TAIGA DRAMA
Sanada Maru
Written By: MITANI Koki
Music By: HATTORI Takayuki
Narrator: UDO Yumiko
Cast
Sanada Nobushige (Yukimura): SAKAI Masato
Sanada Nobuyuki: OIZUMI Yo
Matsu: KIMURA Yoshino
Takanashi Naiki: NAKAHARA Takeo
Toyotomi Hideyori: NAKAGAWA Taishi
Oda Urakusai: INOUE Jun
Katagiri Katsumoto: KOBAYASHI Takashi
Ohno Harunaga: IMAI Tomohiko
Chosokabe Morichika: Anan Kenji
Tokugawa Hidetada: HOSHINO Gen
Mouri Katsunaga: OKAMOTO Kenichi
Chacha: TAKEUCHI Yuko
Goto Matabe: AIKAWA Sho
Honda Masanobu: KONDO Masaomi
Tokugawa Ieyasu: UCHINO Seiyo
Translations by MTI
Director: KOBAYASHI Daiji
Episode 43: War Council
Nobushige enters Osaka Castle,
and gets caught in a power struggle with the ronin.
Meanwhile, Nobuyuki's two sons were with
the opposing Tokugawa army.
Swing bigger.
Here.
Thanks.
Where are we?
Near Kashiwabara.
The war hasn't started yet, so what's the rush?
SANADA NOBUYOSHI
Probably because Lord Ieyasu is waiting in Kyoto.
Sir Nobuyoshi, would you like to practice with us?
Brother!
Don't mind me.
It feels good to sweat it out.
Let's not bother him.
SANADA NOBUMASA
The Shogun is here.
You're practicing hard.
I make it a point to practice my fencing daily.
Work hard to attain peace for the country.
Certainly.
Honda Tadatomo's camp is on that side.
Sanada Saemon-no-Suke has entered Osaka Castle.
What?
Please go to Kyoto where my sons are.
Me?
Genjiro has gone to the Osaka side.
Oh my.
EDO - SANADA MANSION
My sons shouldn't be fighting against Genjiro.
Genjiro won't seriously fight his nephews.
He'll go easy on them.
That's what I fear.
He'll have blurred judgment if his kin is on the enemy's side.
I don't want to hold him back.
He's been waiting for this for 14 years.
He'll waver if he sees the Sanada flag on the enemy's side.
Tell Shigemasa and Sanjuro to not go to the battlefield.
Tell them, don't attempt to prove their loyalty,
by foolishly going to the front line.
Write it down. I might forget.
It'll be troublesome if Ina finds out.
I'm counting on you.
I'll write it down.
KYOTO
Sir Hidetada's army entered Moriyama.
NIJO CASTLE
That's fast.
He doesn't want to be reproached by you.
Is he still dragging on the Sekigahara battle?
I brought Sir Katagiri. Do you want to see him?
Show him in.
Yes.
Katagiri.
I wanted to see you.
It's my fault that it's come to this.
I can only blame myself for my incompetence.
You are not to blame.
You have nothing to regret.
I must say...
after all you've done for the Toyotomi...
how can they banish you so coldly?
What are those people in Osaka thinking?
Katagiri...
work for me.
I wanted a vassal like you.
I'm grateful, but...
I won't force you if you continue
to be loyal to the Toyotomi.
I've severed my ties with the Toyotomi.
In that case...?
If I can be of service.
Masazumi, did you hear that?
Katagiri is siding with the Tokugawa.
Wonderful!
Please tell me something.
The Toyotomi are actively buying provisions of late.
What are your thoughts?
Does Osaka Castle have enough provisions to feed 100,000?
How long will that last?
You needn't answer if you feel obliged to them.
What have you to say?
Katagiri?
I understand.
You are loyal, after all.
How admirable.
The number of ronin...
is far more than they had anticipated.
With the provisions they currently have,
they will be very short.
At most...
half a year.
