Overview of 'The Unfettered Shogun' Season 1

Episode 1 - The Star of Edo

Release Date: 1978-01-07

Roughhousing daimyo Tokugawa Yoshimune of Kishu reluctantly becomes the Shogun so that he may bring prosperity to everyone in the country. On his procession to Edo Palace, he runs into his old friend Tatsugoro, and a little girl begging for a pardon for her father on death row. Yoshimune decides to sneak out of Edo Palace and do a little detective work.

Episode 2 - The Remarkable Charlatan

Release Date: 1978-01-14

Ogyu Shosen is called a quack doctor, but Yoshimune thinks he should be made surgeon-general.

Episode 3 - The First Fireman Banner

Release Date: 1978-01-21

Hatamoto firemen are causing a nuisance and thieving in town, so fiery Tatsugoro and his gang of construction workers aim to take them down.

Episode 4 - Mother From Long Past

Release Date: 1978-01-28

A hatamoto's spoiled brat daughter is in the habit of thieving and blaming it on commoners. Meanwhile, Yoshimune becomes preternaturally obsessed with a den-den taiko (a type of child's toy).

Episode 5 - Spring in the O'oku

Release Date: 1978-02-04

Episode 6 - The Splendid Potato Samurai

Release Date: 1978-02-11

Episode 7 - The Man of River Styx

Release Date: 1978-02-25

Episode 8 - The Befouled Truncheon

Release Date: 1978-03-04

Episode 9 - The Chivalrous Thief

Release Date: 1978-03-11

Episode 10 - The Blossoming Meyasubako

Release Date: 1978-03-18

Episode 11 - The Finest Kiyari Song

Release Date: 1978-03-25

Episode 12 - The Amazing Kishu Woman

Release Date: 1978-04-01

Yoshimune's old friend from Kishu, a female lumberjack, comes to Edo to engage in lumber trade, but gets in trouble.

Episode 13 - The Perilous Souvenir Gift

Release Date: 1978-04-08

Yoshimune's old friends from Kishu, Sakichi and Onatsu of the lumber store, are leaving town, so Yoshimune comes to bring them a present. He ends up getting in the way of a drug bust and is mistaken for a drug dealer.

Episode 14 - The Golden Crow Charms

Release Date: 1978-04-15

Fireman Genzo wins the lottery, but is then reported to the police for having a forged ticket.

Episode 15 - The Quack Who Calls Forth Spring

Release Date: 1978-04-22

Even though he has been made surgeon-general, nobody trusts Ogawa Shosen or Yoshimune's city hospital. Yoshimune decides to get himself admitted as Shin-san to investigate from within.

Episode 16 - Showdown at Beautiful Yoshiwara

Release Date: 1978-04-29

Episode 17 - Love and the Guardian Deity

Release Date: 1978-05-06

Satsuma domain bully a store that is in their debt by trying to steal the storekeeper's girlfriend, and by framing them for theft. Only a man of stone can save Tamba-ya from destruction!

Episode 18 - The Beat of a Taiko Drum in Edo

Release Date: 1978-05-13

Yoshimune really wants to attend a festival in Edo, but he has important business to attend to in the palace. Jii says he can go out as long as he is back by 4 PM. This doesn't seem likely, since Yoshimune gets involved in a big fistfight and village drama.

Episode 19 - A Ballad of a Fireman

Release Date: 1978-05-20

Tatsugoro's family is indebted to a samurai family, so Tatsugoro gives the samurai family his very best fireman to adopt, since the samurai have no heir of their own. The other samurai do not like him.

