The Story of Saiunkoku poster

The Story of Saiunkoku (2006)

Adventure · Animation · Comedy

Saiunkoku is a world of eight provinces or houses, each named after a different colour. The new Emperor, Shi Ryuuki, has gained for a reputation for being uninterested in courtly matters and for flaunting his love for men. Shuurei, although born of the important Kou family, has difficulty making ends meet. She easily accepts an invitation to be the Emperor's concubine in order to turn him into a good ruler. The mysterious Seiran, a young man who was adopted by her father, goes with her as Ryuuki's bodyguard. Entering the imperial palace revives Shuurei's dream of being a court official, and, together with the many companions she meets along the way, continues moving bravely forward while trying to fend off the Emperor's advances.

IMDb rating
7.5 (345 votes)
Seasons
1
Streaming (US)
Retrocrush · Cineverse
Language
JA
Type
TV series

Ratings refreshed Jun 10, 2026 · 1 season indexed

Cast

Seasons

Season 1 (2006)

7.08 avg 25 episodes 7.6 → 6.8 25 min avg

Ep 1: 7.6 · 12 votesEp 2: 8.1 · 10 votesEp 3: 7.9 · 9 votesEp 4: 7.2 · 8 votesEp 5: 7.5 · 8 votesEp 6: 7.2 · 8 votesEp 7: 6.8 · 7 votesEp 8: 7.0 · 7 votesEp 9: 7.0 · 7 votesEp 10: 7.0 · 7 votesEp 11: 7.0 · 7 votesEp 12: 7.5 · 8 votesEp 13: 7.2 · 7 votesEp 14: 7.2 · 7 votesEp 15: 7.0 · 7 votesEp 16: 6.8 · 7 votesEp 17: 7.2 · 7 votesEp 18: 6.8 · 7 votesEp 19: 7.0 · 7 votesEp 20: 7.0 · 7 votesEp 21: 6.4 · 7 votesEp 22: 7.0 · 7 votesEp 23: 6.8 · 7 votesEp 24: 6.0 · 7 votesEp 26: 6.8 · 7 votes
Season 1 episodes — IMDb ratings
#TitleRatingVotes
1There's a Different Side to Every Good Story7.612
2The Frog in the Well Knows Not the Great Ocean8.110
3The Hawk with Talent Hides Its Talons7.99
4Casting Pearls Before a Swine7.28
5A Genius Can't Be a Genius Without Effort7.58
6Lacking the Finishing Touch7.28
7Those That Swim Well Drown Even the Strongest Swimmer Can Drown6.87
8Wanting to Borrow a Cat's Paws7.07
9A Journey of a Thousand Miles Starts with a Single Step7.07
10Fine Weather Comes to Those Who Wait7.07
11There Is No Cure for Lovesickness7.07
12Discretion Is the Better Part of Valour7.58
13From a Gourd Comes a Horse7.27
14On a Rock for Three Years7.27
15Children Know Not Their Parents' Hearts7.07
16There Are No Demons in This World6.87
17Poking a Bush Draws Out a Snake7.27
18Don't Cover Your Head and Leave Your Bottom Exposed6.87
19If You Love Your Child, Let Them Go on a Journey7.07
20Flowers Blooming from Dead Wood7.07
21The Wise Man Does Not Court Danger6.47
22While There's Life, There's Hope7.07
23It's the Company That Makes Travel Unpleasant6.87
24Water on a Sleeping Ear6.07
26The Raven of Darkness6.87