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00:17the 16th century in England it was the Elizabethan age in Japan a time of
00:27brutal civil war the time of the samurai the country had been torn apart as powerful clans fought each
00:39other for supremacy each warlord had his own private army of samurai Japanese Knights dedicated
00:47to battle and honor and loyal to the death
00:59this is the story of the greatest samurai general of them all his achievements would match those of
01:05Caesar and Napoleon he'd found a dynasty that would rule Japan for 250 years and whose ruthless
01:18philosophy would shape it until our modern age and the biggest battle in samurai history he would
01:29gamble everything in one of the most bizarre military decisions ever made he will kill us all then what
01:38have we got to lose his name was Tokugawa Ieyasu and he was to become the Shogun
02:07the way of the warrior says I have no designs I make seizing the opportunity my design
02:17the way of the warrior says I have no principles I make adaptability my principle
02:28this is how I followed the way of the warrior
02:36seize the opportunity and the power
02:42this is how I followed the way of the warrior says it all began with a child
02:42it all began with a child
03:11my Lord the title has asked for you on the 18th of September 1598 the eyes of Japan were on
03:24a six-year-old boy his father the country's supreme ruler known as the taiko lay dying
03:37among the nobles present Ishida Mitsunari the taiko's loyal minister
03:47and Tokugawa Ieyasu the country's most powerful warlord the rivalry between these two men would shape the future of Japan
03:57it the Uri I'm sorry my son
04:15I'm sorry my son
04:16Mitsunari
04:17Mitsunari
04:17My lord
04:18My good faithful Mitsunari
04:25Mitsunari
04:27Yasu, I want you both to promise me you'll stand together as allies until my son is old enough to
04:43rule.
04:46Keep Japan united.
05:04Both Ieyasu and Mitsunari swore to work together in a ruling council. This would govern until the Taiko's son was
05:12of age.
05:17But in reality, Ieyasu had no intention of supporting the boy.
05:32We have to get ready, my son, for the coming chaos.
05:42Sir!
05:51Do you think me dishonorable? Disloyal for plotting against the Taiko's son?
05:59The way of the warrior puts loyalty above all things.
06:06But loyalty to whom? Your leader? Your country?
06:13Your family?
06:16Ah!
06:20Let me tell you about loyalty.
06:24Twenty years ago, I was just a minor lord, and I served a man more powerful than me.
06:30And my master said, your eldest son, Nobiyasu, I hear he plots against me.
06:45Either he dies, or your family will be wiped out.
06:52Even though the accusation was unjust, my son chose the honorable course.
07:04I kept the sword that Nobiyasu used, a reminder that loyalties can conflict.
07:18This boy is now my heir, Hidetara, a young man impatient for power.
07:32I want to be part of the fight.
07:38I'm not a boy.
07:42We may not need to fight if we plan and move carefully.
07:51Hidetara.
07:54You were a gift.
07:57Born the year your brother.
08:02Born the year Nobiyasu died.
08:07So I lived the rest of my life,
08:09wrapped in silk because of Nobiyasu?
08:12I've tried to protect you.
08:13I don't need protecting.
08:16What I need is a chance to prove myself.
08:20Until you can learn to think before you act,
08:24you can do exactly as I say.
08:28And I say we use politics, not war.
08:48After months of careful preparation,
08:52Ieyasu made his first move.
09:12My lord, I have seen to it you have everything you need for a safe and pleasant journey.
09:17I'm sorry.
09:27He sent the Taiko-san away from Fashimi and the intrigues of court.
09:32It was the opening gambit and a deliberately planned strategy of provocation.
09:37And Ieyasu expected a swift reaction from Mitsunari and the ruling council.
09:44He didn't have to wait long.
10:21He was a little polite.
10:24He was an innocent man.
10:25He just really was a father.
10:25He was His son.
10:26He was an innocent man.
10:28So he made the this man.
10:28I want to claim the beautifulконals.
10:29He was an innocent man who was trying to come out.
10:29So, if you don't try to take part in the same direction.
10:30I'm not going to the same way as I say.
10:31I'm not going to be a champ to go.
10:31I believe he must go.
10:32I'm not going to be a champ.
10:32So, now he wants to go.
10:33I'm not going to try to decide such a shop.
10:36I'm going to go.
10:55Oh, God.
11:30Tori Mototada was Ieyasu's loyal samurai retainer.
11:35His family had served and protected his master's clan for generations.
11:46So, I finally get my own bed back.
11:53It's me. We can see.
12:00Who are they?
12:02Mitsunari's men.
12:04Mitsunari? I'll kill him.
12:06You'll do nothing, understand?
12:09You will leave Mitsunari to me.
