Yoshitsune

On February 7th 1189, Minamoto no Yos-hitune, the commander of the Genji troops looks down at the Heike’s camp from the top of the cliff, waiting to make a surprise attack on the Heike troops, a sworn enemy of Yos-hitsune. Among the Heike’s commanders, however, there are Taira no Munemori, Tomomori and Shigehira, whom Yos-hitsune used to play with in his childhood as if they were brothers… In December 1159, the Genji clan, which has once prospered in Kyoto with its head Minamoto no Yos-hitomo, is defeated by the Heike clan in the battle of Heiji. Tokiwa, a much-loved mistress of Yos-hitomo and mother of Yoshitsune, escapes from Kyoto and wanders in the snow with her three children. The head of the Heike clan, Taira no Kiyomori is asked by his step mother, Ikenozenni to save the life of Yoshitsune’s half brother Minamoto no Yoritomo who was captured after the Genji's defeat. Tokiwa returns to Kyoto, hearing that her mother was captured by the Heike as one related to the Genji, and appeals Kiyomori for mercy to save her mother and sons in exchange for her own life. Kiyomori, who lost his own mother when he was a child, sees Ushiwaka (Yoshitsune’s childhood name) who is held in Tokiwa’s arms, and makes a decision.

Being spared by Kiyomori, Ushiwaka lives with his mother, Tokiwa in Kyoto. He enjoys playing with Kiyomori’s young sons as they were his brothers though he is a child of the Genji, Heike’s enemy. Taira no Shigemori, Kiyomori’s eldest son, suggests to Kiyomori that he should place Ushiwaka under some kind of constraint as Shigemori is alarmed to see how Ushiwaka is feeling close to his younger brothers. Hearing that Kiyomori often visits Tokiwa, Kiyomori’s wife, Tokiko secretly calls her and comes to know that Tokiwa is carrying Kiyomori’s child. One day, Kiyomori finds that his valuable folding screen which has been kept at Tokiwa’s is damaged by scribble writings in black ink. Though it turns out to be Ushiwaka’s doing, Kiyomori does not scold him. Instead, Kiyomori tells Ushiwaka of his dream about a "new country". Tokiko insinuates Kiyomori about Tokiwa. Kiyomori, understanding Tokiko’s feeling, decides to marry Tokiwa off to Ichijo Naganari together with Ushiwaka. Though Ushiwaka misses the Heike people, Tokiwa tells him strongly to stop visiting the Heike residence.

Being prohibited from visiting the Heike, Ushiwaka plays with orphans in Kyoto. Shigemori happens to spot the sight and once again suggests to Kiyomori about giving Ushiwaka some constraint. He is concerned that the people who used to be related to the Genji may gather around Ushiwaka. Kiyomori tells Tokiwa to choose whether to send Ushiwaka to the far land of Saigoku or to make him become a Buddhist monk. Being told to go to a Buddhist temple, Kuramadera, Ushiwaka asks her for the reason but Tokiwa keeps silent. At Kuramadera, Ushiwaka is unhappy since he misses his mother at first but gradually settles down by learning the world-view of Buddhism from Monk Kakunichirisshi and Kiichi Hogen, prophet and astrologer who gives Ushiwaka a new name, Shanaou. One day, Shanaou is told by his uncle, Shingu Juuro Yukiie who visits the temple that he is a member of the Genji family.

On the way going back from Kyoto, Shanaou is stopped on Gojo-oohashi Bridge by Benkei who has been hunting swords from the Heike people. Mistaking Shanaou for a Heike, Benkei attacks him suddenly. During their fight, Yoshitsune drops the flute given by his mother in a river. When Tokiko hears from Kiyomori about his plan to make their daughter Tokuko the Emperor's bride, she sets out a scheme to realize the plan. One day, Shanaou meets his friend Utsubo again at the temple. He is amazed to find her matured having survived through difficulties and she reminds him of Tokiwa, his mother. After Shanaou sees Utsubo off in Kyoto, he happens to be chased by the Heike warriors. When he runs into a shrine to hide, he meets Shizuka, a dancer who helps him out from the chase. Kiyomori took a prestigious sword, "Higekiri no Tachi" which had been always inherited by the Genji successors, at the end of the battle of Heiji. This sword turns out counterfeit and Kiyomori rages against Yoritomo who intentionally made the false assertion on the sword. In Kyoto, the Heike also searches for Shanaou as he is Yoritomo's younger brother.

The Heike gets increasingly alarmed to see Shanaou often visiting Kyoto instead of becoming a priest in a temple. One day, Shanaou is attacked by Utsubo’s brother and his follower Kisanta who seek to receive a reward from the Heike. Kisanta who is caught by Shanaou tells him that the Heike family is trying to kill him. Hearing that the Heike family is pressuring Kakunichi Risshi to make Shanaou a priest, Shanaou realizes that as long as he stays at the temple without becoming a priest he would cause difficulty for the people surrounding him. Being troubled about his future and feeling that he still cannot hate Kiyomori, Shanaou visits Otoku, a mysterious braid merchant, and asks her if she can arrange a meeting with Kiyomori. Kichiji, a gold merchant from Oushu recommends Shanaou to escape Kyoto and head for Hiraizumi, the city in Oushu where the Fujiwara clan rules. Around that time in Izu, Yoritomo spends his time leisurely though keeping an eye on movements in Kyoto. One day, Yoritomo meets Hojo Masako, daughter of Hojo Tokimasa who has watched Yoritomo by the order of the Heike.

