Series synopsis
Taira no Kiyomori, also known as 平清盛 is a Japanese action & adventure drama war & politics television series that premiered on NHK BS Premium on January 8, 2012. It ended on December 23, 2012. It stars Kenichi Matsuyama, Kiichi Nakai, Shota Matsuda and Arata Iura.
Villain or hero, Taira no Kiyomori changed Japanese history forever 900 years ago. Without ever knowing his real father, Kiyomori was raised as a samurai. Together with his stepfather, he wiped out piracy along Japan's western coast, becoming a full-fledged warrior samurai. In an age when samurai were looked down on as members of the lower class, Kiyomori was skillful at winning the hearts and minds of the people. By rounding up surrendered pirates and achieving other successes, Kiyomori eventua ...
Premise
Villain or hero, Taira no Kiyomori changed Japanese history forever 900 years ago. Without ever knowing his real father, Kiyomori was raised as a samurai. Together with his stepfather, he wiped out piracy along Japan's western coast, becoming a full-fledged warrior samurai. In an age when samurai were looked down on as members of the lower class, Kiyomori was skillful at winning the hearts and minds of the people. By rounding up surrendered pirates and achieving other successes, Kiyomori eventually became the de facto ruler of Japan.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Kenichi Matsuyama as Taira no Kiyomori
- Kiichi Nakai as Taira no Tadamori
- Shota Matsuda as Go-Shirakawa-tenno
- Arata Iura as Emperor Sutoku
- Fumiyo Kohinata as Minamoto no Tameyoshi
- Yudai Chiba as Emperor Takakura
- Hiroshi Tamaki as Minamoto no Yoshitomo
- Rei Dan as Fujiwara no Shoshi
Supporting cast
- Kyoko Fukada as Taira no tokiko
- Ryo as Horikawa no Tsubone
- Rena Tanaka as Lady Yura
- Emi Takei as Tokiwa Gozen
- Ai Kato as Takashina no Akiko
- Kotaro Tanaka as Minamoto no Mitsuyasu
Episodes
This series spans 1 season with 50 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 50 | January 8, 2012 | December 23, 2012 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Two Fathers (ふたりの父) 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 the run to protect her unborn baby, a child of the cloistered Emperor Shirakawa (who although retired is still the most powerful,) from being murdered. Tadamori secretly provides shelter to Maiko, while shaking off the pursuit from Minamoto no Tameyoshi, the head of the Minamoto clan, who is searching for her under Emperor Shirakawa's order. Maiko eventually gives birth to a baby boy, Heita, who later becomes known as Taira no Kiyomori. |
January 8, 2012 |
| 2 |
The Villain Takeheita (無頼の高平太) 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 Heita to be disreputable, however, Tadamori continues to treat Heita as the heir of the Taira clan, which worsens the relations between Tadamori and his brother, Tadamasa. One day, a fisherman close to Heita is captured by the Emperor Shirakawa for breaking the law that prohibits killing animals set by the Emperor. |
January 15, 2012 |
| 3 |
Son of Two Clans (源平の御曹司) 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 Tadamori tries to place Kiyomori to guard the Imperial Palace, Kiyomori refuses it saying he wants to live his own life. One day, Kiyomori is called to stop by a man named Minamoto no Yoshitomo, the son of Tadamori's longtime foe Tameyoshi, who later becomes Kiyomori's lifelong rival. Yoshitomo challenges Kiyomori on deciding which of the Minamoto clan and the Taira clan is superior to the other by comparing their horseback riding skills. |
January 22, 2012 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | NHK BS Premium |
|---|---|
| First aired | January 8, 2012 |
| Last aired | December 23, 2012 |
| Runtime | 45 minutes |
| Status | Ended |
| Schedule | Sunday at 20:00:00 |