Matsunaga Hisahide has risen in rebellion against warlord Nobunaga Oda. The aesthete Furuta Sasuke is ordered to negotiate for peace.
Araki Murashige rises in rebellion against Nobunaga. Sasuke plots to exploit his marriage to the sister of Araki's most trusted vassal.
Sasuke becomes a pupil of the tea master Sen-no Sôeki. Nobunaga reveals his ambition to unify Japan and then wage war on the continent.
Sôeki invites Sasuke and Hideyoshi for a tea ceremony. During Sasuke's absence, Sôeki approaches Hideyoshi with a terrifying plot.
Nobunaga bestows the loot from Tottori Castle upon Hideyoshi. Sasuke bonds with the general and secretly replaces a valuable teascoop from the collection with one of his own fabrication.
As Nobunaga goes through with his unification attempts, Sasuke tries to distinguish himself by participating in the sieges on various castles.
Mitsuhide Akechi is manipulated by Sôeki and Hideyoshi, planting the seeds of rebellion against Nobunaga.
Ieyasu Tokugawa visits Azuchi Castle to celebrate Lord Nobunaga's recent victory. Sasuke is tasked to lure him into throwing a fit at the party.
Nobunaga travels to the imperial court at Kyoto with a small guard. He is lodged in the Honno-ji temple complex, which Sasuke has always dreamed of visiting.
On the night of June 2, 1582, Sasuke has an ominous feeling and hurries to Kyoto, in time to witness the end of an era.
The late Oda's vassals are forced to take sides as a civil war looms.
Azuchi Castle is put under Akechi's command. When Sôeki visits the place, he finds it quite different.
Both Akechi and Sasuke learn who assassinated Nobunaga, and are faced with the biggest moral conflict of their lives.
Akechi, after being crushingly defeat by the Hashiba force, has his final supper with his closest vassals. There, he experiences the essence of "Wabi".
Sôeki advises the new government to burn down Azuchi Castle, tainted by the late Akechi's aesthetic, whilst Sasuke meets Hideyoshi, who now reigns supreme.
Sasuke is assigned by Hideyoshi to reconcile with Ieyasu.
Hideyoshi is named chief advisor to the Emperor. Sasuke is promoted as well, receiving the name of "Oribe Furuta". Oribe begins to focus seriously on the production of Mino pottery.
Hideyoshi gives Sôeki the honorable name of "Sen-no Rikyû". Rikyû once again invites Hideyoshi to a bold plot.
Friction between Rikyû and Hideyoshi increases. Meanwhile, Oribe aspires to master the way of tea, but lacks the confidence to succeed.
Oribe visits the tea master Hechikan, once a fellow student of Rikyû, to deepen his understanding of wabi aesthetics.
Oribe has trouble financing an army to keep up with Hideyoshi's endeavors. However, when he is tasked to show Ieyasu around Kyoto, he smells a chance.
The Kyushu conquest begins. In the battle against the Akizuki troops, Oribe gets help from Nobushige Sanada, and sneaks into Kosyozan Castle.
Hideyoshi announces a great tea gathering to commemorate the subjugation of Kyushu and the erection of Jurakudai Castle.
Tea masters from all over Japan gather in Kyoto for Hideyoshi's great tea gathering. Oribe has an elaborate plan to outdo them all.
Hechikan's simplistic tea ceremony wins him the first place in Hideyoshi's competition. Inspired by his success, Oribe makes a misguided attempt to refine his wabi.
Hechikan forces both Oribe and Rikyû to reflect on their rigid ways.
Rikyû and Oribe together undergo a maturation, as they rediscover the fun and freedom in wabi.
Rikyû's most promising disciple, Souji Yamanoue, finally finds his place in the Kanto region, just as Hideyoshi is preparing an invasion.
The Odawara conquest begins. Rikyû meets Souji again. They were pleased with each other's mental growth.
During Hideyoshi's feudal reforms, Ieyasu is granted a new domain: Edo.
Hideyoshi and Rikyû's relationship continues to deteriorate. Oribe is attacked by the impetuous Date Masamune.
To his dismay, Hideyoshi finds his courtiers will never support him to the fullest.
Oribe invites Rikyû to a hot spring with ocean view, and is motivated to change his course.
Rikyû is angered when Hideyoshi confiscates his greatest treasure and only daughter. Meanwhile, Oribe produces the first true piece of Oribe pottery.
The reception of Oribe's latest cup is highly positive. Josui Kuroda visits the gravely ill Hidenaga Toyotomi.
Aware that Hideyoshi's advisers are planning to dispose of him, Rikyû invites Ieyasu to a tea ceremony.
Masamune angered Hideyoshi again. He goes to Oribe and Takayama for advice on how to make up to his lord.
Rikyû is ordered by Hideyoshi to seclude himself at Sakai. Oribe and Tadaoki see him off at the Yodo river.
Hideyoshi orders Rikyû to commit seppuku, and appoints an executioner: Furuta Oribe.