 
            
        The Taira clan finally succeeds in subduing the pirates, however, Tadamori is not granted the rank equal to the aristocrats. Kiyomori, on the other hand, gets promoted and pays a visit to Tadazane. On the way back home, Kiyomori and Morikuni, fisherman-turned-samurai, encounter Takashina no Motoaki, a lower-class aristocrat, and his daughter, Akiko. Motoaki immediately takes a liking to Kiyomori and asks him to take Akiko as his wife. Although Akiko feels reluctant to marry Kiyomori because of her low status, she gradually falls for Kiyomori as he reveals his honest feelings toward her.
 
                                    Kenichi Matsuyama
Taira no Kiyomori
 
                                    Kiichi Nakai
Taira no Tadamori
 
                                    Shota Matsuda
Go-Shirakawa-tenno
 
                                    Arata Iura
Emperor Sutoku
 
                                    Fumiyo Kohinata
Minamoto no Tameyoshi
 
                                    Yudai Chiba
Emperor Takakura
 
                                    Hiroshi Tamaki
Minamoto no Yoshitomo
 
                                    Rei Dan
Fujiwara no Shoshi
 
                                    Kyoko Fukada
Taira no tokiko
 
                                    Ryo
Horikawa no Tsubone
 
                                    Rena Tanaka
Lady Yura
 
                                    Emi Takei
Tokiwa Gozen
 
                                    Ai Kato
Takashina no Akiko