We came too.
Return to Edo.
Why?
They're all cowards here.
We wasted our time.
Oishi?
Coward too.
We'll avenge our lord.
On our own.
What you said makes sense.
But we must unite together.
Make up your mind...
after the meet.
No need to.
Wait.
Chuzaemon.
You're Chamberlain's right-hand man.
Why does he want to restore the House?
Is it true?
Tell us!
He's thinking it over.
No time to!
You know why we came in a hurry?
You don't feel sorry for our lord?
I do.
Decide then!
You intend to give up the castle meekly?
It's up to the meet.
I can't say it now.
We're from Edo, so you don't trust us?
It's not true.
We've two different opinions yet.
The shogunate sent its army.
They'll arrive...
the day after tomorrow.
Yet, no decision?
No.
You came here ahead of us.
What did you do?
We thought...
you'd make the shogunate's unfairness to the public.
We were glad.
And now--
I know it.
Wait awhile.
It's not that easy.
There's a reason.
For your own?
You go too far!
Look.
They've short swords.
They've families but they came here...
ready to die.
We're equally loyal...
not only you.
Hara-kiri won't comfort our lord.
People will laugh.
I'm vexed at it.
Lord Kira's hired 140 retainers...
to guard his house.
What for?
When we walk in Edo...
people seem to believe us to avenge our lord.
We don't know how you feel.
But we must do it.
I know.
But Chamberlain's to decide it.
Don't bother him.
Trust Chamberlain and wait.
No, I can't!
We're here.
But he changes his mind too often. I can't trust him.
What is it?
Nothing.
But you're worn out.
You too.
Don't worry too much.
You came.
Why so formal?
Depending on today's meet...
we may never see you again.
Father, Tokubei lzeki came.
He did?
Is he well?
So he came?
He's shouting at the porch...
that he'd go to the castle if you don't.
He's willful.
We've enjoyed quarrels since we were kids.
Talking ill of me?
He said you must be scared...
and need a stimulant.
He gave me medicine.
It's like him.
You can't go to the castle?
I can't very well go there without fighting with him.
Kinai.
Tokubei.
Remember my face?
You left here. Why did you come back?
Why? I can't ignore the crisis of the Asano house!
Go away. There's no Asano house now.
Not going to hold the castle?
You're a fief-thief!
You're in charge of it...
and won't fight!
I'll decide it.
After the meet ends today.
What?
I won't take orders from you!
You--
You're his heir?
Yes.
Monzaemon.
Age?
I'm 14.
Your hair?
On my way here...
I made it like an aduIt's.
I'll die for the Asanos.
My father taught me so.
Let us enter the castle.
Father's been loyal to Lord Asano until now.
Very brave of you but I won't.
I won't let you enter.
Go home...
and live your own life.
Kinai!
I'm talking to your son.
You kindly came here today.
I appreciate it indeed.
But even if we hold the castle...
I won't ask jobless samurai to help us.
You're jobless, too, since you were expelled.
lt'll be a disgrace to us.
But--
Think over what I said to you carefully, Monza.
I'll go with you.
No!
I will!
No!
I will!
No!
Chamberlain!
You came from Edo too?
I'd like to ask you a question.
Lord Kira's wound's been healed.
Trying to restore the house?
Real intention?
Intention?
You don't like my plan to restore the Asano house.
Our lord's short temper caused this.
Restoring his house is loyalty too.
It's not loyalty, never!
Our lord wasn't insane!
He knew his house would be abolished.
But he couldn't bear it.
So he did it.
It's our duty...
to wreak his grudge...
against Lord Kira.
Our lord regretted...
he failed...
to kill Kira.
And he wept.
How'd you take it for?
Even if the house is restored...
we can't face people.
Only way for us is to kill Lord Kira.
I'm against your plan!
Even if all Japan were given to us...
I hate to spare Kira's life!
Tell us your intention.
I cannot, now.
What?
There are many different...
opinions among retainers.
So I can't tell mine now.
Promise me...
that you follow my decision unconditionally.
Through?
They all signed it with blood.
Number?
41 vassals.
Only 41 vassals who'll decide the fate of the house?
You sign with blood too.
