Rikyu's tea was the best, isn't it?
A pity he had to die
but even though he's dead
he 's still my teacher
everytime I make tea,
li feel Rikyu near
he died but he needn't have
I wish I could meet him after I die
Oribe
do you smile
when you feel like weeping?
That's impossible
they are separate emotions
I know you and Tadaoki
bade farewell to him quite openly
I didn't like it, though
why don't you say something?
Then...
say it
would you tell me why you ordered Rikyu's death?
He was guilty of misconduct
misconduct?
Right
everyone was talking about his misbehavior
that isn't reason enough
if you tell me the truth I'll be convinced
why must you be convinced?
Tell me what the people in town are saying
he had a wooden image of himself dedicated in the temple
what of it?
Simple priestly flattery
but it make you angry
it was as if he were showing you his pride
I don't remember
he wanted money It was said
he sold inferior tea ceremony utensils at high price
and this made you angry
absurd! He knew the value of everything
what's wrong with merchants liking money?
Anything else?
I cannot speak, my lord
it's about his daughter, Ogin
she has a big bosom
I thought she'd be able to bear a healthy child
but Rikyu refused
maybe he loved her that much
I don't know
is that all?
I'll speak, my lord
I'd heard that he'd refused your order
there are things you must never mentioned
personally, I detest the idea of poisoning someone
rather, I prefer to turn poison to medicine
and make friends of my enemies
I have nothing further to say
Oribe
it means I had no reason for ordering Rikyu's death
Oribe
I want you to devise me a true tea ceremony
Rikyu's wasn't grand enough for me
it only make him all the more stubborn
stubborn men fight to the bitter end
they never surrender
this may be considered admirable
unless he lives, a man has no future
about politics, I take care of all that
about tea ceremony
I must leave everything to you
try to do better than Rikyu
understand?
Did I surprise you, Oribe
you must behave like a princess
a marriageable girl
your father will scold you
scolding won't work
he said I'm perfect as I am
he will reprimand you
no, he wishes I were a boy
I could have succeed him as the ruler
that's what he says
are you leaving already?
Then will you take me to your home?
Wait, I'll speak to my father
you wait
Oribe, smell this
can you tell me what's in it?
It's lovely
the first one this spring
I like to see dandelions blooming everywhere
what about you?
For you
thank you very much
can I meet you again next time?
Here I am
that looks interesting Give it to me
our lord told me to become his tea ceremony master
then you've become the country's best
but you seem unhappy
he said, do better than Rikyu
what? Rikyu?
Give me some sake
here it is
from now on, you'd best not be too stubborn
Hideyoshi hates men who're too honest
rulers are hard to understand
in some ways they're a madman
every ruler is like that
speaking of myself
maybe I'm like a madman to my retainers
Oribe, open the door
my hands are full
who's that?
A formidable person
lord Maeda's daughter, Goh
princess Goh?
You brought it yourself?
I want to drink
so I brought three cups
do you know this gentleman?
Yes, of course, lord Gamo
he looks as strong as people say
I heard it snows heavily in your province
you are quite correct
is that so?
I saw something odd today
what did you see?
You don't know?
Rikyu's head
what?
It was absolutely ridiculous
they put his head
at the feet of his wooden statue
what?
It made me so angry, it is the worst sort of conduct
so mean... the way Kyoto people are
probably someone trying for favor
Hideyoshi may be a sly fox
but he wouldn't have gone that far
I’m going now
the head's gone! It's gone!
She's Maeda's daughter, you say?
Yes, Hideyoshi adopted her as soon as she was born
she's a girl
soon or later, she'll end up marrying a feudal lord
I feel very sorry for her
So! You love her, too, right?
Look at their swords!
There's no
telling
what the
old man does
Enough! Stop! Let's go!
Goh, Aiming at Oribe with a bow was bad enough
you went too far today
next time I might decide to punish you
I'm afraid virgins tend to be thoughtless
you're angry?
Your cheeks look like plum blossoms
as your father, I love you
do I have to see him here?
Call that servant here
He's a forward fellow
What's he called?
