"Taiga Drama 'Gunshi Kanbe' "Strategist Kanbe"" Topic

This is in response to questions regarding the current Taiga Drama for 2014. As in most of the series, about 42 to 49 episodes, once a week throughout the year. For 2014 the series is about Kuroda Yoshitaka.

History is often sacrificed for dramatic purposes, actors and actresses are often 'too attractive', making use of current popular Japanese celebrities. But the detail in each of the series is priceless. There has been a change in the 'look' in the series. Actors do not look like they came out of a make-up trailer. Strands of hair are often out of place. Clothing and armour do not look like they are fresh out of the Costume department. They show age, wear and tear. On the battlefield actors in armour are smeared with dirt and dried blood, armour and banners with battle damage.

Below is in the opening scene of the first episode. Toyotomi Hideyoshi is at the height of his power. Standing on a cliff overlooking the Hojo's great stronghold of Odawara. The last holdout for Hideyoshi's complete rule of Japan.

Last week a massive Mouri navy invaded the Kuroda territory of Harima, coordinating with Ishiyama Honganji rising up against Oda Nobunaga. Local ikko-ikki in Harima join forces with the invading Mouri. Kanbe sends one of his most trusted retainers to infiltrate the ikko-ikki, wearing a crude sashimono with religious slogan.

Oda Nobunaga is often portrayed as a caricature in Taiga dramas. Maniacal and over the top. The Nobunaga in the current series is a nice change. He is calm and calculating, devious and IMO more frightening.

Below is Nobunaga taking over Saito territory. Note the Umbrella Uma-jirushi. Actor portraying Nobunaga is wearing reproduction of armour that was owned by Nobunaga, the helmet displayed as a standard. Toyotomi Hideyoshi is acting as his groom, leading his horse forward.

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The Saito banners in the background are light blue with white mon. My file show them as black mon on white flags. I was taken aback when I saw these Saito banners as they are identical to the heraldry of Akechi Mitsuhide, who would betray and destroy Nobunaga.

Below are the leaders of the Kodera (Odera), who the Kuroda served. Kanbe's father is the samurai to the right, his uncle the warrior monk in the back. Note the Maku tent of white with two horizontal light blue bands. This is the heraldry of the Kodera and the Kuroda.

This is the look of mounted samurai in Harima, for the Kuroda, their allies and their enemies. Nobunaga's samurai wear more modern armour and sashimono.

Though the opening scene show Hideyoshi at the height of his power, Hideyoshi's start from a lowly sandal bearer for Nobunaga is depicted.

Below is Hideyoshi as an ashigaru leading a rescue of Nobunaga from a Saito ambush. Hideyoshi is wearing the yellow sashimono with black Oda mon worn by lower ranks. Nobunaga's personal troops wear black sashimono with the coin motif.

Hideyoshi now as one of Nobunaga's generals, with his own army flying his personal heraldry. Note the golden gourd uma-jirushi in the back. His own helmet flown as a standard. The helmet crest is a golden gourd.

While Hideyoshi's final heraldry are golden flags, the red ones here are always used in different series when depicting Hideyoshi. As he rises in power his pawlonia mon will go from white to gold.

A behind the scenes look. The samurai in the foreground is Ishida Mitsunari taking inventory of supplies. This would be during Hideyoshi's campaign against the Mouri on behalf of Nobunaga.

Sweet shots- Are any of the "Taiga" dramas on DVD or otherwise available in the States? (I've never heard the term Taiga, either.)

Some of the older Taiga dramas are available on DVD. I have been able to watch them for about 10 years on NHK Canada. Advance showing are without subtitles, followed about four weeks behind by the English subtitled version.

Below is a scene of Kuroda samurai and unarmoured ashigaru charging.

In comparison, while the Kuroda are involved in raids and skirmishes with their neighbors, the Oda are engaged in full scale battles. Below is a scene of Saito and Oda samurai in battle.

"Aoi Tokugawa Sandai" had probably the biggest depiction of the Battle of Sekigahara. The Sekigahara battle scenes are now often repeated in other series whenever they need to show the epic battle. New scenes are often inserted as the main commanders have to be replaced in each brand new series, as they are portrayed by the latest set of actors.

Below is a scene of the Kuroda samurai at Sekigahara. Compare them to the earlier pic of Kuroda samurai. They are now wearing more modern armour and sashimono with the final Kuroda color of alternating black, white and black. In the background are the Kuroda infantry closely supporting the mounted samurai.

In the Sekigahara scenes the Kuroda samurai above are hit by Ishida Mitsunari's cannons.

If any one knows where these can be watched online streaming (or the DVDs purchased for less than a fortune), preferably subtitled, let me know. They look great!

Doug

I am with elsyrsyn, where can we get this online streaming or cheap dvd format with subtitles in the states?

I found a bunch on youtube (at least enough to get a taste … many full episodes): YouTube link

… It appears the Taiga for Mushashi Miyamoto is there in its entirety.

I found this place too with other Taigas
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Thanks! I see some YouTube time in my immediate future!

Doug

This is probably the best depiction of the Battle of Sekigahara, used over and over again in various Taiga dramas. I expect to see it repeated in 'Strategist Kanbe' as Kuroda Yoshitaka's son and heir Shojumaru, who would grow up to become Kuroda Nagamasa, one of Ieyasu's vanguard commander at Sekigahara.

YouTube link

Note that many of the commanders on both sides are wearing the correct armour and helmets. You don't even have to look at their heraldry to identify who's who. The armour are passed on to each generation of actors who get to play these commanders. I have already seen four different actors portray Ishida Mitsunari, each get to wear the same armour.

