Tokugawa Ieyasu
Episode 41: Ieyasu, The Shogun
OSAKA CASTLE
Ieyasu, who became the administrator of the country,
distributed fiefs and transferred lords
depending on their action in the battle of Sekigahara.
This would become the key to establishing lasting peace.
Ieyasu was careful, and did a lot of research.
He rewarded all the lords who were previously not favored,
and was not as generous with the hereditary lords.
Nobody complained about his decisions.
The next step in Ieyasu's policies
was to educate the people to increase productivity.
However, a kindling flame of war still remained.
One of the flames, the late Regent's heir, Hideyori,
became a lord worth over 650,000 koku.
His resident castle was still in Osaka.
...you summoned me?
Lord Katagiri, you must hate me, too.
If only you hadn't sided with us,
you could've become a lord worth 300 or 500,000 koku.
Is that what's troubling you?
Instead, I have an irreplaceable young lord to serve.
All those who served me have perished.
Only the Regent's widow and my son remain.
What're you saying!
By the way, Lord Katagiri.
How much gold did you bring over from Fushimi?
It weighs about 18,000 kan.
In name of my son,
I'll distribute that gold to those who lost their fiefs.
Please wait!
The young lord would be distributing gold
to people who were punished by the Minister!
Please don't mention the gold for a while.
You're right.
Living as a recluse makes me think of such silly ideas.
I know.
Please take care of Hideyori.
Yes!
In truth, Yodogimi's possessions were reduced to
her youth, Hideyoshi's gold and her love for her son.
She, who had high hopes for her son,
was still a proud and competitive Toyotomi woman.
Even after Hideyoshi's death, Ieyasu secretly visited Nene
to pray for Hideyoshi's departed soul.
He also looked forward to visiting Hideyoshi's widow.
Well...
I have come with a request to you.
Is there something this nun can do for you?
It's about the gold in Osaka Castle...
I don't need to know how much gold there is
since that is the Toyotomi clan's wealth.
What bothers me is it's use.
Many Samurai have lost their positions
as a result of this past war.
Should gold be given to them, conflicts may rise again.
That's right!
Therefore, can you tell Lady Yodo
to spend that gold in repairing
the shrines and temples built by the later Regent?
I see.
Then you would be using the late Regent's wealth
to pray for his soul while you do service to the people,
and ensure a secure future for the Toyotomi clan.
I understand.
There is something I'd like to ask you.
If it's your request, just tell me.
Yes.
I have many worries here, and don't want to live here anymore.
It's time that the late Regent's widow disappeared from the scene.
Can you please build a small temple for me?
Ieyasu didn't question Nene's request,
and left her residence at Sanbongi.
...did he agree to building your temple?
Yes, he did.
That's a surprise.
The Toyotomi clan still needs your advice.
I am afraid of that and want to live in a temple.
I have a request.
Yes?
Please tell Yodogimi that I want to live in a temple
just to pray for the late Regent.
That's as if you are criticizing her for not praying enough.
That's right. I'm counting on her competitiveness.
I'd rather have her competing to pray for the Regent.
The young heir will realize the importance of our clan.
Mandokoro!
While talk of marriage between Hideyori and Sen progressed,
Yodogimi, out of loneliness in isolation, took to drinking.
What? The late Regent is lonely?!
Yes, that's what Lady Nun Nene said.
My, that's funny!
Why should he be lonely?
He sees his son here every day.
I wonder if his spirit lies in parties such as this.
You may excuse yourselves!
Are you saying that his spirit is roaming around?
How would I know that?
I just relayed her message.
Who else but his son can pray for his soul?
He must be busy with other matters here.
Tell Nene that praying and working are different matters.
The Hokoji and Hokokuji temples were built to pray for him.
Tell her not to worry for I have been praying there regularly.
You're right. I've served as an unnecessary messenger.
I'll excuse myself.
You're leaving? Someone!
Escort him!
Just as Nene planned, Yodogimi was disturbed, and vowed to pray.
But Koetsu knew her competitiveness would drive her on.
On February 12th, 1603,
Ieyasu, who moved to Fushimi Castle,
Formally became installed as the “Shogun”.
His aids had changed greatly.
One of them served as an advisor to his 6th son
and also the magistrate in charge of the mines: Okubo Nagayasu.
Both Ii Naomasa and Chaya Shirojiro had died.
And one man who did the most to help Ieyasu along the way,
Naya Shoan, was also on his death bed.
