Pathway to Japanese Literature

Nakamura Nakazō (Unfilmed)

――――――――――
Original Work and Screenplay: Yamanaka Sadao

(F.I.) Road

Trowel-less Hanji was running at full speed, holding a sake bottle.

(Movement)

(I think we should dub the head title over the road movement.)

(Quickly F.O.)

(F.I.) Matsudaira Tateshi's Residence

A hatamoto was cut down and violently arched backward with a thud.
As one fell, another man swiftly charged in to strike.
Imamura Daikichi slashed sideways at the attacker, raised his left blade high, and struck a dramatic kabuki pose.
The fight scene began――

Finally, Daikichi cuts down Tateshi.

There，Hanji finally came running up.
“Well，well! They’re dead，they’re dead!” he exclaimed in delight at the numerous corpses.
Daikichi had just let out a relieved breath when Hanji arrived and handed him the sake，exclaiming，“Master，sake!”
“Well now，what about Miss O-Kiyo?” he said，sliding open a room’s door.
O-Kiyo’s bound figure，seen from behind.

Hanji hurriedly rushed to her side and untied the ropes.

Daikichi leisurely gulped down the sake bottle.

(Quietly superimpose)

“So that’s how...
“...we finally wiped out the Onigumi.”

“Wiped them all out—it’s done.”

＝EDO TOWN

The one speaking was Trowel-less Hanji.

The one listening while strolling idly is Boss Gorōzō of Gyōanji.

Hanji continued chattering away as he walked,

“The wound on his right arm was surprisingly light,

Having obtained the woman he desired,

He put on quite the manly display—

Up until he raised it—

“Well, never mind that part…”

As Hanji spoke, Gorōzō said, “And then?”

“Well,” said Hanji.
“And then—”
“It never happened.”

“Bad things kept happening—first off,” said Hanji.
“Given that he killed so many people,
the five-hundred-koku mansion in Kinshibori
was confiscated...”

“Finally living as a ronin,” Hanji said.
“No kidding,” Gorōzō snorted.

Hanji continued,

“Moreover, that O-Kiyo woman wasn’t what she seemed—a real hussy, you know?”

Hanji continues talking.

“Once she realized Master didn’t have money anymore, she flipped her palm like *that*—started actin’ all distant, you know? Ended up skippin’ town hand in hand with her lover…”

When she found out, suddenly...

flipped her palm like *that*—

started actin’ all distant, you know?

In the end, she skipped town hand in hand with her lover…

“she took off and skipped town…”

(Double to next scene)

＝Daikichi’s Ronin Residence

(Dubbed from the previous subtitle)

Stunned by the letter O-Kiyo left behind, Daikichi plopped down onto the tatami floor and remained seated there,

Helplessly clutching that letter to his chest,

“O-Kiyo!”

It was an anguished scream.
He staggered to his feet and, with unsteady steps, leaned against the wall and hung his head.

In the corner of the room sat a mirror stand left in lonely solitude, makeup tools scattered about,
(It quietly dissolves to)

A one-shō sake bottle lay rolling near the mirror stand; another came tumbling over and clinked against it.

Daikichi, leaning against the desk (this was several days later), looked as though he couldn’t even bear to drink sake.

“Lonely…”

Hanji, sitting beside him, chimed in sympathetically, “Must be lonely for ya.”

“Now, I almost miss those days of fighting the Onigumi…”

those days when we fought—

“I almost miss them…”

Daikichi muttered steadily to himself.

“At that time… if I hadn’t killed everyone… Should’ve left at least half of ’em alive… Should’ve left some alive…”

“What a waste that was,” he said to Hanji,

Daikichi

“Ain’t there… someone to pick a fight with somewhere—”

“A fight opponent—”

“Ain’t there… someone to pick a fight with somewhere—”

“Who knows…” Hanji’s troubled face and Daikichi’s lonely face—(overlapping).

“After that, he turned self-destructive—started picking fights left and right with anyone and everyone, like some Yasubei wannabe brawling with the whole damn world.”

without discriminating between anyone

left and right, taking on the whole world—

“A Yasubei-style brawling business.”

=Back to—

Hanji spoke while walking. “After being reduced to utter ruin…”

“Finally…

“Now he’s…”

The listener,Gorozou Oyabun,took charge,
"You call this..."
"...a bodyguard?"
Hanji's wry smile.

When the two came to a certain street corner, Gorōzō suggested turning down this lane.
“Aren’t you headin’ back, Boss?”
Gorōzō laughed and said, “Let’s take a breather ’fore we go back,” then took the lead in turning the corner.

=Tea Shop

O-Hikari’s tea shop at Yotsuya Mitsuke.
A few people were resting.
Three women of the tea shop—among them was O-Hikari—

were calling out to passersby.

Then one of them looked into the distance and exclaimed, “Oh, Boss!”

At her words, the other two came out too, and all three together called, “Boss! It’s been so long!”

Gorōzō, accompanied by Hanji, carried himself with the imposing air befitting a boss.

When he sat down on the bench, the women hurriedly brought tea and such.

Hanji whispered softly to Gorōzō,
"You’re popular."

“Ah, it’s not that much.”
Gorōzō’s smug face—its stern composure dissolving into self-satisfaction—glared sharply from the corner of his eye.
He kept staring for a long while.

O-Hikari’s delicate figure.

Hanji went “Heh” and gauged Gorōzō’s expression.

“Boss, just—”

“She’s quite a woman.”

When told this, Gorōzō let out a “Hmm…” and gazed intently.

“Boss—” Hanji said laughingly.

“You’re smitten with her, ain’t ya?”

Having his weak spot exposed, Boss Gorōzō flusteredly averted his gaze from O-Hikari and casually dismissed it with “Oh, it’s nothing,” but Hanji persisted: “Liar.”

Finally, Gorōzō said, “To tell you the truth, Hanji—
“As for me...
“It’s not like I...”

“Not that I’ve been thinking about it or anything…” he said with an unpleasant “heh heh heh” laugh.
A conceited laugh—that’s what it was.
“The woman…”
“…seems interested in me.”

Because he had boasted so brazenly, Hanji snorted foolishly and found himself speechless.

Gorōzō, still shameless,

“It’s tough being a handsome man.”

Being told this, Hanji struggled not to laugh.
He thought *Well*, *with* ***that*** *face*… but replied “I suppose so.”

One of the tea shop women suddenly looked into the distance, as if she had spotted someone.
“Oh—” one of the tea shop women glanced back at O-Hikari,
“O-Hikari…”
“It’s Mr. Nakazō.”
“Oh, Mr. Nakazō!” O-Hikari eagerly came out to greet him.

Gorōzō and Hanji looked in that direction,

Nakazō and O-Hikari.
O-Hikari said, “Oh, do sit down!” and the two of them amiably settled onto the tea shop’s bench, chattering away cheerfully—sweet whispers that anyone would recognize as lovers’ talk.

Gorōzō, who had been watching, stood dumbfounded.
Hanji grinned slyly, and when the boss looked over, Gorōzō—who had been staring transfixed for a while—suddenly noticed him and grew self-conscious.

O-Hikari and Nakazō were still chattering away.

In light of his earlier bold claims, Gorōzō’s cringeworthy awkwardness.

Hanji launched a verbal jab while wearing an ironic smile.

“It’s tough being a charmer, eh?”
“Must be real hard, huh?”
Gorōzō grew irritated.
“You idiot!” he barked.

At the sudden loud shout, Nakazō and O-Hikari turned around in surprise.

The other women came rushing out in surprise, and Gorōzō was fuming as he muttered, “We’re leaving. I’ll leave the payment,” before stomping off.
Afterward, Hanji followed him out, muttering, “Someone’s in a mood.”

The tea shop women watched them leave with puzzled looks.

O-Hikari said to Nakazō,

“The Sadakurō of Yamazaki Highway?”

she pressed further.
Nakazō nodded and said, “Yeah.”

O-Hikari looked forlorn.

“What a dull role.”

Being told this, Nakazō let out a desolate sigh.

O-Hikari sympathized with Sozoro.

“Mr. Nakazō,” she said earnestly, “you have such splendid skill – yet they force you to play nothing but wretched roles.”

Hearing this sincere remark, Nakazō grew sorrowful.
Desperate words spilled from his lips.

“It’s because I’m…”

“Because I’m an abandoned child.”

“What?” O-Hikari’s face seemed to ask, “Why should that matter?”

Half-muttering to himself,
Nakazō continued,
“Because I lack proper parents.”

“Because I lack proper parents.”

More forcefully still,

“It’s because I have no prestigious lineage.”

At last, the pent-up resentment he had always kept hidden deep in his heart gushed out along with his tears.

“Even if my acting’s as clumsy as a radish…”

Those with lineage—through their parents’ prestige—
rapidly climb the ranks.
They all get by on their lineage.
“But for me…”
he trailed off,
“Because I don’t have that…”
“All because I don’t have it…”

Just because I had no lineage, even my own comrades looked down on me,

“Whenever I say anything… they call me ‘Nakazō the abandoned child’ and treat me like an outcast…”

No more words came; he swallowed his tears and hung his head.

O-Hikari placed a hand on his shoulder to encourage him.

People on the street looked up at the sky and quickened their pace.

The tea shop woman gazed up at the sky,

“It seems like rain.”

O-Hikari also stood up, saying, “The weather really does look like rain.”

Nakazō also stood up, saying, “Then I’ll be going home too.”

O-Hikari,
“I’ll walk you there,”
she said, then hurriedly went inside.

The other women began hurriedly tidying up the benches.

O-Hikari removed her apron and came out holding an umbrella.

Entrusting the rest to her colleagues, she said to Nakazō, “Sorry to keep you waiting.”

