The protagonist is Tenshō-in (Princess Atsu), the wife of Tokugawa Iesada, the thirteenth shōgun of the Edo shogunate.

It is the seventh taiga drama to feature a female lead, coming just two years after Kōmyō ga Tsuji in 2006.

[4] One of the sources used for an accurate portrayal of Atsuhime and life in the Ōoku was the Kyūji Shimonroku (旧事諮問錄), a series of interviews with bakufu officials in the late-19th century.

The episode starts off in Satsuma in 1835, 20 years prior to the arrival of the Black Ships led by Matthew C. Perry.

Before long, the Satsuma Domain picks up its efforts at strict financial reform under the guidance of Karō Zusho Hirosato.

With Karō Zusho Hirosato's reform steadily gaining results, the domain's debt, which at one point reached 5 million Ryō (Japanese coin), is cleared.

In the wake of the family quarrel, the new clan head Nariakira arrives at Satsuma from Edo and takes the lead in the reform of rice prices.

Kikumoto tells Okatsu, who were overjoyed and busily reading the books, that the happiness of women lies in marriage.

Meanwhile, Shimazu Tadayuki comes with news to Tadatake that his son fell in love at first sight with Okatsu and that he wants to marry her.

Naogorō meets him and is inspired by his story that marriage in the US is based on the agreement between the individuals, unlike in Japan, where it is decided by the two families.

In it, she wrote that her choice to kill herself was motivated by her wish to erase the blemish that someone of a low status like herself raised Okatsu, who is now facing a bright future.

Okatsu realized Kikumoto's considerations and expectations for her future and learned the true meaning of becoming Nariakira's daughter.

Meanwhile, news from Nagasaki Dejima comes into Edo that an American naval fleet demanding trade with Japan is approaching.

While the day Okatsu moves to Tsurumaru Castle closes in, Tadatake all of a sudden started to devote himself to constructing batteries for guarding the coastlines, behaving as if he has no interest in the adoption affair.

She is belittled by Hirokawa and other women serving under her as a girl from a branch family and starts to take a negligent attitude.

Okubo Shōsuke is released from the house arrest of three years, and this makes Naogorō and Saigō feel relieved.

Okatsu wants to share the joy but feels lonely when she finds herself at a high, distant social rank which prohibits them to even exchange words with her.

Then, commanding a force of a few thousand soldiers, Hisamitsu left for Kyōto with the intention of receiving the Emperor's approval for reforming the Tokugawa Shōgunate.

The message that the Satsuma force headed to Edo reached Ōoku, and distrust directed to Tenshō-in further deepened.

While Tatewaki felt awkward toward such a forceful approach taken by his comrades, Satsuma succeeded in pressing on the reform plan.

Tenshō-in, who was upset at Satsuma's cowardly move, sought an audience with Hisamitsu to ascertain his true intentions.

Amid this confusion, an Imperial Envoy came from Kyoto to Edo, demanding Iemochi to visit the capital and to implement a policy that would exclude foreigners.

Upon discussing the matter with Tenshō-in, he made up his mind to tell the emperor in person that the implementation of such a policy would be unattainable.

Her fear became true when radicals led by a Chōshū Domain group supporting the expulsion of foreigners dominated the Imperial Court in Kyoto.

The Chōshū domain, which is bent on regaining its political leverage in the capital, suddenly attacked the Imperial Palace.

In the meantime, in Ōoku, Takiyama advised Tenshōin to let the shōgun have a concubine who could bear his heir, for she was purely concerned with the future of the Tokugawa clan and desired to consolidate the foundations of the Shugunate's rule.

The Naval School established by Katsu Kaishū was about to be shut down by the shōgunate, suffering the repercussions of the Kinmon Incident.

Katsu sent his disciple Sakamoto Ryōma to Tatewaki, who was the karo of the Satsuma domain, to ask him to take care of the students.

[6] A second DVD box set for the remaining episodes was later released by the same company (renamed Geneon Universal) on March 25, 2009.

[7] Official guide It aired in Thailand on TPBS from August 13 to December 4, 2009, with reruns on same channel from January 30 to July 30, 2011.