Episode 20 - Iris and Sympathy

Release Date: 1978-05-27

Episode 21 - Fireman's Standard was Watching

Release Date: 1978-06-03

Episode 22 - Friendships Support the World

Release Date: 1978-06-17

Episode 23 - Rage of the Fishmonger

Release Date: 1978-06-24

Episode 24 - The Dreadful Schichi-ri Messengers

Release Date: 1978-07-01

Episode 25 - Heaven's! Great Trouble in Edo

Release Date: 1978-07-08

Episode 26 - The Drunken Man Who was Promoted

Release Date: 1978-07-15

Episode 27 - The Woman Who Challenged the Yagyu Family

Release Date: 1978-07-22

Episode 28 - A Flower Blooms in the Dark

Release Date: 1978-07-29

Episode 29 - The Goofiest Pickpocket in Edo

Release Date: 1978-08-19

Episode 30 - The Misjudged Betrayer

Release Date: 1978-09-09

Episode 31 - The Woman Who Disappeared from the Hunting Ground

Release Date: 1978-09-16

Episode 32 - The Best Announcement of the Winner in Japan

Release Date: 1978-09-23

Ryuko and Isonokaze were sumo wrestlers for a clan who tried to make them throw a match. Ryuko hides out at the fire house and meets Shin-san, who is very excitable (maybe he ate a lot of sugar) and really wants to wrestle him. Eventually Shin-san learns of the wrestling drama that is unfolding...

Episode 33 - A Daimyo's Famed Shiruko Restaurant

Release Date: 1978-09-30

A certain han ruled by a child lord is having money trouble, so one of the han's samurai starts a sweet bean soup restaurant to try and raise funds. The samurai has some trouble getting customers...

Episode 34 - The Women Who Dance in a Tempest

Release Date: 1978-10-07

Episode 35 - The Bride with an Explosive

Release Date: 1978-10-14

A land reclamation project is taking place largely with Shogunate funds, carried out by contract with 2 companies (which are marrying their kids together as the ultimate symbol of the contract). One of the companies invents a bomb with a long fuse, to blow up a mountainous area in the reclamation zone. The other company decides to assassinate the first company, and steals the bomb...

Episode 36 - The Deceiving Mole Under a Woman's Eye

Release Date: 1978-10-21

Episode 37 - Feel Her Heart

Release Date: 1978-10-28

Episode 38 - The Woman Who Challenged Her Master

Release Date: 1978-11-04

Episode 39 - A Sweet Snare from RyuKyu

Release Date: 1978-11-11

Episode 40 - Go! The Prodogy of the Commoners

Release Date: 1978-11-18

Episode 41 - Hara-Kiri! The Drunkard Magistrate

Release Date: 1978-12-02

Episode 42 - A Hot Man and a Brazen Hussy

Release Date: 1978-12-09

Episode 43 - The Shogun's Secret Ninja

Release Date: 1978-12-16

Female ninja Osono's dad Seiemon comes to town. He is now a cotton-farming country samurai. Needs dried sardines for fertilizer. The hatamoto of sardineland is driving the fishermens' prices down so all the farmers secretly sell to Seiemon. The merchant tries to assassinate Seiemon and fails, since Seiemon is a ninja. Seiemon stays at the firehouse and plans to secretly assassinate the criminals, then kill himself, because he's depressed.

Episode 44 - Fresh Blood on the Bestowed Sword

Release Date: 1978-12-23

Episode 45 - The Counterfeit Coins and the Candy Man

Release Date: 1978-12-30

A man makes little pretty sugar candies for kids and tells funny stories. He used to be a counterfeiter because of his great manual dexterity, but vowed to turn his life around. Shin-san becomes "interested" in him (bastard we know you just want free candy) just when the guy's old friends force him to counterfeit again...

Episode 46 - A Grand New Year's Gift

Release Date: 1979-01-06

Episode 47 - The Female Doctor with a Fist

Release Date: 1979-01-13

Edo is invigorated by an unusually aggressive and outspoken female doctor, Oshino, who physically beats her patients if they do not obey her.

