PRINCE SHOTOKU
In 591 A.D.,
Paikche and Silla still fought over iron-rich Kaya.
Allies to Paikche,
the empire of Yamato regarded Silla an enemy.
The question of attacking Silla was finally discussed.
I am only sanctioning what everyone has decided.
The Court and Council are only for show!
Is that what you wish?!
The invasion of Silla is born of necessity.
In the earlier war with Mononobe Moriya,
Otomo and Kose performed admirably.
The Court has yet to reward them to satisfaction.
If we attack Silla and give our lords the rights to Kaya iron,
no one would complain...
I know that!
Though we shall send troops, they'll not fight.
Silla has been impoverished by long years of warfare.
A mere show of force will frighten them...
into offering Kaya to us.
So we'll keep the armies at Tsukushi...
I know that too!
Then why are you so angry? I simply cannot understand.
Princess, the Great Minister is your father, is he not?
Tell him...
exactly how I feel!
Who is the Emperor of Yamato?!
Is it I?!
Or is it you, Great Minister?!
I shall always be Prince Hatsusebe.
The weak-minded prince who knows little of governance.
It shows on all your faces!
Yamato does not need two Emperors!
Please, Your Majesty! Forgive Father, for my sake!
I won't have it!
Your Majesty!
This must change!
In these past four years, everything has changed.
My son, Takeda died in battle.
Hatsusebe is as we saw.
And I have grown old.
Those who live as they wish are only you, Uncle...
and Prince Umayato.
Prince Umayato is most beloved.
After the war, he has gone to the battlefields...
and given food to the poor and sick.
And teaches the Way of the Buddha.
Some say he has the power of the Buddha.
That he can hear sounds a thousand leagues away.
Large crowds gather wherever he goes.
Rumors tend toward exaggeration.
Some even say you utilize those exaggerations.
Utilize...?
You keep plous Prince Umayato near...
to make your evil ways appear good.
Prince Umayato was at an aid station...
not far from the Asuka Temple construction site.
You'll feel better when the fever goes down.
Take kakumakusa for four days.
Will dried ones do? We have little...
Have we no yamakusa?
We have no yamakusa, either
Your Highness, please look. The herbs will soon be gone.
Brother, it is not only the herbs.
There is little rice and millet as well.
The aid station is asking for more supplies.
What shall we do?
Your Highness! Are you listening?!
Yes, I am.
Ishin!
I wrote a letter to the Great Minister.
The people of Asuka have yet to heal...
from fighting the Mononobe.
They cannot be sent to fight against Silla.
Even if they will be kept in Tsukushi.
That is what I wrote.
Will you deliver this to Great Minister Soga?
Father has already issued a call to arms.
I shall have it stopped. It is not too late.
Father will not easily withdraw!
The Great Minister taught me Buddha's Way.
He's kind, despite appearances!
You always defend him!
Fear not.
Trust in your own father.
Koma will see that Great Minister gets it.
Forgive me for sending you on tedious errands.
It's the Prince!
Prince Umayato!
Your Highness! Will we truly go to war against Silla?
If my son Is taken, we'll not be able to work!
I'm thankful for the gruel,
but the thought of going to war ruins my appetite!
Will we be able to return?!
Fear not.
There'll be no war with Silla! We'll not fight Silla!
That is what Great Minister Soga says! We'll not fight.
Is that true?
Yes.
Even if you go, everyone will return safely.
Not one will be lost!
Have you had a dream lately, Your Highness?
They say your dreams all come true.
I did have a dream.
In it, everyone harvested rice in fall.
Rich, ripe grains of rice.. No fighting anywhere!
That was my dream.
Here's a fresh pot of gruel!
In the past, this is what Father said...
The sun has shone on the world since time began.
On good people and bad.
On stones and grasses. On all things equally.
Standing here, I am beginning to understand.
The Emperor of Sui said the same thing, gazing at the sky.
The sun shines on all men, regardless of status.
He wishes to rule as brightly as the sun's rays.
I have never seen you before. Who are you?
I am from Omi. I am Ono Imoko.
Ono?
I have traded with the Ono for a long time.
