Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Yoshitsune #13: Uprising of the Genji 源氏の決起
Yoshitsune receives news from Hidehira about Kiyomori's doings in the capital, the abolishment of the old political system, the confinement of Go-Shirakawa in his own palace... He wonders what made Kiyomori do all these. Yasuhira passes him a letter from Kichiji in the capital who updates him about his mother (but I couldn't catch what about) and Munemori.
Apparently in the capital, Munemori makes Yorimasa's son Nakatsuna give up his most beloved horse, a steed called Konoshita. Reluctantly as he is, but with persuasion from his father, he hands the horse over. However, it turns out that Munemori is not a horse-lover at all. He just
wants to use the horse to insult Yorimasa and his son. He changes the horse's name to "Nakatsuna" and has it whipped in public.
Word of this gets to the ears of Nakatsuna and his father. Nakatsuna feels that he has been made a fool in the capital and is very upset. He tells his father he cannot put up with such ridicule from the Heike anymore. Yorimasa too feels that they have been belittled by the Heike since the Taira won the Genji during the Heiji Period (which ended when Yoshitsune's father Yoshitomo was killed). Seems that the Taira thinks that they are no longer capable of anything, so much so that even Munemori, who is only what he is now because of his father Kiyomori, dares to throw his weight around and bully them. Yorimasa has had enough of living in the
shadows of the Taira. So much for staying loyal to the Taira for 13 years... He decided that he wants to produce proof of his existence (lit.). He wants to wage war on the Taira. But to do that, he needs someone with power to back him up.
That person is Prince Mochihito, the third son of Go-Shirakawa. Yorimasa approaches Mochihito to aid him in raising a revolution to fight the Heike. Mochihito, like Yorimasa, is neglected by the imperial family as he is not the Crown Prince. He agrees to help Yorimasa.
Yorimasa begins his revolution by ordering Shinguu Juurou to be a messenger. (The opening part of this episode where they always put up extra bits of background info about Yoshitsune, they re-introduce Shinguu as a "trouble-maker", like in English. I tot it was so funny to hear something so modern ("toraburu meeka") coming from a Taiga drama. LOL~ But indeed, he IS a troublemaker. If he had not told Ushikawa his real identity, Yoshitsune would not have had such a wretched childhood. -_-;;; But then there will be no show...) The latter is to get all the
surviving Genji to re-group and rise against the Heike. And for some reason as if to define his critical role in this revolution, Shinguu changes his name to Minamoto no Yukiie.
Go-shirakawa, who is being imprisoned in Tobadono Palace, hears about this impending Genji uprising and becomes worried of what will become of him. He seeks comfort from his concubine Tango no Tsubone. Tsubone is also imprisoned in Tobadono by Kiyomori for some reason. Her
late husband was a Heike. (And i tot Go-shirakawa is crazy enough. His concubine is cranky like him too!)
Yukiie stops by to visit a brothel (can't find an alternative word...) before he set off to hunt down the Minamoto. Here, he lets slip of his new mission, which proves to be a fatal mistake later. (He is over the moon that he has been given such an important mission...)
The first Genji that Yukiie meets is Yoritomo, who has now "upgraded" to staying at Houjou's residence. He shows Yoritomo the letter written by Prince Mochihito calling for the rising of Genji against the Taira. To his surprise, Yoritomo says he is still an exile and sends Yukiie away. In actual fact however, Yoritomo is elated that he has not been forgotten in the capital.
That night, Tokimasa urges him to take action quickly and offers to amass troops for him but gets scolded by Masako, who thinks they should observe the situation first before making any oves. This is also Yoritomo's intent. (Suddenly, the entire Houjou clan treats Yoritomo like their leader.... What the... -_- Did i miss anything?? Why the sudden change in attitude??)
In Hiraizumi, Hidehira asks Yoshitsune what he will do if war breaks out between the Heike and Genji. The latter replies without hesitation that he will fight as a Genji.
Hidehira: "So that means your blade will be turned toward Kiyomori?" (lit.)
Yoshitsune: "... ..."
Hidehira: "You once thought of him as your father. Will you be able to face in battle as an enemy?"
Yoshitsune: "... ..."
(whacks Hidehira... STOP confusing our poor boy already.)
Tokimasa and Masako are having a discussion with their people. Seems everyone is willing to revolt against the Heike and lend their troops to Yoritomo. But even then, it seems that they do not have enough troops.