If Sekigahara plays a big part in the life of the lead character in a particular series, you get a bonus of a 'tutorial' for the Sekigahara episode. A large 3d map is presented by a historian with blocks of troops positioned over the terrain with heraldry identifying the various contingents. The historian moves the blocks of troops over the terrain, explaining the movements and maneuvers as the battle progressed. This would make any wargamer salivate. Behind the historian are displayed the suits of armour worn by the commanders on both sides. Viewers are helped in identifying the commanders based on their fantastic helmets.

Below is another use of the Sekigahara battle in a later Taiga series. NOTE different actors and better quality film. Another trend is each generation of actors are 'prettier'.

YouTube link

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Based on the theme music and the actors portraying Ishida Mitsunari and Tokugawa Ieyasu, this is the Taiga series 'Tenchijin'. The lead characters are two of Uesugi Kenshin's finest commanders. Naoe Kanetsugu and Kenshin's heir Uesugi Kagekatsu. Both lead characters are not present at Sekigahara. Instead they are battling in the north against the Mogami and Date Masamune. Their battles are shown in the Sekigahara episodes.

In 'Tenchijin' Ishida Mitsunari is Naoe Kanetsugu's very close friend so was portrayed as a tragic, but noble hero. The Uesugi were punished for siding with Mitsunari, so Ieyasu was more 'villainous' in this series.

One of the highlights of 'Tenchijin' were the episodes depicting "Otate no Ran", the War of Succession following Kenshin's death. Two factions of the Uesugi fought a campaign within Kenshin's great fortress. One side held the 'lower castle', and one side held the main castle and keep. Fighting was house to house and floor to floor.

The Osaka campaign also feature in the lives of many of the lead characters. This depicts Sanada Yukimura in command of the Sanada Maru.

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Ken Watanabe (The Last samurai) in the 1987 series 'Dokugan Ryu' (The One-eyed Dragon), Watanabe as the great Date Masamune. The battle of Hitadori Bridge where Masamune led 7,000 men against a coalition of 30,000. Masamune's commander Moniwa Yoshinao who wore a yellow monk's hood, was given the daimyo's baton to command the Date army and was killed defending the bridge. Two of Masamune's commanders can be recognized by their helmets. Katakura Kagetsuna helps Masamune up after the great warlord falls off his horse. Date Shigezane recognized by his centipede-crested helmet.

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This was way before there was NHK Canada. But one late night I accidentally stumbled on a late night showing of this series. The 50 episode series was cut down to three 2 hour mini episodes. So now I have an incomplete VHS copy.

The death of Itagaki Nobukata, one of Takeda Shingen's great generals, killed by the Murakami at the Battle of Uedahara. From the 2007 Taiga series 'Furin Kazan' (Samurai Banners).

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Androgynous actor Gackt portrays Uesugi Kenshin. Every time he's on screen your subconscious says "This is so wrong!" BUT I couldn't take my eyes off him. IMO He remains one of the most memorable Kenshin ever. In this scene the Uesugi fail to defeat the Hojo and must withdraw. Kenshin's faith in Bishamonten is so strong, he believes that no arrow or bullet can touch him. Kenshin's courage and defiance unnerves the Hojo. They decide against coming out of their fortress walls to pursue the retreating Uesugi.

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The goblet Gackt drinks from is inspired by one that Kenshin actually owned, and is seen with the various actors portraying Uesugi Kenshin.

'Furin Kazan' is also one of the most important series for heraldry enthusiasts like me. I've watched it over and over again. At the end of each episode they show heraldry illustrations similar to the ones I do for the Samurai Forum. You actually see heraldry evolve for the Sanada, Takeda Shingen, Kosaka Danjo Masanobu and Nagao Kagetora becoming Uesugi Kenshin. Note that Kenshin's troops in Gackts's link above do not wear Uesugi heraldry, but that of his original family the Nagao.

A scene from 'Dokugan Ryu', Shintaro Katsu famous for his role as the blind swordman 'Zatoichi', portrays the most chilling version of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, during the final siege of the Hojo's Odawara fortress. Date Masamune (Watanabe) is wearing white, prepared to commit seppuku for arriving late for the campaign.

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Actor Masahiko Tsugawa portrays Tokugawa Ieyasu, seated as one of Hideyoshi's commanders. He is seen giving hand signals to Masamune in how to approach Hideyoshi. Thirteen years later Tsugawa will portray Tokugawa Ieyasu again, this time as lead in 2000 in 'Aoi Tokugawa Sandai'.

Turn off the volume as the musical track is annoying. This is not in the original series!

Below is the best depiction of the Mongol Invasion from the 2001 'Hojo Tokimune'.

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2005 'Yoshitsune'

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Episode 35, the epic battle of Dan no Ura:

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Episode 27, the Battle of Ichinotani:

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The actor portraying Taira Tomomori will go on to portray Uesugi Kenshin in 'Tenchijin'.

If Sekigahara plays a big part in the life of the lead character in a particular series, you get a bonus of a 'tutorial' for the Sekigahara episode. A large 3d map is presented by a historian with blocks of troops positioned over the terrain with heraldry identifying the various contingents. The historian moves the blocks of troops over the terrain, explaining the movements and maneuvers as the battle progressed. This would make any wargamer salivate. Behind the historian are displayed the suits of armour worn by the commanders on both sides. Viewers are helped in identifying the commanders based on their fantastic helmets.

OK, who do I have to kill to get a copy of these tutorials?

Leland R. Erickson
Metal Express
metal-express.net