Love And Honor (Bushi no ichibun) (武士の一分)

The poison taster

Food prepared for a feudal lord...

would first be tasted for poison.

This poison tasting...

was one of a samurai's castle duties.

Good morning.

The magnolias are out.

Hot water.

You're sighing again.

'Again'?

Am I sighing so much?

Do you have something on your mind?

Your color's not good lately, either.

I can't hide anything from you.

Well, Kayo...

I can't stand this duty I'm on now.

The poison tasting?

It's nothing but empty form.

Complete foolishness.

It's pointless.

But isn't it an honor to sit before His Lordship...

and taste his food?

Me, sit before His Lordship?

Stupid!

A 30-koku samurai, sitting before His Lordship?

No?

We sit in a dark room off the kitchen, and they bring us the food to taste.

We taste it, make sure it's all right.

Then they take it way, way over to His Lordship's chamber.

That's where he dines.

So then His Lordship never sees your face?

Of course not!

Did you think I looked upon him while I tasted his food?

Silly girl!

You told me not to ask you about your work in the castle.

Now you call me stupid!

Stupid!

Takuya Kimura

Rei Dan

Takashi Sasano Nenji Kobayashi

Kaori Momoi Ken Ogata

Mitsugoro Bando

Based on the story by Shuhei Fujisawa

Screenplay Yoji Yamada Emiko Hiramatsu Ichiro Yamamoto

Executive Producer Junichi Sakomoto Produced by Takeo Hisamatsu

Producers Hiroshi Fukasawa Ichiro Yamamoto

Cinematography Mutsuo Naganuma

Art Director Mitsuo Degawa

Sound Recording Kazumi Kishida

Lighting Takeshi Nakasu

Editor lwao Ishii

Costume Design Kazuko Kurosawa

Music Isao Tomita

Production Tomohiko Saito Junichi Mine

Directed by Yoji Yamada

What did you have?

Rape blossom in tofu.

How was it?

With all respect to His Lordship, a little bland.

It's best for you that way.

No ill effects, gentlemen?

That one's tiny!

Whoops! Careful!

Sir!

You shouldn't play with children!

A samurai walks straight ahead. Those were your late father's words.

Oh, shut up, you old fart!

Kayo...

Yes?

What if I were to resign my post?

Resign your post and do what?

Open a kendo dojo and teach children swordfighting.

Why not start one in the garden?

I've been thinking.

I want to change the way fencing masters teach.

Every child is different.

I'd like to teach a style suited to each child's character and body shape.

The same way kimonos are fitted to different bodies.

That's my dream.

I can see it now...

You teaching swordfighting to little children.

But...

we wouldn't be able to live as well as we do.

I don't mind that one bit.

Tokuhei... your grandson could learn swordfighting.

The one who won't listen.

Could peasants' and townsmen's sons study at your dojo, too?

Of course. Caste wouldn't matter.

Thank you!

Smack him good with your wooden sword.

I'm saying that it's not good to teach with the rod.

The way he's going now, that kid'll never amount to anything!

What an old fool!

It's raining.

Tokuhei, you get on home.

Thank you.

What was that you had, Mimura?

Red tsubugai sashimi, I believe.

Red tsubugai?

We don't get to taste that very often!

I prefer it cooked in its shell.

Ah, over charcoal...

No ill effects, gentlemen?

Squire Higuchi's getting old.

Aye.

You may withdraw.

Mimura, what's wrong?

You're sweating!

I'm all right.

Call Squire Higuchi!

One moment, please!

Eat nothing, Milord!

The food is poisoned!

Get a doctor!

Remain as you are!

Nobody move!

I'll kill any man that moves!

Close all gates! No one leaves the castle!

Nobody move!

Close all gates!

By order of the Chief Superintendent!

Close the gates!

Tokuhei?

Yes, ma'am.

Why are you so early?

Something terrible's happened.

The master's been poisoned!

Someone tried to poison His Lordship.

The castle's in an uproar.

And the master? How is he?!

I haven't the faintest idea.

None of us can set foot inside the place.

I asked one samurai about the master and got a kick for my pains.

I thought I should tell you, Missus.

If you could be ready to come at any time...

Excuse me.

We have finally concluded our investigation.

Suspicions of a plot would have rocked the clan.

They have been laid to rest.

That, at least, we can say.

What the poison taster ate was sashimi from this red tsubugai.

Apparently it becomes very toxic if eaten out of season.

It causes dizziness, vomiting...

severe headache, high fever...

and sometimes even death.

It is like fugu pufferfish.

This shellfish apparently demands great care in preparation.

Food poisoning can arise through poor preparation.

The Chief Superintendent, however, feels it is not the cook who is at fault.

The error was in selecting such a dangerous food...

at this time of year.

You people may thus return to your homes.

There await further instructions.

Chief Clerk, may I ask something?

What?

How is Mimura Shinnojo? Is he alive?

He is suffering a high fever, but his pulse is strong.

It is the doctor's opinion his life can be saved.

Squire Higuchi...

I wish to see you in my chamber.

The crisis has passed.

There's no need to fear.

Thank you!

Keep up the medicine.

I will.

You know how?

Raise him up and transfer it from your mouth.

A bit at a time, so he doesn't gag.

Then water.

Yes...

Soak some cotton and moisten his lips. Don't let them dry out.

All right.

He should wake up in the next couple of days.

Tend to him.

Hello?

The Hatano Missus! How nice of you to come.

How's Shinnojo?

Well...

Where is he?

In the back room.

Shinnojo?

Shinnojo!

Oh, dear!

Can't he hear me?

Look at him! He's so thin! More handsome than ever!

Hello, Kayo. You've been having a hard time.

I would have come earlier.

I had to take my mother for treatments at a spa.

What does the doctor say?

If we keep up the medicine he's sure to wake up.

Who's the doctor?

Dr Gensai.

Well, if he says so, there's nothing to worry about.

Take good care of him, Kayo.

You mustn't lose hope.

I won't.

When he was only this big he was deathly sick for three days.

He didn't say a word. Then on the fourth day he was fine.

And eating rice-balls, three or four of them!

He's got a good constitution. He'll get well.