950 YEARS HAVE PASSED SINCE THE APPEARANCE OF THE FIRST SAMURAI
WITH ONE BATTLE, THEY VANISHED FROM HISTORY
Charge!
It's over!
Raise the cry of victory!
Send up the smoke signal!
What was that?
What's happening?
Enough! It's over!
It's already over! Cease fire!
Stop…
Enough!
Stop!
Shino.
-Let me take over. -I didn't mean to wake you.
Toya, get me a hand towel.
Okay.
Here.
Father…
It hurts.
Rin.
It's going to be okay. You'll feel better soon.
I'm sorry. I tried not to catch it.
Don't blame yourself.
Thank you.
FUCHU, KANAGAWA
Enough! It's over!
It's already over! Cease fire!
Ten years since the Boshin War.
Under the new government's modernization policies, samurai became "Shizoku,"
stripping them of their privileges and employment.
Meanwhile, lives were devastated by a widespread outbreak of Cholera.
Mama!
Mr. Saga.
You keep bringing me worthless things. What am I supposed to do with them?
Forgive me, but please--
Don't do this to me.
It's already been two years since the Sword Abolishment Edict.
You know the days of the sword are long gone.
Mr. Saga, don't make this more difficult.
I'll take any price.
Once the cholera passes, I'll repay your kindness. I swear it.
So please, I'm begging you.
Shino and Rin…
Is it really that bad?
Go and fetch some sugar and salt for him.
Of course.
I don't need your sword.
Take it back with you.
Thank you.
What a time we're living in.
How did things end up like this?
It wasn't there yesterday.
PAWN SHOP
It says it's in Kyoto.
"The opportunity to win 100,000 yen."
-A hundred thousand yen? -What nonsense.
Can it be real?
No way a martial arts tournament would pay 100,000 yen.
Still, 100,000 yen? That's…
Enough for ten generations to live in luxury.
A martial arts tournament, huh?
-Hey, gimme one. -Me too.
PARTICIPANTS WANTED ASSEMBLE AT TENRYUJI TEMPLE IN KYOTO
"Those who excel in the martial arts."
"Tenryuji Temple."
"A hundred thousand yen."
This is no ordinary martial arts tournament.
I wonder.
Hey!
What's going on?
What's the problem?
-Nothing to see here. -Hey, what is this?
Can we really win 100,000 yen?
How does it work?
-No concern of yours. -Hand it over.
You're just as guilty for taking it!
Rin!
-Rin! -Rin!
Rin!
Father…
I couldn't protect Mother and Toya.
I'm sorry.
Rin!
Rin…
Forgive me.
ASSEMBLE AT TENRYUJI TEMPLE IN KYOTO AT MIDNIGHT ON MAY 5TH
Shujiro?
Shino.
I'm sorry, but I'll be gone for a while.
I've found a job that could bring in some money.
With this money, I can save you and everyone in the village.
Will you draw your sword again?
I wouldn't do that.
Don't worry.
Please stay safe.
I promise I'll return.
I know.
KYOTO
Yes, come in!
Flowers for sale!
-Flowers for sale! -Get them while they last!
That thing in the newspaper is tonight?
Yeah. I heard it's part of a government sword hunt.
What is it? Can we go see?
It's not safe. Don't you go near Tenryuji Temple today.
Why not?
Welcome.
Come in.
Sir Saga?
Yahei, it's been a long time.
A long time, indeed.
I don't suppose…
You too?
Are there others like me?
Yes.
We've had a few guests of a similar sort.
Do you know anything?
Survivors of the old shogunate forces
are gathering comrades, seeking revenge.
But they're just rumors. I can't be certain.
I see.
Mr. Saga… May I?
Come in.
You're going, then?
Yes.
Kyoto somehow feels different tonight.
Just like in those days,
there's a stench of blood in the air.
Please be careful.
TENRYUJI TEMPLE
Someone's here.
Are you here to participate?
Open the gate.
You may enter.
Man, this is a mess.
They're blinded by fortune.
They might start fighting before this thing even starts.
Oh, forgive me.
I talk too much when I get nervous.
