Ooku: The Inner Chambers (2023) s01e06 Episode Script
Episode 6
Hey, it's me. I'm home.
[woman coughing]
[sighs]
[coughing continues]
Grandmother, are you feeling better?
[groans] Of course
I'm not feeling any better.
[coughing]
I'm sorry that I was so late.
It took some time filling
the rice fields with water.
[Grandmother scoffs]
[Tadzu chuckles gently]
[grumbling]
- [coughs]
- [gasps]
Please, Grandmother,
you need to lay back down.
For the wife of a land-owner
to be out in the fields and not at home!
[sighs] I never had to worry about that.
What has this world come to? [wheezing]
I've explained that to you many times.
- Sato.
- Oh
Enough talk.
I need to start getting dinner ready.
Please, Mother. You should rest
a little. I can take care of it.
- You're helping too, Kae.
- Okay!
[wheezing]
[sighs]
ŌOKU: THE INNER CHAMBERS
[man] Understood.
So what we're suggesting
and seem to be in agreement on
is to finalize our decision
to move the Dutch commercial house
off the mainland
to a new location on Dejima Island.
Pardon, Baron of Izu, but this may mean
we will have to make a show of it,
and go ahead and publicly thank
the Christians for this opportunity.
And we will be able to avoid suspicion
from foreign countries
under the simple pretext
we're closing our borders
for the purpose of
keeping out foreigners.
- Do not speak so ironically, Tadaaki.
- Oh
Speaking of irony, the same
can be said about the Ōoku.
We gathered all of the able-bodied men
into Edo Castle
to prepare for a rebellion
from western provinces.
But now that red-face smallpox is
ravaging the country,
there's no worry of any feudal lords
rebelling against us anymore.
Nowadays, the men of the Ōoku are no
longer warriors, just good-for-nothings.
But if we were to decide
to dismiss so many men at once,
people will begin
to grow suspicious as to why.
We could also not ensure that it wouldn't
result in our liege's secret coming out
There's nothing to do except
to leave it as it is for the time being.
Regarding our liege
I heard that she unfrocked
the pretty-faced monk
who came to pay his respects to her,
and has now summoned
him to be her concubine.
Hotta Masamori
If only you hadn't been married,
you could have been the one
to become the father of the next shogun.
With your beauty, which
even the late Shogun Iemitsu favored,
I'm sure his daughter
would also see the appeal
Perhaps that's true. However,
that is something
my grandmother would not allow.
Although there is no blood relation
between Masamori and myself,
I consider him my grandson.
You Six Representatives are now the core
of the top leaders of the shogunate.
It is necessary for you
to be a united front for our country.
I simply cannot allow any situation that
would make Masamori stand out in any way!
So now you see what I mean,
don't you, Governor of Bungo?
[both sigh]
This is why no one could ever compete
politically with the Honored Kasuga.
It would've been a lot easier
for us to rebel
if you'd demonstrated jealousy
or ever showed a desire for power.
[narrator] Most of these men were
hand-selected by Kasuga
when they were young, to become
the late Shogun Iemitsu's retainers.
[all exclaiming]
[chuckles] There you go, enjoy yourselves.
In short, all of the current successes
these men have,
they owe to Kasuga,
and are therefore under
certain obligations to her.
And now, gentlemen, if we may get back
to the political issues at hand?
This plan you have to help
safeguard our country, Masakatsu-dono,
one in which boys can no longer
come of age,
is nevertheless quite an excellent one.
I expect nothing less from the
sharp person you are, Baron of Tango.
No I didn't
Here. I believe that we should relocate
the Dutch commercial house
to this small island here,
eh, Masakatsu?
Oh, to have such wit and intelligence,
all while being unable to leave the Ōoku.
If I could choose,
I would have wanted to include you,
and call us
the Seven Representatives.
I know you're doing this for your family,
but what a waste of talent.
[Baron sighs]
Now, all we need is for our liege
to give birth to an heir.
But, at the present moment, our liege
still shows no sign of being pregnant,
not even any morning sickness.
[giggles]
You do not have to worry
about that small matter.
I have already taken care of it.
- [woman] Welcome home, Nobutsuna-dono.
- [Nobutsuna] Mm-hmm
I'm going to rest early,
since today was a tiring one.
It seems I am getting old.
Hmm?
[grunts]
Warm greetings and welcome home, Father.
Shizu uh that is, Terutsuna.
How has he been doing, anyway?
Exactly the way you see.
Every day, she goes to the dojo to
practice swordsmanship and rides horses.
It's getting harder to tell whether
she's a boy or a girl these days.
Hmm Indeed, quite the problem
we have on our hands.
How dare you?
You were the one who made Shizu become
the replacement for our late Terutsuna.
You even held a coming-of-age ceremony,
for heaven's sake!
[growls]
Terutsuna passed away because of
red-face smallpox. It was unavoidable.
And the baby that my concubine
gave birth to also passed away.
You know very well we had no other choice.
[sobs] I just can't help
but feel sorry for Shizu.
Even just the other day
Don't worry yourself about it, Mother.
It may be strange to say this, but I feel
that this masculine life suits me better.
After trying it out, I found that I enjoy
swordsmanship and riding horses
more than sewing and flower arrangement.