The two of them started walking side by side.

A sky heavy with brooding clouds—(F.O.)

(F.I.) Rain Bridge

The rain-flecked river surface—the shadow of the bridge faintly reflected.

Leaning on the railing, Nakazō gazed at the river’s surface.

O-Hikari was holding an umbrella over him from beside.
Both of them appeared lost in thought.
Eventually, O-Hikari regained her composure,

“Opening day tomorrow?”

When she asked, Nakazō nodded sadly.

O-Hikari offered encouragement.

“Do your best.”

When told this, Nakazō—with an air of confidence—
“I’ll do my best.”

He completely regained his vigor, a stark contrast to his earlier demeanor.

“I’ll show them a Sadakurō completely different from before—make every last one of those bastards gasp in amazement!”

“Well—” Those heartening words.
O-Hikari was also happy.
“What kind of Sadakurō?”

Nakazō suddenly looked perplexed.
He shook his head and said, “Hmm…”

“That’s… I still haven’t figured it out.”

“Oh…?” O-Hikari’s voice sank with despair.

“Every day… every single day I think about it, but…”

“What kind of Sadakurō should I play…?” He slumped against the railing again, his murmur dissolving into the rain.

As the two stood forlornly,
A samurai dashed past behind them like a whirlwind.

As Nakamura Nakazō absentmindedly watched the man,

The ronin with the snake-eye umbrella (Daikichi) ran off barefoot (in what could be called Sadakurō’s signature style).

An expression of joy appeared on Nakazō’s face as he kept staring intently.
He staggered five or six steps forward.
He watched Daikichi run off into the distance.

In the rain, Nakazō rejoiced wildly.

“That’s it!”

“That’s it! That’s it!” he kept shouting.

O-Hikari, unable to comprehend, stood frozen with the umbrella in hand.

(F.O.)

An unprecedented Sadakurō

Dashing Sadakurō

A Sadakurō with splendid masculine bearing!

Truly peerless—a thousand-ryō sensation!

Nakazō suddenly became the center of attention throughout Edo.

he became the focal point of public adoration.

(F.I.) Interior of the theater

Holding a half-open snake-eye umbrella, dashing forward with rapid footsteps, and striking a grand mie pose at the seven-three mark of the hanamichi—this was Nakamura Nakazō’s Sadakurō.

The audience’s applause—no, it was already a frenzy of adoration.

Sadakurō’s performance on the stage.

An aged samurai who looked like a ronin was clutching the stage, not blinking as he gazed intently at Nakazō.
It was Mononobe Kasuke.

(F.O.)

(F.I.) Interior of Mononobe's Ronin Residence - Tenement

The scene began with a medium shot of old man Kasuke’s upper body as he spoke animatedly about something.

The one listening was his daughter, Yukie.
She was doing some handiwork (sewing, pasting paper on fans—anything would suffice).

Old Man Kasuke said, “They do say it well—‘Even without parents, children grow up.’” Last night, he had truly come to think that. “Now throughout all of Edo—the focus of adoration, the renowned Nakamura Nakazō...”

“the renowned Nakamura Nakazō…”

“That Nakazō…” he trailed off, as if lost in memories of the past,

“Twenty years ago…”
“Driven by poverty,”

"I abandoned my own child at Oyaji Bridge..."

"My own child... Nakazō..."

"Nothing could make me happier."

Yukie, who had been listening, stopped her hands at work.
“If you were to go meet Brother tonight…”
“Wouldn’t you consider going to see Brother tonight?”
The old man panicked. “Do not utter such foolishness!”

“Why is that?” Yukie asked.

The old man declared sternly, “Though I may have fallen low—Mononobe Kasuke too remains a samurai, however diminished,” then continued, “If my own son has sunk to being a riverbed beggar—”

“If word were to spread… this Kasuke—”

“I cannot face my honorable ancestors.”

As he said this,

Yukie let out a faint “Oh…” in response.

Kasuke, in a gloomy, tearful voice,
“I shall not acknowledge Nakazō… as my child.”
Having said that,

“Yukie,”
“you too must not consider that one”
“your brother.”

When told this, Yukie’s eyes welled up as she nodded in acquiescence,

The old man too, tears welling up,

“Just hearing of his splendid reputation… that’s enough for me.”

“Just hearing…

“I’m satisfied…”

The old man with samurai spirit found a forlorn satisfaction.
It is a sad resignation.

“There’s no paradise like this.”

Hearing the old man’s anguished cry, Yukie too could not hold back her tears. From the window behind where she sat—its shoji left open—the house across came into view. There, at this very moment, a ronin arrived at its entrance, his figure seen from behind (resembling Daikichi).

“Hanji—he’s here again!”

Yukie turned around with a start, exclaimed "Oh—", abandoned her work, and went to the window.

The front of the house across was Hanji’s house.

From inside, Hanji emerged. “Hey there, Master,” he said, ushering Daikichi in (Daikichi kept his back turned the entire time). From the window, Yukie was gazing entranced. Following Daikichi’s entry, Hanji was about to go inside after him when he suddenly noticed the house across the way. Noticed, Yukie blushed and averted her gaze. Hanji entered inside with a meaningful chuckle, and the camera smoothly panned—

The well area.

At that very moment, a few wives from the tenement were chattering away animatedly.

The focus shifted to a man who appeared to be a craftsman. “You can’t understand just by talkin’,” he declared, standing up and grabbing a broken umbrella that had been drying nearby. He tucked up his hakama and struck a grand mie pose in splendid Sadakurō fashion—a bizarre spectacle indeed.

The tenement wives giggled shrilly.

“Laugh it up!” said the man. “That Nakazō’s swagger—damn impressive, ain’t it?” heaping mocking praise on him.

In the window, Old Man Kasuke listened happily. Yukie, sitting beside him, seemed to be staring blankly while thinking of something else entirely.

(F.O.)

A packed house

Day 3: Nakamura-za Theater

(FADE IN) THEATER

The curtain was closed.
The pit section was packed.
Women were seated in the box seats.

(A scene typical of the theater: vendors carried tubs of playbills on their shoulders as they peddled them while walking around.)

In the pit, voices roared “Raise the curtain!” while other boisterous hecklers contributed to the din.

Gorōzō Oyabun was present in another box seating.
The futon beside Gorōzō was empty.
It seemed someone had gotten up and left.

In yet another box seating area were Shindō Jinsuke and five hatamoto retainers discussing something.

Shindō asked one of the other young samurai,

“Have you heard about Nakazō’s Sadakurō?”

When he posed this question,

“Hmm, I have long been aware of this matter.”

“They say it’s taken a strange turn.”

Shindō smiled with satisfaction. “You gentlemen remain ignorant.”
“This does not concern that affair—no, sirs,”

“Are you acquainted with Imamura Daikichi?”

“Did he not once reside in Kinshihori?”

“Hah hah! What’s become of that Daikichi now?”
“You gentlemen remain ignorant—”

“They say Nakazō’s Sadakurō is the spitting image of that Daikichi.”

“To that Daikichi—”

“—the spitting image of that Daikichi.”

“Is that so? First I’ve heard of this fellow.”

Shindō snorted derisively.

“To be imitated by riverbed beggars… That Daikichi’s fallen low!”

“Being imitated…”

“Daikichi… how far you’ve fallen!”

The group sneered in unison.

Another young samurai let out a loud yawn.
“The curtain’s taking forever,”
he said.
In the pit, some were clapping their hands.

Gorōzō in the box seating muttered, “What the hell is Hanji up to?” with an impatient look.
The unoccupied seat cushion beside him.

BACKSTAGE

The commotion at the dressing room entrance suggested some sort of incident had occurred.
Actors and stagehands alike wore worried expressions.

A cheeky actor (whether playing Yoichibei, Kanpei, or whatever) spat out a soliloquy:
“That Nakazō… Acting all high and mighty for a lowly underling—putting on airs like that’s what happens when he gets above himself!”

he said.

= Inside the BACKSTAGE

Nakazō as Sadakurō, the troupe leader—an actor who appeared to be Ōishi—and others were bowing repeatedly in apology.

The one cutting a sharp retort before everyone was Hanji.

A man who appeared to be a troupe leader timidly presented a paper-wrapped package (money) forward.

Hanji shot a sharp glance at it and glared at the man with a look that said, “What’s this?”

The man in question timidly mumbled.

Hanji bellowed, “Idiot!”

The man groaned and bowed deeply in apology.

Hanji, growing even more heated, barked, “Listen up good.”

“I ain’t saying this just ’cause I want your money!

“I’m sayin’—”
“I ain’t sayin’ this ’cause I want your money!”
Hanji stared intently at Nakazō’s Sadakurō and barked, “Hey, you!”
“Yes,” said Nakazō.
“You?” Hanji sneered. “As for this ‘Nakazō’ or whatever you call yourself—”
“The stubble on your jaw—”
“—and that half-inch-wide shaven pate—”
Nakazō nervously adjusted his wig.
Hanji pressed on:
“And then—that black habutae silk robe with the vermilion-sheathed long sword you’ve got slung at your waist…”
“That black habutae silk robe of yours—”
“Vermilion-sheathed long sword—”
“Slung carelessly at your waist…”
“The way you’re carrying yourself…”

Being told this, Nakazō timidly asked, “May I ask what the issue is?”

Hanji shot a sharp glare at Nakazō.

“From head to toe—you’re the spitting image of my master!”

Nakazō was shocked.
Hanji closed in,
“Who gave you permission to steal my master’s star attraction?!”
“My master’s star attraction—”
“You stole it!”
“You’re absolutely right,” the group apologized in unison.

Hanji stubbornly refused to back down.

