The time is October 21st, 1600.
At the Battle of Sekigahara, the common foot soldier...
Shinmen Takez? Defeated at the Battle of Sekigahara
..."Shinmen Takez?," was defeated.
Taking a woman hostage would make you a man who is looked down upon forever! Takez?!
Takez?...?
Fateful Meeting with Ots?
This led to the fateful meeting between Takez? and Ots?.
If you say you'll take me along with you, then I'll save you, Takez?-san.
The couple escape from the village.
The Couple Escape From the Village
Ots?!
Unable to abandon Ots?, Takez?...
Please save her!
After having been confined to the prison at Himeji Castle for four years...
Four Years of Confinement
...thus Miyamoto Musashi was born.
Name Change from Shinmen Takez? to Miyamoto Musashi
With his goal of being the top swordsman in Japan...
...his stormy life began to change greatly.
Broadcasting for 55 years!
55th Anniversary of Our Initial Broadcast
Miyamoto Musashi: Kimura Takuya
Miyamoto Musashi attempts to gain a successful career through the sword...
Sasaki Kojir?: Sawamura Ikki
...by first visiting the Yoshioka d?j? in Kyoto.
Otsu: Maki Y?ko
Confronted with their overwhelming numbers...
Yoshioka Seij?r?: Matsuda Shota
...Musashi at last challenges their master swordsman, Yoshioka Seij?r?, to a match.
Akemi: Kaho
Ok?: Takaoka Saki
Yoshioka Denshichir?: Aoki Munetaka
Hon'ami K?etsu: Morimoto Leo
Watch out there.
Ahead of his decisive battle with Yoshika Seij?r?...
Ueda Ry?hei: Azuma Mikihisa
Gion T?ji: David Ito
...Musashi then visited the Master of the Spear, Nikkan, at H?z?in Temple.
Aoki Tanzaemon: Tsurumi Shingo
Ikeda Terumasa: Sasano Takashi
Ishimoda Geki: Ry? Raita
Priest: Hiraizumi Sei
Musashi, in accordance with what Nikkan had told him...
Iori: Suzuki Fuku
Agon: Ukaji Takashi
...then went to be taught by the renowned and strongest swordsman, Yagy? Sekish?sai.
Kimura Sukekur?: Hakamada Yoshihiko
Hosokawa Tadatoshi: Watanabe Dai
Iwama Kakubei: Imai Masayuki
Sasuke: Akeda Yasuto
I will first propose battle with the people of this castle.
Akakabe Yasouma: Guadalcanal Taka
Sh?da Kizaemon: Takasugi Wataru
Twin Sword Style!
What should I do to win against Yoshioka Seij?r??
I heard the sound of it. The sound that should never be heard.
Coming to doubt his own strength, Musashi tastes both suffering and discord.
Nikkan: Nishida Toshiyuki
I'm a fledgling!
On the other hand, while trying to catch up with Musashi in Kyoto...
Yoshino Day?: Nakatani Miki
...Ots?'s life was targeted by Matahachi's mother, Osugi, who holds an unjustified resentment against her.
Osugi: Baisho Mitsuko
Yagy? Sekish?sai: Takeda Tetsuya
Musashi had again reached an hour of destiny.
My?sh?ni: Yachigusa Kaoru
Matahatchi: Yusuke Santa-Maria
The swordsman Yoshioka Seij?r? was waiting for Musashi.
Takuan: Kagawa Teruyuki
And as well, the time was quietly flowing along towards to when...
Original Work: Yoshikawa Eiji ("Miyamoto Musashi")
Screenplay: Sato Shimako
...he would battle his old enemy, the legendary Sasaki Kojir?.
Music: Hattori Takayuki
i should never hear... that sound.
Narration: Ichihara Etsuko
What are you doing at a place like this, Obaba?
Priest Takuan...
Obaba, what's with that kodachi?
Kodachi - short sword carried by samurai
Let me go!
Obaba... Obaba!
Director: Kanefuku Ry?suke
Ots?!?
Sanj?sangen-d? Temple
Miyamoto Musashi faced off against...
...Yoshioka Seij?r? at Sanj?sangen-d? Temple.
Miyamoto Musashi
Yoshioka Seij?r?.
Yoshioka Seij?r?
Miyamoto Musashi.
Let's go.
Hurry and come.
Yoshioka Denshichir?
Twin Sword Style...
When I came to this d?j?, though I had heard of one stroke swords...
I lose if I show a chink in my armor.
I win if I can find a chink in his armor.
I heard the sound of it.
The sound that should never be heard.
The sound that should never be heard...
Elder Brother...
Elder Brother!
Takez?.
I'll come along with you, too.
Akemi
Heiwa Fansubs Presents:
Miyamoto Musashi
Second Night
My?sh?ni-sama.
I'm very sorry, but I must go to Edo from here.
Takuan
Until Ots?'s wounds have healed, could you keep her here for a while?
My?sh?ni
Yes, yes, happily.
Ots?-san was here with us for four years.
Ots?
Welcome back.
Yoshino Day?
Well, well, wonderful, wonderful.
