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Reiko
Senior Member
USA
536 Posts |
 Posted - 02/26/2008 : 09:43:49 AM
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Now that Fuurin Kazan is over, it's time for me to shift gears and begin posting my summaries for the new Taiga drama: Atsu-hime/Princess Atsu.
Episode 1: “Child of Destiny”
NHK Broadcast Date: January 6, 2008
Viewership: 20.3%
Staff
Original Work: Miyao Tomiko’s TENSHO’IN ATSUHIME
Script Writer: Tabuchi Kumiko
Music: Yoshimata Ryo
Theme Music Performer: NHK Symphony Orchestra
Theme Music Conductor: Inoue Michiyoshi
Musical Performance By: Gen Ittetsu Orchestra
Japanese Subtitler: Kikuchi Kinko
Background Researchers: Haraguchi Izumi, Oishi Manabu
Architectural Researcher: Hirai Kiyoshi
Costume Researcher: Koizumi Kiyoko
Photography Cooperators: Kagoshima prefecture; Kagoshima city, Ibusuki city, Izumi city in Kagoshima prefecture; Tsukubamirai city, Joso city in Ibaraki prefecture; Izu no Kuni city, Shimoda city in Shizuoka prefecture
Martial Arts Coach: Hayashi Kunishiro
Conduct Coach: Nishikawa Minosuke
Japanese Music Coach: Honjo Hidetaro
Incense Ceremony Coach: Sanjonishi Gyosui
Go [game] Coach: Umezawa Yukari
Data Providers: Tokugawa Memorial Foundation, Shogo Shuseikan, Edo Tokyo Museum, Nijo Castle, Michinoku Hoppo Gyosen Museum, Imuda Shikato, Nomoto Teito, Takemura Makoto
Satsuma Speech Coach: Nishida Seishiro
Narrator: Naraoka Tomoko
Film Supervisor: Sano Motohiko
Film Work: Yashiki Yotaro
Art: Yamaguchi Ruiji
Technology: Ogasahara Yoichi
Sound Effects: Nishinomiya Kinnosuke
Photography: Tame Akihiro
Lighting: Nakayama Shinyu
Sound: Honma Noriyoshi
Image Art: Yamada Yasuichi
Recording: Sato Hideki
Editing: Mizushima Kiyoko
Progress Art: Yamao Takashi
Director: Sato Mineyo
Atsuhime’s Avant Title
Narrator: Namekawa Kazuo
Atsuhime’s Travel Journal
Narrator: Naito Yuko
Musical Performers: Yoshimata Ryo x Gen Ittetsu
Cast
Okatsu (Princess Atsu): Miyazaki Aoi
Kimotsuki Naogoro: Eita
Tokugawa Iesachi: Sakai Masato
Saigo Kichinosuke: Ozawa Yukiyoshi
Shimazu Tadatake: Nagatsuka Kyozou
Oyuki: Higuchi Kanako
Shimazu Tadayuki: Okada Yoshinori
Kikumoto: Sasaki Sumie
Kurikawa Magaroku: Umeno Masukiyo
Takuma Harumichi: Shoji Yusuke
Shino: Kobayashi Asako
Okatsu (child): Nagai Honoka, Iwamoto Chinami
Shimazu Tadafuyu: Kawano Yasuro
Shimazu Hisayuki: Matsuo Katsuhisa
Tadafuyu (child): Fujisaki Takeshi
Hisayuki (child): Tanaka Oga
Tadatake (child): Sakai Kazuhisa
Kimotsuki Kinu: Misawa Akemi
Shimazu Hisakaze: Sakabe Fumiaki
Refugees: Sasaki Yohei, Kitayama Yuichiro
Commoner: Kondo Tsuyoshi
Captain of the Morrison: Ian Moore
Komatsu Kiyomoto: Sawamura Ikki
Ochika: Tomosaka Rie
Shadowy person: Maro Akaji
Tokugawa Ieyoshi: Saiki Shigeru
Kimotsuki Kaneyoshi: Enoki Takaaki
Shimazu Tadayuki: Yamaguchi Yuichiro
Oyura: Suzukaze Mayo
Abe Masahiro: Kusakari Masao
Shimazu Narioki: Nagato Hiroyuki
Zusho Hirosato: Hira Mikijuro
Shimazu Nariakira: Takahashi Hideki
Others: Ishikawa Kenji, Amano Daisu, Uwadaira Haruka, Usui Shiho, Nakamura Eiko, Hirayama Yosuke, Yanase Tatsuhiro, Nakata Toshiki, Nishikawa Senshigero, Nishikawa Senmorihito, Nishikawa Ichisuke, Nishikawa Hiroshi, Nishikawa Jun; Wakakoma, Himawari Theatre Group, Lazaris, Central Children Talent, Angel Pro, Gekidan Tohai, Kuroki Pro, Theatre Academy, Campus Cinema
Episode Summary
