Taira no Kiyomori

In 1118 in Kyoto amid the time of confusion, Taira no Tadamori, the heir of the Taira clan, spends days doing dirty works to capture robbers under orders of the Imperial Court. One day, he encounters a pregnant woman named Maiko, who is on…

Heita, after reaching adulthood, wanders around gambling parlors being frustrated with his ironic fate of having two fathers: Tadamori as his foster father and the cloistered Emperor Shirakawa as his biological father. People consider Heit…

Heita, renamed as Kiyomori, spends days fighting against pirates in the Seto Inland Sea and restoring stolen food to fisherfolk. Kiyomori, however, is mistaken as a pirate and sent to Kyoto where he is reunited with Tadamori. Although Tada…

Tadamori becomes the first samurai granted a title which allows him to enter the Imperial Palace in recognition of his loyalty to the Imperial Court, which brings joy to the Taira clan including Kiyomori. However, some aristocrats are not …

In 1135 at the Imperial Court, aristocrats are discussing countermeasures against pirates who are raising havoc in the Seto Inland Sea. Despite Tadazane's recommendation to place the Minamoto clan to expel the pirates, the retired Emperor …

Amid the battle against the pirates, Taira no Moriyasu gets seriously hurt from protecting Kiyomori, and the Taira clan once returns to their base. Kiyomori, however, goes back to the Sea alone being mad at his cowardliness, where he is sa…

The Taira clan finally succeeds in subduing the pirates, however, Tadamori is not granted the rank equal to the aristocrats. Kiyomori, on the other hand, gets promoted and pays a visit to Tadazane. On the way back home, Kiyomori and Moriku…

In 1136, Kiyomori learns that Tadamori is illegally trading with Sung and keeps it secret from the Imperial Court. Meanwhile, Fujiwara no Yorinaga, the second son of Tadazane who is known for his all-or-nothing personality, is assigned as …

In 1138, Akiko gave birth to her and Kiyomori's first child—a baby boy. Now, an heir was born to the Heike family heir, and the entire clan rejoiced at the news of this auspicious event.

Tamako (Empress Dowager Taiken), wife of the retired Emperor Toba, gets upset and clutches at Nariko for bringing up unfavorable rumors surrounding Prince Masahito's birth. On that night, Norikiyo, who has a secret crush on Tamako, visits …

Emperor Sutoku falls into Nariko's trap and passes the throne to Emperor Konoe, the son of Nariko and the retired Emperor Toba. Meanwhile, Akiko becomes seriously ill and passes away. Seeing Kiyomori frantically pounce on Buddhist priests …

In 1145, Tamako, who has become a Buddhist nun, is struck down by a serious illness. The retired Emperor Toba loses his composure and orders samurai serving under the Emperor to find narcissus flower to comfort Tamako, which is not normall…

In 1147, when Kiyomori and the members of the Taira family visit Gion Shrine to pray for the prosperity of the Taira family, they get into a skirmish with armed priests. The incident escalates into a serious political problem, involving th…

Kiyomori, after being released, faces scolding from his younger brother, Iemori, who flatly says that Kiyomori's behavior was inappropriate as the heir of the Taira family. Yorinaga, who wanted to drive Kiyomori into a corner at the Gion i…

Iemori falls into Yorinaga's trap and dies from falling off his horse, which strongly shakes the Taira family. Tadamori, however, shows no sign of perturbation, and asks the retired Emperor Toba, who had ordered Tadamori to reconstruct the…

While the internal power struggle within the Fujiwara family is heating up, Tadamori, who has been promoted after completing the reconstruction of Mt. Koya, is struck down by an illness. Meanwhile, Nariko plots to embroil the Heike family …

In 1153 after the death of Tadamori, Kiyomori officially becomes the head of the Taira family, however, he starts to doubt his abilities in following the great footsteps of his father. Although the Taira family establishes a new structure …

In 1154, as the reigning Emperor Konoe's illness worsens, the retired Emperor Toba regrets and wonders if the cause of illness is retribution for him not being in good terms with the former Emperor Sutoku. Kiyomori tries to help mend the r…

