The episode starts off in Satsuma in 1835, 20 years prior to the arrival of the Black Ships led by Matthew C. Perry. People in Satsuma are excited by the arr... read more
Zusho's financial reform successfully clears Satsuma clan's debt, however, many people are still badly off. Young samurai, including Saigo Kichinosuke and Ok... read more
Oyura, concubine of Shimazu Narioki, the clan head, plots to make her son Tadayuki an heir to the Satsuma clan which provokes a serious confrontation within ... read more
Nariakira succeeds as the head of the Satsuma clan. Although Nariakira is active in reform, Kichinosuke and other young samurai are impatient that Shosuke is... read more
Tadatake learns from Tadayuki that his son wants to marry Okatsu. Naogoro is upset to hear the news. Meanwhile, Naogoro meets John Manjiro who had just come ... read more
Tadatake is delighted with Nariakira's offer to adopt Okatsu, but Oyuki senses something is wrong with Kikumoto who brought up Okatsu. Okatsu is unable to ab... read more
Okatsu is deeply shocked by Kikumoto's suicide and outraged at Tadatake's insulting attitude towards her death. Meanwhile in Edo, the Tokugawa shogunate lear... read more
Moving into Tsurumaru Castle, Okatsu is unable to fit into its restrictive customs, while those women serving under her and related to the Shimazu family moc... read more
Okatsu is being trained to be a full-fledged princess by Ikushima, a tutor brought in from the Konoe family in Kyoto while Nariakira renames Okatsu as "Atsuk... read more
Ikushima is finding it difficult to train Atsu-hime who shows no interest in the training. Nariakira finally tells Atsu-hime that she is a candidate to becom... read more
Atsu-hime is absorbed in princess training with Ikushima. Naogoro is shocked by Nariakira's plot but is given a chance by Nariakira to see Atsu-hime again at... read more
Before Atsu-hime's departure, heads of the families related to the Shimazu family are called up to the castle where she sees her biological parents after a l... read more
Atsu-hime arrives at Satsuma clan's castle in Edo, however, she is unable to meet Nariakira's wife Fusa and adoptive mother of Atsu-hime. In Edo castle, Nari... read more
Atsu-hime is depressed by Fusa's affirmation that Atsu-hime can never be the wife of Iesachi who later becomes Iesada as the 13th shogun. A new year begins a... read more
Kichinosuke is put in charge of preparing the traditional bride's gear for Atsu-hime. Meanwhile, Nariakira is struck down by serious illness and rumor has it... read more
Nariakira recovers from his illness. Although Atsu-hime's marriage is in the final stage, Iesada shows no interest in getting married. To persuade Nariaki an... read more
The marriage of Atsu-hime and Iesada is finalized and the Satsuma clan's castle is in a celebratory mood. Meanwhile in Satsuma, Naogoro is to serve under Nar... read more
After returning to Satsuma, Naogoro decides to marry Ochika. In Edo, the day of Atsu-hime's wedding, which was canceled after the big earthquake, is finally ... read more
Atsuhime moves to Edo castle where she meets Honjuin, Iesada's mother, and Takiyama who is in control of the servants at "Ooku." However, the meeting with At... read more
Having seen Iesada playing in the garden, Atsu-hime begins to have doubts over his sanity. On the night of the wedding, Iesada goes to sleep, showing no inte... read more
Atsu-hime senses Iesada must be pretending to be benighted and asks Iesada the reason. He begins to ignore and avoid her. Atsu-hime asks him to see her but h... read more
Atsu-hime remains unsure whether Iesada is really benighted. The U.S. begins preparing for a trade treaty between the shogunate after signing the Treaty of S... read more
Despite Atsu-hime's persuasion to name Yoshinobu successor, Iesada disagreed saying it was nonsense to recommend someone she had never met. Atsu-hime invites... read more
As the day to meet U.S. consul general neared, Iesada tells his worries to Atsu-hime. She comes up with an idea for Iesada to maintain his dignity at the mee... read more
Iesada falls ill which gave cause for Honjuin to keep Atsu-hime away from Iesada, saying his illness was caused by Atsu-hime. Although Iesada wished to spend... read more