Thank you for telling me.
OSAKA CASTLE
You may leave now.
Yes.
Come in.
Close the door.
I haven't been in here since that day.
The things the Taiko didn't want me to see.
They'll be used soon.
Can we win?
I told you, that's what I came here for.
That's promising.
I have a war council to attend.
I'll present a winning strategy to Sir Hideyori.
This castle will lead us to victory, won't it?
Yes, of course.
But my strategy does not involve holing up.
It's a better strategy.
Will it endanger Hideyori?
No, it won't.
I've been waiting for you.
All the people I loved...
weren't ready to die.
Father, Mother, Brother...
and even my stepfather Shibata and Sute.
What about the Taiko?
I said, the people I loved.
I don't care what happens to me.
Don't let Hideyori die.
I'll protect him with my life.
I have to prepare for the war council.
How many ronin do we have now?
Over 100,000.
Will we get more?
I'm worried if we'll have enough provisions.
That's not a big issue.
In battle...
the one with momentum wins.
Just as my brother beat the Imagawa at Okehazama.
But, Harunaga...
don't let them have their way.
It's all right to flatter them,
but we must stay in control.
Today's war council is important.
Understood.
I'm going to borrow this.
I've to get my thoughts together for the council.
Do you have a strategy?
I revised Father s old strategy to apply to the present.
I'm excited.
The late lord was a master at holing up in castles.
On the 23rd of last month Ieyasu entered Kyoto.
Meanwhile, Hidetada's army of 50,000 left Edo.
The eastern daimyos under Tokugawa are headed this way.
The enemy army's size is at least 200,000.
They're worthy opponents.
What promising words from the famed Goto Matabe!
How do we confront them?
I suggest holing up.
Fighting an enemy over twice our size on open fields,
will result in defeat.
It's best to fight from the castle.
Are you all in agreement?
Fine!
CHOSOKABE MORICHIKA
Fine!
AKASHI TERUZUMI
MOURI KATSUNAGA
Fine!
I object.
You hole up to buy time for aid to come.
There is no aid coming.
So what do you suggest?
We should sally out.
Sally out?
Ridiculous.
We can't win confronting them head on.
I didn't say head on.
You said, sally out!
Now, now, both of you.
We're on the same side. The enemy is Tokugawa.
Pardon me.
This is an impregnable castle built by the Taiko.
Why would you fight outside of it?
To take the battle away from the castle.
By turning Osaka, Kyoto, Fushimi, Otsu, and
all of Kamigata into a battlefield,
we'll split up their army and reduce their strength.
That sounds interesting.
Are you suggesting we invade Kyoto?
Ieyasu is in Kyoto.
Are you going to burn down shrines and temples?
It's to win.
Just hole up in the castle.
How long do you plan to stay in the castle?
We can last 2-3 years in this castle.
Do we have provisions to last that long?
Yes, we do.
What about after?
In the meantime, Ieyasu will die.
That's what we'll wait for.
How about this?
We'll tighten the castle's defenses in all directions.
We'll rout the enemies that attack.
What do you say?
I see.
That's a good plan.
Lord, please decide.
In that case, I'm taking my leave.
Wait.
You ruled out my strategy without giving it thought.
There's no incentive.
I'm returning to Kudoyama.
Excuse me.
Shuri!
Wait, Saemon-no-Suke!
Sir Genjiro, you're bold.
I just did what I thought Father would do.
Remember this well.
Bluffing is a Sanada custom.
Bluffing?
It's not a bluff.
This is a strategy. Someone will come.
Here he comes.
I'm Kimura Nagato.
Please return to the war council.
Lord Hideyori is waiting.
He would like to hear more in detail.
What are your thoughts on my strategy?
I...
think holing up is the only way to go.
When fighting an army over twice your size,
it's best to hole up.
The enemy knows that, too.
That is why we must outsmart them.
Well...
Ieyasu is in Kyoto now.