Prince Masahito ascends the throne and becomes Emperor Go-Shirakawa, which throws the Imperial Court into chaos. Meanwhile, a dispute arises among the Minamoto family and the relation between Tameyoshi and Yoshitomo becomes worse. Emperor …

In 1156, the former Emperor Sutoku and Yorinaga similarly oppressed, join together. Shinzei puts the two under suspicion of treason and commands the samurais to side to Emperor Go-Shirakawa. While Tameyoshi and Yoshitomo are divided over t…

On the late night of July 10, 1156, military meetings are held at both sides, the former Emperor Sutoku and the reigning Emperor Go-Shirakawa, where the two forces react differently on whether to launch a night attack on their enemy or not…

The Hogen Rebellion finally comes to an end with the victory of the Emperor Go-Shirakawa side. Yorinaga, who is seriously hurt while escaping, seeks help from his father but the cry for help goes unanswered and Yorinaga passes away. Tadama…

Kiyomori and Yoshitomo are respectively ordered to cut off Tadamasa and Tameyoshi's heads by Shinzei who has now come to power in the Imperial Court. Although the two are torn between sorrow and duty, they finally make up their heart-rendi…

Shinzei, who is actively engaged in political events, sends Kiyomori to Chinzei to raise money by collecting unpaid taxes. Meanwhile, Shigemori, Kiyomori's eldest son, not accepting Kiyomori following Shinzei--the person who ordered Kiyomo…

Yoshitomo feels chagrined at remaining in his low status, while Kiyomori is climbing up the ladder of success. Yoritomo, Yoshitomo's eldest son, meets Kiyomori for the first time and gets overwhelmed by his strong presence. Meanwhile, Fuji…

In 1159, Yoshitomo finally decides to join hands with Nobuyori and rises in revolt against Shinzei--the Heiji Rebellion. Yoshitomo and Nobuyori place Emperor Nijo (Emperor Go-Shirakawa's son who has ascended the throne) and the former Empe…

Kiyomori declares his intention to show his obedience to Nobuyori instead of taking an immediate action against him, which surprises the members of the Taira family. While Yoshimoto is irritated by Kiyomori not rising up against Yoshitomo …

Yoshitomo, who was defeated by Kiyomori, flees eastward but ends up being alone with Masakiyo, Yoshitomo's foster brother and most loyal aide, and the two commit suicide. In Kyoto, Yoritomo, who was separated from Yoshitomo while escaping,…

In 1160, Kiyomori is finally granted the long-sought rank which equals to that of an aristocrat, and many within the Taira family also enjoyed promotions. Meanwhile, Shigeko, Kiyomori's sister-in-law, is offered to marry Emperor Nijo, but …

In 1161, the retired Emperor Sutoku, who has been exiled to Sanuki where he is now living a quiet life, writes a hand-copied sutra for the former Emperor Go-Shirakawa with hopes to express apology. However, the sutra he sent to Go-Shirakaw…

It is 1164, Yoritomo, who was exiled five years ago by Kiyomori, has now turned 18 and lives with his retainer in Izu. Meanwhile, Kiyomori gains power in the Imperial Court under the rule of Emperor Nijo, who is in conflict with the retire…

In 1166, Kiyomori becomes the first samurai who reaches the position of a Major Counselor at the Imperial Court. Although some aristocrats reacted sharply against Kiyomori's unprecedented promotion, Kiyomori continues to extend power with …

In 1167, Kiyomori becomes the Chief Minister of the Imperial Court. At the celebration of Kiyomori's 50th birthday, aristocrats from prominent families, who are discontent with Kiyomori's dominance over the Imperial Court, appear and say s…

In 1168, Kiyomori is struck down by a febrile illness, which shakes not only the Taira family but also the Imperial Court and samurais across the country. The retired Emperor Go-Shirakawa, who learns of Kiyomori's illness while heading for…