Musashi-dono, which do you prefer? T?dai here...
...or Yoshino Day??
Ueda-dono!
Well, well, that was wonderful. Such bliss. Supreme bliss.
Where is the courtesan Koyuki? What's the matter?
It's still awhile before she comes.
When will that be? I wanted to hear them playing together.
Now all of you, dance, dance!
Dance! Dance!
I'm much obliged.
Isn't that... blood?
No. Merely a scarlet peony petal.
Really? A peony, huh...
Where's Musashi?
In the red-light district of Rokuj?!
Kill him...
Block off the red-light district!
Get revenge!
Yes sir!
Gion T?ji
Ueda, let's go!
Ueda Ry?hei
Go on ahead.
Young Master...
Young Master!
Don't let Musashi get out of the red-light district!
Search for him!
Yes sir!
Well, well... Impressive, impressive.
Ah, J?y?-dono.
Isn't it about time we took our leave?
That's right, that's right.
Musashi-sama...
You will be spending the night here.
Somehow, I will not have you disappear on me this evening.
Say, wouldn't you like to?
You could stay the night as well.
Ah, that'd be nice, that'd be nice.
I'd love that a lot.
No. I'll return with K?etsu-dono as well.
Musashi-dono, saying that leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
Hon'ami K?etsu
Stay here and have a nice rest.
It's fine if you take hold of this good opportunity and then come back tomorrow.
Day? here has gone to the trouble of showing her concern for you as well.
Concern?
Yoshino Day?.
Has something happened?
Yes.
Anyhow, only those gentlemen other than Musashi-sama can freely leave the red-light district.
If, Musashi-sama...?
What is it?
Even a woman like me...
...who is unfamiliar with the arts of war...
...can tell from your conduct and expression...
...that you appear to be a man who could be slashed to death at any moment.
What?
Have I hurt your feelings?
My conduct...
Do you mean you want to see a human being getting slashed?
Are you making fun of me?
I, here and now, wish to try and become...
...a human being similar to this biwa.
Biwa - Japanese lute
It has only these four strings and a board for its trunk....
And yet a rich variety of sounds can come out of it...
It's a mysterious thing, isn't it?
But, concerning those mysterious tonal colors...
If you split the board apart and look into the heart of the biwa...
...the source of this mysterious thing can be understood.
Take a look.
As you can see, the inside of this biwa is similarly hollow, isn't it?
I think all those variations in sound...
...come from this single crosspiece that connects the trunk here.
It is this crosspiece...
...that acts as both the bones supporting the body of the biwa...
...as well as its heart.
However, if this crosspiece was merely straight and stiff...
...and everything was tight and tense...
...you wouldn't get much sound from it.
You could say that where the biwa's tonal richness is born from...
...is in the power of both ends of this crosspiece...
...and its ability to move around with a moderate amount of slack.
In other words, I believe the mental readiness with which we humans should live...
...should be similar to that of this biwa.
You are strong. Far too strong.
Even so, you should become much weaker.
He's here! It's Musashi!
What are you doing... Let's go!
Yes!
Musashi, wait!
What is it?!
What is your intention in making me wait?
I don't think it's necessary to answer that here.
Musashi, are you well prepared?
Prepared?
A samurai's preparations go on even while they are sleeping.
Come at me at any time.
But, before that!
Do the Yoshiokas wish to assassinate me?
Or do you wish to defeat me fairly?
Have you come with a grudge?
Have you come to get revenge for the match I had?
Tell me which it is!
I'll tell you so that you'll know.
As the attacker of our master, Seij?r?, and of his honorable younger brother, Denshichir?...
...how could we of the Yoshioka clan allow you to go on living?!
Musashi... It's a pity, but we must take your neck for that.
I will be your opponent as long as my entire body and two swords can go on.
But, one thing!
What we're doing here is different than just using bokken.
Bokken - a wooden sword
Itakura will come!
Itakura Katsushige was the magistrate of Kyoto
Making an uproar in front of the main gate to the red-light district is uncouth.
If a government official like Itakura were to come here and get involved...
...you can expect he won't treat this as a mere quarrel case.
If that happens, each and every one of you...
...would become a disgrace to all those who call themselves samurai.
And as for the justification the Yashioka's teachers and students are using here...
...wouldn't that rather make you the laughingstock of the world?
What?!
Shouldn't settling things by the sword, according to the customs of the sword...
...be done at some chosen time and place?
Indeed. It truly mustn't be done in the streets.
But, who are you?
Sasaki Kojir?
I am Ganry?. Who was Sasaki Kojir?.
Sasaki Kojir?!
Sasaki...!
Kojir??
Well then, Sasaki Kojir?-dono...
...would you guarantee that Musashi here won't run away...
...until the chosen day without fail?
I could do that...
How about it?
I agree.
So he says.
Okay.
In that case, tomorrow morning during the final third of the Hour of the Tiger.
Hour of the Tiger: 3am - 5am, so about 4:30am
The place will be at the foot of Mt. Ichij?ji, town of Yabuno, at Sagarimatsu.