Shanaou happens to see Kiyomori and his group heading for Fukuhara in Kyoto. Shanaou remembers Kiyomori's talk about the city of his dream and gets interested in seeing Fukuhara and its sea. In Izu, Hojo Tokimasa is concerned about his daughter Masako who looks unusually depressed. Hearing rumors, Yoritomo realizes that Masako is fond of him. Shanaou goes to Fukuhara with Kichiji and hears from him about Hiraizumi and its splendors. Understanding the chasm between himself and Kiyomori whom he has adored just like his father, Shanaou decides to go to Hiraizumi. Kiyomori entertains the ex-emperor Goshirakawa at Fukuhara who promises to grant Tokuko, Kiyomori's daughter, become a wife of the emperor. This aggravates a conflict between the Heike and court nobles. Returning to Kurama's temple, Shanaou sees Benkei who has been waiting for him to ask to have him as a retainer.

Shanaou informs Kichiji that he has made up his mind to go to Hiraizumi and starts preparing. The conflict between the Heike and high ranking court nobles continues and Kiyomori and his eldest son Shigemori quarrel over how this should be settled. However Kiyomori now puts great trust on Shigemori acting confidently as the successor of the head of the Heike despite his mild nature. Kiyomori's daughter Tokuko is reluctant to become the emperor’s bride. Around that time, a rumor about the relationship between Yoritomo and Hojo Masako in Izu spreads in Kyoto. Being alarmed to see the Genji regaining power, Mumemori strongly suggests to his father, Kiyomori to kill Shanaou or to confine him in the world of Buddhism. Shanaou is told by Tokiwa who is put under pressure by the Heike to become a priest immediately. Realizing that the time has come to leave Kyoto, Shanaou visits Otoku and asks her again to let him see Kiyomori. After a meeting with Kiyomori, Shanaou visits Ichijo Naganari’s residence to say farewell to Tokiwa.

Having made a farewell to Kakunichi Risshi and others, Shanaou secretly leaves Kurama and heads for Oushu accompanied by Kichiji and Kisanta. Hearing the news, the Heike family sends out orders to capture him. One night, Shanaou and his company who separate from Kichiji for a while are attacked by bandits. Benkei who has been following Shanaou’s company save them. Learning Shanaou’s identity, Iseno Saburo, one of the bandits, follows them and asks Shanaou to have him as a retainer. In Owari, Shanaou meets Kichiji again and decides to have a ceremony of Genpuku or samurai’s coming-of-age celebration by himself after hearing Owari is the place where his father Yoshitomo was killed. Now a full-fledged samurai under a new name Minamotono Kuro Yoshitsune, he proceeds to Oushu on a ship with one of the ship owners, Surugano Jiro. On the way, Yoshitsune learns from Jiro the location of Izu and looks at the land from far on the waters thinking of his brother, Yoritomo. In Izu, Hojo Masako declares to have Yoritomo as her husband, which bewilders her father, Tokimasa. Yoshitsune and his company land at a port to head for Hiraizumi. Impressed with Yoshitsune’s character Surugano Jiro follows them.

Yoshitsune and his company arrive in Oushu which is ruled by Fujiwarano Hidehira as the head of the Fujiwara family. At a banquet to welcome the company hosted by Hidehira, Yoshitsune falls asleep after drinking sake. Hidehira is not sure if Yoshitsune is such a fool that he is not able to foresee the chance of Hidehira turning against him. Hidehira decides to take time to judge Yoshitsune and orders Sato Tsugunobu to keep an eye on Yoshitsune by becoming his attendant. In Kyoto, Kiyomori’s daughter Tokuko becomes a bride of the Emperor, which enhances the power of the Heike family. Hidehira hears from Kichiji that Yoshitsune carried out the ceremony of Genpuku or samurai’s coming-of-age celebration in Owari by himself instead of having the ceremony after arriving at Oushu and asking Hidehira to serve as his guardian. Hidehira is impressed to know that Yoshitsune was taking precautions against Hidehira before seeing him. Hidehira gives Yoshitsune a fine horse and shows him around in Hiraizumi. Listening to Hidehira talk about his philosophy as the ruler of Oushu, Yoshitsune remembers Kiyomori and thinks of his own father who he does not remember. Hidehira tells Yoshitsune that he will think him as one of his own sons. Yoshitsune lives in Hiraizumi with his followers including Utsubo who has come after him from Kyoto. One day, Hidehira’s eldest son Yasuhira becomes missing at a hunt.

Yoshitsune comes back safely to Hiraizumi with Yasuhira who Yoshitsune found by himself in deep fog although the area was not very familiar to him. Yoshitsune’s courageous behavior and his wisdom of saving Yasuhira immediately becomes the talk of the town in Hiraizumi. Those from powerful local families visit Yoshitsune one after another offering him to take one of their young ladies as a bride. However Yoshitsune decline all the offers. Sato Tadanobu, younger brother of Sato Tsugunobu, visits Yoshitsune and asks him why he has rejected to marry a certain lady. Utsubo decides to return to Kyoto, hearing that Yoshitsune has been offered a marriage. She thinks her presence may become an obstacle for him. In Kyoto, the Heike family is prospering though their power is slowly starting to wane. A plot to overthrow the Heike family is discovered and the secret meeting of the conspirators is cracked down. Kiyomori’s relationship with the ex-emperor Goshirakawa, who is said to have joined the conspiracy, starts to reveal subtle discord. Tokuko, daughter of Kiyomori and Tokiko comes back to the Heike’s residence. As her daughter is expected to give a birth to the emperor’s child, Tokiko makes a certain decision.

