1. 1630.
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2. 13th day of May. Fair skies.
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3. Extremely hot from early in the day.
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4. 10:00 a.m. - Master Bennosuke...
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5. pays a visit to the Kandabashi mansion
of the Honorable Lord Doi
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6. to present fresh river trout
from the Shirakawa River,
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7. which arrived from our domain.
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8. No other official business to record.
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9. However,
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10. at about 4:00 in the afternoon,
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11. a samurai claiming to be a former retainer
of the Fukushima Clan in Hiroshima
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12. appeared at our gate.
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13. Produced by
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14. Original Story by
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15. Screenplay by
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16. Cinematography by
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17. Music by
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18. Starring
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19. Directed by
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20. EDO
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21. You were a retainer of the former
Fukushima Clan in Hiroshima?
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22. That is correct.
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23. My name is Hanshiro Tsugumo.
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24. Written with the character
tsu as in "harbor"
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25. and gumo as in "cloud."
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26. What is the nature of your visit?
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27. My master's house fell in 1619.
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28. I subsequently left the domain
and moved here to Edo,
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29. where I found shelter
in a back-alley tenement.
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30. While eking out a meager living,
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31. I sought connections
for employment with a new master.
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32. But try as I might,
we live in times of peace,
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33. and my every effort has been in vain.
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34. Failing to find employment
and with little to do,
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35. he finds himself in dire straits
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36. and believes
he can endure it no further.
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37. Rather than live on
in such poverty and disgrace,
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38. he wishes to die
honorably by harakiri
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39. and asks for permission
to use our forecourt.
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40. Such is his request.
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41. Not again.
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42. Will they never stop?
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43. How shall I respond?
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44. Fine. Show him in.
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45. This is the room, sir.
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46. Please go in.
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47. Thank you.
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48. I am a former retainer
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49. of Lord Masanori Fukushima
of Hiroshima,
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50. Hanshiro Tsugumo by name.
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51. I respectfully beg your favor.
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52. I am senior counselor
of the House of Iyi, Kageyu Saito.
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53. I am much obliged
for this immediate interview.
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54. The purpose of my visit -
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55. I've already been told
of your request.
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56. Rather than live on
in endless poverty,
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57. idly waiting for death,
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58. you wish to end your life in a manner
befitting a samurai, by harakiri.
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59. I believe that was the gist of it?
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60. That is correct.
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61. In these times,
it is a truly admirable resolve.
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62. I can only express the highest esteem.
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63. You mentioned
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64. that you served
the former Lord Fukushima.
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65. Did you happen to know
a man named Motome Chijiiwa?
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66. Chijiiwa?
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67. Yes.
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68. Hmm...
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69. You don't recognize the name?
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70. I'm quite certain he said
he'd served the former Lord Fukushima.
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71. In its prosperous days,
the clan's retainers
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72. numbered some 12, 000 men.
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73. One could hardly know them all.
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74. I see.
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75. But never mind that.
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76. Earlier this year,
perhaps around the end of January,
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77. this ronin named Motome Chijiiwa
came calling,
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78. and the purpose of his visit
was the same as yours.
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79. He requested the use of our forecourt
to dispatch himself with honor.
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80. Is that right?
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81. Would you like me to tell you
what happened in that case?
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82. I would indeed.
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83. You say you were a retainer
of the former Fukushima Clan in Hiroshima?
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84. That is correct.
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85. I served the former
Lord Masanori Fukushima of Hiroshima.
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86. My name is Motome Chijiiwa.
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87. What is the nature of your visit?
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88. After the fall of my master's house,
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89. I moved here to Edo
and found shelter in a back-alley tenement.
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90. While eking out a meager living,
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91. I sought connections
for employment with a new master.
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92. But try as I might,
we live in times of peace...
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93. and my every effort has been in vain.
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94. So now it seems it's our turn.
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95. How shall we respond?
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96. Let me think.
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97. It's amazing how such foolishness
can take hold.
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98. Blame it on what
the Sengoku Clan did.
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99. - Say what you will, that was a mistake.
- I disagree, Yazaki.
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100. - That's not necessarily true.
- Why not?
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101. The fellow who went to the Sengoku house
was serious about disemboweling himself.
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102. There was nothing dishonorable
about his intent.
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103. Precisely because
they were touched by his sincerity,
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104. the Sengoku house decided
to take him in as a back-room retainer.
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105. That was good.
They made the right decision in that case.
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106. The problem
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107. is the shameless imitators
who have followed.
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108. They have no intention whatsoever
of performing harakiri,
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109. and just because they're hurting a little
for food and clothing,
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110. they show up at our gate
to practice their thinly disguised extortion.
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111. We can't very well allow him
to disembowel himself in our gateway.
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112. Our only choice is to follow
the example of other clans:
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113. give him a little something
and ask him to leave.
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114. No.
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115. That will not do.
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116. If we give him money
and send him away,
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117. he'll soon be followed by others.
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118. One after the other,
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119. like ants drawn to a mound of sugar.
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120. Ever since the Battle of Sekigahara,
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121. Edo has been teeming with ronin -
masterless samurai.
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122. They're like wild dogs
roving about in search of prey.
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123. Think what people will say.
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124. "The House of Iyi has gone soft
like the others.
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125. Everybody thought they had backbone,
so until now, the ronin avoided their gate.
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126. But look what they've done now.
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127. They boast of their martial valor,
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128. but this is a time of peace,
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129. so they're just
living in yesterday's dreams."
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130. Would you have such laughable chatter
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131. spreading all over Edo?
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132. Especially when His Lordship
is away in his domain.
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133. Under no circumstances can we allow
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134. a stain to come upon our lord's name
while he's away.
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135. Giving him money
and asking him to leave -
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136. such lily-livered nonsense
is out of the question.
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137. He hasn't the slightest intention
of killing himself,
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138. yet he speaks of honorable harakiri.
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139. Counselor!
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140. If I may...
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141. My apologies for keeping you waiting.
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142. I am Umenosuke Kawabe,
a member of Lord Iyi's mounted guard.
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143. My name is Motome Chijiiwa,
a ronin from Hiroshima.
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144. Kindly come with me.
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145. Excuse me?
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146. I am to show you to the bath.
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147. Since Lord Iyi is at present
away in his domain,
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148. Senior Counselor Saito conveyed your
request to His Lordship's son, Bennosuke.
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149. He finds your resolve most admirable
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150. and wishes you to be brought forward
for an immediate audience.
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151. I am to have an audience
with Master Bennosuke?
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152. That is correct.
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153. I must beg your pardon,
but your present attire will not do.
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154. While you refresh yourself
in the bath,
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155. we'll see to some new robes for you.
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156. I place myself in your hands.
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157. Your kindness overwhelms me.
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158. I must be dreaming.
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159. This is so...
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160. completely unexpected.
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161. Almost -
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162. Pardon me.
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163. My apologies
for keeping you waiting so long.
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164. I must ask you to change again.
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165. Your robes.
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166. Is something wrong?
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167. What about my audience
with Master Bennosuke?
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168. I was told
I'd be granted an audience.
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169. I don't believe so.
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170. - You must have misunderstood.
- No, I'm quite certain.
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171. That was the word I received from
Umenosuke Kawabe of the mounted guard.
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172. Kawabe?
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173. Now that you mention it...
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174. Yes, that must be it.
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175. So I'm not mistaken?
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176. I believe I understand.
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177. When Senior Counselor Saito
personally conveyed your desire
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178. to Master Bennosuke,
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179. he noted how rare it is these days to find
men with such a great sense of honor.
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180. "I would like to add this man
to the ranks of our retainers," he said.
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181. "but when a man declares
that he wishes to tear his belly open,
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182. it can only come
from a most profound resolve."
