The arrow which felled the boar
belonged to Lord Ichimonji.
Drink to him!
The wily old beast
shot out right in front of me.
My horse reared.
Before I could aim, off I fell.
Father?
Shall we roast the boar here?
He was old.
His hide is tough, it stinks.
Indigestible.
Like me, old Hidetora...
Would you eat me?
You'd stick in our throats.
That's why I joined the hunt,
to reinforce our friendship.
I, too!
I would cement the bonds between the houses of Ichimonji and Ayabe
by marrying my daughter to your son Saburo.
Hold on!
That's my own intention.
Lord Ichimonji, the day is propitious.
Give us your answer.
Whom will you have for Saburo,
my daughter or Lord Ayabe's?
Not an easy choice.
Two daughters
for one son.
A pity Jiro, my second son, already has a wife.
Kyoami!
Entertain us!
From the far mountain
From the near mountain
Who comes hippety-hopping
Showing off his handsome ears?
A hare!
Only one hare, Kyoami?
Two, I think.
Hopping here
to be eaten by Father.
Saburo, that's rude!
Hold your tongue!
The Great Lord is tired.
Let us withdraw until he awakes.
This is unlike Father.
He only pretends to sleep.
After Saburo's insult,
how else could he save face?
All he did was hunt.
In the old days
he'd rout an army and not be winded.
It's impolite to our guests.
Kyoami, wake him!
Father worries me.
He's barely snoring today.
Father, what is it?
Are you ill?
Father...
A dream.
I had a dream.
I was in a strange land.
A vast wilderness.
I went on and on, but met no one.
I called, I shouted,
but no one answered.
I was alone.
Alone in the wide world.
I felt a chill...
Such stupidity!
Taro's voice pulled me back.
I saw my beloved children.
Taro...
Jiro...
and Saburo.
Father, I've never seen you like this.
It's not right.
Quiet, Saburo!
Be thankful we have his affection.
I'm puzzled, too.
I can scarcely believe my ears.
Normally all he asks is our obedience.
That's affection enough.
All right.
I've been considering an idea
and I've reached a decision.
I want to tell it to you.
Now is a good time to do it,
while Lords Fujimaki and Ayabe are with us.
Bring them!
I, Hidetora Ichimonji,
was born in that small castle in the mountains.
At that time, this entire plain seethed with constant battle.
Many lords vied for power.
At the age of seventeen,
I flew my banner over that castle.
I waged war for 50 years
and at last the plain was mine.
I hoisted my colors over the main castle.
I spent more years
fighting lance to lance with these two gentlemen.
Now the moment has come
to stable the steeds of war and give free rein to peace.
But old Hidetora
is seventy years old.
I hereby cede total authority
over all my dominions to my eldest son Taro.
My Lord, this is so sudden!
Not at all. I've thought long and hard.
There comes a time
to step aside
and pass on the reins to younger hands.
I say to you: that time is now!
This is my will.
Taro is now head of the Ichimonji,
Lord of these lands.
I will quit the castle keep
and move to the outer tower.
I will retain a 30-man escort
and the title and insignia of Great Lord.
But the actual leadership lies entirely with Taro.
I expect all of you to obey.
I'll obey.
But what about me and Saburo?
What do you intend for us?
I give you, Jiro and Saburo,
the second and third castles
with their attendant lands.
You will support Taro
in the first castle.
I shall be your guest,
visiting each castle in turn,
living out my remaining years.
How hard... to be old!
I would speak.
I respect your wishes
and appreciate your trust
but I beg you to reconsider.
Why?
Though I am your eldest,
I could never take your place.
It is too great a task.
I always pray to the God of War,
"Let his life last 100 years,
"even if it means shaving a bit off mine."
What a pretty speech.
I cannot use such honeyed words.
I'd be embarrassed.
Don't be spiteful.
You mean that Taro
only flatters me?
Pay no attention to Saburo.
I feel the same as Taro.
We'd like nothing better
than to stay behind your shield.
But it's our turn to shield you
from life's bitter arrows.
Well said, Jiro.
Bring me that quiver!
Break an arrow in two.
Can you do it?
Bundle them...
and try again.
A single arrow is easily broken.
Not so three together.
Whenever Taro is in trouble
if you unite your forces
the house of Ichimonji will be safe.
Even in a sheaf, three arrows can be broken.
More of your pranks!
Stop being foolish.
It's you who are foolish.
Your plan is absurd.
You are either senile or mad.
Silence!
Do not insult your father.
What madness have I spoken?
Wherein lies my senility?
I'll tell you.
What kind of world do we live in?
One barren of loyalty and feeling.
- I'm aware of that! - So you should be!
You spilled merciless blood.
You showed no mercy, no pity.
We too are children of this age, weaned on strife and chaos.
