Shigurui: Death Frenzy (シグルイ)

Kan 'ei Year 10. December.

Due to conduct unbecoming the lord of a large domain,

Tadanaga Tokugawa was ordered to commit seppuku

despite his standing as

Shogun Iemitsu's younger brother.

Tales of his misconduct have been passed down

through the generations,

although none have ever been confirmed as true.

Kan 'ei Year 10. Sunpu Castle.

My Lord, there was something I would

like to say to you, if I may.

Something stinks.

My request is something I wish you to accept at any cost.

It-- It concerns the match to be held...

September 24th inside the castle walls.

Please do not force the swordsmen to use real blades.

I beg of you to stop.

Their swordsmanship can be represented

fairly using bokken...

To use real katana would be a

waste of these highly skilled men.

The country is at peace now...

Sunpu Castle is bound to Tosho-Daigongen-sama.

To violate the Castle's garden with blood at a time like this

would be seen as defiance toward the government.

It would bring nothing but

despair to his lordship's family.

Therefore, on behalf of those swordsmen,

I will show you the result of using real blades.

This is what a real sword... would do to those men...

This is it... my Lord.

Suruga is worth 550 thousand koku.

Are you saying, my Lord, that you would desire

this match even if it were to cost you that domain?

You... fool...

September 24th... The same year.

Indeed it is a pointless thing to lose such

skilled samurai in a match using real swords.

However...

Who can stop our Lord?

Who can stop him when even Torii-dono sacrificed

his life and was still ignored?

We all know, quite well, that a samurai's life is not his own.

The highest honor a samurai can achieve

is to die in the name of his Lord.

Mie-dono. What is the matter?

I saw you.

I had a vision of you and you were winning the match.

Gennosuke Fujiki.

It is time for your match.

At the pleasure of our Lord, the match will now commence.

Yes, sir.

On the west, Gennosuke Fujiki!

One arm?!

If I remember correctly this is the

man recommended by you, Saegusa.

You are correct.

Have you lost your mind?

The only thing a one-armed swordsman can do out there is--

Is win.

But Hyuga-dono...

Ah... You use the Kogan style,

which is said to be unrivaled in the Noubi area.

Gennosuke Fujiki.

You come recommended by Chief Retainer Saegusa-sama,

the Lord of Izu, correct?

To be safe...

I must now give your body an inspection.

Please... Take your time.

A wound of defeat...

Is it acceptable to bring such a man before our Lord?

It was clear to me

that he had been diligent in developing

the muscles on his back...

...to compensate for his missing arm.

On the east... Seigen Irako!

Iku...

I will be fine.

A cripple?

And that is not all...

He's blind...

Gennosuke Fujiki.

Seigen Irako.

Without hesitation, please exhibit to the

greatest extent of your abilities,

your sword skills for our Lord.

A one-armed man versus a blind cripple.

To stain the garden with such a show.