Chushingura

Chushingura is one of the most popular plays. It is based on a sensational historical incident when 47 masterless samurai avenged the death of their lord. Ainosuke explores it in a two-part series.

Sixteen years after abandoning the 47 Ronin on the eve of their crucial mission, Senoo Magozaemon (Koji Yakusho) finds his past coming back to haunt him while living deep in a vast forest. Having assumed the identity of an antiques dealer in order to guard his treacherous secret, Senoo has a chance meeting with his old ally Terasaka Kichiemon (Koichi Sato), and attempts to safeguard his secret by silencing Terasaka forever. Meanwhile, the secret to Senoo's shame resides with an adolescent girl from the forest named Kane.

Crest of Betrayal is an awesome mixture of Japan's two greatest stories, the loyal 47 Ronin and the Ghost of Yotsuya. By combining the two stories into one, director Fukasaku has created a masterpiece. When former ronin Tamiya Iyemon joins the Asano Clan, he brings with him a legacy of death and destruction. Aside from Horibe Yasubei, he is the only one with fighting experience and his past exploits with the sword should help in the group carrying out their long-awaited vendetta against Lord Kira…..