Mori Motonari/Synopsis ep1-30
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Synopsis By Episode
Episodes 1 thru 10
- Episode 1
In 1499, the province of Aki is threatened with an invasion by Amago Tsunehisa. Mori Hiromoto, the lord of Aki, has sworn his allegiance to Ouchi Yoshioki, but Mori is aware that Ouchi is a devious man. Unable to find comfort in the arms of his wife, Lady Sachi, who is seriously ill, Mori takes to drinking and visiting with his concubines. Mori's second son, Shojumaru, later to become Mori Motonari, is barely four at the time. Although headstrong and mischievious, he adores his gentle mother. Seeing her being ignored, he begins harboring a deep hatred for Sugi, the concubine who is his father's favorite. In Kyoto, Ashikaga Shogun Yoshitane is defeated and flees, seeking asylum with Ouchi Yoshioki. The shogunate orders Mori Hiromoto to assasinate Yoshitane. However, Ouchi urges Hiromoto to kill the new shogun, Yoshizumi, instead and work to reinstate Yoshitane. Caught in a dilemma, Hiromoto decides that the best way to avoid making a decision is to retire, leaving his eldest son to rule. Hiromoto takes Sachi, Sugi and Shojumaru to reside in Sarugake Castle. And shortly afterwards, Shojumaru bids a tearful, final farewell to his mother.
- Episode 2
In 1506, Hiromoto passes away and 10-year-old Shojumaru takes his late father's place as the lord of Sarukake Castle. Loyal Mori retainer Inoue Motokane is appointed as his advisor. Meanwhile, the day is approaching for the coming-of-age rites for Shojumaru's brother, Kouchiyomaru. Ouchi Yoshioki has been asked to stand in for the late Hiromoto during the ceremony. He agrees, but with a price -- an exhorbitant amount of gold and an army to fight the Hosokawa who are vying for control of the Muromachi shogunate.
- Episode 3
A desire to control the power of the Mori grows within Motokane and he sends Shojumaru to live in a small hut with dirt walls. Meanwhile, Motokane builds news quarters for Sugi. One day, the Noda brothers, friends from Shojumaru's childhood, come to visit. Although they try to dissuade him, Shojumaru persists in wanting to shoot an arrow and forces them to sneak into the arms warehouse with him. They are discovered by the guards who mistake them for the enemy and Heitaro, the older Noda brother, is killed trying to protect Shojumaru.
- Episode 4
Shojumaru becomes sick with a high fever. As Sugi watches over him, Shojumaru clings to her and she realizes for the first time, the loneliness this boy has felt. In 1509, Ouchi Yoshioki's forces invade Kyoto, forcing Ashikaga Shogun Yoshizumi to flee. He helps Ashikaga Yoshitane to return to Kyoto as the shogun and is rewarded with the title of Minister of the Left. In the meantime, Takeda Motoshige who has formed an alliance with Amako Tsunehisa has his eyes on Koriyama Castle.
- Episode 5
In the summer of 1511, Shojumaru receives a letter from his brother in Kyoto and learns about the cruelties of war. There, the fleeing forces of Ashikaga Yoshizumi are being hunted down by Yoshitane's men. The violence is reaching the boundaries of Mori as well and many of the farmers are abandoning the land. Shojumaru disguises himself and leaves the compound secretly to see for himself the suffering of his people. He stops at a temple where he see a young girl named Natsu and falls in love for the first time.
- Episode 6
In autumn of 1511, Motonari's older brother Okimoto suddenly returns home from Kyoto after a 3-year absence. Noting the pallor of his brother's face, Motonari suspects that something is wrong. It turns out that Okimoto left without obtaining the permission of Ouchi Yoshioki. And one night, he describes to Motonari, the horrors of war he witnessed in Kyoto. Meanwhile, Yoshioki sends his army to punish the Mori. Okimoto assures his vassals that he has a plan and Motonari scrambles to strenghten their alliances with the neighboring lords.