The city of Kyoto becomes unstable day by day with fires breaking out constantly and frequent robberies. In fear, people accuse the Heike family as the cause of their misery. Being concerned that this unstable situation may develop into a chaos, Otoku sees Kiyomori. She recommends him to have Gotari, one of orphans who help her, serve him as he will convey complaints in the city. Around that time, Yoshitsune goes on a trip with his retainers to Echigo. On the way, he meets a samurai who is chased by a woman in armor. Later he finds out the man turns out to be Kisono Yoshinaka, Yoshitsune’s cousin, and the woman, Yoshinaka’s lover, Tomoe. Yoshitsune tries to follow Yoshinaka to find him but he has already departed. In Kyoto, Tokuko gives birth to a baby prince which makes the Heike family prosper more than ever. However, Shigemori, Kiyomori’s eldest son whom he deeply trusts, dies because of illness. The loss of his eldest son who has been taking an iron role for the Heike’s absolute power to continue makes Kiyomori decide to take the role himself. In a rage against the ex-emperor Goshirakawa who repeatedly confiscates the territories of the Heike family, Kiyomori keeps Tokuko and her son prince, who is a future emperor as well as Kiyomori’s grandson, at Heike’s residence. Then, he punishes the important members of high ranking court nobles, abolishes the political system ruled by the retired emperor, and finally has his grandson prince become Emperor Antoku.

In Hiraizumi, Yoshitsune hears from Hidehira that Kiyomori has confined the ex-emperor Goshirakawa. In Kyoto, Tairano Munemori forces Minamotono Yorimasa's son to hand over his fine horse. However Munemori does not like a horse and insults the horse and Yorimasa's son in public. Yorimasa, who has sided with the Heike despite of his origin, decides to part with the arrogant Heike family and to raise an army against them. He persuades Mochihito-ou, the ex-emperor's third son who has been belittled, to issue an order to subdue the Heike. Yorimasa asks Minamotono Yukiie to disperse Mochihito-ou's order to the Genji families and their followers around Japan. Hearing the rumor, Hidehira asks Yoshitsune what he would do if the two families start a battle. Yoshitsune hesitates to give an immediate answer. Yukiie approaches Hiraizumi, after conveying the order to Yoritomo in Izu and Kisono Yoshinaka. However the Heike has already grasped his movements and intention. Seeing Yoshitsune receive the order, Hidehira persuades to observe the outcome for a while.

Kiyomori is surprised to hear the news of Yorimasa's rebellion for he laid trust in Yorimasa. The troops led by Tomomori and Shigehira crush Yorimasa's uprising. Kiyomori hastily decides to move the capital to Fukuhara from Kyoto in spite of objection from others. Yoshitsune hears about the new capital from Hidehira and remembers Kiyomori talking about his city of dreams. In Izu, Yoritomo makes up his mind to rise against the Heike family as an answer to Mochihito-ou's order. Though he defeats Izu’s local magistrate, he is beaten in the battle of Ishibashiyama and then is saved by Kajiwarano Kagetoki, one of the Heike's followers. In Fukuhara, Tokiko and other Heike women including Yoshitsune's half-sister Yoshiko is gracefully enjoying a chrysanthemum viewing party. Hearing of Yoritomo's defeat, Yoshitsune asks Hidehira for leave to rise to help his brother.

Having come to Kisegawa from Oushu with his followers, Yoshitsune finally sees his brother Yoritomo. Yoritomo orders Yoshitsune to watch over the Heike troops on the other side of Fujigawa River. Yoshitsune’s followers complain about the triviality of the assignment but Yoshitsune calms them down and urges them to work hard. Their accomplishment impresses Yoritomo. One night, the Heike troops at Fujigawa River mistake the sound of the flock of waterfowl for an attack by the Genji and quickly retreat. After they are gone, Yoshitsune finds a dancer who could not move because of her wounded foot. The dancer is Shizuka who once saved Yoshitsune in Kyoto when he was being pursued by the Heike. Back in Kamakura, Yoshitsune, for the first time, meets Masako who is dazzled by his presence. In Kyoto, Kiyomori is furious with Koremori as he led the troop which was scared away of a flock of waterfowl at Fujigawa. Yoritomo asks Yoshitsune how he feels about turning against Kiyomori who he once looked upon as father.

Yoshitsune is restless as the day for Shizuka’s departure for Kyoto draws near. Yoshitsune hears from Kichiji about confusion in Kyoto after the transfer of the capital to Fukuhara. Hearing also about Kyoto’s devastation in Fukuhara, ex-emperor Goshirakawa pleads with Tairano Munemori to let him return to Kyoto. Although Kiyomori turns down Munemori’s petition for the return, he decides to go back to Kyoto as he realizes other members of Heike also wish for their return. Yoshitsune in Kamakura hears the news. He feels sympathetic towards Kiyomori and understands Kiyomori's sadness and loneliness for not being able to be understood by any member of his own kin. Yoshitsune witnesses Masako being jealous when she comes to know about the relationship between Yoritomo and Kamenomae. This incident inspires Yoshitsune to reveal his own feeling towards Shizuka and to confirm her feeling towards him. Though Yoshitsune and Shizuka spend a happy time together, Hojo Tokimasa and Masako urge Yoritomo to turn away Yoshitsune from his side.

As the capital is going to be moved back to Kyoto, people in Fukuhara get busy. Kiyomori just sits back and sees how things go. In Kamakura, Yoshitsune gets familiar with local farmers and spends days peacefully. Benkei is still unaware of the relationship between Yoshitsune and Shizuka and complains about her staying at their house. The rest of the Yoshitsune's followers try to let him notice the two’s relationship in vein. One day, Benkei falls off into the sea and is saved by a fisherman's daughter, Chidori. Benkei happens to see Chidori naked and gets upset since it is the first time for him to see a naked woman. Benkei falls in love with Chidori, which Yoshitsune and the others are happy about. Around that time, Masako asks Yoshitsune to marry a woman Yoritomo recommends. Because he loves Shizuka, Yoshitsune suffers. Shizuka, in her part, gets to know that Yoshitsune has been offered a marriage and decides to go back to Kyoto. Meantime, Shigehira burns down the Great Buddha statue in Nara, which causes antipathy against the Heike family in Kyoto. In order to remove misfortunes for the Heike family, Gotari says he will go back to Fukuhara to get the rosary which Kiyomori left behind.