Until my monthly cycle comes along,
- living my life like this
- Goodness!
I sometimes completely forget
that I'm a woman.
[laughs loudly]
[Nobutsuna] Gah! How ungraceful.
A woman shouldn't talk so frankly
about matters such as these.
It is completely and totally
your fault that she acts this way,
because you chose
to raise her to be a man!
[sobbing]
[melancholy music]
Oh, Father. If I don't think like this,
I can't live with this situation.
[sighs]
What a strange place
this world has become now
Fish for sale! Fresh fish!
Fish for sale! Fresh fish right here!
Fish right here! Fish right here!
O-Mine-san, do you have sardines?
Ayup!
Give me four, will you?
Right away.
Great doin' business with you!
Hey, by the way, how is your old pops
doing nowadays?
[sighs] Not too good. It's only
a matter of time now, I'm afraid.
Your sister is looking after him, right?
Yeah. I'm so grateful to her.
She's looking after my kids for me too,
while I'm away at work.
[sighs] After my man ran out on me,
and then my front teeth fell out
giving birth to my baby all alone,
sometimes, I would curse this world.
But you know, that's all in the past.
I've taken over the family business,
and my sister looks after the family.
Besides, a baby is adorable
once it's born.
You're a really great
daughter, O-Mine-san.
If only my daughter were able
to give birth to a baby,
I'd look after it for her too, of course,
but she keeps giving me excuses,
like she wants to give birth
- to a baby of a good-looking man.
- [laughs]
Our family business
is to sell kimono collars,
so it was easy
for my daughter to take over.
But I bet taking over grunt work
was a hassle for you.
[laughs loudly] Not at all, honey!
I mean, nowadays,
it's women who go out to sea
to catch the fish that I sell, after all.
I can't be picky, can I?
Well, anyway, thanks for your business!
Look at that.
She's such a remarkable woman.
I should make my daughter O-Ei
sip tea brewed from the dirt
under her fingernails.
- [gasps]
- Hey, now, O-Ei-san. People are staring.
Mmph! I don't care about that.
They can stare all they want.
In fact, I like that they are
I want them to see what kind
of attractive girl it takes
to be able to get in bed with a young,
handsome man like you these days. [gasps]
You don't have to be seen with me
to be able to prove
that you're an attractive woman.
[Ei gasps]
You are so cheeky!
You do know that, don't you?
Will you see me again?
Here, Sute-san, this is for you.
[Sute chuckles] Oh! Thanks a lot.
And how can you ask such a thing?
I'm the one who wants to see you again.
- Promise me, okay?
- [gasps] Mmm!
- [sighs]
- O-Ei-san
- [man] Sutezo!
- [both] Huh?
You idiot!
Fooling around with a girl again!
You're supposed to be
looking after the shop!
- [gasps]
- Darn it! Gotta go! It's my pops!
- See ya, O-Ei-san!
- [giggles]
- [father grunts]
- [Ei sighs]
[father yells] Sutezo!
[birdsong]
[father] I'm so ashamed of you.
Out of the four sons we had,
you, my youngest, were the only one
who didn't die of this terrible plague.
But all you want to do
is loaf around all day
without helping
the family business at all!
Hey, Sutezo! Are you listening?
The thing about that is, Pops
I've said this to you before.
Nowadays, when a young boy is born,
no one will make them help
with the family business anymore.
Boys are raised with extra care,
all the way in the back of the house.
They're raised so they don't
contract diseases and live to grow up.
They're treated like a shogun,
with their food delivered to them.
- Men are the treasure of the household.
- [growls]
That's what I mean when I say I'm ashamed!
- What have I done?
- Honey, let it go.
I will not!
Back in my day, men used
to go out and work proper jobs.
- Not get coddled all day at home!
- [yawns]
They didn't used to be treasured
only because of their seed.
We were treasured because
we would go out and work hard every day
to make money to provide
for our wives and our children.
Hmm
Well, then that means
I was born during a great time.
Sute!
To be honest, listening to stories about a
world before I was born is pretty boring.
Besides, the money I make
by pleasing women
is far more than we make in this family
business of selling used clothing.
Just you wait, Mom and Pops,
and one day I'm going
to buy a beautiful castle for you.
- Why, you little
- Oh, yeah. One more thing, Pops.
A person who's suffered a stroke
shouldn't be running around like that.
I was worried about you so I let you
catch me, but we shouldn't do that again.
[mother sighs]
[father splutters]
Damn! Damn it!
If I was a little younger,
I'd punch him out,
'cause that would keep him from
Oh, honey
Aw, man. Damn it!
[Sute] Hey there, O-Kon-chan.
You changed your hair
to the Shimada style?
Looks good, I must say.
Oh, wow, thank you.
Sute-san
[laughs]
[buzz of conversation]
- [woman] How much was it?
- [man] She's adorable!
Hmm.
[woman] Must go, cheerio.
[thinks] What a strong resemblance.
No matter how many times I see him,
he looks just like Arikoto.
[traditional music playing]
[Kon] Sute-san?
Mmm?
Why don't you just marry me
and be my husband?
- You could come and work for my family.
- Guess we'll see.
Come on.