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183. "I am sure it would be no use
trying to dissuade him.
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184. Grant him his final wish.
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185. Although I would like to meet
this man of such uncommon valor
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186. and tell him how much
I admire his purpose,
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187. I am unfortunately scheduled to go
to Lord Doi's residence at this hour.
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188. Extend to him
every courtesy of this house,
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189. and have all our retainers
witness his final act,
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190. that they may remember it
as a proud example."
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191. Such were Master Bennosuke's words,
I was told.
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192. Tell me:
What do you think of this story?
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193. A most interesting tale,
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194. worthy of the famous red armor
that symbolizes the House of Iyi
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195. and its reputation for great martial valor.
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196. May I ask what your intentions are?
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197. You mean...
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198. about this?
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199. Exactly.
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200. You may set your mind at ease.
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201. I came here
with every intention of dying.
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202. Well, well.
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203. A most admirable resolve.
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204. In that case, Master Tsugumo...
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205. perhaps I should recount for you
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206. a little more of Motome Chijiiwa's story.
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207. By all means.
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208. Now then,
we must be aware of the time.
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209. Please change into those robes.
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210. All other arrangements
are already in place
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211. for a harakiri ceremony
with all the proper formalities.
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212. I have a request.
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213. I must beg a brief respite.
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214. Respite?
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215. I will not run or hide.
I will return to this house.
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216. But I beg you
for a day or two respite.
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217. I'm afraid it's too late for that.
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218. - But this is absurd!
- Absurd?
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219. We made the harakiri arrangements
at your own request.
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220. My most abject apologies!
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221. Just a day or two respite.
I will return without fail.
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222. A samurai's word is his bond.
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223. There can be no delay!
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224. Master swordsman Hayato Yazaki.
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225. Fit and eager,
his skills honed to perfection.
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226. One false step
and he'll slice you in two.
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227. The others will descend on you as well.
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228. Rather than being chopped up
like a dead fish,
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229. perform harakiri
and die like a samurai.
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230. Now, change into those robes.
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231. O ancestors of the House of Iyi...
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232. I must beg your forgiveness
for defiling the mansion courtyard
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233. with unworthy ronin blood.
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234. I do this to preserve
the honor of this house,
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235. as well as that
of the Tokugawa family,
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236. and of the samurai code itself.
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237. I beg you to be witness
to my decision.
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238. His short blade is the same.
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239. Look at it.
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240. It wouldn't cut tofu.
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241. He sells off his soul as a samurai,
replacing his blades with bamboo,
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242. and then shows up
saying he wants to perform harakiri?
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243. The nerve of the man!
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244. Everything is in place
for the ceremony to begin.
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245. Master Motome Chijiiwa...
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246. rather than sit and wait
for death in dire poverty,
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247. you've declared your wish
to die honorably by harakiri.
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248. It is a commendable decision.
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249. You are an example for all samurai.
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250. I am ashamed to admit
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251. that even in this house known for martial
valor since our ancestor Naomasa's day,
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252. the resolve you've shown
is seen but rarely.
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253. So that they may witness
the noble demise of a true warrior,
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254. and engrave a lasting impression of it
upon their minds,
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255. I've ordered all retainers
of this household to attend.
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256. May your heart be at peace.
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257. I beg of you!
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258. What is it?
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259. I beg for a brief respite -
a day or two's grace!
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260. I swear I will not run or hide.
I'll return to this spot without fail!
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261. Please! I implore you!
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262. This is most unexpected.
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263. I've heard lately
of incidents all across Edo
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264. in which ronin who don't deserve
to call themselves samurai
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265. demand the use of a clan's forecourt
to commit harakiri
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266. but are happy to walk away
in exchange for a few coins.
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267. Surely you are not -
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268. Absolutely not, sir.
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269. No, no.
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270. Of course not.
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271. I'd never believe that a man
of your noble character and mien
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272. could be such a despicable extortionist.
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273. Now then.
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274. You may proceed.
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275. Unworthy as I am,
I shall be your second.
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276. I am an exponent
of the Shindo-Munen-Ichi school.
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277. I imagine you are aware,
but let me note just to be sure.
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278. The rite of harakiri
has changed over time.
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279. In recent years,
it is often harakiri in name only.
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280. The subject reaches for the blade
on the wooden stand,
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281. and his second immediately
strikes off his head.
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282. In other words,
there is no disembowelment at all,
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283. and in fact sometimes
the stand holds not a short sword
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284. but only a folding fan.
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285. However,
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286. our proceedings today will not sink
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287. to such debased and empty forms.
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288. We shall adhere strictly
to the traditional ways.
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289. Is that understood?
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290. You will rip your bowels open
crosswise, like this.
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291. Once I see you have done so,
I will strike off your head.
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292. Until I am satisfied
you have fully torn open your bowels,
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293. I will not bring down my sword.
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294. Is that understood?
Now then.
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295. It is your own sword.
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296. That is the blade you will use.
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297. A samurai's sword is his soul.
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298. No blade could be more fitting
for this purpose than your own.
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299. Come. What keeps you?
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300. Proceed.
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301. Strike! Strike me!
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302. No, not yet!
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303. Pull your blade across!
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304. Why do you delay?
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305. Draw your blade across!
Pull it to the right!
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306. I suppose he had no other recourse,
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307. but even so,
to bite off his tongue?
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308. Would you say he was being resourceful,
or just unseemly?
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309. Then again,
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310. who in his right mind attempts harakiri
with just a bamboo sword?
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311. Now then...
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312. what are your intentions?
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313. You mean...
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314. about this?
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315. The account I've given you
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316. of Motome Chijiiwa's fate
is true in every detail.
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317. Take my advice, Master Tsugumo.
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318. Quietly take your leave.
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319. You need have no such concerns with me.
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320. Unlike this Chijiiwa fellow...
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321. the sword in my belt
is not made of bamboo.
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322. Rest assured, I will not bite off my tongue.
I will disembowel myself in grand form.
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323. Very well.
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324. Master Tsugumo,
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325. since you are unswerving in your resolve,
I shall grant your wish.
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326. Attendant!
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327. This ronin from Hiroshima,
Master Hanshiro Tsugumo,
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328. is to be granted use of the courtyard
to perform harakiri.
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329. His present dress will not do.
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330. Give him fresh robes befitting
one who journeys to the next world.
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331. If I may.
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332. What is it?
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333. Please do not trouble yourselves
over such things.
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334. For the final moments
of a down-and-out ronin like myself...
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335. surely nothing is more fitting
than the clothes I now wear.
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336. I am deeply grateful for the courteous
and considerate treatment
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337. you have accorded me today.
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338. I can find no adequate words
to thank you.
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339. Now then, I shall begin.
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340. Might I ask, Counselor,
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341. who will be serving as my second?
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342. I have assigned Ichiro Shinmen.
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343. Master Shinmen?
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344. Did you wish for someone else?
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345. Yes, sir.
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346. I would like Master Hikokuro Omodaka.
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347. You request Hikokuro?
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348. I believe he's a retainer in this house.
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349. I've heard he's trained
in the Shindo-Munen-Ichi school.
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350. Indeed.
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351. Hikokuro is a fine choice.
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352. Hikokuro.
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353. I'm afraid he's not
in attendance today.
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354. He sent a note saying he's ill
and requesting a few day's rest.
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355. I see. That's too bad.
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356. Master Tsugumo.
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357. As you heard,
Omodaka is not present today.
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358. You will need to make another choice.
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359. That is most disappointing.
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360. I had my heart set on Master Omodaka
performing the service.
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361. I wonder if I might not beg
his special consideration.
