Seibei Iguchi Hiroyuki Sanada
Tomoe Rie Miyazawa
Zenemon Yogo Min Tanaka
From Stories by Shuhei Fujisawa
Screenplay Yoji Yamada & Yoshitaka Asama
Producer Shigehiro Nakagawa
Producer Hiroshi Fukasawa
Producer Ichiro Yamamoto
Cinematography Mutsuo Naganuma
Art Director Mitsuo Degawa
Artistic Supervisor Yoshinobu Nishioka
Lighting Gen Nakaoka
Costume Design Kazuko Kurosawa
Editor Iwao Ishii
Sound Recordist Kazumi Kishida
Music Isao Tomita
Theme Song Yosui Inoue
Directed by Yoji Yamada
Not that way.
No, no, no!
Thank you. You may go.
After a long illness my mother died...
...when I was five.
She had consumption...
...so from when I can remember I wasn't allowed near her.
Thus I have almost no memory of my mother.
Ito... Ito...
You poor little darling!
I am from Unasaka, in the northeast, in what is now Yamagata Prefecture.
Before 1868 it was the castle town of the Unasaka clan...
...a small fief of 70,000 koku of rice per year.
Well done, one and all.
That's it for today.
Sakaguchi...
I've heard there's a good drinking place in Hakkenmachi...
Oh, you mean 'Hisago'?
Feel like a drink?
A fine idea.
Kawanami, will you come?
I will.
Iguchi?
For a change?
Not me, thanks.
We can't twist your arm?
If you'll excuse me...
Twilight's not very exciting, is he.
With a sick wife, two young daughters and an aged mother in his care...
...my father was unable to drink with his colleagues.
He had to hurry home every evening at dusk.
I was told the men he worked with...
...gave him the cruel nickname of 'Twilight Seibei.'
THE TWILIGHT SAMURAI
Ito...
Father!
Up you go!
Your face is dirty.
Father's back!
Welcome home.
Codfish stew tonight, Kayano?
Don't drop it.
I'm home, Mother. How are you this evening?
Of what household are you, sir?
I am Seibei Iguchi of the Unasaka Clan, Castle Stores.
I see...
She's getting worse. She doesn't even know her own son!
Kayano, I've simmered some burdock. Take some.
Thank you. You're always so kind to my daughters.
Naota... you can go home now.
Yup.
Good evening.
But Yazaki, can't we do something about Twilight?
His kimono's all ripped, and hardly ever takes a bath.
There's this smell when you get close to him.
It just won't do!
Yes, sir. We all find it very hard to stomach.
We've asked around about finding him a new wife...
...but no woman would want his situation.
Indeed!
He's got two young girls, a senile old mother...
...and 20 of his 50 koku gone in debt.
Any woman who went to him would have to take in work.
Yes, he owes money all over the place.
I don't know how he paid for his wife's funeral.
Not even selling your sword would pay for a funeral like that.
A funeral! That's something I have to worry about, too.
My father's not going to last much longer.
Kawanami's lucky. Young parents and a pretty wife!
You'd better go easy with her. It could hurt your work.
Is that why you're always cat-napping on the job?
I am not!
Listen to him!
O-Kume...
Welcome!
Isn't she gorgeous!
O-Kume...
Bed-time, Gran.
Good night, Seibei.
Good night.
She remembered me!
'The Master said: To rule a land of a thousand chariots...'
Kayano...
That's Confucius, isn't it? When did you start learning that?
At the end of last month. The teacher says...
...from now on even girls will need book learning.
That's good.
When I was a boy I read Confucius over and over again.
Father...
If I learn to do needlework...
...someday I can make kimonos.
But what good will book learning ever do me?
Well, it probably won't ever be as useful as needlework.
But you know...
...book learning gives you the power...
...to think.
However the world might change, if you have the power to think...
...you'll always survive somehow.
That's true for boys and for girls.
All right?
Yes.
Keep reading, then.
'Tseng Tzu said: Each day in three ways...'
'...I ask myself...'
'...if I have faithfully carried out what I undertook for another...'
