In the year 1701, in a royal hallway of Edo castle,
Lord Akou assaulted Kira, a nobleman, with his sword!
Lord Akou was made to commit hara-kiri
as his vassals scattered as ronin, disguised as merchants and doctors...
Our story begins one year later in a poor neighborhood in Edo
By this winter morning,
swordfighting has blown out of fashion with the wind
For Rent
Wake up!
Morning time... Wake up!
Quick, wash your face and get down to the fish market
Let me sleep a little longer, Onobu...
You took the day off yesterday
The sun's already up!
Hurry up! I'll leave you behind
All this noise every damned morning
Please let me escape this dump
Is master Soza up and about?
What's your business with him? I'm sure you're up to no good
Do you have to put it like that? He needs my advice, that's all
Hurry, Pa, or they'll close the fish market
I'm taking the day off
You took the day off yesterday
What are you still doing in bed?
Good morning, Osae san
Already off?
The weather's so fine, I'll deliver the sewing I've finished
Good for you Off you go
Did you hear that?!
Who cares
Ouch! What the hell
Can't be helped in such close quarters...
Watch yourself
How's things?
You know they're never good
Right
At this rate, I'll never get Onobu to marry me
Fool, you know Onobu's going to marry me
There you go again
Later
HANA
I envy you
If your revenge plan goes well,
you'll be a rich and respected man
You can leave this seedy life behind
Lucky your father left you a score to settle
My father died peacefully that's no use at all
Hirano san, where to, today?
To the castle
Oh, to see your friend, the retainer?
Enough of that ingrate
I've got a relative who's assigned to the study in Edo castle
I am off to petition him for an official post
A good position in contact with the Shogun
I once did this man a favor...
Off already?
I must be on my way
Hey, ronin If you want the castle, it's this-a-way
Excuse me
You heard? He knows one of the government retainers
And has a relative in the castle study
Oh, no, the tale keeps getting taller and taller
I found him, your enemy
Not, again...
This time, I swear it's him
The water's perfect
I know another guy...
"Height 175cm, fair skin with regular teeth
WANTED
"His fox-like face bears a red mark from his right eye down his cheek"
Ah, the marked cheek is on his face, not his backside...
Yes
Age?
Thirty
Thirty...
Much older looking since I last saw him...
Don't lose heart, Soza
Finding a man in Edo's sprawl is like winning the lottery
It could take 10 years, no, 20...
Hey, sis, another sake
Patience...
But he's the right height, right?
I'll go over it once more so listen well
Our shit fertilizes the rice paddies and fields
That's why the farmer pays money to buy it from the rich landlord,
who owns this tenement
And that money pays for New Year's rice cakes for all of us
You mean, rice cakes come from shit?
Well, not quite, but you're not far off, either
Useless, it's damp!
That's a fine sum Don't be stingy with those rice cakes
Save that line for when you've paid your rent
And I don't recall letting a room to that prancing idiot beside you
I'll work hard for lots of rice cakes next year
Yeah, let's do that
Despite the passage of time you've yet to avenge your father
Our entire family struggles to sustain itself
My frugal housekeeping permits me to forward this sum,
but alas, there is no more...
The samurai goes to the bath house daily,
thanks to money made off peasants' backs...
I bet... You've never killed a soul
Just like you've never used that sword against anyone
How the hell are you ever going to avenge your father?
"How the hell..."
I'll strike him with all my might and if that's not sufficient,
I'll take my life gracefully just like the cherry blossoms
That's the warrior's way of death
This, my father taught me
One rainy night last spring,
the man who lived here, was ruined and decided to end it all
He got as far as slashing his wife's throat,
but then his only kid
turned on him and stabbed him
Hearing the noise I rushed over, this place was a sea of blood
Right about where you're sitting now...
The old man was bleeding to death, guts spurting
I wouldn't call that graceful...
I'd call it a massacre
That's what a man's death means
Don't talk about living and dying,
without being ready for the worst
Good morning, Soza san
Good morning
Are you going out?
Just to the toilet You, Osae san?
We're going to pray at the shrine You should come, Soza san
No, Shinnosuke
He's a busy man
Mother
Good day
What did you pray for?
That I may find my enemy soon
Mother?
That you may stay a sweet-natured boy
And you?
That Father will return safely
How can one god answer so many prayers?
Come here, come here and buy
Take a look at these toys, very popular!
