The 47 Ronin Story is the unforgettable saga of a band of samurai who defied the Emperor's laws and faced certain destruction to avenge the disgrace and death of their master. The story begins in 1701, when Lord Asano is goaded into lashing out at a corrupt court official. Although the wound Asano inflicts is minimal, the Emperor's punishment is harsh - Lord Asano is ordered to commit seppuku, or ritual suicide. His lands are confiscated and his family is dishonored and exiled. His samurai now become ronin, or masterless, and are dispersed. But the ronin refuse to accept their fate. They are making careful plans for revenge, and biding their time until the moment is right to strike! Their acts are the source for Japan's most celebrated story of bravery, cunning, and loyalty in an age when the samurai were icons, and honour was worth dying for.