Usu - it means "mortar"
Mortar? But he isn't that round
how true! He does have a curious name
Oribe
Ask him... why he chased
my retainers like that
This is Lord Oribe's mansion
I'm the one to ask why
What? What a forward way to speak!
It's all right, Usu
Just tell his lordship the facts
Well... Lord Oribe found me and raised me
I owe him a lot
I serve him as a gardener
I couldn't help but throw the intruder over the fence
What a creature Makes me laugh
How amusing! Like in the Kyogen What a provoking servant!
Quick girl
About Rikyu...
I wasn't truly willing
I know, my lord
yesterday I heard for the first time...
his head was being exposed
someone was trying to show loyalty to me
but what a mess!
I had thought of
having Rikyu's head re-entered
I had thought it would ease
the minds of those close to him
but that basara girl...
snatched the head away, together with
that peculiar Usu
I followed them and found myself...
outside the fence of your mansion
what do you think? Interesting?
Maybe your man Usu knows where Rikyu's head is
Oribe...
take care of it... secretly
I'd like to have a word with you
Lord Hosokawa
that's typical of her
you must have had a difficult time yesterday, right?
Not that hard But a bit difficult, yes
Uhisato came to stay at my place
he was all excited
I can imagine
He's moody, changeable
He's difficult
But the officials were even more difficult
they exposed Rikyu's head in that unseemly way
did you know?
I stayed away
being too honest is bad
being stubborn
brings death, do be careful
sorry I caused all the trouble
That hero, Ujisato, didn't even come to help
doesn't look it but he's a coward
and Oribe here was no different
when I was in danger, he didn't move a finger
he just looked at me
Because Usu was with you
But why turn away?
Why hit the brazier?
Azen debate!
Give Usu to me
What?
Will you give him to me if he agrees?
Does he want to?
I don't know
but if you tell him to, he'll serve me
I doubt it They say, tread on a worm and it will turn
but I fear that Usu will do much more than that
It's not likely that he'll serve me
Not necessarily Why not ask him first? I wonder what he'll say
he won't say he'll come to me
He's like a dog
He obeys only one master
He serves me only because you tell him to
His master is you after all, not me
Evidently you want Usu very much
Where did you hide him?
What? Hasn't he returned yet?
You sent him off, right?
I was told
to deliver this to you, Ogin
By whom?
I can't reveal anything further
Wait, who sent you here?
Someone to whom Rikyu was very dear
Don't put the fire out
I'm... not Rikyu's daughter
I'm happy... turning to ashes... together with him, please
Just stay
until I die
who is it?
Stay away!
Where have you been?
Please send me away
Rikyu's head...?
It's my fault
I don't think so
Where did you take the head?
Ogin...
To Ogin?
Ogin... she killed herself
What?
Be calm This is not like you
Breathe slowly... then exhale
She wasn't Rikyu's daughter
What?
Usu, who told you that?
Ogin herself She was dying
Did you meet anyone on your way back here?
No, I didn't... except for one person
Where did you meet the Princess Goh?
Did you meet only her?
That's good
My lord, please send me away
Thinking I might get into trouble?
I'd like you to dismiss me
Do you want to serve the Princess Goh?
I don't mind Well... Kyoto frightens me
Any complaints against me?
No, sire! Never!
Usu... why not become one of my samurai?
I appreciate your kind offer
But I don't want to be one
I'm Oribe Furuta Come!
You may be Lord Furuta
But we don't want you here
I regard you merely as an old man using that name
stop me, and we'll kill you
Go on! Leave the rest to Usu!
But he's wounded
No, he isn't who'd let any man I love be shot with a gun?
Love?
How did you know that Usu would pass here?
He told me
When was that?
Last night
And where?
Must I tell you every detail?
I'm sorry Please spare me
Keep quiet or you won't stop bleeding
I know it hurts
Let it hurt
is it true that you came here to see Usu off?
No I didn't even know he'd pass here
If I'd known... I might've sent archers
Usu sneaked into my bedroom
He forced himself on me
I've changed my mind
I discovered Mitsunari had sent assassins
to kill Usu so he wouldn't talk
about Rikyu's head Then...
