When I was six years old, I lived in New Zealand for a year. Besides falling in love with something called Big Ben's Meat Pies, I learned that the BBC makes historical dramas that really delve into the past, which was interesting to me since it's not something Americans are used to seeing. Japan's NHK follows the BBC model very closely, making many jidai-geki or "period dramas" -- this is incidentally where we get the word "Jedi" from -- that bring various episodes of Japan's long past to life for modern TV viewers. There are many productions shown over the course of the year, but the best is always the Taiga ("Big River") Drama, which runs from early January to the end of December and has the biggest budget and the most beautiful costumes. This year was the 47th Taiga Drama since the series started in 1963, and it told the story of Atsuhime, a girl who married the 13th Tokugawa Shogun. The period was an especially tumultuous one, which saw the arrival of Admiral Perry and his "Black Ships" then culminated in the Meiji Restoration, when the 250-year rule of the Tokugawa clan ended and a modern government was founded around the Japanese Emperor. It stared the popular actress Aoi Miyazaki, who gave a brilliant performance and won many fans for the show, which pulled in ratings of 28% last night.
13 comments:
Oh neat. I never knew that they had this on tv. Very educational. Can you stream this show online?
Atsu-hime fan here! By the way, I was wondering why taiga drama are called like that. "Big river" is related to its length?
28%? Cool... That was the last episode, right?
I guess it was supposed to be something like the big flow of history in time, or something. But yes, very odd. Kind of how like sashimi is written with characters meaning "stabbed meat" but you aren't allowed to stab it with your chopsticks. ^_^
Leilani, don't think it's streamed online, but it will likely be online, if you take my meaning. Wink wink, say no more, say no more.
Ahhh... gotcha... "leaves briefcase with 1,000,000,000 yen for Peter" Thank you for the tip.
The international channel here in San Francisco has been running it, with subtitles. I think we are running a week or two behind Japan.
I find these dramas difficult when they use that "archaic" language, true to the period, but so unlike modern Japanese. I suppose it is appopriate, the way Apocolypto was done in the ancient Mayan tongue.
Yes, the nihongo can be hard, they should publish some kind of learner's guide for each episode with a synopsis and some words you'll encounter. Of course the danger is learning too much Japanese from these shows. NOTHING is more hilarious than a gaijin talking 16th century feudal lord-ben ^_^
I've never been too much of a Period drama fan. But,the costumes look beautiful and the story sounds interesting(I'd love to see how Matthew Perry is portrayed from a Japanese perspective and who they'd get to play him and the rest of the U.S. Navy). Hmmm,maybe I'll look for this one.
I'm not a huge fan of period dramas but they can be interesting. Saw Oobu in theatres a couple of years ago. I want to see Tonsura, bu tonly because Kago-chan is in a few episodes.
KTSF, the local San Francisco Bay Area station, is airing the taiga dorama Atsuhime. Tongiht was the second to the last episode. I believe January 24th is the last episode.
KTSF is airing the taiga dorama Atsuhime. Tongiht was the second to the last episode. I believe
January 24th is the last episode.
Oh awesome. (I mis-read that a bit and thought they were broadcasting Toradora, which has a character named Taiga in it ^_^).
I was, at first, apprehensive to watch another drama with my wife because they are so emotionally draining as well as time consuming. However, after viewing a few beginning chapters I was hooked and could not get enough. I was watching it until a website named after a chocolate drink cut 15 chapters I was forced to watch the remaining 4 chapters. I cried at the end and was moved by all the characters. I am a borne American with a wonderful Japanese wife. To me, she is my 'Princess Atsuhime' and with a deep commitment I will never be grateful enough for what she had given to me and to others. I highly recommend that this story be told to gain the heart of Japan and its culture.
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