Kawakatsu...
The other day, his exasperated father brought him to me.
Rather than helping his father,
Imoko spent his time reading.
He set off for Sui to study there,
but the ship was wrecked, so he came home.
He wouldn't stay in Omi, so I was asked to keep him.
Tell them to bring the wagons here.
Your Highness, they are late,
but here are herbs and rice from my storehouse.
Thank you! We have been waiting.
Forgive me for insisting.
Your late father's patronage raised me to these heights.
You shall have anything you ask.
Tojiko! The supplies are here! The medicines are here!
Everyone! The supplies are here!
{}ASUKA TEMPLE
I have bad news.
Great Minister Soga is secretly preparing...
several hundred warships to attack Silla.
It's a lie that it's only a show of force.
There'll be war with Silla.
What were you ordered to do in this case?
To dispose of anyone who plots war against Silla.
And Great Minister Soga...
You'll kill him?
If Prince Umayato becomes Emperor,
Yamato's quarrels with Silla will end.
Can't you wait until then?
Silla's people are suffering.
The long fighting has exhausted them.
I stop the war that threatens today.
I can't help you kill the Great Minister!
{}SOGA UMAKO MANSION
Umako...!
What is the matter?
I had a dream.
A most unpleasant one.
What kind of dream?
A man presented the Emperor...
with a boar he had taken in the hills.
It's head was chopped off, and its eyes stared coldly.
Seeing that, the Emperor said...
"Would that I could cut off Soga Umako's head like this."
So!
Is that so?
The Emperor wishes to kill me?
He wants my head?
Where is Koma?
Out front.
I wish to hunt pheasant. Bid him bring my bow.
At once. Go!
After him! After him!
After him!
Great Minister!
Are you all right?
Your Highness, I am an embarrassing sight.
Are you hurt?
Begone, everyone!
Who was the intruder?
His face was hidden, so I do not know.
Koma!
Keep this.
It was the intruder's. It should provide a clue.
Though I did not see the intruder, I can somehow imagine who sent him.
Do you know, Your Highness?
Who could have sent him?
Brace yourself, now.
The one who sought my life...
might be the Emperor!
The Emperor?!
It was rumored that he was gathering troops...
to launch a strike at someone.
Even Kawakami, my daughter wed to the Emperor...
said he was behaving strangely.
Tonight I learned why.
The Emperor? Kill you?
What basis have you to say that?!
I had a dream.
A most frightening dream.
Your Highness, this deer meat is extremely good.
Won't you have some?
Great Minister...!
These days, I feel unusually hungry.
The more I eat, the hungrier I become.
The more food I see, and the more I eat...
I wish to eat yet more.
Why? Why would the Emperor wish to kill you?!
Probably because I decided on my own to fight Silla.
I am against it as well.
Men must not march, even if only to Tsukushi...!
That has changed.
We will cross the sea and attack Silla.
What?
I was torn, but talks with Silla will get us nowhere.
I decided to attack and take back the iron.
Once we march, we must secure the fruits of battle.
That is not what you promised!
Great Minister!
Fight not, kill not!
That is the basis of Buddha's Word!
That is what you taught me!
Yes.
Exactly.
If you do not stop me,
I shall grow farther apart from the Buddha!
I shall attack Silla, kill our people, and defy the Emperor!
Your Highness...
Kill me.
There is no telling what I will do!
Kill me and keep me near the Buddha!
Kill me.
Then perhaps the war can be stopped.
You are a saint.
Punish me!
Kill me.
You cannot stop a war with unsullied hands.
Nothing will change unless you bloody your hands.
Such is governance.
There should be another kind of governance!
Where?
I don't wish to see saints for a while.
Leave me.
Take Tojiko and go far away.
{}AMAKASHI HILL
Great Minister Soga says we shall fight Silla.
He bade me kill him if I wished to stop him.
What would you do?
Kill him?
Answer me.
Would you kill him?
If many can be saved.
There are still the Otomo.
And Kose.
You shall have to kill them all.
Just as we killed the Mononobe.
It cannot be helped.
I cannot understand.
Is that not how war happens?
