Keiko Kitagawa stars as Ito, a member of a small clan in the Tohoku region. One day, with cherry blossoms in full bloom, she meets a young man named Magoshiro (Shuntaro Miyao) who’s become known as the clan’s greatest swordsman even though he’s from a lower social class.

Also skilled in swordsmanship, Ito gets permission from her father to spar with Magoshiro using bamboo swords. Their match sparks an undeniable attraction, but their love can never be realized; Ito is already betrothed to a man named Saisuke (Masahiro Komoto).

Instead of fighting her destiny, she accepts the fact that she’ll be married when her fiance returns from his studies in Edo and chooses to put Magoshiro out of her mind for good. However, months later she receives the shocking news that Magoshiro was forced to commit suicide through a cowardly plot by their clan leader. Even though Ito only knew Magoshiro for a brief time, she decides to honor his memory by seeking vengeance.

“Hana no Ato” will be released in Japan on March 13, 2010.

Tags: Keiko Kitagawa