It is 1835, nearly 20 years before the arrival of the black ships. Shimazu Nariakira [Takahashi Hideki], the successor to the fief of Kagoshima that overlooks the nearby Sakurajima, is excited about his first return to his hometown. While that is happening, a long-awaited girl is born to the Imaizumi-Shimazu family, one of the branch families of the Shimazu clan. The father, Shimazu Tadatake [Nagatsuka Kyozou], and mother, Oyuki [Higuchi Kanako], name their eldest daughter Okatsu to symbolize their desire for her to have a life of good fortune. This daughter is the future Princess Atsu/Tensho’in. Okatsu grows up to be different than her sickly elder brothers, for she is tomboyish and full of curiosity. She also becomes a girl with a kind heart.
Time soon passes. Under the command of the chief retainer for the Satsuma clan named Zusho Hirosato [Hira Mikijuro], strict fiscal reforms are made. Saigo Kichinosuke [the future Takamori; Ozawa Yukiyoshi], placed in charge of the agricultural administration by the clan’s government office, comes to complain of the farmers’ difficult lives to the popular Tadatake. However, Zusho learns about this meeting and punishes Tadatake for his leniency towards the farmers. Okatsu [Miyazaki Aoi] is unable to grasp why her popular father deserved to be blamed for it. As a result, she recklessly storms into Zusho’s mansion together with Kimotsuki Naogoro [the future Komatsu Tatewaki; Eita], a close acquaintance who was born in the same year as she was, to ask Zusho why he is continuing with such a cruel policy…
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satomi
Average Member
252 Posts |
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satomi
Average Member
252 Posts |
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zoommer
Average Member
271 Posts |
Posted - 02/27/2008 : 4:21:33 PM
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Japanese leadership in the mid 1800s is totally ineffectual and unable to change and thus unable to improve. Even a child can see that something is terribly wrong. Leaders are trained not to rock the boat and to dodge Bakufu accusations. Another lesson for Atsuhime is that was is now illegal might actually turn out to be the solution if it were given a chance even though a lot of people are going to fall out of the rocking boat.
Is it me or do all the Shimazu look alike? |
Edited by - zoommer on 02/27/2008 5:55:16 PM |
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The Man
Senior Member
USA
710 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2008 : 11:28:40 AM
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Thanks again, Reiko, for ya'll ep' summaries.
Will watch this one. MAN that Furin Kazan lasted long; longer than the Japan's actual feudal era, it seemed [!]. And every episode, had some form of man crying; I just got turned after a while. Every episode, wah-wah-wah, I'm a man, look at me, I'm crying, wah-wah-wah. Sheeesh.
This Atsu-Hime, though, polar opposite -- tough woman, great dialogue (at least, translated into English; the part where one of the maid's admonishing li'l Katsu that she must needs have food to eat in being Princess-sorial, something as seemingly minor as that segment, handled very well). Above all, for my tastes, this show has a similar mood and madcap-ness to Shinsengumi! of a while ago.