Although he came to Kamakura wishing to help his brother, Yoshitsune feels that he is not welcomed there. In Kyoto, Kiyomori spends days in despair as his dream of founding a capital in Fukuhara failed. One day, Kiyomori comes down with a high fever. From his sickbed, Kiyomori sends a messenger to the ex-emperor Goshirakawa and asks him to recognize Munemori as the next head of the Heike family. However, the ex-emperor keeps silence since he has already decided to part with Kiyomori. Tokiko feels suspicious about the ex-emperor’s reaction and has Munemori visit the ex-emperor for a talk, but he comes back empty-handed. Despite desperate praying and devoted care of his family and followers, Kiyomori dies. A few days later, Tokiko lies to the members of the family about Kiyomori’s last words, feeling uneasy about Munemori’s capability as the head of the family. Around that time, Yoshitsune hears Kiyomori’s death from Yoritomo and Masako.

The news of Gotari’s death makes Yoshitsune upset as those who were close to him have died one after another. One day, Yoritomo introduces Noriyori, another half-brother of the brothers, to Yoshitsune. As he gets to know Noriyori, who has a gentle nature unlike Yoritomo, Yoshitune feels the warmth of family ties. Meanwhile, the ex-emperor Goshirakawa keeps an eye on the members and followers of the Genji family scattered around the country. Receiving Yoritomo’s proposal for reconciliation with the Heike clan, the ex-emperor encourages Tokiko to settle with the Genji family. Being concerned that her lie about Kiyomori’s last words is making the situation worse, Tokiko tells the truth to Munemori. However, Munemori reacts in an unexpected way. Yukiie comes to Kamakura after he lost in the battle at the Sunomata River. Treated disrespectfully by Yoritomo, Yukiie tries to induce Yoshitsune to head the clan together. Yoshitsune firmly declines the suggestion. One day, Yoshitsune learns that Tsugunobu Sato and Tadanobu Sato, two of his followers, are suspected of something and goes to talk with Yoritomo.

Notified that the great army of the Heike family left Kyoto, Yoritomo sends troops to the west immediately. Yoshitsune’s retainers get irritated to know that Yoshitsune is still excluded from the Genji’s army. Yoshitsune calms them down but he himself gets increasingly anxious. Yukiie visits Kisono Yoshinaka after leaving Kamakura and induces Yoshinaka to enter Kyoto before Yoritomo and declare himself as the head of the Genji family. Hearing of the rumor, Yoritomo heads to Kiso leading his army. Seeing Yoritomo’s mighty army, Yoshinaka hesitantly offers a settlement. Yoritomo demands Yoshinaka in return to entrust his eldest son Yoshitaka to him as the husband of his daughter. Yoritomo comes back to Kamakura taking Yoshitaka and commits an unexpected task to Yoshitsune, adopting Masako’s advice.

Yoshitsune often visits Yoshitaka with his retainers, feeling sympathy for Yoshitaka as he grew up without his father around as well. One day, one of Yoritomo’s followers suggests to him that they should kill Yoshitaka. Yoritomo, who took the suggestion as an open insult to his son-in-law, decapitates the follower as a warning for the others. Hearing the incident, Yoshitsune feels the difference between Yoritomo’s views and his. Yoritomo tells Yoshitsune that his ideals for a "new country" are to rule the followers by reason and power, not by empathy or bonds. Yoritomo’s vision seems to Yoshitsune to be totally different from Kiyomori’s. Yoshitsune asks himself what a "new country" means to him. Around that time, Yoshinaka beats the army of the Heike family at Kurikara Pass and moves forward to Kyoto. Hearing Yoshinaka’s advance on the capital town, Yoritomo finally commands Yoshitsune to head for Kyoto leading the van of the Genji’s army.

On the way to Kyoto from Kamakura, Yoshitsune hears the rout of Heike’s army and sends one of his retainers to Kyoto for scouting. Yoshinaka, who beat Heike’s army at Kurikara Pass, further attacks on the retreating enemy led by Koremori. From the necessity to obtain food during the escape, Koremori parts with a suit of armor which has been passed down to the legitimate heir of the clan. One day, Koremori’s mother visits Tokiko to ask her for a loan to buy back the armor. With the help and tact of Otoku, the Heike family takes back the armor. However, seeing the armor, Mumemori brings up a surprising idea about the main branch of the family. Around that time, Yoshitsune learns from the scout that Yoshinaka and his troops are heading to Kyoto. In an attempt to make Yoshinaka change his mind, Yoshitsune spreads a rumor that the army of Yoritomo is coming to the capital. However, his intension brings about unexpected results. As the great army of Yoshinaka approaches Mount Hiei, Tomomori proposes to Munemori that the family should leave Kyoto for the west to rebuild their troops.

Utsubo visits Yoshitsune in Omi. Hearing from her that the Heike family has decided to flee from Kyoto, Yoshitsune thinks of going to see what is happening in the capital. Around that time in Kyoto, it becomes known that the ex-emperor Goshirakawa has secretly escaped from the imperial palace. Munemori and other Heike members are shocked to learn the ex-emperor's betrayal. The Heike family finally leaves Kyoto and Yoshinaka enters the capital with Yukiie. Seeing Yoshinaka's rude behavior, the ex-emperor Goshirakawa feels insecure about siding with him. During the escape from Kyoto, the Heike family stops over at Fukuhara and holds a memorial service for Kiyomori. During the service accompanied by music, Tokiko sees Kiyomori’s ghost. Falling into raptures about being granted an official rank by the ex-emperor, Yoshinaka immerse himself in luxurious lifestyle in Kyoto and neglects to control his army. Yoshitsune, who comes to Kyoto to gather information, witnesses the violence by Yoshinaka's soldiers and goes to see Yoshinaka to remonstrate with him as his cousin.

