When you think of NHK historical dramas, what shows do you think of? The commemorable first series was Hana no Shōgai, a drama based on a novel about Naosuke Ii’s life. The original novel was known as a work of literature that completely changed the image of Naosuke Ii with the public. The first half of the show mainly takes place here, at Umoregi-no-ya.

Including the stories we’ve shared here during this tour, there is not one out there that is the most correct. Still, the vestiges of Naosuke that remain in Umoregi-no-ya show a cultured, intelligent man who loved peace and his family. In fact, Naosuke had this small shrine built to pray for the safe birth of his daughter Yachiyo, who was birthed by his concubine Shizu.

At this point, what sort of impression do you have of Naosuke Ii? If you had any impressions of Naosuke going into this tour that have changed, we encourage you to take the flower you picked up in the beginning, and offer it to the shrine.