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362. Well,
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363. he says he's ill,
but he seemed fine yesterday.
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364. Surely it can't be anything serious.
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365. Messenger!
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366. Make all due haste
to Omodaka's residence.
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367. Tell him to come immediately,
if his illness permits. Now hurry.
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368. I'm putting you
to a great deal of trouble.
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369. Please accept my apologies.
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370. Now then,
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371. do you wish to wait here
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372. or would you like
to come inside and relax?
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373. No.
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374. The comfort of your residence
might cause my resolve to waver.
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375. My journey into eternity mustn't grow
distasteful. I shall remain here.
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376. You display remarkable discipline.
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377. I can but express my admiration.
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378. If I may, Counselor,
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379. it could be quite tedious for us both
to sit here and wait in silence.
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380. To pass the time,
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381. perhaps you'll allow me to tell you
a little about myself.
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382. About yourself?
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383. Yes.
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384. The hardscrabble tales of a half-starved
ronin don't amount to much,
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385. but what befalls others today
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386. may be your own fate tomorrow.
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387. Perhaps your retainers
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388. will find some small point or two
worth remembering
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389. among my otherwise
useless ramblings.
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390. "What befalls others today
may be your own fate tomorrow"?
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391. This could be amusing.
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392. I want everyone here
to listen carefully to this man.
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393. The words of one
staring death in the face...
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394. are unlikely to be useless ramblings.
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395. I'm sure we'll all learn something.
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396. Counselor.
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397. That tale you related earlier -
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398. may I be assured
it was true in every detail?
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399. Indeed.
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400. The ronin from Hiroshima
named Motome Chijiiwa
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401. was a man of some acquaintance to me.
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402. Motome Chijiiwa...
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403. was a man of some acquaintance to me.
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404. Motome was a lad of 15,
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405. and my daughter Miho
was an angelic child of 11.
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406. That was 11 years ago.
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407. But when I close my eyes,
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408. their images come back to me vividly,
as if it were only yesterday.
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409. - My turn again.
- Never mind.
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410. All we do all day is count stones
to repair the castle walls.
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411. We won't be needing bows and arrows
for a good long while.
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412. "The world is at peace.
The four seas are calm."
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413. Incidentally, this coming 22nd
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414. is the seventh anniversary
of Nui's passing.
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415. I knew it was coming up,
but is it seven years already?
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416. Yes, and I'm planning
a modest ceremony at my residence.
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417. Don't bring any offerings.
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418. Very well.
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419. I can hardly believe it.
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420. Seven years already.
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421. What never ceases to amaze me
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422. is how a rough warrior like you
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423. has managed to raise Miho all these years
without taking a second wife.
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424. Come, Jinnai.
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425. Look who's talking.
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426. When your Yuki died,
I wondered how you would ever manage.
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427. But look at you.
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428. You're a perfect example
of the kite begetting a hawk.
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429. Kite begetting a hawk?
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430. You were the widower kite,
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431. doting so on your child
in every aspect of his upbringing,
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432. that lo and behold,
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433. the child grew not into a kite
but a magnificent young hawk.
Copy !req
434. Nonsense.
Copy !req
435. He certainly keeps growing,
but he's got a long way to go
Copy !req
436. before you can compare him
to a young hawk soaring freely overhead.
Copy !req
437. You know,
Copy !req
438. I never figured either of us would be good
for anything but battlefield laurels,
Copy !req
439. but we haven't done too bad
at raising children.
Copy !req
440. Had life gone on like that,
all would have been well.
Copy !req
441. But it was not to be.
Copy !req
442. When all is said and done,
Copy !req
443. our lives are like houses
built on foundations of sand.
Copy !req
444. One strong wind and all is gone.
Copy !req
445. How my master's house
with its 498,000-koku domain
Copy !req
446. was brought to ruin...
Copy !req
447. I'm sure you already know
even better than I do myself.
Copy !req
448. Owing to an unreasonable and one-sided
judgment by the Tokugawa shogunate
Copy !req
449. regarding the repairs
being performed on Hiroshima Castle,
Copy !req
450. in June of 1619,
Copy !req
451. my master, Masanori Fukushima,
was ordered into exile at Kawanakajima,
Copy !req
452. leaving his 12,000 retainers
without any means of livelihood...
Copy !req
453. through no fault of their own.
Copy !req
454. Jinnai!
Copy !req
455. In view of our long-standing friendship,
I ask your indulgence in the following:
Copy !req
456. The castle repairs commissioner,
Copy !req
457. the Honorable Masakatsu Fukushima,
Copy !req
458. will be electing death at any moment.
Copy !req
459. Therefore, I will precede him
on his journey.
Copy !req
460. My company alone will suffice.
Copy !req
461. I beg you not to follow.
Copy !req
462. Regarding my only child, Motome,
Copy !req
463. he has grown tall,
but he is still only 15.
Copy !req
464. Please look after him
as he finds his way in life.
Copy !req
465. Why did he have to be so hasty?
Copy !req
466. Committing harakiri
even before I have done so.
Copy !req
467. Hanshiro, I forbid you to follow.
Copy !req
468. If the house could still be saved, I might
wish you to accompany me in death.
Copy !req
469. But with the house abolished,
it would be pointless.
Copy !req
470. - Jinnai's company will suffice.
- But, sire!
Copy !req
471. Don't be foolish, Hanshiro.
Copy !req
472. Jinnai died because he knew
you would if he didn't.
Copy !req
473. He died to accompany me
on your behalf as well.
Copy !req
474. Which means, Hanshiro,
Copy !req
475. that you must now live on.
Copy !req
476. Both for you and for him.
Copy !req
477. And also for his son, Motome.
Who will look after him if not you?
Copy !req
478. I go now to meet Jinnai.
Copy !req
479. Hanshiro, is there anything
you'd like me to tell him?
Copy !req
480. Do you have nothing for me to say?
Copy !req
481. Tell Jinnai...
Copy !req
482. Tell Jinnai this.
Copy !req
483. Have no fears about Motome.
Copy !req
484. I will watch over his every step
on the path to manhood.
Copy !req
485. I will not fail him.
I swear this on my life.
Copy !req
486. Go on, Master Tsugumo.
Copy !req
487. What did you find out?
Copy !req
488. It seems his illness
is indeed most serious.
Copy !req
489. What's the nature of the ailment?
Copy !req
490. According to his family,
a high fever
Copy !req
491. and excruciating pain
in all his joints.
Copy !req
492. Go on.
Copy !req
493. I asked if I might visit him
at his bedside,
Copy !req
494. but he sent word back
that his pain was so great
Copy !req
495. that he did not wish to be seen
in his present state.
Copy !req
496. All I could do was convey
the message you sent and return.
Copy !req
497. It seems
there's nothing we can do.
Copy !req
498. Perhaps he was overcome by
the relentless heat of recent days.
Copy !req
499. Master Tsugumo,
Copy !req
500. you heard what he said.
Copy !req
501. I must ask you to select
someone else as your second.
Copy !req
502. I am sorely disappointed,
but it appears I have no choice.
Copy !req
503. In that case...
Copy !req
504. I would ask for Master Hayato Yazaki.
Copy !req
505. Hayato?
Copy !req
506. Inaba, I believe he too
has been absent these four or five days?
Copy !req
507. That is correct.
Copy !req
508. He requested leave
because he wasn't feeling well.
Copy !req
509. Master Tsugumo,
Copy !req
510. I'm afraid Hayato Yazaki
is also absent due to illness.
Copy !req
511. Master Yazaki is also ill?
Copy !req
512. I'm sorry to hear that.
Copy !req
513. Again it seems I have no choice.
Copy !req
514. I request Master Umenosuke Kawabe.
Copy !req
515. Counselor,
Copy !req
516. surely it's not possible
Copy !req
517. that Master Kawabe
is also under the weather?