12:13You'll do nothing.
12:24Why didn't I act against Mitsunari?
12:31The way of the warrior says, make impatience your enemy.
12:38Mitsunari was predictable.
12:41A pen pusher, not a soldier.
12:45One should be in no hurry to remove an opponent you know you can beat.
12:53Of course, I hadn't planned on the reaction of my hot-headed son, Hidetada.
12:58Along with Iinaumasa, one of my generals, he traced Mitsunari to a friend's mansion.
13:17Is that the one?
13:17Move it in!
13:18Yes!
13:28That's the one.
13:33Oh!
13:34I've got to move her.
13:46Make way for that ladyship.
14:22Where's Mitsunari?
14:24He was seen here.
14:38The manner of Mitsunari's escape is notorious in Japan, but what he did next was more extraordinary.
14:47Instead of fleeing to his castle or rallying his allies, he put his faith in the samurai
14:52code of honor and went straight to his enemy's mansion.
15:07You know, if you had some decent makeup, Mitsunari, maybe did something with your hair, they're
15:14always looking for a geisha in Osaka.
15:17I'm flattered.
15:20Odd coincidence, don't you think?
15:23Assassins drop in on me a couple of nights back, and now someone's chasing you.
15:29We live in dangerous times.
15:32We certainly live in strange ones.
15:38Don't play games with me, Ieyasu.
15:42Call off your son.
15:50And why should I do that?
15:55All I've ever done my entire life is serve the Taiko's family.
15:59Before and after his death.
16:02You're scared.
16:03You want my protection.
16:07What do you want?
16:09You retire to your castle in Sawayama.
16:13Stay there.
16:15Get that makeup.
16:17Find a nice man.
16:18You are not the Taiko.
16:20No.
16:21To order me.
16:22No.
16:22I'm not the Taiko.
16:25And I'm not ordering you.
16:28It's your choice, Mitsunari.
16:31Exile.
16:32Or I reveal.
16:35You tried to murder me.
16:49Ieyasu.
16:50Ieyasu had Mitsunari where he wanted him.
16:52Alive, but weakened.
16:55Now he began to tighten his grip on power.
16:59He ousted two other members of the ruling council.
17:03And occupied the Taiko seat at Fushimi castle.
17:13He married his daughters off to the sons of other powerful warlords.
17:18So potential enemies became allies.
17:24It looked as if Ieyasu would take control of Japan through politics, not war.
17:34And then, in the east, a samurai lord began to gather his army in protest at Ieyasu's actions.
17:54For Ieyasu, putting down these rebels would confirm his authority, but he still needed the approval of the Taiko's son,
18:03in whose name he claimed to act.
18:10That meant securing the support of the boy's guardian, his cousin, Hideaki, a young man with whom Ieyasu had history.
18:21hubs...
18:27.
18:48.
18:53You ride like a madman.
18:54I need to keep up with you.
18:59How's the boy?
19:01Missing his father.
19:05If you've come here to ask for my support, I can't give it.
19:11You know, Hideaki, if your uncle was alive, he'd deal with the rebels just as I will.
19:17In helping me, you'd be doing your uncle's work.
19:22Wasn't that our promise? To keep the peace?
19:25Is that what I'd be doing? Or would I just be helping you?
19:31Then you'll have to decide if you trust me.
19:38Hideaki, five years ago you came back from battle.
19:41When Mitsunati advised Taiko, the best thing you could do was to pull a sword straight across your guts.
19:47He said you were a disgrace, that you deserved death.
19:51I failed.
19:53I led my troops to defeat.
19:55You were a boy, sent to do a man's job.
19:57I know. You were the one who spoke up for me.
20:01It wasn't hard to do.
20:04I didn't want to see another young life wasted.
20:11I know this isn't easy for you.
20:14But someone has to hold Japan together.
20:18Like it or not, that's you and me.
20:31Now confident he had Hideaki's blessing and therefore official authority,
20:35Ieyasu led his army out of Fashimi.
20:38His plan was to rendezvous with Hideaki before striking east against the so-called rebels.
20:47But he was to be disappointed.
20:49Instead of joining Ieyasu, Hideaki went over to the other side.
20:54Now it was Mitsunari who claimed the Taiko's authority.
20:57And with Ieyasu miles to the east, Mitsunari marched on Fashimi.
21:12Ieyasu had left only his samurai retainer, Mototada,
21:16and a few hundred men to guard his rear.
21:19They were outnumbered 20 to 1.
21:30It's not the way of the warrior.
21:33To be ashamed and avoid death.
21:36It is to die for your master.
21:38To die with honor.
21:52To die with honor.
22:21To die with honor.
