Friday, July 22, 2005
Yoshitsune #25: The Last of Yoshinaka 義仲最期
Noriyori assigns Yoshitsune to attack Yoshinaka in Kyoto from the back (as the karamete), from Uji River. Yoshitsune's kerai are ecstatic as such a task requires speed, courage and good judgement. This means that Noriyori thinks highly of Yoshitsune.
Yoshinaka hears of the impending attack and his followers are worried about the fact that their troop is much smaller, 4000 versus Kamakura's 100,000. (Many of Yoshinaka's soldiers fled the capital due to poor living conditions.) Tomoe remains complacent and claims they managed to win the Heike in past victories with a much smaller army. Just then, someone reports that Yukiie has defected. Yoshinaka is furious and sends 1000 of his army to go after Yukiie's head. (Dumb move)
Yoshitsune finally crosses Uji River and enters Yoshinaka's territory. Unable to find the latter there, he presses on to the capital. At the same time, Yoshinaka leaves the capital to go to Seta (somewhere at the border of Kyoto), where Noriyori is leading a leading a frontal attack on them. His troops of 1500 are not holding up well against Noriyori's 60,000. By the time he arrives, only a handful of 100 soldiers remains. (Sometimes i wish they employ Peter Jackson to work on their battle scenes... Either that or get more extras!!! -_-;;; Dramatism people, we need more drama!! No, actually, we just need more people!! XDD)
Yoshitsune arrives at Yoshinaka's residence but of course, the man is not there. They find the confined ex-emperor huddled up with his concubine instead. (This crappy Go-Shirakawa... for all his devious schemes, he's just a coward. Always hiding hehind his concubine in times of danger. -_-;;;)
Meanwhile, Yoshinaka flees from Seto with his few remaining men and Tomoe. Halfway, Yoshinaka asks Tomoe to flee by herself. He will go to Oumi with his remaining commander Kanehira to fight. Tomoe objects violently. She wants to stay with Yoshinaka. That is the reason why she became a female samurai in the first place.
Yoshinaka: "Then who is going to look after Yoshitaka??!"
Tomoe breaks down in tears. Yoshinaka laments his downfall and wonders what he has done wrong to end up in this state. Just before he leaves, he tells Tomoe, "All the things we went through, it was great".
After things have settled down, Go-Shirakawa has a formal meeting with the Kamakura troops. He names Yoshitsune as the Imperial Guard to protect the imperial family. After they leave, Tsubone asks Go-Shirakawa what he thinks of Yoshitsune.
Go-Shirakawa: "A refreshing young man. If he is the general of the Kamakura troops, i think i wouldn't have anything to worry about."
Meanwhile, Yoshinaka finally meets his end at Oumi. (But i must say i am really touched at Kanehira's loyalty, for following his master til the end. Oh, reminds me of someone else... and Yoshinaka was also 31 when he died!!!!!!! x__x ANOTHER 6 YEARS!!! T-T)
Kagesue brings news to Yoshitsune, informing him of Yoshinaka's death. Deep down, Yoshitsune is sad to hear the news.
At Ichinotani, the Heike hears of the taking over of the capital by Kamakura's troops. Tokiko is shocked to hear the names of Yoritomo and Yoshitsune. Kiyomori was soft-hearted and let these two live, now these two are the ones after their lives. What an irony. Tomomori reveals that the ex-emperor will probably order Yoritomo to get the Three Sacred Treasure back for him.
Tokiko: "What shall we do then?"
Munemori: "We will fight them of course! Ichinotani is a natural fortress, surrounded by cliffs and sea. It will give the Genji some challenge!"
Meanwhile, Yoshitsune and company move into the capital. They visit Kichiji and Akane. Yoshitsune thanks Kichiji for all his help and guidance when he was young. Kichiji asks Yoshitsune if he has met his mother since he came back. She must have heard of his return and he can help to arrange a meeting if he wants. Yoshitsune agrees.
Yukiie returns to the capital and looks up Yoshitsune. He flatters him pretentiously and tells him he has long wanted to split with Yoshinaka, because he knows he is not of leader material, etc etc. Yoshitsune tells him off for speaking ill about Yoshinaka when he had protected him from Yoritomo previously. Yukiie tries to defend himself but Yoshitsune has had enough and leaves the room in a huff.
Yoshitsune confides in Benkei later how disappointed he is with the whole situation. How one can put down a fellow family member just to save his own skin. How he ended up being enemies with Yoshinaka. He had wanted to build a new country without war, but it all seems to be going another way.
