Komyo Ga Tsuji Part One

This is a taiga drama from NHK, and I consider this one to be much better in all aspects as a taiga drama.

This is a 49-episode, each episode bears 50 minutes. This series was aired in 2006 to 2007.

The title can have many meanings but I'd personally translate it as "Crossroads of one's life".

Like many other Japanese taiga drama, this one also bases itself in Sengoku era. What makes this one stand out from others is its fine cast. Especially I feel that the actors for Tokugawa Ieyasu and Oda Nobunaga are the best of all taiga drama I've watched.
This taiga drama is also one of few that shows actual battles.

The story is about a samurai named Yamauchi Kazutoyo and his wife named Chiyo.
This drama portrays his life from his early 20s to his final days. His first master is Oda Nobugana but actually his direct superior officer is Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
Yamauchi's early years is pitiful at best. He has had no lands until much later in his life. Even when he is given his share of land, he is still a very small daimyo, but in his late years, he is given Tosa domain which is 200.000 koku which is 4 times more than what he had previously.

Now, let me get to the actual plot.

The drama begins as Yamauchi wanders Owari region with his two regents. He is currently unemployed by any daimyo and therefore penniless. He saves a young girl from drowning in a river who fatefully becomes his wife years later. She is Chiyo.
Overview

Young Yamauchi and young Chiyo Yamauichi's nemesis is actually Oda clan who has killed his father and took over his family land and he attempts to kill him in a battle where Oda Nobunaga is attacking Imagawa's men. However, as he is about to pierce Nobunaga with his spear, he sees a vision and Oda Nobunaga is filled with bright light. He quickly drops his spear and swears his loyalty toward him, thus he becomes Oda clan's samurai.

Not long after his employment, he marries Chiyo, and their journey begins. Their first ordeal is money or rather no money. Even though Yamauchi is employed by Oda clan, he is merely a foot solider and makes very little money. It is barely enough to keep their mouths fed. However, Yamauchi decides that he wants to support one of his two regents, who has lots of children, financially. As a result, Chiyo eventually collapses of hunger.

Tokugawa Ieyasu

From episode 5 to 23, Yamauchi plays virtually no important role, and the drama displays flow of time and war in general accrording to historical records of Sengoku era. You will watch Yamauchi and Chiyo's personal events alongside the historical flow. You will also notice Oda Nobunaga slowly losing himself and becoming sort of a madman.
You will also see Akechi Mitsuhide slowly losing his loyalty toward Oda Nobunaga. Everything is heading toward the Incident at Honno-ji. It is where Oda Nobunaga is killed. It is also where Yamauchi's life takes a huge turn in direction.