Kagemusha (影武者)

TOHO

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He looks just like me.

I feel like I'm seeing double.

I have impersonated you for a long time,

but he is a miracle.

Where did you find him?

At the execution grounds.

The execution grounds?

He was going to be crucified.

I thought he would be useful as a double for you.

What did he do?

He was caught stealing. He's a thief.

A thief?

And a tough one. Torture failed to make him talk.

Besides stealing, he may have also killed.

What did the prosecutors say

about his resemblance to me?

Nothing.

Only I, your brother, could see it from the start.

His hair, his clothes, the way he talked were all so different.

No one had the slightest idea

of his resemblance to our lord.

Even I, who recognized the resemblance,

am doubly amazed at the likeness once we dressed him like you.

Where is he from?

As you see,

he is very much like you.

I wondered if our father might have had another son somewhere.

But do not fear. He is a drifter from the north.

He could not be our half brother.

Even with this resemblance, Nobukado,

he is so wicked as to be sentenced to crucifixion.

How could this scoundrel be my double?

Quiet!

I only stole a few coins. I'm a petty thief.

A man who's killed hundreds

and robbed whole domains is hardly the one...

is hardly the one...

to call...

to call me a scoundrel.

Hold your tongue!

I was going to be crucified.

My life could have ended this very day!

Threats...

Threats don't mean a fart to me! Boil me, broil me, for all I care!

Very well.

Whatever you wish to say, say it.

If you will not say it, I will.

I am wicked, as you say. I am a scoundrel.

I banished my own father

and killed my own son.

I will do anything to rule this country.

War is everywhere.

Unless somebody unifies the nation and reigns over us,

we will see more rivers of blood

and more mountains of the dead.

It is cold.

My old wound hurts when the air is cold.

Nobukado, he has spoken boldly.

He might be of some use. Train him.

KAGEMUSHA

Sire,

we've cut off the water entering the castle.

The castle is now sure to fall.

I would like to think so.

We thought a little push would do it, but they've held out for 20 days.

They're not likely to surrender just because their water line is cut.

Indeed.

We breach their outer and inner perimeters,

and they calmly hole up in the keep.

Someone plays the flute every night.

And he plays well.

Our men are impressed. They can't wait for night to come.

That's right.

Listen!

We must let my father know we've cut the aqueduct.

Your father Lord Shingen is right here.

Except for us chief vassals,

not only the enemy, but our own men believe the lord is here.

It would not do to send messengers to him.

Sire, Masakage Yamagata is here.

Send him in.

Leave us alone.

My lord, I trust you are in good spirits.

No!

Asakura sent me a message. He is returning to his fief.

His men are weary and it is midwinter.

Nobunaga's men are tired, too.

If Asakura retreats,

Nobunaga will reinforce Ieyasu Tokugawa and block my way.

Asakura's retreat is treason against me.

How old are you, sire?

Fifty-three, as I remember. - Why?

Yet you still behave like a five-year-old child!

People gather and scatter.

They go left and right, following their interests.

You know that very well, yet you lose yourself in anger.

How I weep for you!

A man of such small mind cannot dream of ruling.

Go back to your own domain.

You are a mountain monkey.

You should be gathering nuts in the mountains of Kai!

That's enough.

What has brought you here?

We've cut the aqueduct.

Will the castle fall soon?

I wonder.

There will be rain and snow.

Then the castle may stand a little longer.

The garrison leader is a fine warrior.

He has someone play a flute at night.

I've heard about that flute.

Will the flute play again tonight,

even with their water cut?

If we hear him tonight,

the garrison will hold.

The castle will not fall.

But if we do not hear the flute, the castle is doomed.

Its fall is near.

I want to hear for myself if the flute is played tonight.

Prepare a seat for me at the castle.

- What was that? - What happened?

What? Lord Shingen was shot?

A sniper shot him.

He was badly wounded.

- We don't know if he still lives? - Correct, sire.

Either way, it is a perfect opportunity for our Tokugawa clan.

Quiet.

Even if he did beat me at the battle of Mikata,

I am no coward. His death does not please me.

As a warlord, he has been unrivaled.

He is just over 50.

If he is really dead,

it is a great loss.

My lord.

With Asai and Asakura in Otani,

the shogun in Kyoto,

the Ikkou uprising in Ishiyama,

and Shingen in Mikawa,

Lord Nobunaga must wage battle on all four sides.

As his ally, it is only natural

that we rejoice in Shingen's misfortune.

At any rate,

we should immediately send word to Lord Nobunaga.

That should not be necessary.

News such as this could not have escaped his ears.

In fact,

it would be unlike him to miss a single move of Shingen's.

What? Shingen is dead?

According to our spy,

there is a rumor that he was shot and killed.

Fool! I have no use for rumors.

I need facts. Is he alive or is he dead?

Bring me my stool.

There is only one thing in the world that can frighten me:

that mountain monkey.

He's been standing in my way.

His death would be a boon.

I could march to Kyoto, relaxed and at ease.

So spare no effort. Find out if he lives or dies. Understand?

My horse!

What?

Lord Shingen is dead?

We have lost a great leader.

He was truly...

a heroic man.

We came all this way and took the castle. Why retreat now?

There must be a reason.

I heard a rumor.

Our lord's been shot.

Open your eyes and look for yourself.

Lord Shingen is

right over there.

To occupy Kyoto...

to fly my flags in the capital...

has been my long-cherished dream.

But...

if something should happen to me,

do not pursue that dream.

Remember.

My death must not be made known.

Keep it a secret

for at least three years.

Guard our domain. Never move from it.

Do not move.

If you ignore my order and set out to attack,

our Takeda clan will be no more.

Heed my words!

This...

is my final wish.

Father.

But I am not going to die.

I said "if."

I must be prepared for the worst.

But no...

I will not die.

The lancet holes of the castle were like this.

And the target?

Beneath the second rampart, up the steps from the outer wall.