“Anyway, you— You shall not set foot on that stage!”

This was the final decree!

“Please don’t say that,” Nakazō pleaded along with the group, but...

Hanji resolutely delivered a sharp rebuke.
“Who—”

“No matter what you say—”

“I ain’t havin’ that curtain opened!”

“This Hanji-sama ain’t havin’ it!”

The entire group was utterly at their wits’ end.

At that moment, a brawny man—likely a stagehand—dragged along by the group arrived at the dressing room entrance.

He pushed through the crowd and stepped forward,
grabbed Hanji firmly by the nape.
Hanji’s eyes rolled back.

The group let out a collective sigh of relief.

The strong man hoisted Hanji onto his shoulder and threw him down with a thud.

He stomped, kicked, and hurled him again,

The struggle continued briefly—

In the end, he effortlessly hoisted the dazed Hanji onto his shoulder.

= The Box Seats

As Boss Gorōzō thought, "What's taking Hanji so long?" a strong man emerged from behind the curtain hauling Hanji along.
"Where? There?"

He came to Gorōzō’s seat and dropped Hanji onto the futon beside it with a thud. Having been thrown and regaining consciousness, Hanji shouted in a frenzy, “Kill!” The strong man barked, “What?!”

Hanji noticed him and shrank back with a nervous chuckle.

“What?” Gorōzō started to turn toward the strong man,

but Hanji,

flustered, stopped him.

The strong man snickered and left.

After seeing off the stagehand, Gorōzō asked, “What’s wrong?”

“No good—he’s too strong,” Hanji said, his muscles apparently aching all over.

The wooden clapper clacked once.

“Ah… The curtain’s opening,” Hanji said.

“Master, why ain’t ya hurryin’ up an’ come?”

Hanji searched for Daikichi and scanned his surroundings.

The pit audience also settled down as the curtain was about to open.

Shindō and his group ceased their chatter.

The female guests also resettled themselves.

When the wooden clappers clacked once again,

Hanji turned to Gorōzō in despair,

“Master might not come ‘cause he’s drunk… You think he ain’t comin’?”

“This is really gettin’ to me,” Gorōzō was muttering when—

Again came the clack-clack.

Hanji couldn't bear it any longer. He stood up and restlessly scanned the theater.
Gorōzō muttered to himself.
"If Master comes... we'll get to see a good show," he muttered.

As he was saying,

Again, the wooden clapper clacked.

Hanji continued to scan the area restlessly.

The wooden clapper gave a sharp clack.

Hanji looked around restlessly.

Clack—another one.

Hanji looked around restlessly.

(Cutting back between Hanji and the wooden clappers with increasing rapidity until finally transitioning into a flashback.)

With the wooden clappers clacking rhythmically—clack-clack-clack-clack…—the curtain seemed to open.

Hanji finally gave up and sat down with a thud.

The women in the box seats looked toward the *hanamichi* (because Nakazō would appear there).
The hatamoto retainers also looked toward the *hanamichi*.

Gorōzō also looked toward the *hanamichi*.

The pit audience had been looking toward the *hanamichi* when a sudden roar of cheers erupted.

*Hanamichi*—Nakazō’s Sadakurō came thundering down the runway and struck a sharp *shichisan* pose.

One of the customers shouted, “*Narikomaya*—!”

The women in the box seats were entranced.

Hanji clicked his tongue with a tsk.

Nakazō, having struck a grand *mie* pose on the *hanamichi*, was about to begin walking toward the stage when—

“Nakazō, get off!”

Nakazō jolted and stood frozen.

The pit audience muttered “What’s that?” and glanced around restlessly toward where the voice had come from.

Hanji and Gorōzō exchanged glances at the “strange situation.”

Nakazō stood frozen for a moment, but thinking it must be his imagination, was about to start walking again when—

“Get off already!”

“Get off!”

Nakazō stood frozen in shock.
The pit audience, thrown into disarray, all turned to look in one direction.
Shindō and the others also exchanged glances, muttering, “What’s going on?”

The female guests also looked suspiciously toward where the voice had come from.

Hanji and Gorōzō also looked.

Nakazō stood frozen.
And again—

“If you don’t get off… I’ll drag you down!”

“I’ll drag you down!”

The door behind the box seats clattered open.
Someone stood there (showing only their lower half).

Nakazō looked suspiciously toward the opened door.

Hanji also looked.
He was delighted!
He leapt up.

“Master! I’ve been waiting for this!” he exclaimed with great delight.

One of/the women/in/the box seats,

“Oh! It’s Imamura Daikichi!”

“It’s Imamura Daikichi!”

she said to the other woman.

A pit audience member who had heard that let out an “Ohoho.”

“Imamura Daikichi”

they gaped.

Shindō heard this.

“What? Daikichi?”

[They,] along with the other young samurai, grew livid.

Imamura Daikichi, tipsily cheerful, was glaring at Nakazō while grinning slyly, but—

Stomping heavily, he stepped onto the hanamichi,

[He] approached the trembling Nakazō,

“How dare you lump me, Daikichi, together with Sadakurō...!”

“You lumped me together with Sadakurō!”

Nakazō turned deathly pale at the tremendous fury directed his way.

Hanji, equally thrilled, leapt onto the hanamichi right after.

The pit audience grew even more tumultuous.

And then, from the direction of the stage, that strong man came lumbering out as if declaring the start of an incident.

Hanji behind Daikichi shrank back.

The strong man approached Daikichi, who was still berating Nakazō, and grabbed him by the collar with a “Hey!”
Daikichi tried to shake him off two or three times, but when the strong man stubbornly kept coming at him, he instead seized the man’s arm, dragged him several paces down the hanamichi, and—with a spectacular heave—

He hurled him into the pit with a thunderous crash.

Thrown off balance, the strong man staggered unsteadily.

“How’s this?!” Hanji jeered from the hanamichi, striking the strong man’s head with a *thunk* as if settling their earlier feud.

Daikichi returned to where Nakazō was cowering,

“Hey!”

“Nakazō!

“To you—”

“I command!”

He declared resolutely,

“From this moment forth, you shall never set foot on stage again!”

“You shall never stand on stage again!”

Nakamura Nakazō was astonished. “Such an unreasonable demand!”

“If I say it’s no good, then it’s no good!”

“Please don’t say that…” Nakazō desperately apologized and pleaded.

The women in the box seats exchanged glances. “What a terrible man.”

Shindō and the young samurai also wore looks of resentment.

Nakazō continued to plead desperately, but Daikichi merely listened with a sly grin until after a while—

“You… Do you want to go on stage that much?” he asked.

“Yes, I want to perform,” Nakazō pleaded, tears in his eyes.

“You… If you want it that badly,

“If you’re so desperate to perform… then go ahead!”

“Go ahead and perform!”

“Huh?” Nakazō blurted out in confusion, yet with a hint of delight.

“May I really… go on stage?”

“Hmm, sure,” Daikichi nodded, then composed himself and—

“But…”

He glared piercingly at Nakazō,

“Wash your neck clean!”
Nakazō stood dumbfounded.

Daikichi placed his hand on his sword’s hilt,

“Before you step onto that stage—say your farewells to parents and siblings! And don’t forget to settle your affairs!”

With a gasp, Nakazō despaired.
Daikichi sneered.

Then—a single audience member in the pit—

“That’s outrageous!”

The shout became the trigger, and the pit crowd erupted into chaos.
Voices rose in a clamorous uproar, everyone shouting over each other:

“This is tyranny!”

“Daikichi, step back!”

“That’s outrageous!”

“This is cruel!”

“You country bumpkin—get down!”

What a clamorous, raucous uproar!

Daikichi was growing irritated.
Daikichi shot a sharp glare at the audience,

“Shut your noise!”

He drew his great sword with a swish.

The audience in the pit froze in shock.

“Can’t you shut up?!”

The audience in the pit grew somewhat quieter.

Daikichi stomped heavily from the hanamichi onto the stage, great sword in hand, and faced the pit.
“If you’ve got complaints—”

“Come up here!”

He paced along the edge of the stage while glaring at the audience, roaring as he walked: “Who’s got complaints?! Name yourselves!”

“Every last one of you in the theater pit—”

“I’ll take you all on!”

“Anyone will do! If you’ve got complaints—come at me!”

“You bastards got a death wish—”

“Who’s this bastard?!”

he bellowed at the top of his lungs, pointing his sword at one man. “You?!”

The man he pointed at cried, “What the hell?!” trembling.

Daikichi turned to another man. “You?!”

The man trembled violently and shrank into himself.

“Does no one have any complaints?!”

“Nakazō—as of today, you’re barred from the stage!

“You won’t set foot on that stage!”

“Listen up—you all got that?!” he bellowed.

“Any of you bastards still spouting complaints—
“No one left?!”
“How about this?!” he roared, hefting his great sword.
Shindō and the young samurai snarled “Bastard!” through clenched teeth.

Daikichi continued pacing about the stage while facing the theater pit.

“Imamura Daikichi’s the one who wrecked this play!”

“Wrecked it!”

“I’m the one who wrecked it!”

With a sharp glare at Shindō and the others, he turned back toward the crowd.

“You disgusting bastards—any of you here?!”

“No one left?!”

he bellowed.

Shindō and his group growled in suppressed rage.

Daikichi kept pacing along the stage’s edge while stealing glances at Shindō’s group.

“Won’t a single renowned warrior step forward?!”

“Not one of you?!”

He roared.
He took five or six steps sideways,

“Are all you bastards—even this lot—scared of Imamura Daikichi?!”

“Are you scared of Imamura Daikichi?!”

Finally, Shindō growled, “Ungh!” and—

“Daikichi!”

“Don’t move from that spot!”