Copy !req
518. Well, well.
Copy !req
519. It seems he is indeed indisposed.
Copy !req
520. All three unavailable
on this particular day -
Copy !req
521. what a very odd coincidence.
Copy !req
522. Most curious.
Copy !req
523. - He's up to something.
- Clearly so.
Copy !req
524. Hikokuro was the one
who first insisted
Copy !req
525. that Motome Chijiiwa
be forced to go through with harakiri.
Copy !req
526. Yazaki was the one
Copy !req
527. who discovered his blades were bamboo
and insisted he be forced to use them,
Copy !req
528. and Kawabe was quick to agree.
Copy !req
529. That's why I urged that he at least
be spared the bamboo blade.
Copy !req
530. - Of what good is that now?
- Indeed, sire.
Copy !req
531. But how shall we deal with him?
Copy !req
532. I doubt he intends
to meekly disembowel himself.
Copy !req
533. He obviously has something
up his sleeve.
Copy !req
534. Whatever it is...
Copy !req
535. he won't get away with it.
Copy !req
536. We'll force his hand
and make him commit harakiri.
Copy !req
537. In fact, if he refuses,
Copy !req
538. we'll descend upon him in force
and cut him down.
Copy !req
539. What happens within the walls
of this compound...
Copy !req
540. is as secret as what happens
behind the walls of our castle back home.
Copy !req
541. One signal from me
and everyone will know what to do.
Copy !req
542. But I'm bothered
about Hikokuro and the other two.
Copy !req
543. I need to send someone
to find out more...
Copy !req
544. and under the circumstances,
Copy !req
545. I'd like you to personally hurry
and find out the real story.
Copy !req
546. Master Tsugumo...
Copy !req
547. summer days are long,
but the hour advances.
Copy !req
548. I must ask you to proceed
without further delay.
Copy !req
549. But, Counselor,
Copy !req
550. the ritual cannot take place
without a second.
Copy !req
551. I understand your concern,
Copy !req
552. but I've discussed the matter
with my senior colleagues.
Copy !req
553. With all three men of your choice ailing,
we cannot accommodate your wishes.
Copy !req
554. You will have to accept our selection.
Copy !req
555. Ichiro Shinmen!
Copy !req
556. I command you to serve
as second for Master Tsugumo.
Copy !req
557. Perform your duty with care.
Copy !req
558. I must protest!
Copy !req
559. To act as my second,
Copy !req
560. I have named
three specially selected men.
Copy !req
561. I must have one of these three.
Copy !req
562. Are you deaf?
Copy !req
563. All three you name are ill
and are not present today.
Copy !req
564. I explained this very clearly.
Did you not hear?
Copy !req
565. Then in that case,
I have no choice.
Copy !req
566. I must call off my harakiri for now.
Copy !req
567. Enough, Hanshiro Tsugumo!
Copy !req
568. Your extortion scheme
has gone too far.
Copy !req
569. It's bad enough to march in here
demanding a place to perform harakiri,
Copy !req
570. but then you quibble endlessly
over naming your second.
Copy !req
571. You never intended to commit harakiri.
Copy !req
572. All you really want is money!
Copy !req
573. Counselor!
Copy !req
574. If I were the extortionist you say,
Copy !req
575. would I be calmly sitting here
on this platform?
Copy !req
576. - Then why do you not quietly proceed?
- I am fully prepared to die.
Copy !req
577. But cutting my belly open
does not in itself
Copy !req
578. ensure smooth passage
to the netherworld.
Copy !req
579. I need someone to expeditiously
strike off my head -
Copy !req
580. a swordsman of reliable skill.
Copy !req
581. I do not perform harakiri
to atone for a crime or offense.
Copy !req
582. The least I can expect
is to choose my own second.
Copy !req
583. Further debate on the matter
Copy !req
584. is clearly a waste of time.
Copy !req
585. You are a fraud,
a disgrace to our class.
Copy !req
586. You never intended
to commit harakiri.
Copy !req
587. Insolent dog!
Copy !req
588. Stop!
Copy !req
589. Wait!
Copy !req
590. Wait, I say!
Copy !req
591. I beg of all those present
Copy !req
592. a moment - a brief moment.
Copy !req
593. You can't possibly have more to say.
Copy !req
594. But I do.
I do have more to say.
Copy !req
595. I haven't finished my story.
Copy !req
596. I have no ears
for your endless ramblings.
Copy !req
597. Counselor!
Copy !req
598. If you force me to,
Copy !req
599. I will fight desperately to the death,
no matter the odds against me.
Copy !req
600. Some of your men
will be wounded undeservedly.
Copy !req
601. Some may even lose their lives.
Copy !req
602. Would it not be better
Copy !req
603. to simply hear me out?
Copy !req
604. Once I have finished my story,
Copy !req
605. I will disembowel myself
with no further ado.
Copy !req
606. Or if you feel harakiri
is too good for me,
Copy !req
607. you may turn your men on me
to do what they will.
Copy !req
608. In any event,
Copy !req
609. I would first like you to hear
what I have to say.
Copy !req
610. As to these conditions you state,
Copy !req
611. do I have your word?
Copy !req
612. You have my word.
Copy !req
613. And as a samurai,
you will hold true to it?
Copy !req
614. Very well,
Copy !req
615. but make it short.
Copy !req
616. I will not listen
to your useless mutterings for long.
Copy !req
617. Men, fall back.
Copy !req
618. Now, where was I?
Copy !req
619. Oh, yes.
Copy !req
620. My master's house fell
Copy !req
621. and Jinnai Chijiiwa died,
Copy !req
622. but before doing so,
Copy !req
623. he asked me to look after Motome.
Copy !req
624. When my master's house fell...
Copy !req
625. we immediately left the domain
and moved to Edo.
Copy !req
626. The streets of Edo
were crowded with ronin,
Copy !req
627. flotsam from the Battle of Sekigahara.
Copy !req
628. In former times,
Copy !req
629. other clans would have gladly taken in
any ronin who'd earned a name for himself.
Copy !req
630. But in an era no longer in need
of warriors or horses,
Copy !req
631. so peaceful that no wind
even rustled the leaves on the trees,
Copy !req
632. it was a constant struggle
simply to find a meal.
Copy !req
633. Indeed, it shames me to recall
Copy !req
634. our miserable lives
of these last eight or nine years.
Copy !req
635. But amidst all our hardships...
Copy !req
636. my daughter Miho
was rapidly becoming a woman,
Copy !req
637. and soon it was
the spring of her 18th year.
Copy !req
638. Father.
Copy !req
639. I've set your lunch out
in case I'm not back in time.
Copy !req
640. The greatest delicacies
taste of nothing when eaten alone.
Copy !req
641. If you're not back, I'll wait.
Copy !req
642. I'll collect for these and then stop
by Yoshizakicho for dried fish.
Copy !req
643. Hello.
Copy !req
644. Welcome, sir.
Copy !req
645. Busy as usual?
Looks like you're on your way out.
Copy !req
646. Yes, to the wholesaler
in Kyobashi.
Copy !req
647. The Mikawaya, I suppose.
Take care.
Copy !req
648. Experience is the best teacher.
Copy !req
649. You've become very deft at that.
Copy !req
650. Forgive me.
Copy !req
651. I hate asking you
for advances all the time,
Copy !req
652. but my earnings
simply refuse to catch up.
Copy !req
653. You disarm me
by beating me to the punch.
Copy !req
654. I came intending
to lodge a complaint or two,
Copy !req
655. but when you make the first move,
Copy !req
656. what can I say?