My mother's illness had left my father deep in debt.
As Grandmother lost her wits, all the housework, the gathering of fuel...
...and the field work fell to him.
Left with little time to attend to himself...
...he gradually became unkempt and grimy.
As his daughter, I felt terrible about this.
Wipe off that dust!
They're coming!
His Lordship attends!
Kawanami! Quick!
'Provisions.'
Vital stores of food for when the clan must fight, or the castle...
...is besieged.
Next we have the Salt Storehouse...
Here you have your beans, green, soy and red...
We pay particular attention to keeping them dry.
Dried giant horse-radish, dried fiddleheads, miso paste...
Kusaka!
This is dried codfish...
...very important provisioning in times of war.
How much have we got?
Iguchi...
'Iguchi'? You may answer directly.
By your leave. We have 760 strips...
...by weight approximately 120 kan.
How long does it keep?
Between five and ten years.
This here is the oldest we have.
It was acquired six years ago.
This dried cod from Kansaki is best. It holds its taste for ten years.
That strange smell I noticed... is it you?
Clan retainers must serve as examples to the common folk.
Keep yourself clean.
Yes, Milord!
Carry on.
Idiot!
Sir, I...
I'll speak to you later.
But...
Be quiet!
Iguchi!
You damn fool!
The story spread throughout the castle.
My father became a laughingstock.
My Great-Uncle came from the main house in a foul humor.
Hello!
Seibei!
It's Uncle...
I'm in for it now.
Is anybody here? What, are you all dead?
Coming!
Kayano, make some tea.
Who is it?
Great-Uncle!
Disgraceful!
You appeared before His Lordship unbathed, reeking of dried cod.
The unpleasant impression you created...
...shames the house of Iguchi.
That was inexcusable.
I went to Senior Retainer Terauchi and apologized for you.
His Lordship is a generous man, so he did not find fault.
Had that been his father, though...
...this would have meant hara-kiri!
I never dreamed it would cause so much trouble.
I beg your forgiveness.
Kayano?
How old are you now?
I am ten years old.
Are you working at your lessons?
I'm learning needlework and Confucius.
A girl has no need of the classics.
All you need is to write women's script.
Too much book learning and you'll never be a bride.
You can go.
I am here today on an important matter.
A marriage arrangement.
You need a hard-working wife to escape the misery you are in.
A village-headman acquaintance has an unmarried daughter...
...whom he agrees to marry to you.
He knows you are poor, have two young daughters and a senile mother.
I'm sure you realize that you are in no position to demand beauty.
You need a healthy wife with big haunches to bear children.
Her face is of no concern.
So I'll proceed with this, if you don't mind.
With all due respect, I must differ.
How?
I am not nearly as miserable in my living as you may think.
Of course, offending His Lordship by appearing unbathed before him...
...was wrong, and I vow never to repeat it.
However...
...watching my daughters as they grow day by day is...
...how shall I put it?
It's like watching crops ripen or flowers grow in a field.
I enjoy it very much.
I'm not sure if the lady of whom you speak...
...would understand that.
Who would understand such foolishness?
You've always been like this...
...tormenting your poor father with this prattling of yours!
What has your marriage got to do with crops in a field?
Then I beg leave to speak more clearly.
I ask that you not concern yourself with questions of my marriage.
You defy the main branch of your family?
You are welcome here.
Kinu... are you well?
I am, thank you.
May I ask of which household you come?
I'm your damn brother!
Take her away, Seibei. She's a nuisance.
Mother...
Most unseemly! What will the neighbors think?
Tie her to a post somewhere!
'Expect no more help from me!...'
...shouted my Great-Uncle as he left in high dudgeon.
Can you do that?
Let me see.
Here...
...twist it as you fit it in.
Is Gran asleep?
Yes.
Good.
Father...
Gran was crying, you know.
Uncle shouted at her.
Poor Gran!
Do you like Uncle?
You don't?
I hate him.
He came to talk about a new wife for me, but I said no.
I don't want to take any help from him.
You'd think we were buying a cow!