[Sute sighs]
[Kon] Mmm
[Sute thinks] Which girl
should I settle for?
Or maybe I should just wait
and keep making money
and saving up without settling?
Let's see.
Which choice would be more beneficial
for me at the end of the day? Hmm
- You. Townsman.
- Huh?
I'm speaking to you.
Uh Yes! How could I help
a fine samurai like yourself?
I wouldn't address you
if you couldn't help.
[gasps]
- Bow your head!
- [Sute gasps]
So, then, young man.
Would you be interested
in working at Edo Castle?
Huh?
I'm asking if you'd like to work for our
liege within the grounds at Edo Castle.
[eerie music]
[Kasuga] The only memory
I have of my father
is when I saw his lifeless body hanging
like a ragged doll from a crucifix
at Awataguchi when we were
fleeing to Tosa province.
[people murmuring]
My father, Saito Toshimitsu,
who was a chief retainer
to Akechi Mitsuhide,
was crucified as a traitor after all of
the fallout from the Honnoji incident.
O-Fuku, let us go now.
As the kin of a traitor,
we escaped the eyes of Hashiba Hideyoshi,
and had to live our lives
wandering from one province to another.
My feet are hurting.
I don't want to walk anymore
Princess, please
endure a little bit longer.
In time, we'll be
passing the mountain peak.
- [sobs]
- [sister] Mother
We've been wearing the same
dirty kimono for days now.
When will we finally rest?
This is so embarrassing. I might as
well just go die before anyone sees me.
That would be so much better than this.
- Sister, you shouldn't cry.
- [sister gasps]
If you cry, you're only
going to grow more hungry.
[all gasp]
Yes, O-Fuku is correct, girls.
Come on. Let us hurry.
You don't see
your younger sister whining, do you?
If O-Fuku can manage that, then so can we.
Yes, Mother.
Come now, my Princesses.
[Kasuga] I was the only one
of my posh sisters
who was already
used to feeling dirty and shabby.
My face was completely covered
in ugly pockmarks
from the smallpox
I had contracted as a baby,
and I was always made
fun of by children my age.
[swish]
[eerie music]
Riki!
[sobbing]
O-Fuku did you kill O-Riki?
[Kasuga] I beg you to divorce me.
[hisses]
You stupid idiot wench!
A samurai's jealous wife
killing her husband's concubine
is a damned unforgivable action!
Damn it!
Your disgusting poxface
that no makeup can cover!
- [child] Father!
- Huh?
That is not what happened, Father.
Mother was protecting me.
O-Riki would always beat me and hit me
when no one else was around to see it.
Mother found out, and in
the heat of the moment she
Huh? Is that
[gasps]
Is what he says true, Fuku?
Masanari-dono
If word of this ever gets out, it would
be bad for you.
It is much better for your reputation
that the reason for my leaving
was because of my fits of crazy jealousy,
and nothing else.
So, please. Please give me a divorce.
[splutters]
[sighs]
[Kasuga] Senkuma Masanari-dono is done.
- [Senkuma] Uh
- He's done.
All was well until
he went over to the enemy,
the Eastern Army
in the Battle of Sekigahara.
But by doing so, he has offended
his lord, Kobayakawa Hideaki.
And because of that, now all he does
is drown in sake and women
every single night.
If this type of behavior continues,
the whole Inaba clan will perish with him.
Is is all of that true?
[Kasuga] Mmm.
I've heard that
in the faraway city of Edo,
Lord Tokugawa Hidetada's
legitimate wife, Lady O-Eyo,
is with child
and is expecting a baby soon.
But, even though the shogunate is now
located in Edo, it's still savage land.
They are having trouble
finding a wet nurse,
and the shogunate has put up
a public notice board
in Awataguchi of Kyoto in search of one.
Listen carefully, Senkuma.
Your mother is considering taking the job
as wet nurse for the shogunate.
[gasps]
- Leaving my baby brother Naiki behind?
- That's right.
Does that make you think that
your mother has become a monster?
Mm-mmm.
Mother, I will go to Edo with you.
And if that baby happens
to become the successor,
I will become the retainer
to that successor.
Will that be helpful,
if I do that for you, Mother?
Son, if I am granted the position of wet
nurse and you decide to follow me to Edo,
while we are within
the walls of the castle,
you would never be able to call me Mother
ever again, is that understood?
Yes. Even so, I know I want to
accompany you and be near my mother.
Sen kuma. [sniffles]
[sobs] Senkuma!
Mother!
[both crying]
[Inaba, echoing] The Honored Kasuga
The Honored Kasuga.
- The Honored Kasuga!
- [gasps]
Sen kuma.
Yes, Mother. I am here. It is I, Senkuma.
[gasping]
[groans]
I was just dreaming of the time
when you were still just a little boy.
Why have you come to my bedchamber
this morning, Masakatsu?
[Inaba] I'm terribly sorry.
But you seem to be feeling
a touch ill these days
Perhaps today, maybe you
should stay here and rest
How can you be so foolish?
You dare to ask me to stay lying down
on a day as important as this?
Bring Arikoto here.
What? A new Groom of the Bedchamber
is coming here to the Ōoku?
Wait, wait, wait
Master Wada and Master Katsuta,
are you attempting to pull
something over on me here?