I'm a former samurai of the Kaga domain. Kouemon Tachikawa.
The Kaga domain?
The newspaper made it all the way to Kanazawa?
I asked around about that today.
Seems it was distributed countrywide, from Hokkaido to Ryukyu.
To go to so much effort…
Perhaps there's some truth to the 100,000 yen after all.
It is time.
We shall now begin.
First of all, thank you all for assembling here today.
My name is Enju.
You are about to compete--
or rather, play a game,
that will challenge your mind, skill, and body.
Of course,
you may doubt the promise of great wealth from a game.
You may question if such a sum as large as 100,000 yen truly exists.
What's that jar?
With this much gold, you could live in luxury for a decade.
But the amount you will win
far surpasses this.
The question is, how do you obtain such a sum?
But wait.
The thing is,
once you hear the means,
you cannot withdraw from the game under any circumstances.
What do you mean?
Now, I'm going to count down from 30.
If you no longer wish to participate,
please leave before I finish counting.
Thirty.
Twenty-nine.
Twenty-eight.
Twenty-seven.
-I'm not quitting now! -Twenty-six.
Twenty-five.
That's enough.
Stay where you are.
I'm Ando from the Kyoto Prefectural Police, Division Four.
An-Jin the Rushing Gust.
The Fourth Division?
But since you're standing here, you are a participant as well.
Seems you don't know who I am.
Of course I know you, An-Jin the Rushing Gust.
Had you been born earlier,
the manslayers and Shinsengumi wouldn't have stood a chance.
Or so you boldly claim.
It's the truth.
I'm arresting you for violating the Sword Abolishment Edict.
Don't be so serious. It's just a game.
Who's the organizer? Where are they?
No idea.
Put your hands out. Or I'll cut you down.
So, you won't be participating?
Well, that's too bad.
Cut the crap.
My apologies for the interruption.
I shall resume counting.
Twenty-four.
Twenty-three.
Twenty-two.
-I'm not turning back now. -Twenty-one.
-This is bad. -Twenty.
Nineteen.
-Are you going to stay? -Eighteen.
-I can't do this! -Seventeen.
-Don't give up now! -Sixteen.
-I'm going to play! -Fifteen.
Me too!
-Fourteen. -If I give up now and go home…
-Thirteen. -It's for the money!
Twelve.
Eleven.
Ten.
Nine.
Eight.
Seven.
Six.
Five.
Four.
Three, two, one.
Excellent.
Your courage is truly admirable.
MAP OF TOKAIDO ROAD TENRYUJI TEMPLE
The game you are about to participate in is called
"Kodoku."
And every game comes with rules.
Write your name on this.
Your name, please.
I shall now explain the rules in detail.
Wear this around your neck.
Rule one.
Your destination is Tokyo.
Rule two.
This is Tenryuji Temple's main gate.
Seki, Ise Province.
Chiryu, Mikawa Province.
Hamamatsu, Totoumi Province.
Shimada, Suruga Province.
Hakone, Sagami Province.
Shinagawa, Musashi Province.
You must pass through all seven checkpoints.
Write your name.
Wear the wooden tag.
Rule three.
If you do not have enough points,
you cannot proceed to the next town.
Wear this around your neck.
Rule four.
You must not speak of this game to anyone.
Rule five.
You must arrive in Tokyo
no later than June 5th, one month from today.
Rule six.
Withdrawing from the game is forbidden.
If your wooden tag is removed from your neck for ten counts,
it will be considered a withdrawal.
Rule seven.
Anyone who breaks the rules--
Get me outta here!
Ten.
Nine.
Eight.
Seven.
Six.
Five.
-Four. -Open the gate!
Three.
Two.
One.
Rule seven.
Anyone who breaks the rules will be punished accordingly.
This is madness.
Nobody said anything about getting killed!
Silence!
Did I not confirm your intent to participate?
You all chose to join this game of your own free will.
For 100,000 yen.
Once again, 292 people have gathered here today.
Each of you has been given a wooden tag that is worth one point.
Which means each of you already has one point.
To pass through Tenryuji Temple, you need at least two points.