For Chamberlain.
I'll do it later.
Yasubei.
Later.
Juroza.
I'll return to Edo, so I won't do it.
Magodayu.
I don't agree.
Gengo.
No.
Matsunojo, Chamberlain's son--
He's dead by now.
I'm a samurai's son too.
I wish to enter the castle...
and die like a man.
You're unlucky to be a son of this foolish father.
Even if you cry...
I can't be reborn to be wise.
You're plain unlucky. Resign to your fate.
Time to give up the castle...
is close at hand.
And many vassals have run from here.
Those who are ready to die among 300 retainers...
are only about 40 now.
You're all loyal men.
I didn't tell you anything...
and asked you to sign with blood.
I had to be doubly sure.
Now, I want to ask you the impossible again.
Please listen to me.
I want you to leave here.
As of now.
And go to Enrin-ji Temple.
Don't criticize the shogunate.
Close your mouth hereafter.
Please trust your lives to me.
It looks difficult but easy to hold the castle.
All we have to do is...
fight against the shogunate and die.
But give it up and avenge our lord...
It looks easy but very difficult.
It requires determination.
I intend...
to choose the latter.
It's a hard way...
to take.
How about it?
Please tell me.
A question.
Wherever we are...
we want to avenge our lord. Can we?
Of course.
As we remember our lord...
we can't forget Lord Kira is alive.
We can't let him live on.
I'll join you!
Please let me sign with blood!
Me too!
I will!
Let me sign too!
We'll follow your instructions.
We trust our lives to you.
So you'll leave everything to me?
Very well. We'll wait for the right time to come.
Leave here quietly.
But we served here for many years.
Paintings are trees.
We loved them all.
This is our last chance...
to look at them.
Bid them farewell.
You hasty man! Killing your son too! A fool!
I admit I'm a hasty man!
A fool!
But please tell me clearly I was wrong.
Since you came out alive...
You must have a plan.
I know you aim high deep in your mind.
Remember, we were childhood friends.
Tell me your real intention.
You shine all the more when you're in trouble.
I know you won't back out.
I know it.
For my son's sake too, please tell me.
The shogunate favors Lord Kira.
If we kill him...
it means we accuse its unfairness...
And criticize it...
to the public.
Hurry, or I will be unable to hear you.
I intend to resist the shogunate administration.
Good! I'll go ahead of you.
Avenge our lord for me.
I'll join you later, Tokubei.
Hurry and come.
I will be waiting for you, Kuranosuke.
Oishi's Home In Yamashina
Oishi Lives In Seclusion Here
Thank you for everything.
I'm sorry he did not come home.
Thank you for letting us eat our fill.
But we want Chamberlain to explain to our fill too.
We came here representing others.
I don't know where he is.
But we must see him before we return to Edo.
He deceived us.
It's our fault to be deceived too.
We'll talk it over.
We may never see you again. Please be strong.
Mother, I'll take them to Father.
Please do that.
Have you made up your mind?
I may be importunate...
but as your real father says...
leave this house...
and return to your own home in Tajima.
I came for you from Tajima.
Your husband didn't return for three days from Kyoto.
I know what he really is now.
I started to serve your house when you were born.
And saw you grow up.
When you married into his house...
I handled everything too.
I can't leave you as it is.
I'll follow you back to Tajima.
Please take your children.
You can feel free to leave them.
As long as he is alive...
I won't leave him.
People may criticize him.
But I trust him as his wife.
And walk the same road of his.
He's living a gay life alone.
He forgets you...
and loyalty.
I know him best...
as his wife.
His real self nobody else knows of.
If you ask me...
he's not rotten to the core.
There's some reason he's suffering to death.
And for that reason he's pretending to be like that.
He doesn't tell me...
but I can feel it.
And I want to share the pain with him.
Please don't ever say it again.
I want you to tell my father...
what I've just said.
He's with Majordomo Endo, the Emperor's advisor.
So wait here for a while.
While we suffer dire poverty...
he enjoys his life.
No wonder he hates to stake his life.
Well, well, I'm glad you came.
It's nice of you.
Kuranosuke.
Make up your mind.
Serve Emperor's Chief Advisor Konoe.