Copy !req
657. By the way,
Copy !req
658. what are your thoughts
on that matter I raised the other day?
Copy !req
659. Have you come to a decision?
Copy !req
660. Yes, I have.
Copy !req
661. Glad to hear it.
Copy !req
662. It takes a load off my mind.
Copy !req
663. No.
Copy !req
664. I appreciate your proposal
regarding Miho,
Copy !req
665. but I've decided to decline.
Copy !req
666. In the end, her adoption
by the Joshuya family
Copy !req
667. would be a mere pretext
lasting perhaps six months.
Copy !req
668. Once established
as a member of their family,
Copy !req
669. she'd be sent to Lord Sakakibara
as his concubine.
Copy !req
670. Master Tsugumo,
Copy !req
671. the Sakakibara are a family
with a domain of 110,000 koku.
Copy !req
672. It may sound odd to seek benefit
from your daughter's connections,
Copy !req
673. but you need do nothing,
and doors will open to you.
Copy !req
674. I understand that.
Copy !req
675. But, Master Seibei,
Copy !req
676. no matter how far I've fallen,
Copy !req
677. I cannot make my daughter a concubine
to profit from her connections.
Copy !req
678. It's fine to uphold your pride.
Copy !req
679. But as a parent, you must consider
your daughter's feelings too.
Copy !req
680. What?
Copy !req
681. She's young and beautiful,
Copy !req
682. yet she doesn't have
a single fancy kimono to wear.
Copy !req
683. She can only look forward to endless days
of slaving at her father's side.
Copy !req
684. Master Tsugumo,
Copy !req
685. you can't fight the world you live in
Copy !req
686. nor go against
the tide of the times.
Copy !req
687. It's a good proposal for Miss Miho,
and for you,
Copy !req
688. no matter how you look at it.
Copy !req
689. In fact, to be honest,
Copy !req
690. is it not precisely because Miss Miho
was blessed with such beauty
Copy !req
691. that an avenue like this
remains open to you?
Copy !req
692. Confucius said:
Copy !req
693. "He who knows not the will of heaven
is not a superior man."
Copy !req
694. "He who knows not proper decorum
must not rise to his feet."
Copy !req
695. "He who knows not the heart of words
cannot know the heart of man."
Copy !req
696. That will be all for today.
Copy !req
697. Thank you, sir. Good-bye.
Copy !req
698. Hey, Katsuzo,
let's go sparrow hunting today.
Copy !req
699. Hello, Uncle Hanshiro.
Copy !req
700. It's good to see you.
Copy !req
701. Have some tea.
Copy !req
702. Much obliged.
Copy !req
703. I know this house well enough
to at least boil water.
Copy !req
704. As it happens, Motome,
Copy !req
705. I came today to discuss
a matter of some weight.
Copy !req
706. You sound so formal.
What could it be?
Copy !req
707. How quickly the days
and months fly by.
Copy !req
708. Miho is now 18.
Copy !req
709. She looks more
like her mother every day.
Copy !req
710. In fact, it's hard to see
how she could possibly be of my blood.
Copy !req
711. If she'd taken after me,
she'd never have grown so beautiful.
Copy !req
712. What are you trying to say, sir?
Copy !req
713. Well, Motome...
Copy !req
714. I'd like you to take Miho as your wife.
Copy !req
715. I realize this is all very sudden,
Copy !req
716. but what do you think?
Copy !req
717. Will you do it, Motome?
Copy !req
718. You know as well as I
Copy !req
719. the state of my livelihood at present.
Copy !req
720. I offer classes in the Chinese classics
to a handful of children
Copy !req
721. and live from hand to mouth.
Copy !req
722. How could I possibly take a wife?
Copy !req
723. Do you dislike Miho?
Copy !req
724. All I'm asking
is how you feel about her.
Copy !req
725. It's not only because
of the promise I made to your father
Copy !req
726. that I hope you'll marry Miho.
Copy !req
727. Boorish and dull as I am,
Copy !req
728. I'm not entirely insensitive
to your feelings for each other.
Copy !req
729. It was more difficult than I expected
Copy !req
730. to persuade Motome.
Copy !req
731. I didn't realize
Copy !req
732. he had such a stubborn
and willful streak.
Copy !req
733. But I knew he loved Miho,
Copy !req
734. and I knew Miho
would have no objections to the match.
Copy !req
735. The crane that lives a thousand years
Copy !req
736. A symbol of myriad joys
Copy !req
737. The tortoise that lives 10,000 years
Copy !req
738. Bears on its back the three worlds
of heaven, earth and man
Copy !req
739. The sands upon the beach
Copy !req
740. Numberless and smooth
Copy !req
741. May they ever reflect the morning sun
Copy !req
742. After two years
Copy !req
743. a child was born.
Copy !req
744. It was a boy,
and they named him Kingo.
Copy !req
745. Of course,
Copy !req
746. I was the one who chose the name.
Copy !req
747. Hello, Father.
Copy !req
748. What's this? Asleep again?
Copy !req
749. Father, you're too generous.
Copy !req
750. Nonsense.
Copy !req
751. Even after I married you off,
you still cook for me.
Copy !req
752. And besides,
I now have only myself to support.
Copy !req
753. I save more money
than I know what to do with,
Copy !req
754. and I can't take it with me.
Copy !req
755. Well, well.
Copy !req
756. Did you wake up?
Copy !req
757. Now, none of that, you little rascal.
Copy !req
758. A warrior's son
should not be flashing dimples.
Copy !req
759. What did I tell you now?
Copy !req
760. Really? Even the Matsudaira Clan
of Dewa province?
Copy !req
761. That's right.
Copy !req
762. I can understand abolishing
the domains of newer vassals,
Copy !req
763. but to treat vassals who've supported
the Tokugawa for generations so harshly?
Copy !req
764. The shogunate's policy toward
the warlords is completely beyond me.
Copy !req
765. We'll see another jump
in the number of ronin.
Copy !req
766. Did you hear?
Copy !req
767. One of them tried to commit harakiri
at the Sengoku Clan's gate.
Copy !req
768. A ronin named Shume Ooi,
formerly of the Kurume Clan.
Copy !req
769. I heard the Sengoku
were so impressed
Copy !req
770. that they offered him employment.
Copy !req
771. That much was fine.
It's what happened next.
Copy !req
772. Yes, I heard.
Copy !req
773. Other ronin who got wind of the story
Copy !req
774. began presenting themselves at the gates
of daimyo houses all over Edo,
Copy !req
775. insisting on committing harakiri
and refusing to budge.
Copy !req
776. In order to get rid of them,
Copy !req
777. the houses offered them money
to leave.
Copy !req
778. It's a shameful turn of events.
Copy !req
779. It certainly is.
Copy !req
780. No matter how hard-pressed
they may be,
Copy !req
781. it's a despicable thing to do.
Copy !req
782. In these difficult times,
it's no help growing desperate.
Copy !req
783. Becoming too impatient
in seeking employment
Copy !req
784. is a danger we must all
take care to avoid.
Copy !req
785. You are absolutely right.
Copy !req
786. If you stop worrying so much
about finding employment,
Copy !req
787. you can sit here like this
without answering to a superior,
Copy !req
788. at no one's beck and call.
Copy !req
789. What's the matter there, little one?
Copy !req
790. It's time for his milk.
I'll nurse him.
Copy !req
791. You mustn't give him
your breast every time he cries.
Copy !req
792. He'll develop bad habits.
Copy !req
793. Lookee here, Kingo.
Copy !req
794. Ready?
See my funny face?