Episode 48 - Hell in the Heavenly Bath

Release Date: 1979-01-20

Episode 49 - The Pen is Mightier Than The Sword

Release Date: 1979-01-27

Episode 50 - The Great Packed Lunch of a Woman

Release Date: 1979-02-03

Episode 51 - The Bride of the Fish Market

Release Date: 1979-02-10

Episode 52 - The Downfall of Ooka Echizen No Kami

Release Date: 1979-02-17

A bad gang leader kidnaps Tadasuke's wife (who never appeared before or since), as she went to the shrine to pray for a baby. Tadasuke decides that justice outweighs his bride and prepares to prosecute the gang leader anyway, so Shin-san lets the prisoner go secretly to try and follow him to Tadasuke's bride...

Episode 53 - The Best Dry Sake for Mother and Son

Release Date: 1979-02-24

Clannish Edoite sake sellers turn against a travelling Osakan female sake seller to force her out of the market; only her long-lost son, an Edoite sake seller, can save her.

Episode 54 - The Female Doctor Who Loves Money

Release Date: 1979-03-03

Oshino, the female doctor with a fist, is in charge of a temple that gives free medical service to orphans, but it is reputed that she is stealing all the money instead.

Episode 55 - This Small Incident Occured Ten Years Ago

Release Date: 1979-03-10

Shoheiko, the official Shogunate college, has an admissions scandal where the bureaucrats turn out to have been accepting bribes for admissions. Yoshimune suggests opening it to commoners and calls up some obscure scholars; the vicious bureaucrats attack and kill one. Shin-san absolutely loses his mind, but Tatsugoro is there to give him a helping hand.

Episode 56 - The Man Who Died in the Light Snowfalls in Spring

Release Date: 1979-03-17

Ryuko's friend is killed by a rice wholesaler. Shin-san investigates this and discovers a whole sordid rice-based drama, including collective punishment, famine, and assassination.

Episode 57 - Eliminations of Black Sheep

Release Date: 1979-03-24

Episode 58 - The Best Cherry Blossom Dance in Edo

Release Date: 1979-03-31

Episode 59 - The Firemen's Standard is the Firemen's Heart and Soul

Release Date: 1979-04-07

Episode 60 - Only the Sun Knew

Release Date: 1979-04-14

Episode 61 - The Perished Love in a Spring Storm

Release Date: 1979-04-21

Episode 62 - A Single Flower in the Dark

Release Date: 1979-04-28

Episode 63 - The Fallen Flower in the Game of Chance

Release Date: 1979-05-05

Episode 64 - Holding a Fire Standard for a Spear

Release Date: 1979-05-12

Episode 65 - The Troublesome Tea Urn Trip

Release Date: 1979-05-19

Episode 66 - Daruma Smiled on Joshu Road

Release Date: 1979-05-26

Episode 67 - Commissioner Ooka Committs Hara-Kiri!

Release Date: 1979-06-02

Episode 68 - A Bogus Complaint

Release Date: 1979-06-09

Episode 69 - Very Proud of the Celebrated Sword

Release Date: 1979-06-16

An unbalanced ronin wants to become the sword teacher to a daimyo, so he can get enough money to buy back his really sexy sword from the pawn shop. However, a competitor attacks him, crippling the ronin's hand. Shin-san is really mad about this, even though the ronin attacked him earlier.

Episode 70 - A Loach Pot Rather Than A Domain

Release Date: 1979-06-23

Episode 71 - The Best Godfather in Japan

Release Date: 1979-06-30

Episode 72 - Revenge Colored with Safflowers

Release Date: 1979-07-07

A pregnant safflower farmer's husband is run over by the local lord's horse. She's lured to the daikan's office to get compensated but is raped and turned into the lord's concubine instead. She schemes to have herself murdered so Ooka Echizen will enter the manor and discover these great crimes.

Episode 73 - A Man Passionate About the Snow on Mount Fuji

Release Date: 1979-07-14

A kind but untalented kitchen-supervisor samurai is assigned to accompany his domain's gift to the Shogun: big blocks of ice. Shin-san, tramping around Shinjuku, accidentally discovers this delivery and starts accompanying it too, and discovers a rival domain is trying to kill the ice to humiliate the first domain.

Episode 74 - Kick the Edo Illness Out!