I know you might be
getting along just fine now,
but Master Arikoto is still the rival
who won our liege's heart from you.
Wait a minute, Gyokuei.
Your suspicions are always
leading you to assume the worst.
This is just like what happened
when Arikoto-dono came here.
Huh?
It was the exact same back then.
The Honored Kasuga ordered the spare room
in the first wing
to be cleaned immediately.
And because the preparations that occurred
many years ago are the same as now,
we can assume an arrival.
[Gyokuei] What do you mean by that?
Why are you telling me this?
Gyokuei, we just wanted you to know.
Arikoto-dono has kindly
appointed us positions here.
We have the job of overseeing
all of the seasonal festivals,
including New Year's in the Ooku.
You have no idea how grateful we are
and how helpful we have found it
to have a purpose
while we live our lives
locked up in the Ōoku like this.
[Katsuta] You can rest assured
we no longer hold any grudges
towards Arikoto-dono.
[Iemitsu] Hmm
[chuckles]
[Arikoto chuckles]
[Arikoto] Hmm?
Let's see. It's a match!
Well, looks like I win again.
My liege is indeed very skilled
at the game of Kai-awase.
Perhaps you are very bad
at this game, Arikoto.
And why are you still using "my liege"?
I have told you to call me by my name
when it's just the two of us.
Yes
but we're not exactly alone right now.
[sighs] Hmm.
What's wrong, huh? Why the serious face?
It's not like you.
Uh it's nothing.
[laughs] Arikoto.
O-Tama is feeling a little jealous,
I think, because you and I are so close.
- My liege
- Yes, that's absolutely true.
I know I will never in my life be able
to find a love as beautiful
and true as my liege.
[thinks] But, to be honest, I don't
understand what Master Arikoto sees in her
that makes him adore
such an unmanageable woman.
- [Murase] Please excuse me, my liege.
- Huh?
Master Arikoto, the Honored Kasuga is
currently asking for you.
- She wants to see me now?
- Hmm
[Kasuga] So that's it.
Thank you for fulfilling your duty
with our liege up until today.
From now on, this Sutezo will be
taking on that duty in your stead.
Ka Kasuga-dono.
My goodness.
You two really do look quite alike.
[Arikoto] Kasuga-dono
I'm sure our liege
will be content with him.
- Kasuga-dono!
- [Kasuga] Very nice.
[shouts] Kasuga-dono!
This will not do.
Our liege would not
Our liege would never do
Our liege would never allow this!
I agree with you, Arikoto.
That is why it will be you yourself
who's going to be tasked
with officially requesting the role change
to our liege.
[Arikoto gasps] Bu but
What do you not understand?
[whimpers]
You have been together with our liege for
over a year now, and yet we have no heir.
The reason for that is
because you are seedless!
Lying in bed night after night
with someone like yourself
does not help our liege in any way!
You should know when to step down.
How dare you?
[tense music]
I didn't
I didn't agree to come here
by my own will.
Even so, I tried very hard
to find what I can do,
and at last, I've found a way
to live together with our liege.
A little more Isn't there a way for
you to give me a little more time?
Treatment such as this is
far too cruel for our gentle liege.
You're treating her like an animal!
What's in it for you?
Why do you insist on keeping
the bloodline intact at all costs?
What does it mean to you to desperately
protect the Tokugawa clan
in a way as brutal as this?
It means a peaceful world,
without any battles or war.
[Arikoto gasps]
Uh
[cicadas chirping]
Why, though?
Why are you saying this to me, Arikoto?
You're saying that I should sleep with
a man other than the one I'm in love with?
Yes.
And also from now on,
I would like to be pardoned from
any further bedchamber duties as well.
[gasping]
[wails]
- No!
- My liege!
- My liege
- No!
- My liege! Please, my liege!
- [sobbing] No!
How dare you do this?
[grunts] You don't know anything about me.
You don't have anything
to do at all, then.
I'm the one who has to be
harassed by different random men!
It's always my body that gets hurt,
that gets humiliated, and drips blood.
Take that!
Someone like you must die!
You thought your life was in danger
if you disobeyed Kasuga?
Such a coward deserves to die.
Die! Die! Die already!
[sobs] Die now!
[emotional music]
[gasps]
Please kill me.
[gasps]
No way. [sobs]
I won't do that for you.
I was lying to you.
Please don't die, Arikoto.
I love you, Arikoto,
even if you're an awful man.
I love you.
[sighs] I love you.
I am such a cold-blooded, inhuman man.
I want you to survive even if it means
you have to endure this pain.
If they tell me the only way for you
to survive is to carry on the bloodline,
then there's nothing more that I can do
- Arikoto
- [sobs]
[poignant music]
Kasuga is an idiot.
You're not the reason
why I cannot bear children.
I am the reason. It's me.
I had a difficult delivery
when I gave birth to my daughter.
I think that's what it is.
I won't get pregnant no matter what.
It doesn't matter who the man is.
So, Arikoto. If that is the case,
you'll die with me, right?
[gasps]
You will perish along with
the Tokugawa bloodline, right?
[gasps]
Yes.
Mmm.
[narrator] This may have been the happiest
time that they ever spent together.