Copy !req
795. All right?
Copy !req
796. Upsy-daisy. Here goes, Kingo.
Copy !req
797. In Kanda
Copy !req
798. At the Myojin Shrine
Copy !req
799. There's a festival
Copy !req
800. Tonight
Copy !req
801. Kingo was the center of our existence,
Copy !req
802. and the three of us lived happily
Copy !req
803. with the constant sound
of warm laughter
Copy !req
804. raising peaceful ripples around us.
Copy !req
805. It truly was
a time of greater happiness
Copy !req
806. than I'd ever known in the domain.
Copy !req
807. However,
Copy !req
808. good things never last for long.
Copy !req
809. One day, Miho suddenly coughed up
profuse quantities of blood.
Copy !req
810. She had always been
of weak constitution,
Copy !req
811. and with the endless burden
of our piecework labor...
Copy !req
812. she'd driven her frail body
too hard for too long.
Copy !req
813. Motome panicked.
Copy !req
814. The poor fellow.
Copy !req
815. Date Clan construction site.
Copy !req
816. Fifty laborers at 40 mon.
Copy !req
817. Just a minute, samurai, sir!
Copy !req
818. Are you trying to get me in trouble?
Copy !req
819. There isn't enough work
even for the townsmen.
Copy !req
820. If the authorities spotted
a two-sworded laborer,
Copy !req
821. I'd be in for a real dressing-down.
Copy !req
822. Hosokawa Clan construction site.
Copy !req
823. Twenty laborers, 45 mon.
Copy !req
824. Poor Motome.
Copy !req
825. He tried everything, but to no avail.
Copy !req
826. Miho was gradually wasting away,
Copy !req
827. and the worst was yet to come.
Copy !req
828. It's seared forever in my memory.
Copy !req
829. We'd just barely made it
through the end of the year,
Copy !req
830. and the plum blossoms
had begun to bloom
Copy !req
831. shortly after the beginning
of the new year.
Copy !req
832. What's wrong?
Copy !req
833. Is it Miho?
Copy !req
834. It's Kingo.
Copy !req
835. What? Kingo?
Copy !req
836. A fever.
Copy !req
837. Like he's on fire.
Copy !req
838. Why, Miho?
Copy !req
839. Why did you just sit by
until it came to this?
Copy !req
840. I thought it was an ordinary cold.
Copy !req
841. What did the doctor say?
Copy !req
842. You did have a doctor see him,
didn't you?
Copy !req
843. You haven't had a doctor see him?
Copy !req
844. Why haven't you had
a doctor look at him?
Copy !req
845. Kingo, fight it off.
Copy !req
846. Your grandpa,
like your mom and dad,
Copy !req
847. has already sold off
everything of value.
Copy !req
848. There's not a thing,
Copy !req
849. not a thing we can do for you.
Copy !req
850. There's nothing...
Copy !req
851. nothing we can do, Kingo.
Copy !req
852. But you're the son of a samurai.
Copy !req
853. You can't let a little illness
get the better of you.
Copy !req
854. Don't let it beat you.
Copy !req
855. Don't let it... Don't let it...
Copy !req
856. Father.
Copy !req
857. I have an idea.
Copy !req
858. What?
Copy !req
859. I need to go out.
Copy !req
860. Please look after Kingo.
Copy !req
861. What do you have in mind?
Copy !req
862. A former retainer of the Kato Clan
now lives in Nihonbashi
Copy !req
863. and makes his living
as a moneylender.
Copy !req
864. His rates are so high
that I didn't dare go to him before,
Copy !req
865. but I can't worry about that anymore.
Copy !req
866. You're right. If you know such a man,
hurry and go!
Copy !req
867. I'm on my way.
Copy !req
868. I'll be back by evening at the latest.
Copy !req
869. As you can see, Miho is too weak,
Copy !req
870. so please take care of Kingo.
Copy !req
871. Of course.
I know what to do.
Copy !req
872. But, Motome,
Copy !req
873. you can see
he's barely hanging on.
Copy !req
874. You must be quick,
and you mustn't fail.
Copy !req
875. I'll return by evening without fail.
Copy !req
876. I'll be off, then.
Copy !req
877. We're depending on you, Motome!
Copy !req
878. No, no, I'll do that.
Copy !req
879. It won't be long now, Kingo.
Copy !req
880. What's taking him so long?
Copy !req
881. He's getting worse.
Copy !req
882. What could Motome be doing?
Copy !req
883. No, no. Your getting up won't do
Kingo's fever any good.
Copy !req
884. Where can Motome be?
Copy !req
885. He swore he'd be back by evening.
Copy !req
886. What could he be doing?
Copy !req
887. I waited.
Copy !req
888. Every moment felt like an eternity.
Copy !req
889. But Motome did not return.
Copy !req
890. We never saw him again.
Copy !req
891. "I'll be back by evening,
so please look after Kingo."
Copy !req
892. Those were his final words
as he went out the door,
Copy !req
893. and that was the last I saw
of Motome Chijiiwa.
Copy !req
894. But then...
Copy !req
895. around 9:00 that night,
he did return home.
Copy !req
896. Only not on his own.
Copy !req
897. He was borne home by a party
of retainers from the House of Iyi.
Copy !req
898. Most courteously.
Copy !req
899. This was the request
Copy !req
900. with which Motome Chijiiwa
came to us.
Copy !req
901. But our forecourt is a busy place
and would have been most inconvenient,
Copy !req
902. so we offered him our courtyard and saw
to his needs with all due propriety,
Copy !req
903. thus allowing him to fulfill his wish
and perform harakiri.
Copy !req
904. We understand there have lately been
incidents all across Edo
Copy !req
905. in which ronin present themselves
at the gates of daimyo houses
Copy !req
906. and threaten to commit harakiri
unless given money.
Copy !req
907. This disgraceful practice has put
many houses at a loss as to what to do.
Copy !req
908. But now we have Motome Chijiiwa,
a samurai of true valor,
Copy !req
909. who carried out his resolve
to die honorably.
Copy !req
910. And we have
the members of the Iyi Clan,
Copy !req
911. who responded appropriately
to facilitate his wishes.
Copy !req
912. In contrast to many disgraceful ronin,
Copy !req
913. and the spineless timidity
of other daimyo households,
Copy !req
914. both parties in this instance
Copy !req
915. acted in an exemplary manner
that will open eyes and clear the air.
Copy !req
916. It is truly an occasion
for mutual congratulations.
Copy !req
917. We bid you -
- Wait.
Copy !req
918. To avoid any misunderstanding,
we must show the blades.
Copy !req
919. Oh, yes.
Copy !req
920. For the record, we wish you to examine
the swords Chijiiwa was carrying.
Copy !req
921. You will note
Copy !req
922. that both blades are of bamboo.
Copy !req
923. Bamboo?
Copy !req
924. As you can see,
both are made of bamboo.
Copy !req
925. No one must accuse us later
of having switched blades.
Copy !req
926. So take a good look.
Copy !req
927. Is it clear?
Copy !req
928. In that case,
Copy !req
929. Motome must have borrowed
a blade from your household?
Copy !req
930. No, he did not.
Copy !req
931. He died magnificently
using his own blade.
Copy !req
932. Motome killed himself
Copy !req
933. with that bamboo blade?
Copy !req
934. Exactly.
Copy !req
935. The entire household
witnessed the spectacle
Copy !req
936. of harakiri performed
with a bamboo blade.
Copy !req
937. As you may imagine,
it was an unsightly affair.
Copy !req
938. It would have been more fitting
for a samurai
Copy !req
939. to end his life with a true blade,
which is a warrior's soul.
Copy !req
940. Now then.
Copy !req
941. We bid you good night.
Copy !req
942. Miho wept.
Copy !req
943. She wept...
Copy !req
944. and wept.