'All she needs is to be healthy...' that's rude to the lady as well.
Are you lonely...
...without a mother?
I'm not lonely if you're here.
Me, too.
That's my girls.
Do you want the toilet, Gran?
Look!
Butterbur buds! Get lots, all right?
What's that?
A child!
The poor thing! He's nothing but bones!
Where'd he come from?
Matsukawa, maybe.
Rise to Buddha!
As children, we loved to go gathering herbs...
...by the river in early spring.
But those were times of famine.
The cold meltwater often brought the bodies of peasants...
...dead of starvation.
Aim...
Fire!
All of you, watch me.
Elbows up...
Brace the right knee...
Seibei! Sorry to keep you waiting.
You went to Kyoto?
Yes, with the Majordomo to talk to merchants there and in Osaka.
What's Kyoto like?
I had high hopes for it, but it was horrible.
I've never seen the like of Miyako-oji Boulevard.
Filthy masterless samurai from all over the country everywhere...
...cursing and swearing in dialects you can't understand.
Then someone shouts 'Divine punishment!' and the swords come out.
The Kamo River's full of headless corpses all swollen up...
So it wasn't all Gion geishas?
Dear me!
Prime!
Aim!
Fire!
Misfire!
Wait! What's wrong?
Ow!
Fool!
I told you to wait!
They're a bit late.
The Choshu clan may have been beaten once, but they'll be back with Satsuma.
They'll snuff out 250 years of Shoguns like the wind does a candle.
What's our clan doing?
Our leaders aren't thinking!
How would you like to go to Kyoto?
The Emperor's palace needs guards.
I'll recommend you.
You'll see how things are.
Someone like you shouldn't be stuck in a field here right now.
I'm afraid you over-estimate me.
The times are changing.
When they do, I'll give up samurai status and be a farmer.
That's what I'm suited for.
You're a strange one.
But you always were.
No ambition at all.
Oh, I nearly forgot...
My condolences on your bereavement.
Burn a joss stick for her.
You didn't have to...
I wanted to send my sister to the funeral in my place...
...but she was having some troubles of her own.
I'm sorry.
Miss Tomoe? What's wrong?
You know she married the son of Captain Koda...
It turns out this Toyotaro is a mean drunk.
If I'd known I'd never have agreed.
A mean drunk?
He'd hit her, kick her...
She'd come running to my house to get away.
I was worried one day he'd kill her...
...so I got the Castle to order them divorced.
Divorced?
Just recently.
So now Tomoe's back at my house.
Really?
And here I thought she was the wife of a fine 1200-koku samurai.
I had no idea.
I made a mistake. She's gone through hell because of me.
Well done, one and all.
That's it for today.
Sakaguchi...
Sakaguchi! Feel like dropping in at 'Hisago'?
You want to see O-Kume!
Quiet!
You come too, Kawanami.
Again?
Damn right!
I'll be going.
Iguchi...
Come see the girls. Take your mind off things.
I'm fine, thanks.
Iguchi...
Don't waste your breath.
Look, Naota. The azaleas are out.
Yup.
Kayano, Ito, I'm home!
No one's here...
Welcome home.
It's been a long time.
Uh... perhaps there's some...
You were out when I came by...
Have you forgotten me? I'm Iinuma's younger sister, Tomoe.
Oh, Miss Tomoe!
I didn't know you.
I've just seen your brother today. He told me what happened.
So you know all about it, then?
Yes.
Because of that I'm back living at his house.
There's nothing for me to do, so they have me weaving.
I came here to escape.
You're very welcome.
Let's go inside.
Your sock...
Oh, yes...
It seems your father had forgotten me!
We always played together!
Welcome home.
Kayano, Ito, this is Miss Tomoe. We're, uh...
Childhood friends. He always used to tease me.
I did not!
I got a present.
Me, too.
Aren't they pretty!
Mother, I'm home.
Welcome home.
Do you know this lady?
She's Miss Tomoe, the Iinuma girl.
See? She remembered me.
That's good. And of course you remember me, don't you?
Of which household are you?