Yoshitsune: "Now i just want to go to Kuruma Temple and sit in front of Bishamonten (one of the deities). I want to visit my mother."
(Think Yoshitsune feels really lost here, so he wants to go back to where he can be really himself, places where he can feel at peace.)
Yoshitsune finally meets his mother Tokiwa after a long time.
Tokiwa: "I had thought that if we ever met again, we will have endless things to talk about. But I realise now, it is enough to just have you sit in front of me."
Yoshitsune: "I think the same way too."
Tokiwa: "Kichiji kept me updated with your news when you were in Hiraizumi, but I don't know anything after you left for Kamakura."
Yoshitsune: "I finally met my brother Yoritomo. He gave me a house in Kamakura where I live together with my kerai."
Tokiwa: "You even have kerai now?" (gives off a proud smile)
Yoshitsune then introduces every single of his kerai to his mother, who is simply brimming with pride.
Tokiwa: "You have risen a rank above the others. Truly a Genji samurai. If only someone can witness this..."
Yoshitsune: "If Kiyomori was alive?"
Tokiwa: "No, it is better that he died. He wouldn't have to witness the Heike withdrawing from the capital, nor meet you in battle. Speaking of the withdrawal, your sister Yoshiko went with them."
Yoshiko had visited Tokiwa secretly the night before Heike withdrew from the capital to bid her mother goodbye. She believes that if her father is Kiyomori, then she is a Heike. As such, she must follow them. She seeked Tokiwa's forgiveness.
Tokiwa then tells Yoshitsune to not visit her again. (T-T) She explains that Ichijou Naganari (her current husband) is afterall an aristocrat. Having close ties with someone from the samurai class will invite suspicion. In addition, his sister is now part of the Heike.
Yoshitsune: "I understand..." (ohh, that frown. Gaaah.... he's really a victim of circumstances.. -_-;;;)
Tokiwa: "Even though we can't meet, you and Yoshiko will always be in my heart. Remember that." (Gaaah, it is always sooo emotional when Yoshitsune meets his mother. T-T Tokiwa is sooo beautiful!! And my, she has a very sharp chin! ok, gross digression here. *whacks self*)
Yoshitsune then requests his mother to play the flute and Tokiwa plays a sad tune for him in the moonlight.
~End of Episode 25~
Yoshinaka hears of the impending attack and his followers are worried about the fact that their troop is much smaller, 4000 versus Kamakura's 100,000. (Many of Yoshinaka's soldiers fled the capital due to poor living conditions.) Tomoe remains complacent and claims they managed to win the Heike in past victories with a much smaller army. Just then, someone reports that Yukiie has defected. Yoshinaka is furious and sends 1000 of his army to go after Yukiie's head. (Dumb move)
Yoshitsune finally crosses Uji River and enters Yoshinaka's territory. Unable to find the latter there, he presses on to the capital. At the same time, Yoshinaka leaves the capital to go to Seta (somewhere at the border of Kyoto), where Noriyori is leading a leading a frontal attack on them. His troops of 1500 are not holding up well against Noriyori's 60,000. By the time he arrives, only a handful of 100 soldiers remains. (Sometimes i wish they employ Peter Jackson to work on their battle scenes... Either that or get more extras!!! -_-;;; Dramatism people, we need more drama!! No, actually, we just need more people!! XDD)
Yoshitsune arrives at Yoshinaka's residence but of course, the man is not there. They find the confined ex-emperor huddled up with his concubine instead. (This crappy Go-Shirakawa... for all his devious schemes, he's just a coward. Always hiding hehind his concubine in times of danger. -_-;;;)
Meanwhile, Yoshinaka flees from Seto with his few remaining men and Tomoe. Halfway, Yoshinaka asks Tomoe to flee by herself. He will go to Oumi with his remaining commander Kanehira to fight. Tomoe objects violently. She wants to stay with Yoshinaka. That is the reason why she became a female samurai in the first place.
Yoshinaka: "Then who is going to look after Yoshitaka??!"
Tomoe breaks down in tears. Yoshinaka laments his downfall and wonders what he has done wrong to end up in this state. Just before he leaves, he tells Tomoe, "All the things we went through, it was great".
After things have settled down, Go-Shirakawa has a formal meeting with the Kamakura troops. He names Yoshitsune as the Imperial Guard to protect the imperial family. After they leave, Tsubone asks Go-Shirakawa what he thinks of Yoshitsune.
