■ あらすじ　
　１８世紀初頭、徳川幕府の高家の地位にある吉良上野介<きらこうずけのすけ>から侮辱的な冷遇を受けた赤穂の大名浅野内匠頭<あさのたくみのかみ>は、吉良に斬りつけ傷を負わせた。吉良は助かったが、幕府は殿中での刃傷沙汰（にんじょうざた）のかどで浅野に切腹と改易を命じた。残された家来は浪人となり各地に散ったが、浅野家筆頭家老大石内蔵助<おおいしくらのすけ>は吉良を殺し主君の仇を討つ忠義な家来を捜し集め、酒に溺れる振りをして敵を油断させ、味方を潜り込ませて情報を得た。寒い冬の夜、彼らは吉良邸を襲撃して仇を討ち取り、亡き主君の墓に仇討を報告すると、幕府の命令に従って切腹した。

■ Outline of this story
　This story is set in the early 18th century. Asano Takuminokami, the Daimio (i.e., lord) of the province of Ako, had received insulting maltreatment from Kira Kodzukenosuke, a high official in the Court of Tokugawa, and slashed him in retaliation. Kira survived, but the Court of Tokugawa found Asano guilty of causing injury with a sword inside the palace, ordered him to commit “Harakiri” (i.e., to disembowel himself), and confiscated his estates and castle. Having become "Ronin" (i.e., masterless samurai), his retainers dispersed. But Oishi Kuranosuke, who had been Asano's chief councillor, brought the faithful ones together again in a plot to kill Kira and avenge their late master. Oishi induced their enemies to relax their guard by feigning drunkenness, and succeeded in sneaking men into Kira's mansion to gather information. On a cold winter night, they raided the mansion and slew Kira. After paying a visit to Asano's grave to announce their accomplishment of the deed, they followed the shogunate orders and committed “Harakiri” to pay for their crime.

■ Note
　Generally known as the "Chushingura" (Tale of the Loyal Retainers), this story is based on a historical event: the Genroku Ako Incident. A brief outline of the incident is followed by profiles of a total of 53 characters involved in it, from Asano, Kira, and the 47 retainers to Oishi's wife, a retainer who killed himself before the attack, and a merchant who procured the weapons for the raid. The profiles devote one page to each character and are accompanied by illustrations, but contain some factual errors. The illustrator is noted as "Sekkoku" on the flip side of the cover.