Life of a Court Lady

Life of a court Lady

An Art Theatre Guild & Nakasekai Production

Produced by Akira Tojo &

DP Masao Nakabori

Music by Ryohei Hirose

Starring

Janet Hatta

Shin Kishida, Minori Terada, Hananomoto Kotobuki

chisako Hara, Mitsuko Hoshi, Hosei Komatsu, Saburo Shinoda

Directed by Akio Jissoji

In the midst of the 1 3th century, on the Asian continent

Genghis Khan's son Kublai had constructed the Mongolian Empire,

and in seeking to put the Korean Peninsula as well as Japan under its influence

demanded Japan to submit tributes.

The arrival of the letter, which hinted at the use of force, shocked the Kamakura Shoganate

and the lmperial court turned pale with fear by such an unprecedented major event.

After repeated conferences the decision was made to reject the proclamation from Mongolia,

resulting in the attack by large Mongolian forces on the costal region of Kyushu

shortly after 1274, followed by another in 1 281

What's up with them?

Those Mongoloid monsters are coming in droves to attack Kyushu.

Because of that, I heard they've been rounding up crooks to send them over to Hakata.

Shit, we should run away!

Help!

Brother! What's going on?

Damn you! Where are you taking my brother?

Let him go! Let my brother go!

Punish her!

Yes, sir!

Hatsune!

Savages! Murderers! Demons!

What did you just say?!

You'll pay for this!

Murderers like you are destined to burn in the demon's cauldron!

I can't be a murderer if I don't believe in your monk's made up stories.

And more importantly have a look, the crows already have their eyes on her.

We are always the ones who get treated so horribly

Zenkatsuji,

it seems you're still a poor writer of songs.

As I am an old man I can only accompany my lord's whims to a point.

I am as frail as these poems,

and I told you many times how it doesn't fit my personality.

Not making any poems and constantly drinking

You are one helpless chief counselor

Yes, but this is the last. Forgive me.

The relaxing spring sun has lulled my old body

and I feel pleasantly sleepy.

You mean you are sleepy from alcohol.

Such songs of love,

No matter how much preasure is put on me,

at my age they are empty words.

Take a look, Seienji's face is filled with life.

Is there anything the matter, old man?

I'm saying that I'm jealous of you.

"Hidden Love"

"Past Love"

"Love at Dawn"

"Love in the Afternoon"

"Distant Love"

"close Love"

"Love During Travel"

These topics seem like Lord Tameie was coming up with them just for you.

By the way, Lord Tameie

Yes

I hear that you were quite the master of kemari when you were young

No, No. It was not that impressive

No, he possessed magnificent skill

it's unfortunate that I do not have any memory of seeing Lord Tameie play kemari

Though his father Lord Sadaie did seem to have a permanent illness

Indeed. I had a folding screen made of the 1 00 preeminent songs he wrote while at our retreat in Mt.Kokura

but the letters were thick and seemed to have been done with trembling hands

so he probably had a disability, although he still lived a very long life

He also seemed to get long with the samurai from Kanto

Unlike us, he seemed to have an eye for understanding current events.

That, Mr. Sanjyo, is because they welcomed in his wife from Mr. Saienji's house.

Lord Tameie's mother did come from Seienji's house.

Unlike us,

cooped up in the capital obsessed over old traditions like frogs in a well,

Seienji's family is equipped with robust wit,

capable of making friends with the wild bunch in Kamakura.

Isn't that so, Mr. Tameie, Mr. Saienji?

Lord Tameie

What do you think is the secret to improve one's song writing?

Well, my father Lord Teika...

Nevermind about Lord Teika

I would like to hear your personal thoughts

In that case, to write a song,

one does not necessarily need intelligence or education,

but what is important is that it comes from one's own nature and one's heart

Emperor Juntoku and Emperor Gotaba had also mentioned...

Right, right. So now these are the words of Emperor Juntoku and Emperor Gotaba

But as I understand...