Mitsunari was to have killed me
I decided not to kill Usu, I decided to let him live
I felt sorry for him
I felt as if I were in love with him
you sure groan a lot when that princess isn't around
But groaning won't... stop the pain
Old bastard!
What? I saved your life,
yet you call me a bastard?
You were all but frozen in the snow out there
I don't mind dying
Is that so? Is love that painful?
It's not that
Don't blame on
I'd be... better off dead
whatever you say
but this thing here says you want to live
you'll catch cold
What's wrong?
The cloth that was on my head?
It was so dirty I threw it in the stream
I didn't know it was so important to you
I'm sorry
What's your name?
My name? Just call me Junsai
Junsai?
If you master everything I know
you could live here for a century
But...
there's one thing I can't manage
What is it?
Women
I don't like women
Don't talk like that! Live too long by yourself
and even monkeys start looking good
That's hard to do
Don't just stand there
he's alive! Merciful Buddha...
Hurry!
Junsai... I can't do this
I’ll just hide in the mountains, and live by myself
That's selfish!
Now that you've seen all this
I can't let you stay alive
I'm dead already
No, you're still alive
Listen, just leave me alone, go!
That's enough!
I came to thank you for the fish
sit down You live in a nice home
The fish were delicious
I suppose you know that Kideyoshi died
And Oribe is being kept away by leyasu
Poor man!
I'm not interested in our feudal lords
leyasu is afraid of the Christians
The Christians in Japan will be a major force
leyasu is afraid of them
certainly is a nice day
drink this
Thank you
Do you know what happened to the princess?
I'm no longer concerned
she's under the custody of Lord Maeda
She's in Kaga
Junsai
Have you got more armor in that cave?
Her husband Ukita was defeated in the civil war against leyasu
He was exiled to Hachijo Island
When will you use all that armor in the cave?
Or don't you have any use for it anymore?
You're making useless stuff, too
I like useless stuff better It's interesting
Aren't you really interested in just collecting things?
You'll never know how I feel
Which lumber do you plan to use?
White cedar from Hida
Some old man is here asking to see you
His name is Junsai
Junsai?
I don't believe it Junsai Kita!
Yes, I'm so happy to see you again!
So it's you It's good to see you again!
Come here Come here
Have you been well?
I consider it a great honor to be granted an audience with you
How have you been?
It's seventeen years since I left you
I've managed to stay alive
Your former retainers who all dispersed into the mountains
are waiting for you to rise to action
for me to rise?
Exactly We lost the civil war and
the country's still in a turmoil
Now is the time for you to seize the rulership of Japan
Please make up your mind before leyasu can
strengthen his position
Your retainers are already prepared to fight whenever you give us the order
For warriors
dying in battles is the best
but I've already abandoned my weapons
Junsai...
try to understand that
I'm sorry
but God doesn't want to me fight
God simply doesn't want me to fight
Go away!
Is he saying that Christians will no long fight?
Or making a fool of me because I'm old!
You sure you up to it?
Let's do it again
What? Let's do it one more time?
All right Wait a minute
What's this? No good
give me that
Is it all right, your taking such a strong medicine?
It's bad for your health
Who cares? Man dies anyway
Now, look
Good medicine!
I'm strong enough
Old man! Are you all right?
That you, Usu?
I'm done for This is the end of me
Don't die, Junsai Please, be brave
He knew I was once a Christian
he insisted on bringing me here
He bought me
He said I was the best woman for him to die with
Step aside, what do you want?
I am grateful to you
Women are hopeless
And I was going to let them, I'm already past forty
Come with me
You shall have some new clothes
Without you, what might have happened to her?
Nothing, she is very strong
it taught me a good lesson
Come this way It's quiet here
My lady lives here alone
Her husband and sons were exiled
Here family is dispersed She is alone
This will be your castle This will be your castle
The lord is here!
You're too careless
Careless about what?
Going out, with no thought, all by yourself
With no thought? I like that
With no thought, go to bed
I live that way
Day after day, with no thought
What else can I do?