On the way back from the disheartening meeting with Yoshinaka, Yoshitsune is attacked. At the Imperial Court in Kyoto, discontent about Yoshinaka’s impudence explodes. To give Yoshinaka a warning, the ex-emperor Goshirakawa treats Yukiie preferentially. Yoshitsune writes to Yoritomo but hesitates to report the whole truth about what Yoshinaka has been doing. Ordered by the ex-emperor, Yukiie chases after the Heike family. Losing the battle in no time, he runs away. Feeling uneasy to know that Yoshinaka has found out his conspiracy with Yukiie, the ex-emperor sends Tairano Tomoyasu to see how Yoshinaka reacts. Yoshinaka insults Tomoyasu publicly, which worsens the relationship between the two. The ex-emperor secretly starts gathering armed monks to oppose Yoshinaka. Realizing that Yoshinaka would be put into a corner, Yoshitsune tries to see him again to remonstrate with him. Despite Yoshitsune’s concern, Yoshinaka attacks the imperial villa where the ex-emperor has holed up and confines the ex-emperor. Around that time, Noriyori comes to Omi bringing Yoritomo’s order to proceed to a battle against Yoshinaka.

To defeat Yoshinaka, Yoshitsune heads for Kyoto leading Genji’s army. Supported by distinguished performance of his retainers, Yoshitsune beats Yoshinaka’s army at Uji River. After the battle, Yoshitsune enters Kyoto and succeeds in saving the ex-emperor Goshirakawa. Driven from the capital, Yoshinaka tries to get away but finally falls in battle. Appointed as the guard of the Imperial Palace by the ex-emperor, Yoshitsune settles into Kyoto and spends days in peace for a while. One day, Yukiie visits Yoshitsune. Hearing him speak ill of Yoshinaka, Yoshitsune gets angry about Yukiie’s embarrassing attitude. At the same time, Yoshitsune is irritated with himself for engaging in such disputes among his relatives. The next day, Yoshitsune meets his mother Tokiwa after a long time. Although she is glad to see Yoshitsune again, Tokiwa tells Yoshitsune not to come to see her any more.

Yoshinaka has died after being driven away from Kyoto. Hearing that his head will be displayed in public, Yoshitsune cannot restrain himself from opposing the cruel treatment. Noriyori and Kajiwarano Kagetoki, one of the retainers of Yoritomo, admonish Yoshitsune to hold back. At the site where Yoshinaka’s head is placed, Yoshitsune sees Tomoe, Yoshinaka’s lover. To Tomoe, who is in despair, Yoshitsune urges to live on. A few days later, Shizuka comes to see Yoshitsune. The two are delighted to be able to see each other once again. In the meantime, the army of the Heike clan at Ichinotani makes preparations for a battle. The Genji family also prepares its troops for the battle against the rival clan and waits for an imperial order to be sent from ex-emperor Goshirakawa. Given at last the order from the ex-emperor to attack the Heike family, Yoshitsune and his army leave for Ichinotani.

As the order of the ex-emperor Goshirakawa to attack the Heike family has been issued, Yoshitsune heads to Ichinotani, a natural stronghold surrounded by the sea and sheer cliffs where the Heike family has taken up a position. Tomomori, hearing that Yoshitsune’s army is approaching, sends a part of his troops to Mikusa Mountain for an ambush. Yoshitsune scents Tomomori’s tactics and has some of his retainers go on the scout. The scouts come back bringing a local hunter and his sister. With the two as the guide, Yoshitsune surveys the enemy position himself and finds out that it is hard to beat them by a frontal attack. Employing tactful tactics, Yoshitsune beats the Heike’s troops in Mikusa Mountain without losing his army and advances to Ichinotani. Around that time, Munemori receives a letter from the ex-emperor. In the letter, the ex-emperor tells Munemori to avoid fights and wait because the ex-emperor is working on the reconciliation between the Heike and the Genji families. Munemori believes the words of the ex-emperor and is relieved, falling into the ex-emperor’s trap. At last, the battle between the Heike and the Genji begins.

Having beaten the army of the Heike clan at Ichinotani, Yoshitsune comes back to Kyoto. He is worried about Shigehira, who used to be a playmate of him and has been held captive in the battle, because Kajiwarano Kagetoki insists on beheading Shigehira. After all, the Genji family decides to adopt Yoshitsune’s suggestion and offers a bargain to the Heike family to return Shigehira in exchange for the three sacred imperial treasures which the Heike family took away from Kyoto with them. Munemori, however, rejects the proposal and Shigehira is sent to Kamakura by Yoritomo’s command. Yoshitsune volunteers for escorting Shigehira to Kamakura and has an intimate talk with Shigehira on the way. In Kamakura, Yoshitsune receives praises from Yoritomo for his performance in the battle at Ichinotani and spends days peacefully for a while. One day, Yoritomo’s daughter, who has heard of Yoshinaka’s death, attempts to let Yoshitaka run away. Yoshitaka is caught at once and Yoritomo commands his retainers to behead Yoshitaka. Yoshitsune tries to prevent the punishment from being carried out but….

Yoshitsune tries to recruit new soldiers in Kyoto but finds it difficult as he has no official rank. Meanwhile, the ex-emperor Goshirakawa receives a letter from Yoritomo. In the letter, Yoritomo recommends his retainers for official positions but the list does not include Yoshitsune’s name. Learning that Yoritomo has something against Yoshitsune, the ex-emperor comes up with an idea of exploiting Yoritomo’s feelings against Yoshitsune. The ex-emperor appoints Yoshitsune an official in charge of police affairs. Though he hesitates to accept the appointment without recommendation by Yoritomo, Yoshitsune gives in to the ex-emperor’s persuasion. Yoshitsune’s act makes Yoritomo indignant and Yoritomo excludes Yoshitsune from the operation of chasing after the Heike family. In addition, Yoritomo sends a woman to Yoshitsune and tell him to marry her. To show his allegiance to Yoritomo, Yoshitsune makes up his mind to take the woman for his wife. One day, Tokiwa, Yoshitsune’s mother, comes to see him though she is in poor health.