That Sagarimatsu will be the meeting place.
All right.
The nominal head of the Yoshiokas will be the sole child of Kasei Genzaemon, Seij?r? and Denshichir?'s uncle...
...whose name is Genjir?.
While Genjir? is the heir to the Yoshioka clan...
...as he is a novice, he will be present and attended by many assistants.
I tell you this, just to make things clear.
I agree.
Well then, tomorrow morning during the final third of the Hour of the Tiger.
Sasaki Kojir?.
Why are you watching out for me?
You need to be sure to be at Sagarimatsu.
Right?
The principal occupation of the Hon'ami clan is to appraise and to sharpen swords.
Although that skill in sharpening swords has come down to us from the first world of the Ashikaga's...
...and through the Muromachi, Imagawa, Oda, Toyotomi generations...
...this may be the first time it could be said K?etsu himself has sharpened a sword.
I'm much obliged.
Musashi-dono, what is it you like about swords?
Huh?
Musashi-dono, for what reason do you walk along the path of the sword?
That's...
...to make my name by the sword.
Is that right.
Well then, I hope you can find a true meaning for it someday.
True meaning?
Well, well, just what you'd expect from an excellent sword that's been handed down from the Muromachi era.
Muromachi Era - 1392-1573
These can really cut.
And in addition... they're strong.
Musashi...
Ots?-san! You should still be sleeping...
Where is Musashi-sama? Musashi-sama hasn't gone...?
Ots?-san...
Are... you an acquaintance of Musashi-dono's?
As I thought, he has gone?
Yes, a little while ago.
Musashi-sama is...
He's the one I've been searching so long for.
Oh!
My!
Where is Musashi-sama? Where did he go to just now?
Just now he...
...went on towards the remains of the Ichij?ji Temple over yonder.
Ichij?ji Temple...?
Will he be returning here?
Musashi-dono went there for a duel.
Between him and the Yoshioka d?j?.
Ots?-san!
I'm going to get some water right now, okay?
The road is divided into three parts.
Let's think about which one Musashi will come out of.
To Sagarimatsu will go our nominal leader, Genjir?-sama, and Genzaemon-dono.
Mibu Genjir?
Mibu Genzaemon
Furthermore, approximately 10 of our senior people will stay with them.
The rest of you divide yourselves up among the three roads and hide somewhere along the way.
Got that?
Yes sir!
When I counted them, the Yoshiokas have 76 men with them.
76?
They called them "assistants," but that's an incredible number of them.
It's every bit like a war battle.
What will you do?
Will you run away?
No way.
I want to leave my name in history as the man who defeated the world's best; the Yoshioka family.
And...
I am going to become this world's unparalleled and peerless swordsman.
Sounds interesting.
Musashi-dono.
If by some chance you do come out of this alive, Musashi-dono...
...will you have a match with me?
Why?
Up till now, I haven't been defeated.
If it were between I and Musashi-dono, it would turn out to be a good match.
In other words, you're saying you want to lose?
No. But by defeating Miyamoto Musashi...
...I would be the peerless one.
Sounds interesting.
I'll accept that challenge.
Musashi-sama...
Ots?, what on earth are you doing here?
I heard you'd been hurt...
Not in the least.
When I thought of Musashi-sama heading into a duel from here...
...I completely forgot anything about my own body.
Ots?...
Musashi-sama...
You're prepared to die, aren't you?
If Musashi-sama is willing to die...
...then I have no intention of living either.
And because of that, I can forget this weak body of mine.
Don't say such fool things!
Ots?, listen to me.
I can say this without shaming my reputation.
I love you, Ots?.
But right now, I'm not a man who's suitable for you, Ots?.
I have neither home nor family; I'm just a penniless r?nin.
It's not possible for me to provide for you.
But, if I can gain fame with the sword...
...the road to being a government official might open up for me.
At that time...
...I feel I'll want to be married to you for the rest of my life, Ots?.
But if you died...
...such a day would never come!
I don't need you to have a successful career!
I only want...
...to be together with Musashi-sama!
Please don't go!
Please! Let's you and I run away together!
I can't do that!
If I ran away, I'd be the world's laughingstock.
Wherever I'd run away to...
...the Yoshioka's would forever be chasing me down to murder me.
This is an all-or-nothing battle.
By winning I gain the path towards becoming a government official...
...and if I lose, I lose everything.
But Ots?...
I will win.
I'll definitely win.
Not only for my own sake...
...but for your sake as well.
I'd hate it...
I'd hate it if Musashi-sama lost...
Please! Don't go!
Please don't go!
If I do win this fight...
...I will definitely come and get you.
So, let me go now.
I must go already.
Musashi-sama...
Musashi-sama!
Ots?!
Musashi-sama...!
Early morning, final third of the Hour of the Tiger.
Here at Ichij?ji, Sagarimatsu...
Ichij?ji, Sagarimatsu
...preparations had already been made in order to attack Miyamoto Musashi.
I will not die...
Will I get a look at his skills?
I'm going to win and become peerless!
That's one.
That's two.
Oi!
That's four, five and six.
It's Musashi!
