When The Last Sword is Drawn (Mibu gishi den) (壬生義士伝)

"When the Last Sword is Drawn."

The City of Tokyo, Winter, 1899.

What are these?

Here. Make sure you pack this.

Yes, yes...

we'll never get done.

Sure we will.

Chiaki...

pack first, then drink.

Yes, dear.

We can't take half a bottle with us!

"Ono Clinic."

"This clinic is closed."

"We are moving to a new location."

"Chiaki Ono, M.D."

Yes?

Coming, coming!

I realize it's late.

My grandson has a fever that won't go down. Would you mind?

Come in.

We're moving, so the place is a mess.

Find an empty place and sit down.

Minoru...

There we go...

We have got a patient!

All right.

My wife handles the children.

Come in.

There's not much room. You go in alone.

I don't want a needle!

Minoru! Stop this nonsense!

There's nothing to be scared of.

I'm sorry.

It's all right. Just leave that there.

You've got a fever.

Don't be scared.

This gentleman...

Who?

Do you know him?

No.

How could I forget him? Kanichiro Yoshimura...

The man I hated most...

and in those mad days when the Shogun fell, my comrade in...

'the wolves of Mibu'.

WHEN THE LAST SWORD lS DRAWN.

The 'Newly Chosen Unit', or 'Shinsengumi', was formed in 1863.

Quartered in Kyoto's Mibu area...

this group of masterless samurai was charged with keeping the peace...

as the Shogun's power ebbed.

I first saw Yoshimura among a group of recruits...

selected by our Lieutenant, Toshizo Hijikata.

'Listed' swordsmen and above.

First, Kanichiro Yoshimura.

Sir!

From Morioka, Oshu Clan. North Star One-Sword School. Licensed.

He's in the same school as you, lto.

Never seen him.

Mr. Nagakura...

How about trying one with a real sword?

Okita!

It's all right. They're not sharp.

Your school doesn't train with real swords, does it..

That's right, sir.

Go easy on me.

He might miss. Wear a protector.

I might miss, too. You should wear one as well.

I won't need it.

Very well.

Starring Kiichi Nakai.

Koichi Sato.

Yui Natsukawa Takehiro Murata.

Miki Nakatani Yuji Miyake.

Story Jiro Asada.

Screenplay Takehiro Nakajima.

Music Joe Hisaishi.

Producers Hideshi Miyajima Nozomu Enoki.

Directed by Yojiro Takita.

He had killed. You could see that at a glance.

Enough!

Not bad!

My humble thanks.

Yoshimura!

Sir?

It takes a good man to fight Nagakura to a draw.

You will work with him as an instructor in swordsmanship.

All right, lto?

Hijikata?

Uh, you're making me...

an instructor...

for the Shinsengumi?

Well, thank you very much!

And now...

I have an announcement to make.

Tani...

Masatake...

Come forward.

Welcome.

I'll take your sword.

Sanjuro Tani's younger brother Masatake...

will be adopted into my Kondo family.

He will henceforth be known as 'Shuhei'.

I ask you all...

to give him your support.

I ask it, too.

The Tennen Sword school now has an heir...

to its leader!

What are you doing?!

Move.

What?!

Mr. Saito...

you could have just asked.

I will now entertain!

I have a special treat for you.

Kondo wasn't a bad man, but he was a snob.

His taste for distinguished families and promotion of glib fools..

Led to his adopting this younger brother...

passing over Okita, the natural choice to succeed him.

Saito-sensei... have a drink.

My name is Kanichiro Yoshimura.

I am a new man. Just so you will know who I am...

What land are you from, Saito-sensei?

'Land'?

Yes.

I was born in Morioka, in Nanbu, Oshu.

It's a beautiful place.

Please...

Away to the south is Mt Hayachine...

with Mt Nansho and Mt Azumane to the west.

In the north are Mt lwate and Mt Himekami.

Out of the high mountains flows the Nakatsu River...

through the castle town into the Kitakami below Sakuranobaba.

Ah, it's as pretty as a picture!

There's nowhere like it in all of Japan!

Oh, please... allow me.

Last night I dreamed about my little girl.

She's the image of her mother, who was the prettiest girl in town.

It's just been so long since I saw her...

An awful country samurai, bragging about home and family.

When I left home...

she was only five.

Even then...

she was such a sweet little thing it took your breath away.

It had been a month then since I had killed a man.

My son Kaichiro...

is a fine swordsman and scholar.

I don't just say that because I'm his father.

He'll be a fine samurai.

I had decided I would kill this man.

Please...

Could you walk me back to my lodging?

Sorry?

I'm drunk, and it's not safe to go staggering down the street alone.

Of course.

This should do.

Here?

A joke can go too far, sir. I ask you the reason for this.

There is no reason.

You'd kill for no reason?

I don't like you.

You're crazy!

Die!

I can't allow that to happen. I won't die.

I'm not serious. I just wanted to test you.

I ask that this be the last time you test me.

You don't want to die? What kind of samurai is that?

No one really wants to die. Are you any different?

I don't care. I'm only alive because no one will kill me.

I'm different. I kill because I don't want to die.

For violating the rules of our troop, Takito Seyama has been ordered...

to commit hara-kiri.

When he has cut himself open, you new men will remove his head.

What is his crime?

That doesn't concern you.

Do not fail.

I will obey.

Hurry it up.

No! Please! Stop!

I'm truly sorry.

Forgive me.

Payment.

Go have fun in Shimabara.

Don't you want it?

I can't accept this!

I see.

Hijikata-sensei...

as you're aware, the circumstances...

made the task quite difficult.

It caused a chip in the blade of my sword.

Could I perhaps ask for the cost of a new sword?

That should do. Your blade doesn't bear its maker's name.

You are too kind.

My most humble thanks!

What kind of a samurai is that?

He's really something!

Where's it chipped?

My sword is as worn down as I am.

The Shinsengumi was the sterile flower of the Shoguns' end.

And here was this miser squirreling away all he could.

We're checking to make sure it's nothing contagious.

It"ll take a bit more time.