Bravo! I won't miss an ep! |
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Reiko
Senior Member
USA
536 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2008 : 10:12:19 AM
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Episode 2: “Oath of Sakurajima”
NHK Broadcast Date: January 13, 2008
Viewership: 20.4%
Staff
Original Work: Miyao Tomiko’s TENSHO’IN ATSUHIME
Script Writer: Tabuchi Kumiko
Music: Yoshimata Ryo
Theme Music Performer: NHK Symphony Orchestra
Theme Music Conductor: Inoue Michiyoshi
Musical Performance By: Gen Ittetsu Orchestra
Japanese Subtitler: Kikuchi Kinko
Background Researchers: Haraguchi Izumi, Oishi Manabu
Architectural Researcher: Hirai Kiyoshi
Costume Researcher: Koizumi Kiyoko
Photography Cooperators: Kagoshima prefecture; Kagoshima city in Kagoshima prefecture; Tsukubamirai city, Joso city, Ishioka city in Ibaraki prefecture
Martial Arts Coach: Hayashi Kunishiro
Conduct Coach: Nishikawa Minosuke
Satsuma Speech Coach: Nishida Seishiro
Data Providers: Tokugawa Memorial Foundation, Shogo Shuseikan, Edo Tokyo Museum, Imuda Shikato, Nomoto Teito, Takemura Makoto
Narrator: Naraoka Tomoko
Film Supervisor: Sano Motohiko
Film Work: Yashiki Yotaro
Art: Yamaguchi Ruiji
Technology: Ichikawa Takao
Sound Effects: Mitani Naoki
Photography: Ando Kiyoshi
Lighting: Shindo Toshio
Sound: Honma Noriyoshi
Image Art: Moritomo Hirofumi
Recording: Sato Hideki
Editing: Mizushima Kiyoko
Progress Art: Matsudani Naofumi
Director: Sato Mineyo
Atsuhime’s Avant Title
Narrator: Namekawa Kazuo
Atsuhime’s Travel Journal
Narrator: Naito Yuko
Musical Performers: Yoshimata Ryo x Gen Ittetsu
Cast
Okatsu (Princess Atsu): Miyazaki Aoi
Kimotsuki Naogoro: Eita
Saigo Kichinosuke: Ozawa Yukiyoshi
Okubo Shosuke: Harada Taizo
Shimazu Tadatake: Nagatsuka Kyozou
Oyuki: Higuchi Kanako
Shimazu Tadayuki: Okada Yoshinori
Kikumoto: Sasaki Sumie
Kurikawa Magaroku: Umeno Masukiyo
Takuma Harumichi: Shoji Yusuke
Shino: Kobayashi Asako
Mine: Tanahashi Sachiyo
Vassal: Miura Kiyomitsu
Okubo Suma: Kurihara Hitomi
Okubo Mine: Takamatsu Iku
Shimazu Kannosuke: Kondo Takatada
Shimazu Atsunosuke: Motokawa Ransho
Komatsu Kiyomoto: Sawamura Ikki
Arima Shinshichi: Matoba Koji
Okubo Toshiyo: Owada Shinya
Shimazu Tadayuki (flashback): Yamaguchi Yuichiro
Izachi Masaharu: Miyake Hiroki
Arimura Shunsai: Hirayama Hiroyuki
Fuku: Maya Kyoko
Oyura: Suzukaze Mayo
Abe Masahiro: Kusakari Masao
Shimazu Narioki: Nagato Hiroyuki
Zusho Hirosato: Hira Mikijuro
Shimazu Nariakira: Takahashi Hideki
Others: Nakamura Eiko, Hirayama Yosuke, Nakao Fumiko, Tsujimoto Kazuki, Wakakoma, Himawari Theatre Group, Gekidan Tohai, Theatre Academy, Campus Cinema, JAE
Episode Summary
Okatsu’s [Miyazaki Aoi] father Shimazu Tadatake [Nagatsuka Kyozou], by making an effort to reform his family’s finances and practicing self-restraint, is able to escape being punished by the clan for the moment. Zusho Hirosato [Hira Mikijuro] steadily makes progress in rebuilding the Satsuma clan’s financial affairs and, in a short period of time, successfully clears their debts, an amount equal to 5,000,000 coins. However, the lives of the clan’s samurai and farmers become more impoverished each month. The hatred rises towards the clan leader Shimazu Narioki [Nagato Hiroyuki] and his concubine Oyura [Suzukaze Mayo] for their appointment of Zusho to such an important post by younger samurai like Saigo Kichinosuke [Ozawa Yukiyoshi] and Okubo Shosuke [Harada Taizo]. During this time, the children of the Satsuma clan’s heir, Shimazu Nariakira [Takahashi Hideki] die in their infancy. Furthermore, a doll used to curse the children was soon discovered under the children’s bed. This brings the hatred felt towards Oyura and Zusho to its highest within the clan.