While the dispute over shogun's successor heats up, Ii Naosuke, siding with the Kishu-Tokugawa family that pushes Yoshitomi to become shogun, visits Honjuin ... read more
Atsu-hime decides not to side with neither Yoshinobu nor Yoshitomi until she is convinced who better suits as the next shogun despite Nariakira's order to pu... read more
Ii becomes shogun's chief adviser and Yoshitomi is chosen as the next shogun. Iesada orders Ii and Hotta, the chief retainer of the shogunate, to entrust Ats... read more
Yoshitomi, the new shogun, arrives at Edo castle and is renamed as Iemochi. Tenshoin renews her hopes to become his guardian. Ikushima informs her intention ... read more
Yoshitomi, the new shogun, arrives at Edo castle and is renamed as Iemochi. Tenshoin renews her hopes to become his guardian. Ikushima informs her intention ... read more
Ii hiked crackdown on those in reverence for the Emperor and the exclusion of foreigners, and Muraoka, who serves the head of Konoe family in Kyoto and atten... read more
Tenshoin sorrowfully accepts Ikushima’s departure which marked the end to their tight partnership. The shogunate prepares for a steamship voyage to the U.S.,... read more
Ii’s sudden death shook the shogunate which tried to restore order through marrying Iemochi with Emperor Komei’s sister, Kazunomiya. Tenshoin’s strong resist... read more
In sending Kazunomiya to Edo castle, the Imperial Court made requests that upset the "Ooku." Once in the castle, she is attracted to Iemochi at first sight d... read more
Although the wedding ceremony of Iemochi and Kazunomiya ended successfully, the tension between the Imperial Court remained. Tenshoin is concerned over Iemoc... read more
While the Edo group and the Kyōto group inside the Ōoku continue to antagonize to each other, little by little Kazunomiya and Iemochi became closer. Tensho-i... read more
The Satsuma force led by Hisamitsu entered Edo accompanying an Imperial envoy. His aim was to reform the Tokugawa Shogunate. Meanwhile, Tenshō-in was anxious... read more
A letter from Tatewaki recounting what really took place in Namamugi Incident reached Tenshō-in. Having learned the truth, she maintained that the Shogunate,... read more
The news that Shōgun Iemochi arrived at Kyoto came to Ōoku and lightened her mind. Kazunomiya, on the other hand, worried about Iemochi and became more restl... read more
Saigo, who had been exiled, came back. At the gathering where Saigo and his old friends reunited, Tatewaki met a geisho, Okoto. The Chōshū domain, which is b... read more
Despite growing distrust between Tenshoin and Kazunomiya in "Ooku," Iemochi leaves for Osaka to fight Choshu clan which raised its momentum to bring down the... read more
Tenshoin and Kazunomiya spend days praying for the safety of Iemochi who is in a difficult position in Osaka castle. To prepare for the war against Choshu, I... read more
Tenshoin is struck with deep sorrow after learning Iemochi's death. Kazunomiya says she wants to return to Kyoto rather than spend the rest of her life as a ... read more
Yoshinobu, who became shogun after Iemochi's sudden death, prepares for the war against Satsuma-Choshu clan in Kyoto. Tatewaki, who seeks for a peaceful reso... read more
Tatewaki's attempt to stop Saigo and Okubo from taking a hard-line approach against the shogunate was ignored. The two and Iwakura prepared for war. Concerne... read more
Despite hopes of Tenshoin and Kazunomiya, who is renamed Seikanin, the war breaks out. Satsuma-Choshu troops fought under the Emperor's banner and when the s... read more
In Kyoto, Tatewaki, who opposes the use of force, visits Saigo to make him change his plan to attack Edo. Saigo, however, refuses to meet him of fear of bein... read more
Tenshoin sees Katsu to find ways to prevent war and asks him to deliver a letter written by the late Nariakira to Saigo. Although Katsu asks Saigo to save th... read more
As the day of her departure neared, Tenshoin spends time cherishing her memories at "Ooku" with her servants. Seikanin, who was to leaves ahead of others, te... read more
Tenshoin spends peaceful days outside Edo castle and is delighted by a sudden visit by her mother and brother from Satsuma. She thanks her mother for raising... read more