Release Date: 1979-07-21

A mysterious illness (beriberi) becomes common and Yoshimune calls his doctor to find out what the cause is. His doctor says only his own special blend of medicine (very expensive) can cure it. Oshino, the female doctor with a fist, however, believes the solution is more simple (and involves punching people).

Episode 75 - Gorozaemon Kano's Disappearance

Release Date: 1979-08-11

Kano Gorozaemon, who is practically Yoshimune's adoptive father, goes out into Edo to get a surprise present for the Shogun, and is kidnapped by a nutter who wants to frame him for murder to steal his job.

Episode 76 - Suspicion Begets Idle Fears

Release Date: 1979-08-18

A lord lets 3 master ghost actresses into his house as maids, somehow doesn't connect this with supernatural happenings in his house.

Episode 77 - The Bride That Came From Kishu

Release Date: 1979-08-25

Kikue, the daughter of a potter. comes to Edo and meets her old friend Shin-san, who she recognizes as the Shogun. She came to marry Kano Gorozaemon, who proposed to her when she was eight (??!) but Kano backed out.

Episode 78 - A Man Hunting the Whole Country

Release Date: 1979-09-08

The Ogobanshu (kind of like a guild of hatamotos) want to hunt, but in setting the borders of the hunting area they recklessly steal the corner of a VERY sensitive farmer's farm.

Episode 79 - Peerless! The Taste of Momma

Release Date: 1979-09-15

Matsumae domain officials and the store Ebisu-ya are conspiring to give predatory loans to alcohol shops. Lady merchant Omasa from Osaka wants to get a better deal, and her son unfortunately took the debt from his main sake supplier, so now she needs to get money to save both their skins.

Episode 80 - The Direct Retainers of the Shogun Run Wild

Release Date: 1979-09-22

Hatamotos, a domain, a runaway killer samurai from the domain, the firemen, and jii for some reason, all end up in a gigantic free for all fight.

Episode 81 - Heroes in the Darkness

Release Date: 1979-09-29

Episode 82 - Angelic Neighborhood Bully

Release Date: 1979-10-13

Episode 83 - Thief Targeting the Nation

Release Date: 1979-10-20

Episode 84 - O-sai Flies!

Release Date: 1979-10-27

Episode 85 - Mount Fuji Saw The Wild Spear

Release Date: 1979-11-03

Episode 86 - The Shogun Permitted a Thief

Release Date: 1979-11-10

Episode 87 - Bullet Aiming At 8 Million Koku

Release Date: 1979-11-17

Episode 88 - Burn! Even If You Must Die

Release Date: 1979-11-24

Episode 89 - Embarrased To Recieve Flowers in Congratulation

Release Date: 1979-12-01

Episode 90 - Beast Battle! Master Tatsugoro

Release Date: 1979-12-08

Episode 91 - Duel! In the Stormy Castle

Release Date: 1979-12-15

Episode 92 - Cheers! Quack Doctor

Release Date: 1979-12-22

Episode 93 - The Will of the Raging Samurai

Release Date: 1979-12-29

Episode 94 - The Lanterns of Early Spring and Noon Emerge

Release Date: 1980-01-05

Episode 95 - I Saw a Rainbow in the Sea of Flames

Release Date: 1980-01-12

Episode 96 - Get the Vermin Out of the Castle!

Release Date: 1980-01-19

Episode 97 - I Don't Need a Mother!

Release Date: 1980-01-26

Episode 98 - The Girl From the Wolf Village

Release Date: 1980-02-02

Episode 99 - A Dohyori of Fire!

Release Date: 1980-02-09

Episode 100 - The Fake Shogun

Release Date: 1980-02-16

Episode 101 - The Eight Million Koku Porter

Release Date: 1980-02-23

Episode 102 - The Collector Who Collected the Villain's Head

Release Date: 1980-03-01

Episode 103 - Catastrophe! We Shouldn't Have Gotten Out of the Way!