Kill one, then two...
Until thousands have been slain.
That is not true!
I shall only kill one in order to stop the war!
That is still taking a life.
Meaningless words!
Those who lost parents or siblings in a war...
would not say that!
They would say one death is nothing...
if it can stop a cruel war!
Is that why you attacked the Great Minister?
You attacked him to protect Silla?
When was it...?
Someone said your statues look like Silla Buddhas.
Silla is the land of your parents.
Is it not so?
Don't run!
I do not condemn you. I only wish to know the truth.
Only I know that it was you.
Is Silla your...?
It is the land of my parents.
My father and mother were killed in the war, however.
In the war with Paikche, my entire village was burned.
My wife and children, everyone.
I hate war.
Your wife and children, too?
That's why you came to Yamato...?
I shall go anywhere to stop war.
But killing the Great Minister alone won't stop wars.
War will not stop unless all of Yamato changes.
Did you not tell me...?
The Emperor of Sui established the examination system.
And thus selected able men from throughout the land...
to aid in governance hat changed Sui.
If such a thing were possible,
wars will no longer be fought for greed.
Won't you stop your attempts on the Great Minister life?
I won't let war break out with Silla.
I shall stop it, at any cost! I swear.
So abandon your sword.
Abandon your sword and help me.
I must change this land.
If Yamato changes, you will have accomplished your duty!
Help me!
All right?
Ishin....
In changing Yamato,
the time will surely come when I must kill the Great Minister.
When it does...
please do not hesitate to return my sword to me.
Let us pray that I shall never have to.
November 591 A.D.
The Court appointed as Commanders-in-Chief,
Kose no Omi and Otomo Muraji,
and sent 20,000 troops to Tsukushi.
It was the first step in the attack on Silla.
In winter 592,
gifts came for the Emperor from the eastern provinces.
A ceremony to present the gifts was conducted.
But it was a trap planned by Soga Umako.
A coup d'etat was to occur.
The Emperor was assassinated by Yamato no Aya.
It was Soga Umako who had ordered it.
The Emperor?!
The murderer was Yamato no Aya.
Koma!
The one who ordered it was without question...!
My father?!
Did my father order it?!
What happened then?
What of chieftains other than Soga?
They are quiet for now.
No one is allowed in or out of the Palace.
In any case, return to the capital.
Princess Nukatabe wishes to see you at once.
I'm returning to the capital. Get my mount.
My Prince...
Return to the Great Minister.
When I return to the capital, I may have to fight him.
It will probably be painful for you to watch.
Years ago...
you begged me to keep your father from becoming evil.
I was unable to do anything.
Forgive me.
But it's better not to remain any longer with me.
It is painful for me.
And for you.
When I was little...
My father asked me once...
He asked whom I loved more. You or him.
I said you and I were friends who fought.
But my father was the one I loved. That was my answer.
The other day before I came here, he asked me again.
Whom did I love more?
This is what I answered...
My father and I are friends who fight.
But you are the one I love.
Then my father said...
"I understand."
"That is fine."
"Never return to me again."
If you will fight my father, so shall I.
If you will die...
so shall I.
My Prince...!
I feel as you do.
Remain with me!
For all our lives!
Let us return to Asuka together.
{}TSUBAICHI
What is happening?
Merchants who serve the Soga are being attacked.
The street ahead is dangerous.
Rioters have surrounded the Great Minister's mansion.
I, Umayato, have come as summoned.
Your Highness, thank you for coming.
it has been a long time.
I am sure you have heard...
Yesterday the Emperor passed away.
It was so unexpected, I cannot stop trembling.
Truly.
I, too, felt as if my heart were breaking.
In particular, it's rumored that the Great Minister killed him.
It is most frightening.
It was Yamato no Aya that killed the Emperor.
I know nothing of it.
Then why do the people throw stones at your mansion?!
They've lost their senses.
You are the one who has lost his senses!
You do not know!
It was Yamato no Aya who lost his senses!
So I beheaded him a short while ago!
Beheaded him?
Yes!
Yamato no Aya was enamored of Imperial Consort Kawakami,
so he killed the Emperor in order to steal her away!