Go-Shirakawa: "A refreshing young man. If he is the general of the Kamakura troops, i think i wouldn't have anything to worry about."
Meanwhile, Yoshinaka finally meets his end at Oumi. (But i must say i am really touched at Kanehira's loyalty, for following his master til the end. Oh, reminds me of someone else... and Yoshinaka was also 31 when he died!!!!!!! x__x ANOTHER 6 YEARS!!! T-T)
Kagesue brings news to Yoshitsune, informing him of Yoshinaka's death. Deep down, Yoshitsune is sad to hear the news.
At Ichinotani, the Heike hears of the taking over of the capital by Kamakura's troops. Tokiko is shocked to hear the names of Yoritomo and Yoshitsune. Kiyomori was soft-hearted and let these two live, now these two are the ones after their lives. What an irony. Tomomori reveals that the ex-emperor will probably order Yoritomo to get the Three Sacred Treasure back for him.
Tokiko: "What shall we do then?"
Munemori: "We will fight them of course! Ichinotani is a natural fortress, surrounded by cliffs and sea. It will give the Genji some challenge!"
Meanwhile, Yoshitsune and company move into the capital. They visit Kichiji and Akane. Yoshitsune thanks Kichiji for all his help and guidance when he was young. Kichiji asks Yoshitsune if he has met his mother since he came back. She must have heard of his return and he can help to arrange a meeting if he wants. Yoshitsune agrees.
Yukiie returns to the capital and looks up Yoshitsune. He flatters him pretentiously and tells him he has long wanted to split with Yoshinaka, because he knows he is not of leader material, etc etc. Yoshitsune tells him off for speaking ill about Yoshinaka when he had protected him from Yoritomo previously. Yukiie tries to defend himself but Yoshitsune has had enough and leaves the room in a huff.
Yoshitsune confides in Benkei later how disappointed he is with the whole situation. How one can put down a fellow family member just to save his own skin. How he ended up being enemies with Yoshinaka. He had wanted to build a new country without war, but it all seems to be going another way.
Yoshitsune: "Now i just want to go to Kuruma Temple and sit in front of Bishamonten (one of the deities). I want to visit my mother."
(Think Yoshitsune feels really lost here, so he wants to go back to where he can be really himself, places where he can feel at peace.)
Yoshitsune finally meets his mother Tokiwa after a long time.
Tokiwa: "I had thought that if we ever met again, we will have endless things to talk about. But I realise now, it is enough to just have you sit in front of me."
Yoshitsune: "I think the same way too."
Tokiwa: "Kichiji kept me updated with your news when you were in Hiraizumi, but I don't know anything after you left for Kamakura."
Yoshitsune: "I finally met my brother Yoritomo. He gave me a house in Kamakura where I live together with my kerai."
Tokiwa: "You even have kerai now?" (gives off a proud smile)
Yoshitsune then introduces every single of his kerai to his mother, who is simply brimming with pride.
Tokiwa: "You have risen a rank above the others. Truly a Genji samurai. If only someone can witness this..."
Yoshitsune: "If Kiyomori was alive?"
Tokiwa: "No, it is better that he died. He wouldn't have to witness the Heike withdrawing from the capital, nor meet you in battle. Speaking of the withdrawal, your sister Yoshiko went with them."
Yoshiko had visited Tokiwa secretly the night before Heike withdrew from the capital to bid her mother goodbye. She believes that if her father is Kiyomori, then she is a Heike. As such, she must follow them. She seeked Tokiwa's forgiveness.
Tokiwa then tells Yoshitsune to not visit her again. (T-T) She explains that Ichijou Naganari (her current husband) is afterall an aristocrat. Having close ties with someone from the samurai class will invite suspicion. In addition, his sister is now part of the Heike.
Yoshitsune: "I understand..." (ohh, that frown. Gaaah.... he's really a victim of circumstances.. -_-;;;)
Tokiwa: "Even though we can't meet, you and Yoshiko will always be in my heart. Remember that." (Gaaah, it is always sooo emotional when Yoshitsune meets his mother. T-T Tokiwa is sooo beautiful!! And my, she has a very sharp chin! ok, gross digression here. *whacks self*)
Yoshitsune then requests his mother to play the flute and Tokiwa plays a sad tune for him in the moonlight.
~End of Episode 25~
// posted by snuffles @ 3:17 AM 