Copy !req
945. Motome!
Copy !req
946. Forgive me!
Copy !req
947. I...
Copy !req
948. I had no idea.
Copy !req
949. You had even sold your blades.
Copy !req
950. For Miho's sake
you even sold your blades.
Copy !req
951. But I... but I...
Copy !req
952. I would never let this go.
Copy !req
953. It never entered my mind.
Copy !req
954. The stupid thing
was too dear to me...
Copy !req
955. and I clung to it.
Copy !req
956. To this stupid -
Copy !req
957. With his fever still raging
and in a coma,
Copy !req
958. Kingo died two days later.
Copy !req
959. Three days after that,
Copy !req
960. as if chasing after him,
Copy !req
961. Miho died as well.
Copy !req
962. Thus did Hanshiro Tsugumo
Copy !req
963. find himself utterly alone in the world,
Copy !req
964. having lost every last person
he had ever cared about.
Copy !req
965. Master Tsugumo,
Copy !req
966. does that conclude your story?
Copy !req
967. Yes, I suppose so.
Copy !req
968. There's just one more thing.
Copy !req
969. May all those here listen carefully
to what I'm about to say.
Copy !req
970. No matter how grinding
his poverty and hunger,
Copy !req
971. for a samurai to present himself
in someone else's entryway
Copy !req
972. and declare that he wishes
to commit harakiri there
Copy !req
973. is an unspeakable act
that can in no way be excused.
Copy !req
974. However...
Copy !req
975. the manner in which
the House of Iyi handled the matter...
Copy !req
976. surely left a great deal to be desired.
Copy !req
977. If a samurai risks shame and ridicule
Copy !req
978. to beg for a day or two's grace,
he must surely have good reason.
Copy !req
979. A simple inquiry
Copy !req
980. as to the reason for the request
Copy !req
981. would have told so much...
Copy !req
982. yet with this many
witnesses present...
Copy !req
983. not a single one among you
had the consideration to ask.
Copy !req
984. His wife lay gasping for breath,
on the very verge of death,
Copy !req
985. while his beloved son burned with fever,
in dire need of a doctor.
Copy !req
986. Motome no doubt wished
to explain the situation to me,
Copy !req
987. make whatever last effort
he could for his son
Copy !req
988. before turning all further care
over to me,
Copy !req
989. and then return here
to the House of Iyi.
Copy !req
990. Hanshiro Tsugumo!
Copy !req
991. Enough of your self-serving excuses!
Copy !req
992. What?
Copy !req
993. As to Motome Chijiiwa -
Copy !req
994. the circumstances that drove him here
were no doubt complex.
Copy !req
995. But it was he who declared
his wish to commit harakiri.
Copy !req
996. What followed upon that request
may not have been what he intended,
Copy !req
997. but he reaped
what he himself sowed.
Copy !req
998. He was in no position to complain,
or to blame or condemn anyone.
Copy !req
999. At that point,
Copy !req
1000. his was but to cast all else aside
and die a magnificent death.
Copy !req
1001. To face death without wavering -
Copy !req
1002. that is truly the way of the samurai.
Copy !req
1003. But what did this man do?
Copy !req
1004. He cravenly asked
for a day or two's grace.
Copy !req
1005. One might well accuse him
of having gone mad!
Copy !req
1006. True enough.
Copy !req
1007. Motome had indeed gone mad.
Copy !req
1008. But I say good for him!
Copy !req
1009. I praise him for it.
Copy !req
1010. He may have been a samurai,
Copy !req
1011. but he was also
a man of flesh and blood.
Copy !req
1012. He could not live on air alone.
Copy !req
1013. When he has reached
the point of no return,
Copy !req
1014. even a man as strong as Motome
will go mad trying to protect his family,
Copy !req
1015. and I would praise him for it.
Copy !req
1016. They'll call him "the bamboo ronin."
Copy !req
1017. Not only samurai, but townspeople, too,
will scoff at his wavering.
Copy !req
1018. But let them laugh all they want.
Copy !req
1019. Who can fathom the depths
of another man's heart?
Copy !req
1020. Thanks to the shogunate's ruthless policy
of wiping out the provincial lords,
Copy !req
1021. countless samurai lost their masters
Copy !req
1022. and were cast out
to wander the depths of hell.
Copy !req
1023. How can those who never wanted for food
or clothing understand their misery?
Copy !req
1024. To those who find Motome
loathsome for his pleading, I ask:
Copy !req
1025. What if you found yourself
in the same position?
Copy !req
1026. Would you do any differently?
Copy !req
1027. After all,
this thing we call samurai honor
Copy !req
1028. is ultimately nothing but a facade.
Copy !req
1029. Is that your grievance?
Copy !req
1030. Grievance?
Copy !req
1031. Is that what you're trying to tell us?
Copy !req
1032. That samurai honor
is nothing but a facade?
Copy !req
1033. Yes.
Copy !req
1034. "Even if I say I want
to commit harakiri,
Copy !req
1035. they surely won't actually
make me do it."
Copy !req
1036. Such wishful thinking
is where these ronin go wrong.
Copy !req
1037. If a man says he wants
to commit harakiri, we will let him.
Copy !req
1038. In fact, since he has proposed it himself,
we'll make sure he does.
Copy !req
1039. That is the policy of the House of Iyi.
Copy !req
1040. For us, samurai honor
is no mere facade!
Copy !req
1041. And so Hanshiro Tsugumo too
Copy !req
1042. has come here
with no intention of committing harakiri,
Copy !req
1043. but rather out of deep bitterness
Copy !req
1044. over the manner in which the Iyi Clan
treated his son-in-law Motome Chijiiwa,
Copy !req
1045. and the desire to vent
his many grudges.
Copy !req
1046. Is that what you think?
Copy !req
1047. That's not for me to say.
Copy !req
1048. You can only look into your own heart.
Copy !req
1049. But all the same,
Copy !req
1050. you have no intention
of letting me leave here alive?
Copy !req
1051. That is my decision to make.
Copy !req
1052. I need make no excuses to you.
Copy !req
1053. Counselor,
Copy !req
1054. there is a proverb, "The suspicious mind
conjures its own demons."
Copy !req
1055. Do you know it?
Copy !req
1056. When I say I will disembowel myself,
I truly mean it.
Copy !req
1057. Yet, even after all I have said,
you still refuse to -
Copy !req
1058. Suppose I were to go on living.
Copy !req
1059. What could I possibly have
to look forward to?
Copy !req
1060. The fact is, I can hardly wait
Copy !req
1061. to join Motome and Miho and Kingo
Copy !req
1062. in that world to which
they have gone ahead.
Copy !req
1063. But I would never be able
to face them.
Copy !req
1064. Were I to go empty-handed?
Copy !req
1065. I think you can understand that.
Copy !req
1066. I thought perhaps once I had explained,
then even members of the Iyi Clan
Copy !req
1067. would surely say,
"Oh, so that's how it was.
Copy !req
1068. Perhaps we were overzealous that day
in rushing to that end.
Copy !req
1069. Anyone can see that our handling
of the situation was less than ideal.
Copy !req
1070. Perhaps there were ways
in which we carried things too far.
Copy !req
1071. No doubt both parties could have
conducted themselves to better effect."
Copy !req
1072. If I could take with me
even a single word in this vein,
Copy !req
1073. it would be a comfort to Motome.
Copy !req
1074. Was this not the most fitting gift
I could hope to take him?
Copy !req
1075. Such were my thoughts,
Copy !req
1076. but I see now it was nothing
but wishful thinking.
Copy !req
1077. If you can see that,
then it makes the rest easy.
Copy !req
1078. This world does not bend
to sentimental tales.
Copy !req
1079. If you really think
that samurai honor
Copy !req
1080. is ultimately nothing more
than a facade...