As they shouted, the five men scattered from the gallery seats, rushed forward, and leapt onto the stage.

Daikichi sheathed his sword and grinned with satisfaction—

“I’ve been waiting for this.”

With that, he took five or six steps back and chuckled—

“You fools jumping out like that—”

“You fools jumping out like that—”

“You fools jumping out like that—” he said.

Shindō and his men grew furious and drew their swords in unison.

“What?!”

“You wanna go?”

“Alright, let’s do this!” he said.

Hanji leapt up and rejoiced. He dashed out, sat at the edge of the stage facing the audience in the pit, and struck his wooden clappers. “Ladies and gentlemen— Ladies and gentlemen—” “Chatter chatter chatter!” He started babbling incoherently. The audience in the pit watched with bated breath, muttering, “It’s gotten interesting!”

The women in the audience also watched uneasily.
Here and there, the crowds of onlookers clamored and clamored—what a commotion!

Hanji continued,

“We now present—
Behold—the Hokushin Ittō-ryū!
The renowned performer
Imamura Daikichi’s Specialty Stage!”

The wooden clappers clattered—clatter-clatter-clatter.

“Behold—
With shamisen and drums adding to the clamor—
With captivating choreography, he begins to dance…
The contemporary trend—
The sword-dance drama’s
Beginning!
The beginning!”

There came a *clink, clink*.

Daikichi drew his large sword while laughing.

Shindō and his men swiftly braced themselves.

Daikichi turned his sword away (apparently resolved to strike with the back of the blade).

The pit audience watched with bated breath.

“One, two… five of you?”

“First—I’ll subtract one from five.”

“I’ll subtract one from five.”

The staged combat unfolded.

One man was killed (naturally with a backhand strike).

The pit audience erupted in a collective shout.

“One…” Hanji counted on his fingers.

Daikichi, grinning slyly,

“I’ll subtract one from four.”

The staged combat unfolded.

Another person was killed.

The pit audience erupted in shouts.

“Two…” Hanji cheered.

Daikichi，calm and composed，

“This time—”

“I’ll subtract two from three.”

The staged combat unfolded.

This time，he cut down two at once—cleanly—

The pit audience erupted into chaos.
The women in the pit audience gasped, their eyes widening at the spectacle.

“Whoa, four now!”

Daikichi grinned slyly and said, “I’ll split the remaining one into two.”

With that, he flipped his sword back to its original position—blade reversed for a spine strike.
Shindō let out a hoarse groan and turned pale.
Daikichi inched closer,
“Split you vertically?”
Shindō inched back.

Daikichi inches forward while,

“How about splitting you horizontally?”

Shindō began trembling violently.

Daikichi kept inching forward.

“Or perhaps...

“A diagonal slash across?”

With that, Daikichi’s grinning lips snapped into a taut line.

Shindō felt no semblance of being alive.

Daikichi swung his large sword upward in one sharp motion.

Shindō screamed—dropping his sword as he crumpled to the ground in a boneless heap.

Daikichi went slack.

The pit audience roared with laughter.

(F.O.)

The night deepened further.

FADE IN: KAWABATA

Under the willow tree stood the figures of a man and woman weeping over their tragic love.

O-Hikari’s tear-streaked face,

“So… no matter what…”
“You’ll perform tomorrow?”

Nakazō answered resolutely.

“I’ll perform!”

Swallowing her tears,

“I’m also a man…”

Unable to bear it any longer, she pressed her face against the willow tree.
O-Hikari was also sad.

Nakazō declared with valiant resolve.

“If an actor could die on stage… that would be his greatest wish.”

“…his ultimate fulfillment.”

How courageous—a lover’s vow!
O-Hikari too felt joy.

Nakazō,

“O-Hikari.”

The two embraced, and for a time, there was no sound.
Nakazō,
“How much more must a man like me be tormented?!”

“I am!”

The night deepened, the wind rustling solemnly—only the sound of their sobs pierced the air.

(F.O.)

(F.I.) Mononobe’s House

The front shoji clattered open, and old man Kasuke returned home dejected.
“It’s hopeless!”
Under the dim lamplight, he sat facing Yukie.
A dark atmosphere enveloped the surroundings.

The old man declared, “Nakazō plans to take the stage again tomorrow.”
Yukie gasped.
The old man continued staring fixedly at one spot as he added, “If he does… he’ll surely be killed!”
Having delivered this verdict, he remained motionless, his gaze locked on some unseen point.

Yukie,

“The one I hate… is that samurai you speak of—Imamura Daikichi—”
“Imamura Daikichi, as you speak of—”
“…honorable samurai…”
The weak one’s futile resistance against the strong bastard.
“How much… how much…”
“There’s a limit to this madness…”

“There’s a limit to this madness…”

The heartrending cry clawed at the old man’s chest.

“Poor Brother’s… you ruined his path to success…”

“Not only did you block…”

Yukie continued to cry out.
"You’ve... you’ve even smashed our one happiness—"
"Our single joy as parent and child—"
"—shattered..."
Afterwards—only tears remained soundless.

The sharpness in old man Kasuke’s gaze suggested he had reached some resolution.
(F.O.)

The next morning—

In Saruwaka-chō, the theater drum tower
When it resounded—

Resounding theater drum tower—

(F.I.) O-Hikari’s Tea Shop (Early Dawn)

A single palanquin was waiting.
Nakazō opened the tea shop’s door and rushed out, sent off by O-Hikari.

“Our time together is never enough!”

“You’re so resilient…”

He swiftly boarded the palanquin.

O-Hikari’s tearful face seeing him off.
(Rapid F.O.)

(F.I.) Mononobe’s House

As old man Kasuke made to dash out, hastily snatching up his sword, Yukie clung to him. “Where are you going?”

The old man retorted, “Where do you think I’m going?”

“This aged life of mine... I’ll make it count for my son!”

“I’ll put this aged life to use for my son!”

Breaking free from Yukie after two or three steps, he kicked away her clinging form,
the old man leaped down to the doma,

He looked back at Yukie,

“I’ll take Imamura Daikichi down with me!”

No sooner had he shouted than he rushed out to the front.

Yukie, left behind, floundered in panic.
(Rapid F.O.)

(F.I.) A Street Corner

When Shindō Jinsuke arrived, he suddenly encountered yesterday’s young samurai and swordsman Kusakabe Tenroku’s group. One of the young samurai called out, “Oh—
“Perfect timing, Mr. Shindō—
“Let’s head to the Nakamura-za.”

Shindō, trembling all over, blurted out, “Preposterous!”

The young samurai said, “We’ve asked Mr. Kusakabe for help, so today will be fine.”

Indeed, Kusakabe Tenroku’s formidable-looking faction.
But Shindō was anxious.

“Since this morning…”
“I’ve been suffering from stomach pain…”

He suddenly clutched his stomach.

The young samurai also said, “In that case, we have no choice,” parted with Shindō, and they all hurried off at a brisk pace.

(Rapid F.O.)

(F.I.) Hanji’s House

Hanji, wearing a headband and apron, gallantly rushed out.
“Things are getting interesting now!”

He hopped about like a sparrow in delight.

“I gotta go get Master…”
“I gotta get ’im here…”

With that, he hurried off.

(Rapid F.O.)

(F.I.) Road――

Kusakabe Tenroku and his group walked hurriedly.
Tenroku declared,
“When Kusakabe Tenroku and his faction storm in—
if he hears that,
‘Daikichi will be shocked!’”

As soon as he said this，one of the young samurai chimed in，＂Indeed—＂
＂He might be trembling so hard he won’t even show up！＂
＂He might not even show up！＂
As they spoke，the group continued walking．
(Rapid F.O.)

(F.I.) Another Road――

On the way, Hanji suddenly encountered Boss Gorōzō accompanied by his underlings.

Hanji was gasping for breath,
“Do you know where Master is?”
“Master?”

Gorōzō said, “Master?”

“If it’s Master,”
“He’s probably drinking at my place.”

Hanji rejoiced!
Then, the whole group started running in unison.

(Rapid F.O.)

(F.I.) Mononobe’s House

Before the Buddhist altar, Yukie was earnestly praying for her father’s safety.

(Rapid F.O.)

(F.I.) Myōken at Yanagishima――

There was the figure of O-Hikari praying to the gods for her lover’s safety.

(Rapid F.O.)

(F.I.) Road――

Old Man Kasuke ran.

Nakazō’s palanquin raced onward.
Tenroku and his group hurried along.
Hanji and Gorōzō’s group ran.

The above cutbacks intensified one after another with ferocious speed,

In the end――

= Front of Gorōzō’s House

In scattered disarray, Hanji’s group came rushing in.

(F.O.)

Nakamura Nakazō Resolved to Die

Appeared

Kusakabe Tenroku led his faction,

If word spread that he had made his move,

Imamura Daikichi too, as one who was—

Imamura Daikichi too had to appear.

the great upheaval of this three-way entangled conflict

The Edokko crowd who had anticipated

The Edokko crowd swarmed into the Nakamura-za...

swarmed in…

(F.I.) Theater

The theater’s pit, packed to capacity with roaring crowds.
(O.L.)

A sign reading "Sold Out."
(F.O.)

(F.I.) A Room in Gorōzō’s House

Imamura Daikichi, turned halfway toward the camera, let out a cheerful laugh—"Ha ha…"

“Everyone’s been completely fooled,”

“Completely fooled.”

Hanji and Gorōzō, having heard this, were stunned.

Hanji,

“This ain’t no joke!”

“Master, are you really not going?”

Daikichi looked toward Hanji.

“I’m not going.”

As Hanji tried to speak, Daikichi—

“Like I said—I don’t wanna go.”

