Heike Monogatari
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Episodes (11)
EP 1Biwa witnesses her father's death by Taira enforcers and enters Shigemori's household after predicting the clan's fall.
Sep 16, 2021Biwa despises the Taira clan's kaburo boys, who murder her blind father after he shields her from punishment. Meanwhile, Kiyomori finds his rule stagnant and proposes relocating to Fukuhara to develop a sea trade hub at Itsukushima. Biwa enters the palace and meets Shigemori, warning him that the Taira are nearing their end. Shigemori recognizes her heterochromia as a sign that she sees spirits, similar to his own ability. Although Biwa refuses to aid him with her power, he invites her to join his household. She later encounters Lady Tokuko and has a terrifying vision of her drowning. Tensions rise when Sukemori insults Emperor Takakura's regent, Lord Motofusa, during a hunt. Instead of apologizing, Kiyomori dispatches warriors from Rokuhara to punish the regent, sparking the initial conflicts that will plague the Heike.
EP 2Tokuko faces marriage to Norihito while Biwa witnesses visions of future events and deaths.
Sep 23, 2021Shigemori dismisses attackers of Lord Motofusa and sends Sukemori to Ise to apologize, but Kiyomori remains unrepentant. Tokuko explains to Biwa that Motofusa dislikes the Taira clan because her sister Moriko inherited Fujiwara lands after her husband’s death. Tokuko reveals she will marry Norihito, the young son of Emperor Go-Shirakawa. Kiyomori requests Shirabyoshi Lady Gio and her sister Lady Ginyo to keep Hotoke-Gozen company. Shigemori visits Emperor Go-Shirakawa to resign, suggesting Munemori as his replacement. The emperor notes that Kiyomori, though a monk, still engages in worldly affairs. Biwa befriends Gio but is saddened when the sisters become nuns to avoid being Kiyomori’s pawns. She is cheered by a vision of Hotoke-Gozen joining them later. When Tokuko departs for her marriage, Biwa desperately tries to stop her, disturbed by a vision of Tokuko’s death by drowning.
EP 3Shigemori navigates family tensions and the Enryakuji temple conflict at Shishigatani.
Sep 30, 2021Shigemori travels to Itsukushima shrine with Biwa, where Biwa encounters the childless Tokuko and her husband Norihito’s lover, Lady Kogo. Back home, Shigemori addresses a crisis involving Enryakuji warrior monks. After Lord Morotsune and his brother Morotaka burn a temple, the head priest Meiun demands retribution. Despite Lord Saiko’s plea for leniency, thousands of monks attack the palace, leading to heavy casualties and the desecration of shrines. In retaliation, Enryakuji burns Shigemori’s estate. At Shunkan’s villa in Shishigatani, Saiko suggests allying with the Genji against the Heike. Kiyomori discovers the plot, arresting Shunkan and Saiko while preparing to march on the emperor. Shigemori urges his father to stop, citing their debt to the emperor, forcing him to choose between loyalty to the throne and filial piety.
EP 4Tokuko's labor and Shigemori's death follow exile events and Moriko's passing.
Oct 7, 2021Tokuko endures difficult labor, endangering herself and the child. Kiyomori exiles Saiko and conspirators to Kikaigashima despite Shigemori's objections. Believing the exile mistreatment caused Tokuko's issues, Shigemori proposes a ceremony. Kiyomori releases some exiles, who send a thousand sotoba into the sea, but retains Shukan. Tokuko delivers a baby boy, but Moriko dies at age 24, sparking rumors of punishment for Taira control of Fujiwara lands. Shigemori pilgrimages to Kumano, praying not to see the Taira fall. Upon returning, he falls ill, visions the Heike's punishment, and dies with Biwa beside him.
EP 5Taira forces defeat Genji at Uji Bridge and burn Onoji Temple in 1180
Oct 14, 2021Munemori assumes leadership of the Heike with support from brothers Tomomori and Shigehira, while Kiyomori retreats to Fukuhara. Tokuko’s son, heir to her husband Norihito, recovers and matures. Upon learning the emperor seized Echizen and Moriko’s Fujiwara lands, Kiyomori commands Munemori to mobilize troops for the capital. Kiyomori initially succeeds in installing his grandson as the new emperor. However, the Taira clan’s insults toward defeated clans spark rebellion. Prince Mochihito, son of Go-Shirakawa, leads Taira forces against the Genji-supported opposition at the Uji River bridge in 1180. The Taira achieve victory and subsequently set fire to the Onoji Temple.
EP 6Taira clan relocates to Fukuhara while Kiyomori mobilizes forces against Yorimoto's growing army.
Oct 21, 2021The Taira clan relocates to Fukuhara seeking stability, where Atsomori befriends Kiyotsune through their shared flute passion. Kiyomori discovers Lord Yorimoto is arming against the Heike following a decree from Go-Shirakawa. In response, Kiyomori appoints Koremori as commander and gathers 70,000 horsemen. However, Koremori learns Yorimoto has secured Genji support, commanding 200,000 horsemen. As torches surround the camp, waterbirds take flight, causing the Heike to fear a surprise attack and flee. Kiyomori threatens to execute strategist Tadakiyo and exile Koremori but is persuaded to moderate his rage. Koremori later admits to Biwa that his carefree days of dancing and music have ended due to his fear.
