Taiga Drama SEGODON

Satsuma, 1840. Saigo Kokichi (Ao Watanabe), Okubo Shosuke (Tatsuki Ishikawa), and friends spend their days studying and fencing. One day, they come in first place at a big race to Myoen-ji Temple. After receiving their prize, Kokichi meets Shimazu Nariakira (Ken Watanabe), but rivaling boys from a different town cut Kokichi in the shoulder, making it so he can never wield a sword again. (C)NHK

Now a young man, Saigo (Ryohei Suzuki) goes by Kichinosuke and serves as an assistant tax official. Helping poor farmers, he hopes Nariakira (Ken Watanabe) will reform the clan's unjust system as lord. But power lies with Nariakira's father, Narioki (Takeshi Kaga), and his concubine, Yura (Rumiko Koyanagi). Enraged, Kichinosuke goes to Councilor Zusho Hirosato (Raita Ryu) to demand change. (C)NHK

After their fourth son is born, the Saigo family struggles to make ends meet. They must borrow money from a merchant. Kichinosuke (Ryohei Suzuki) encounters a samurai family fleeing by night due to extreme poverty. He writes a letter to Nariakira (Ken Watanabe), stating the desperate situation of many clansmen. Nariakira forces his father into retirement but faces a major counterattack. (C)NHK

The "Oyura Sodo (Uproar)" erupts as Narioki (Takeshi Kaga) purges those backing Nariakira (Ken Watanabe) as lord. Akayama (Ikki Sawamura), Kichinosuke's (Ryohei Suzuki) teacher, is sentenced to seppuku. Jiemon (Mitsuru Hirata), Shosuke's (Eita Nagayama) father, is exiled, while Shosuke is confined. Kichibe (Morio Kazama) serves as Akayama's kaishakunin, and Kichinosuke witnesses his death. (C)NHK

Nariakira (Ken Watanabe) retains Narioki's (Takeshi Kaga) senior retainers, angering Shosuke (Eita Nagayama), whose father remains in exile while he is confined. Kichinosuke (Ryohei Suzuki) enters a sumo tournament to appeal directly to his lord. When Ito (Haru Kuroki) receives a marriage proposal from a contestant, Kichinosuke faces a match he cannot lose as Oichi (Keiko Kitagawa) watches. (C)NHK

After throwing Lord Nariakira (Ken Watanabe) in a sumo match, Saigo Kichinosuke (Ryohei Suzuki) is jailed, where he meets a mysterious castaway (Gekidan Hitori) who escapes with him. Before her wedding, Ito (Haru Kuroki) is forbidden to go out. Shosuke (Eita Nagayama) takes her out and tells her about America, as told by the castaway: telling someone you love them is called "love." (C)NHK

After his grandfather (Kon Omura) passes away, Kichinosuke's mother, Masa (Keiko Matsuzaka), urges him to marry. Although he is eager to follow Nariakira (Ken Watanabe) to Edo, he marries Suga (Ai Hashimoto) for his ailing mother's sake. But Suga proves awkward and aloof. Then Oyama (Yukiya Kitamura) and Shunsai (Mitsuomi Takahashi) are chosen to go to Edo, while Kichinosuke is left behind. (C)NHK

After losing their grandfather and parents, the neighbors call Suga (Ai Hashimoto) a "bad luck bride." Perry's Black Ships arrive, so Nariakira (Ken Watanabe) departs for Edo, and Kichinosuke (Ryohei Suzuki) is chosen to go with him. His family rejoices, but Suga opposes, arguing how expensive it is. Kichinosuke loses hope, and Shosuke (Eita Nagayama) is enraged. Suga leaves home. (C)NHK

Kichinosuke (Ryohei Suzuki) arrives in Edo with Nariakira (Ken Watanabe). He goes to the Isoda-ya with old comrades and is reunited with Fuki (Rin Takanashi), the daughter of a poor farmer in Satsuma who had ended up in Edo. A mysterious man, known as Sir Hi (Shota Matsuda), gives Fuki preferential treatment. Meanwhile, Kichinosuke is ordered by Nariakira to serve as a yard keeper. (C)NHK

Now Nariakira's (Ken Watanabe) yard keeper, Kichinosuke (Ryohei Suzuki), visits Isoda-ya to uncover Sir Hi's (Shota Matsuda) identity and meets a mysterious doctor (Shunsuke Kazama). Princess Atsu (Keiko Kitagawa) then vanishes from the manor. Kichinosuke secretly brings her back, but Nariakira announces her marriage to the shogun's family. Her tutor, Ikushima (Yoko Minamino), arrives. (C)NHK

Nariakira (Ken Watanabe) plans to marry Princess Atsu (Keiko Kitagawa) into the shogun's family and make Yoshinobu Hitotsubashi (Shota Matsuda) the next shogun, angering Naosuke Ii (Shiro Sano), Lord of Hikone. When Nariakira's heir suddenly dies and Nariakira falls ill, Kichinosuke (Ryohei Suzuki) suspects Yura (Rumiko Koyanagi) and Narioki (Takeshi Kaga) and begins investigating. (C)NHK

Two years after Princess Atsu (Keiko Kitagawa) arrives in Edo, her marriage to the shogun remains uncertain. Kichinosuke (Ryohei Suzuki) and Ikushima (Yoko Minamino) win over Honju-in (Pinko Izumi). Learning Atsu can never have a child with Shogun Iesada (Naoki Matayoshi), Kichinosuke grieves over her tragic fate. That night, Atsu confides her true feelings to Kichinosuke. (C)NHK

