Yoshitsune Leaves Kurama with the Gold Merchant | Gikeiki 03

At sixteen, the future Minamoto no Yoshitsune dreams of raising an army against the Heike. Still known as Shanao, he meets the gold merchant Kichiji at Kurama and sees a chance to seek allies in the north. Kichiji's tales of northern warriors awaken Shanao's ambitions, but leaving his mountain home means parting with the teacher who raised him. After playing a farewell on his bamboo flute, he leaves Kurama, asks Shomon-bo to remain in Kyoto, and begins his journey with the merchant. This episode follows them as far as the lodging place of Kagami. An English retelling of the Gikeiki, the Japanese literary chronicle of Yoshitsune. This series follows the story as told in the chronicle, where history and legend intertwine. Gikeiki series, Episode 03.