Saigo no Chuushingura (The last of the Chushingura / 最後の忠臣蔵)

Friday Period Drama

14 March 1701

Do you remember how you insulted me?

Kira-sama! Kira-sama!

Protect the lord! Protect the lord!

I am a samurai! Let go of me!

The same night

Asano, feeling offended, has injured the high official Kira and is ordered to kill himself. His retainers become the 47 ronin.

The Last Ronin

Episode 1 of 6: Attack on Kira's mansion

June 1701 Ako, home of Asano (confiscated by the shogun)

I am Terasaka Kichiemon.

On behalf of my master, I bring a letter to the lord of the castle...

Please take care of this matter.

Thank you for your service. I will take care of it.

Terasaka Kichiemon

Seo Magozaemon

Let's go to the courtyard.

Oishi-sama wants to see you.

We are here.

Go back and report to Chuzaemon.

I understand the details of his letter.

Yes, sir.

- You say your name is Terasaka Kichiemon? - Yes, sir.

You are an ashigaru (foot soldier) but you used to be a samurai.

- I read you entrust your life to me. - Yes, sir.

This is commendable, but the Asano family has been completely erased.

All vassals, top and bottom, are ronin.

There is no need to be unreasonable. We will provide an appropriate allowance...

And you will not be obliged to take care of yourself.

I beg your pardon, but I do not know how to...

For many years I have received warm affection from my lord ...

I would also like to express my gratitude to the lord of the castle for his kindness and support.

I cannot be of much help to you. But at least...

I would like to thank you for your kindness.

You don't have a family?

No.

Well, there's no rush. Think it over well.

Kichiemon!

Are you out of your mind?

Your name is listed in the petition? Yes.

I don't know how to say it, but... but you're going to lose your life.

I know what I'm doing.

What are you going to do about Shino?

I am looking forward to celebrating your marriage.

- Things have changed. - Don't worry.

- I'll work as hard as I can for you. - You work for me, too?

I am a servant of Oishi-sama. It is natural for me to obey my master.

I am also a servant of Yoshida Chuzaemon. I cannot run away.

You cannot run away from my sister.

You promised to make her happy!

Don't you think it's pathetic!

Please, forget about me.

Shino

I never thought this would happen...

Kira was wounded, but no blame was placed on him.

My lord committed seppuku immediately. The Asano family is destroyed.

If we do not avenge his death, the Ako samurai will lose their honour.

Are you going to take revenge on Kira?

That remains to be seen. It all depends on the decision of Lord Oishi.

Terasaka-sama...

Please forgive me.

Why didn't you tell me what was on your mind?

I was so torn up. It was heartbreaking for me, too.

What will happen to me?

I want you to have a good marriage and be happy.

At my age, how can I find a good match?

No-one is as beautiful as you.

Can't we wait?

If you agree to wait... I will wait forever.

Your words mean a lot to me, but I entrusted my life to Oishi-sama.

Once the decision is taken, death by the sword is unavoidable.

Even should I survive, I would be sentenced to death.

Why are you in such a hurry to die?

The fate of a samurai depends on his master.

Is that so? Starting with Ono Kurobei...

many retainers left Ako and abandoned the samurai class.

I don't know about others. but I was elevated from a small peasant's son...

to the ranks of the samurai class.

Giving up on a master to whom you owe so much is like giving up on your parents.

Magozaemon also feels like this.

My brother didn't tell me anything.

Magozaemon said: To be a coward windbag...

and disrespected as a second-grade retainer...

is more regrettable than death.

Men are selfish!

Please stay well.

Terasaka-sama...

Thanks to you I could have a nice dream.

15 November 1702 Edo

Requesting a favour.

I am Ikeda Kyuemon.

Kira's residence covers 2,500 tsubo (8,000 sq meters).

The three sides facing the road are two-story samurai tenement houses.

Uesugi's retainers are always guarding the area.

They number 150 to 200 men.

There is not a single woman or child in the house.

How shall we proceed?

Across the street from the back gate,

Kanzaki and Maehara run a rice shop.

The Mimasaka-ya.

We can bring the weapons there by boat on the river

hidden in the rice.

Is there any progress in buying weapons?

Yes. 12 spears, 2 halberds, 2 axes.

4 bows, 2 big hammers, 6 small hammers, 60 clamps.

- We'll need ladders. - I have ordered them.

- What about the firemen's uniforms? - They are ready.

- Helmets and chain mails, too. - Well done.

Let's not forget the straw rope.

We have drafted a plan.

Read it out.

East front gate, 28 people in total. Led by Oishi-dono.

Second in command, Onodera-dono. 1st team leader, Tomimori-dono.

2nd team leader, Otaka-dono. Leader of the pike group, Kataoka-dono.

Leader of the bow group, Kanzaki-dono. Leader of the rear-guard, Kihei-dono.

Messenger, Terasaka Kichiemon.

Kichiemon.

The messenger is not simply a runner.

Between the front gate and the back gate, going back and forth again and again,

you will have to dodge the swarming enemies.

Others fight at their posts.

But one has to run all over the battlefield

assessing the strengths and weaknesses of each place and telling me without error.

Use your legs.

Cut down the enemy who blocks you.

Yes!

Here!

Good. The blade will fall on your head from above.

It will cut you from behind. You must be aware of it.

You must avoid it in a split second. Here!

Ouch...

Stop whining! You learn because it hurts.

Hoi!

Too early and you will be hit. Too late, you'll be hit.

Be in the spirit of the moment!

Catch the signs! The signs!

Ya~! Oh~!

It's not over yet...

Don't look your opponent in the eye!

If a beginner like you makes eye contact

he is pulled in as if he had no hands.

Don't look at the eyes, look at the obi (belt).

If you think you can reach it, slash at it!

The point is to be willing to let the other man cut you.

The moment they cut you, you cut them back.

If you do that at least you will get a counterattack.

And you don't have to die a dog's death.

That's the only way for inexperienced people to fight.

This is the last one...

The last one?

The last bath.

- Kichiemon. - Yes?

We have both laid down our lives to avenge the death of our lord.

I've never seen his face.

Me neither.

I lay down my life for the sake of Oishi-sama.

- What is wrong with that? - There is nothing wrong with that.

What about you?

I don't know. I think it's for Yoshida-sama's sake.

I feel relieved to hear that.

An ashigaru has his own loyalties.

Now we will die!

Stupid!

You're out of practice. Can't you see the signs!

Please eat. We have also prepared miso soup.

Let's eat.