“I told you I ain’t goin’!”

Hanji said, “But Master—”

“Yesterday you kept goin’ on about it—”

“—went on and on—”

“Now you’re backing out…?” he began—

Daikichi feigned nonchalance.

“Yesterday’s yesterday.”

“Today’s today.”

Hanji persisted even more stubbornly,
“But…”
“A samurai’s word…”

Daikichi glared sharply at Hanji,
“You really won’t take no for an answer?
Are you insisting?”
Hanji nodded, and Daikichi straightened up with sudden formality.
“Hanji,
Do I look like a samurai to you?”
“What kinda fool question is that? You’re a samurai, ain’t ya?”
“If I were truly a samurai…
A hereditary 1,500 koku
I’d be sitting pretty on in Nishikibori,
smoldering away there!”
he declared, and then,
“Fortunately, I’m no samurai.”

"I ain't no samurai."

Hanji said, "If you're not a samurai, then what are you?"

Daikichi,

"A free-spirited—"

"—little brat!"

After saying what he wanted to say, Daikichi tried to leave—

Gorōzō stopped him.
“Master may be fine with that,” he began to grow genuinely angry, “but this Gorōzō’s gut won’t settle.”
“Nakazō—I’ll take him down myself and show you!”

Daikichi, simply,

“Be my guest.”

[Daikichi] stood up,

Hanji also stood up following suit.

At the sliding door, Daikichi turned around to Gorōzō,

“But Boss—”

“Keen as mustard, ain’t ya?”

Gorōzō, struck to the quick, choked back his words before blurting out—“Well…”

“It’s ’cause Master’s been sittin’ on his hands like it’s none of his concern!”

As he spoke, Hanji at Daikichi’s side cut in:

“Blah blah ‘none of his concern’—the truth is—”

Daikichi echoed: “The truth is?”

“The truth is…”

“The truth is?”

Hanji said,

“Taking revenge for unrequited lo—”

“—revenge for unrequited love!”

“Idiot!” Gorōzō snapped.

Hanji hurriedly left.
Daikichi also left while laughing.

= Front of Gorōzō’s House

Daikichi and Hanji slid open the lattice door with a clatter,
Five or six passersby scattered in a flurry,

They ran off.
Then several more people exclaimed in unison, "A fight!"

They seemed to be saying.

Daikichi turned to look back at Hanji,
“It seems like a fight.”

The two of them hurried off.

= Nearby—

When Daikichi and Hanji arrived to look, sure enough, it did seem to be a fight.
The crowd buzzed noisily.

A single hatamoto and several ronin engaged in a skirmish.
By all means, the side with fewer numbers was in danger.

Just as he was about to be cut down, Daikichi came leaping out.

Leaving the hatamoto behind,

“Out of friendship’s duty—I’ll lend my aid!”

As he shouted, he drew his naginata in one smooth motion.
The skirmish.
In the end, the ronin fled in disarray.

When Daikichi sheathed his sword，the aforementioned hatamoto said， “Might I inquire who you are，sir? Though I know not，I am deeply indebted.”

After expressing his gratitude, he made excuses as a sore loser:

“Under normal circumstances, five or six of those wretches…”

“Even if the likes of those wretches were to come at me in a group… I would not flinch. Though I must admit, it was not I who—”

“After all, I’ve just recovered from an illness…”

Daikichi listened to this,

“How fortunate you’re feeling weak…”

“How fortunate.”

The hatamoto looked puzzled, going “Huh?”

Daikichi declared, “I cut down those stronger than me—I cut them down!” Keeping the bewildered hatamoto in his peripheral vision, he pressed on with mock formality: “Had you truly possessed noble strength… By now your head would… Surely not remain upon your torso…”

“It’s not attached, is it?” he burst into loud laughter.

The hatamoto pressed a hand to his head and gave a stifled laugh.
(F.O.)

The next morning—

= (F.I) O-Hikari’s Tea Shop

Shindō Jinsuke and yesterday’s young samurai were resting.
Shindō seemed to have heard about yesterday’s incident from the young samurai.

“That does seem plausible.”
“That does seem plausible.”
He nodded.

The young samurai,

“Knowing Master Kusakabe was present and still not showing up… Daikichi’s more pathetic than I expected.”

At this remark,

Shindō,

“Because you think so,”
“your lordship”
“is still young.”

Being told he was young, the young samurai looked puzzled.

Shindō puffed himself up,

“Daikichi was too scared of me to show up, you see.”

He was puffing himself up all alone.

O-Hikari, who had been leaning against the tea shop’s pillar, made a surprised face as she looked into the distance—having spotted Daikichi.

Behind Shindō, who was still talking, Daikichi settled onto a folding stool.

The young samurai started in alarm,

but Shindō remained unbothered.

“I must say I’m rather timid by nature.”

“Timid by birth, you understand…”

The young samurai frantically gestured “Don’t! Don’t!” with his hands,

yet Shindō continued heedlessly,

“By nature, whenever I find myself amidst a crowd—”

“My mind goes utterly blank—”

“Such is my constitution.”

Daikichi listened motionless behind them.

The young samurai’s face contorted with anguish.

Unaware, Shindō nevertheless continued,

“In an ordinary duel—”

“—you’d never lose to someone like Daikichi?” came the interjection.

Daikichi continued from behind.
“You claim you’d never lose to someone like me?”

Gah! Shindō leapt up.
He looked behind him, startled twice over, scrambled back five or six steps in panic, then abruptly halted.

Daikichi took up Shindō’s large sword left on the camp stool.

Shindō looked back, saw it, and made a tearful face.

Daikichi grinned slyly and toyed with the sword.

Shindō’s tearful face.
The young samurai, about five or six ken away, was urging them to make a quick escape.

Daikichi, holding Shindō’s sword, smoothly stood up.

Shindō jumped up in surprise.
Without looking back, he fled at full speed.
Daikichi laughed and tossed the aforementioned sword upward with a flick.

The sword fell onto the tea shop’s roof.

From the distant shade of a tree, they watched the scene unfold with startled cries of “Ah! Ah!”

Shindō and the young samurai wore faces that registered shock.

When Daikichi was about to sit back down on the camp stool and drink tea, Hanji appeared in haste.
Seeing Daikichi, he said, “Master.”

He approached.

“Hanji? Well, sit down!” said Daikichi.

“Boss Gorōzō—

Splendidly dealing with Nakazō—

Did Boss Gorōzō rough him up good?!”

Upon hearing Nakazō’s name, O-Hikari pricked up her ears in surprise.

“Well, you see… That’s the problem!”

“What’s the matter?” asked Daikichi.

Hanji,

“Last night, after the play ended…”

After the play ended,

Nakazō was hurrying home.
“Nakazō’s palanquin…”
(Overlay this title onto the next screen)

Late Night Streets

A lone palanquin hastened homeward.

Suddenly, Gorōzō’s gang materialized in disarray and encircled the palanquin.

Gorōzō,

“Nakazō! Out with you!”

There was no sign of Nakazō emerging from the palanquin.

Hanji was watching from behind.

Gorōzō stomped heavily toward the palanquin and tried to lift the curtain flap—when suddenly, he let out a cry and was kicked away.

When the whole group swiftly assumed their stance,

Kusakabe Tenroku emerged from inside the palanquin.

The whole group was startled twice over.

Tenroku threw the startled Gorōzō,

grabbing the nape of his neck,

“When you get back, tell Daikichi—”

“—make sure to tell Daikichi.”

After barking to halt the group’s attempt to strike,

he said to Gorōzō,

“If you’re too scared of Kusakabe Tenroku to show your face…

If you’re too scared to show your face…

If you’re too scared…

press both hands to the ground

and come apologize!”

With that, while still gripping his neck, he dragged Gorōzō to his feet,
“Then I might just spare your life!”
he shouted and shoved him with a thud,
Gorōzō tumbled end over end for several meters.
Tenroku sneered.
Hanji stood dumbfounded.

(F·O)

＝（Ｆ・Ｉ）元に返って

Hanji was talking.

“First off, doesn’t that parting shot piss you off, huh, Master?”

“Doesn’t that stick in your craw,”

“Isn’t it pissing you off, huh— Master?”

Daikichi was laughing.

O-Hikari was still listening quietly.

= The side of the tea shop

Shindō Jinsuke and that young samurai set up a ladder, and Shindō climbed onto the roof.
He seemed intent on drawing a sword.

Daikichi smirked.

“Kusakabe Tenroku…

“What an adorable fellow.”

Hanji was taken aback.

“You call him an adorable fellow…

“And just let it slide?”

Daikichi didn’t make it an issue.

“Let ’im have his fun…”
“…fer now.”
“Let ’im have his fun… fer now?”

Daikichi,

“When I feel like it… I’ll head out and send him to the afterlife.”

head out and

“I’ll send him to the afterlife.”

“Aah, I see…” said Hanji.

“Let’s head out,” Daikichi said and clapped his hands.

O-Hikari started and hurried toward Daikichi.

On the roof—

Shindō, trying to pick up the sword, stumbled forward,
stammering “Ah! Ah! Ah!” as he tumbled end over end,
and landed with a thud before Daikichi and the others. Startled into standing up, his legs gave out, leaving him floundering helplessly.

(F·O)

That night

He had declared he would take down Nakazō.

Gorōzō’s words
Gorōzō’s words had been realized.

= (F·I) Night Town

O-Hikari walked hurriedly.

Gorōzō’s gang lay in wait, holding their breath.

Gorōzō gave a quick signal.

The group scrambled to surround O-Hikari.

Startled, O-Hikari let out an “Ah!” and tried to flee.
A guy grabbed her from behind—(F·O)
= (F·I) A Room in Gorōzō’s House

Gorōzō was grinning unpleasantly.