THE CHRONICLE OF THE DYING DAY
THE CHRONICLE OF THE DYING DAY
[woman coughing]
[sighs]
[coughing continues]
Grandmother, are you feeling better?
[groans] Of course
I'm not feeling any better.
[coughing]
I'm sorry that I was so late.
It took some time filling
the rice fields with water.
[Grandmother scoffs]
[Tadzu chuckles gently]
[grumbling]
- [coughs]
- [gasps]
Please, Grandmother,
you need to lay back down.
For the wife of a land-owner
to be out in the fields and not at home!
[sighs] I never had to worry about that.
What has this world come to? [wheezing]
I've explained that to you many times.
- Sato.
- Oh
Enough talk.
I need to start getting dinner ready.
Please, Mother. You should rest
a little. I can take care of it.
- You're helping too, Kae.
- Okay!
[wheezing]
[sighs]
ŌOKU: THE INNER CHAMBERS
[man] Understood.
So what we're suggesting
and seem to be in agreement on
is to finalize our decision
to move the Dutch commercial house
off the mainland
to a new location on Dejima Island.
Pardon, Baron of Izu, but this may mean
we will have to make a show of it,
and go ahead and publicly thank
the Christians for this opportunity.
And we will be able to avoid suspicion
from foreign countries
under the simple pretext
we're closing our borders
for the purpose of
keeping out foreigners.
- Do not speak so ironically, Tadaaki.
- Oh
Speaking of irony, the same
can be said about the Ōoku.
We gathered all of the able-bodied men
into Edo Castle
to prepare for a rebellion
from western provinces.
But now that red-face smallpox is
ravaging the country,
there's no worry of any feudal lords
rebelling against us anymore.
Nowadays, the men of the Ōoku are no
longer warriors, just good-for-nothings.
But if we were to decide
to dismiss so many men at once,
people will begin
to grow suspicious as to why.
We could also not ensure that it wouldn't
result in our liege's secret coming out
There's nothing to do except
to leave it as it is for the time being.
Regarding our liege
I heard that she unfrocked
the pretty-faced monk
who came to pay his respects to her,
and has now summoned
him to be her concubine.
Hotta Masamori
If only you hadn't been married,
you could have been the one
to become the father of the next shogun.
With your beauty, which
even the late Shogun Iemitsu favored,
I'm sure his daughter
would also see the appeal
Perhaps that's true. However,
that is something
my grandmother would not allow.
Although there is no blood relation
between Masamori and myself,
I consider him my grandson.
You Six Representatives are now the core
of the top leaders of the shogunate.
It is necessary for you
to be a united front for our country.
I simply cannot allow any situation that
would make Masamori stand out in any way!
So now you see what I mean,
don't you, Governor of Bungo?
[both sigh]
This is why no one could ever compete
politically with the Honored Kasuga.
It would've been a lot easier
for us to rebel
if you'd demonstrated jealousy
or ever showed a desire for power.
[narrator] Most of these men were
hand-selected by Kasuga
when they were young, to become
the late Shogun Iemitsu's retainers.
[all exclaiming]
[chuckles] There you go, enjoy yourselves.
In short, all of the current successes
these men have,
they owe to Kasuga,
and are therefore under
certain obligations to her.
And now, gentlemen, if we may get back
to the political issues at hand?
This plan you have to help
safeguard our country, Masakatsu-dono,
one in which boys can no longer
come of age,
is nevertheless quite an excellent one.
I expect nothing less from the
sharp person you are, Baron of Tango.
No I didn't
Here. I believe that we should relocate
the Dutch commercial house
to this small island here,
eh, Masakatsu?
Oh, to have such wit and intelligence,
all while being unable to leave the Ōoku.
If I could choose,
I would have wanted to include you,
and call us
the Seven Representatives.
I know you're doing this for your family,
but what a waste of talent.
[Baron sighs]
Now, all we need is for our liege
to give birth to an heir.
But, at the present moment, our liege
still shows no sign of being pregnant,
not even any morning sickness.
[giggles]
You do not have to worry
about that small matter.
I have already taken care of it.
- [woman] Welcome home, Nobutsuna-dono.
- [Nobutsuna] Mm-hmm
I'm going to rest early,
since today was a tiring one.
It seems I am getting old.
Hmm?
[grunts]
Warm greetings and welcome home, Father.
Shizu uh that is, Terutsuna.
How has he been doing, anyway?
Exactly the way you see.
Every day, she goes to the dojo to
practice swordsmanship and rides horses.
It's getting harder to tell whether
she's a boy or a girl these days.
Hmm Indeed, quite the problem
we have on our hands.
How dare you?
You were the one who made Shizu become
the replacement for our late Terutsuna.
You even held a coming-of-age ceremony,
for heaven's sake!
[growls]
Terutsuna passed away because of
red-face smallpox. It was unavoidable.
And the baby that my concubine
gave birth to also passed away.
You know very well we had no other choice.
[sobs] I just can't help
but feel sorry for Shizu.
Even just the other day
Don't worry yourself about it, Mother.
It may be strange to say this, but I feel
that this masculine life suits me better.
After trying it out, I found that I enjoy
swordsmanship and riding horses
more than sewing and flower arrangement.
Until my monthly cycle comes along,
- living my life like this
- Goodness!
