60 minSeason 1 • Episode 49
LatestYoshitsune is a Japanese television drama series originally broadcast between 9 January and 11 December 2005, with a three-part special compilation being aired from 24 December to 25 December 2005. The 44th Taiga Drama, the original work is by Miyao Tomiko, screenplay by Kaneko Narito and starring Hideaki Takizawa.
Production
NHK's lavish Heian-period sets and costumes are absolutely immaculate.
Acting
Takizawa captures Yoshitsune's boyish charm and crushing weight equally.
Writing
Kaneko Narito balances epic scope with devastating intimate betrayals.
Hideaki Takizawa
Minamoto no Yoshi-tsune
Mari Natsuki
Tango no Tsubone (Emperor's concubine)
Akira Nakao
Kajiwara Kagetoki
Izumi Inamori
Tokiwa Gozen (Yoshitsune's Mother)
Shun Oguri
Kagesue Kajiwara
Hiroshi Abe
Taira no Tomomori (Kiyomori's 4th son)
Masaya Katō
Minamoto no Yoshitomo (Yoshitsune and Yoritomo's father)
Maki Goto
Yoshiko
Misa Uehara
Tetsuro Tamba
Minamoto no Yorimasa (Gen-ji)
Naho Toda
Ren Osugi
Minamoto no Yuki-ie
Kiichi Nakai
Kamakura's first Sho-Gun
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was Hideaki Takizawa's first and only Taiga Drama lead—he reportedly trained in horseback archery for months.
The 2005 broadcast coincided with renewed interest in Yoshitsune after the 2004 film 'The Last Samurai' sparked Western samurai curiosity; NHK leaned into the tragic romanticism.
JP
