

I thought perhaps our lady

might find them diverting,

and I'd be most gratified

if she would read them sometime.

Good-bye, Lady Toda.

Are you asleep, my lady?

My lady?

Who is it?

It's Toda.

I'm sorry to disturb you

in your sleep,

but I have something

I wish to tell you.

I wished to speak with you as well

and have been longing

for morning to come.

Could you not sleep?

I hope you won't think it silly of me,

but I couldn't help feeling something

wasn't right with Kuranosuke yesterday.

I've been awake all night

wondering about it.

I can't believe he'd come here on

the anniversary of my husband's death

only to sadden us

with such distressing talk.

It's simply not like him.

Indeed, my lady.

As he was leaving,

he gave me this small package

and asked me

to pass it on to you.

He said it contained

some verses he wrote.

"Trifles" he called them,

but I couldn't help wondering,

and I lay awake all night

fretting about it.

Hurry up and open it.

Goodness! Some gold coins.

It appears to be an account book

for the period since he left Ako.

There are detailed entries

for his expenditures

and those

of other former retainers.

Could this mean -

- Lady Toda!

- What is it?

Lady Toda!

What is it?

A short time ago,

a man in very unusual dress

pounded on our gate,

tossed this letter inside,

and then immediately departed

without giving his name.

In unusual dress?

It's signed by Chuzaemon Yoshida

from Ako!

Chuzaemon?

Hurry and open it!

"This morning at 3:00, 47 former Asano

retainers led by Kuranosuke Oishi

broke into Lord Kira's residence

in Honjo."

Forty-seven retainers

led by Kuranosuke!

"As planned, one party led by Kuranosuke

broke through the front gate,

while a second, led by Chikara Oishi,

broke through the back.

Striking down all resistance,

the men discovered

what appeared to be Kira's bedroom,

only to find the room empty,

with bedclothes scattered about,

and swords still on their stand.

Since Kira was not in sight,

the bedclothes were run through,

but to no avail."

Did they fail to k*ll him?

"After searching

the entire residence three times,

a voice was heard from a storage room

behind the bedchamber -

a voice was heard from a storage room

behind the bedchamber.

Takebayashi and Hazama

broke through the door with their spears,

and the man they dragged out

matched Kira in age and description.

They demanded his name and, looking

for the scar left by our lord's blade,

indeed found

a six-inch gash on his back.

There could be no doubt -

There could be no doubt

that it was Lord Kira."

The head.

We have brought you

the head of your enemy,

Yoshinaka Kira.

On March 14th of last year,

in the Pine Corridor of the castle,

your attempt to redress a wrong

ended regrettably.

Since the Asano house has favored

our families for generations,

sustaining us in our lives,

we could not stand idly by.

We joined in a pledge,

and from that moment until this,

with each day feeling like an eternity,

through rain and through snow,

shunned by others

and scorned by the world,

some not knowing

where their next meal would come from...

young and old alike

keeping their ardor high,

we longed only to hasten this day.

The old and the sick,

fearing their time might come too soon,

and wishing nothing more

than to die honorably in your name,

clamored for immediate action

without regard

for our chances of success,

and only with difficulty

was I able to restrain them.

Finally, in the middle

of the night just past,

we burst into Kira's residence

and took his head,

which we have now brought to you.

We have carried out your will,

so you may now release

your pent-up bitterness.

In the name of all of us,

I humbly report this to you.

For the great burden you have all borne

since the tragic incident,

I thank you on our lord's behalf.

In spite of your many hardships,

I am sure you now feel

a great satisfaction.

From 75 down to 15,

old and young alike,

you followed my orders well

and accomplished a great thing.

I would like to thank you all

personally as well.

Chuzaemon.

Suke'emon.

We have completed our pilgrimage

to our master's grave.

I want you two to go

to the inspector general's residence

and report all that has happened

since last night.

Suke'emon?

What's the matter?

I wish to remain with the group

to commit harakiri.

All that is left for us now

is to commit harakiri

before our master's grave.

I do not wish to be excluded

from that rite.

Heaven has smiled on us,

and we have succeeded in our aim.

I see no need to rush to our deaths.

How can you say such a thing?

We've persevered through hardships

until this day

so that we could carry out

a proud revenge

that would be deemed righteous

in the eyes of the world.

It would be easy for us now

to slit our bellies on the spot.

Although we acted out of loyalty,

to the shogunate we are criminals.

We must respect the shogun

and the law of the land.

As his loyal subjects,

we must obey the law.

Our duty now

is to refrain from selfish action

and quietly await our judgment.

Isn't that how we can best show

our constancy as true samurai?

Counselor, I will gladly go

to the inspector general's residence!

