大河ドラマ American Mishima looks at Princess Go of the Warring States Period

When it comes to historical dramas, nobody compares to NHK Taiga Dramas. To sit through and watch some 46+ hours of drama takes time and alot of effort that we at American Mishima must make in order to write articles such as these to share with you the remarkable world of NHK Taiga Dramas. Thanks to our man Eddie over at JapaneseSamuraiDVD we were able to watch the 2011 50^th NHK Taiga Drama Go: Hime-Tachi no Sengoku shown here as Princess Go. Go: Hime-Tachi no Sengoku (The Princess of the Warring States) tells the story of a most remarkable outspoken princess named Oeyo or Ogo who really lived during the height of the Sengoku Jidai – The Warring States Period of Japan from 1573 to September 1626. The series is narrated by Go-hime's mother Lady Ichi (Honami Suzuki) who was the sister of the powerful warlord Oda Nobunaga (Etsushi Toyokawa) who sent Lady Ichi to marry into the Azai Clan to marry Azai Nagamasa to serve as Oda Nobunaga's eyes and ears. 

But of course, just as our own everyday lives today in the Heisei Period, life then too had other plans. Lady Ichi and Nagamasa fall in love and have two daughters born Cha-Cha and Hatsu. But soon their idealyc life is disrupted by war. The Azai are drawn into obligation to support the Asakura Clan whom the Azai have had deep alliances with who are now at war with the powerful Oda Clan. Having chosen to honor the Asakura, Nagamasa finds himself under seige by the Oda's vassals the Toyotomi which during this time Lady Ichi gives birth to Princess Go.

Go is born into this world during the siege of Odami Castle. Her father Azai Nagamasa having defied Oda Nobunaga is defeated by Oda's trusted general Toyotomi Hideyoshi (Goro Kishitani) and sends Lady Ichi and her three daughters Cha-cha (Miyazawa Rie), Hatsu (Mizukawa Asami), & infant Go whose lives have been spared to go live with their uncle Oda Nobunaga. Princess Go (Juri Uneo) will grow to be an outspoken princess who unlike her older sisters bears no malice towards her uncle Oda Nobunaga who she grew to admire and it is her Uncle Nobunaga himself who gives her his advice “To only believe in yourself,” a motto she will grow to live by. 

Through her uncle Nobunaga, Go is given access to some of the most powerful warlords of the Warring States Period. But when her uncle Oda Nobunaga is betrayed by his vassal Akechi Mistuhide (Masachika Ichimura) during the Honno-ji Incident in 1582, Go's world is uprooted once again by the man Oda Nobunaga named “Saru” or monkey known as Toyotomi Hideyoshi because of his monkey like mannerisms.

Under the rule of the Toyotomi, Lady Ichi and her three daughters are sent away to marry Oda's trusted rough looking yet stout General Katsui “Oni” Shibata (played by Yasuo Daichi),” Life in Echigo is harsh in the cold winters of Kitanoshō castle but in the short time Go learns to accept her new step father.

 As soon life became bearable, the battle for who would succeed Oda Nobunaga places Shibata at war with “Saru” Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Once again Lady Ichi and her three daughters are trapped in a castle under siege by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the very man her uncle sent to destroy her father Nagamasa. And just like before, the call to spare Lady Ichi and her three daughters is given quarter. But having fallen in love with Shibata, Lady Ichi refuses to go and instead chooses to make her last stand with her second husband Shibata entrusting eldest daughter Cha-cha to take care of her siblings and for middle daughter Hatsu to bring Go and Cha-cha together. This was her final wish before Lady Ichi joined Shibata in the burning confines of their castle and perished together. 

The loss of Lady Ichi devastates the three sisters and disgusts them to be in “Saru's” care to whom knowing he had lusted after Lady Ichi and now turned that lust to her eldest daughter Cha-Cha to whom on her death Lady Ichi warns Saru not to lay his hands on her. Of course, Saru ignores their sufferings and tries to buy the three grieving sisters off with beautiful kimono and the luxuries only a precious few outside of Kyoto would know at that time. While sister Hatsu has easily accepted Saru's gifts of sweets and colorful new Kimono, Cha-Cha and Go resist. More so Go's anger is unleashed on Saru who see's in her the face of his angry Lord Nobunaga to whom he still feared even in death.

To rid himself of Nobunaga's ghost he sends Go who is still a teenager to marry Saji Kazunari but the marriage is short lived as Toyotomi changes his mind after 30 days ordering her divorced and back to Osaka Castle. 

Having endured much at the hands of Saru, Go seeks the solace of the famed great tea master Rikyu a favorite of Oda Nobunaga who is now forced to make tea for Hideyoshi until death. 

But as Toyotomi's schemes become more despicable it becomes apparent to Go he has been getting help from his trusted Toyotomi Vassal Ishida Mitsunari (played by Masato Hagiwara) who plots against Rikyu who is later forced to commit seppeku. 