I've got every kind
We go this-a-way, we go that-a-way
My husband died of a lung disease
when our boy was only two
Today is his monthly anniversary
I see...
Time keeps passing by and I haven't yet told him the truth
What does that say?
No tabs
What's a tab?
A tab? A tab means...
You want to eat now but pay later
Sada san's always asking for that
Actually, he never, ever pays his tabs, so we call
someone like him "a deadbeat"
How do you write "run out on debts?"
"Deadbeat?"
The way you write it...
You write "step out"...
with "on your debts"
means "run out"
Let's try that again
Abacus and Writing Lessons Clear the abacus for the next calculation...
Abacus and Writing Lessons
That's 7 pence
Eight pence
Five pence
Two pence
Three pence
If you're going to teach, why not teach swordfighting?
What's the point in a world with no more war? Idiot
But a samurai teaching the abacus?
Got nothing to do with avenging...
As they say, "Hunger is a terrible master..."
"Hunger's the master"
The point is, a man
doesn't need to read if he's got the guts to fight
As they say here, "Only the countrymen keep their money"
We spend our money as soon as we make it. Who needs calculations?
You're not even from around here
You're in the way, move
What do you want in there?
Soza san to teach me how to write
You, too?
At least I'll learn how to write my own name
You have no guts You should learn, too
Damn it
"My own name" my ass!
I'll never write a single word, until the day I die
Everyone finished?
Can you believe Kenbo's learning to write?
He's smart
and good looking
Good bye
See you tomorrow
Clinic
Isn't he going to inherit the martial arts academy?
Yes, his father was a grand fencing master
A samurai teaching kids to write...
It's not right
You... should investigate
He may be have ties to Kira
I warned you about this
Even scattered, it's risk y with too many of us in town
All right Not to worry, it's nothing
Though I can't heal much more than this
Soza san, is this the first time you've met Kichiemon?
Yes
I'm Kichiemon
I'm Aoki Soza-emon
Soza san has come from up north, to avenge his father
I see
Revenge, huh...
It's been over two and a half years now, with no leads...
Two and a half years, I'm sorry
But why here? Any special reason?
These places often shelter strangers
A good place to seek my enemy...
Strangers?
Master Aoki, what do you do for fun?
Fun?
My pleasures are... Bathing and...
I also keep birds And I like to play Go
Kichiemon also enjoys Go Why not challenge each other?
Yes, an excellent plan
Over a game of Go...
Yes It was at a Go tournament
"You've called halt four times" "No, it's only three," that's how it began
"You're just an idiot, how dare you call me a liar! Draw!"
I'm so sorry
He always longed to die at war
Dying over a silly dispute
Must have been a shame
At least...
If he had died in a manner more worthy of a warrior...
One moment
I've always been...
handy this way
That's all for today, Soza san
So I stand at 7 wins, 3 losses Do come back
Welcome
Don't stare
Done yet?
Not yet
Tell me when you're done
I hope it's a lot
A lot, a lot
Revenge?
That's right It's just a play
A play?
This'll be your first
Every spring festival, Shigehachi writes a script and we stage a revenge play
Despite his looks, this guy's smart
Despite my looks...
I've got more confidence in my brains than my guts
Same goes for me
The crowd paid us well last year
Osae san looked so pretty in her costume
Osae san, too?
They only love our show so much,
half aware it's a farce,
because real fights are so scarce
We make money...
Thanks to those cowardly Akou ronin who can't avenge their Lord
Did they beat you up, Shinbo?
No
What then?
They made fun of me
How?
They said I live like a pig in a rubbish heap
What the hell?
And that everyone who lives here is trash
Who the hell said that?
Don't get so upset, they're just kids
Besides, they're right
They said "why bother buying trash, just sell your own"
That'd be me
Got that right
What's wrong with my work?
Bring the brat here I'll beat the shit outta him
Hurry up, bring the brat
Soza san
Teach me to use a sword I really want to beat them
Sounds great Teach him, Soza
Act like a samurai for once
My father made me promise no fighting outside the academy
That's pretty useless
I'll teach you
Come here
Hold this
Grab this tight Hold it in front of your belly
Hold it really straight
Lift it straight up and... Bring it down
What's going on here?
Shinbo's practicing vengeance
For the play?
No, the genuine article
Swing it down hard And shout
Oto san What would you do in his place?
I'd learn how to take a punch without getting hurt
How's that?
