Song of the Samurai - Chapter: Youthful Days in Edo

What it’s about

In the final years of the shogunate, Kyoto is a city of unrest. Toshizo Hijikata, a former street fighter, crosses paths with Isami Kondo, Keisuke Yamanami, and Soji Okita at the Shieikan dojo. After a battle with a hired killer, the four swear to fight together always. They travel to Kyoto, where they confront the violence and influence of Kamo Serizawa and are drawn into the Shinsengumi, a samurai force defending the city.

What hooks you

Yuki Yamada leads the cast as Hijikata. The series is based on a manga.

Who it’s for

It suits viewers who want historical adventure with moral weight, where loyalty and ideals are tested by betrayal and war. Those drawn to samurai stories of brotherhood and coming of age in a time of collapse will find a focused, character-driven mini-series.