Love and Honor

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The poison taster

Food prepared for a feudal lord...

would first be tasted for poison.

This poison tasting...

was one of a samurai's castle duties.

Good morning.

The magnolias are out.

Hot water.

You're sighing again.

'Again'?

Am I sighing so much?

Do you have something

on your mind?

Your color's not good lately, either.

I can't hide anything from you.

Well, Kayo...

I can't stand this duty

I'm on now.

The poison tasting?

It's nothing but empty form.

Complete foolishness.

It's pointless.

But isn't it an honor

to sit before His Lordship...

and taste his food?

Me, sit before His Lordship?

Stupid!

A 30-koku samurai,

sitting before His Lordship?

No?

We sit in a dark room off the kitchen,

and they bring us the food to taste.

We taste it,

make sure it's all right.

Then they take it way, way over

to His Lordship's chamber.

That's where he dines.

So then His Lordship

never sees your face?

Of course not!

Did you think I looked upon him

while I tasted his food?

Silly girl!

You told me not to ask you

about your work in the castle.

Now you call me stupid!

Stupid!

Takuya Kimura

Rei Dan

Takashi Sasano Nenji Kobayashi

Kaori Momoi Ken Ogata

Mitsugoro Bando

Based on the story by

Shuhei Fujisawa

Screenplay

Yoji Yamada

Emiko Hiramatsu

Ichiro Yamamoto

Executive Producer

unichi Sakomoto

Produced by

Takeo Hisamatsu

Producers

Hiroshi Fukasawa

Ichiro Yamamoto

Cinematography

Mutsuo Naganuma

Art Director

Mitsuo Degawa

Sound Recording

Kazumi Kishida

Lighting

Takeshi Nakasu

Editor

Iwao Ishii

Costume Design

Kazuko Kurosawa

Music

Isao Tomita

Production

Tomohiko Saito

unichi Mine

Directed by

Yoji Yamada

What did you have?

Rape blossom in tofu.

How was it?

With all respect to His Lordship,

a little bland.

It's best for you that way.

No ill effects, gentlemen?

That one's tiny!

Whoops! Careful!

Sir!

You shouldn't play with children!

A samurai walks straight ahead.

Those were your late father's words.

Oh, shut up, you old fart!

Kayo...

Yes?

What if I were to resign my post?

Resign your post and do what?

Open a kendo dojo

and teach children swordfighting.

Why not start one in the garden?

I've been thinking.

I want to change

the way fencing masters teach.

Every child is different.

I'd like to teach a style suited to

each child's character and body shape.

The same way kimonos are fitted

to different bodies.

That's my dream.

I can see it now...

You teaching swordfighting

to little children.

But...

we wouldn't be able

to live as well as we do.

I don't mind that one bit.

Tokuhei... your grandson

could learn swordfighting.

The one who won't listen.

Could peasants' and townsmen's sons

study at your dojo, too?

Of course. Caste wouldn't matter.

Thank you!

Smack him good

with your wooden sword.

I'm saying that it's not good

to teach with the rod.

The way he's going now,

that kid'll never amount to anything!

What an old fool!

It's raining.

Tokuhei, you get on home.

Thank you.

What was that you had, Mimura?

Red tsubugai sashimi, I believe.

Red tsubugai?

We don't get to taste that very often!

I prefer it cooked in its shell.

Ah, over charcoal...

No ill effects, gentlemen?

Squire Higuchi's getting old.

Aye.

You may withdraw.

Mimura, what's wrong?

You're sweating!

I'm all right.

Call Squire Higuchi!

One moment, please!

Eat nothing, Milord!

The food is poisoned!

Get a doctor!

Remain as you are!

Nobody move!

I'll kill any man that moves!

Close all gates!

No one leaves the castle!

Nobody move!

Close all gates!

By order of the Chief Superintendent!

Close the gates!

Tokuhei?

Yes, ma'am.

Why are you so early?

Something terrible's happened.

The master's been poisoned!

Someone tried to poison His Lordship.

The castle's in an uproar.

And the master? How is he?!

I haven't the faintest idea.

None of us can set foot

inside the place.

I asked one samurai about the master

and got a kick for my pains.

I thought I should tell you, Missus.

If you could be ready

to come at any time...

Excuse me.

We have finally concluded

our investigation.

Suspicions of a plot

would have rocked the clan.

They have been laid to rest.

That, at least, we can say.

What the poison taster ate was

sashimi from this red tsubugai.

Apparently it becomes very toxic

if eaten out of season.

It causes dizziness, vomiting...

severe headache, high fever...

and sometimes even death.

It is like fugu pufferfish.

This shellfish apparently

demands great care in preparation.

Food poisoning can arise

through poor preparation.

The Chief Superintendent, however,

feels it is not the cook who is at fault.

The error was in selecting

such a dangerous food...

at this time of year.

You people may thus

return to your homes.

There await further instructions.

Chief Clerk, may I ask something?

What?

How is Mimura Shinnojo?

Is he alive?

He is suffering a high fever,

but his pulse is strong.

It is the doctor's opinion

his life can be saved.

Squire Higuchi...

I wish to see you

in my chamber.

The crisis has passed.

There's no need to fear.

Thank you!

Keep up the medicine.

I will.

You know how?

Raise him up

and transfer it from your mouth.

A bit at a time, so he doesn't gag.

Then water.

Yes...

Soak some cotton and moisten his lips.

Don't let them dry out.

All right.

He should wake up

in the next couple of days.

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