Let 'em hit you where it doesn't hurt and call it quits
Who taught you that pathetic trick?
My dad, before he died
What a legacy!
Your mom's a real terror...
Yup, it's come in real handy. Thanks, Dad
Don't force it
Give it here Hold this, straight, straight
When you're ready to strike...
That's it
Shinbo, come on, hit me like you mean it
Hey, that's dangerous
Come and get me, crybaby
You want to win, right?
Listen
It's no good swinging like that useless Lord Akou
Swords are made for thrusting
Got it? Try it
That's right, that's good
Aim at their knees and ankles,
where it's hard and it'll hurt
That's cheating...
Say, noble samurai
Why don't you come after me?
I think not
It's childish to take on an amateur
No need to worry
I want to show Shinbo, fencing learned in a dojo, is useless in reality
Find any fish?
Watch out!
Mago!
He's useless...
Cheater
Listen up, Shinbo
This way, they'll never bother you again
If that's not your style,
get that guy to show you how to take a punch without getting hurt
Somebody... Look after Soza san
Hey, there's a sudden chill in the air
Taking a few days off
Daddy, you're home!
It's spinning
It's caught
You're right
Other way
This time the other way
- Welcome home - Thanks
What's that?
It was just lying there
Someone was in a hurry
I'm home, baby
Can you hear?
Hirano san...
Are you all right?
Do you have a stomach ache?
Hirano san...
Hey, Sada san!
Look what a mess you made of the floor The landlord won't like this
Get a doctor, quick!
He'll be fine, it's the third time And the sword's bamboo
He tries to commit hara-kiri every spring
- Pathetic - Ouch
Listen, if you do this on the floor, it's a pain in the neck to clean up
If you must, do it on the dirt floor
Answer me
Oh, no!
Soza san, please get Dr. Onodera
Soza san
What a bunch of hopeless losers...
Bamboo...
Osae san...
Thank you
I could've sworn he was taller
Enough of your stories
Give me the money
Money?
Oh, hello
Pick it up
Sada san I'm grateful
What for? I was in the mood for something sweet
Actually, Sada san
Why so serious, suddenly?
I've already found him... Kanazawa Jubei
Changed his name
Heisuke, right?
He's a laborer in Kawaracho
That widow he's living with is a beauty
- You knew! - Yeah, I knew
- Since when? - For a while
- But you... - Listen
Have you told anyone else yet?
Then let's keep it secret
In this day and age, this samurai revenge thing's out of style
Besides, with your skills, you're doomed
Think I can have another?
Another, please
So, sell any?
Not this crap
Welcome home, Soza san
Another day
Off to the bath with Sada? Treat me, sometime
Wish I'd get a good job
Tried buying scraps?
No way!
Why?
Stinks
Figured
What do you see, Mago?
I see night
Say, Soza san
What will happen to your bird?
I wonder...
Is he stuck underground forever?
It's dark and it's cold and he won't like it
I wonder if my father's underground somewhere
Shinbo...
Don't tell my mother
She still thinks he's going to come home
Sure
Let's pray again, that your father's some place warm
On his deathbed, my father held my hand and begged,
"Soza, please avenge me"
But I'm a hopeless swordsman, and haven't fulfilled this task
His one dying wish
That is my inheritance
Inheritance?
Yes
It's why I have to pay back his enemy with my own hands
Is that true?
I can understand your feelings, but this is how I see it
If, after living his whole life,
your father left you nothing but hate,
it would be unbearably sad
Mother, come
"Owing to my imminent starvation,
"I pray you will send funds
"upon receipt of this letter
"May I inquire, Father,
"whether you are happy and healthy?
"Hope you will take
"the very best care of yourself
"Yours, Sakutaro"
That's what it says
So, how will you reply?
Reply?
I have no reply
What, a samurai?
So spoiled
You have no skills
I wouldn't be so proud if I were you
What's the big deal over those two swords you have?
The village dumpling-maker serves them three at a time
Whenever he gets that drunk,
he brings old letters in for me to read
He never once sent a reply,
so he's bad for business...
Soza san,
why do you think samurai exist?
Why?
Peasants grow rice
Merchants sell things
Just as that drunk said,
samurai alone make nothing, and sell nothing
The samurai were meant
to live, giving and taking life at war
Time has passed and war is over
But the samurai remain
I'd say that's the root of their troubles
Say, that gives me an idea
Will that lazy Oishi ever come to Edo?