In Shinano, Tomoe is training Yoshitaka in archery. (Their relationship is complex like hell!!! OK, Yoshinaka is Yoshitsune's cousin. Tomoe is actually the auntie of Yoshinaka's official wife (!!?), but she is also Yoshinaka's *coughs* lover. The small boy Yoshitaka is the offspring of Yoshinaka and his official wife. There you go. Complicated.) Yoshinaka thinks she is too strict with the poor boy but Tomoe thinks otherwise. Soon, Yukiie appears at their place. Unlike Yoritomo, Yoshitaka is very hyped up about the uprising.
Finally, Yukiie reaches Hiraizumi and looks up Yoshitsune. Yoshitsune shows his followers the letter and they get very hyped up about the revolt too, but Yoshitsune is in a dilemma. Kiyomori is afterall, the father of his sister Yoshiko. But he is a Genji and has no choice but to fight for the Genji. (OMG, that troubled frown appears again... POOR BOY!!! *daku*)
Back in the capital, news of Yukiie's "pilgrimage" got to the ears of the Heike (rem he leaked the news at the brothel?). Kiyomori calls for the arrest of Prince Mochihito, as he is the mastermind in name. However, it seems that Mochihito got news of it and manages to escape before the Heike got to him. Kiyomori thinks there is a traitor in their group and sends Tomomori to Yorimasa's house to seek his opinion.
However, when Tomomori arrives at Yorimasa's place, he is shocked to see that Yorimasa and his son have set fire to their house and are gearing up for war. He rushes back to inform Kiyomori that Yorimasa is the traitor and everyone is shocked as Yorimasa has always been loyal to the Heike. Some of them think it is because of the horse incident caused by Munemori.
In Hiraizumi, Hidehira tells Yoshitsune that Yoshinaka is already amassing troops but Yoritomo is not taking any actions yet. Yoshitsune says he will definitely help Yoritomo if the latter decides to join the battle as he is his brother. Hidehira stops him. He advises Yoshitsune not to belittle Kiyomori's power. He has grown so powerful in the capital that imperial edicts (the letter issued by Prince Mochihito) are no longer as powerful as they used to be. He advises Yoshitsune to lay back and observe for the time being.
The calm before the storm is coming to an end...
~End of Episode 13~
Apparently in the capital, Munemori makes Yorimasa's son Nakatsuna give up his most beloved horse, a steed called Konoshita. Reluctantly as he is, but with persuasion from his father, he hands the horse over. However, it turns out that Munemori is not a horse-lover at all. He just
wants to use the horse to insult Yorimasa and his son. He changes the horse's name to "Nakatsuna" and has it whipped in public.
Word of this gets to the ears of Nakatsuna and his father. Nakatsuna feels that he has been made a fool in the capital and is very upset. He tells his father he cannot put up with such ridicule from the Heike anymore. Yorimasa too feels that they have been belittled by the Heike since the Taira won the Genji during the Heiji Period (which ended when Yoshitsune's father Yoshitomo was killed). Seems that the Taira thinks that they are no longer capable of anything, so much so that even Munemori, who is only what he is now because of his father Kiyomori, dares to throw his weight around and bully them. Yorimasa has had enough of living in the
shadows of the Taira. So much for staying loyal to the Taira for 13 years... He decided that he wants to produce proof of his existence (lit.). He wants to wage war on the Taira. But to do that, he needs someone with power to back him up.
That person is Prince Mochihito, the third son of Go-Shirakawa. Yorimasa approaches Mochihito to aid him in raising a revolution to fight the Heike. Mochihito, like Yorimasa, is neglected by the imperial family as he is not the Crown Prince. He agrees to help Yorimasa.
Yorimasa begins his revolution by ordering Shinguu Juurou to be a messenger. (The opening part of this episode where they always put up extra bits of background info about Yoshitsune, they re-introduce Shinguu as a "trouble-maker", like in English. I tot it was so funny to hear something so modern ("toraburu meeka") coming from a Taiga drama. LOL~ But indeed, he IS a troublemaker. If he had not told Ushikawa his real identity, Yoshitsune would not have had such a wretched childhood. -_-;;; But then there will be no show...) The latter is to get all the
surviving Genji to re-group and rise against the Heike. And for some reason as if to define his critical role in this revolution, Shinguu changes his name to Minamoto no Yukiie.