Today those men wanted me
I enjoyed an afternoon to remember
Anyway, dear sister, be more careful
The tokugawas are all around
You must be always on your guard
The Tokufawas again!
They're already saying I should
thank them for keeping me alive
Must I be kind to them as well?
For the Maedas' sake
I know I wasn't serious
Thank you very much
Nice place to live, right?
Thank you kindly, but...
Just live there! I ask you to
For warriors, health is important
when ill,
people speak nonsense
Oribe, are you in good health?
I have no physical problems
That wont' be enough
Ukob Takayamam contracted
this disease called "Christianity"
He's staying with the Maedas
and working as hard as any soldier, so I hear
And Maeda keeps building castles
Sick people easily suffer high fevers
none of his medicine works for him
I'm one of them too
I keep making my ceramic bowls
Builder and makers are often stubborn and selfish
so are tea-ceremony masters
Rikyu was
What do you think?
If I may speak frankly...
Pleasure in making things lies
in discovering something new
It's difficult to estimate the value of something new
hard to estimate its worth
Creators may indeed appear selfish
Rikyu was an example of this
What did you say? Discovering something new?
That's not necessary
You're the Tea Masterto the Shogun
The finest utensils are at hand
Isn't it your duty to make the most of these?
You're absolutely right, Lord Shogun
However...
though I admit that fine utensils have their own value
I cannot deny the joy
that comes with making something new
Do you not think it's the providence of nature?
How do Christians interpret "providence"?
Divine will, perhaps Human will, I suppose
Are you a Christian?
No
Then forget about providence
Human wisdom brings peace to the world
try to remember that
You sister married Ukon, right?
SO you know something about Christianity
I know nothing
I've been shocked by the report
that this fever prevails in my feud, too
Even among my retainers, my ladies-in-waiting
It's a disgrace
It's an epidemic
Prohibiting it doesn't work either
Warriors must remain healthy
They say there are 750 thousand Christians in Japan
The actual figure could be only half that
But if a general like Ukon now confined in Kaga, unites them then
their war-potential might exceed
even that of the Tokugawas
What if the Christianity were banned now?
It would have no effect on foreign trade
then, is it time to get Ukon on the move?
Right
What about Oribe?
He's Ukon's brother-in-law
One of his sons is in the enemy force
He may be a great artist
but he's nothing as a warrior
But he's very stubborn
And it's catching
Oribe's tea ceremony seems trivial, too novel and too frivolous
it's not suitable for our world
This has arrived from your exiled husband
Oh, really?
It's been exactly one year
These must be from your sons
This seems to be a nut I see It's called "coconut"
They are good in writing and drawing
Why not chop some more?
I've already chopped plenty
Chop more!
I told you to chop more wood
I'm getting tired of this house
it's about time to move on
Then go where I tell you to go
Why do you treat me this way?
Listen to me
Stubborn, I cannot forget you!
Yet you've been ignoring me
What about you?
You didn't even call me by name
Stupid! I gave you that hut to live in!
A tea-ceremony, right here
I'll invite Oribe, Ukon and Lord Hosokawa
People always seem to grow apart
You miss Oribe, right?
But I left him,
and I owe him so much
That's in the past
We'll go see Ukon tomorrow
Oh, it's you, is it?
I haven't seen you for a long time, forgive me
Why? I am the one to apologize
I'd like to hold a tea-ceremony
The guest will be you, Oribe and Lord Hosokawa
I'll be the hostess, well?
Superb And when will it be?
When the cherry trees are in full bloom
What about the twenty-eighth of next month?
What day does it fall on?
Rikyu's death anniversary
Yes, of course
Good idea Let's make it that day
But I shall be unable to attend on that day
Why not?
Leyasu has ordered me to move to Nagasaki
What? When will you go?
Very soon, I suppose
leyasu!
He's after you
How can you play the organ then?
I've only recently begun to enjoy it
What about Oribe?
I've already informed him
no time for that now
Maybe I came here by intuition today
It's good
Is it ready?
Yes, everything is
No peaceful settlement?