O-Hikari looked like a dove before a hawk.

Hanji and two or three underlings stood ready.

Daikichi sat in the corner, sipping his drink alone in small measured gulps.
Now and then he would shoot a sharp glance at Gorōzō and smile with evident delight.

O-Hikari was surprisingly composed.

Gorōzō said,
“Nakazō’s life is in my hands.”
“Think real hard now,” he pressed,
“Whether I kill him or spare him…
It all depends on your heart.”

Hearing this, O-Hikari grinned.
“How old-fashioned… That trick—”

Gorōzō stiffened in surprise.

“Your threats might’ve worked a decade ago,”
she scoffed, locking eyes with him.
“That intimidation…
Might’ve actually scared someone back then.”

“The other night at Ōkawabata,” she continued,
“when that samurai threw you down
and made you yelp in pain…
Boss, who exactly was that again?”

“When you got thrown
and let out that pained yelp…
Boss, just who exactly
was that again, I wonder?”

Gorōzō, cornered with his eyes darting wildly, exploded in anger—

“D-do you think you can stop me?!”
“You’ll regret this!”
Gorōzō exploded in rage.
O-Hikari snorted contemptuously.
Daikichi smirked while sipping his sake.
(F·O)
Lately, old man Kasuke
had grown unable to remain content
merely listening enraptured
to his son’s soaring reputation.

Just that was no longer enough—

He could no longer endure it.

(F·I) Kasuke’s House

Yukie hurried back.

Old man Kasuke sat vacantly in the room.

Yukie said cheerfully, “Father—
“I’ve heard wonderful news—”

“I’ve heard wonderful news.”

Kasuke asked, “What is it?”

Yukie,

“They say Brother goes every night after the play ends to pay respects at Yanagishima’s Myōken-sama shrine.”

“Ah, I see,” murmured the old man, a look of joy appearing on his face.

Yukie also looked delighted.
"What if you were to have a secret parent-child meeting there?"
"A meeting between parent and child..."
"If it were kept hidden..."
"Mhmm," murmured the old man.
Yukie continued,
"In that case... surely you wouldn't abandon your samurai status, Father?"
"Father's standing as a samurai..."
"You wouldn't cast it aside?"
The old man who had heard this responded energetically,
"That's right—tonight,"
"To Myōken-sama in Yanagishima!"

With uncontainable joy spreading across his face, the old man said.

Yukie too looked delighted upon seeing her father’s smile—
With that, she sprang up and headed to the front room.
Through the tear in the shoji, she was looking outside.

= Row houses—

From Hanji’s house, today too, Daikichi and Hanji strolled out.
(F·O)

(F·I) Nearby road

Daikichi and Hanji were walking.

Hanji said, “Seems like Miss Yukie across the way has feelings for Master.”

“Seems like Miss Yukie across the way has feelings for Master.”

Daikichi took sharp notice and turned toward Hanji.

Hanji chuckled meaningfully—a low, suggestive heh heh heh.

Daikichi forced a bitter smile and—

“If I were a bit more of a womanizer… I might’ve been overjoyed by those words.”

At those words—

“I might’ve been overjoyed…”

“...who knows?”

“Huh?” Hanji’s face looked surprised.

Daikichi walked on in silence, paying no heed to Hanji.
Hanji also walked in silence.

Daikichi, after a while,

“Woman… huh.”

Apparently, he recalled O-Kiyo.

Hanji too thought he’d said something wrong.

Daikichi muttered to himself.
“When I fell for O-Kiyo—I staked my life on it!”

He had finally touched upon an old wound.
“Women—those creatures,” Daikichi growled, “know nothing of risking their lives for love.”
He turned back toward Hanji,
“The woman the Boss loves is no different.”
“That O-Hikari woman or whatever,” Hanji muttered.

Daikichi,

“The Boss’s way of courting is pathetic.”

“The Boss’s way of courting is pathetic.”

When Hanji asked, “Why?”,

Daikichi,

“If it were me, I’d draw a naginata and intimidate her.”

“Whoa,” Hanji marveled.

Daikichi spoke once again.
“Women… those creatures…”
“…don’t know a damn thing about risking their lives for love.”

“Women don’t know shit about real love.”

The air between them turned stifling—

Clattering footsteps rushed past as two or three people overtook them.

Daikichi halted mid-stride, gaze locked ahead, then wheeled toward Hanji.

“Looks like a fight.”

Stomping forward, they ran,

They pushed through the crowd and came out to the front,

They advanced into the midst of the scuffling samurai,
he shielded one of them from behind and stood imposingly like a guardian deity.
“By the bonds of friendship—I’ll lend my blade!”

“I’ll lend my blade!”

He drew the naginata in one fluid motion.

(F.O.)

=(F.I.) GORŌZŌ'S HOUSE

As Gorōzō sat smoking a pipe before the long brazier, a junior gang member hurriedly returned and turned to face him.

“Boss!”
“Good news—listen!”
“I’ve come!”
He scurried up to Gorōzō’s side with a rustle.

Gorōzō heard this and exclaimed, “I see! Perfect!”
“I’ll cut Nakazō down myself!” he shouted forcefully,
“Tonight at Myōken Shrine in Yanagishima—”

With that, Gorōzō flashed a triumphant smile.

(F.O.)

That night’s

Yanagishima Myōken—

(F.I.) Vicinity of Yanagishima Myōken Shrine

Kasuke and Yukie were waiting in the shadows for Nakazō to pass by.

A palanquin arrived——
Yukie spotted it and pointed. "Ah! That one!"

The old man said, “That’s right.”

The palanquin stopped near them.

Nakazō emerged and told the palanquin bearer to wait—

Passing right before their eyes.

Kasuke tried to call out but found himself unable.

Meanwhile, Nakazō entered Myōken Shrine’s precincts.

The two also quietly followed from behind.

Precincts—
As Nakazō passed by, old man Kasuke steeled himself from behind him—
“Excuse me—”

Nakazō turned around with a puzzled look—

The old man,

“Might you be Lord Nakazō?”

With that, Yukie and Kasuke gazed at Nakazō as if pressing him.

“Yes, this one is Nakazō…”

“Ah!”

“As I thought………”

As if in wild joy, they moved to Nakazō’s side.
Bewildered, Nakazō took a small step back.
At that moment, suddenly,
“Nakazō, wait!”
Startled, Nakazō, Kasuke, and Yukie looked in that direction—
Gorōzō and his gang members appeared.

Nakazō startled.

Gorōzō barked, “You should’ve kept your mouth shut! Getting all cocky—how dare you drag our name through the mud!” He seized Nakazō by the collar as the actor tried to flee, hauling him backward.

Yukie gasped, but old man Kasuke sprang forward—slamming into Gorōzō with a thud, shielding Nakazō behind him while gripping his sword hilt.

“Outta my way, fossil!” Gorōzō roared as his gang surged toward Kasuke and Nakazō in unison.

Yukie watched breathlessly as blades clashed in a flurry of motion. Nakazō broke free and ran, two pursuers hot on his heels.

Kasuke blocked the men attempting to give chase next.

Nearby—Original Location

Nakazō, who had fled, boarded the palanquin that was waiting there.
The pursuing underlings grabbed the palanquin’s poles.

And then, at that moment—a samurai came running with clattering footsteps.
It was Kusakabe Tenroku.

—Shrine Precincts—

Kasuke took Gorōzō’s single sword strike to his shoulder, let out an “Agh!”, and collapsed.

Yukie stared in shock.

She clung to her father’s corpse, but true to her heritage as a samurai’s daughter, she grabbed his sword and struck at Gorōzō from behind—only to have her blade knocked away, kicked in the side with a thud, and collapse.

Gorōzō sneered, “Young lady… This ain’t my doing.”
“Don’t do anything stupid,” Kusakabe Tenroku cut in, his voice dripping with mockery. “If you’ve got complaints, blame your master—Imamura Daikichi.” Having left those words, he was about to head toward Nakazō when—the underlings he’d been chasing came fleeing back.

Tenroku gave chase and took a combat stance.

Yukie clung to her father and wept.

Gorōzō, seeing the odds were against them, signaled “Retreat!” and the whole group scattered.

Tenroku watched them go with a scornful laugh when he suddenly noticed Yukie. Now, Old man Kasuke was in his death throes.

“Nakazō…”

His voice grew gradually fainter until finally, he slumped over.

Yukie collapsed in a burst of tears.

A nasty smile rose on Tenroku’s face as he stared fixedly.

(FADE OUT.)

(F.I.) Gorōzō’s House

Sitting in front of the long brazier, Boss Gorōzō, in a foul mood, was seething with anger.

In the next room,

Captured O-Hikari—wearing a cold smile.

In front of the long brazier.

Gorōzō—the mere thought of O-Hikari in the next room made his blood boil.

Underling Ko stealthily approached Gorōzō’s side.

When Gorōzō asked, “Got business?”, Underling Ko said, “Boss—now that things’ve come to this—why don’t we just team up with Kusakabe Tenroku? All the more reason to join forces with ’im!”

“How ’bout it?”

Gorōzō’s face seemed to say, “You think that’s possible?”

Underling Ko wore a knowing smile.

“Tenroku hates you, Boss—it’s not like he’s siding with Nakazō, right?”

“He isn’t siding with Nakazō—”

“He isn’t siding with Nakazō—right?”

Gorōzō nodded in understanding.

Ko continued,

“The one Tenroku’s fighting is Imamura Daikichi.”

“Imamura Daikichi.”

“That’s right, Boss.”