Eight, nine...
Genjir?, withdraw!
You...
Father!
Will you do it?
This way!
Genjir?-dono!
The Yoshiokas are no more...
We've lost...
Prepare yourself... The flame of the Yoshiokas will definitely not be extinguished!
Musashi!
What's the matter?
With this, you're finished.
Doing things on sly until now... is that what tied your lives together?
This is also the art of war. For the sake of winning.
Come.
Why won't this guy fall? Why does he fight?
That's 76...
I won...
Ots?-san...
My?sh?ni-sama.
How is Musashi-sama?
The Yoshiokas are gone.
Sake Meals
I think that's leaves a good feeling.
Drink up, drink up.
Welcome!
Boss, sake, sake. Give me sake.
I want some sake.
Yes.
Well still, hearing about the Yoshiokas...
...I can see they were too fragile.
It wasn't that the Yoshiokas were weak.
It's that man Musashi who is tremendously strong.
Hon'iden Matahachi
What's that about Musashi?
There are few guys who, after gaining fame early on in this world, become successful men.
Say, say, say...
If he were up against Sasaki Kojir?, I wonder who'd win?
Ah... I think it'd be Sasaki Kojir?.
Musashi's sword is crude...
...while Kojir?'s sword is refined...
If it were one-on-one, Kojir?'d come out on top.
Hmm... Next time around it'll be Kojir?, huh?
Brother.
Brother!
What is it?
Got a minute?
I'm Narai Taiz? and I run a pawnshop.
Narai Taiz?
I've got a great way for you to make money over in Edo...
Want in?
Geh!
Not interested.
If you're successful, it means 1,000 ry? for you.
Ry? - old Japanese coin
1,000! 1,000 ry??
Ah!
I'm alive...
I really did win...
Where is this?
Priest!
Sasaki Kojir? brought me?
Mud?ji Temple
That's right.
As soon as he entrusted you with us, he left for Edo right away.
In his message he said he would fullfil his promise upon the occasion of you two re-encountering one another.
Hmm... By the way, how did you come by such injuries?
Excuse me.
Hmm.
What's that...
Musashi-dono, seems you have a guest.
Is your name Miyamoto Musashi?
Enryakuji Temple Priest
That's right.
This is a pronouncement from the main building of the Enryakuji Temple.
Mt. Hiei is holy ground and must not permit itself to become a haven for those involved with outlawry.
You shall immediately withdraw from this temple.
If you are in violation of this law...
...then according to the strict rules of this temple...
...you will be punished resolutely.
All right. I'll leave.
But, what do you mean by "outlawry"?
I'll tell you.
You cut down Yoshioka Seij?r? and Denshichir?...
...and furthermore, you also cut down Mibu Genjir?.
So with that, your duel with the Yoshiokas should have been finished.
And yet, why did you go on and murder all 70 of their remaining students?
Such useless killings!
However much you may say it was the way of the samurai, that was a cold-blooded act!
If I hadn't cut them down, I'd be the one who was dead.
You could have run away, now couldn't you?
But you didn't run away, and that was because...
...in your heart you enjoyed murdering them!
You're wrong!
Well then, what was it?
Was it for some great achievement?
Did you want to become famous as the man who managed to wipe out the entire Yoshioka clan?
You won't deny it?
How shameful!
Do you still feel like saying things about gaining fame like some heretical devil?
And yet, you consider yourself a human being?!
In order for a r?nin such as me to gain fame...
...I had no choice but to do that!
I pity you.
The times have changed.
A sword that does not kill people...
That is the sword of Yagy? Sekish?sai.
You are a pathetic man...
...who has been left behind by the times!
The light has already turned poor for today.
It will be fine for you to leave at first light tomorrow.
Oi, young priest.
Yes?
I have a favor to ask.
I will... have my revenge!
Ow... Ow...
Obaba?
Osugi
Having been ordered to vacate, Miyamoto Musashi left the Mud?ji Temple.
Obaba, do you need to rest a little?
No...
In response to the mercy you've given me...
...this old woman will forget her grudge! Ah, hurts, hurts...
Let's rest. Here.
Ow, ow...
How are you? Huh?
Obaba, let's go see Matahachi.
What are you saying?
Matahachi died at Sekigahara!
He ain't dead!
Matahachi is living happily.
Matahachi wasn't at Mt. Fuwa.
Takez?, you're nothing but a sham good person.
Such useless things... I don't want to hear them!
Ah... I'll see how things are up ahead. Obaba, wait here a little while.
Is she taking a pee?
Obaba!
A note from Musashi-sama.
From Musashi-sama?
Yes.
Where is Musashi-sama right now?
Though he was at Mt. Hiei's Mud?ji Temple... He's set off on a journey.
Eh?
I'll be waiting at the inn in Seta
Miyamoto Musashi
Sake Meals
Thank you very much!
Excuse me. Do you serve food here?
Yes. Come in.
Matahachi?
Takez?!
How many years has it been?
Since Sekigahara! We haven't met since then.
Ah, that's right. I was with Obaba until just now.
Eh? You were with Ma?
