ベイカー寮221B／Baker House 221B

Shirō celebrates his genpuku and calls himself SUWA Katsuyori. And in Echigo, it has been decided that NAGAO Kagetora takes over the head of the Uesugi clan and has engaged in the duty of Kantō Kanrei. Because of that, he should conquer Kantō region and attacks on the Hojo clan. Then TAKEDA Harunobu has to stop him from controlling the rulers in Shinano and then he prepares for constructing a new castle around Kawanakajima for the battle against Kagetora. Kansuke talks about how to construct the castle with KASUGA Toratsuna who is adopted by Kōsaka Chikuzennokami. The castle is to be kept by Toratsuna himself and there is a possibility that Shirō will join the battle.

However, Harunobu should consider who will succeed him if this battle drags on. Most of his victories owe to the stratagem of Kansuke but there is a possibility that Harunobu will ruin himself by it, on the contrary. And on the 29th of August 1560, Kagetora invades Kantō region and occupies Mayahashi Castle. Then HŌJŌ Ujiyasu who attacks Kururi Castle in the central part of current Chiba retreats to Matsuyama Castle in Musashi, current Tokyo, Saitama and a part of Kanagawa.

Hōjō Ujiyasu (Makoto Matsui, centre) decides to retreat from Kururi Castle

Many rulers of Kantō region gathers Mayahashi Castle and NAGANO Narimasa, right-hand man of Norimasa is among them. Norimasa appreciates the pain he has taken but Kagetora says that his lord is not Norimasa but him now. Narimasa is pointed out his pale complexion but he patches things up that it's the complexion of Hōjō Ujiyasu who is upset by the sudden attack of the Uesugi Army (*). Ujiyasu says that he will not fight daringly but the Uesugi Army is still threatened by them. Though Norimasa decides to transfer the headship of his clan to Kagetora, they are quite different from in their ways of thinking. And Ujiyasu plans to move to Odawara Castle.

The construction of Kaizu Castle is finished. Kansuke says it is indispensable to win against Kagetora. Toratsuna asks Kansuke to teach him more about castle construction but he asks him how old he is. Toratsuna says he's 34 years old. Then kansuke asks him why he is unmarried but he answers that he imitates Kansuke who is single also.

On the New Year Day of 1561, Kagetora still stays at Mayahashi Castle with his army. USAMI Sadamitsu asks Heizō, who becomes his direct vassal how he thinks of Kagetora. Heizo says he's like a god of war but Sadamitsu tells him that he is just a human and he will be be arrogant if he has a power. After that Kagetora goes to Oshi Castle (**) in Musashi and orders NARITA Nagayasu, lord of the castle to lead the van for him. Then Ise, wife of Nagayasu appears. She comes fromKyoto and on her way to Musashi, she could not see Mt. fuji because of strong wind. Kagetora tells Nagayasu to make her his hostage and promises that he will show her Mt. Fuji.

Denbee (Yoshiki Arizono, right) and Hazuki (Juri Manase) participate in the attack on the Warigatake castle

However, he cannot take Odawara Castle in three days as he planned as the castle is strong. Besides Ujiyasu orders his supporters block the route to supply the headquarter of  Kagetora. So Ujiyasu can turn the tables on Kagetora the more the siege is prolonged. On the other hand, Shingen plans to take Warigatake Castle in northern Shinano to sway Kagetora emotionally because it's hard for his ally IMAGAWA Ujizane to dispatch troops. During the attack, Hazuki tells Denbée that she will cause the lord surrender while they hug each other. Then Denbée asks her to marry him after the battle.

Kagetora drinks sake surrounded by the arrows shot at him in Odawara Castle

Odawara Castle never falls and Kagetora says that it is supposed that gods and Buddha bless him. But Ise says she cannot believe gods and Buddha who back up those who fight a war. Kagetora hears it and takes a bottle of Sake and a cup and enters Odawara Castle by himself. Then he drinks it magnificently despite the arrow and musket balls shot at him (***). Ujiyasu who sees the scene and says,

"How fearless our enemy is!"

Kagetora (right) succeeds Uesugo Norimasa (ICHIKAWA Sadanji, right) at Tsurugaoka Shrine and changes his name Masatora

On the 16th of leap March (****) in 1561, Kagertora takes over the head of the Uesugi clan at Tsurugaoka Shrine in Kamakura. Many rulers of Kanto region welcome him along the road and Narita Nagayasu who is in full dress and rides on a horse is among them. However Sadamitsu feels something unfavourable and as he fears, Kagetora who changes his name Masatora gets out of the palanquin and approaches Nagayasu. Then he forces him get off h from the horse and hits him violently because he thinks it is so impolite (*****).


(*) In reality, he was ill at that time and died soon.
(**) The castle surrendered when TOYOTOMI Hideyoshi laid the siege to Odawara Castle in 1590.
(***) Maybe he behaves that he is blessed and nobody can kill him.
(****) It's a system in lunisolar calendars and a leap (intercalary) month is inserted into regular months.
(*****) According to "Sōshū Heiranki", a war chronicle, Masatora hits Nagayasu's forehead with his fan but didn't do violence to him.

The images are from the DVD series of "Fūrin Kazan".