《八重之樱》讲述了会津藩的炮术师傅山本谦八和佐久夫妻之女新岛八重一生87年间发生的事。新岛八重（绫濑遥 饰）出生于会津藩士家中，在戊辰战争中和五百名女子一起固守会津的鹤城，到明治年间嫁给襄，作为基督教传教士传道，积极从事教育活动，是个顽固的女人，在那个男尊女卑的时代称得上是女中豪杰，被称为是幕末时代的贞德。之后，在侵华战争、日俄战争中，八重又和会津的伙伴一起作为日本第一批护士共赴战场，因此又获得“日本的南丁格尔”这一美名。

television series

At a high school entrance ceremony, high school student Kotoko Aihara (Honoka Miki), who isn't that smart, notices pretty boy Naoki Irie (Yuki Furukawa). She falls in love with him immediately. Kotoko initially doesn't express her feelings to him, but finally has a chance to tell him how she feels. Unfortunately, Naoki turns Kotoko down, saying "I don't like dumb women." One day, Kotoko Aihara's house is severely damaged by an earthquake. Until the house is rebuilt, Kotoko Aihara and her father decide to live with her father's friend. When Kotoko Aihara moves to her new temporary house, she is surprised to learn that Naoki Irie lives there as well.