Copy !req
1081. then you never had a chance
of swaying us.
Copy !req
1082. So in the end,
Copy !req
1083. these have been nothing but the
useless grumblings of a cranky old man.
Copy !req
1084. But it does no good
to lament that now.
Copy !req
1085. Well, then,
Copy !req
1086. forgive me
for my long-winded recitation.
Copy !req
1087. I will now proceed with the ritual.
Copy !req
1088. Wait.
Copy !req
1089. Before that,
Copy !req
1090. I must return some items
that belong to this house.
Copy !req
1091. For easier identification,
I have placed name tags on each.
Copy !req
1092. Please examine them carefully.
Copy !req
1093. Master Hayato Yazaki,
Copy !req
1094. and Master Umenosuke Kawabe -
Copy !req
1095. I understand they're both among
the best swordsmen of the Iyi Clan,
Copy !req
1096. held in high esteem
for their bravery and honor.
Copy !req
1097. But, Counselor,
Copy !req
1098. gentlemen,
let me set your minds at ease.
Copy !req
1099. I took only their topknots,
Copy !req
1100. not their lives.
Copy !req
1101. In the case of Hayato Yazaki...
Copy !req
1102. it was six days ago.
Copy !req
1103. Hold it!
Copy !req
1104. In the case of Umenosuke Kawabe,
Copy !req
1105. it was five days ago, on May 8th.
Copy !req
1106. However,
Copy !req
1107. when it came to that master swordsman
of the Shindo-Munen-Ichi school,
Copy !req
1108. Master Hikokuro Omodaka,
I had a little more difficulty.
Copy !req
1109. Perhaps aware of what had happened
to Yazaki and Kawabe,
Copy !req
1110. I could not catch him off guard.
Copy !req
1111. In fact, to be honest,
I found myself at quite a loss
Copy !req
1112. as to how to deal
with Master Omodaka.
Copy !req
1113. May I enter?
Copy !req
1114. If you reach for your sword,
Copy !req
1115. I'll slice you in one motion
from shoulder to waist.
Copy !req
1116. But I fear...
Copy !req
1117. the lintel will catch
the tip of my blade.
Copy !req
1118. If you lunge to the side,
Copy !req
1119. then this pillar will get in the way.
Copy !req
1120. It took a few days to locate your home.
My apologies for the delay.
Copy !req
1121. I ask you to make ready.
Copy !req
1122. This is obviously no place
for a sword duel.
Copy !req
1123. It's a bit far, but I must ask you
to accompany me to Gojiin-gawara.
Copy !req
1124. As miserable a hovel as this is,
Copy !req
1125. your landlord will be inconvenienced
if you do not return.
Copy !req
1126. And without someone to retrieve your
remains, your soul will wander aimlessly.
Copy !req
1127. I suggest you leave a note.
Copy !req
1128. It should indicate you're going
to Gojiin-gawara
Copy !req
1129. for a duel with Hikokuro Omodaka
of the Iyi Clan.
Copy !req
1130. Taking advantage of the wind
was brilliant,
Copy !req
1131. but a blade can do more than cut.
Copy !req
1132. It can also stab,
or even snap another blade in two.
Copy !req
1133. Swordsmanship untested in battle
Copy !req
1134. is like the art of swimming
mastered on dry land.
Copy !req
1135. On the other hand,
Copy !req
1136. I had not seen battle either
Copy !req
1137. since the siege of Osaka Castle
16 years ago.
Copy !req
1138. Taking his head
would have been difficult enough,
Copy !req
1139. but taking only his topknot
proved more difficult still.
Copy !req
1140. Whatever the differences in skill,
Copy !req
1141. for a samurai to have
his topknot taken
Copy !req
1142. is the same
as having his head stricken off.
Copy !req
1143. It is an ineptitude, a disgrace,
Copy !req
1144. that can scarcely be atoned for
even by death.
Copy !req
1145. Yet these men claim illness
and shirk their duties
Copy !req
1146. while waiting for their topknots
to grow back. Counselor!
Copy !req
1147. This house boasts of its red armor
and martial valor,
Copy !req
1148. but it seems that even
in the great House of Iyi,
Copy !req
1149. samurai honor is nothing more
than a facade.
Copy !req
1150. Maniac!
Copy !req
1151. Cut him down!
Copy !req
1152. Fall back!
Copy !req
1153. Hanshiro Tsugumo
has been killed, Counselor.
Copy !req
1154. And our casualties?
Copy !req
1155. What were the casualties
among our men?
Copy !req
1156. Masakatsu Sugita, Sobei Uemura,
Copy !req
1157. Ichiro Shinmen, Uemon Yoshioka -
Copy !req
1158. four dead.
Copy !req
1159. Eight more seriously wounded.
Copy !req
1160. The ronin from Hiroshima...
Copy !req
1161. Hanshiro Tsugumo,
committed harakiri.
Copy !req
1162. All our own men died of illness.
Copy !req
1163. The House of Iyi has no retainers
Copy !req
1164. who could be felled or wounded
by some half-starved ronin.
Copy !req
1165. Former retainer of the Fukushima Clan,
Hanshiro Tsugumo,
Copy !req
1166. committed harakiri honorably,
according to his wish.
Copy !req
1167. All our men died of illness.
Copy !req
1168. Their deaths have nothing to do
with Tsugumo's.
Copy !req
1169. Furthermore, we cannot allow
any more to die of illness.
Copy !req
1170. See that the wounded
are treated immediately.
Copy !req
1171. I have just returned, Counselor.
Copy !req
1172. Hikokuro Omodaka,
Copy !req
1173. last night at his home -
Copy !req
1174. Kawabe and Yazaki both claim illness,
Copy !req
1175. but in fact -
- Fool!
Copy !req
1176. Why did you not order them
to commit harakiri on the spot?
Copy !req
1177. Go back immediately
and order them to do so.
Copy !req
1178. And take some skilled swordsmen
with you.
Copy !req
1179. If they fail to willingly disembowel
themselves, make them do it by force.
Copy !req
1180. Of course, these two men, and Omodaka
too, did not officially commit harakiri.
Copy !req
1181. They died of illness.
Copy !req
1182. - Sire?
- Imbecile!
Copy !req
1183. You weren't born yesterday.
You know the ways of the world.
Copy !req
1184. How can you not realize
the implications? Idiot!
Copy !req
1185. I am on my way, sire.
Copy !req
1186. The former retainer of the Fukushima Clan,
Hanshiro Tsugumo,
Copy !req
1187. died by harakiri
at 6:00 in the evening.
Copy !req
1188. His speech and behavior
had been somewhat erratic.
Copy !req
1189. Many of those present felt
he showed signs of derangement.
Copy !req
1190. Furthermore, it has become clear
Copy !req
1191. that when another former retainer
of the Fukushima Clan,
Copy !req
1192. one Motome Chijiiwa, asked to commit
harakiri in January of this year,
Copy !req
1193. we did not err in our chosen response.
Copy !req
1194. Word of the martial rigor of this house
echoed throughout Edo.
Copy !req
1195. In the present case too,
word of our resolute handling
Copy !req
1196. spread across the city
before two days were out.
Copy !req
1197. As a result, on the third day,
in a formal session at Edo Castle,
Copy !req
1198. Lord Doi took the occasion
to confer words of praise
Copy !req
1199. upon our young master Bennosuke
as follows:
Copy !req
1200. "At peace, yet ever vigilant.
Copy !req
1201. Let the House of Iyi
continue to embrace this principle,
Copy !req
1202. and your fortunes are sure to prosper
for ages to come."
Copy !req
1203. The 16th day of May,
Copy !req
1204. 1630.
Copy !req