52 episodes of one man's obsession with dragging Japan into the gunpowder age.
Season 1 • Episode 52
LatestCentered around Masujiro Omura, who became a commander for the Choshu clan, and founded the modern Japanese millitary system.
Acting
Umenosuke Nakamura's simmering intensity carries decades of political maneuvering.
Production
NHK taiga budget: thousands of extras, actual castles, zero CGI nonsense.
Umenosuke Nakamura
Murata Zoroku (Omura Masujiro)
Mariko Kaga
Okoto
Ruriko Asaoka
Irie
Jun Hamamura
Fujimura Takashi
Saburo Shinoda
Yoshida Torajiro
Keiko Tsushima
Otaki
Takashi Shimura
Chikuin
Masakane Yonekura
Kido Takayoshi
Takahiro Tamura
Choufu Masanosuke
Tarō Shigaki
Kusaka Yoshisuke
Kohji Moritsugu
Terashima Akisuke
Shuichi Ikeda
Terashima Chusaburo
Masashi Ishibashi
Kijima Matabei
Kōjirō Kusanagi
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Kashin helped rehabilitate Omura Masujiro's image; previously controversial for his Western sympathies, he's now on the 1000 yen note.
Mariko Kaga reportedly fought for more screen time for Okoto, arguing the 'helpful wife' trope undersold women's political influence in the period.
JP