That's why I keep saying
We should've attacked the Kira mansion when they forced our lord into hara-kiri
But that chief retainer...
He's hopeless He and his son are both sex maniacs
The father chases female ass, the son chases male ass
Old man Kira's retired now...
At this rate, he'll die of old age before we can kill him
Onodera san, it's hardly the time for poetry
Oh, sorry
But there's nothing gained by panicking
"A prayer for a despised enemy's
"longevity"
Revenge, revenge!
"Art thou Akiyama Gengobei?"
They're making a racket Are they trying to rub it in?
"My son and I...
"rain drenched and windswept...
"The trials and...
"The trials and tribulations of such times..."
Mocking the warrior's sacred vengeance
They won't get away with this
"Now, fight and fight fair"
"I cut my enemy down in warrior's vengeance, not petty motives
"Now you deserve revenge"
Listen, Soza This isn't the Kabuki
No need to overdo it
And now, "Not so fast, just a little wait, please"
That's my cue to step in and mediate
Hey, can I say the "Not so fast" line?
The part's way too much for you
Do the best with your "Revenge!" part
For once, I want a big part
You're luck y to even get any lines
"It is a day for admiring blossoms
"Can you face the gods if your swords draw blood among the temple-goers?
"Out of respect for me, won't you postpone this fight?"
And if the enemy also does a little dance, the crowd will applaud
Soza san, excuse me
I'd like to discuss something
What is it?
Not here May I come to your place?
Oh, don't bother I won't stay long
Please don't make a fuss
Ouch, ouch...
He's just sipping tea quietly
Hurry up and jump her, man
Despite his looks...
Um...
I don't know if I should be asking you this...
But it's too late to ask Shigehachi san...
Um...
What do "Drifting log mokki" and "Udonge flower" mean?
Mokki... you mean?
It's one of my lines in the play,
but I've never been able to figure out what it means
Mokki...
I wonder how you write it...
A mouki is...
The characters are "blind" and "turtle"
A turtle, worn out with swimming, finally rests refuge on a floating log
The "udonge flower" blooms once every 3 thousand years
Because the rare "udonge" flower resemble a spider web,
"udonge" has slowly come to mean
the spider's web as well...
Mokki?
All done
Soza, don't be so nervous It's just acting
How will you manage a real revenge?
"Cherry blossoms are blessed only when they have all fallen"
When it's time for a samurai to die, one hopes to fall gracefully,
like these cherry blossoms
Make sure you do, on your fourth try
"Only the countrymen..."
You're not from here, right?
I bet cherry blossoms fall gracefully 'cause they know
they'll bloom next year
Otherwise, they'd never give up
A point for Mago
"Not exactly, but not far off, neither"
Right, "neither"
"Hunger is a terrible..."
You don't really understand any of it
A revenge! A revenge!
How was I?
Just fine
Shit
- What? - Some guys I'd rather not see
- What? A big tab? - Enormous
I know, will you take my "Not so fast" line, too?
Me?
Don't worry, you can do it
"All to avenge this grudge, my son and I,
"rain drenched, windswept,
"by the trials and tribulations of such times..."
"Meeting you like a mokki reaching driftwood
"the flowering of the udonge..."
"Now fight, and fight fair"
"I cut my enemy down in warrior's vengeance, not petty motives
"Now you deserve revenge"
It's your moment!
What's the hold up?
Hurry up
Kill him
Not so fast!
We've heard she avenges her dead husband
In these peaceful times, a fine example of a warrior's wife
To ignore her plight would disgrace any samurai
An excellent chance to showcase our samurai training
Though we may be inadequate, we offer our assistance
A gracious offer, but my son and I,
must do this with our own hands...
Listen, I'll strike both his arms
- You, his legs... - Strike
Once he's disabled, you deliver the deathblow
"Not so fast!"
So fast
Coward - Lessons Available
How about taking his wife or child hostage?
I can't do that
Set his house on fire and get him as he escapes...
Attack him in bed?
Sada san
Retribution must befit a samurai...
But if by some miracle you succeed,
you'll win vast lands
There's got to be a way to avenge him without risking your life
Are you taking this seriously?
I am
You sure? I don't think it's just that you're weak,
you've got some other real hesitation about seeking revenge
Oh, I know
You've fallen in love with that beautiful widow
Quite the stud, you widow-killer!
"Widow..."
How about a mask?
Hello Oh, you had your baby!