THE 46 RONIN FROM AKO

WERE PLACED IN THE CUSTODY

OF LORD HOSOKAWA OF ETCHU

AND THREE OTHER DAIMYO.

THE JUDGMENT

WAS LONG IN COMING,

BUT AFTER 50 DAYS,

THE RONIN WERE ORDERED

TO COMMIT HARAKIRI.

ON THE NIGHT OF FEBRUARY 3, IN

THE 16TH YEAR OF GENROKU (1703),

AT THE RESIDENCE

OF LORD HOSOKAWA IN SHIBA...

Please, my lord.

I cannot do it.

I beg you to charge someone else

with the responsibility.

Den'emon, you went to Atago Shrine

to pray for their lives to be spared,

so I understand why you don't wish

to be the one to tell them.

But it would be a cruel shock

for them to learn of the judgment

only when the shogun's messenger

brings the order tomorrow.

I beg your pardon, sire.

These flowers have just been delivered

from the home of Lady Asano

in Akasaka.

The messenger asked

that they be given

to the former Asano retainers

in our custody.

I'd like to know your instructions.

A gift from Lady Asano

to the loyal retainers?

She must have received word

of today's judgment.

She sent these flowers

to bid them a heartfelt farewell.

With a woman's touch,

she has made

a most thoughtful gesture.

That's it, Den'emon.

Present these flowers to Kuranosuke

and the others at once.

To receive flowers

while they are awaiting judgment

will surely suggest to them

their impending fate.

Do that, Den'emon.

Take them the flowers.

You say they are a gift

from Lady Asano?

Well, well.

Such magnificent blooms!

Finally we have some flowers

for our funeral.

No doubt the master of this house

is hinting at what we should expect.

Master Den'emon,

in return for your kindness

these many days,

we'd like to entertain you

with a variety show.

Excellent idea!

I intend to give

the best performance of the night.

Mine will be

the performance of a lifetime.

No, no, my ballads

will be the highlight.

The old folks in the other room

might scold us for the racket.

Let them.

It'll be the last time.

Let's get set up.

Plum blossoms are known

for their fragrance

Cherry blossoms for their blooms

People we cannot know by appearances

But only by their hearts

Gentlemen...

Lady Asano has most thoughtfully

sent us flowers.

Let us bid her

a final farewell from here.

No, let us simply

thank her for the flowers.

We can't have a show

without Soemon's dance.

Soemon! Soemon!

You called, sir?

- Give us your dance.

- Hear! Hear!

An excellent performance, as always.

Juroza, we still need

to hear your flute.

Sir.

I've just returned

from the drawing room,

where I thanked Lord Hosokawa

for his generous hospitality.

Ah, very good.

Actually, I have a favor to ask.

- Then perhaps I could have a cup of tea?

- Certainly.

Page, bring us some tea.

It would appear

that our long wait is over.

You will finally be relieved

of looking after us.

Let me express my deepest gratitude

for your many kindnesses.

Everyone in the household

is at a loss for words.

Please have some tea.

Thank you.

The favor I spoke of

concerns this boy.

Is he your kin?

No.

His father and I

have been friends since childhood.

He is a masterless ronin at present,

eking out a meager existence.

But humbled as he is,

he is still a samurai,

and he wishes his son

to be one too.

If only for half a day,

he'd like his boy to be near your men,

where he might learn a thing or two

about true samurai spirit.

So touched was I by his wish that,

even at risk of rebuke,

I dressed him up as my own boy,

hoping he might be allowed

to attend to your needs this one day.

That is the favor I wish to ask.

Do you play the shamisen?

Your fingers bear the mark of strings.

In my training as a page,

I learned some accompaniment

for dance.

Master Den'emon,

I'm sure your intentions are good,

but I think it best

that you abandon this plan.

I have no idea what may have

prompted this fabrication,

but I think you've gone too far.

Please, I apologize.

She's a woman.

As you can see, she's a woman.

But there were compelling

and unavoidable circumstances

that led her to dress as a man

and ask to serve as a page boy.

A woman doesn't need

to learn the way of the samurai.

Perhaps there's a particular person

among us whom you wished to see?

Yes.

I will not be angry with you.

Tell me his name.

Who is it?

Who is it?

Jurozaemon Isogai.

Please let me see him.

I guess this is the last time

we'll hear a nightingale sing.

I said this is the last time

we'll hear a nightingale sing.

Oh, was a nightingale singing?

Juroza, if you're that heart-struck

over her,

you should write to her.

Lament as you will,

there'll be no writing from the afterlife.

I can't take that liberty on my own.

Besides, I only used her

to get nearer to our enemy.

She means nothing to me now.

You need to think of her feelings.

Even if you were only using her,

you did promise to marry her.

I'll thank you not to poke fun at me

on the eve of our death.