Chaya's son, Matashiro,
came to report to Shoan about Ieyasu's installation.
Grandfather? Lord Matashiro is here.
Excuse me.
Lord Naya!
What's the matter?
Did the Minister become the Shogun?
He's no longer the “Minister” but from today, he's the Shogun.
Humans are such frivolous beings.
Why is that?
Everyone dies...
even the Shogun will die someday.
Lord Naya!
What problems do you anticipate after the Shogun's death?
The rivalry between the Toyotomi and Tokugawa clans.
Idiot!
It's clear that the Toyotomi clan
is merely one clan under the Shogun's rule!
Foreign affairs are not so, Matashiro.
Foreign affairs?
Listen.
The destination of the Shogun's authorized ships
will be lands far, far away.
What will you do if the Southern Europeans and other Europeans
fight over their profits and go to war?
Those wars may even be brought into our country.
Would that happen in the near future?
It definitely will!
That's what I'm most concerned about.
They may take sides.
One with the Toyotomi and one with the Tokugawa clan.
This will be a serious problem.
I will never forget those words.
Therefore, make sure the Shogun hears about this.
- Grandfather! - Lord Naya!
In mourning my death, you two cannot get married soon.
Can you let Omitsu serve Princess Sen
who will get married and live in Osaka castle?
What did you say?
This is the last thing I can do for that Takechiyo.
That Princess may be getting married,
but in fact, she's merely a hostage.
Omitsu can protect Princess Sen in her own way.
This will be a bridge between the two clans,
serving to bring peace to the country.
Grandfather?
Lord Naya!
It's a crisis!
What is it?
The Great Buddha...!
...this is a bad omen!
...they say the spirits of those who died in Korea
all gathered here and did this.
When the Great Buddha burned down, Naya Shoan,
one of the great men in Sakai, passed away quietly.
There was a strong bond between the two
dating back to the days when Ieyasu was called “Takechiyo”,
And Shoan was called, “The Bear Prince”.
That bond was the desire to bring about peace.
In the presence of Shoan's death,
Ieyasu thought of the times that Shoan had saved his life.
Princess Sen, whom Shoan was greatly concerned about,
was set to get married on July 28th.
Lady Oeyo came from Edo for the preparations.
...you look well.
I heard you're all prepared?
Yes.
Lady Yodo told me to ask if there is anything you need.
I appreciate her thoughtfulness.
As you can see, she knows nothing of the world.
I'm counting on you and the others to take care of her.
The Princess is a wonderfully cheerful girl.
It will be as if a spring breeze
entered the lives of our heir and his mother.
I hope so.
This is Okubo Nagayasu who will prepare her daily needs.
And this is Sakae who will accompany the Princess.
I'm Sakae.
I'd like to discuss the details with Lord Katagiri over dinner.
That's good.
Do everything properly, now.
Lord Katagiri...
You're in a difficult position.
You understand the situation.
Yet there's a danger that Yodogimi may suspect you
of being a traitor serving the Tokugawa.
People are discussing whether
the Toyotomi clan will perish first or the Shogun will die.
I think there's some truth in that.
Where did you hear that?
I heard it while I was mingling with them.
What're they saying?
That a warrior on a horse represents the Tokugawa
while a woman running barefoot represents the Toyotomi.
The angrier the woman gets, the sooner she'll fall.
That's absolutely right.
But you're trying to stop it.
I am, but no matter what I do,
I cannot control her desire for competition.
I won't try to stop it; I'll interest her in something else.
Using the late Regent's gold,
I'll build a trading ship in cooperation with the Tokugawa's.
A trading ship?
Yes, a ship two, or three times the size of what we have.
This will be the trading vessels of the two clans.
Then, if Princess Sen marries,
it's as if the country experienced dawn again.
Neither clan will be inferior or superior.
This is my dream.
Have another drink.
I've had enough.
This is all I have...
There aren't many able men.
Lord Tokugawa is exceptional.
I guess so...
He's the only one thinking 50 or 100 years ahead.
But there's stormy weather ahead.
Ieyasu was restless as Sen's wedding day approached.
You haven't slept yet?
...fool!
A 62-year-old Shogun is nervous
because his grand-daughter is getting married.
I'm sorry...
Masazumi...
Yes?
I adore Sen from the bottom of my heart.
All I can think of is how to make her happy.
The Regent adored his son, Hideyori,
who was born when the Regent was old.
I am finally fulfilling our promise.
That cheerful, generous Sen may lead Hideyori to happiness.