He was a vile wretch with no fear of Heaven!
That is why I executed him.
Prince Umayato...
Whatever the truth of the matter, the Emperor is dead.
We must install a new Emperor at once.
Among princes of the Emperor's blood,
the eldest and most beloved by the people...
Is Prince Umayato, whom I believed should be Emperor.
However, the Great Minister is of another opinion.
He says you are still young.
He says I must be Empress for the time being.
Strange, is it not?
One would expect the Great Minister to support you most.
But he has nominated me, of all people.
The Court nobles fear he Great Minister...
and bow to his wishes.
No one fears me!
You were Emperor Bitoku's Consort,
so you know government workings well.
What candidate is more qualified to be Empress?
No.
It will be easy for you to control me.
That is what you believe.
Absurd.
This is what I said to everyone.
I lack the ability to be Empress.
But if you insist...
Make Umayato Regent as Crown Prince!
Regent?
The position that assists the Emperor and governs.
I won't accept it!
Then I'll not be Empress!
Alone, I could never control the masses!
Governance is not possible without the people's consent.
This rioting is irrefutable proof!
If Prince Umayato becomes Regent,
will the people accept it?
You should know that better than anyone.
I trust you haven't forgotten...
how the Mononobe fell when they relied on strength alone?
Your Highness, what say you to the Regent's seat?
I would like to accept it.
However, I shall accept only on one condition.
Condition?
Withdraw our forces from Tsukushi.
And not make war on Silla.
Withdraw our forces?
What about Kaya?
Otomo and Kose covet the iron mines...
Negotiate with Silla to give it to us.
Without even fighting,
do you think Silla will enter such a negotiation?!
Yes, if Sui steps in.
Sui?
Sui China is the greatest power in the West.
Silla and Paikche both fear an attack by Sui,
so they send gifts of tribute.
I shall ask Sui to conduct negotiations.
Our Court has no ties to Sui!
Ties can be made!
Sui is now involved in a border dispute with Koguryo.
We have a cordial relationship with Koguryo.
Sui will think they can use our influence with Koguryo.
Send a messenger to Sui!
They might accept our offer!
You are only theorizing!
Sui is a great nation!
We might end up as their vassal state!
We must try!
Rather than lose thousands in a great war,
this way is more sensible!
It will gladden the people!
Great Minister!
Go ahead, then!
If you truly can!
Pardon.
I see.
I am beginning to see why Uncle kept you at a distance.
Without realizing it, he had fostered a formidable foe.
Your Highness...
I shall leave all the governance to you.
Though we are Soga,
we must lead the Emperor's house.
Live, not for the Soga,
but for Asuka!
December 592...
Princess Nukatabe became Empress of Yamato.
As Suiko, she would be the first female regent in Japan.
The following year,
Prince Umayato became Crown Prince and Regent.
The invasion of Silla was halted.
20,000 troops came home from Tsukushi in Kyushu.
War had been avoided.
It had been four years since they had marched out.
Shortly thereafter,
an envoy set out for Sui's capital, Chang An.
It had been 120 some years
since a Yamato envoy had set out for the mainland.
Sui was an exceptionally vast and rich land.
The envoys returned without even seeing the Emperor.
What impressed me about Sui..
was that they possess established laws.
A code of laws.
Just as the Buddha forbids killing, the nation also forbids killing.
Anyone who breaks that law is punished!
In Sui, there are ranks determined by law.
Those who work for government...
receive ranks commensurate with their accomplishments.
And no others may take it from them.
Because Yamato is lacking in such,
the strong wage selfish battles...
and there is no order in government!
We have ranks!
Our Otomo house has served the Emperor for generations,
and manages military affairs.
We are born into such houses.
Is that not rank?
Muraji, that rank differs in meaning.
How so?!
This greenhorn of Omi knows nothing.
You say Yamato has no laws,
but we are the law!
We punish all who wage selfish battles!
We collect taxes and give them to the Court.
Why should we have such admiration for Sui?!
In the first place, what is your background?
What gives you the right to stand before us?!
What gives a newcomer the right to preach about government?!