Aren't you a little young

to be so hard on yourself?

The shogun's messenger

is on his way?

When was that?

Sometime last July.

I learned recently

that Juroza was ordered

to find out as much as he could

about Lord Kira's residence.

Around that time,

I remember getting a letter

from him in Kyoto

saying he was studying

the Kira residence.

He was worried about attracting attention

if he lived alone

and felt compelled

to seek out a family connection.

As Juroza put it,

if he was going to be a samurai

he intended to advance enough

to have a horse and carry a spear,

and when he asked

her father Mokunoshin for her hand,

he laid bare

his sincere feelings for her.

Since Mokunoshin thought him

a paragon to begin with,

how could he possibly object?

His dearest daughter was to marry

a son-in-law he could be proud of.

Breaking out the 100 ryo he'd left

untouched even in the worst of times,

and selling off a suit of armor

for another 100 ryo,

he put together a fine trousseau

and hired the largest

pleasure boat on the river

for a grand reception,

fancier than any of us

could have imagined.

But on the appointed day,

Juroza never showed up.

The man sent to fetch him

found his home empty,

and no one could say

where Juroza had gone.

Stoic warrior though he was,

Mokunoshin's mortification

and indignation at this betrayal

was truly beyond words.

And then he read in a newssheet

about the December 14th raid

on Kira's residence

and found Juroza's name

listed among the attackers.

"That's my son-in-law!"

he wailed,

over and over,

his eyes streaming with tears.

Sir,

as his daughter

I couldn't bear to see him that way,

so I dressed like this to enter

where no women are allowed.

I beg you,

please let me see him.

In your desire to see Juroza,

aren't you merely being caught up

in the popular sentiment?

I hear people are speaking of us

as righteous warriors and men of virtue,

as if we're samurai without peer

in all the land.

You're young.

You were swept off your feet.

You should be bitter at his betrayal,

yet your heart

still wants to believe in him.

But it's really only

a momentary flight of fancy.

No matter how you look at it,

Juroza heaped dirt on you and your father.

You should despise him for it.

You should despise him

for the rest of your life.

You're too cruel.

You don't seem to understand

a woman's heart,

nor the human heart in general.

There's one thing

I really must know,

both as a woman and as a person.

I need to know Juroza's true feelings.

Was I really just used

to advance his hidden plot?

Did he never love me at all?

Or did he abandon me against his will

for the sake of a higher cause?

That's what I must know -

how he truly feels.

Miss Mino.

I now have a favor to ask of you.

It pains me to do this,

but for the sake of all my men,

I would ask you

to make yourself a sacrifice.

Juroza is a samurai,

and he has prepared himself.

I don't think he'll lose

his presence of mind.

But he's young.

If he sees you

and speaks with you now,

he might find his resolve shaken,

and he could fall to pieces

at the critical moment.

It's not so difficult to take up

a cause in the name of virtue,

but to carry one's initial resolve

through to the end

can be far more difficult

than one has imagined.

I don't wish to test Juroza's young heart

so near the end.

You're still young yourself,

with your whole life ahead of you.

Spend it hating Juroza

and you emerge from this unscathed.

Remember the bitterness

you felt last December

when he betrayed you

on your wedding day.

Carry with you

the anger you felt then,

let Juroza go to his grave

as a despicable liar,

and never stop hating him.

Could I ask you to do that?

Then all that matters

is a samurai's good name,

nothing is more important

than Juroza's final resolve,

and not only

does my humiliation mean nothing,

but I'm forever doomed

to wonder whether I was loved or not.

Is that what you're saying?

Den'emon.

Den'emon.

Isn't that the Otomeda girl?

I'll explain later. What is it?

Miss Mino, I can't let you see Juroza.

It was wrong of him to deceive

you and your family,

but there are times when a person

has no choice but to lie.

Look at yourself.

You've come here under false pretenses,

dressed as a man.

For you, under the circumstances,

it was a necessary lie.

Forget that you ever met Juroza.

That's best for both of you.

Now I must ask you to go.

Are you saying, sir,

that if it serves a higher purpose,

it doesn't matter who it may hurt?

I can't accept that.

If an expedient deception

ultimately gains the truth,

then the deception

does not end as a lie.

I came here under false pretenses,

dressed as a man,

but if I can see Juroza just once,

I will turn my deception into truth,

and I will find the truth

in Juroza's deception too.

Find the truth in his deception?

I beg you,

please let me see him.

Sir...

the shogun's messenger

is on his way.

Please be ready.

Den'emon.

Would you please fetch Juroza?

Certainly, sir.

Juroza at your service, sir.

Come in.

Since I am under reprimand,

I would prefer to stay here.

Juroza!

I believe you know Mokunoshin

Otomeda's daughter, Miss Mino.