“So if we team up with Tenroku to kill Nakazō, and in exchange, you handle Daikichi somehow…”

“Team up and take care of Nakazō,

kill him, and in return,

Daikichi’s side—you’ll handle…

“somehow take care of…”

Gorōzō, who had been listening, seemed to recall something and slapped his knee. “I see… That’s perfect.”

(F.O.)

In a single night，she lost her father．
Yukie，now utterly alone，

Kusakabe Tenroku came to the house.
The one who had come visiting was

The following day.

(F.I.) Kasuke’s House (Night)

Before the memorial tablet bearing the secular name Mononobe Kasuke.

Kusakabe Tenroku, who had come visiting, was speaking to Yukie about something.

Tears of grief for her lost parent streamed down Yukie's face; her unceasing sorrow made her a pitiful sight.

Tenroku edged closer.

"After all... your opponent is none other than the notorious Imamura Daikichi."

"The man's reputation precedes him."

"Imamura Daikichi."

“A woman’s skills could never hope to match him,” he said.
“From what I have observed…”
“You have no other relatives.”

“You have no other relatives.”

When told this, Yukie looked utterly helpless.

Seizing the moment, Tenroku—

“I too am a samurai.”
“Depending on how matters progress—”
“I shall lend my assistance.”

Yukie gasped in delight and looked at Tenroku.
“I will indeed provide aid,” he affirmed.

“I am deeply grateful,” Yukie said, bursting into tears of joy and prostrating herself on the spot.

Tenroku grinned slyly.
He looked around and placed a hand on Yukie’s shoulder,

“I shall assist you.”

“In exchange…”

As he spoke, he tried to pull Yukie into a tight embrace.

Yukie gasped in shock and tried to shake him off.

Tenroku’s face grew increasingly bestial.

Unease colored Yukie’s features.

Shaking off Tenroku’s hand, she fled barefoot into the street――

Tenroku followed close behind—

Daikichi tried to open the front door of Hanji’s house, but the lock was engaged and wouldn’t budge. When he thought it seemed no one was home,

Yukie came running out of the house.

Then Tenroku as well.

Daikichi shielded the woman and stood his ground.

Tenroku, enraged,

"You know I’m Kusakabe Tenroku—

"You dare defy me?"

Hearing this,

"What’s this, Tenroku?"

Recalling the story he had heard from Hanji, he smirked.

He told Yukie to run.

Tenroku drew his sword with a snarl.

Yukie left.

Daikichi and Tenroku’s brief scuffle――

In the end, Tenroku—who had ended up in a wretched state—was subdued on the spot.

Daikichi wrested Tenroku’s sword away and thrust it toward him.

Tenroku begged for his life at least...

Daikichi sneered.
“If you’re scared… if you dare admit it—”

“Grovel on your hands and knees
and beg for mercy!”
“Huh?” Tenroku looked puzzled.

Daikichi,

“In that case… I’ll spare your life.”

“I’ll spare your life at least.”

When told this, Tenroku—*“So it was Hanji!”*—attempted to rise, but
Daikichi pressed his sword against him,

Tenroku had no choice but to press both hands to the ground and apologize.

Daikichi laughed uproariously and threw the sword to him.

Picking it up, Tenroku fled furtively.

Yukie came to Daikichi’s side—he had been watching Tenroku depart—and expressed her gratitude.

Daikichi was staring intently at Yukie’s face as she expressed her gratitude.

(F.O.)

<(F.I.) night town>

Tenroku returned home, dragging his feet from the pain in every joint after suffering a gruesome ordeal.

Gorōzō emerged from the shadows and called out to stop him.

Tenroku turned around. “Gorōzō!” he exclaimed, bracing himself.

Gorōzō stopped him with a “Now, now,”

Tenroku looked puzzled,

as Gorōzō approached him familiarly. “I’ve got business to discuss.”
(F.O.)

<(F.I.) Mononobe Residence>

A considerable amount of time seemed to have passed, and Daikichi and Yukie were conversing warmly.

Before the man she had long pined for in her heart, Yukie’s face brimmed with irrepressible delight.

Daikichi adopted an exaggeratedly solemn expression,

“So… this Imamura Daikichi fellow… is your father’s sworn enemy?”

“Your father’s enemy.”

“I see,” she nodded with an air of gravity.

“In that case, I—
gladly offer my blade
to your service.”

“Oh!” Yukie exclaimed in delight, but then reconsidered. “No, no... Given that this ‘Daikichi’ is said to be a rare master of martial arts—”

As she spoke, Daikichi interjected, “No, no! Even if I were to throw away my life for that man—”

Unexpected words! “What are you saying?” Yukie exclaimed.

Daikichi—

“For your sake…”

Yukie's voice began to tremble.

"For my sake?"

Daikichi said in a passionate voice,
“For your sake…
I would gladly lay down my life.”

“I would throw away my life.”

Daikichi’s words thrust Yukie to the pinnacle of ecstasy.
Overcome with emotion, she burst into tears and collapsed.

Daikichi flusteredly said, “What’s wrong?” and tried to calm Yukie.

Yukie had been crying for a while, but raised a tear-streaked face,

“I…

“Sob… I’m just so happy…”

After that, wordlessly, she collapsed crying onto Daikichi’s lap once more.

A cruel smile—what one might call devilish—appeared on Daikichi’s face as he looked down at her.
(F.O.)

<(F.I.) Gorōzō's House>

With Kusakabe Tenroku seated in the place of honor, Gorōzō and his underling Ko were drinking sake.

In the corner of the room was the captured figure of O-Hikari, looking uneasily toward the three men.

Kusakabe Tenroku said to Gorōzō, “Understood,”

“Then after tomorrow’s play ends—once it’s over—we’ll lure Nakazō to Myōken in Yanagishima.”

“To Myōken in Yanagishima—
let’s lure him out.”

O-Hikari’s shock!

Gorōzō grinned and looked at O-Hikari.

O-Hikari defiantly turned her face away, but despite her resolve, tears welled in her eyes.

Gorōzō now turned to Tenroku,
“Then I’ll get a magistrate I know—a familiar town magistrate—to have the authorities handle that Daikichi bastard…”

As soon as he said this, Tenroku responded, “I shall leave that in your capable hands.”

O-Hikari sat alone with an anxious expression.
(F.O.)

Dawn broke—

＝（Ｆ・Ｉ）Morning in the Tenement

Hanji came out from his house.
He let out a big yawn.
Yukie stood absently in front of her house.

She seemed lost in thought.

Hanji muttered to himself.

“Master… last night…
“Where’d you go last night…?”

At that voice, Yukie abruptly noticed Hanji.

Hanji continued muttering to himself.

“He didn’t even return to the Boss’s house… they say…”

Yukie, having heard this, seemed about to say something but hesitated several times before finally managing—“If—”

“What is it?” said Hanji.

Yukie, appearing hesitant,

“If it’s Mr. Kashiwagi…”

Just now—to the Boss’s—

“If it’s Mr. Kashiwagi… he went—to the Boss’s—”

Hanji looked suspiciously,

“Mr. Kashiwagi…?”

“You don’t mean… —isn’t it?”

Yukie also looked puzzled,
“I believe last night… he was referred to as Mr. Kashiwagi.”

“He was called Mr. Kashiwagi…”

Hanji grew increasingly unable to make sense of what he was hearing.

Yukie,
“The one who’s always with you…”
“The one you’re always with…”

“With this head… this face…” Yukie began,

“Right, right—”

“That master… is Imamura Daikichi?”

“Imamura Daikichi.”

“Guh—?!” Yukie gasped in shock.

“Here… Imamura…”

She staggered as if struck and leaned against her house’s entrance.

Hanji’s expression grew increasingly suspicious.

Unable to endure it, Yukie swiftly retreated inside.

Hanji remained behind, impressed.
“Mumbling something about the Master being quick...”
“Was sayin’... Master being quick...”
“He was quick...”

“Maybe he’s already gone and done it,” muttered Hanji as he left.

Interior of the house.

Yukie collapsed in tears before the ancestral tablets.

“I didn’t know…”
“I didn’t know.”
With tear-filled eyes fixed on her father’s ancestral tablet,

“Please forgive me,

“Dear Father...”

As if addressing the living,

“Yukie is… Yukie is an unfilial child.”

“Yukie is an unfilial child.”

“Yukie is indeed an unfilial child.”

As if karmic retribution itself were chastising her,
“Without knowing he was our hated enemy—
I devoted my body and soul.
This foolishness of Yukie’s—
Please rebuke it, Dear Father!”
With newfound resolution,
“My atonement…
My atonement…
I shall fulfill it without fail!”
She cried out before collapsing again in tears at the very spot.

(F.O.)

(F.I.) Road—

Daikichi sauntered over.
When he turned around at the voice calling from behind, Hanji came running.
Having caught up,
the two began walking side by side.

Hanji suddenly remembered what had just happened. "Master!"

"What?" said Daikichi.

Hanji,

“Master, last night...”
“Where’d you go?”

Daikichi smiled slightly,

“Last night?”

Expressionlessly, curtly, with apparent disinterest,

“Last night was entertaining.”

Hanji, finding Daikichi’s answer too abrupt,

“Entertaining?”

When he asked back in surprise,

Daikichi, still looking utterly unamused, muttered, “Yeah…”
“Was entertainin’.”

Hanji asked again.

“Is that all?”

“Is that all?”

Daikichi wore a faint wry smile.

“As for yesterday’s business…”

“As for yesterday’s business…”

With that, he fell silent.
Hanji stopped asking as well.

Up ahead, the crowd was clamoring.

A duel between a single ronin and two young traveling samurai.

Daikichi turned back to Hanji,

“It looks like a fight.”

and stomped purposefully toward the crowd.