I sometimes completely forget
that I'm a woman.
[laughs loudly]
[Nobutsuna] Gah! How ungraceful.
A woman shouldn't talk so frankly
about matters such as these.
It is completely and totally
your fault that she acts this way,
because you chose
to raise her to be a man!
[sobbing]
[melancholy music]
Oh, Father. If I don't think like this,
I can't live with this situation.
[sighs]
What a strange place
this world has become now
Fish for sale! Fresh fish!
Fish for sale! Fresh fish right here!
Fish right here! Fish right here!
O-Mine-san, do you have sardines?
Ayup!
Give me four, will you?
Right away.
Great doin' business with you!
Hey, by the way, how is your old pops
doing nowadays?
[sighs] Not too good. It's only
a matter of time now, I'm afraid.
Your sister is looking after him, right?
Yeah. I'm so grateful to her.
She's looking after my kids for me too,
while I'm away at work.
[sighs] After my man ran out on me,
and then my front teeth fell out
giving birth to my baby all alone,
sometimes, I would curse this world.
But you know, that's all in the past.
I've taken over the family business,
and my sister looks after the family.
Besides, a baby is adorable
once it's born.
You're a really great
daughter, O-Mine-san.
If only my daughter were able
to give birth to a baby,
I'd look after it for her too, of course,
but she keeps giving me excuses,
like she wants to give birth
- to a baby of a good-looking man.
- [laughs]
Our family business
is to sell kimono collars,
so it was easy
for my daughter to take over.
But I bet taking over grunt work
was a hassle for you.
[laughs loudly] Not at all, honey!
I mean, nowadays,
it's women who go out to sea
to catch the fish that I sell, after all.
I can't be picky, can I?
Well, anyway, thanks for your business!
Look at that.
She's such a remarkable woman.
I should make my daughter O-Ei
sip tea brewed from the dirt
under her fingernails.
- [gasps]
- Hey, now, O-Ei-san. People are staring.
Mmph! I don't care about that.
They can stare all they want.
In fact, I like that they are
I want them to see what kind
of attractive girl it takes
to be able to get in bed with a young,
handsome man like you these days. [gasps]
You don't have to be seen with me
to be able to prove
that you're an attractive woman.
[Ei gasps]
You are so cheeky!
You do know that, don't you?
Will you see me again?
Here, Sute-san, this is for you.
[Sute chuckles] Oh! Thanks a lot.
And how can you ask such a thing?
I'm the one who wants to see you again.
- Promise me, okay?
- [gasps] Mmm!
- [sighs]
- O-Ei-san
- [man] Sutezo!
- [both] Huh?
You idiot!
Fooling around with a girl again!
You're supposed to be
looking after the shop!
- [gasps]
- Darn it! Gotta go! It's my pops!
- See ya, O-Ei-san!
- [giggles]
- [father grunts]
- [Ei sighs]
[father yells] Sutezo!
[birdsong]
[father] I'm so ashamed of you.
Out of the four sons we had,
you, my youngest, were the only one
who didn't die of this terrible plague.
But all you want to do
is loaf around all day
without helping
the family business at all!
Hey, Sutezo! Are you listening?
The thing about that is, Pops
I've said this to you before.
Nowadays, when a young boy is born,
no one will make them help
with the family business anymore.
Boys are raised with extra care,
all the way in the back of the house.
They're raised so they don't
contract diseases and live to grow up.
They're treated like a shogun,
with their food delivered to them.
- Men are the treasure of the household.
- [growls]
That's what I mean when I say I'm ashamed!
- What have I done?
- Honey, let it go.
I will not!
Back in my day, men used
to go out and work proper jobs.
- Not get coddled all day at home!
- [yawns]
They didn't used to be treasured
only because of their seed.
We were treasured because
we would go out and work hard every day
to make money to provide
for our wives and our children.
Hmm
Well, then that means
I was born during a great time.
Sute!
To be honest, listening to stories about a
world before I was born is pretty boring.
Besides, the money I make
by pleasing women
is far more than we make in this family
business of selling used clothing.
Just you wait, Mom and Pops,
and one day I'm going
to buy a beautiful castle for you.
- Why, you little
- Oh, yeah. One more thing, Pops.
A person who's suffered a stroke
shouldn't be running around like that.
I was worried about you so I let you
catch me, but we shouldn't do that again.
[mother sighs]
[father splutters]
Damn! Damn it!
If I was a little younger,
I'd punch him out,
'cause that would keep him from
Oh, honey
Aw, man. Damn it!
[Sute] Hey there, O-Kon-chan.
You changed your hair
to the Shimada style?
Looks good, I must say.
Oh, wow, thank you.
Sute-san
[laughs]
[buzz of conversation]
- [woman] How much was it?
- [man] She's adorable!
Hmm.
[woman] Must go, cheerio.
[thinks] What a strong resemblance.
No matter how many times I see him,
he looks just like Arikoto.
[traditional music playing]
[Kon] Sute-san?
Mmm?
Why don't you just marry me
and be my husband?
- You could come and work for my family.
- Guess we'll see.
Come on.
[Sute sighs]
[Kon] Mmm
[Sute thinks] Which girl
should I settle for?