Hold! Hold!
I ask Prince Umayato...
Why did you send this man to Sui?
Why pass us over for this nameless one from Omi?
Right!
Silence!
The Regent is the Empress's representative! Show respect.
Ono Imoko, you may go.
Otomo Muraji!
Though one be nameless,
he shall receive a rank if he labors for our land.
Though one be of illustrious background,
he'll receive no rank if he labors only for greed!
That is the government of Sui.
We must be as they are.
We must now discard the old!
We must establish new ranks...
and place men of excellence in Court.
Ono Imoko will be given an appropriate rank...
and sent back to negotiate with Sui.
Background is not needed for this task.
Men!
Do not forget the treatment Ono Imoko received in Sui!
Sui refused to recognize Yamato...
that had no laws or rank.
Our envoys were locked in a shabby temple,
interrogated as barbarians and sent home.
They called us barbarians!
We must establish laws!
And civil ranks!
We must quickly catch up to Sui.
We must have Sui accept Yamato...
and establish relations with them as equals!
Speak, if you disagree!
Your Highness!
How will we receive new ranks?
What kind of ranks will they be?
I shall inform you later.
Great Minister!
At this time, Umayato had built a palace in Ikaruga far from Asuka.
I told him Brother probably wished to build a new government
far from the corruption of the Court.
Right!
The Great Minister's face soured in a grimace!
This will be the entrance to the mansion?
I shall build rooms here for all of you as well.
I must borrow all of your ideas.
We must make laws.
First we must write a constitution.
A constitution?
One that will contain 17 Articles.
Brother...
I thought of the first article last night.
"Respectfully obey Imperial edicts..."
"and value formality."
This should be he seventh or the eighth.
How about this, sir?
"Matters must not be decided arbitrarily."
"Matters should be discussed..."
"and decided by many."
That, too, is important.
I thought of an article!
So have I!
Your Highness!
Princess Tojiko is here!
Her Highness wished to see the site.
I wish to show the Young Prince his future home.
How impatient my Princess is!
Yamashiro...
Look. This is Ikaruga.
In this new place, we shall build a new land.
My Prince, beware.
Father, Otomo Muraji and Kose Omi...
are not pleased with your ways.
They mean to crush your ideas for ranks and constitutions.
I saw Father today.
He is no longer the father that I knew.
He has grown far apart...
from you and from me.
I have brought chestnuts and other sweets.
Let us eat together.
In fall a native of Silla was washed onto Tsushima.
He was called Kamata, a spy for Silla.
Kamata was questioned at Asuka and revealed surprising news.
About 30,000 Silla troops were marching to Paikche.
Paikche is our ally! Many Yamato people live there!
We must send troops to rescue them!
Hold!
Is Paikche aware of this Silla movement?
We do not know.
Even if they knew, Paikche is unable to stop Silla troops!
We must send help!
Please allow us to go at once!
Your permission, sir!
Don't be hasty!
We should wait for Paikche to ask for help.
That would be too late!
We cannot allow Paikche to be destroyed!
The Empress says we must not allow the conflict to worsen.
She says troops are necessary.
Her Majesty?
She bids that we discuss it with you and act accordingly.
Your Highness, give the word!
Allow us to march!
We cannot wait a moment longer!
No!
You must not march!
Our country will negotiate with Silla through Sui...
to obtain Kaya's iron.
There will be no change in policy.
We'll wage no war.
Your Highness!
It is not our request alone.
All the nobles of Asuka wish to send aid!
Would you reject the wishes of all the Court?!
No one will obey a man of such rigid thinking.
You even gave newcomer, Ono Imoko, the same rank...
as our illustrious houses! Everyone is incensed.
At this rate, your governance will fade into fantasy.
Is that what you wish?!
Your Highness!
Otomo Muraji!
Let him go.
Silla?! Attacking Paikche?!
Why?
Why must Silla cause war?!
Did they not send you here to avoid war?!
Why...?!
I wish to avoid war!
Ishin!
What should I do?
When I left my homeland, I was given this order...
If Silla should ever start a war,
my task here would be ended.
I would have to return at once and fight in the war.