If Sen spreads her cheer and
Light shines into Osaka and Edo,
I should be able to relate to Hideyori.
Right?
The wedding day arrived.
The young messenger that Ieyasu and Hideyori hoped for
was just so innocent.
Thank you for everything, Grandpa.
Come, Osen.
Once you become a bride, I can't hold you.
Yes.
Get along well with Hideyori and take care of yourself.
Yes!
Ieyasu felt her warmth as he held her
and prayed for her happiness.
The wedding between Hideyori and Princess Sen
took place in Osaka Castle.
After Oeyo returned to Fushimi,
Okubo Naomasa stayed to take care of the arrangements.
He asked Katagiri Katsumoto to show him the Regent's gold.
Well...
It must weigh 41 or 42 kans.
Right.
It would be 13,500 ryo or so in coins.
Close it.
How many of these were in this castle?
It was beyond his imagination.
Why does all that gold belong to that kid and that widow...
I wouldn't let that gold just sit there...
It must be worth several hundred thousand ryo, maybe more.
What're you thinking?
Lady Sakae!
Are you finished?
I am finished, I'm leaving today.
Any message to Lord Chaya?
None.
Lady?
This is a strange castle.
Strange?
Everything's strange. I caught the gold fever.
What does that mean?
It's nothing to do with you.
I think that someone should take the Princess' place
until she matures, don't you think?
- Take her place? - Right.
Rather than let the young heir be seduced by some maid,
we should find someone to take the Princess' place.
I just wanted to let you know. I'm leaving.
Take care of the Princess.
Princess Sen has sent you some sweets to thank you for your visit.
Come closer.
Have you been here alone?
Mother asked me to join her, but I didn't.
Then, were you ill?
I don't want to see her drunk.
Have you ever met the late Regent?
Yes, and I've met you several times, too.
What?
When the late Regent was holding you.
That's why you looked so familiar.
What's your name?
I used to be Omitsu, now I am called “Sakae”.
A nice name. I like you.
I want you as my concubine.
Is it wrong to keep someone you love?
You flatter me...
I don't want to take too much time...
Wait!
I love you!
No, let me go!
I'm the lord of this castle!
Let me go, please!
What happened, Lady Sakae?
Forgive me!
Shoan and Matashiro had sent her with such high expectations.
She tried to serve as a bridge to peace,
yet it resulted in her betrayal of Princess Sen.
On October 18th, Ieyasu headed for Edo as the new Shogun.
Using the organization of the Kamakura Bakufu government
as the skeleton for his new government,
he took this trip to establish a new capital.
While Ieyasu was in Fushimi,
the late Regent's former retainers avoided Hideyori.
But in his absence, they freely visited him.
I believe the Shogun intends to retire at age 63.
At age 63?
Yes.
That's the age when the late Regent died.
He died at age 63...
He will retire after next year, then he's as good as dead.
The dead have no ambitions,
but can aid in bringing about peace...he said.
I don't think he's changed his mind.
Then, the young heir will...
But he's not of age yet.
But...
Even the Shogun has difficulty governing this land,
the young heir will not be able to.
Then Hidetada will be the next Shogun...
Right.
What will happen to our heir?
But Hidetada does not have a successor.
That's right, Oeyo only has girls.
Who will become the 3rd Shogun?
Then our heir, Hideyori, may be the 3rd Shogun?
This isn't something that I can say, but
Princess Sen's father will become the next Shogun.
Hideyori will become the Shogun's son-in-law.
As long as the two clans get along,
our clan will prosper.
Thank you for telling me this.
I'll tell my men that if they are loyal to Hideyori,
the must obey the orders from Edo.
Lady...
Yodogimi's dream was destroyed in a year.
On July 17th, 1604,
news of the birth of Hidetada's son
arrived to Ieyasu who was in Fushimi.
So...an heir is born!
Yes, a healthy boy. Mother and son are fine.
Give me a brush and paper. My brush!
Send the fastest horse to Edo.
The heir must be named “Takechiyo”.
Yes, Lord.
We have to name him “Takechiyo” after all.
“Takechiyo”...these 3 characters contained Ieyasu's history.
This was his grandfather's childhood name,
and Ieyasu's childhood name.
His mother Odai, and his grandmother, Keiyoin,
Monk Sessai, Nobunaga, and Shoan,
who called out this name in adoration were all gone.
But this Takechiyo, born with a new life
was to become the future 3rd Shogun, Iemitsu.