- Episode 7
Okimoto plans his strategy against Ouchi Yoshioki with the help of Takahashi Motomitsu and Yoshikawa Mototsune. Both of them urge Okimoto to get close to Amano Okitsuki. But Amano's ties with Yoshioki is stronger than imagined and Okimoto's request for an alliance is rejected. As a last resort, Motonari suggests a political marriage between Okimoto and Yuki, Takahashi Motomitsu's daughter.
- Episode 8
Okimoto marries Yuki, the daughter of Takahashi Motomitsu. This alliance so strenghtens the Mori army that Yoshioki is forced to rescind his order to attack. The marriage is a happy one and Yuki is soon expecting a child. However, peace in the region is short-lived. In 1515, Ouchi sends Takeda Motoshige to wrest power from the Mori. However, Motoshige has already sworn his allegiance to Amago Tsunehisa and rather than obey Yoshioki's orders, Motoshige leads an attack on Ouchi's castle. Ouchi then tricks Okimoto into fighting the Takeda forces. Motonari gets the Yoshikawa Clan to help. All seems to be going well, but Okimoto succumbs to illness and dies.
- Episode 9
Okimoto's sudden death in 1516 leaves Koriyama Castle without a lord. Since the heir is barely two years old, Yuki asks Motonari to serve as guardian and advisor to young Koshomaru. After losing Arita Castle, Motoshige secretly recoups. When he re-emerges with a 5500-men army, Koriyama Castle is endangered. Motonari decides that he must get on the offensive and with only 1500 men, sets out to attack Motoshige. Although heavily outnumbered, Motonari's army continues to fight. Then suddenly, Motonari runs onto the frontlines on a horse and is met by Motoshige. They fight, but it is Motonari who stands as the victor.
- Episode 10
After emerging victorious in the battle against Takeda Motoshige, Motonari becomes the talk of the Aki region and western Japan. Even in Izumo, Amago Tsunehisa tells his vassals that he wants Motonari on his side. When Yoshikawa Kunihisa's daughter Mii, comes to visit, Amago is struck by her beauty and comes up with the idea to wed her to Motonari. However, the proposal is met with vehement opposition by the Mori family. One day while out hunting, Motonari is surrounded by men on horses and Amago Tsunehisa appears. It is their first meeting since Tsunehisa spared young Shojumaru's life ten years ago. Amago asks Motonari if he would be interested in an alliance and leaves. Later, Motonari makes up his mind to wed. And in spring 1518, Mii (age 20) becomes the wife of Mori Motonari (age 22).
Episodes 11 thru 20
- Episode 11
In early spring in 1518, Motonari and Mii wed, but they end up arguing and spend their first night apart in separate rooms. Inoue Motokane urges Sugi to dissuade Motonari from forming an alliance with Amago Tsunehisa, but Sugi ignores him. Meanwhile, Watanabe Suguru warns Motonari that suspicious men from other provinces have been seen outside the castle.
- Episode 12
In 1522, war breaks out between the Amago and Ouchi forces. Amago demands that Motonari show good faith by attacking Kagamiyama Castle. His half-brother Mototsuna and Katsura Hirozumi are in favor of an alliance, but Motonari is more cautious. About that time, Mii discovers that she is with child.
- Episode 13
In 1523, Amago begins an all-out attack on Ouchi's Kagamiyama Castle. Although Ouchi is a former ally, Motonari decides, after long consideration, to side with Amago. Motonari's delay in showing his support angers Tsunehisa who names Motonari's nephew as the general in charge of the advance forces.
- Episode 14
Koshomaru, the nine-year-old lord of the Mori Clan, dies in 1523. With battle looming against Ouchi Yoshioki, Motonari has no time to grieve. Shiji Hiroyoshi and Yuki push for Motonari as the successor, but Amago suggests that the Mori adopt his grandson. Motonari is about to agree to the proposal despite some opposition from the vassals. But on the day before he is to meet with Amago, Shiji shows Motonari a letter which changes his mind.