Is that what you wish? Will you go back to the war?
To the war that killed your wife and children?
My duty here is ended!
Your duty to Silla.
But your promise to me has not ended.
You must help me keep Yamato from warring.
That has not ended yet.
Your Highness!
Oh, yes...
Listen to this.
Yesterday I thought of the first article in the constitution.
I wished your opinion.
Remember...
These laws will be the great pillar of our nation.
"Hold our land dear..."
"with peace and harmony."
"Hold our land dear..."
"with peace and harmony."
What do you think?
Ishin...
Remain here a while longer in Yamato...
and help me!
Do we return to the past? Or move forward?
Yamato has arrived at the crossroads!
Lend me your strength!
Brother!
Great Minister Soga...
has made me Generalissimo of the Silla campaign!
He says if I am Generalissimo and not Otomo or Kose,
you might be moved to fight.
This was the final concession of the chieftains!
What shall I do?
Great Minister wishes to announce it to the Empress.
Accept it.
But keep the army at Tsukushi.
That is the strategy once used by the Great Minister.
To march out, but not fight.
Do you understand?
Well?
It will be a most painful task.
Can you do it?
Yes.
Ishin...
Will you go for Tsukushi with Kume?
You must protect Kume.
In February...
The Court made Prince Kume Generalissimo...
and sent 25,000 men toward Silla.
However...
What?
They wish to know about the situation in Paikche.
Why does our army not fight?
According to reports,
Prince Kume fell ill without boarding ship.
And six months have already passed.
I have heard.
It cannot be helped if he is ill.
But Otomo suspects that his illness is pretense.
Pretense?
Why?
Because he does not wish to fight.
Or he could be obeying your orders.
If so...
Prince Kume will be removed as Generalissimo,
and Otomo must lead the army in his place.
That is everyone's opinion.
I'll not allow it!
Not "allow" it?
When I received this report, what do you think I thought?
That I should not have made you Regent.
That Nukatabe who chose you should not have been Empress.
Who should have been Emperor then?
Who should have been Regent?
Now I finally know.
I should have made this Buddha Emperor.
The people will obey the Buddha.
It is enough that I move the Buddha at will.
Like so...
It is still not too late.
Perhaps I should do this.
Have you no fear of the Buddha?!
I do fear him.
But unless I do this, Yamato will never be as I wish!
I cannot be afraid of such a thing!
It is only an object.
An object that fits in my hand.
Why must I fear it?
Have you gone mad?!
I am not mad.
I only hate myself for fearing this image!
Foolish... Soga Umako!
It was who protected you all these years!
I dirtied my hands to protect you!
Don't you understand that?!
Force Kume to fight.
If not, you shall no longer be Regent!
No!
Yamato will not go to war!
You remember how the last Emperor died.
Will you share his fate?!
Will you kill me?!
Yes!
Kill me if you dare.
Council shall be convened. inform everyone.
The subject shall be the establishing of ranks.
We must also send a formal envoy to Sui.
We must also discuss the constitution.
We'll not discuss war.
Tell everyone to assemble at once.
The Regent so orders!
To Council.
Lord Regent...
Ishin has returned from Tsukushi and asks to see you at once.
Ishin...?
Send him in.
Ishin...
What is the matter? Is Kume well?
Forgive me, Your Highness!
This...!
It is Prince Kume!
Forgive me, Your Highness!
On the night of the 4th,
Otomo Muraji came to the Shimanogori mansion,
and said the Great Minister ordered Prince Kume's removal!
When the Prince resisted, the troops...
poisoned him.
Against so many, I could not save him...!
Before my very eyes, they forced him to drink poison!
To drink poison...?
Until the very end, Prince Kume said...
he must keep his promise to you!
He said he would never cross the ocean!
And bade them return home without fighting!
After being poisoned, he turned to me...
and said to tell you...
He shares your dream,
so he regrets nothing!
He shouted it loudly...
and breathed his last!
Kume...
Kume...!
Cursed Minister! He killed Kume!
I'm going to his mansion!
Your Highness!
Great Minister...
Why, my Prince...
What brings you here at this hour?