You should realize he's serious about you by now.
I'm overwhelmed, but as I told you many times before...
I can't face my late lord...
if I serve Advisor Konoe so soon.
Please don't press me for a while.
Girls, bring sake! We'll have a party!
Stay away, girls.
The reason you don't agree with me--
Is it restoration of the Asano house?
Advisor Konoe told me today...
he'll help you restore the Asano clan...
through Lord Tsunatoyo in Kofu.
I'll go to Edo for it.
To Edo?
Yes.
As you know, Lord Tsunatoyo will enter Edo Castle...
and become the 6th shogun.
It's easy for him to do it.
We're relatives.
So I don't want to see you being jobless.
Besides, my master wants to hire you.
That's why I'm going to Edo.
Don't ever think to avenge your late lord.
Be tactful.
I've been drinking since morning...
and I've got pain here.
If the house is restored...
you serve my master.
If you make trouble...
after we take steps...
it means trouble for all of us.
Don't forget it.
Don't forget my kindness.
Chamberlain!
Who?
I've heard everything!
Oh, Yasubei and Kazuemon? Are you here?
Tell us!
Is it true?
You'll sacrifice us and serve Konoe?
Only a year and you forgot everything?
Enough!
Rotten from sake and women!
You call yourself Chamberlain?
Don't talk!
We came here representing others.
But we'll avenge our lord on our own.
We wish you a peaceful life.
Kazuemon.
I can't stand it!
Shut up!
Father!
I'll go to Edo with them!
My son.
A talk with you. Come closer.
How well it's made, a plan is a plan.
It can never be perfect.
When it took place in March last year...
I've decided to kill Lord Kira...
and avenge my lord.
My lord's father died when he was a kid.
He became our lord at nine.
My father died young.
I became a chamberlain when I was only 18 too.
For more than 20 years since then...
I took care of him...
as my younger brother...
or son.
When he died last March...
it pained me more than anything else.
I gave up the castle to avenge him...
and I recommended his brother...
to restore the house.
Since the shogunate hates our late lord...
I knew my petition wouldn't be taken up.
But people are funny.
They like our late lord.
They even made a song for it and hate Lord Kira.
Former vassals want to seize this chance.
But it troubles me all the more.
Even the shogunate official...
Superintendent Araki...
Submitted a petition for restoration of the house...
and he informed me of it.
I thought it meddlesome.
Yet I have to wait for his next report.
Our lord's relatives started actions too.
And now, the Emperor's advisor too.
A drop at the beginning.
But...
But it's a big stream...
even I can't stop it.
I started it all.
But it was...
a big mistake.
Why not avenge our lord soon?
I won't be suffered so if I can do it.
I submitted a petition.
If I avenge my lord in spite of it...
It's inexcusable.
People won't call it a clean revenge.
I just sit and wait the tide to change.
And wait for the orders.
I came, Kuranosuke.
Good news.
lmportant news from Edo.
Chamberlain.
I'll listen.
Tell me.
No greetings.
Our lord's brother was ordered...
to leave Ako.
He'll be taken in custody in Hiroshima.
I see.
Taken in custody?
Yes, in Hiroshima.
No hope for restoring the house now.
Let's avenge our lord quickly.
People in Edo want you to join them.
I pretend until now.
You must've hated me for what I've been doing.
I'll leave for Edo right now.
Will you do it?
It's bad news for the Asano house.
But...
we've reason to avenge our lord now.
Yes.
Now...
we'll kill our enemy Lord Kira.
Even if Lord Uesugi helps him...
we won't be afraid.
I've a favor to ask you.
We're busy, Riku.
No, we don't mind.
I see.
What is it?
My father sent a messenger to me.
He said it's inexcusable, forgetting your house.
And told me to leave you.
I'd like you to divorce me as of today.
You mean you want to leave me?
For my sake?
Yes.
Matsunojo's the heir, so I won't take him.
I'll take Yoshichiyo and Kura with me.
I see.
You thought that far?
Yoshichiyo's weak.
Have him become a priest and pray for us.
I mean he can't become a samurai.
No.
You're not in an ordinary condition.
Be careful on the way home.