Yeah.
She was heading towards Kyoto. You should go and surprise her.
She's totally convinced you died at Sekigahara.
Well... Still, since it's been so long, let's have a drink for now.
Give us a bottle.
Those injuries; they must be from Sagarimatsu?
You know about that?
The whole world's in an uproar over it!
Sake Meals
I see...
Rest Stop
Have you passed all this time just playing around?
I'm totally useless...
Though it was for Ok? and Akemi's sakes, my first major step went wrong.
What about you two?
We broke up.
I see...
That's right. Did you meet Ots? in Miyamoto Village?
I met her.
I wonder what Ots? is doing right now?
Did Ots? forgive me for abandoning her like that?
Right now Ots? is...
...being looked after at Hon'nami K?etsu-dono's mansion in Kyoto.
Eh?! She's in Kyoko, huh?
I've made a promise to meet Ots? in Seta.
You made a promise to meet her?
Are you... seeing each other?
Matahachi, will you come with me?
Matahachi.
No... My plans are to go on to Edo.
Edo?
Takez?, why don't you come along with me?
I have this great money-making idea.
I intend to follow the way of the sword just as I have been.
I see. Then I'll take all the profit for myself.
What'll you do about Obaba?
Ma...
That's true. Then, I should chase after her right away.
Takez?... No, Musashi.
Let's meet again.
Yeah.
Ots?... you betrayed me.
Ots?!
Who is it?
It's me. Hon'iden Matahachi.
Ots?, you've become beautiful.
What are you thinking about right now?
Nothing... at all.
Haven't you been thinking about me?
After all, there hasn't been a single day when I didn't remember you.
What are you talking about?
The one who chose another woman and abandoned me was you!
Talking about things from so long ago is painful.
I was totally in the wrong.
But, whatever the causes were, I can't give you up.
Those days will never return...
We can no longer call back what our old feelings once were.
We can, Ots?. Ots?!
No... It cannot be done!
Ots?!
Are you thinking about Musashi?
I love him dearly.
I've made up my mind that I will be married to him for all of my life...
Don't say that, Ots?!
All right. It was under Musashi's orders that you met with him.
Yes, that's how it was.
No. I made a decision about my own life and it was not upon Musashi-sama's orders.
I can be obstinate, too! Ots?, a man can be obstinate.
If that's your decision...
What are you doing?
I'm a man, too!
I can't let you and Musashi get married in my lifetime!
I won't permit it! WHO would permit it?!
Ah!
If you consider your life to be precious...
...then swear here that you won't think about Musashi!
Now, swear!
Seta
Inn
What's this?
What's happened... Ots??
May I inquire...
Would you happen to be Miyamoto-dono?
That's right...
Oh...!
I am the retainer for Date Masamune, Lord of Aoba Castle over in ?sh?..
Ishimoda Geki
...and my name is Ishimoda Geki.
Oh...
Well, I had a feeling from the start...
...that my journey this time around...
...would be auspicious somewhere along the way.
Ah... now.
Now, let's get acquainted.
Geki-dono.
Hmm?
What on earth is this about? Why would you do all this for a person such as myself?
I see...
You are quite right to be suspicious.
However, there's no particular meaning behind it...
But if you forced the question onto me...
Well, in a word... I'm in love with you.
I'm a man who's fallen for a man.
Having learned by hearsay of your work at Ichij?ji Temple in Sagarimatsu...
...with all due respect, I have watched and longed for you ever since.
Musashi-dono, would you like to come under our employ?
I would. Of course I would.
Is that right! Well then, well then...
How about it, Musashi-dono? Would you come with me to Sendai?
If I recommend you, it's as good as a done deal.
To tell the truth...
Its been my wish for a long time to someday become a government official.
If my wish were to come true like this...
Up until today, I have been working hard at my pursuit of knowledge in the ways of the sword.
Truly... I am truly indebted to you.
No, no... To have you this pleased at accepting it..
...then it was well worth my searching you out, Musashi-dono.
I am extremely pleased as well.
Now...
Ah...
By the way, Musashi-dono...
Yes?
I have an awkward question to ask.
In that previous battle, you were surely with the Western Army?
Is there something about it?
If you were...
Yes. I was formerly a common foot soldier under Ukita Hideie-sama.
What's that?!
How could...
Miyamoto Musashi!
This conversation did not take place.
What do you mean?
Shogun Ieyasu has written, to all daimyo everywhere, a list of restrictions.
Within those...
...there is a line in which none of them is to employ rebels.
Rebels?
Rebels!
Those who took part along with the Western Army at Sekigahara!
That means...
Miyamoto Musashi!
It means there is no Lord anywhere who would be able to employ you.
Not for as long as the world of the Tokugawa continues!
You... are a mere murderer!
A murderer...
Takez?, you cut down Yoshioka Seij?r? and Denshichir?...
...and furthermore, you also cut down Mibu Genjir?.
So with that, your duel with the Yoshiokas should have been finished.
And yet, why did you have to go on and murder all seventy of their remaining students?
Was it for some great achievement?
You are a pathetic man.