I'm your son.
Oh, you are?
Hello.
O-Tane, watch the hot pot.
It was as if our house was brighter from the moment Miss Tomoe arrived.
I've never forgotten. It was when I was five.
I always wanted to do whatever the boys did.
Once I was climbing a pine tree and a branch snapped...
...and I got hurt.
Really?
Yes! Your father happened to be there that day...
...and he carried me piggy-back all the way to the doctor!
I think he was 12 or 13.
His back was this broad!
Just like a grown-up's. He made me feel so safe...
Do you remember, Seibei?
I remember something like that...
When I was nine my mother told me...
...I couldn't play with boys any more.
I was so sad...
Being a girl's no fun, Kayano.
"Drip, drip, drip"...'
'...come our Chonbei's tears...'
"Drip, drip, drip"...'
'Let's catch his falling tears...'
'...and wipe them away...'
'Wipe, wipe, wipe...'
'Let's take his tear-soaked kimono...'
'...and wash it clean...'
'Wash, wash, wash...'
'Let's take the kimono we've washed...'
'...and wring it out...'
'Wring, wring, wring...'
'Let's take the kimono we've wrung out...'
'...and hang it to dry...'
'Hang, hang, hang...'
You haven't changed at all, have you.
It's as if I'm a completely different person.
That's not true.
You still smile the same.
You don't have to console me. I know I've changed.
People told me how beautiful a bride you were...
...when you went to the Koda house.
I don't want to remember.
It's very late. I'll leave you here.
Say hello to your brother.
Your beard's growing out...
It's so soft!
Iinuma! I want the truth!
That man's here!
My husband...
My ex-husband... I'd know that drunken voice anywhere.
I'm going!
Your master's leaving.
Hands off!
I'm not drunk!
My sandals!
Iinuma! Where's Tomoe gone?
I told you, she's at her aunt's.
You're lying!
Please! Keep your voice down! There are elderly people here!
To hell with her.
Listen, Iinuma...
If I'm not good enough for Tomoe, she's welcome to leave.
But Iinuma...
...I've got a bone to pick with you.
You went to His Lordship and got him to divorce us.
Squire Koda, I've told you time and time again...
Shut up!
You made me a joke in front of the whole castle!
I demand satisfaction!
Squire Koda!
My sword!
Stop this, will you?
Tomoe...
Where've you been till this hour of the night?
Where I go is no one's business but mine.
And I'll say this, too.
I am not your wife now. It's 'Miss Tomoe' to you.
Tomoe! Get inside!
Perhaps that's enough?
Who are you?
I am Seibei Iguchi, friend to Iinuma.
Perhaps I could accept your challenge in his name?
But here we are in the town.
And you are drunk.
Let's settle this another time, when the alcohol has worn off.
If you put yourself forward this way...
...you must think you can fight.
I make no such claim.
Fine. We fight tomorrow.
Tomorrow?
By the river behind Hannyaji Temple, at the 8th hour?
Done.
Behind Hannyaji, 8th hour.
See you.
Seibei, he's serious!
Are you?
I had no choice.
He's good with a sword.
It'll work out.
I'll say good night.
Don't tell Tomoe about this. It would only worry her.
Wait!
What if you kill him? The Clan forbids dueling.
I'll think of something.
Good night.
Naota...
We're going.
Ito!
'Yu Tzu said: Harmony is the greatest beneficence of the rites.'
Good morning.
Sit down!
I'm leaving.
This is no good. I'm slow.
You think you can take me?
Damn right!
Then get ready.
He's afraid!
Hold it!
I said last night I'd take your place!
I should do this.
You're no match for him. Go over there and watch.
I'm sorry I'm late, Squire Koda. I will be your opponent.
What's that stick?
My school of swordfighting uses this for practice.
Do you mock me? Draw your sword!
A sword might kill. This stick will not.
It will break bones at worst.
I won't take this from a samurai of your rank! I'll cut you down!
Watch for the draw-and-slash!
You can still apologize.
The apology is yours to make.
With a real sword, you'd be dead.