What is more important is one's daily practice

Even if one writes a masterpiece one day,

if one neglects their practice the next one will only come out average

resulting in impressions that might have people say, "you got someone else to write it"

Practice?

That is something that is necessary.

By the way, Lord Tameie, do you have fun when you are writing songs?

Well...

whether it is fun... Such matters I don't usually...

"even think about it" is what you want to say

That must be what a happy life is like

But since I live putting effort in having fun, I undertand you

and still lonely winds blow through your life

Living within the lake of lotus leaves

The turtle drawn to the city of gems

Finally gets to play after an eternity

My lord, I received notice from the capital, the Mongoloids ransacked Tsushima and lchiki,

and after they passed Hizen by Matsura, they landed in Hakata

where they commenced atrocities utilizing a weapon known as a gun

and marched straight to the governmental palace,

but upon returning to their ships there was a sudden downpour and gusts of wind,

with many of their ships sinking, the rest fled to shallower shores

It has come as celebratory news, once the capital received word they were filled with joy

I see

So this country still possesses some luck.

That's good to know.

Yes?

Let us hold a celebration here at the Tominokouji Temple.

I haven't laid my hand on a lute in a while

Gather the women that are good at dancing

And while I'm at it, I'll bully Saienji whose current situation hasn't improved

I'm afraid that Sir Saienji is currently busy dealing with the men down in Kamakura

That's right.

He is a good man but still such a fool

Yes

When Shijo returns to her hometown this Tominokouji sure feels colder

The elegance has faded from this place

I know, I'll write a letter to Shijo.

There is the thing about the maternity belt anyway

It must be hard to give birth with such a supple body

The heart thirsts for frost,

the garden, a moon at midnight

surrounded by fall, unable to see that upside down is the path of love

surrounded by fall, unable to see that upside down is the path of love

the water from the fall slipping through the rocks

It is a message from the Lord

He will have a messanger bring the maternity belt tomorrow

He says to take care of my body and to birth a healthy prince

A maternity belt?

We already put the belt on two months ago

Don't even mention such a thing

Such a sinful thing to do.

to deceive the lord in such a way,

he will surely find out at some point

Such a terrible lie is bound to come back to hurt us

Just thinking of that...

makes me shudder

You cannot place all the blame on yourself

It will effect your body

Shijo who received the Lords devoted affection had returned back home

where she was preparing to have her second baby.

But the baby that she bore was not that of the Lords.

Before Shijo had become the lover of the lord

there was another man who devoted himself to Shijo.

The baby she was to have was the child of this man who she met in secret, away from the Lord.

Shijo's maidens called him the chief councilor of Fogs before sunrise.

It was a pure coincience. Shijo, lying to the Lord,

was at the child bearing place of this Fog before sunrise.

It was the God's will

For each long night

with beasts fi lled with milk

she must mourn her baby's lonely trip.

I have an idea

Everybody, do not say a word about how the baby passed away

From the monks who prayed for a healthy birth to the girls who took care of things,

you must not tell anybody outside of this.

Alright.

Let's prepare for the celebrations.

The long awaited baby has been born into the Saienji family.

A baby?

A baby was born?

A baby was born into the Saienji family

A crime...

this body is for the lord himself...

You must not fall asleep

You must not fall asleep!

You musn't! Put strength into your stomach.

Breath deeply!

Ms. Shiho, a girl!

How is the water?

Tell the messanger in the back to be ready to leave at any moment.

Bring a warm blanket.

The baby...

to the palace?

It is for the baby.

As a mother, one must wish only for the best for their child.

Once the Lord sees this child,

what would he say?

To even try to say that a child so round and grown was born premature,

He would see through such a lie.

Yes,

I am aware we can't do such a thing.

Even without that,

I do not know what to say to the Lord.

It is a curse of brutal punishment.

But,

Instead of holding onto compassion and causing a scene which can't be dealt with,

a swift and quick farewell to the baby is...