And you'll need thirty points at the final checkpoint, Tokyo.
So, how do you earn points?
Seems some of you already understand.
This can't be real. Is he serious?
You may use any means necessary.
A fight for the wooden tags.
I see many among you who survived the age of turmoil as samurai.
You are precisely the ones who deserve the right to claim this fortune.
I ask that you demonstrate the pride and strength of the samurai.
Should we team up?
Some of these guys are here with their buddies.
Better than going solo, right?
Besides, I'm pretty good with a sword.
After ten counts,
the game will begin.
Why is there a child here?
Ten.
Nine.
Eight.
Seven.
Six.
Five.
Four.
Three.
Two.
One.
I shall be waiting for you in Tokyo.
Or rather…
In Edo, the city that vanished long ago.
Let the game begin!
Come on!
That's one point for me.
Die!
Hey!
Die!
Sakura.
Does it bring back memories? Of the old days?
No.
Congratulations.
Show me your wooden tags.
Ukyo Kikuomi.
You're the first.
No wonder they call you the "Guardian God of the Court Nobles."
What's the point of all this--
I'll be waiting for you in Tokyo.
Confirmed.
Well then…
Safe journey.
Father!
I, um… Thank you, sir.
Do you intend to survive?
I want to live.
I want to live so I can save my mother.
I'll keep you safe until we get out of here.
Don't leave my side.
I won't.
Hey, he's got a kid! Stop there!
Let's go.
I got one!
Over there!
It's mine!
Give it back!
-Yes! -Give it to me!
-Ten. -Give it back!
Nine.
Eight.
Seven.
Six.
Give it!
Five.
Four.
Three.
Two.
One.
120
Grab on.
That's my tag!
Hang on!
Give it!
Let's move.
So it's not you either.
Excuse me.
We have our first to make it through.
Number 19, Ukyo Kikuomi.
He's truly living up to the name, "Guardian God of the Court Nobles."
"Former" Guardian, I believe.
Seems he's been through a lot.
Still, his swordsmanship is impressive.
Definitely a performance worth watching.
Well, this is just the beginning.
The real entertainment is yet to come.
This way.
What is your name?
Futaba Katsuki. And you, sir?
Shujiro Saga.
What?
Now you just need to make it to the gate.
Wait, what about your wooden tag?
Now, now, calm down.
I've got no intention of fighting you.
I'm just going to pick it up.
Don't come slashing at me out of nowhere.
Here. Take it.
What do you want?
Why are you holding back?
"Kokushu the Manslayer."
Something psychological?
Insomnia. Heart pounding. Shaky hands…
Plenty lost their minds after the Boshin War.
But if you're planning to survive with that little miss,
you'd better start killing.
Well, it's up to you.
Wait.
Thank you.
Hang in there. I'm rooting for you.
254
We're running straight to the gate.
Okay.
You go first. Hurry!
Go!
You bastard.
Bastard!
Well done. Please show me your wooden tags.
Thank you for helping me.
We're going to a friend's inn. Stay alert.
Confirmed.
Safe journey.
It's started to rain.
It certainly has.
Number 108, Shujiro Saga,
and number 120, Futaba Katsuki, have made it through.
Shujiro Saga, the Kokushu the Manslayer, huh?
With a child in tow.
Now this is getting interesting!
May I have a moment of your time, everyone?
What is it? It was just getting good.
A letter from the organizer has arrived.
Allow me to read it for you.
"To all who have agreed to this Kodoku, I extend my deepest gratitude."
"The samurai are capable of nothing but swinging swords."
"They mistook privilege for strength."
"They remain blind to the truth that the world has moved on without them."
"They live on in vain as fools who have lost all meaning."
"Now let us enjoy this game and bring ruin to the ghosts
who still call themselves samurai."
Stop!
It's been a while, hasn't it, Kokushu?
Bukotsu Kanjiya.
Has it been ten years?
I've wanted to see you all this time.
I thought I would find you if I came here.
Come on…
Kokushu the Manslayer!
128 REMAINING
Subtitle translation by: Daisy Savage