- Episode 15
Motonari decides against adopting Amago Tsunehisa's grandson and takes over as the head of the Mori clan. However, the clan is divided into two factions -- one supporting Motonari and the other supporting Motonari's half-brother, Mototsuna. Katsura Hirozumi convinces Mototsuna to rebel, but Kosanta informs Motonari about their treachery. So Motonari is prepared when Katsura leads an attack on Koriyama Castle. Finding himself cornered, Katsura takes his own life. Mototsuna rushes to help Katsura's troops, but is attacked by Kosanta and killed.
- Episode 16
The rebellion is quelled, but Motonari is deeply affected by the deaths of Katsura Hirozumi and Mototsuna. He is hurt even more when Lady Aio follows her son in death. Katsura's eldest son seeks Watanabe Suguru's help in rising against Motonari. Inoue Motokane sees it as the ideal opportunity to destroy his rival and informs Motonari that Watanabe is about to turn against him. When confronted by Inoue, Watanabe decides to fight to the end.
- Episode 17
Motonari assembles his vassals and pleads with them to work with him for the good of the clan. He is saddened by the deaths of his half-brother and two important vassals, but the threats posed by Ouchi Yoshioki and Amago Tsunehisa require immediate attention. The Amago clan is troubled by clashes between Tsunehisa and his grandson, Akihisa. So Motonari decides to ally himself with the Ouchi. On his way to meet with Ouchi Yoshioki, Motonari meets a woman who mesmerizes him.
- Episode 18
At Itsukushima, Motonari is attacked by a young man. Motonari fights back, but stops when he recognizes him as Noda Jiro. Jiro's older brother had taken responsibility for a prank played by young Motonari years ago. As punishment, the Noda family had been abolished and Jiro had been forced to leave the Mori fief, but not before vowing that he would avenge his brother's death. Motonari learns that Kame's father had taken the half-starved Jiro in and raised him as his own. Guilt-stricken, Motonari sincerely apologizes to Jiro.
- Episode 19
In 1525, Kame leaves Innoshima and comes to Motonari. His daily visits to Kame's mansion has Mii more than a little upset and threatening to return to her parents. One day, Kame disappears, never to be seen again. Three years later, Ouchi Yoshioki gathers his troops.
- Episode 20
It is 1529. In Aki, forts and palaces are being fortified for war. But Motonari is shocked when Kosanta shows him a blueprint of the renovations and tells him that it was in the possession of a spy working for the Takahashi Clan -- Yuki's family. In apology, Yuki decides to enter the nunnery and urges Motonari to take the offensive against the Takahashi. But when he attacks, Motonari learns that Yuki, rather than go to the Kyoto nunnery, has returned home to Takahashi in order to give the clan a false sense of security -- that Motonari would not attack while his sister-in-law is visiting.
Episodes 21 thru 30
- Episode 21
In 1531, Mii's nephew visits and asks Motonari to become blood brothers with Tsunehisa's grandson. Despite Mii's misgivings, Motonari accepts. But the Ouchi, in order to ensure that Motonari does not transfer his allegiance to the Amago demands that Chiyosumaru, Motonari's eldest son, be sent over as a hostage. On the night before his son's departure, Motonari summons his three sons and gives them the now famous lecture -- that one arrow by itself can be easily broken, but three arrows together are unbreakable -- and tells them to protect their bond of brotherhood.
- Episode 22
Motonari's eldest son who was sent as a hostage to the Ouchi comes of age and is given the name Takamoto. In 1539, Amago Akihisa decides to invade the Mori. Since their daughter, Kawai, married into the Shishido clan whose fief lies in the direct path of the Amago offensive, Motonari and Mii fear for her life. But if they submit to Amago, the Ouchi clan is sure to kill Takamoto who is their hostage. Motonari goes to see Kawai to prepare for the worst, but Kawai bravely tells her father not to worry. The battle ensues, but with a surprising result.
