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nchristi
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Re: J-Drama: 篤姫 (Atsu-hime)
One of my favorite episodes, too. I'm a fan of the actor playing Iesada and he's doing a great job in this role.
What's interesting to me about Iesada (as portrayed in this docu-drama) is that he knows himself well and has made a choice on the best way to survive with a modicum of freedom within his ultra-restrictive environment. He's very intelligent and astute, actually. He sees himself as a basically weak sort of fellow—perhaps it should be worded the opposite way. He realistically recognizes that he is not a born leader so why try to beat his head against the wall in trying to be what he isn't and to attempt what he cannot accomplish?
Iseda is 30-ish, has seen his entire family of siblings (29 ?) die (killed, illness....), and has himself survived not a few poisoning attempts. How can he maneuver his life to find happiness and satisfaction? Perhaps his greatest goal in life now is to sacrifice himself, without an heir, in order for Japan to be rid of the Shogunate and move to an administrative form of government. I thought it quite significant when Atsu harshly accused him of being selfish that, with fire in his eyes, his knee-jerk reaction was What do you know?
He plays the fool because it relieves him of responsibility and makes his decision not to father children more acceptable to the officials than if he were "normal." If he weren't the fool, it simply would be unacceptable for him to refuse to father children. The pressure would be relentless.
As for his concubine, she's the perfect companion for him—so far. She demands nothing from him, accompanies and facilitates him in his fool role, and simply loves and accepts him for who he is. (What more could a man ask for?) It is the only positive relationship the poor guy has anywhere, I'd guess. Complete acceptance with no pressure to change and no disappointment attached.
Is he 'dark'? I can't label him that way. The bulk of his 30 years has been full of nothing but pain in a cold world of intrigue and politics. He keeps himself from dwelling on it by acting the fool, acting happy and as a child. Can anyone blame him for not trusting anyone—not a single soul in this world? I can't. His past circumstances are "dark." Those are the facts. He has reacted to those circumstances and has created a persona for himself to brighten his world. If, in a rare moment of truthful reality with Atsu, the darkness of his past and current world is revealed, it doesn't make him dark. From one point of view, the writers have created a positive Iesada who has devised a way to rise above the dark world into which he was born and lives.
Last edited by nchristi, 7/15/2008, 11:26 am
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7/15/2008, 11:23 am
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hyena
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Re: J-Drama: 篤姫 (Atsu-hime)
Very moving episode. It's lonely at the top, as they say. Reminded me of Claudius in I Claudius. Survival at all costs.
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7/15/2008, 9:17 pm
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brad6
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Re: J-Drama: 篤姫 (Atsu-hime)
I have been reading about the last of the Tokgawa shoguns and there is no mention of Atsu by that name.
Was she also known as Lady Tenshoin after her husband died??
Peg
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7/19/2008, 11:09 am
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CantGetEnough
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J-Drama: 篤姫 (Atsu-hime)
AH, OH - MIL on the warpath!!
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7/19/2008, 8:59 pm
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Hiroshi66
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Re: J-Drama: 篤姫 (Atsu-hime)
Atsu-hime #23 - The Better Man
 
Wonderful episode last night, though things are getting very difficult for the Hitotsubashi-ha faction that supports Hitotsubashi Yoshinobu in becoming the heir to the Tokugawa family. I think the reason to that is because of Yoshinobu himself. What a dry yet conceited individual... especially when he was meeting with Atsu and Ikushima. He seemed to be like a machine, speaking in a monotone voice and not wanting to answer any of Atsu's questions about the political situation of the country. I'm also wondering what Nariakira saw in Yoshinobu to want to instate him as the heir.
On the other hand, I really liked Tokugawa Yo****omi. Though he was very young (which is the reason why Nariakira and the Hitotsubashi faction do not support him) he demonstrates a lot of compassion and leadership qualities. No wonder Atsu is in a dilemma about who to support... does she follow Ikushima's pressures and Nariakira's secret order, or does she follow her own instinct and choose whom she feels has the best qualities to lead the country?
What's worse for the Hitotsubashi supporters is that the old lord of Mito, Nariaki, is out of the picture. He has "retired" from political administration, so it seems that now the Hitotsubashi faction has lost two of its assets - first with Abe's death and now Mito's retirement.
I found it interesting that Yo****omi was served poison-laced sweets. The subs translated it as "spoiled", but I think the reason Takiyama was going to call the "poison tester" was because somebody had tried to poison the sweets. I wonder who would do it?
Back in Satsuma...
Looks like there has been a schism between Okubo/Naogoro and Saigo. I did like how O-chika put her foot down with Naogoro's whining and jealousy and told him to pay attention to his job of being the Komatsu family head. She's always been there to help him up when he falls. She may be quiet while Atsu isn't, but both are very determined and strong women.
I liked the scene with Atsu and Shogun Iesada playing go. How nice that what was once Atsu's and Naogoro's past time in Satsuma was now what pretty much helped break the ice between Atsu and her husband. I noticed that Atsu doesn't need to ask for Shogun Iesada to come anymore... he visits her on his own accord.
Now we're in July/August of 1857. Lady Honjuin has found out about Ikushima and Atsu being supporters of Yoshinobu... and also that Atsu married Shogun Iesada to persuade him to name Yoshinobu as the successor. Now she is on the rampage!! She seems to have quite the temper (while Takiyama is more refined and calm, LOL!) I wonder what Honjuin will say to Atsu or Ikushima.
Episode 24 airs next week!
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7/20/2008, 10:33 am
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brad6
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Re: J-Drama: 篤姫 (Atsu-hime)
It really is getting very interesting. The politicking that went on in the Ooku was very intense, and considering the potential for being poisoned (!)
I would not like to have been around the MIL and her cohorts.
There is still a descendant of Tokugawa Yoshinobu......great grandson I think, and he has written much about his famous ancestor. His name is actually Tokugawa Yoshinobu..
Peg
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7/20/2008, 11:37 am
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brad6
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Re: J-Drama: 篤姫 (Atsu-hime)
fascinating photo. He looks rather a charming person. I imagine quite stern, but really a man who would be knowledgeable in many areas.
It is wonderful to watch Atsuhime and then read the history from the Wikipedia pages. It is so recent and yet Japan was such a closed country that it makes it seem long ago and far away. Actually the rest of the world was being opened up to trade and unfortunately being colonised in sometimes the worst ways. Japan resisted rather well.
Even with the Perry and Harris pushing ...Japan still was not modernised right up to the second world war in many ways. Indeed prior to then, UK and USA and most of Europe kept their own personalities and customs despite travel and trade.
The world is constantly evolving and sometimes it's good and other times it is downright bad.
Peg
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7/20/2008, 12:53 pm
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