We are your sons, yet you count on our fidelity?
In my eyes, that makes you a fool.
A senile old fool!
So that's it!
You mean that one day
you'll forget I'm your father and betray me?
More folly!
Does a traitor betray himself?
Then you mean your brothers?
He's jealous of Taro's position.
Is that why you slander me?
Brother or not, watch your step!
Your lesson of the three arrows was wasted.
The unity of the three sons is split.
The indignity!
You scorn your father's wishes?
Parents and children have no place in this world.
Very well! I cut the bond between us.
You are a stranger to me.
Out of my sight!
You mustn't.
Quiet, Tango.
My mistake was to love him too well.
I spoiled him.
It's my fault he's arrogant.
But it's too late for regrets.
When flesh is rotten,
even our own, cut it away!
Wait, My Lord!
Master Saburo is blunt,
perhaps even disrespectful.
But his words are honest and come from the heart.
Consider well. You will find
he is not wrong. - Silence!
I will speak!
Begone!
I will stay!
You disobey me?
My duty is to speak my mind.
Brandish your sword.
- I won't move. - How dare you!
Revoke this rash decision.
Your insolence matches his. I will not have it!
I banish you both!
Father!
What misery!
What will you do now?
I grieve for Father, not myself.
The horror ahead of him...
Tango, you're an idiot!
- Why? - For defending me.
Your place is with Father.
He needs you.
They're following us.
Wait!
Why do you run away, son-in-law?
- Son-in-law? - Hear me out.
You're in disgrace, exiled from your lands.
Lord Ayabe and I witnessed the whole incident.
You are an outcast, little more than a beggar.
Forgive my rudeness.
What I'm trying to say... I can't find the words.
The meaning is clear. No lord chooses a beggar...
For his daughter.
Of course not.
No... Now hold on!
Lord Ayabe rejected the marriage.
But on my way home I got to thinking
of your extraordinary conduct.
I like the way you spoke up.
You have character.
You'd make a fine son-in-law.
I retraced my steps
but you had gone.
Does my offer interest you?
How can I know?
Then come stay with me while you think it over.
You too, Tango.
You are honest and loyal.
I can use you. Will you come?
Thank you for your generosity,
but I cannot accept.
Whatever disguise I must adopt,
I shan't abandon the Great Lord.
What's going on?
Hidetora's concubines are moving from the keep.
Please excuse the delay.
Scandalous!
I am now the mistress.
They must make way for me.
My women,
kneeling to Taro's wife?
Intolerable!
Why do you say that?
You gave him the castle keep.
It's only natural.
Gives away his house, gives away his land
His bounty earns him a new title
Lord of the rice fields
A scarecrow!
You call me a fool?
No, the fool is me,
for serving as butt to your laughing-stock.
But you're another
for losing your keep!
How dare you!
Kaede...
the view is more pleasant
now that this is mine.
As I recall,
a banner used to hang there.
Yes, Father's banner. Also his helmet and armor.
Where are they?
I gave them to Father's men.
The armor doesn't matter
but the banner...
Lord,
it belongs with the head of the house of Ichimonji.
But Father is keeping his title and insignia.
Without them, you are a shadow.
What do you mean?
He made it clear.
I am now in command.
In that case,
behave as if you are.
You want the banner?
Ridiculous! You take back what you give.
It is Lord Taro's order!
See the Lord, a gourd in the wind
Swinging this way
Swaying that way
Swinging as the breeze blows
So high up
Dangling hollow from the tower...
Isn't it fun?
Villain! I'll teach you!
See the Lord, a gourd in the wind
Swinging this way
Swaying that way
Swinging as the breeze blows
So high up
Dangling hollow from the tower...
What fun, what fun!
Who goes there?
It's Ogura.
I have a message.
Lord Taro is holding a family gathering
to celebrate the transfer of power.
He invites his honored father.
You too, Lord Ikoma.
Your "family gathering" is only us?
Please, Father-in-law, won't you sit down?
I am to sit below you?
Who am I?
The honorable father of my husband.
Is that all?
Is the Great Lord dead?
Don't joke.
I'm not joking!
I retain my title and my status.
Have you forgotten?
No, of course not.
You gave full authority to me.
Did you forget?
What do you want?
I gave you this castle.
I moved out, reduced my escort.
They may be few in number,
but they're boisterous enough.
What is that song?
With such goings-on, how can I make myself obeyed?
They are warriors, unschooled in manners.
They like comic songs.
Comic songs can go too far.
That song makes fun of me.
My guard was defending my honor,
yet you went ahead and killed him.
I cannot allow that.
This once I'll overlook it,
but I must have your promise
that it won't happen again.
You will sign this
and seal it with your blood.
A pledge?
This is nonsense!
Read it.
"Pledge.