NO, I doubt that leyasu will compromise
He's very old
and must hurry with everything
He must get rid of all obstacles After that...
he'll obviously be ready to play the tyrant
naturally I'll lose my place
Yet someone must try to control him
Usu is here
Will you take it to Oribe?
You know where he lives, right?
You can ask him where Lord Hosokawa is
You're the only one who can do this
Usu?
Come in
So, you're alive
I'm alive, I've been travelling
What are you doing now?
I once nearly died in the mountains
You're seeing a living corpse
You haven't changed You look strong
Maybe you've grown a bit older
No, you haven't changed so much
Where did you come from today?
From Kaga
What? To deliver this
From Kaga?
This handwriting...
The Princess Goh?
Are you living at the Princess Goh's?
It turned out like that... before I even knew it
It was all by chance
Same as always
It's just like the Princess
How is she?
She looks as young as when she was in her twenties
But now it's hard to know what she's thinking. Or, so it seems
She married a feudal lord,
but he was exiled
She's from the Maedas
Our rulers hate them but at the same time
respected them, and kept their peace with the Maedas
But the heads of families
always died at difficult times Two in a row
Widow Matsu is having difficulties with the clan
She's difficult, isn't she?
And Goh is her daughter
So it's hard to know what she's thinking
What shall I tell her your answer it?
Be patient, of course I shall go to her tea party
Lord Oribe Furuta
As the Shogun's tea-ceremony instructor
you must act very carefully
shouldn't I go?
No Absolutely not!
Think about it
Her husband was exiled
And Goh was placed in the custody of her family
She's like a glowing ember there
Be careful or anything could happen
You know how unreasonable and fickle old rulers can be
That's not all
The only one to hand down Rikyu's tea-ceremony
is you, Lord Oribe
I advise you, as his disciple
Do not accept Goh's invitation
About Ukon...
He already left Nagasaki for Luzon
They tried to sink his ship just out of the harbor
IF he'd died in Japan,
the Christians would have risen
But he's out of Japan
That's good for us
What's so good?
He might join our foreign enemies
By the way, Oribe Furuta will go to Kaga next spring
to attend Princess Goh's tea-ceremony
To the Maedas?
What's on his mind?
Stop
They're finally in full bloom
For a distance, your head...
Looked like an old dandelion Dandelions everywhere...
Do you remember when I said that?
And your language has not improved
The tea was delicious
Oh, yes, I remember this bowl
It holds traces of that prank you pulled
You made it when you were young, didn't you?
Young or not, I never made another after I got married
SO it's the only one
Do you remember that stupid argument we had years ago?
Yeah About Usu, wasn't it?
That's right
Maybe you heard that
I met him again by chance
It's hard to predict what God will arrange
Don't you want to know
what happened to me?
Let's see
You know that I don't like unhappy stories
That gilded thing in the alcove is a coconut
from Hachijo Island There was island sand inside
it pleased me
That's what regard is your alcove is beautifully arranged
I'm very impressed
What you do shines like a light to encourage the people around you
You think so? Really?
Then, being alive isn't so bad, is it?
With Ujisato and Ukon gone...
I feel...
I don't want to hear unhappy stories, either
I made a mistake
But...
can I have all this happiness... for myself?
I wonder
I hope we can meet again,
next time in your tearoom
I have many memories there
I made tea for Hideyoshi there
I met Ujisato for the first time there too
The next anniversary of Rikyu's death, then
Decided
Please take care of yourself till that day
The same to you
Take up pottery again I expect you results
Farewell
I presume you to be Lord Oribe Furuta
My name is Terasaki
I serve Lord Itakura, Governor of Kyoto
I'm under orders from him to escort you there
Please come with us
What kind of order is this?
I cannot accept it
I understand how you feel
But Governor Itakura will explain his true intentions directly to you
We've prepared a palanquin for you
Bring it here!
We'll keep your swords!
I have something to tell you
The fact is one Soki Kimura has attempted to assassinate
the present and retired Shoguns He's been arrested
The ringleader's still unknown
But this Soki is Oribe's key vassal
So Oribe is suspected
Oribe has been sentenced to remain in confinement
Are you a Tokugawa spy?