Why did you not kill me?
I am your enemy.
Why did you kill Kume?
You should have killed me.
Kume was blameless.
It was cowardly!
Did you give the order?
Or did Otomo order it?
Give the wrong answer, and I shall kill you.
Can you kill me?
Yes!
Eleven years ago, you could not.
If I had, Kume would not have died.
Thais right.
And I need not have bloodied my hands so.
You were to blame.
Did you give the order?
Why kill Kume?!
Why kill Kume?
I do not know myself.
Because it would cause you the most pain.
Perhaps that was why.
If you kill me, you shall become as sinful as I.
Buddha was not able to help you.
Perhaps I wished to see that.
Now kill me.
Kill me.
Kill me! Kill me!
No! Don't kill him!
Ishin!
I was to blame! Forgive me!
Ishin!
I took up the sword.
Keeping my promise to you is difficult.
That is all right.
If I were you, I would not have killed him.
After all...
It is all right.
Ishin...!
Please build a good nation.
Hold our land dear... with peace and harmony.
They are fine words.
My Prince...!
Ishin!
My friend! My friend, Ishin!
Great Minister...
You saw, did you not?
Ishin is dead.
I, Umayato, killed him!
I caused Ishin's death.
And Kume's!
I killed Kume.
I, Umayato, killed them all!
I wish to die as well.
By Ishin's bloodied sword.
Kill me!
And end my torment!
Strike! Kill me!
Kill me!
Then can you sleep without fear!
You can wage war without hindrance from me!
You can kill as many as you wish!
Kill me!
Why will you not strike?!
I attempted to kill you.
Why will you not strike?!
I am your enemy!
Your enemy!
Great Minister!
If you cannot kill me, I shall live on.
As long as I live, I shall continue to reject war!
Otomo will not replace Kume as Generalissimo!
I shall send another brother Prince Tagima, instead!
Nor will Tagima ever cross the ocean!
If you poison Tagima, I shall send another brother!
As long as there is breath in me,
I shall hinder and deter and impede!
If it displeases you,
kin me.
I was saved by the Buddha.
The Buddha stopped my blade.
I, too, I was saved.
If you believe that,
swear now to the Buddha...
As long as you shall live, you shall never wage war.
Swear it.
We killed Kume and Ishin.
We must atone for it.
We must make amends to them.
Never to take sword in hand again...
We must so swear.
Swear to the Buddha.
I had a dream last night.
Vassals with brightly colored hats were in the Palace.
Kume and Ishin were among them.
They were speaking with envoys from Sui.
Silla envoys were there. Paikche envoys as well.
Everyone was laughing pleasantly.
When I asked Kume what celebration it was...
He said that Yamato was now a land of laws as Sui is.
I said, "Is that so? Yamato has changed?"
Then Ishin said...
"Did you not know, Your Highness?"
"Yamato has been a good land for five years now."
The dream did not come true.
Kume and Ishin can attend no more feasts.
But I must hold that feast.
That feast must be held.
Whether four five, or ten years from now...!
I must show Sui that Yamato has changed.
We must ail attend the feast.
Wearing our new hats and robes of rank.
You and Otomo, Ono Imoko and Hata Kawakatsu...
We must all celebrate a new Yamato.
The Sui envoy will then ask, "What kind of land is Yamato?"
And we shall say...
"A land held dear with peace and harmony."
"A land founded on a Constitution."
That will be our parting gift to those who died.
608 A.D.
Envoy to Sui Ono Imoko returned to Yamato...
with Sui envoy Pei Shih C'hing.
The year before,
Prince Umayato had sent this letter to Sui Emperor Yang Ti.
From the Emperor of the Land of the Rising Sun...
to the Emperor of the Land of the Setting Sun...
I pray all is well with you.
The word for "Emperor"
was written in the same character as for Sui's ruler.
The Yamato Court had established 12 ranks,
and had a Constitution of 17 Articles.
Diplomatic relations had begun between Yamato and Sui.
This was also the first step
to a unified land under the Imperial Court.
Thereafter in the land of Yamato,
until Prince Umayato's death at the age of 49,
there were no wars.