22:22To die with honor.
22:22To die with honor.
22:22To die with honor.
22:23To die with honor.
22:23To die with honor.
22:23To die with honor.
22:24To die with honor.
22:24To die with honor.
22:24To die with honor.
22:26To die with honor.
22:27To die with honor.
22:28To die with honor.
22:28To die with honor.
22:29To die with honor.
22:31To die with honor.
22:32To die with honor.
22:33To die with honor.
22:36To die with honor.
22:48To die with honor.
22:49Here we go.
23:44Mototada could have surrendered to Hideaki, or even tried to escape.
23:54But that would have meant living with the shame of losing his master's castle.
24:00Instead, he chose to follow the way of the warrior.
24:05Oh!
24:07Oh!
24:07Oh!
24:10Oh!
24:36We march at first light.
24:39Confront Ieyasu.
24:40We don't need to confront him.
24:43Ieyasu's weakened.
24:44He can be forced to negotiate.
24:45You didn't think this was it, did you?
24:48Fushimi is just the first step.
24:51We leave tomorrow.
24:52Get your men ready.
25:08I underestimated Mitsunari.
25:18Mototara fought to the last.
25:23He died for our family.
25:27Now we have no choice.
25:29The chaos is here.
25:31A full-scale civil war.
25:34It's not what I wanted.
25:36And we have a duty to end it quickly.
25:40Our troops will advance from two directions.
25:43I'll take 30,000 men along the south road.
25:47Iretara.
25:4940,000 men will take the north road.
25:54Under you.
26:14You're not a boy.
26:19Thank you, Father.
26:21Don't let me down.
26:38This was the start of a brutal civil war in Japan.
26:48Heading out from Edo, Ieyasu, now cast as a traitor,
26:53tried to pick off Mitsunari's allies in a series of battles.
27:01Mitsunari, his ranks swollen by many warlords loyal to the Taiko's family,
27:06approached from the west, aiming to attack Ieyasu's power base.
27:18Eventually, Mitsunari and his allies converged on Ogaki,
27:2212 miles from the vital crossroads of Sekigahara,
27:27which controlled access to all parts of Japan.
27:38In mid-October 1600, Ieyasu himself arrived.
27:43Already there, waiting for him, his general now Amasa.
27:47The two sides were now separated by a narrow valley.
27:53Mitsunari's pitched camp at Ogaki Castle.
27:56He's up there in numbers.
28:00Where's Iretara?
28:01I don't see his banner.
28:03I have sent messengers.
28:05When?
28:06A week ago.
28:09He's got half our army.
28:11He knows that, my boy.
28:20What Ieyasu didn't know was that Hidetara had been needlessly waylaid,
28:25besieging the castle of one of Mitsunari's allies.
28:28Ieyasu badly needed his son's troops.
28:38You should try to sleep.
28:46You know, tomorrow is...
28:50...21 years to the day of my boy's death.
28:54...21 years to the day of my boy's death.
28:58...21 years to the day of my boy's death.
28:59They said he was a traitor.
29:03Conspiring against the Lord I served.
29:06It wasn't true.
29:08But he had to die.
29:14There was nothing I could do.
29:24He had to die.
29:26Or our family would have been destroyed.
29:31That was the choice.
29:43He was required to prove my loyalty.
29:58To nobody else.
30:03To loyalty.
30:17The next day, Mitsunari made his move.
30:21He prepared plans to seize Sekigahara.
30:24Aiming to use the crossroads to bypass Ieyasu.
30:28Perhaps even attack his rear.
30:31And Mitsunari had a critical strategic advantage.
30:40Hideaki, the taiko's nephew, had taken up position on Mount Matsuo, which overlooked the crossroads itself.
30:54Leave me.
30:55Yes.
31:01Looking forward to it?
31:03To what?
31:04Putting down a rebellion.
31:06Wiping out the usurper.
31:08What is it with you, Mitsunari?
31:11You like watching people die?
31:12Yes.
31:13It deserves what's coming.
31:15Years to save my life.
31:17When you would have seen me killed.
31:20That was a long time ago.
31:23I misjudged you.
31:26I'm sorry.
31:30I know you don't like me.
31:34But when this is over, I'd like you to consider a proposal.
31:41I'd like you to become my chancellor.
31:47Your chancellor?
31:50You mean until Hideri is of age?
31:54Of course.
31:56Of course.
31:58All I ask is that you attack Ieyasu the moment I send up my flair.
32:09You're in a good position here.
32:32You're in a good position here.
32:41On the evening of the 20th of October, 1600, Mitsunari's army left Ogaki, heading towards Sekigahara.
33:09They are marching towards Sekigahara.
