Taira no Kiyomori

Episode 34: Shirakawa's Message (白河院の伝言)

September 2, 2012 • 45 min

In 1168, Kiyomori is struck down by a febrile illness, which shakes not only the Taira family but also the Imperial Court and samurais across the country. The retired Emperor Go-Shirakawa, who learns of Kiyomori's illness while heading for Kumano, immediately returns to Kyoto. While lying in his bed, Kiyomori dreams of his late mother, Maiko, and his late biological father, the cloistered Emperor Shirakawa. In his dream, Kiyomori comes face to face with Shirakawa, and the two have a conversation.