oh god this has so much stuff I hope I’m getting all this right
On the day now known as the Eiroku Incident, there was a coup against Mikazuki’s owner, Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiteru. To defend himself, Ashikaga grabbed all the precious swords he owned and stabbed them on the floor around him. He then proceeded to fight and would switch from one sword to another as they became dull. The only sword that wasn’t used was Mikazuki, as he died before he had a chance to wield him. In this scene all the swords but Mikazuki disappear into autumn foliage.
Going more into detail about the foliage. These flowers and plants are drawn in a style that imitates Japanese gold/silver lacquer painting, Maki-e. These plants specifically can be found in the Koudai-ji temple’s lacquered poem chest. The temple is also famous for having a lot of Maki-e decorations. How this relates to Mikazuki: Mikazuki was offered to Toyotomi Hideyoshi after he was taken from Ashikaga. Toyotomi then gave the sword to his wife, Nene. Nene was the one who established the Koudai-ji temple. Mikazuki then belonged to Nene until she died.
Then in this scene a Sakura flower petal brushes Mikazuki’s face as a tear falling down his cheek would.
About the bird and the clouds and tears, Ashikaga’s death poem mentions all three of these. It goes something like this: “The May rain falls. Is it my tears or the mist that surrounds me? Lesser Cuckoo, carry my name up above the clouds”. (There’s also clouds being reflected on Mikazuki at the beginning).
But on the other hand it could also be referring to the Date clan’s crests: a sparrow, Japanese Pampas grass, and Chrysanthemums, since Dategumi is in this ED too. Or maybe it’s both?
Also in the top image you can see Honebami near the upper right corner. Honebami also spent some time in the Ashikaga family along with Mikazuki.
And these flowers are Evergreen Magnolias corresponding to the date 6/17, the day Ashikaga died.
Another thing worth mentioning is that there’s a lot of fives in this. Ashikaga died in the 5th month of the Eiroku era, and his death poem also mentions the 5th month. Aside from being the series’ 5th episode, it’s also titled “Satsuki”, which is the 5th month in the lunar calendar.