Samurai Banners Episodes 1 to 25 Plot Summary

Samurai Banners is a Japanese historical television drama series broadcast by NHK. The initial twenty-five episodes chart the rise of Yamamoto Kansuke and his service under the Takeda clan during the Sengoku period.

Early Journeys and Meeting Mitsu

In 1535, masterless samurai Obayashi Kansuke journeys home to succeed his adoptive father after fifteen years of studying military strategy. Along the way, he intervenes to save a woman named Mitsu from soldiers of the Takeda clan, who are currently in conflict with the Imagawa clan of Suruga. Mitsu subsequently falls in love with Kansuke.

Upon returning to Mikawa Domain, Kansuke brings the decapitated head of a Takeda soldier as proof of prowess to offer the Imagawa clan. However, his adoptive father instead gives the head to an Imagawa warlord as the achievement of his own natural son. Disillusioned, Kansuke renames himself Yamamoto Kansuke and leaves for Suruga. In Suruga, he discovers his elder brother Sadahisa is involved in a conspiracy against the Imagawa leadership, leading assassins to target Kansuke and forcing him to flee once more.

Alliance with Takeda Harunobu

Kansuke returns to the Kai domain and reunites with Mitsu, who is pregnant. Although he initially resists, Kansuke decides to settle down with her. Meanwhile, Takeda Nobutora and his young heir Harunobu experience severe friction. Nobutora's erratic wars alienate retainers and commoners alike. During a hunt, an irritated Nobutora fatally shoots Mitsu with an arrow.

Grieving quietly, Kansuke attacks Takeda retainer Nobukata Itagaki in fury. Although defeated, Kansuke impresses Itagaki with his swordsmanship. Itagaki introduces Kansuke to Harunobu, who shares resentment toward Nobutora's cruel behavior. Harunobu urges Kansuke to set aside his personal grudge and pursue greater ambitions.

Kansuke is dispatched to Suruga to spy on internal Imagawa clan conflicts. He informs a relative within the Imagawa clan of a conspiracy, only to learn that the clan leader and his brother have died mysteriously. Kansuke subsequently proposes a plot to Jukeini to dispose of a betrayer named Fukushima, but his brother Sadahisa dies by suicide during the conflict. Unable to secure a retainer position with the Imagawa clan, Kansuke travels to Sagami Domain.

Rise of the Takeda Clan

In Sagami, Ujiyasu Hojo refuses to employ Kansuke, sensing his lingering resentment toward the Takeda. Kansuke then heads to Shinano. Concurrently, Nobutora launches a campaign to conquer Shinano. Kansuke encounters Heizo and his master Sanada Yukitaka, eventually serving as a messenger during the siege of Unnokuchi Castle. Harunobu ultimately takes Unnokuchi Castle by surprise, and after confronting Kansuke, spares his life.

Three years later, Harunobu moves to oust his father Nobutora from power with the aid of Itagaki and the Imagawa clan. Nobutora is exiled to Suruga. Following Nobutora's departure, Kansuke stages an attack on Itagaki and subsequently saves him to win favor with the Takeda leadership. Harunobu formally takes Kansuke into his service as a retainer.

Campaigns in Shinano and Princess Yu

As the Uesugi clan invades Takeda territory in Shinano, Yorishige Suwa makes an independent peace treaty. Kansuke is sent to the Suwa region, where he encounters Yu, the daughter of Yorishige Suwa. Harunobu adopts the famous furinkazan motto for his clan banners.

Harunobu forces Yorishige Suwa to surrender and subsequently commits him to suicide in Kofu. Kansuke encounters Yu in the castle and becomes captivated by her determination to live. To save her life, Harunobu decides to take Yu as a concubine. Kansuke deliberately lies to Yu, claiming he orchestrated the attack on her father to redirect her hatred toward himself rather than Harunobu.

Despite initial resistance from Takeda retainers and Harunobu's wife Sanjo, Yu agrees to become Harunobu's concubine to forge political ties. In September 1543, Kansuke captures Nagakubo Castle and is officially appointed as the Takeda military strategist.

Strategic Expansion

Yu experiences emotional turmoil regarding her dual feelings of affection and resentment toward Harunobu. After fleeing temporarily, she is found by Kansuke and later becomes pregnant with Harunobu's child. Meanwhile, Sessai visits Harunobu to request assistance against the Hojo clan.

Kansuke leads troops to assist the Hojo clan at Kawagoe Castle against the Uesugi forces, successfully convincing Sanada Yukitaka to switch allegiance to the Takeda clan. During a night assault, Kansuke is wounded by gunfire but recovers under Sanada's care. Back in Kai, Yu gives birth to a son named Shiro. Kansuke finds renewed purpose in supporting Shiro, working to secure his succession within the Suwa lineage while Harunobu enacts new provincial laws.