- Episode 23
In 1540, Amago Akihisa suffers an unexpected defeat, but recoups and begins a new offensive on Koriyama Castle. Motonari orders that all citizens of the fief be allowed into the castle grounds. This was Motonari's military strategy against the Amago who would arrive to find no food and no labor force. Akihisa answers back by burning all the villages to the ground. Entrenched in their castle, the Mori await reinforcements from the Ouchi. But Yoshitaka is slow to move.
- Episode 24
In 1541, Takamoto, Motonari's eldest son who was sent as a hostage to the Ouchi, is finally released and returns home to Koriyama. The entire Mori clan rejoices. And they are impressed with the 18-year-old who is wise and shrewd beyond his years. One night, as Motonari prepares for the inevitable confrontation with the Amago, Tsunehisa appears disguised as an artist. He tells Motonari that in life, the strong survive and the weak die. Then he leaves with a cryptic message, that he is glad he lived in the same era as Motonari.
- Episode 25
At year's end in 1541, the Mori forces are preparing for battle against the Amago when they receive word that Amago Tsunehisa is dead. Noting the swiftness of the news, Motonari becomes skeptical because the usual practice is to suppress news of the death of a leader like Tsunehisa as long as possible. However, Ouchi does not heed Motonari's warning and decides to attack Amago's castle. This is the trap carefully laid by Tsunehisa prior to his death, and the Ouchi army is stuck outside the castle, forced to endure a cold, harsh winter.
- Episode 26
The long siege has continued through 1543 and the strength of the Ouchi forces are all but depleted, and the men are demoralized, particularly due to the treachery of the Yoshikawa. With the enemy on their tails, Motonari and Takamoto decide to split up and make their escape. Meanwhile, back at Koriyama Castle, Mii's fainting spells become more frequent and Fujino fears for her mistress's health. Miraculously, both Motonari and Takamoto make it home safely. And Motonari rejoices at seeing his family together again, but Mii's condition has not improved.
- Episode 27
One year passes since the defeat of the Ouchi at Izumo. Mii has not recovered from her illness and is forced to take to bed. The Kobayakawa Clan in Takehara sends a letter to the Mori asking to adopt one of Motonari's sons. While he is reluctant to let any of his sons go, the thought of an alliance with a clan which controls the strategically important coastline of the Seto Inland Sea is appealing to Motonari.
- Episode 28
In 1544, Motonari sends his third eldest son to be adopted by the Kobayakawa Clan, which controls a large area of the Seto region. Meanwhile, the Amago Clan is troubled by internal strife, with Haruhisa determined to establish himself as the new leader and destroying everything connected to the late Tsunehisa. In November, Tokusumaru undergoes his manhood rites as the adopted son of the Kobayakawa Clan. But just about that time, Motonari is informed by the physician that Mii has but ten days to live.
- Episode 29
In November 1545, Motonari is told that Mii has only ten days to live and he orders everyone to make sure that his wife does not learn about her condition. But several days later, Mii forces the truth out of Fujino and swears her to secrecy. When Toshi, who is to wed Takamoto in a few days, pays a visit to her future mother-in-law, Mii tells her to look after Motonari as well. Back in Kobayakawa, Mii's third eldest son, Tokusumaru, desperately wants to go home, but decides not to go for fear that his mother will learn the seriousness of her illness. On the tenth dawn, at age 47, Mii dies peacefully in her husband's arms
- Episode 30
It is six months after Mii's death and Motonari tries desperately to overcome his grief. He declares that he will retire and orders Takamoto to take over the affairs of the clan. One day, Sugi announces that she is going to journey to Itsukushima to visit Tennin, which is said to be the spot closest to heaven. As her departure nears, Sugi shows Motonari a collection of toys that she has been gathering for Motonari's first grandson. Motonari is touched and in wishing her a safe journey, he calls her "Mother" for the first time. Her eyes filling with tears, Sugi says she is going to take a nap. And surrounded by the toys she has lovingly collected, 62-year-old Sugi dies in her sleep.