Having been excepted from the Genji’s army, Yoshitsune spends days in Kyoto busy in cracking down burglars. To stop their violence, Yoshitsune asks for help to one of his old acquaintances who holds control of the underworld. With his aid, Yoshitsune persuades the leaders of thieves out of burglaries. The ex-emperor Goshirakawa, who is pleased to see the town of Kyoto regain peace, proposes further promotion for Yoshitsune. Yoshitsune writes to Yoritomo and asks him for approval. Sensing the ex-emperor’s real intention and feeling angry at Yoshitsune for being blind to the ex-emperor’s trick, Yoritomo gives back no reply. Meanwhile, Yoshitsune is summoned by the ex-emperor for a talk and feels an affinity with him, which is all the ex-emperor’s plot to get Yoshitsune on his side. Without Yoritomo’s agreement, the ex-emperor pushes through Yoshitsune’s promotion. Yoritomo is further irritated with Yoshitsune for having accepted the position. However, hearing that Noriyori is putting up a hard fight, Yoritomo orders Yoshitsune to rejoin the army to fight against the Heike family.

Yoshitsune is appointed as commander of the Genji troops to pursue the Heike clan which has fled to Yashima after losing in the battle of Ichinotani. On the day the Genji’s army leaves Kyoto, the hunter who helped Yoshitsune at Ichinotani comes to ask Yoshitsune to make him one of the retainers. Learning that Yoshitsune and his troops have left for Yashima, the members of the Heike family suspects that Yoshiko, Yoshitsune’s younger half-sister who was raised by the Heike family, is in secret touch with Yoshitsune. At Settsu, which is located on the shore across the Seto Inland Sea from Yashima, Yoshitsune’s army is joined by the Genji troops led by Kajiwarano Kagetoki. Since they lack enough boats to sail to Yashima, Yoshitsune have his retainers go scouting, trying to find a way to approach Yashima as soon as possible. Using the information brought back by the scouts, Yoshitsune works out tactics and sounds Kagetoki out on his plan. Kagetoki, who is in a supervisory position, tells Yoshitsune to wait for their fleet of boats to arrive. For Kagetoki, Yoshitsune’s strategy of going forward and forward regardless of the risk of losing forces seems reckless and incomprehensible. The two are sharply-divided on how to win the battle against the Heike family. Yoshitsune decides to set sail immediately for Yashima despite Kagetoki’s opposition.

Getting through a storm, Yoshitsune and his troops reach Yashima. While attacking the Heike family, Yoshitsune worries about his half-sister Yoshiko who stays with his enemy. Yoshitsune corners the Heike clan but they escape to the sea. After a tense standoff, Tokiko comes up with an idea to measure Yoshitsune’s ability. She sends one of their boats with a woman standing at the bow. Seeing the woman hold a pole with a fan on the tip, Yoshitsune understands that the Heike family is provoking the Genji’s troops to shoot the fan. Yoshitsune tells Nasuno Yoichi, who is a good archer, to shoot the fan with an arrow. In the meantime, one of Yoshitsune’s followers succeeds in winning over to the Genji’s side a local ruling family who owns a fleet of boats. During the resumed fierce battle, Sato Tsugunobu falls, saving Yoshitsune from arrows.

After the battle at Yashima, the Heike clan has fled further to the west. Thinking that the next battle would take place at sea, Yoshitsune suggests at a tactics meeting that they should make more local navies the Genji’s ally. However, he is criticized by Kagetoki for making the proposal without any means to realize it. Benkei, hoping to help Yoshitsune, volunteers to go to Kumano to persuade Tanzo, the leader of Kumano’s strong fleet. Although the other retainers of Yoshitsune disagree because Benkei is poor at negotiation, Yoshitsune lets him go to Kumano alone. At Kumano, Benkei manages to see Tanzo but the leader rejects to side the Genji family, feeling indebted to Kiyomori. Even risking his neck, Benkei asks Tanzo to accommodate the request if he wins a cockfight bet.

Having Benkei back from Kumano, Yoshitsune and his troops slowly advance on the sea to Nagato, where the Heike family has fled to. On the way, Yoshitsune succeeds in winning more local navies to the Genji’s side. In Nagato, Tomomori and the rest of the Heike family are on alert but confident since sea fight is their forte, while Tokiko feels anxiety and works out a trick to protect the very young emperor. Hearing that it was Yoshiko who was on the boat holding the pole with the fan at Yashima, Yoshitsune worries about her safety. As a battle is approaching, Yoshitsune secretly writes to Yoshiko to let her know the way to protect herself from being attacked by the Genji’s army in the battle.

Preparing for the coming battle against the Heike clan, Yoshitsune has one of his retainers check the sea tide and works out tactics. At a tactics meeting among the Genji troops, Kagetoki offers to lead the vanguard but Yoshitsune appoints another warrior for the post for the reason that the warrior is accustomed to the sea. Seeing Yoshitsune give priority to victory over Kagetoki’s taking credit, Kagetoki disagrees with Yoshitsune and the relationship between the two becomes further damaged. Around that time, the women of the Heike family discuss what to do with Yoshiko, who has happened to know the secret about the emperor. Tokiko tells Yoshiko to leave the ship of the Heike family but Yoshiko refuses, expressing her resolution to throw in her lot with the family. On the day before the battle, Yoshitsune is concerned whether Yoshiko would follow his instructions wrote in the secret letter sent to her. Without any means to remove his worries, Yoshitsune faces the fateful battle with the Heike family.