While this is happening, Okatsu receives an invitation by Zusho. She visits Zusho’s mansion together with Kimotsuki Naogoro [Eita]. Zusho tells her that he has received an urgent summons from Edo and wanted to meet with her before leaving. Afterwards, Zusho goes to Edo and is accused of committing crimes such as smuggling by Abe Masahiro [Kusakari Masao], a member of the Shogun’s council of elders. Zusho commits suicide by ingesting poison in order to protect the clan. |
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zoommer
Average Member
271 Posts |
Posted - 03/05/2008 : 5:28:09 PM
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Kimotsuki seems to have stumbled upon some strong and useful, though risky, friends who may later meet up with...Kondo Isami?
I agree with the MAN that the screen writers of this series, if different from previous, have created some touching scenes thus far. In Furin it seems the actors were too busy with the complicated scenes and historical events that they missed the character aspects? |
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Reiko
Senior Member
USA
536 Posts |
Posted - 03/06/2008 : 10:25:00 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by zoommer
I agree with the MAN that the screen writers of this series, if different from previous, have created some touching scenes thus far. In Furin it seems the actors were too busy with the complicated scenes and historical events that they missed the character aspects?
That could be why the ratings for this series have been over the 20% mark for every episode that has aired so far.  |
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zoommer
Average Member
271 Posts |
Posted - 03/06/2008 : 5:16:41 PM
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Or maybe the times during the Sengoku were so rough that they really had big problems?
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satomi
Average Member
252 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2008 : 07:26:24 AM
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It seems to me that the narrative of FUURIN K. was less linear and had a more simultaneous quality with things going on at the same time in different settings.
I found it quite interesting that all those power players at the beginning of FUURIN K. would eventually be overshadowed by the big 3--Oda, Toyotomi, and Tokugawa. |
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satomi
Average Member
252 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2008 : 07:35:52 AM
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| And watching all those older characters in religious garb plotting deviously made me realize that one had to become positively Machiavellian to survive during the Sengoku period. |
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satomi
Average Member
252 Posts |
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Reiko
Senior Member
USA
536 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2008 : 09:54:45 AM
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Episode 3: “Satsuma Splits Up”
NHK Broadcast Date: January 20, 2008
Viewership: 21.4%
Staff
Original Work: Miyao Tomiko’s TENSHO’IN ATSUHIME
Script Writer: Tabuchi Kumiko
Music: Yoshimata Ryo
Theme Music Performer: NHK Symphony Orchestra
Theme Music Conductor: Inoue Michiyoshi
Musical Performance By: Gen Ittetsu Orchestra
Japanese Subtitler: Kikuchi Kinko
Background Researchers: Haraguchi Izumi, Oishi Manabu
Architectural Researcher: Hirai Kiyoshi
Costume Researcher: Koizumi Kiyoko
Photography Cooperators: Kagoshima prefecture; Kagoshima city in Kagoshima prefecture; Tsukubamirai city in Ibaraki prefecture; Izu no Kuni city in Shizuoka prefecture
Martial Arts Coach: Hayashi Kunishiro
Conduct Coach: Nishikawa Minosuke
Tea Ceremony Coach: Suzuki Soutaku
Flower Arrangement Coach: Sugimoto Yasuko
Calligraphy Coach: Mochizuki Gyoun
Go [game] Coach: Umezawa Yukari