33:11Of course they are.
33:13They want the crossroads.
33:15We need to withdraw and regroup.
33:18If we withdraw now, we lose.
33:21My lord.
33:22Without Hidetada, we are under strength.
33:25Hidetada's dead to me.
33:27Do you understand?
33:35This is from Hideaki.
33:49You are relying on Hideaki?
33:51He says he's made a mistake.
33:54He's no longer fooled by Mitsunari.
33:56And you believe him?
33:58Why lie?
33:59Because that is what he does.
34:02Motodada died because of him.
34:04Are you questioning me?
34:07Are you?
34:15We'll find out the truth.
34:17Soon enough.
34:19At Sekigahara.
34:35Ieyasu was now risking everything on a confused young man who had already betrayed him once before.
34:45This was Ieyasu's first great gamble that day.
34:49It would not be his last.
35:11It would not be his last.
35:12As they prepared for battle, both sides were pinning their hopes on Hideaki,
35:17positioned on Mount Matsuo.
35:26Ieyasu was gambling that Hideaki would defect and join battle on his side.
35:38Mitsu Nari was confident that Hideaki would attack Ieyasu on the agreed signal.
35:50Ieyasu was the biggest gathering of samurai in Japanese history.
36:08Ieyasu was the biggest gathering of samurai in Japanese history.
36:13He was on his honor in combat.
36:17I want you to take Tadayoshi into battle.
36:20Look after him.
36:30Make me proud.
36:53Would you like to take a look at their front line, Tadayoshi?
37:50The battle began.
37:51They ran well for Ieyasu's forces.
37:57But samurai combat was no longer just a test of sword skill.
38:09Cannons and arquebuses, weapons introduced by Jesuit missionaries, played their part.
38:28And all the while, Hideaki remained rooted on top of his hill.
38:37Come on, Hideaki.
38:39What's stopping you?
38:47Slowly, Mitsunari's men began to prevail.
39:01Bring up the reserves!
39:15Where's Tadayoshi?
39:17We got separated.
39:27Signal Hideaki.
39:29Oh.
39:30Stop, stop!
39:47My lord, that's our signal.
39:53Prepare for a flank assault by Hideaki.
39:57Hold!
40:15What is he doing?
40:24What's he waiting for?
40:27He's wavering.
40:29He can't decide.
40:40I'm alive.
40:42Lord Mitsunari says, you must engage now.
40:55Fire on Hideaki.
40:57Hold!
40:58My lord, have you lost your mind?
41:01You will bring him down on us.
41:03He has to choose which side he's on.
41:06Someone has to make him choose.
41:12He will kill us all.
41:16Then what have we got to lose?
41:19Fire!
41:19Fire!
41:21It was an extraordinary gamble.
41:23Firing on the man that Ieyasu wanted as his ally.
41:29My lord, Ieyasu's coming!
41:37Prepare to attack.
41:49Fire!
42:00This can't be.
42:02He can't do this to me.
42:07Hideaki is attacking us.
42:19Fire!
42:33Ieyasu's decision to fire on Hideaki has entered Japanese legend.
42:38He had understood something deep inside the young man's psychology that day.
42:49It seems Hideaki's mistrust of Mitsunari and his debt of honor to Ieyasu outweighed any other loyalty.
43:01Even to his own family.
43:07That choice proved decisive for the future of Japan.
43:23You've got something to say?
43:27It will keep, my lord.
43:52For Ieyasu, it was a bitter victory.
43:58The day after the battle, his son Hidetada finally arrived near Sekigahara.
44:07He was met by his brother.
44:14Hidetada's failure had brought dishonor upon himself and his family.
44:20There could be only one way to make amends.
44:26The way of the warrior is found in death.
44:55Just tell him to do it.
44:57You should see him first.
44:59He knows what to do.
45:02Just make sure he acts like a true samurai, like his brother did.
45:06He knows what to do.
45:07He knows what to do.
45:42I'm sorry, my lord, but your victory makes you the most powerful man in Japan.
45:48No one is making you do this.
45:52You do not have to do this.
46:22You do not have to do this.
46:24I'm sorry, father.
46:31I know my duty.
46:55Twenty-one years ago, I had to prove my loyalty.
47:00And I lost a son.
47:05Now my loyalty is to my family.
47:24And I'll be damned if I lose another.
47:36And I'll be damned if I lose another.
47:37And I'll be damned if I lose another.
48:11I'll be damned if I lose another.
48:13I'll be damned if I lose another.
48:27I'll be damned if I lose another.
48:36I'll be damned if I lose another.
48:36By the time, I'll be damned if I lose another.
48:46I'll be damned if I lose another.