Or maybe I should just wait
and keep making money
and saving up without settling?
Let's see.
Which choice would be more beneficial
for me at the end of the day? Hmm
- You. Townsman.
- Huh?
I'm speaking to you.
Uh Yes! How could I help
a fine samurai like yourself?
I wouldn't address you
if you couldn't help.
[gasps]
- Bow your head!
- [Sute gasps]
So, then, young man.
Would you be interested
in working at Edo Castle?
Huh?
I'm asking if you'd like to work for our
liege within the grounds at Edo Castle.
[eerie music]
[Kasuga] The only memory
I have of my father
is when I saw his lifeless body hanging
like a ragged doll from a crucifix
at Awataguchi when we were
fleeing to Tosa province.
[people murmuring]
My father, Saito Toshimitsu,
who was a chief retainer
to Akechi Mitsuhide,
was crucified as a traitor after all of
the fallout from the Honnoji incident.
O-Fuku, let us go now.
As the kin of a traitor,
we escaped the eyes of Hashiba Hideyoshi,
and had to live our lives
wandering from one province to another.
My feet are hurting.
I don't want to walk anymore
Princess, please
endure a little bit longer.
In time, we'll be
passing the mountain peak.
- [sobs]
- [sister] Mother
We've been wearing the same
dirty kimono for days now.
When will we finally rest?
This is so embarrassing. I might as
well just go die before anyone sees me.
That would be so much better than this.
- Sister, you shouldn't cry.
- [sister gasps]
If you cry, you're only
going to grow more hungry.
[all gasp]
Yes, O-Fuku is correct, girls.
Come on. Let us hurry.
You don't see
your younger sister whining, do you?
If O-Fuku can manage that, then so can we.
Yes, Mother.
Come now, my Princesses.
[Kasuga] I was the only one
of my posh sisters
who was already
used to feeling dirty and shabby.
My face was completely covered
in ugly pockmarks
from the smallpox
I had contracted as a baby,
and I was always made
fun of by children my age.
[swish]
[eerie music]
Riki!
[sobbing]
O-Fuku did you kill O-Riki?
[Kasuga] I beg you to divorce me.
[hisses]
You stupid idiot wench!
A samurai's jealous wife
killing her husband's concubine
is a damned unforgivable action!
Damn it!
Your disgusting poxface
that no makeup can cover!
- [child] Father!
- Huh?
That is not what happened, Father.
Mother was protecting me.
O-Riki would always beat me and hit me
when no one else was around to see it.
Mother found out, and in
the heat of the moment she
Huh? Is that
[gasps]
Is what he says true, Fuku?
Masanari-dono
If word of this ever gets out, it would
be bad for you.
It is much better for your reputation
that the reason for my leaving
was because of my fits of crazy jealousy,
and nothing else.
So, please. Please give me a divorce.
[splutters]
[sighs]
[Kasuga] Senkuma Masanari-dono is done.
- [Senkuma] Uh
- He's done.
All was well until
he went over to the enemy,
the Eastern Army
in the Battle of Sekigahara.
But by doing so, he has offended
his lord, Kobayakawa Hideaki.
And because of that, now all he does
is drown in sake and women
every single night.
If this type of behavior continues,
the whole Inaba clan will perish with him.
Is is all of that true?
[Kasuga] Mmm.
I've heard that
in the faraway city of Edo,
Lord Tokugawa Hidetada's
legitimate wife, Lady O-Eyo,
is with child
and is expecting a baby soon.
But, even though the shogunate is now
located in Edo, it's still savage land.
They are having trouble
finding a wet nurse,
and the shogunate has put up
a public notice board
in Awataguchi of Kyoto in search of one.
Listen carefully, Senkuma.
Your mother is considering taking the job
as wet nurse for the shogunate.
[gasps]
- Leaving my baby brother Naiki behind?
- That's right.
Does that make you think that
your mother has become a monster?
Mm-mmm.
Mother, I will go to Edo with you.
And if that baby happens
to become the successor,
I will become the retainer
to that successor.
Will that be helpful,
if I do that for you, Mother?
Son, if I am granted the position of wet
nurse and you decide to follow me to Edo,
while we are within
the walls of the castle,
you would never be able to call me Mother
ever again, is that understood?
Yes. Even so, I know I want to
accompany you and be near my mother.
Sen kuma. [sniffles]
[sobs] Senkuma!
Mother!
[both crying]
[Inaba, echoing] The Honored Kasuga
The Honored Kasuga.
- The Honored Kasuga!
- [gasps]
Sen kuma.
Yes, Mother. I am here. It is I, Senkuma.
[gasping]
[groans]
I was just dreaming of the time
when you were still just a little boy.
Why have you come to my bedchamber
this morning, Masakatsu?
[Inaba] I'm terribly sorry.
But you seem to be feeling
a touch ill these days
Perhaps today, maybe you
should stay here and rest
How can you be so foolish?
You dare to ask me to stay lying down
on a day as important as this?
Bring Arikoto here.
What? A new Groom of the Bedchamber
is coming here to the Ōoku?
Wait, wait, wait
Master Wada and Master Katsuta,
are you attempting to pull
something over on me here?
I know you might be
getting along just fine now,
but Master Arikoto is still the rival
who won our liege's heart from you.