You could have run away, now couldn't you?
How shameful!
Do you still feel like saying things about gaining fame like some heretical devil?
Ahh!
But you didn't run away...
...and that was because in your heart you enjoyed murdering them!
Ots?, wait for me.
I will definitely come back a success from Sekigahara. I promise!
Ots?... where have you gone off to!
Damn it!
Matahachi!
Did a fish get away from you?
It's you, Taiz?-sama. What are you doing in a place like this?
I came to meet you. We need to decide on the plan, right?
Please excuse me.
Yes?
Where is the man named Miyamoto Musashi?
Ah... If it was that r?nin, he set off on his journey this morning.
This morning?
Yes.
Do you happen to know where he was going?
Dunno...
You will become a well-digging laborer...
...and enter Edo Castle through the western citadel at Marugoshij? Castle.
When the chance comes, kill the new Sh?gun, Hidetada, with a pistol.
Moreover, for the pistol you'll use...
...I will bury that with my own hands beneath the camellia tree inside the castle.
If you dig it up under cover of darkness, you'll be okay.
But, because the workers are sent home once it grows dark...
...you'll have to come up with some scheme to get it yourself. Got that?
Yes, Taiz?-sama.
But, before that, I'd like to build up my war chest a little.
Thanks.
With the move of the Shogunate to Edo, that city became the center of Japan...
Edo
...and the entire city was full of life under what was called a "rush of construction."
I wonder why they're building so many houses?
What are you doing?!
That hit the bullseye!
What are you laughing at!
What are you laughing at!?
Apologize! Apologize!
This is all because of Akuz?.
Matahachi...
Why did you die and leave your Mother like this...
Obaba. It's you Obaba, isn't it?
Priest Takuan!
Umm!
Obaba.
Are you still trying to track down Musashi?
Of course I am!
I heard rumors he had left Kyoto, so I thought I'd try tracking him down in Edo.
Which inn are you staying at right now?
I haven't picked one out yet.
In that case, would you come to my place? The room rate would be free.
I'm under your care. Sure.
Priest Takuan...
I wonder how he was able to get an inn like this?
Miyamoto Musashi, who had cast aside his swords, was living under a code of clearing and cultivating land.
What are you doing?
Do you intend to make a field out of this?
Isn't that one there the brat of the dead San'emon, named Iori?
And the other one's just a beggar who's settled here.
Iori
Sensei, what should I do with this?
Put it over there.
From the Buzen Kokura fief, Hosokawa Tadatoshi of the Hosokawa family...
Hosokawa Tadatoshi
...was living in the daimyo's residence his family maintained in Edo.
Iwama Kakubei
There's something strange about you.
This'll be the first time you'll serve as a samurai?
He has no knowledge about entering the services of a daimyo.
I've heard from Kakubei about your wish to join our clan.
Why did you come to wish to join our clan?
As my place of death...
...I had the sensation this clan would be a good one to die for...
Hmm...
What's you style of martial arts?
As I also call myself, Ganry?.
Well, I've kept you waiting.
Did I overdo it a little?
No, you were superb. The Lord was deeply impressed as well.
Anyhow, he'll employ you as a fencing instructor.
By the way, about your search for Miyamoto Musashi...
Have you found out anything?
I haven't gotten any news about him since Sagarimatsu.
After what happened there...
The rumors going around now are that he's thrown away his swords.
Why are you so concerned about Musashi?
This may sound arrogant...
But whenever I have a match with someone anymore, I don't enjoy it.
The sword I loved so much ever since I was a child; I no longer enjoy it now.
Knowing I'll win against someone of a lower level and will murder them brings me pain.
But, if Musashi and I were to fight...
...I feel I would regain the pure joy I had in my childhood.
Oi!
Don't go making this nothin' but a boring puddle of yer own crap!
Over in da thickets along the riverbed, ya kin eat all the buds ya want...
...and ya kin live out here in da sun, while yer bellies play toots with yer farts!
A great many people are saying such things.
Out of the way.
Sensei.
Sensei, you're a samurai just like my dead Father, aren't you?
So why don't you carry a sword?
Sensei, will you go off on another journey sometime...
...just like what you were on when you came here that time?
When you said, "let's live together," I was happy.
Thank you for making my Father's grave.
Koyanagisei Castle
Here you go.
Ah, I'm obliged.
Kimura-sama will be coming shortly.
Ah.
Traveler.
Yes?
If I may ask you an abrupt question...
...would you happen to know of a man called Miyamoto Musashi?
Ah... The man who defeated the Yoshioka clan, right?
Would you happen to know where he is right now?
Ah, no... I've heard nothing but rumors about him.
Is that right...
Thank you for waiting.
Ah...
Sensei!
You have a guest.
I've been looking for you for a long time.
Do you remember our promise from that time?
But by defeating Miyamoto Musashi, I would be the peerless one.
I'll accept that challenge.
I remember.
In that case, I want you for my opponent as soon as possible.
I threw away my swords.
Because of... Sagarimatsu?
That's right.
And so you came to be carving images of the Buddha?
Is it to comfort the souls of those who died?
