The classic tale of the shogun's illegitimate son Aoi Shingo is told in three parts as he strives to become the greatest fencer in Japan, while his father Shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune seeks to reunite with his lost son. When the secrets of Shingo's birth are revealed to him, it sets off a series of events that bring him to cross swords with members of the shogun's inner circle in a series of duels that could change the destiny of Japan.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
 Yuko AsanoOkoma | Okoma |
 Sonny ChibaUmei Tamon | Umei Tamon |
 Kimiko IkegamiOkiku | Okiku |
 Morio KazamaYagyu Shinzaburo | Yagyu Shinzaburo |
| CChiaki MatsubaraOnui | Onui |
 Minoru ŌkiYagyu Tajima | Yagyu Tajima |
 Taketoshi NaitōNot listed | Not listed |
 Toru NakamuraMusasabi no Genta | Musasabi no Genta |
 Akira NakaoKuroda Tsunamasa | Kuroda Tsunamasa |
 Yuuko NitouNot listed | Not listed |
 Ken OgataThe narrator | The narrator |
 Yoshiko SakumaLady Okoi | Lady Okoi |
 Hiroyuki SanadaAoi Shingo | Aoi Shingo |
 Kei SatōInoue Kawachi-no-kami | Inoue Kawachi-no-kami |
 Tappei ShimokawaNot listed | Not listed |
 Kantarō SugaNot listed | Not listed |
 Miyuki SugiuraPrincess Aya | Princess Aya |
 Tomisaburō WakayamaTakeda Ishin | Takeda Ishin |
 Katsuhiko WatabikiKuze Yamato-no-kami | Kuze Yamato-no-kami |
 Takashi YamaguchiTokugawa Yoshimune | Tokugawa Yoshimune |
 Shun ŌideMazaki Shozaburo | Mazaki Shozaburo |
| MMiki MoritaPrincess Yuki | Princess Yuki |