Release Date: 1980-03-08

Episode 104 - Japan's Most Wanted Bride

Release Date: 1980-03-22

Episode 105 - Stop! Uncontrolled Official Carriage

Release Date: 1980-03-29

Episode 106 - What is a Shogun?

Release Date: 1980-04-05

Episode 107 - Watch Out! A Female Spy

Release Date: 1980-04-12

Episode 108 - The Man Who Gives Orders to the Shogun!

Release Date: 1980-04-19

Episode 109 - Snacks Delight on a Sunny Day

Release Date: 1980-04-26

Episode 110 - Youth of Edo, Stand Up!

Release Date: 1980-05-03

Episode 111 - Love Blossoms in Ubasuteyama!

Release Date: 1980-05-10

Episode 112 - The Proud and Naive Samurai

Release Date: 1980-05-17

Episode 113 - The Man Who Didn't Stop

Release Date: 1980-05-24

Episode 114 - I Saw the Real One! The Hayabusa Brat

Release Date: 1980-05-31

Episode 115 - Beware of the Quick Bucks

Release Date: 1980-06-07

Episode 116 - The Man Who Died and Flourished

Release Date: 1980-06-14

Episode 117 - Courage in the Face of Injustice

Release Date: 1980-06-21

Episode 118 - Thief Training

Release Date: 1980-06-28

Episode 119 - The Fox Woman Cries, the Banner of Empathy

Release Date: 1980-07-05

Episode 120 - The Princess Take - Tears from a Wedding Procession

Release Date: 1980-07-12

Episode 121 - The Flourishing of the Female Bushido

Release Date: 1980-07-19

Episode 122 - The Sad Song of the South

Release Date: 1980-07-26

Episode 123 - The New Boss! - Osai, of the Fire Extinguisher

Release Date: 1980-08-02

Episode 124 - The One Who Stood Out After Being at Risk of Drowning

Release Date: 1980-08-09

Episode 125 - Floating Lanterns That Mark a New Beginning in a Man's Life

Release Date: 1980-08-16

Episode 126 - Love Sold for 20,000 Ryu

Release Date: 1980-08-23

Episode 127 - The Trap in the Wolf Village

Release Date: 1980-08-30

Episode 128 - Melancholy Ninja Love

Release Date: 1980-09-06

Episode 129 - Dad, You Used to Be Someone

Release Date: 1980-09-13

Episode 130 - My Childhood Friend is an Oku Woman

Release Date: 1980-09-27

Episode 131 - There was a Bullet in the Clam Chowder!

Release Date: 1980-10-04

Episode 132 - Run! The Shogun's Horse!

Release Date: 1980-10-11

Episode 133 - Listen! The Chronicles of the Old Man and the Young Master

Release Date: 1980-10-18

Episode 134 - A Silly Dance in an Oily Hell

Release Date: 1980-10-25

Episode 135 - Duel on the Steam of Hell

Release Date: 1980-11-01

Episode 136 - The Woman Who Bet on the Mountain of Fire

Release Date: 1980-11-08

Episode 137 - Edo's Female Chief

Release Date: 1980-11-15

Episode 138 - Hakone's Melancholic Drizzle

Release Date: 1980-11-22

Episode 139 - The One Who Flirted Was to Blame

Release Date: 1980-11-29

Episode 140 - The Wild Spear Everyone Fears

Release Date: 1980-12-06

Episode 141 - The Bandit Harusame's Mother

Release Date: 1980-12-20

Episode 142 - Munenryu Shintoism and Confucianism According to the Hayashi Clan

Release Date: 1980-12-27

Episode 143 - I am the Most Unpleasant Person in the World

Release Date: 1981-01-10

Shin-san accidentally gets involved with two low-class thieving morons, to Tatsugoro's horror. Tatsugoro finally manages to get rid of them, and one of them is promptly killed by evil ninjas for having seen something he should not have. Yoshimune learns they were raising a bunch of orphans in an awful shack with their scammed money, and decides he must avenge the dead criminal.