Saigo no chuushingura

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Farewell to this world and the night.

What is one traveling toward death?

Frost on the road to the graveyard.

Footsteps that vanish one by one

A dream within a dream, alas!

Kiwa!

Kiwa!

Mistress Kayano!

It's me!

Terasaka Kichiemon!

Kichie?

I'm amazed you found me.

I gave up samurai status,

and now I eke out a living here.

Squire Yoshida's wife told me the way.

Squire Yoshida?

So are you going around

to all the families...

...of the Loyal Retainers of Ako?

I've spent 16 long years walking

from one to the next.

You are the last.

All this?

Squire Oishi left it.

He said with the samurai of Ako

now left masterless...

...to use this money to them

from falling into poverty...

...of even crime.

Thank you very much!

Husband!

I take my leave.

You are one of the 47 samurai

who invaded the Kira mansion.

You are supposed to be dead.

But I am alive.

I should probably tell you why.

If was 16 years ago,

on December 14th, 1702.

Who's there?!

Intruders!

We're in the front gate.

Go!

I went back and forth through the fighting...

...bearing Squire Oishi's orders.

And then...

Lord Kira, I presume?

We serve the House of Asano,

of Ako, in the Province of Banshu.

We are here to avenge the death

of our late lord, Takumi.

Savages!

For honor!

As we bore the head of Lord Kira

to Sengakuji Temple...

...we paused at the Asa clan's

residence in Takuji.

You called, sir?

Terasaka Kichiemon...

Proceed now to Nanbu Hill in Akasaka...

...and tell Lord Asano's widow

of what you have seen.

Yes, sir.

Then go west, to Hiroshima

in the province of Geishu...

...to the Asano home there.

Sir?

There.

But...

Listen, Kichie...

Your rank of foot soldier

is not why I have chosen you.

As messenger, you went from

the front gate to back...

...all though the Kira Residence.

No one else saw as much of the battle as you.

Terasaka Kichiemon...

...you are to bear witness to what took place.

When we have been sentenced and are dead...

...you live.

You must live on.

Hold your life dear.

And then...

...seek out those who survive us...

...and assist them with their livelihoods.

This is a vital task.

Yes, sir.

Now I know how the act of vengeance took place.

Kichie, it's good...

...that you lived on.

I've lived on because I was ordered to.

The 17th-year rite for the 46

is next February in Kyoto...

...at Zuikoin Temple.

I must be there to attend.

Welcome!

Some tea, sir.

Is that a honey-locust tree?

Yes, sir.

An awful things. This wood's too hard

and it bears no fruit.

"Bears no fruit"...

Just like me.

Thank you.

Thank you. It's a fine piece.

Take care.

Shall we?

Magoza?

Seno Magozaemon!

Magoza!

TH E LAST RONIN:

I'm home!

Ah, Kisuke...

I heard you were coming back,

so I've warmed the house.

Thank you.

We've taken Miss Kane in over at the house.

Who's playing?

Miss Kane.

She's gotten better lately.

Evan Yu-san can't match her now.

Magoza?

I'm back.

You're late!

You said you'd be back by sundown!

I'm sorry.

The rain slowed me down.

Thank you as always.

Not at all!

How did your business go?

Well...

Oh, my!

A very rare piece.

I'm pleased to have it, but it's a problem.

I don't know who to sell it to.

I don't know who to approach.

How about Chaya Shirojiro?

No, no.

The likes of me...

...could never hope to approach

a wealthy merchant like him.

That's so beautiful!

Take this to the Chaya establishment.

I'm sure Shirojiro will agree to see you.

Leave to enter!

I am Terasaka Kichiemon,

former samurai of Ako.

I ask to see Lord Shindo Nagayasu.

Terasaka Kichiemon...

You have done well.

Finding the families of the 46,

and seeing to their livehood...

You have had a long journey.

I have merely done as Squire Oishi told me.

The 17th-year rite is February 4th.

Stay with us here until then.

Come in!

I am grateful.

How many former Asano retainers will attend?

60 who now serve this house of Konoe,

or in other domains.

A hundred, counting those

who did not seek new positions.

That is a very large number.

All through the good offices

of Squire Kuranosuke.

While it is immodest to speak well

of one's second cousin...

...Kuranosuke had great depth to him.

He took vengeance...

...but also planned for the future

of 300 who were not involved.

Such deep consideration...

If I may, there is one thing I'd like to ask.

What is it?

About Seno Magozaemon.

"Seno"?

A servant to the Oishi household.

The one who fled the night before?

On my way here, I saw a man

who looked very much like him.

If he is living here in Kyoto...

...perhaps word has reached

Your Lordship's ear.

I know nothing.

Why are you so concerned with this Seno?

Seno Magozaemon was a friend like no other.

His family had served

the Oishi's for generations.

He was as close to Squire Kuranosuke

as his own shadow.

But the night before the vengeance,

he suddenly vanished.

Magoza?

Where are you?

Magoza!

Magoza...

Since last night the following have withdrawn.

Oyamada Shozaemon, Nakata Riheiji...

...Suzuta Juhachi, Nakamura Seiemon,

Yano Isuke...

...Seno Magozaemon.

Six men!

Leaving a total of 47.

Perhaps Seno simply

didn't want to lose his life.

His wife had died young,

and he had no children.

Without Squire Oishi,

he had no reason to live.

And we had all pledged to die.

But he fled...

I'm sorry to bring this up.

But now youre in Kyoto.

Find some diversion here.

Ah, I know.

There's a new entertainment popular here.

I doubt you've seen it.

The puppet theater.

I have an invitation from Chaya Shirojiro.

Flowers for sale! Flowers!

Chaya Clothiers

I'd like to see Mr. Chaya.

Which Mr. Chaya?

Chaya Shirojiro...

The master?

Would you have an introduction?

Could you give him this?

Mr. Kariya Magobei?

And you have something to show me?

This is magnificent!

It's from a temple, with no documents,

but it's Yi dynasty, from Korea.

The Ryusen Kiln...

Where did you get it?

As a trader, I go west...

...to Chugoku, Sanin, and even Kyushu

in search of wares.

I'd prefer not to say more.

Just as long as it's not stolen.

Though even if it were, I'd still want it.

How much?

It cost me more than 50 ryo.

With travel expenses and commission...

...how about 80?

I was expecting thousands of ryo.

You're certainly not greedy.

By the way, how do you come to know Yugiri?

"Yugiri"?

The lady who wrote this letter.

I know her as Mistress Yu.

In the Shimabara quarter

she was The "Courtesan Yugiri".

Shimabara?

The toast of the quarter?

That's her.

They say it was you

who bought her out of there.

That was long ago.

But handwriting this beautiful

I'd know anywhere.

Lord Shindo, such a pleasure to see you.

I brought someone with me.

Terasaka Kichiemon

You know, the survivor of the 47.

Well, well, well!

My name is Chaya.

Terasaka Kichiemon.

This to my son Shuichiro.

"Hatsu, is that you? Hatsu?"...

...he calls, and she runs to him

"Toku? Where have you been?"

When they meet her angry words...

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