I don't know.
Sensei!
What is it?
Please come right away.
Where to?
The village. People from the mountains are headed there. The guys who struck at us three years ago...
Mountain people...?
Bandits?
That bell is to inform about them?
Hurry and go. Please help the villagers!
Sensei!
I'll go.
Sensei!
Guide me there.
Sensei!
Take the women alive!
You come with me!
Incredible...
Oi!
Kill him!
You der!
We come fer the bastard dat's been gettin' in our way.
Oh!
It's that guy...
Throw away yer sword!
Or I'll kill this fellow!
Kodake!
Ma!
Hurry and throw it away!
If yas don't throw it away before I counts ta three, I'll really kill dis fellow!
One...
Two...
Three!
Ya'll regret dat, bastard.
Kodake!
Oi! Da guy who does 'em in, I'll gives 'em dat long sword!
Do you feel lost using someone else's sword?
What?
Miyamoto Musashi...
...has come back.
Sensei!
I will be returning to the Buzen Kokura fief from here.
I'll be waiting for you.
Sensei!
Um... We made you some rice balls.
Please eat them!
Come...
Thank you.
Thank you very much!
I'll take them.
Let's go! Heave-ho!
Heave-ho!
Heave-ho! Heave-ho!
Musashi-dono, for what reason do you walk along the path of the sword?
Well then, I hope you can find a true meaning for it someday.
Heave-ho!
One, two...
Iori.
Yes.
Heave-ho!
One, two... Heave-ho!
Okay! One, two...
Heave ho!
It moved!
That's great everyone!
Heave-ho!
One, two... Heave-ho!
Iori.
Yes?
I think I'm going to leave here.
Yes.
This isn't the place for you, Sensei.
Sensei is one who should be at a far more different place than here.
Edo Castle
Whaty're ya doin', jerk?
Eh? What is it?
Ah! You've trampled on my tools, ya bastard!
Oi! Oi, catch him!
What are ya doin'?! Ah... Oi!
Wait, wait, wait!
You bastard!
Whaa!
Spend some time cooling off in here!
End of work!
End your work!
Finish up!
Have you reflected on your actions a little?
Whaa!
Got it!
A rock!
Not here... Not here, not here...
It's not here!
Is this it?
Takuan!
How?
Come with me.
Not coming?
I said to come...
This... This hole is just...
Give that up. It's just a waste of time.
All the good and evil deeds alike that humans draw while above ground will...
...like ink upon a white sheet of paper, never disappear throughout their lives.
What you are doing now to the soil to try and make it disappear right away...
That's just the sort of thinking that led you into such a rough life...
You were going to commit an outrageous crime, you big sinner.
Now, come!
I will behead you and kick you into the pool of blood!
Ow! Ow! That hurts! You'll tear off my ear! You'll tear off my ear!
That hurts! Ow, ow, ow!
Nara
It's been a long time.
Oh...
Musashi, huh? Well, I'm much obliged.
Chief Priest Nikkan
Ah... Nectar, nectar. Delicious.
Musashi...
You've done well and become weaker, haven't you?
Yes.
I heard that your master, In'ei, became troubled in his later years...
...by the contradiction between the Buddist doctrine of making use of life and the martial arts doctrine of killing life...
...and so he bid his disciples to discard their spears and forbade them from practicing in the martial arts.
Yeah.
Then I earnestly begged him...
...to allow me continue teaching the spear at H?z?in.
How were you able to overcome that contradiction?
Overcome it?
Oh...
I didn't overcome it.
My master, In'ei, wasn't able to overcome it...
...so I wouldn't be able to overcome it either, now would I? Fool.
The contradiction still remains a contradiction... right here.
Generally speaking, people want to make everything into either black or white.
Good or evil...
Friend or foe, etc...
By making everything either entirely black or white...
...that makes them feel better.
However, there is no such thing in what we call "life."
Between white and black there is gray...
It's what lies there that's important.
It's what you do with that, that is true strength.
Musashi.
The answer won't be found by asking people for it.
The answer...
...is within yourself.
It is truly...
...difficult.
Edo Castle
Excuse us!
Please spare me, Takuan-sama!
I was tricked by Narai Taiz?!
I sensed there would be an assassination attempt on the Shogun ordered by Lord Ikeda Terumasa...
...while that Lord was sojourning at Edo Castle...
...but you were certainly taking part in it...
Takuan-sama! Please spare me!
It's already too late for that.
But I hadn't yet turned that pistol on the Shogun.
Please! Please, spare me!
I'll be reborn. I'll be reborn...
I'm sure of it, I'm sure!
Ow!
Matahachi?
Matahachi!
Ma!
You are still alive... You are still alive!
I've done ya wrong, Ma!
I'll be reborn this time around...
This time around... I'll be a dutiful son to you!
Matahachi! Matahachi!
Matahachi!
Takuan-sama! Save him! Spare him!
Ma... Ma... Sorry...
I'm sorry...
Matahachi?
Do it.
Yeah.
Ahh!
Matahachi...
Matahachi! Matahachi!
Matahachiii! Matahachi...