For this Go will never forgive Hideyoshi who plans to marry her off again to his nephew Toyotomi Hidekatsu who oddly enough is a match made in heaven. Anything to keep the ghost of Nobunaga at bay so Saru can get his monkey paws on Cha-cha right? 

Well after failing to attain the position of Shogun, Toyotomi goes for the position of Regent in a move to control Japan. Lustful intent for Cha-Cha and unlimited power corrupts Hideyoshi to wage war in Korea and once again sends Go's husband away causing her pain. 

Hidekatsu fights a dreadful war in Korea and dies in there shortly after Go gives birth to her daughter Sada. This is yet another instance that Go will hold Toyotomi Hideyoshi for. Meanwhile, Go's sister Hatsu has fallen in love but can not marry without Saru's permission. Hideyoshi's terms is to force Cha-Cha to become his concubine. 

Still like that Toyotomi Hideyoshi? This is yet another unforgivable attempt by Hideyoshi to destroy Go. Seeing Hatsu happy Cha-cha sacrifices herself to become Lady Yodo and doing what her mother Lady Ichi objected to. Go becomes even more infuriated with Hideyoshi who she still calls by her uncle Oda Nobunaga's demeaning moniker for Toyotomi Hideyoshi: Saru. 

No matter what Saru does, he can not get past Go's anger and the memory of his old Lord who he still see's in her eyes. In a move to rid himself of this problem, Hideyoshi arranges with Tokugawa Ieyasu for Go to marry his son Hidetada (played by Osamu Mukai) who is six years her junior and is heir to the Tokugawa family. An age difference that Hidetada is more than happy to remind her of. 

But before Go is to depart for Edo Mitsunari prompts Hideyoshi to order Go's daughter Sada to stay behind at Osaka Castle because she is a Toyotomi. This brings more hardship to Go at the hands of her parents harbinger of death Toyotomi Hideyoshi is is now old and eccentricly doting on his son with Lady Yodo Toyotomi Hideyori who Hideyoshi instills as Regent and himself as Grand Regent. Remember these events really did happen!

At this point you can't wait for Toyotomi Hideyoshi to kick the bucket and for his conniving henchmen and trusted Toyotomi Vassal Ishida Mitsunari to make a fatal mistake and get what was coming to him. But not so fast! Old Saru had much chaos to inflict upon Lady Ichi's daughters before he left his life which will carry on way past his death to the battle of Sekigahara and through to the Seige of Osaka Castle that will seal the fate of his heir Hideyori and his mother Go's sister Lady Yodo with the destruction of the Toyotomi Clan!

Honestly, I don't how Princess Go survived all this! The ladies of the Warring States Period had to have been some tough women as such indicated by the advice of their mother Lady Ichi when she said "Women must fight their own battles." Meanwhile in Edo Castle both Go and Hidetada face new challenges as they both rise to prominence to survive the political positioning between the powerful Regent Toyotomi Hideyoshi and the emerging power of Ieyasu Tokugawa (Kitaoji Kin'ya) which is solidified after Toyotomi Hideyoshi's death and culminated at the Battle of Sekigahara paving the way for Ieyasu to become the future Shogun in this 2011 50^th NHK Taiga Drama brilliantly written by Tabuchi Kumiko who brought you Atsuhime.

Ok if you're not hooked by now there's nothing more I can do but say get your own copy and write your own review! Baka! - Just kidding. Of course we'd like to continue following American Mishima and continue to enjoy these riveting historical dramas from Japan. In America we like to say these aren't your grandma's soap operas but if you are lucky enough to have had an Obachan chances are these are just as good. As with all NHK Taiga Drama's you will be both educated as well as entertained. It may even change your veiw on a few historical figures as this has with us concerning Lord Oda Nobunaga. If you have never seen a Taiga Drama you will become addicted and want more. We can honestly say, Princess Go does not disappoint and has become one of our favorites which we believe will become yours too. Enjoy!

To get your own copy of Princess Go with English Subtitles 

Please visit Japanesesamuraidvd.com - You'll be glad you did!

一日の画像 - Picture of the Day

In keeping with Nobunaga November we chose to feature this statue of Shibata Katsuie that sits guard at the site of Kitanojo Castle. "Oni" Demon Shibata was one of Oda Nobunaga's Generals who married Nobunaga's sister Lady Oichi. Facing defeat by Toyotomi Hideyoshi's forces, it is said that Oni Shibata died together with Lady Oichi at the end of the Battle of Shizugatake. As we continue on with the NHK Taiga Drama Hime-tachi no Sengoku or Princess Go, we will feature other real life characters who served the great warlord Oda Nobunaga.

