Kogarashi Monjirô Returns (帰って来た木枯し紋次郎)

FUJI TELEVISION

AUTUMN YEAR 3 OF KŌKA ERA (1847)

TEA HOUSE

GRAVE OF JOSHU DRIFTER MONJIRO YEAR 12 OF TENPŌ ERA (1842)

What? This is hot water!

Yes, it is.

Not only tea leaves,

but flowers for our famous sweets are hard to come by these days.

You better not charge it as tea!

Kisoji's heavy rain must have damaged crops.

Besides, I heard the silk trading businesses

in Joshu are having some kind of trouble right now.

Difficult time it is.

No wonder our businesses are not doing well.

- Pops! - Huh?

There is a grave in an odd place outside.

Is that for your relative?

No, it's for a drifter.

Who put it there?

I did.

What is the story behind it?

Do you want to know?

You can't help it, can you?

The other day, I saw a travelling toseinin paying respects at the grave.

But these days, not many people stop by.

The grave is for a toseinin.

It happened five years ago.

Back then there was a gambler called Monjiro from Crescent Moon Village, Nittagori, Joshu.

Then, he got attacked by two men up on Nojiri Hill.

It was early evening,

but so dark with heavy rain. I could not see anything.

However...

I could hear their voices.

Hey, Kogarashi Monjiro! I am Hachibei of the Kamieda family,

and I am here to avenge my brother, Boss Jubei!

What are you doing?!

Come help! Attack!

There! Hurry up!

It was far, and dark, and I could not see well.

But there was no way to survive that fall into the turbulent Kiso River.

I knew they were gone.

His name was Kogarashi Monjiro, who was a well known gambler in his world.

You must have heard his name before.

What? Haven't heard about him?

I've never heard about him.

Yes.

Have you met him?

Only that one time.

People said he was very different.

He had a rather good reputation despite being an outlaw.

So I felt sorry for him, and decided to build a grave for him.

Let's go now.

Why are there many sticks instead of incense by his grave?

Because Monjiro used to have a long toothpick in his mouth.

Some of the toseinin know that, so they put sticks to pay their respect for him.

Bye now.

Yes.

It seems like Monjiro has been completely forgotten.

I guess five years is a long time.

COLD WIND MONJIRO RETURNS

Producer: NOMURA Yoichi

NAKAMURA Atsuo

KISHIBE Ittoku

Directed by ICHIKAWA Kon

According to Kiso Travellers Guide, Kiso is surrounded by mountains

in all directions and a lot of roads run through bamboo forests.

From Nojiri village, walk south on the Kiso road

for 10 miles and you will find Mitono village.

Then down through the rocks by the river, and there is the Owari clan's forest,

deep inside Kiso mountain.

"A tree for a head."

Felling trees in the government forest was

strictly prohibited and heavily punished.

Only municipal lumberjacks called somabito were allowed to cut trees.

They were honest hard workers with pride.

Boss! Good morning!

Good morning!

Monjiro!

This is "Mo," for Monjiro.

This is called Mokuza.

When workers meet my expectations, I present this sign to congratulate them for their hard work.

From now on, put this letter into all of your trees.

Your pay will be different, so it's a big deal.

Yes.

Congratulations! You worked hard.

You are lucky to have a great Boss!

In five years, you became more skilful than me!

Great!

Otami!

Koheiji my brother!

How is dad?

Hey!

You startled me!

Brother!

I thought you were dead! How have you been?

You have grown up fine. Did you find a husband?

No news from you for six whole years has made us worried sick!

I've been in Kizaki in Joshu.

I'm so glad you are back!

Well, I came back to say good bye.

Huh?

Now I am famous "Benten" (one of the 7 Lucky Gods) Koheiji of Joshu!

Otami,

we will have a celebration for Monjiro tonight!

Ready?

Father! Glad to see you again.

What is it!

I joined the Gorozo family of Kizaki, Joshu--

What a big fool!

How could you come home like that!

Sorry, I have not come home for a long time.

I apologize.

But finally I became a respected man with a big job.

That is why I came back from Joshu...

Shut up!

This place is not for outlaws.

I'm a Soma "Gashira" (head of Soma), and I cannot have a son like you!

So go away right now!

Father, he had a reason to come home.

Let him speak once.

You will be quiet!

Go away before you disrespect Lord Owari's forest!

Right now! Hurry!

What a waste of my time. After I came all this way!

Damn it...

Wait!

Move! You're in my way!

Monjiro.

Brother!

Be quiet. I don't want to be seen.

Don't you understand how father feels?

This job is so big and risky that I have staked my life on it.

Why would you do such a dangerous thing?

I came to say goodbye because this may be the last time I see all of you.

Is it in Joshu?

Otami! Joshu is a great place!

There are so many beautiful kimono, too.

Why don't you come to Joshu when you get tired of Kiso's mountain life.

I'll take care of you!

Well, goodbye.

Joshu is presently part of Gunma prefecture,

and we used to call it Kozukeno-kuni at the time.

From Kiso, it is a 150 mile trek to the north,

and travelling by foot takes almost 6 days.

Joshu's main business was growing silkworms and silken textiles,

and the silk industry was booming in olden times.

The towns of Kiryu and Isezaki were always busy with many silk merchants

with big trading markets.

Most farmers grew silkworms, harvested their cocoons,

boiled them to threads, and wove them into fabric

to support themselves.

So how is it?

At this moment, only 12 or 13 people...

No, that's not enough.

We need at least 30 people from this village.

As I told you before, it's not only Kizaki folks who organize the silk trade,

but everyone, including farmers like you guys.

That's why I'm working hard, Ushimatsu.

Please keep up! Otherwise I'll lose face.

The boss is a very scary man!

"GO"

Mother, it's ready. I added extra ginseng.

Please drink it and get well.

Thank you very much.

But why don't you let Omachi do these kinds of things?

I know...

Gorozo, what are you waiting for?

You don't have to be shy around her just because she was a former boss's daughter.

Why don't you make a move and marry her?

You don't have to worry about her. I'll take care of it.

Boss.

Kiryu's owners are here to see you.

Well, well.

Tomioka, Ashikaga,

and Inubushi from Kiryu! Welcome here.

How is your mother?

We came here to pay her respect. These are the gifts for her.

Thank you very much.

Please come in.

Don't let anybody into the guest room.

Come in, please.

Your devotion to your mother is famous in Joshu.

I'm just being a son.

By the way, about the numbers...

Finally, we got enough numbers.

Well, that is why we came here.

We got the letter from the government.

They said there will be be an extra tax on--

...for clothes, silver 2 bu, 5 rin;

for yarn, silver 1 bu; for silk floss, silver 5 bu...

This is outrageous!

We have paid enough taxes already!

More tax!

What do you think we should do?

Now is the time for action!

How many people do we have so far, boss?

3,000.

That's not enough, we need 5,000 more.

That could be expensive.