At Dannoura, Yoshitsune and his troops finally destroy the Heike family. With Otoku, who has come to Dannoura from Kyoto, Yoshitsune recalls the memories of Kiyomori and looks back at the rise and fall of the Heike clan as well as his younger days. Realizing again that he himself is the very person who ruined the Heike family, Yoshitsune expresses his mixed feelings toward Kiyomori to Otoku. Meanwhile, Yoshitsune hears from one of his retainers that Yoshiko is alive together with the Heike family members who survived. As a commander of the Genji troops, Yoshitsune sees Munemori and his son Kiyomune first, instead of seeing his half-sister. When he meets Tokuko, the emperor’s mother, Yoshitsune asks her whereabouts of the emperor and the sword that is one of the three sacred imperial treasures. Tokuko replies that both have gone under the sea with Tokiko. Finally, Yoshitsune sees Yoshiko and offers living together in Kyoto, but....

Yoshitsune returns to Kyoto and is praised by the ex-emperor Goshirakawa for his achievements at Dannoura. In Kamakura, Yoritomo and his retainers also appreciate Yoshitsune’s accomplishment. However, they bring it into question that Yoshitsune received an official rank from the ex-emperor Goshirakawa the previous year without Yoritomo’s approval. To examine Yoshitsune’s intention, Yoritomo gives him the role to render punishment to the warriors who are to be punished for accepting official ranks without approval. Yoritomo excludes Yoshitsune from the subjects for punishment in the hope that Yoshitsune would notice that he should give up the official rank spontaneously. However, Yoshitsune misunderstands Yoritomo’s intention. Furthermore, Yoritomo hears that Yoshitsune has given back the sacred imperial treasures to the ex-emperor Goshirakawa at the ex-emperor’s request. Furious to hear the news, since he has intended to gain the same power as the imperial court on the strength of having the treasures, Yoritomo writes Noriyori and Kagetoki in Kyoto not to obey Yoshitsune. Yoshitsune is perplexed being unable to understand why Yoritomo is enraged. One day, Yoshitsune visits Tokuko to find out the truth about his concern since the battle at Dannoura.

Yoshitsune’s visit to Tokuko is taken favorably by the imperial court but criticized by Kagetoki and other Genji warriors as being too amiable to the enemy. Otoku comes to see Yoshitsune, being worried about the undermined relationship between Yoshitsune and Yoritomo. Hearing from her what Kagetoki has reported about him to Yoritomo, Yoshitsune feels the urge to go to Kamakura to talk directly to Yoritomo. One day, Yukiie visits Yoshitsune after a long time and tells him Yoritomo is harsh on Yoshitsune out of jealousy. Yukiie even tries to persuade Yoshitsune to join a rebellion against Yoritomo with the backing of the imperial court. Being asked by the ex-emperor Goshirakawa to recommend a person who would take Munemori to Kamakura, Yoshitsune volunteers for the task. Yoshitsune leaves for Kamakura with his retainers and....

Forbidden by Yoritomo to enter Kamakura, Yoshitsune stays with his retainers at Koshigoe, a town in the outskirt of Kamakura. He waits to hear from Yoritomo but no message comes from Kamakura. Around that time in Kamakura, Yoritomo sees Munemori and his son Kiyomune to question them about the whereabouts of the imperial treasures. Masako hears that Yoshitsune is staying at Koshigoe and attempts to let him come into Kamakura secretly because her daughter Oohime is eager to see him. Though he is moved by the news that Oohime is suffering from mental illness, Yoshitsune refuses Masako’s request since he hesitates to go against Yoritomo’s will. Losing his patience with Yoshitsune who blindly puts faith in Yoritomo, Benkei urges Yoshitsune to face reality. At first, Yoshitsune gets angry at Benkei as he himself has been depressed by Yoritomo’s cruel treatment. However, Benkei’s thoughts get across to Yoshitsune later on and Yoshitsune makes up his mind to write a letter to Yoritomo.

Having sent a letter to Kamakura, Yoshitsune waits for a reply from Yoritomo in vain. In Kamakura, Yoritomo and his retainers discuss what to do with the letter from Yoshitsune which was actually addressed to one of the retainers, Oeno Hiromoto. Masako suggests Yoritomo that he read the letter and see Yoshitsune, but Yoritomo resolutely rejects it. Being unable to bear to watch Yoshitsune keep waiting for Yoritomo’s reply, Yoshitsune’s retainers try to figure out what is going on in Kamakura. Yoshitsune persuades them to contain themselves while he starts rethinking the way of his life. Around that time, Yoritomo is handed the letter from Hiromoto and starts considering whether to read it or not. One day, Tokimasa, Masako’s father, visits Yoshitsune at Koshigoe, bringing Munemori and Kiyomune. Tokimasa tells Yoshitsune Yoritomo’s command to take the head of the Heike family and the son back to Kyoto.

Without seeing Yoritomo, Yoshitsune has to go back to Kyoto with Munemori and Kiyomune. Yoshitsune comes to harbor a suspicion against Yoritomo for what Yoritomo has done to him. For his part, Yoritomo becomes skeptical that Yoshitsune would revolt against him and starts to hatch a plot to prevent Yoshitsune from getting power in Kyoto. On the way to Kyoto, Yoshitsune stops in at a temple. Hearing that Shigehira was there a few days ago, Yoshitsune recalls with Munemori the old days they spend together. Before they get to Kyoto, one of Yoritomo’s retainers comes from Kamakura and conveys Yoshitsune Yoritomo’s order to kill Mumemori. Yoshitsune opposes killing Munemori since Munemori has no intention of rebelling against Yoritomo any more, but ...