The ronin took the young samurai’s single strike and collapsed with a cry.

There, Daikichi came rushing out and,
“By the bond of friendship—”

“I shall lend my blade!”

He drew his naginata in one fluid motion.

The two traveling samurai tried to speak, but Daikichi allowed no opening as he cut into them with his blade.

Hanji watched.

Against two opponents, Daikichi’s movements were a bit—

Thud—the two men each received a single strike and thudded to the ground.

Daikichi laughed all the while as he wiped his bloodied sword.

Three men gasped weakly for breath. Then, one of the two traveling samurai suddenly used his sword as a cane and staggered to his feet,

Daikichi braced himself. “You still want more?!”

The samurai paid no attention to Daikichi and crawled over to the ronin he had previously struck down, his voice strained as he—

“Father… Ghk… Ghk…”

“Ghk… Ghk…”

Shouting, he raised his greatsword to deliver the final blow, but his strength gave out and he collapsed with a thud.
But he still struggled to rise.

Daikichi stared intently, looking down at the samurai.
He did not move.

Eventually, he quietly raised his head.

“A vendetta?”

With a pained expression, he muttered.
And he staggered off.

(F.O.)

As the night deepened,

At Yanagishima’s Myōken—

(F.I.) Yanagishima’s Myōken

Gorōzō’s gang—Kusakabe Tenroku’s faction—had gathered.
Gorōzō said to Tenroku,
“I don’t want any wanted men coming out of my house, so I told the officials to stake out Hanji’s place.”
“I see,” said Tenroku.

“Is that so?” said Tenroku.
“Gorōzō,”

“You’re saying stuff like: ‘That bastard’ll head to Hanji’s place once a day without fail—once he does, they’ll hogtie him in one swoop.’”

he’ll head straight to Hanji’s house,

he’ll go,

“Once he does, that’s it.”

“You’re saying stuff like: ‘He’ll be hogtied in one swoop.’”
(F.O.)

The matter of this morning’s traveling samurai

The matter of this morning’s traveling samurai would not leave Daikichi’s head no matter what.

No matter what—

would not leave.

(F.I.) Gorōzō’s house

Everyone had left, and Daikichi sat alone in a corner of the deserted room, lost in thought.
Hanji sat before the long brazier, he too silent as he smoked.
The light of the andon lamp was forlorn.
Daikichi’s heart grew heavier still.
With that, the sliding door was thrown open in haste—the young gang member left on watch,

“It’s terrible! O-Hikari…”

“O-Hikari…!”

Hanji, wondering what was happening, headed to the next room with the underling,

Daikichi did not move a single eyeball, still pondering something.

= Next Room

O-Hikari had bitten her tongue and died.
Hanji and the underling held O-Hikari’s body, stunned.

Beautiful, all too beautiful—O-Hikari’s lifeless face.

(O.L.)

= Original Room

Daikichi remained sunk in thought.
After a short while, Hanji popped his head out.

“O-Hikari… she bit her tongue.”

“She bit her tongue.”

Daikichi’s head drooped heavily.
Hanji, still—

“That woman was desperately…”

“She was in love with you, wasn’t she?”

At those words, Daikichi startled.
He swiftly stood up.

Hanji hurriedly asked.
“Where are you going?”
Daikichi did not look back.
“I’m concerned about that woman from yesterday.”
“I’m concerned.”
With those words, he left swiftly.

Hanji also stood up.
(F.O.)

= (F.I.) Row House

A large number of officers were lying in wait.

The lookout signaled that they were coming.

The group scattered every which way; some hid inside Hanji’s house.

Daikichi and Hanji came running there and dashed into Yukie’s house.

= Inside the House――

Daikichi went inside but found no one there.

They stepped up into the tatami room——

The sliding door to the next room slid open with a clatter, and both men let out a startled cry.

Before her father’s mortuary tablet lay Yukie, collapsed with her throat pierced.

Daikichi, startled, lifted her up,

“What happened?” he shouted by Yukie’s ear.

Yukie suddenly noticed and looked at Daikichi. “Oh… you…”

Daikichi asked, “What happened?”

Yukie struggled,

"Nakazō…"

"Pull yourself together!"
Yukie persisted—

"Brother…"

"What?" Daikichi barked as Yukie, with desperate effort, forced out her voice—

"P-please… I beg…!"

With that, she went limp.
Daikichi called Yukie’s name repeatedly, but when he realized she’d breathed her last, he laid her down gently, consumed by belated remorse.

"Understood!"

"As for Nakazō—I’ll petition the boss myself to guarantee his safe stage appearance.

I’ll make the request,

I’ll make sure he takes the stage safely.

“I’ll have him take the stage.”

With that, he stood up decisively.
“Hanji, let’s go,” Daikichi said.

When they opened the front door, an officer shouted “—Official business!—” and charged at them.

Daikichi kicked the man down and slammed the door shut with a bang,

“Don’t mistake me for someone else—I’m Imamura Daikichi! I’ve no recollection of being a wanted man!”

“Imamura Daikichi—official business!”
“I don’t recall being wanted!”

Then one of the officers outside,

“By Gorōzō’s accusation—”

“The charges are irrefutable!”

“Submit quietly!”

The two inside who had heard—

“What? Gorōzō?”

Daikichi—Ungh—Sa-teh!—glared with the whites of his eyes in fury!

From the drum tower，the drum announcing the play’s end resounded deeply．

Daikichi let out an “O—” of a cry．

“Damn it！The play’s over！”

“No time to lose！” Hanji shouted．Then he and Daikichi burst out front．

＝ROAD――

A palanquin was racing down the road.

Inside was Nakazō.

＝OTHER ROAD――

Daikichi and Hanji were fleeing while engaged in a swordfight with pursuing officers.

(Cut back between both parties as needed)

＝YANAGISHIMA MYŌKEN――

The apprentice lookout raised his hand and shouted, “They’re here!”

At that, the group prepares.

There, the palanquin arrived.

The group fanned out and surrounded it.

= Road—Daikichi and Hanji’s Swordfight

Hanji stood his ground alone; Daikichi fled.

Hanji’s swordplay—(Don’t let him get captured; don’t let him get killed; choreograph this part well).

＝MYŌKEN――

The group surrounded Nakazō and pressed their swords against him.

Nakazō felt no semblance of being alive.

Gorōzō raised his great sword and struck down with a fierce cry.

＝ROAD

In Daikichi’s hand as he came running,

A restraining rope had been looped [around Daikichi’s hand], so—

Daikichi was pulled back and collapsed!

＝MYŌKEN――

Nakazō escaped Gorōzō’s blade and tried to flee.

The group—“Dokkoi! You’re not getting away!”—clashed in a frenzied swordfight—

＝ROAD――

Daikichi cleanly sliced through the man holding the restraining rope,

There, he engaged in a swordfight with several constables who had appeared.

＝MYŌKEN――

Nakazō collapsed heavily.

The gang apprentices pinned down Nakazō’s hands and feet.

＝ROAD――
Daikichi defeated the constables and ran.

＝MYŌKEN――
Nakazō lay collapsed.
Gorōzō raised his great sword in a reverse grip.

=ROAD――

Daikichi ran.

＝MYŌKEN――

Gorōzō thrust his great sword down with a sickening thud.

Daikichi ran.

Gorōzō’s sword was thrust into the earth, barely missing Nakazō’s neck.
He tried to pull it out, but it wouldn’t budge.
Daikichi ran—

Gorōzō pulled the sword from the earth and raised it once more.
Daikichi arrived!
Daikichi dashed through the underlings, approached Gorōzō, and shoved him with a thud.
Kusakabe shouted, “Daikichi!”

Kusakabe shouted, “Daikichi!”

Daikichi, holding Nakazō and bracing himself, slowly backed away.

The group surrounded Daikichi.

Daikichi suddenly ran off with Nakazō.

The group gave chase,

Daikichi placed Nakazō in a safe spot within the temple grounds and returned once more.

Tenroku and Gorōzō: “Damn you, Daikichi!”

Daikichi, laughing while,

“You’ve been waiting a long time, haven’t you?”

The two men could only stare in shock, their mouths agape.

Daikichi—

“The main act hasn’t shown up…”

“The curtain won’t rise either.”

“Come on, come on!” he said—

“Imamura Daikichi has made his grand entrance!
Without dawdling—
Open the curtain!”

The two bewildered men and their underlings stood frozen.

Daikichi yelled.

“I told you to open the curtain!

“Ain’t you gonna open it?!”

The group was utterly flustered.

“Aaalright…”
“You lot can’t even open a damn curtain?!”
“If you can’t do it, then I’ll cut it down!”

“I’ll cut it down!” he shouted, raising his great sword high overhead. “Imamura Daikichi will cut down the curtain on this grand brawl at Myōken of Yanagishima! The curtain rises on a grand brawl—I’ll cut it down!”

He shouted and charged into their midst.

The grand battle began――
At last, even Tenroku and Gorōzō were defeated—but
Daikichi was also deeply cut at the shoulder.
Nakazō timidly emerged.

“Oh, Nakazō.”

Nakazō timidly answered, “Yes.”

Daikichi—

“Nakazō! You’ve never seen a samurai’s seppuku.”

You—a samurai’s seppuku—

“You’ve never seen a samurai’s seppuku.”

he said.

“No, I have not seen it.”

Daikichi smiled,

“I’ll show you now— Take a good look and remember this!”

Nakazō gasped in shock.

Daikichi, gripping his sword in reverse, plunged it into his side with a thud—
(Rapid F.O.)
(F.I.) Theater

Nakazō’s Sadakurō dashed out along the *hanamichi* with a clatter.
The moment he struck the *seven-three stance* with a forceful intensity.

(F.O.)