Wait a minute, Gyokuei.
Your suspicions are always
leading you to assume the worst.
This is just like what happened
when Arikoto-dono came here.
Huh?
It was the exact same back then.
The Honored Kasuga ordered the spare room
in the first wing
to be cleaned immediately.
And because the preparations that occurred
many years ago are the same as now,
we can assume an arrival.
[Gyokuei] What do you mean by that?
Why are you telling me this?
Gyokuei, we just wanted you to know.
Arikoto-dono has kindly
appointed us positions here.
We have the job of overseeing
all of the seasonal festivals,
including New Year's in the Ooku.
You have no idea how grateful we are
and how helpful we have found it
to have a purpose
while we live our lives
locked up in the Ōoku like this.
[Katsuta] You can rest assured
we no longer hold any grudges
towards Arikoto-dono.
[Iemitsu] Hmm
[chuckles]
[Arikoto chuckles]
[Arikoto] Hmm?
Let's see. It's a match!
Well, looks like I win again.
My liege is indeed very skilled
at the game of Kai-awase.
Perhaps you are very bad
at this game, Arikoto.
And why are you still using "my liege"?
I have told you to call me by my name
when it's just the two of us.
Yes
but we're not exactly alone right now.
[sighs] Hmm.
What's wrong, huh? Why the serious face?
It's not like you.
Uh it's nothing.
[laughs] Arikoto.
O-Tama is feeling a little jealous,
I think, because you and I are so close.
- My liege
- Yes, that's absolutely true.
I know I will never in my life be able
to find a love as beautiful
and true as my liege.
[thinks] But, to be honest, I don't
understand what Master Arikoto sees in her
that makes him adore
such an unmanageable woman.
- [Murase] Please excuse me, my liege.
- Huh?
Master Arikoto, the Honored Kasuga is
currently asking for you.
- She wants to see me now?
- Hmm
[Kasuga] So that's it.
Thank you for fulfilling your duty
with our liege up until today.
From now on, this Sutezo will be
taking on that duty in your stead.
Ka Kasuga-dono.
My goodness.
You two really do look quite alike.
[Arikoto] Kasuga-dono
I'm sure our liege
will be content with him.
- Kasuga-dono!
- [Kasuga] Very nice.
[shouts] Kasuga-dono!
This will not do.
Our liege would not
Our liege would never do
Our liege would never allow this!
I agree with you, Arikoto.
That is why it will be you yourself
who's going to be tasked
with officially requesting the role change
to our liege.
[Arikoto gasps] Bu but
What do you not understand?
[whimpers]
You have been together with our liege for
over a year now, and yet we have no heir.
The reason for that is
because you are seedless!
Lying in bed night after night
with someone like yourself
does not help our liege in any way!
You should know when to step down.
How dare you?
[tense music]
I didn't
I didn't agree to come here
by my own will.
Even so, I tried very hard
to find what I can do,
and at last, I've found a way
to live together with our liege.
A little more Isn't there a way for
you to give me a little more time?
Treatment such as this is
far too cruel for our gentle liege.
You're treating her like an animal!
What's in it for you?
Why do you insist on keeping
the bloodline intact at all costs?
What does it mean to you to desperately
protect the Tokugawa clan
in a way as brutal as this?
It means a peaceful world,
without any battles or war.
[Arikoto gasps]
Uh
[cicadas chirping]
Why, though?
Why are you saying this to me, Arikoto?
You're saying that I should sleep with
a man other than the one I'm in love with?
Yes.
And also from now on,
I would like to be pardoned from
any further bedchamber duties as well.
[gasping]
[wails]
- No!
- My liege!
- My liege
- No!
- My liege! Please, my liege!
- [sobbing] No!
How dare you do this?
[grunts] You don't know anything about me.
You don't have anything
to do at all, then.
I'm the one who has to be
harassed by different random men!
It's always my body that gets hurt,
that gets humiliated, and drips blood.
Take that!
Someone like you must die!
You thought your life was in danger
if you disobeyed Kasuga?
Such a coward deserves to die.
Die! Die! Die already!
[sobs] Die now!
[emotional music]
[gasps]
Please kill me.
[gasps]
No way. [sobs]
I won't do that for you.
I was lying to you.
Please don't die, Arikoto.
I love you, Arikoto,
even if you're an awful man.
I love you.
[sighs] I love you.
I am such a cold-blooded, inhuman man.
I want you to survive even if it means
you have to endure this pain.
If they tell me the only way for you
to survive is to carry on the bloodline,
then there's nothing more that I can do
- Arikoto
- [sobs]
[poignant music]
Kasuga is an idiot.
You're not the reason
why I cannot bear children.
I am the reason. It's me.
I had a difficult delivery
when I gave birth to my daughter.
I think that's what it is.
I won't get pregnant no matter what.
It doesn't matter who the man is.
So, Arikoto. If that is the case,
you'll die with me, right?
[gasps]
You will perish along with
the Tokugawa bloodline, right?
[gasps]
Yes.
Mmm.
[narrator] This may have been the happiest
time that they ever spent together.
THE CHRONICLE OF THE DYING DAY
THE CHRONICLE OF THE DYING DAY