"Firstly,
"I cede to Taro Takatora the domains of Ichimonji.
"Secondly,
"I make him sole ruler of the house of Ichimonji.
"Thirdly,
"though I am Taro's father,
"I shall submit to his authority
"and act accordingly.
"I swear by all the deities,
"may they punish me if I disobey."
I'm to seal this silly thing
with my blood?
Everything it contains
was proclaimed by you yourself
before witnesses.
What does it change if you sign it?
Are you a son?
What do you mean?
Is this a son's attitude?
The hen pecks the cock
and makes him crow!
I will not stay here.
Fortunately, I have another son.
Thank you, you did well.
I was born and raised in this castle.
It belonged to my father.
I left it to marry you.
My father and brothers relaxed their vigilance after the marriage,
and Hidetora murdered them.
Now I am back in my family castle.
How I have longed for this day.
My mother took her own life in this very room.
Father is on his way.
My brother sent him packing.
He says Father grows eccentric,
and it would be unwise to let him stay here.
Father's counselor, Ikoma, is privy to my brother's plans.
This severity is unlike Lord Taro.
And you, Lord,
why do you do nothing?
He's right.
You should succeed the Great Lord.
Lord Taro is a weakling.
The stake is large. Gamble for it.
Then you are all willing to gamble with me?
Absolutely.
Dogs turn on a master who gives up the chase.
Sound the horn or become the quarry.
How the dogs howl!
I must say, I find it unfair.
Born twelve months after Taro,
so all my life I must grovel at his feet.
Crack these bonds!
Good for you, My Lord!
Don't lick your chops yet.
Listen...
Taro is easy pickings.
His wife, Lady Kaede, is another story.
Quite true.
She'd be a perfect match for you.
Why not steal her?
Don't be impertinent.
First of all, there's Father.
He still has thirty warriors.
Each one is worth a thousand.
He'll soon be here and so will they.
Any ideas?
Open the gates!
Hidetora is here!
The Great Lord is here!
I will seek out Sué first.
Tell Jiro I want to see him.
Sué!
Praise be to the Eternal Western Paradise
Praise be to the Eternal Buddha
In 36 trillion manifestations
Praise be to Amida Buddha...
I knew you'd be here.
Father-in-law!
Never mind the ceremony.
It's been a long time.
Let me look at you.
Still the same sad face.
When I see you, it breaks my heart.
It's worse when you smile.
I burnt down your castle. Your father and mother perished.
And you look at me like that.
Look upon me with hatred!
It would be easier to bear.
Go on, hate me!
I don't hate you.
All is decided in our previous lives.
The Buddha embraces all things.
Buddha again!
He is gone from this evil world.
His guardians are in exile.
We can't rely on Buddha's mercy.
There you are, Jiro!
I've come to be your guest.
I'm disappointed in Taro.
I already know. It's all in my brother's letter.
Taro wrote to you?
He says your guards were unruly and vulgar.
I am to receive you with courtesy,
but I cannot let your warriors
inside the castle walls.
What's this?
I'm to come in alone, leaving my men to rot outside?
My brother is the head of the clan.
I have no choice but to obey him.
If you dislike his conditions,
then it might be best
to go back and apologize.
Apologize to Taro?
Go back?
Stop!
Lord Kurogane! Lord Shirane!
What does this mean?
Lord Ikoma!
An order from Hidetora.
"We arrived suddenly.
"The castle is unprepared.
"Withdraw and wait outside."
Enough is enough!
I understand!
You too,
you're just like Taro.
You want to be rid of me. I'm too much trouble.
That's not true.
If you were alone, I'd welcome you gladly.
The Great Lord goes nowhere alone.
You renounced your power.
You have no need of an escort.
Only the birds and the beasts
live in solitude.
I've heard enough excuses!
Open the gates!
You needn't worry.
It's not for my men to enter,
but for me to leave!
Open the gates!
Now close them!
I will not see you again. Ever!
The villages are deserted.
Not a grain of rice anywhere.
The peasants took everything and fled to the mountains.
My Lord!
We must go to the third castle.
It was your first victory.
- Go back... - No, Ikoma!
If I could do that,
would I roam the plain hungry?
Use your head!
What kind of welcome would I get,
I, who banished the lord of the castle?
By order of Lord Taro Takatora, head of the Ichimonji clan,
I take possession of this castle.
Open the gates!
Without our master, Saburo, the castle is nothing to us.
We leave it to you.
We will follow him and die for him.
We hear he is with Lord Fujimaki.
We go to join him!
It's Tango!
I have rice, bean curd, plums...
I followed you
and saw how you suffered.
Though banished,
I am still your loyal vassal.
Is it really Tango?
Hold on!
Don't take charity from peasants.
A samurai will starve rather than beg.