Go-shirakawa, who is being imprisoned in Tobadono Palace, hears about this impending Genji uprising and becomes worried of what will become of him. He seeks comfort from his concubine Tango no Tsubone. Tsubone is also imprisoned in Tobadono by Kiyomori for some reason. Her
late husband was a Heike. (And i tot Go-shirakawa is crazy enough. His concubine is cranky like him too!)
Yukiie stops by to visit a brothel (can't find an alternative word...) before he set off to hunt down the Minamoto. Here, he lets slip of his new mission, which proves to be a fatal mistake later. (He is over the moon that he has been given such an important mission...)
The first Genji that Yukiie meets is Yoritomo, who has now "upgraded" to staying at Houjou's residence. He shows Yoritomo the letter written by Prince Mochihito calling for the rising of Genji against the Taira. To his surprise, Yoritomo says he is still an exile and sends Yukiie away. In actual fact however, Yoritomo is elated that he has not been forgotten in the capital.
That night, Tokimasa urges him to take action quickly and offers to amass troops for him but gets scolded by Masako, who thinks they should observe the situation first before making any oves. This is also Yoritomo's intent. (Suddenly, the entire Houjou clan treats Yoritomo like their leader.... What the... -_- Did i miss anything?? Why the sudden change in attitude??)
In Hiraizumi, Hidehira asks Yoshitsune what he will do if war breaks out between the Heike and Genji. The latter replies without hesitation that he will fight as a Genji.
Hidehira: "So that means your blade will be turned toward Kiyomori?" (lit.)
Yoshitsune: "... ..."
Hidehira: "You once thought of him as your father. Will you be able to face in battle as an enemy?"
Yoshitsune: "... ..."
(whacks Hidehira... STOP confusing our poor boy already.)
Tokimasa and Masako are having a discussion with their people. Seems everyone is willing to revolt against the Heike and lend their troops to Yoritomo. But even then, it seems that they do not have enough troops.
In Shinano, Tomoe is training Yoshitaka in archery. (Their relationship is complex like hell!!! OK, Yoshinaka is Yoshitsune's cousin. Tomoe is actually the auntie of Yoshinaka's official wife (!!?), but she is also Yoshinaka's *coughs* lover. The small boy Yoshitaka is the offspring of Yoshinaka and his official wife. There you go. Complicated.) Yoshinaka thinks she is too strict with the poor boy but Tomoe thinks otherwise. Soon, Yukiie appears at their place. Unlike Yoritomo, Yoshitaka is very hyped up about the uprising.
Finally, Yukiie reaches Hiraizumi and looks up Yoshitsune. Yoshitsune shows his followers the letter and they get very hyped up about the revolt too, but Yoshitsune is in a dilemma. Kiyomori is afterall, the father of his sister Yoshiko. But he is a Genji and has no choice but to fight for the Genji. (OMG, that troubled frown appears again... POOR BOY!!! *daku*)
Back in the capital, news of Yukiie's "pilgrimage" got to the ears of the Heike (rem he leaked the news at the brothel?). Kiyomori calls for the arrest of Prince Mochihito, as he is the mastermind in name. However, it seems that Mochihito got news of it and manages to escape before the Heike got to him. Kiyomori thinks there is a traitor in their group and sends Tomomori to Yorimasa's house to seek his opinion.
However, when Tomomori arrives at Yorimasa's place, he is shocked to see that Yorimasa and his son have set fire to their house and are gearing up for war. He rushes back to inform Kiyomori that Yorimasa is the traitor and everyone is shocked as Yorimasa has always been loyal to the Heike. Some of them think it is because of the horse incident caused by Munemori.
In Hiraizumi, Hidehira tells Yoshitsune that Yoshinaka is already amassing troops but Yoritomo is not taking any actions yet. Yoshitsune says he will definitely help Yoritomo if the latter decides to join the battle as he is his brother. Hidehira stops him. He advises Yoshitsune not to belittle Kiyomori's power. He has grown so powerful in the capital that imperial edicts (the letter issued by Prince Mochihito) are no longer as powerful as they used to be. He advises Yoshitsune to lay back and observe for the time being.
The calm before the storm is coming to an end...
~End of Episode 13~
// posted by snuffles @ 4:48 PM 
