Atsu-hime remains unsure whether Iesada is really benighted. The U.S. begins preparing for a trade treaty between the shogunate after signing the Treaty of Shimoda, a treaty of peace and amity. Although the shogunate is pressured to decide the next shogun to face the international pressure, Abe, the chief retainer of the shogunate who stands by Atsu-hime, suddenly passes away. Overwhelmed by the situation, Atsu-hime decides to confess to Iesada that the true intention of her marriage was to make Yoshinobu the next shogun. Iesada in return confesses his secret.
Aoi Miyazaki
Okatsu / Atsu-hime
Eita Nagayama
Kimotsuki Naogoro
Maki Horikita
Princess Kazu
Rie Tomosaka
Ikki Sawamura
Komatsu Kiyomichi
Hideki Takahashi
Taizo Harada
Kimiko Yo
Hisa-hime
Hiroshi Tamaki
Kanako Higuchi
Atsuko Takahata
Honjuin
Kyōzō Nagatsuka
Mayu Tsuruta
Yuriko Yoshitaka
Mikako Ichikawa
Oryu
Masato Sakai
Tokugawa Iesachi
Kinya Kitaoji
Masao Kusakari
Abe Masahiro
Tomoko Nakajima
Kenichi Yajima
Mayumi Wakamura
Sumie Sasaki
Yoshinori Okada