Not at all.

We've never met.

Juroza!

The shogun's messenger

is on his way from the castle.

Never mind that.

I'm asking you about Miss Mino.

I do not know her.

The others are all waiting, Counselor.

We must prepare to meet our fate

and have no time for this. Excuse me.

- Wait, Juroza.

- The messenger, Counselor!

You're losing hold of yourself.

Now, Juroza,

take out your tissue pouch.

You carry in it

a fingerpick for the koto,

wrapped carefully in purple silk.

I want to see the gold crest

on that pick.

Show it to me.

Juroza...

when I said you had annoyed me

and I reassigned you

to a different room,

it was on account of this pick.

I know you're at a romantic age...

so I wouldn't hold it against you

that you secretly kept a koto pick

in your pouch.

But I was concerned

about the important test we all faced.

In gazing at your little memento

and thinking of its owner,

if you started pining to see her,

I worried that it might make you waver

from your original resolve.

The slap on the wrist

was intended for your own good.

Now, take it out.

Show it to me.

Please, sir,

do not press him further.

I am happy just to know

that Juroza has carried the pick

close to his heart

to this very day.

There's no need to ask him

any more than that.

You wish me not to ask

and him not to say?

You'd let the question go unasked

and the response unstated?

That's exactly as I would have it.

Juroza!

Tell your father

I am indeed his son-in-law.

I am his son-in-law.

Good-bye, Miss Mino.

"At the time Lord Naganori Asano

was responsible for receiving

the imperial messengers,

he perpetrated an outrage

within the castle

and was punished for it,

whereas Lord Yoshinaka Kira

received no chastisement.

Wishing to avenge their lord,

46 of Lord Asano's retainers

formed a conspiracy,

broke into Lord Kira's residence

with an arsenal that included firearms,

and assassinated Lord Kira.

It was an unpardonable act

of lawlessness

and a direct affront to the shogun.

They are hereby ordered

to commit harakiri."

Had we been given

the harshest possible punishment

and been sentenced

to beheading or hanging,

we would have deserved nothing less.

Your servant is profoundly grateful

that we are permitted

to perform harakiri.

Stepping out of my official role,

I will add a note of my own.

Lord Kira's son

has had his lands confiscated

and his house abolished,

and he is confined in the custody

of Lord Suwa of Shinshu.

I thought you might like to know.

Gentlemen.

Though he must remain afar,

Lord Hosokawa wishes

to pay his respects.

My master speaks:

"Despite many efforts on your behalf,

we have come

to today's unfortunate verdict,

and I express my deepest regrets.

At this juncture,

nothing more can be done.

As brave and righteous warriors,

may your hearts be at peace

as you prepare to meet your fate."

These were my master's words.

I trust everybody heard?

For the cordial treatment

we have received since December

we are deeply, deeply grateful.

Please relay our thanks to your master.

We have provided for your final needs.

Please take all the time you need

in making ready.

Your kindness in every detail...

leaves us without adequate words

to thank you.

Good sirs. Mr. Oishi.

Miss Mino!

Why have you done this?

It's as I said before -

so that my expedient deception

does not end as a lie.

What?

When I disguised myself as a man

and tricked my way into this house

that turned my father out,

I wanted in the end to show

my unwavering fidelity.

Mino!

Juroza!

Why did you have to act

in such undue haste?

When one of my fellow overseers

discreetly let Lord Hosokawa know

of your coming here today,

he was deeply moved

by Juroza's unwavering faith.

Having been sympathetic to the former

retainers' cause from the start,

he set aside his former displeasure

with your father,

restoring his house

and permitting him to return to service.

I'll call a doctor.

You must hold on.

No, Uncle Den'emon.

I am grateful...

but then my deception

would end as a lie.

When my father hears that I took my life,

I doubt he can go on living.

The Otomeda house must die out.

Only then,

only then can I fulfill

what Mr. Oishi asked of me.

For the sake

of the 46 loyal retainers...

my father and I

gladly become the sacrifice.

We gladly become the sacrifice.

Do away with the Otomeda house.

Let the Otomeda house die.

Mino.

May your heart be at peace

at the end.

I will join you shortly.

Juroza, it's time.

We mustn't tarry.

- After you, sir.

- No, you go ahead.

It's my duty to stay

until the last moment...

to witness the final steps

we must all now take.

Gengoemon Kataoka

has ended his life.

Junai Onodera,

please come forward.

Jurozaemon lsogai...

has ended his life.

Chuzaemon Yoshida

has ended his life.

Den'emon.

It seems

they've all ended their lives

without disgracing themselves.

We've carried through

our original intent.

Oishi.

Kuranosuke Oishi,

please come forward.

You must now excuse me.

THE END