Beginning of the 13th century. In Japan the Heian era ended—a time of palace ceremonies and refined customs where a skilled hand was valued more than a sword, and carefully woven words were considered worth more than gold. Already half a century has passed since power shifted from refined court nobles to rough samurai, and the emperor, Son of Heaven, has forever turned from ruler into a national symbol. Yet before a candle goes out it often flares up with renewed vigor, and the departed "era of peace" has gifted its descendants the main masterpieces of Japanese literature. Many of these were collected in the famous anthology "One Hundred Poems," originally compiled by the renowned poet Fujiwara no Teika… to adorn the curtains in his own home! For those unfamiliar, "One Hundred Poems" is merely a collection of tanka written in archaic Japanese. But for connoisseurs and experts, each quintet is a novella or novel encoded in 31 syllables. Which plots are the most interesting, you wonder? The authors of the series decided to remind viewers of the well‑known love stories of the Heian era that unfold with the anthology"s characters over several generations, for each of the hundred poems continues another, like a reply in conversation. Yes, by the authors" will, the characters of the series speak and behave like our contemporaries. But this only proves that people across centuries and eras change little, and the best old songs are still about what matters.
TYO Animations Japan