織田 信長 Nobunaga November - Warlord Understood

A recent commercial for Bacardi asked "Who says history is boring?" Well in Japan it's not. Far from it. In fact it's been raised on television to a high art form we know as Taiga Drama which draws many of Japan's finest artists to play some of the greatest historical roles of Japan's history. Of the most prominent and sought after roles in Japanese Taiga Drama, none other stands out more than the ever daunting complex role of the Warring States Period most powerful Warlord Oda Nobunaga. Without question, his mark on Japan's history and perhaps the world's cast a long shadow both filled with historical admiration and stark controversy some of which we will state in brief here.

 

In previous posts we have talked much about Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin as our favorite Warlords of the Sengoku Jidai or Warring States Period. Up until now we have deliberately avoided Oda Nobunaga until we had reached a point where we could better understand him and his motivations. I can honestly say I have reached that point. You see as both a Koyasan Buddhist and Shinto practitioner, I have been troubled with the knowledge of a godless Oda destroying temples & shrines and in that process murdering it's priests. In war there are always motivations not always clearly defined nor understood. The issue was raised in this recent election cycle of when churches interfere with politics or take sides if consequences should follow. In the Sengoku Jidai consequences rarely left without bloodshed. People just did not mess around back then hence Oda had his reasons. It's not that we sanction murder nor agree with his actions at Mt. Hiei and Ise but this was the Warring States Period and to say this was his only controversy would be a mere oversimplification distracting from his many great accomplishments.

In our writings and research for American Mishima's upcoming novels we have paid much attention to the Bakumatsu Era Samurai and the Boshin War. What is not always realized outside of Japan is that the same problems faced by Katsu Kaishu & Sakamoto Ryoma were the very same problems faced 300 years earlier when the Portuguese & Dutch arrived on Japan's shores. Faced with a growing threat from the West and true understanding of Japan's place in the world it was Oda Nobunaga who like Katsu Kaishu understood the urgency to modernize Japan as one country in order to save it from being conquered. But given his time, the only way this would happen would be by brute force and a sea of blood. Understanding this crisis, Oda Nobunaga took action that would ultimately lead to an end of the era of big warring armies of feudal states. But as history recalls, Oda would never complete his mission due to the betrayal by Akechi Mitsuhide whose army attacked Oda at the Honnō-ji Temple. Nobunaga's grand vision for a unified Japan would fall onto his successors Hideyoshi Toyotomi and Ieyasu Tokugawa. But give the devil his due. It took one man to start that process and that man was Oda Nobunaga.

We have seen many depictions of the great Warring States Period Warlord played by many great actors but I must state that it is Etsushi Toyokawa's performance in Princess Go that really put a tangible feel for who this man was. Albeit NHK Taiga Drama's tend to romanticize a bit, it is still draws you in on a level of what their world was like. Etsushi Toyokawa (featured in the above photos from Princess Go) who we recently featured in The Sword of Desperation plays Oda Nobunaga with deep conviction and a sense of realism one could imagine the real Oda having. It is not to say he is portraying Oda as a nice Lord but that of one of strong fortitude and iron resolve that is not lost on his own humanity. In Etsushi Toyokawa's portrayal, he personifies a man of reason and intellect that has either been absent from other depictions that came off rather cold or well acted yet too brief to truly savor. Etsushi Toyokawa truely delivers as both a capable actor and a powerful one at that I would see anything this man would appear in. But it is Toyokawa's portrayal of Oda that has changed my view on the Warlord to one of admiration. (Damn NHK for making me like this Lord!) If you are an affectionado of what one fellow blogger calls the Man who Changed the World, then I invite you to indulge in this latest depiction of what the Great Sengoku Jidai Warlord Uesugi Kenshin called "The Greatest General of his Time" in NHK's 50th Taiga Drama Princess Go.

Enjoy!

To find Princess Go and other Taiga Drama please visit our man Eddie at 

Japanese Samurai DVD 

新選組 Shinsengumi So Far....

The Shinsengumi has been the subect of films and television drama for some time. I had first heard of them when I first had seen the 1969 classic film of the same title starring Toshiro Mifune. But looking back to that film, I was left unsatisfied due to the way they tried to tell a long in depth story in brief. So recently I recently purchased a bootleg copy of the 2004 NHK 43rd Taiga Drama Shinsengumi that featured the exploits of the Shogun's "Newly Selected Corps" that policed the streets of Mibu to protect the Tokugawa Shogun in Kyoto during the last years of the Bakumatsu Period. So far we are thirteen episodes out of this 49 episode drama and we are loving it!

Shinsengumi stars Katori Shingo as Kondo Isami - the leader of the Shinsengumi, Yamamoto Koji as Hijikata Toshizou, and Fujiwara Tatsuya (who you may remember from Battle Royale) as the famed progeny Okita Soji. So far the acting is superb and the storyline riviting in the fashion you would come to expect from an NHK Taiga Drama. Depending on who you talk to, the Shinsengumi will always been seen as heroes, villianous ronin, or stubborn patriots who are both villified and revered to this day. We still have many episodes to go, so we will write more about this as we continue this series.