The 47 Ronin (元禄忠臣蔵 / Genroku chushingura) (元禄 忠臣蔵)

THE 47 RONIN Part 1

Executive Producer SHINTARO SHIRAI

Original Story by SEIKA MAYAMA

Screenplay by KENICHIRO HARA and YOSHIKATA YODA

Photography by KOHEl SUGIYAMA

ine Art Director HIROSHI MIZUTANI

Music by SHIRO UKAI

Produced by KOA EIGA KK

Cast

CHOJURO KAWARAZAKI

KANEMON NAKAMURA

KUNITARO KAWARAZAKI

YOSHISABURO ARASHI

KIKUNOJO SEGAWA

KIKUNOSUKE ICHIKAWA

TOKUSABURO ARASHI

RYOTARO KAWANAMI

JOJI KAIEDA

HIROSHI OUCHI

ISAMU KOSUGI

MASAO SHIMIZU

UTAEMON ICHIKAWA

MITSUKO MIRURA

UMIKO YAMAJI

Directed by KENJI MIZOGUCHI

The land is at peace under the Tokugawa shogunate.

March 14, 1701-- Tsunayoshi is the 5th shogun.

Kajikawa.

You must thank the Imperial messengers...

for Lady Tokugawa.

Why not ask me what to say?

What does Lord Asano know?

I have been Master of Ceremonies...

over 40 years.

Why did you ask...

Lord Asano?

Reception Committee member...

in name only.

I doubt he can...

carry out...

his various functions.

ormer lords carried out...

their assignments.

There was no one so ignorant...

or so rude.

This is the final day...

of the ceremonies.

The messengers have arrived.

After the shogun...

receives them...

I will tell you.

Kira, vengeance!

I am on duty here. Withdraw your hands.

A screen in the Palm Room.

Lord Asano...

take off your outer ceremonial robe.

We have been sent to question you...

About today's incident...

I speak as an official now.

You forgot where you were today...

and attacked Kira. Your reason?

I'm sorry. I have no excuse.

I bear no ill will toward the shogun.

I forgot myself over a private grudge...

and wounded Kira.

Did you intend to kill him?

My sword missed killing him.

I regret it.

Mete out my punishment.

A private grudge?

I have nothing to say.

I only regret I failed to kill Kira.

A slight wound.

Please laugh at my lack of skill.

Please punish me according to the law.

No, of course not.

I did nothing to have him bear a grudge.

That noise? Asano is coming! Be careful!

It is hard to believe. Such violence.

I can only think that Asano is mentally deranged!

Did you touch your sword?

Do you believe I did?

I am Master of Ceremonies and in the castle...

and this is an important day.

So I tried to avoid his sword as best I could.

That is why I was wounded from behind.

Very admirable of you.

Thank you for your words of praise.

My orders?

Very well done.

When my lord left...

he seemed pale...

so I asked him...

to return early.

He smiled sadly...

and said his worries...

end today.

He will return soon.

We must cheer him up.

You understand?

A word, Lady Asano.

Vassals Horibe and Kataoka...

are here.

What is it?

Today in the Pine Corridor...

our lord wounded Kozuke Kira.

Your questionings--

We reported it to the Elders in detail.

Kira, mindful of place, was lauded for not fighting.

Dr. Yoshida will give him medicine.

Dr. Kurizaki will treat his wound.

He can recuperate fully.

He can leave the castle with attendants.

Lord Asano...

to gratify a personal grudge...

he dared attack Kira in the castle.

So he will commit hara-kiri in Lord Tamura's custody.

Please wait.

Please give us time to think over your order.

I wish to express my opinion.

I agree to sending him to Lord Tamura.

But please reconsider the other point.

What?

As we have mentioned before...

Lord Asano's behavior has been of the best.

He cherished no ill will towards the shogun.

A true samurai, he admitted it was a personal grudge.

A great daimyo to be put into custody...

and to be ordered to commit hara-kiri at once is too much.

As superintendent and inquisitor...

I believe the judgment...

is unfair.

Unfair?

Lord Asano sacrificed family honor.

He was driven beyond human endurance.

Kira must have been at fault too.

Please use the samurai code in passing judgment.

The shogun praised Kira for his good behavior.

He did not even...

touch his sword.

What a world when such petty things are praised!

Wounded, all he could do was to run and fuss.

Too weak to draw his sword.

But I was wrong to call him a coward.

He was in the castle...

and near the shogun's chambers.

But a man like Kira--

We samurai would not call him our equal.

amily and fief are first with him.

Losing the samurai spirit, he only thinks of profits.

It has been decided Lord Asano became demented...

and resorted to violence.

l, Tamon, cannot easily agree to that.

It is only fair to inquire further.

You have a point in what you say.

But Lord Yanagisawa knows.

And it has been decided already.

We'll keep your request in mind though.

Please wait.

If Lord Yanagisawa decided it.

I must speak up.

In short, Lord Yanagisawa is Kira's distant kin.

It shows prejudice.

An affront to daimyo, not hereditary lords.

Request his reconsideration.

You go too far. It can't be changed.

The more reason a fair judgment the first time.

If not, try until a fair one is reached.

Administrators decide it!

You've no voice in it!

Insist and you'll regret it!

I beg you!

I say it out of Ioyalty.

Announce me to Lord Mino.

No! Your position is too low!

Please announce me!

No! No!

Please announce me!

Chamberlain.

A word from Councilor Kofu.

These are peaceful times.

The samurai are becoming lax.

But your conduct was that of a true samurai.

"I will not forget it." These are his words.

You gave him leave to bid his Lord Asano farewell.

So I told Gengoyemon Kataoka.

He said he would be forever grateful to you.

I am overwhelmed.

I feel for Lord Asano's vassals.

I'm glad you came.

Kiyo, preparations.

Kiyo.

The time our lord at Lord Tamura's mansion--

Stop it!

Would your death please our lord?

Kira was not even reprimanded.

Lord Uesugi backs him.

We can't avenge--

ool!

Tomimori.