EP 7Kiyomori dies after political turmoil and the burning of Kofukuji temple
Oct 28, 2021Kiyomori relocates the capital to Kyoto amid suspicions of attacking enemies while Emperor Takakura falls ill. Tokuko remains by his side as rumors of a monk uprising at Kofukuji spread. Kiyomori sends sixty unarmed men to assure peace, but the monks kill them and display their heads. Enraged, Kiyomori dispatches Shingehara to assault the temple with arrows. Fearing a counterattack, Shingehara sets fires that destroy Kofukuji and Todaiji, damaging the Heike reputation. Kiyomori requests Tokuko and Antoku take palace control, but she refuses. Kiyomori later dies of a fever, leaving the Taira clan leaderless. Sukemori sends Biwa away for safety. Tokuko reconciles with Go-Shirakawa and promises to care for Antoku.
EP 8Biwa searches for Gio while Yoshinaka defeats the Taira at Kurikara Valley
Nov 4, 2021Biwa visits a temple where Gio's sister reveals that Gio and Hotoke-Gozen have died, though a former shirabyoshi with similar eyes was seen in Echigo. Biwa travels there only to find the woman has returned to the capital. After hearing of the defeat of Yorimoto at Sunomatagawa at the hands of the Taira, Yoshinaka joins him to fight against the Heike. Koremori fears an attack by the combined Genji allies and moves against Yoshinaka. However, Yoshinaka mounts a surprise night attack, outmaneuvering Koremori and his troops who are unfamiliar with the landscape, trapping them in Kurikara Valley where most of the 70,000 Taira troops are slaughtered. The loss prompts the Heike to abandon the capital and move to Fukuhara although Koremori chooses to remain, ashamed by his loss at Kurikara. The Taira find Fukuhara run-down and in ruins so Munemori suggests they abandon the site, burning it to the ground as they set sail on for Dazaifu hoping to meet up with Heike allies. Meanwhile, Yoshinaka triumphantly marches into the capital.
EP 9Biwa witnesses Kiyotsune's death and reunites with her blind mother Asagi before the Heike flee.
Nov 11, 2021Biwa is rescued by shirabyoshi while Yoshinaka’s troops plunder the capital. Retired Emperor Go-Shirakawa returns, installs Go-Toba, and outlaws the Taira. Lord Ogata orders the Heike expelled from Dazaifu, forcing them to march to Hakozaki. There, Kiyotsune drowns, a death Biwa foresees. Biwa later finds her blind mother, Asagi, forgives her abandonment, and departs to watch the Heike’s fate. Yoshinaka later imprisons Go-Shirakawa, prompting Yoritomo to send Yoshitsune to stop him. Yoshitsune recaptures the capital, killing Yoshinaka. He then pursues the Heike to Fukuhara, where they defend their stronghold before fleeing by boat. During their escape, warrior Kumagai Naozane kills Atsumori in combat, an event witnessed by Biwa.
EP 10The Heike fleet faces destruction by Yoshitsune's superior naval force at Dan-no-ura.
Nov 18, 2021Captive Shigehira requests the return of Sacred Treasures to Go-Shirakawa, but Munemori, now leading the Heike, refuses due to fear of his execution. Shigehira claims responsibility for the Nara fires, while Koremori, despairing over the clan's fate, becomes a monk and drowns after Biwa foresees his death. Sukemori’s plea for mercy goes unanswered. Biwa brings a letter from Lady Iko to Shimonoseki and witnesses the Heike’s collapse. Go-Shirakawa orders Yoshitsune to attack, driving the Heike into the Shimonoseki Strait. There, 1,000 Heike boats are pursued and overwhelmed by Yoshitsune’s 3,000 vessels in the historic battle of Dan-no-ura.
EP 11The sea battle of Dan-no-ura concludes with the Taira clan's defeat and the drowning of Emperor Antoku.
Nov 25, 2021The naval engagement at Dan-no-ura starts with arrow fire and ship collisions, where the outgoing tide initially aids the Heike. Bad omens appear when dolphins surround their vessels and a banner falls, coinciding with the tide turning in favor of the Genji. Reinforcements from Shikoku and Kyūshū join the Genji, who locate the Taira fleet through a betrayal. Yoshitzune moves to seize the Imperial Treasures as the clan faces destruction. Kiyomori’s widow, Tokiko, drowns with the young emperor Antoku, followed by many others. Biwa intervenes to save Tokuko, claiming it is not her time to die. Later, Go-Shirakawa visits Tokuko at a temple where she has become a nun. As he departs, Biwa plays her instrument to recount the clan’s story while temple bells toll, emphasizing the impermanence of all existence.
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Frequently asked questions
- How many episodes does Heike Monogatari have?
- Heike Monogatari has 11 episodes.
- When did Heike Monogatari come out?
- Heike Monogatari came out in 2021.
- Which studio made Heike Monogatari?
- Heike Monogatari was produced by Science SARU.
- Who directed Heike Monogatari?
- Heike Monogatari was directed by Naoko Yamada.
- Is Heike Monogatari finished?
- Current status of Heike Monogatari: Finished.