After recovering from his illness, Kiyomori enters the Buddhist priesthood with his wife Tokiko. Kiyomori decides to move his base to Fukuhara to live closer to a port, which surprises the Taira family. In February 1168, Prince Norihito, t…

While Kiyomori moves to Fukuhara, entrusting Kyoto to his heir Shigemori, the retired Emperor Go-Shirakawa enters the Buddhist priesthood. In 1169, the Imperial Court falls into chaos by Go-Shirakawa's incoherent order on the treatment of …

In 1170, Kiyomori invites the cloistered Emperor Go-Shirakawa to Fukuhara where he arranges a meeting between Go-Shirakawa and the people from Sung. Meanwhile, Sukemori, Shigemori's son, gets insulted by Fujiwara no Motofusa from a promine…

In July 1171, Kiyomori succeeds in marrying off his daughter, Tokuko, to Emperor Takakura, thanks to the hospitality he offered to the cloistered Emperor Go-Shirakawa and Shigeko (Empress Dowager Kenshun). The Taira family enjoys the pinna…

In 1172 in Fukuhara, Kiyomori with the backing of the cloistered Emperor Go-Shirakawa steadily advances construction work of a port, together with Usagimaru (Kiyomori's retainer) to prepare for the trading with Sung. Kiyomori orders Usagim…

In 1174 in Fukuhara, Japan-Sung trade has already started. Kiyomori advises the cloistered Emperor Go-Shirakawa and Shigeko to visit Itsukushima Shrine to pray for the nation's prosperity. Meanwhile, Saiko and Narichika (Go-Shirakawa's aid…

In 1177, Saiko's son gets into a skirmish with Buddhist monks at a temple on Mt. Hakusan, and the incident escalates into a brawl, involving Buddhist monks of Enryakuji on Mt. Hiei. The cloistered Emperor Go-Shirakawa orders Shigemori to t…

Kiyomori receives secret information that the cloistered Emperor Go-Shirakawa and his aides, including Narichika and Saiko, are plotting to overthrow the Taira family. Kiyomori bursts in anger and captures Saiko to extort a confession out …

Narichika, who has been exiled by Kiyomori, dies from starvation. Shigemori becomes worn down by the passing of his brother-in-law and from the considerations shown for the cloistered Emperor Go-Shirakawa. Around the same time, Kiyomori le…

Shigemori, who has been suffering from anxiety of being caught between the cloistered Emperor Go-Shirakawa and Kiyomori, finally falls ill. After Kiyomori's daughter Moriko, who acted as the intermediary between the Fujiwara and Taira fami…

Kiyomori launches a coup d'etat by placing the cloistered Emperor Go-Shirakawa under confinement, and finally becomes the first samurai to seize control over the entire country. While Kiyomori manipulates the Imperial Court freely from Fuk…

Learning Prince Mochihito's plot, Kiyomori bursts in anger and captures Mochihito and his followers. While Kiyomori enforces the transfer of capital to Fukuhara for Emperor Antoku, Yoritomo finally rises up against the Taira family. Kiyomo…

In 1180, Kiyomori commands his followers to defeat Yoritomo under the name of the former Emperor Takakura. Although Yoritomo loses the battle against the Taira forces at Mt. Ishibashi, he vows to realize Yoshitomo's long-cherished wish to …

After the loss in the Battle of Fujikawa, Kiyomori reluctantly gives in to Munemori's tearful appeal for restoring the capital to Kyoto. Learning Kiyomori's decision, Yoritomo no longer understands Kiyomori's thoughts toward a samurai-orie…

Early in the following year in 1181, ill feelings towards the Taira family spread across the country. Meanwhile, the former Emperor Takakura, who has been an anchor to Kiyomori, passes away at the age of 21. While Kiyomori is losing his po…

Kiyomori is struck down by a febrile illness. Kiyomori appears before Saigyo, formerly named Norikiyo, as a wraith, and learns the meaning of his life through dialogue with Saigyo. In Kyoto, people rush to Kiyomori's bedside and bring up t…