Lord Asano has rejected a bribery solicitation by Lord Kira and in so doing, has struck Kira, a serious breach of feudal law. Asano, though in the right, was forced to commit seppuku, ritual suicide. Now, the forty-seven samurai who were his loyal subjects have been reduced to ronin, masterless samurai. Under the leadership of Asano's chamberlain, Oishi, the forty-seven ronin surrender Asano's castle. But Oishi is long-suffering and patient, and despite the passage of years, vengeance is being planned.