Do you apologize?
Or do you continue?
Splash some water on him. That'll bring him to.
Come on, Iinuma.
You're all right?
Don't tell Miss Tomoe about this.
Or anyone else, either.
Those men will talk.
No. A whipped dog doesn't bark.
Soy sauce? Over here.
Excuse me for interrupting. I am Zenemon Yogo, Master of the Watch.
I know that.
Are you the 'Twilight Seibei' who thrashed Toyotaro Koda...
...and left him with a great big lump on his head?
I didn't really 'thrash' him.
He asked for a match, and my sword caught him on the head.
Koda's a drinking companion of mine.
The other day...
...he came crying to me, asking if I would take revenge for him.
That's the kind of man he is.
But it seems you can fight. What school are you?
Many years ago I trained under Toda-sensei.
So you're a disciple of Jinsai Toda?
I merely attended his dojo.
Perhaps we could try a match one day.
I'd be no match for you, I'm afraid. If you'll excuse me...
I wish I wasn't getting old. I can't read once the sun sets.
First your teeth go, then it's your eyes.
And how's number three?
That went long ago!
That's it for today, everyone.
I'll be going.
Excuse me.
Sir Twilight's gone.
Didn't you hear?
The other day 'Sir Twilight' fought the son of Captain Koda.
A fight? And what happened?
Wood against steel.
Sir Twilight went bang! Knocked him senseless.
He did?
I always thought he was strange.
I never thought he was a fighter, though.
Maybe we shouldn't be calling him 'Sir Twilight.'
You think he knows?
Sure he does.
Fumi! It's raining!
It's raining! Is the laundry in?
Yes!
Welcome home.
Miss Tomoe was here. She left you this letter.
She's got even nicer writing than the schoolmaster.
Let me!
No!
'I have finally learned what happened from my elder brother.'
'I must apologize for all the trouble...'
'...I have caused you'
'I am, however, delighted.'
'I very much want to see you and thank you in person.'
'Today I intruded upon you and, with your daughters...'
'...cleaned your house and did your laundry.'
'Please do not scold your daughters for allowing me in.'
'I would like in the future to be of what use I can.'
'Written in haste.'
'To: Seibei Iguchi, Esq. From: Tomoe.'
Tomoe started coming every second day or so.
The two of us looked forward to coming home from school.
We're back!
Hello!
You know what the teacher did today? He farted out loud!
She cleaned with us, did laundry with us...
...and taught us to cook.
On rainy days we'd practice calligraphy and sewing.
And she'd tell us all kinds of stories, the like of which...
...we'd never heard before.
Finished.
Bring this line over.
Finished!
That's good, Ito!
Hey! Stop it!
Ito! Write on your own paper.
No!
Don't you look nice!
So does yours, Kayano.
How much fun it was to go off to a festival in kimonos...
...she had made us.
Shoo! Go away!
Samurai then were strictly forbidden to attend the festivals...
...of the peasants and townsfolk...
...but Tomoe cared not a whit.
I remember well what she said:
It was because of the peasants that we lived as samurai.
Why are you catching them all? We're using the same bait!
You're trying too hard. The fish sense it.
Your shoulders are too stiff. It's like swordfighting.
Stop lecturing!
Show me your rod.
This hook's too big!
Seibei...
...I want to talk to you.
It's about Tomoe.
She's had a few proposals.
She's pretty and smart. There's not many like her in our clan.
Any good ones?
She won't say yes, and I can't pressure her.
I asked her, half in jest, if she'd like to marry you.
You what?
We may be old friends, but that isn't funny!
She didn't take it as a joke.
She said she wouldn't mind...
...and turned all red.
That's enough! You're both making fun of me!
You dolt!
She was serious.
Stop it.
Listen...
...I've already put her through hell, marrying her to Koda.
If it's all right with you, I'd like to make that up to her.
Isn't this a bit sudden?
I don't need an answer now, but I will within two or three days.
I might have to go to Edo.
You've been really busy lately. What's going on?
You probably haven't heard.
His Lordship's dead.