As soon as Toyotomi Hideyoshi is passed away, Tokogawa Ieyasu's intention to take over the clan becomes clear as Ieyasu acts very boldly toward his goal.
To make the situation worse (or better for Ieyasu), one of the most important figure who was supporing Toyotomi clan passes away. Maeda Toshiie is the one. After his death, no one has the seniority to stand against Ieyasu anymore, and it becomes apparent that Ieyasu is planning to take over Japan.
Many daimyo are forced to make a choice of their life time, and Yamauchi clan is no exception, either. Some of his friends support Toyotomi clan and some support Tokugawa clan. Kazutoyo himself is undecided. Thankfully, being a small daimyo, he is not forced to make a choice fast.
Yamauchi Kazutoyo's close friend is ailing fast. He ultimately chooses to support Tokugawa clan.
Toyotomi Hideyori is too young.
Yamauchi Kazutoyo and Tokugawa Ieyasu having tea together and discuss the future.
Yamauchi, still undecided, meets Ieyasu and have tea together. While at it, they talk. Yamauchi says honestly that he is unable to decide. He has served Toyotomi clan for his entire life. Even under Oda clan, he had served Toyotomi clan. However, at the same time, Ieyasu saved his life once in his younger days when he was just a foot solider.
Ieyasu beams a smile at Yamauchi and tells him to take his time.
Meanwhile Ishida Mitsunari is gathering other daimyo to stand against Tokugawa. However, Ishida Mitsunari acts very arrogant, and his arrogancy ultimately costs his life later.
As the internal conflicts becomes bolder and bolder, Yamauchi is forced to make a choice and he chooses to support Tokugawa clan because his wife Chiyo informs him that there are internal conflicts within Ishida Mitsunari's forces.
Battle of Sekigahara
Finally, war breaks out. This battle is recorded to be one of the most influential battles in Japanese history. At the time of the battle, Japan was divided into two factions. Tokugawa faction and the other factions who were against Tokugawa led by Ishida Mitsunari.
In general, daimyo on eastern side supported Tokugawa Ieyasu and daimyo on western side supported Ishida Mitsunari.
Yamauchi Kazutoyo is heading toward Sekigahara plain under rain. He tells his men to trust his luck.
Sekigahara plain.
The drama narrator shows up and explains battle formations throughout. Red flags are Tokugawa forces. Dark blue flags are Toyotomi forces.
A battle of 200.000 men.
This taiga drama is one of very very few drama that actually features battle of Sekigahara in a large scale, and I have to praise the director for having the fund and guts to hire so many extras to make this battle look as realistic as possible.
I could tell that some of zoomed-out battle scenes were done with CGs, but nevertheless there were a lot of actual extras featured. Furthermore, considering that some taiga drama completely omit battles scenes, it is very commandable that the drama director conjured sizable men to flim this battle.
Yamauchi thinks 'Did I make a wrong choice?'
At the beginning of the grand battle, Tokugawa forces struggle, and Yamauchi wonders if he made a very wrong choice. But it is too late to revert his choice anyway. The battle intensifies and Mori Kobayakawa who leads about 15.000 men betrays the western side and joins Tokugawa forces. This betrayal sends a critical message to those who are still undecided and force them to join Tokugawa forces as well.
All of a sudden, the tide of battle lean toward Tokugawa forces, and Ishida Mitsunari's forces are shattered. Ishida Mitsunari himself is captured.
Tokugawa Ieyasu is victorious.
End of part five, to be continued in part six (the last).
