"Ako Roshi" is a group of 47 former retainers of Lord Asano. Lord Asano was forced to commit suicide after attempting to kill Lord Kira. Once the retainers hear about their Lord's death, they sacrifice their lives to regain the honor of their former master.

The orphan Nakazo becomes a pupil of kabuki actor Denkuro and attracts the attention of the great star Koshiro. However, in order to help his ailing parents, he becomes an apprentice to wealthy merchant Yoshikawa and decides to quit acting... Nevertheless, he could not turn his back on acting which is his true passion. When he tries to return to the theater world, he has to literally work his way up from the bottom. How will Nakazo rise up from his predicament? Though there are others who hinder his path, he receives support from his bride Ogishi, and friend Segawa Kinji. Plus a fateful encounter with a mysterious ronin ignites in him a spark of inspiration...