It's a golden chance.
We capture Fushimi Castle first.
We make it our branch castle to invade Nijo Castle.
Before Hidetada arrives, we take Ieyasu's head.
Meanwhile, another army will occupy Otsu and take Omi.
Then we destroy the bridges in Seta and Uji.
That will obstruct the Tokugawa's main army.
The Toyotomi daimyos who have sided with the Tokugawa
may then switch back.
Then we'll have the Date and the Uesugi
attack Hidetada's army from the rear.
I don't think we'll lose.
Will the Date and the Uesugi become our allies?
They will, if we take Ieyasu's head.
Now, that is brilliant.
You live up to your reputation as a battle strategist.
Men, what do you say?
Sir Goto?
That's one strategy.
But we should hole up.
I'd like to know why.
The plan is so elaborate that I can't follow it.
I can explain it until you understand.
What about the others?
Chosokabe?
Stay in the castle.
And you, Akashi?
Likewise.
I guess we're holing up.
Wait!
I'm for Sanada's plan.
Hey!
I like how elaborate it is.
What is your decision?
I'd like to discuss this more.
Let's take a short break.
Hole up or sally out?
They both make sense.
Lord, the decision is yours.
Thank you.
To be honest,
I don't care if we hole up or sally out.
Then why?
Why did you come?
Me?
I wanted to test my own abilities.
That was all.
How well can I do on the battlefield?
That's what I want to see.
That is why I'm here.
I went along with your ideas so you'd owe me.
Didn't you say you'd invade Kyoto?
Let me do it.
I'll take Ieyasu's head.
All right.
Why does Goto insist on holing up?
He just doesn't want to go along with you.
What about the other two?
I don't know.
I don't understand.
Ukita Hideie was a battle expert and you were his councilor.
You should know holing up is not a wise choice.
I'm a Christian.
Yes, I know.
It's my wish to spread the religion.
How is that related?
I was told before the war council started.
It's already decided that we are holing up.
Even if Sanada suggests another strategy,
don't go along with it.
Then, hereafter...
they'll help to spread Christianity.
Who told you that?
Ohno Shuri.
I see.
I have no obligation to the Toyotomi.
I came to Osaka solely for one reason.
Because the Tokugawa banned Christianity.
That's all there is.
I understand how you feel.
Sir Chosokabe, did Shuri say something to you, too?
He promised...
he'd grant my wish if I support his plan to hole up.
What is your wish?
To reinstate the Chosokabe clan.
My many vassals are relying on me.
What it comes down to is, the Toyotomi
depend on us, the ronin,
but are afraid that we'll take control.
So it seems.
They look to crush your plan.
How did Shuri know about my strategy though?
It doesn't matter what brought you two here.
What's important is, if the Toyotomi loses,
your hopes will die.
Spreading Christianity, and reinstating the Chosokabe clan.
They will end only as dreams if we fail to win.
We need to win first.
We can't win by holing up.
No castle is impregnable.
The bigger the castle, more chances for an opening.
In order to win,
we have to sally out.
Sallying out is out of the question.
This is our chance to attack Ieyasu in Kyoto.
Didn't I tell you?
Not to let them have their way.
Sir Nagato will have to put in the extra effort.
It's on you, Shigenari.
Let's eat this next.
Hatsu is Chacha's younger sister.
She married daimyo lord, Kyogoku Takatsugu.
She changed her name to Joko-in after his death.
She is Chacha's trusted confidant.
We have 100,000 ronin in this castle right now.
100,000?
Sanada Saemon-no-Suke has returned, too.
I'm relieved to see that you are doing well.
We will win for sure.
The two of us support Sanada's plan as well.
We should sail out and fight.
Saemon-no-Suke, let me ask you this.
What is it?
You plan to advance troops to Fushimi, Kyoto, and Otsu,
to divide the enemy's army.
Exactly.
In doing that, you're dividing our army, too.