You are Right?
You told the governor above my tea-ceremony
Leave! Right now!
Tell him
I've just finished the finest of tea-ceremonies
My lady, I've brought Usu
Go to Kyoto and get as close to Oribe as you can
it’ll be hard to approach him
But you can do it
You may die
Please leave your life in my hands
I don't care about my life
You won't go?
Who says I won't?
If you're killed, just remember
you've already given me your life
I said I didn't care about my life
Oribe will die
He'll be killed
He resisted the Shogun and helped the Christians
He'll be killed for what he's done
Did he really intend betrayal?
I don't know
I'll go
Are you saying that
The Princess Goh actually told you to meet Lord Oribe?
Troublesome woman!
It won't be easy
He's being strictly guarded by the governor's samurai
No matter how well guarded
it's still his house
I can sneak in
You seem confident
Well... don't worry
Who'd kill a minor servant like you?
I don't' care what happens to you
But she mustn't be involved
If they catch you
use this dagger Be certain to kill yourself
I won't get caught
I'll come back and report to her
I'm under household arrest
SO I won't invite you in Stay there
The Princess Goh sent you?
Yes, my lord
You sound like a samurai
I remember you said you'd never be a samurai
Two of my sons were killed in the battle
at Osaka Castle during the war against the Shogunate
Nothing special about their death
But, I felt sorry for them
I'm really lonely
Ujisato died Ukon is now gone too
And I shall never again see the Princess Goh
Here they come
It seems that you came all this distance
to see just where I'm destined to die
I appreciate that
Tell the Princess Goh that I thank her for her dandelion
Get home safely
You were in league with the enemy force
and attempted to attack our Kyoto encampment
For the charges, you are ordered to commit hara-kiri
the eleventh day of June, the year of 1615
SO, at this final moment
Final moment?
Would you like to write a death poem?
Oh, you mean that?
It's before killing oneself
A custom Please do so
Are you saying I must scrawl something before I kill myself?
What shall I scrawl?
It's an odd custom, isn't it?
If I don't scribble away
it might be interpreted as your failing in your mission
I will say some words then
Have I entered an abyss?
No difference do I see
between the nobility and those in livery
Have I entered an abyss?
Would you repeat the rest?
No difference do I see between the nobility and those in livery
Is that enough?
That's all then
We have duly recorded your death poem
Then...
I refuse to commit hara-kiri
What?
Were I a mere servant
I would receive an order for death
then I would commit hara-kiri
Rikyu was such a case
But at the last moment, I have changed my mind
Have I entered an abyss? No difference
do I see between the nobility and those in livery
Right now I find myself in an abyss
So, why must I accept an order from leyasu
that nobleman, to commit hara-kiri?
Ridiculous!
Oribe, have you gone mad?
I heard Lord Oribe had committed hara-kiri
You know already?
I'm tired Let me sleep for a while
I'll see my lady after I wake up
Very well
In Kyoto, you came into my bedroom
So tonight I've come into yours
Then it was after Rikyu's mistress Ogin had died
Now, it's after Oribe has died So, each time is to talk about death
How prosaic, when a man and woman are meeting
Leave everything as it is
Did you actually see how Oribe died?
I actually heard
that's a strange answer
I had to hide under the house and listen
I had no chance to see what happened
Is that so?
What a pity that you had no chance to meet him
and speak with him
No
I met him and spoke with him
Where?
In his sitting room
Good!
Those memories! Was Oribe calm, cool, proud
I felt no change in him
But I didn't show myself
I merely put the bowl on his veranda
Was he surprised at your sudden appearance?
He thanked you for the dandelion
Stubborn men have no fear because they're stubborn?
Or... is it that fear makes them stubborn
Oribe moved against the wind
He dashed against the rocks
Maybe he died satisfied
I wish I'd been born a man
and become such a one as he
Usu, what do you plan to do now?
I'll go home to Mino and make bowls
Idiot, what are you saying?
I asked what you plan to do - right now
Who cares where you go or who you go with?
Right now, Usu...
Will you hold me like you did that night, or shall I hold you?