Kiru

---

DAIEl presents

I'm taking your life for

the good of the clan.

KIRU!

From a novel by

SHIBATA Renzaburo

Script:
SHINDO Kaneto

Photography:
HONDA Shozo

Film set:
NAITO Akira

Music:
SAITO Ichiro

Starring

ICHIKAWA Raizo

FUJIMURA Shiho

NAGISA Mayumi

BANRI Masayo

NARITA Junichiro

TANBA Matasaburo

YANAGI Eijiro

AMACHI Shigeru

Directed by MISUMI Kenji

Are you the one sent by lida clan?

Yes, I'm taking the child to

Takakura of the Komoro clan.

We were expecting you. Follow us.

It was during year 3 of Tenpo era

(1833)

Did you get the baby?

Yes, my Lord.

This baby is very amiable.

He had a tragic birth.

Give him a lot of love.

I'll raise him as my son.

It was a near thing for him.

About twenty years later...

Father, what are you doing?

I'm preparing my ink.

- Why are you laughing?

- I'm not laughing.

You certainly are.

Are you laughing at my poems?

No, I admire them.

If you're flattering me

it means you want to ask me something.

He wants to make a trip.

A trip?

I want to leave.

Where?

A little bit everywhere.

You're only thinking about yourself.

Are you upset?

Not at all.

Where do you want to go?

I don't know.

It's not an answer.

Please.

My Lord will refuse.

A little bit everywhere...

A little bit everywhere?

Well, let him do it.

He was born under a bad star.

Be indulgent with him.

Let him go for three years.

Father, I'm cold. Let's close the door.

No, leave it open.

It's the only luxury

allowed to lower rank samurais.

Drinking sake while watching the snow...

There's nothing more beautiful!

For you maybe. But I'm cold!

You are a samourai's daughter.

Learn to endure.

Where can he be right now?

Shingo only thinks about himself.

He only does as he pleases.

Shingo and you never knew your mother.

I want your happiness.

My happiness, what is it?

Finding you a good husband.

I don't want to be married.

- Why not?

- That's how it is.

My dear brother, where are you?

Three years later...

- Brother!

- I'm back.

Father!

What did you do?

I observed, a little bit everywhere.

What did you observe?

Plains, mountains...

Plains and mountains...

I envy you.

You did well.

Plains, birds, flowers and dragonflies?

Nature is so beautiful!

Dragonflies, there are some here in Komoro.

It's not the same.

You didn't bring me back

anything from your journey.

I'll think about it next time.

What? Do you plan to leave again?

I'd like to.

Next time I'll go with you.

- I'll leave you for tonight.

- Good night.

Do you know the sword expert Shoji Kahei

from Mito clan?

Yes. Is he the weapon master

practicing Shindo style?

Mito forced upon him an expiatory journey

because he was frequenting dives.

Our clan invited him.

What for?

What a question!

For a tournament of course.

He will test our best fencers.

Don't talk to him about swords.

He's not interested.

You're right.

But if we loose against Shoji,

What's gonna happen?

Our clan will be disgraced.

And our Highness will also

unofficially attend the tournament.

Our Highness will be present.

It's the chance of your life.

You must defeat Shoji Kahei.

But he's highly skilled.

Idiot! Have faith in yourself.

Be brave and determined.

You'd better win.

Confidence!

Our neighbour Ikebe is fidgeting impatiently.

He's sure his son will win.

Gijuro is a skilled fencer.

He's gonna win, that's certain.

He's weird.

He's watching us from behind the hedge.

You're the one he's looking at.

Did you talk to Takakura?

About what?

- You know it.

- Your request? Not yet.

Why?

Forget it.

Your victory will open some doors.

You will marry a woman of higher rank.

But it's the girl next-door that I love.

Takakura and me are lesser rank vassals.

You must have more ambition.

If you win you might be able to marry

a 1 st rank vassal's daughter.

But I love Yoshio!

Fine.

We'll talk about it after the tournament.

Next!

Next!

Next!

Next!

Tell Shingo to come.

That's an order.

My Highness...

We'll see.

Next! Takakura Shingo!

End of the duel!

You were holding your sword like a lute.

During my journey,

I met a strolling musician.

He inspired me.

Let's call it "the lute thrust".

It's formidable.

The tip of the sword

is aiming at the opponent throat.

Show it again.

I'm sorry, but...

In the way of the sword,

it's a dirty thrust.

Dirty... I see.

You will show it to me again another day.

Shinemon...

Your son made a good use of

his three years journey.

You won! I'm so proud of you!

I knew he would win since the beginning.

I was suspecting your journey

to be initiatory.

You little cunning monkey!

- Father, should I throw her in the garden?

- Yes, it will teach her to know better.

Go on!

Throw me far away!

Shingo is an orphan.

I'm your neighbour.

One day I heard a baby crying.

But Takakura's wife wasn't pregnant.

I was puzzled.

And a little bit later,

Takakura announced us Shingo's birth.

I didn't say anything.

It was better like that.

There was nothing wrong with it.

But everything changed.

Sine the tournament, Shingo has

become His Highness favorite.

This child born of adultery,

with shady origins...

It will go to his head!

He may bring bad luck to our clan.

This is slander!

I'm your father.

Don't pay attention to what Ikebe is saying.

I believe you, but...

In fact, he asked me

to marry Yoshio to his son.

I refused.

So he's taking revenge by

spreading rumours about us.

What a despicable man!

Don't listen to him.

I am your father.

You are my son.

This is slandering!

Do you have proof of what you're saying?

You're going to regret your words.

Ikebe, I want an answer.

If need be, I'm ready to duel you.

Some inconsiderate words can be lethal.

Lethal as a sword blow.

Words are dangerous.

I warned you.

Father, what's going on?

- I'm screwed.

- What are you talking about?

It's your fault.

You lost the tournament!

Father, what happened?

I've been summoned to the castle.

His Highness berated me.

He took Takakura's side!

I'm disgraced.

My career is over.

But I will take revenge!

- Gijuro, follow me!

- Where?

We're gonna give Takakura a lesson!

But...

But what?

The hell with Komoro clan!

Is your father here?

Yes.

- Young master!

- What?

Come quickly!

Yoshio!

Father!

Shingo...

Father, hang on!

I couldn't die before telling you

a secret of the utmost importance.

Father!

Listen to me.

You're not my real son.

Within lida clan,

there was the daughter

of Yamaguchi Danjiro.

Her name was Fujiko.

She's your mother.

In his Edo residence,

Lord lida had a concubine,

Wakayama.

He was deeply in love with her.

But his 1 st vassal, Yasutomi Kazue,

was afraid she might politically

influence the lord.

For the good of the clan,

Yasutomi ordered Fujiko,

your mother,

who was Wakayama's maid,

to murder her.

My act wasn't guided by madness!

It was decided to send Fujiko

back to her country

to judge and execute her.

But lord lida's wife looked for a way

to save Fujiko.

She asked vassal Yasutomi's advice.

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