After seeing Princess Atsu (Keiko Kitagawa) off to her wedding, Kichinosuke (Ryohei Suzuki) returns home for the first time in three years. His family and Shosuke (Eita Nagayama) are overjoyed and bombard him with questions, but he can't tell them anything. Elder Abe (Naoto Fujiki) dies suddenly, and Kichinosuke must return to Edo. He tries to take Shosuke with him, but Shosuke gets upset. (C)NHK

U.S. Consul General Harris meets Shogun Iesada (Naoki Matayoshi), but the shogunate has no answer. Kichinosuke (Ryohei Suzuki) and Sanai (Shunsuke Kazama) back Yoshinobu (Shota Matsuda) for shogun, but he refuses. Honju-in (Pinko Izumi) rages over the scheme behind Princess Atsu's (Keiko Kitagawa) marriage, leaving them cornered. Ii Naosuke (Shiro Sano) sends an assassin after Yoshinobu. (C)NHK

Princess Atsu (Keiko Kitagawa) and Shogun Iesada (Naoki Matayoshi) are happily married until he falls ill. Ii Naosuke (Shiro Sano) becomes Great Elder and names Yoshitomi next shogun. Kichinosuke (Ryohei Suzuki) rushes back, but Nariakira (Ken Watanabe) admits defeat and dismisses him. Shosuke (Eita Nagayama) rebukes the dejected Kichinosuke. Nariakira plans to lead Satsuma's army to Kyoto. (C)NHK

Nariakira (Ken Watanabe) suddenly dies of illness. Suppressing his grief, Kichinosuke (Ryohei Suzuki) and Gessho (Kikunosuke Onoe) seek the Imperial Court's help in rallying the Mito Clan. Ii Naosuke (Shiro Sano) launches a purge of those who oppose the shogunate, sending men after Kichinosuke, Gessho, and Hashimoto Sanai (Shunsuke Kazama). Thus begins the Ansei Purge. (C)NHK

Fleeing the shogunate, Kichinosuke (Ryohei Suzuki) and Gessho (Kikunosuke Onoe) hide in Satsuma. After Nariakira's (Ken Watanabe) death, his father Narioki (Takeshi Kaga) regains power and orders them exiled to Hyuga for defying the shogunate, effectively a death sentence. Desperate to save Kichinosuke, Shosuke Okubo (Eita Nagayama) appeals directly to Narioki and offers him a deal. (C)NHK

Kichinosuke (Ryohei Suzuki) miraculously survives after throwing himself into the sea but is exiled to Amami-Oshima under the name Kikuchi Gengo. He is taken in by Ryu Samin (Akira Emoto) but does not let anyone get close to him. The islanders are living in astonishing poverty, and Kichinosuke learns from Touma (Fumi Nikaido) that they are forced to produce brown sugar under Satsuma's rule. (C)NHK

Touma (Fumi Nikaido) is shaken upon learning that the "husband from across the sea" she had been told about is actually an exile named Kikuchi Gengo (Ryohei Suzuki). Just then, Ryu Samin (Akira Emoto) is arrested on suspicion of hiding sugar. Touma flies into a rage, but Kichinosuke appears. Touma declares that she doesn't trust anyone from Satsuma, but Kichinosuke does the unexpected. (C)NHK

Kichinosuke (Ryohei Suzuki) marries Touma (Fumi Nikaido), resolving to live on the island, while in Satsuma, Narioki (Takeshi Kaga) dies and Hisamitsu (Munetaka Aoki) takes power. Shosuke (Eita Nagayama) wins Hisamitsu's trust, but radicals including Arima Shinshichi (Shuichiro Masuda) oppose his methods, deepening the rift. Ii Naosuke (Shiro Sano) is killed outside Sakurada Gate. (C)NHK

After two years on Amami-Oshima, Kichinosuke (Ryohei Suzuki) and Aikana (Fumi Nikaido) have a son. Ryu Samin (Akira Emoto) persuades Kichinosuke to name him Kikujiro, knowing he will return to Satsuma someday. Thanks to Okubo Ichizo (Eita Nagayama), serving Shimazu Hisamitsu (Munetaka Aoki), Kichinosuke is recalled. Unable to tell Aikana he must leave, he is unaware she is pregnant again. (C)NHK

Back in Satsuma, Kichinosuke (Ryohei Suzuki) angers Shimazu Hisamitsu (Munetaka Aoki) by criticizing his plan to dispatch troops to Kyoto. Meanwhile, Arima Shinshichi (Shuichiro Masuda) plots to overthrow the shogunate. Ordered to meet Hisamitsu's troops in Shimonoseki, Kichinosuke defies him and rushes to Kyoto, where his hotheaded younger brother Shingo (Ryo Nishikido) has joined Arima. (C)NHK

Kichinosuke (Ryohei Suzuki) tries to dissuade Arima (Shuichiro Masuda) and the others, but Hisamitsu (Munetaka Aoki) orders Kichinosuke to commit seppuku over Shimonoseki. Confused by the unjust decree handed down to his brother, Shingo (Ryo Nishikido) joins them. They gather at Terada-ya, ready to take action. Sensing their plans, Hisamitsu dispatches Oyama (Yukiya Kitamura) to Terada-ya. (C)NHK

Kichinosuke (Ryohei Suzuki) is exiled to Tokunoshima, where Aikana (Fumi Nikaido) arrives with their two children. He spends a brief, peaceful time with them until Kichinosuke is to be exiled even further to Okinoerabu-jima, where almost no one ever returns. Moreover, he is to be confined in a cell exposed to the elements. A drunken man named Kawaguchi Seppo (Renji Ishibashi) appears. (C)NHK