Back in Kyoto, Yoshitsune is welcomed by the ex-emperor Goshirakawa. Realizing that it is no longer possible to re-strengthen the ties with his brother, Yoshitsune decides to pursue a path different from Yoritomo’s. Meanwhile, the ex-emperor appoints Yoshitsune governor of Iyo on his own authority, learning that Yoshitsune has lost his domains due to Yoritomo’s order. Despite his retainers’ concern that accepting the appointment from the ex-emperor would worsen the relationship between the brothers, Yoshitsune takes up the post intending to show Yoritomo his decision to break away from his brother. Being alarmed that Yoshitsune would be drawn to the ex-emperor’s side, Yoritomo sends Kagetoki to Kyoto to keep an eye on Yoshitsune. One day, Yukiie visits Yoshitsune and tries to persuade him to topple Yoritomo together. Yukiie’s repeated visits are reported to Kamakura by Kagetoki and….

Though Yoshitsune has been appointed to be governor of Iyo by the ex-emperor Goshirakawa, Yoritomo sends an administrator to Iyo to take the domain away from Yoshitsune practically. In Kyoto, some suspicious characters wander around as if they are spying on Yoshitsune’s residence at Horikawa. Through reports from Yoshitsune’s old acquaintances in Kyoto, Benkei finds out that among them there is a warrior he has known in Kamakura. Benkei visits the temple where the warrior stays and gathers from the warrior’s odd behavior that something is going on. With the help of the other retainers, Benkei tries to cope in secret with the anticipated situation. One night, the warrior and others from Kamakura attack Yoshitsune. Having already been prepared well, Yoshitsune and his retainers counterattack and defeat them with the help of Yukiie who has come to support Yoshitsune. From the warrior who is captured, Yoshitsune learns that it is Yoritomo who commanded the warriors to assail Yoshitsune. Deeply hurt, Yoshitsune finally asks the ex-emperor to give him an order to attack Yoritomo.

Yoshitsune decides to leave Kyoto to avoid making the capital a battlefield. At the request of Yoshitsune, the ex-emperor Goshirakawa gives an official order to Yoshitsune and Yukiie to go west. Before his departure, Yoshitsune tells his wife Moe to go back to Kamakura. Responding to Yoshitsune’s considerateness, Moe encourages Shizuka to go along with him. Shizuka hesitates to leave Kyoto first, being concerned about her mother who would be left alone, but makes up her mind in the end to accompany him. On the way to the westward, the boat Yoshitsune and his party are aboard is hit by a storm. In the storm, the ghost of Tomomori appears in front of them. Benkei manages to exorcise the ghost by intoning the Buddhist scriptures but the party gets scattered as their boat overturns. With Benkei and Shizuka, Yoshitsune looks for the other retainers. Meanwhile, Yoshitsune gets to know that the ex-emperor has issued an order to hunt down him and Yukiie. To ask the ex-emperor his true intention, Yoshitsune heads back to Kyoto. However, Kiichi Hogen appears in front of him and tells him not to go into the capital.

After parting from Shizuka at Yoshino, Yoshitsune proceeds to Kumano worrying about her. His concern proves right as Shizuka is found and captured by chasers. In Kamakura, Yoritomo dismisses the nobles who have disobeyed him and executes his policies in which warriors dominate politics. Alarmed by Yoritomo’s such strong attitude, the ex-emperor Goshirakawa plots to make use of Yoshitsune again. The ex-emperor secretly gives a notice to temples and shrines to shelter Yoshitsune. Learning the ex-emperor’s move, Yoshitsune sends the ex-emperor a letter and asks him to withdraw the order of hunting Yoshitsune down. At Ohmi, Yoshitsune is reunited with some of his retainers who have been separated from him in the shipwreck. They tell him that Shizuka is taken captive in Kyoto. In the capital, Tokimasa, Yoritomo’s father-in-law, locates and beheads Yukiie and questions Shizuka about Yoshitsune’s whereabouts.

Having decided to escape to Hiraizumi, Yoshitsune hopes to take with him Shizuka, who has been captive in Kyoto. As Otoku tells him about a rumor that Shizuka is going to be sent to Kamakura, Yoshitsune and his followers plan to get her back on the way. However, Shizuka’s mother stops them, asking them to respect Shizuka’s feelings. On the day Shizuka leaves Kyoto, Yoshitsune and his retainers go to the town to see her off secretly. Hearing that the palanquin in which Shizuka is supposed to be is empty, Yoshitsune notices that all about her transfer is a trap to capture him. The next moment, Sato Tadanobu, one of Yoshitsune’s retainers who have been missing for a while, suddenly appears and attacks the escort with his sword in a desperate attempt to save Shizuka. Around that time in Kamakura, Yoritomo questions directly Shizuka, who has been secretly brought there. Masako notices that Shizuka is pregnant. After a while, Shizuka gives birth to a baby boy, who soon is killed by Yoritomo’s order. Sensing her baby is killed, Shizuka expresses anger and despair. Adding insult to injury, Masako tells Shizuka to perform a dance for Yoritomo at a ceremony. Shizuka accedes to Masako’s demand with dignity.

On their escape to Hiraizumi, Yoshitsune and his retainers arrive in Kaga, the current southern part of Ishikawa Prefecture. At a woodcutter’s house where they spend a night, Yoshitsune happens to meet Tomoe, who is now the wife of the woodcutter. Tomoe thanks him for having encouraged her to live, and this time, she urges him not to give up. Leaving Tomoe’s house, Yoshitsune and his retainers get to the checkpoint at Ataka. Since Yoritomo’s order to capture Yoshitsune has been reached the checkpoint, the officials investigate them strictly. When they are about to pass the checkpoint, the checkpoint officer shows up and stops them. Trying to escape, Benkei tells the officer that they are monks and on the way to Mount Haguro raising money to rebuild the Buddhist sanctum of Todaiji Temple. However, the officer feels suspicious of them and tells Benkei to show him "kanjincho,