That's right.
The disunited ronin can exert their abilities to the fullest,
by fighting at Osaka Castle.
Don't you think so?
Perhaps.
Well said.
Aren't we being hasty by holing up?
True, Osaka Castle is a strong fort.
But for us...
it is our strong fort, but also our final fort.
This is all we have.
If we lose this fort,
the Toyotomi will perish.
We should save that as our last resort,
and sally out first.
We can always hole up later.
Kimura, you can't win if you follow the standard.
What you've just said...
I understand.
Sir Nagato!
Let's save that as our last resort.
Let's focus on weakening the enemy's strength.
First...
let's invade Kyoto before Hidetada's army arrives.
I object!
Enough of silly pride.
Shut up.
Did Shuri say something?
Ridiculous.
I should say.
Shuri knew you wouldn't go along with my plan.
Tell me.
Why did you come here?
Why should that matter?
I think I can understand.
You were looking for a place to die.
Am I wrong?
Place to die?
You couldn't find employment after you left the Kuroda.
Lord Kuroda made sure of that.
Unable to live as a samurai anymore,
you could only choose to die like a samurai now.
I'm the famed Goto Matabe.
I thought I'd go down with the greatest castle.
This is the only place to die for me.
We're holing up, no matter what!
What?
I came here to win.
We don't need men who want to die.
Huh?
If you have no will to win, leave.
Are you seriously trying to win?
Of course.
You're a big fool.
There's no way we can!
The country is against us!
No one says it, but they think so!
Isn't that right, everyone?
We all have our own agenda in coming.
But we have one thing in common.
We share the same wish.
The wish to live.
Which makes us strong.
I don't think we'll lose.
We will not lose.
This is not a place to die.
If you want to die, side with the Tokugawa.
I won't forget those words.
I actually thought it was too early to hole up.
Yeah, right.
Now...
I've seen something good.
Shall we conclude?
Then...
As we said from the start...
we are holing up.
That defeats the purpose of this council.
It served its purpose.
Your feelings have touched my heart.
Don't mess with us.
You're just hired ronin.
Know your place.
You've shown your true colors.
Just obey our orders and fight the enemy.
Sir Urakusai.
I can't let that comment slide.
What?
These men are here to protect the Toyotomi.
They are our guests.
Do not be rude.
Who do you think you are talking to?
The one to decide is Lord Hideyori!
Not you!
Lord, please decide.
I've made my decision.
We will not hole up.
Let's sally out.
I'll inform Lady Okura.
Suit yourself.
Now then, we'll follow Saemon-no-Suke's plan,
and decide on the battle formation immediately.
How did it go?
Ask your son.
We'll be busy.
That's how it is in battle.
What I don't get is, why do the Toyotomi
insist on holing up when its to their disavantage?
It's suspicious.
Excuse me.
Why did you come?
Me?
You didn't tell us yet.
Actually...
I don't quite know either.
They're reliable warriors.
Mother, we'll surely win.
What is the outcome?
I naturally chose Sanada's strategy.
Are we holing up?
No.
An army of 20,000 led by Mouri Katsunaga
will attack Kyoto tomorrow.
No.
Mother.
Can you be sure he won't betray us?
But...
Among the ronin, only Sanada can be trusted.
The others are here for the money.
If we don't keep a close eye on them,
who knows what they'll do.
The Tokugawa can't touch us if we stay in this castle.
We must hole up. Is that clear?
I'm terribly sorry.
Lord Hideyori has affirmed his decision to hole up.
But...
Her Ladyship overturned the decision.
There's nothing we can do.
In that case, it can't be helped.
With that said, let's think of the next plan.
Please do.
We'll build a branch castle.
Sanada, again!?
I won't allow it.
What if Sanada betrays?
Let's go.
We need the ronin's help.
Or we'll lose!
If Father were alive, he'd do the same thing.
This is the only way to win by holing up!