Writer
鎌倉幕府初代将軍頼朝の三回忌。若武者畠山重保が大きな秘密を抱えていると知った頼朝の子頼家は、それが父の死に関わることだと確信し、激しく重保を詰問する。しかし、その秘密は将軍家の存続のために決して明かされてはならないものであった。少女小周防を巻き込み、頼家の苦悩は深まる。
Story
In 1701, Lord Takuminokami Asano has a feud with Lord Kira and he tries to kill Kira in the corridors of the Shogun's palace. The Shogun sentences Lord Asano to commit suppuku and deprives the palace and lands from his clan, but does not punish Lord Kira. Lord Asano's vassals leave the land and his samurais become ronin and want to seek revenge against the dishonor of their Lord. But their leader Kuranosuke Oishi asks the Shogun to restore the Asano clan with his brother Daigaku Asano. One year later, the Shogun refuses his request and Oishi and forty-six ronin revenge their Lord.
Novel
This film is based on a real Meiji era performer -- and tells of Tochuken's partnership with his wife (played by Chikako Hosokawa) who played shamisen for his songs/recitations), his affair with a geisha (Sachiko Chiba), and the deterioration of his partnership and marriage.