Ma...
Matahachi. You are reborn.
Don't ever forget the words you spoke earlier.
Yes!
Inn
Takez??
Take care.
What is it? What is it? Huh?
There, there...
Miyamoto Village
Takez?!
Matahachi?
Ma! Ma!
It's Musashi! Musashi's come back!
Takez?...
Obaba...
Takez?...
Please forgive my many outrages against you...
...up til now!
Just as you said...
...Matahachi was alive!
It's okay, Obaba.
I forgave you from the start.
Takez?...
I see... Matahachi's become a priest too, huh?
I've been reborn, too.
I see.
Ah... I heard Priest Takuan was around...
Ah, he's here. Well, he's gone up to the mountains right now.
How about it? Amazing, aren't I?
Ow!
What was that for?!
You haven't changed.
Priest Takuan.
Oh, Musashi. It's been a long time.
Well, come over here and have a seat.
I was just enjoying the sunset from here.
It's a nice sunset. A sunset expresses the death of a person.
I love sunsets.
How about it? Have you become a little more like a human being?
I'm...
...weaker than I was before.
That's good. That's good.
I'll be going to Buzen from here.
Oh...
Why there?
I've decided to fight Sasaki Kojir?...
...and become peerless.
Well, well...
Still after that successful career, huh?
No.
As long as the world of the Tokugawa goes on...
...I'll be a mere r?nin my entire life.
My luck ran out for that when I joined the Western Army at Sekigahara.
Well then, for what do you fight?
Is it to make a name for yourself even without a successful career?
Or is it to leave your name to posterity as the man who defeated Sasaki Kojir??
Previously I fought for a successful career and for my honor.
I was desperate to raise my reputation in the world.
It was with such a selfish desire...
...that I annihilated the Yoshioka School.
I snatched away the lives of more than 70 good people...
...by murdering them.
When you die, you will definitely go to Hell.
Yeah.
You don't want a name for yourself. You don't want a reputation in the world.
You can't have a successful career, either.
Well then, why do you still go on fighting?
I want to see what's further ahead.
To what?
To what... my limits are.
I want to see that.
What lies ahead when Kojir? and I fight.
I'm sure... it's the same for Kojir?, too.
It may be...
...death.
It may be.
But even so, I won't mind.
Until the last moment before I die, I'll go on seeing.
What about Ots??
Ots? and I separated in Kyoto and I haven't met her since.
I wonder what will happen...?
I love Ots?.
I'm sure this feeling will never change.
Even if Ots?'s feelings were to change...
...and she got married for life to some other man...
...my feelings wouldn't change.
I'm sure...
...this feeling wouldn't change even upon my death.
My mind and body...
...will live the way of the sword.
But my soul...
...will be together with Ots?.
We'll meet again.
Ots?.
Why didn't you come out?
If I had come out now...
...I would have been just...
...a stupid woman detaining Musashi-sama again...
...so I couldn't come out.
Musashi noticed.
That you were here, Ots?.
Yes...
And it was with that in mind...
...that he spoke those words.
With just that...
...I am happy.
Buzen, Kokura
Miyamoto Musashi then went to Funashima...
...an island which would afterwards be called Ganry?jima.
Ganry?jima - i.e. "Ganry?'s Island" for Kojir?
Great weather, isn't it?
It is great weather, isn't it!
Unusually good weather for this season.
Sir, what are you planning on doing with that old oar?
Huh?
Ah...
It's halfbeaks! If you grill them for eating, they're not half bad.
Halfbeaks - A fish with elongated pointed lower jaw
My daughter loves 'em.
Your daughter?
I three daughters and a young boy; we're a five member family.
You're a busy man, huh?
Well... that's true.
No time for me to be loitering about.
And I've got a grandfather and grandmother still around.
Well, the only merit we all have is that we're healthy!
Huh? Why are you going to Funashima?
I go for a decision.
Over who is the peerless one.
Why does Musashi continue to fight?
Each and every person continues their fight in different forms.
For you, it's your heart fighting against you being lazy every day.
But... I don't bet my life.
You did... bet your life.
I'm sorry.
Still, a fight between two geniuses like Musashi and Kojir?...
...has a different meaning than any normal fight.
For those people who follow the way of the sword all the way...
No... For all of human existence itself as well...
...this will be a special fight, won't it?
Sorry. Take care of this for me.
And why is that?
Musashi told me...
...he wanted to see what his limits were.
It's the same for Kojir?, too.
For example, let's say that this fan...
...contains all of human potential.
Rather than just in terms of potential, let's say this is their store for the future.
When someone exceeds their own limits...
...then the store of that potential grows larger.
When Musashi and Kojir? fight...
...they expand those limits...
...many, many times over.
And with that...
...the potential for humanity as a whole becomes this much greater.
For the way of the sword...
For all human beings...
This fight between those two...
...is an important thing, isn't it?
Funashima (Ganry?jima)
You kept me waiting, Musashi.
Yeah. I'm late.
Are you ready?
I'm set.
Let's go.
Now.
What is it you see, Musashi?
I don't know yet.