Satsuma Speech Coach: Nishida Seishiro
Kyoto Speech Coach: Inoue Yukiko
Data Providers: Tokugawa Memorial Foundation, Shogo Shuseikan, Edo Tokyo Museum, Imuda Shikato, Nomoto Teito, Takemura Makoto
Narrator: Naraoka Tomoko
Film Supervisor: Sano Motohiko
Film Work: Yashiki Yotaro
Art: Yamaguchi Ruiji
Technology: Ogasahara Yoichi
Sound Effects: Yanagawa Tatsuhiko
Photography: Tame Akihiro
Lighting: Nakayama Shinyu
Sound: Watanabe Akeo
Image Art: Kataoka Keita
Recording: Sato Hideki
Editing: Mizushima Kiyoko
Progress Art: Kakizaki Tsuneaki
Director: Okada Ken
Atsuhime’s Avant Title
Narrator: Namekawa Kazuo
Atsuhime’s Travel Journal
Narrator: Naito Yuko
Musical Performers: Yoshimata Ryo x Gen Ittetsu
Cast
Okatsu (Princess Atsu): Miyazaki Aoi
Kimotsuki Naogoro: Eita
Tokugawa Iesachi: Sakai Masato
Saigo Kichinosuke: Ozawa Yukiyoshi
Okubo Shosuke: Harada Taizo
Shimazu Tadatake: Nagatsuka Kyozou
Oyuki: Higuchi Kanako
Kikumoto: Sasaki Sumie
Date Munenari: Morita Junpei
Izachi Masaharu: Miyake Hiroki
Shino: Kobayashi Asako
Suma: Kurihara Hitomi
Mine: Takamatsu Iku
Komatsu Kiyomoto: Sawamura Ikki
Arima Shinshichi: Matoba Koji
Shadowy person (flashback): Maro Akaji
Tokugawa Ieyoshi: Saiki Shigeru
Konoe Tadahiro: Shunputei Koasa
Shimazu Tadayuki: Yamaguchi Yuichiro
Fuku: Maya Kyoko
Oyura: Suzukaze Mayo
Abe Masahiro: Kusakari Masao
Shimazu Narioki: Nagato Hiroyuki
Ikushima: Matsuzaka Keiko
Shimazu Nariakira: Takahashi Hideki
Others: Nakamura Eiko, Nakao Fumiko, Nakata Toshiki, Wakakoma, Himawari Theatre Group, Gekidan Tohai, Angel Pro, Theatre Academy, Campus Cinema
Episode Summary
In Satsuma, Oyura [Suzukaze Mayo], the concubine of Shimazu Narioki [Nagato Hiroyuki], desires to make her son Tadayuki [Yamaguchi Yuichiro] the successor to the clan but that causes some intense opposition from the people who are on the side of Nariakira [Takahashi Hideki], the heir and eldest son.
Okatsu [Miyazaki Aoi] is very interested in what will happen in regards to the politics of the clan but her father Tadatake [Nagatsuka Kyozou] chides her by saying that this is not something children should know about.
Meanwhile Okubo Shosuke [Harada Taizo] is punished with house arrest for getting involved with the power struggle. Hearing of this from Kimotsuki Naogoro [Eita], Okatsu takes some bonito and sea bream from the Imaizumi family kitchen to deliver to Shosuke as she is certain that his family would be in difficult straits because of his punishment. Shosuke is deeply appreciative of Okatsu’s, Naogoro’s, and Saigo Kichinosuke’s [Ozawa Yukiyoshi] regard for him. Okatsu also sees his mother Fuku [Maya Kyoko] and younger sisters. She tries to hand over the items she has brought but Fuku firmly refuses to accept them. Worried that she has hurt Fuku’s pride, Okatsu listens to Oyuki [Higuchi Kanako] as she explains about the pride of Satsuma’s women.
While this is occurring, Nariakira successfully becomes the new clan head with the help of Abe Masahiro [Kusakari Masao], one of the members of the Shogun’s council of elders. |
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satomi
Average Member
252 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2008 : 11:17:11 PM
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Am I the only one who has noticed that when it comes to the ladies hairstyles, you cannot see the seam of their wigs along their foreheads and down the sides of their faces?
Could it be possible that for at least some of them, it is their real hair? |
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satomi
Average Member
252 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2008 : 12:05:56 AM
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When a lady told Atsuhime, "We are not beggars", does the following proverb apply?:
Bushi was kuwanedo taka-yooji. |
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satomi
Average Member
252 Posts |
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Episode Summaries for "Atsu-hime"
