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brad6
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Re: J-Drama: 篤姫 (Atsu-hime)
I have always maintained that the understanding between nations is always fostered first by the entertainment world. At least it brings so much knowledge about other countries to a wider audience.
I have learned so much about Japan and China through watching films and drama over the past ten years or so. Even seeing certain actors play historical roles has lured me into finding out more about the character or plot of the drama.
Maybe this is how to interest schoolchildren in history...
Peg
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10/27/2008, 10:19 am
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Hiroshi66
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Re: J-Drama: 篤姫 (Atsu-hime)
Atsu-hime Episode #38
Tenshoin's and Kazunomiya's Thoughts
  class blockquote zashibear wrote:
I missed today's episode, could somebody please be kind enough to give me a recap? Thanks! Zashibear, no problem! I really enjoyed last night's episode -- the actors and actresses are doing such a good job of portraying their characters. I think this is becoming one of my most favorite taiga dramas. Here's the recap:
The episode began in the Ooku, where Tenshoin is anxious about the impending war between England and Satsuma. Since an English man was murdered by Satsuma, England demanded a monetary compensation from the shogunate. Takiyama protested to Tenshoin, saying that Satsuma should be the one to apologize and pay since they committed the murder. Tenshoin responded that the Tokugawa shogunate shouldn't mind paying, since they are responsible for the entire country. Meanwhile, she gets a letter from Naogoro, who points out in his letter that the murder was an accident, and that Satsuma was not trying to expel the foreigners. They killed the man because he came in front of Hisamitsu's procession. Tenshoin is now convinced that Satsuma did not do it on purpose. Nonetheless, there is still talk of war between England and Satsuma.
Meanwhile, the Kyoto entourage in the Ooku (who, like Emperor Komei, are against opening Japan) are happily praising Satsuma for their "good work" in making the first step to expelling the foreigners. Especially Lady Kangyouin and Lady Niwata. Nobody seems to know that Satsuma had made a mistake. Kazunomiya, on the other hand, has a very worried and concerned look on her face.
Meanwhile, the Choshu clan is introduced. Though they are similar to Satsuma in that they are asking the imperial court to push for shogunate reform, they are much more radical and anti-foreign. Two leaders from Choshu approach the Kyoto court to ask for support in reforming the shogunate and expelling the foreigners. At the same time, Kyoto is becoming a city of violence, where men from Choshu (as well as other people against the Tokugawa) are assassinating various people who have helped or are loyal to the shogunate. Even Iwakura Tomomi, who is a court noble but who arranged the marriage between Kazunomiya and Iemochi, has went into hiding to avoid assassination. There was even a scene where he yelled at that poor kitty who was making some noise!
Back in Satsuma... Hisamitsu and the Satsuma army finally return back to Satsuma. Since Kyoto is now under the influence of the Choshu radicals, Hisamitsu is powerless in Kyoto. He angrily returns home. Naogoro has finally returned home and re-united with his wife, Ochika. She looked very relieved for him to finally return home safely. Meanwhile, Naogoro is finally promoted to the Councilor of the Satsuma clan. In order to present their congratulations, Naogoro's father, Atsu's mother, and Atsu's brother pay him a visit. It looks like Naogoro's father had a little too much to drink, while Atsu's mother mentions that it must be difficult to recieve such an important promotion now that there is an impending war between Satsuma and England. Naogoro says that he will do his best to protect his country. After Naogoro and his father share a drink alone, Naogoro's father remarks that Naogoro is no longer his child, but a child of Satsuma.
Meanwhile, there is talk of another imperial envoy approaching Edo to discuss when Iemochi plans to fulfill his promise of expelling the foreigners. Tenshoin is concerned, mainly because Choshu (like Satsuma right before them) are approaching Edo to "reform" the shogunate. Shogun Iemochi meets with Tenshoin to discuss what his options are. He first pondered about asking Kazunomiya to speak to Emperor Komei, but didn't want to get her caught up in the middle. Tenshoin spoke up and tells Iemochi she will go to Kyoto to talk to the Emperor and get his thoughts on the matter. Iemochi protests and tells Tenshoin its impossible, and that he will go to Kyoto himself. He will tell the Emperor himself that it is impossible to expel the foreigners. Tenshoin encourages him, saying that him doing this will show Iemochi's sincerity to the Emperor, and that his actions will bring peace to the shogunate, Japan, and to Kazunomiya as well. Iemochi thus tells the imperial envoy that he will go to Kyoto himself (with an army of 3000 for protection from the Choshu assassins) to discuss the matter of expelling the foreigners.
Meanwhile, we see the Kyoto entourage once again happily celebrating upon receiving the news about Iemochi going to Kyoto. They don't know that Iemochi is going to tell the Emperor that it is impossible to expel the foreigners, so they're assuming he is going to show his compliance with the Emperor's wishes and are thus happy. Only Kazunomiya is concerned, and asks Lady Niwata whether or not she thinks that Japan can actually expel the foreigners. Kangyouin notices Kazunomiya's hesitant attitude, and thus speaks with her daughter alone. Lady Kangyouin tells her daughter that it is all right to be close to her husband, but also reminds Kazunomiya not to forget her duty and why she came to Edo in the first place. Kazunomiya only tells her mother that she hasn't forgotten her duty. Kangyouin nevertheless asks her daughter to please talk to her if she ever has concerns or worries. Kazunomiya slowly nods, and the two go inside.
Right afterwards, Yoshinobu meets with Chief Advisor Yoshinaga. Yoshinobu, difficult as always, says that he thinks Iemochi going to Kyoto to meet with the Emperor is a waste of time, and that he can just go himself with an army and crush the Choshu anti-alienists once and for all. Yoshinaga stops him, saying that if Yoshinobu makes Kyoto a battlefield, it'll make the court dislike the Tokugawa even more. Yoshinobu reluctantly agrees, but once again says that it is a complete waste of time.
Meanwhile, there is a scene with Katsu Rintaro, who meets with Sakamoto Ryomo, a young man from Tosa Province. The two drink whiskey, and Katsu tells Ryoma how big the world is, and how Japan needs to catch up with the foreign powers. Since Japan is surrounded by sea, Katsu also teaches Ryoma how important it is for Japan to have a navy. He says that he plans to accompany Shogun Iemochi and Chief Advisor Yoshinaga (the man who was meeting with Yoshinobu) to Kyoto next year, and that he wants to take them there by ship, so that they understand the importance of building a navy. Ryoma is moved, and begins referring to Katsu as "Katsu-sensei" (Teacher Katsu). Ryoma asks to become Katsu's disciple, and the two drink together.
Word reaches Tenshoin that Katsu plans to take Iemochi to Kyoto by ship. She is angered, and demands to meet with Katsu. She tells him that it is dangerous to go by ship, since the English warships are in Yokohama (preparing for the impending war with Satsuma). She discovers that Katsu wants to make a navy, but is amused when Katsu asks her to decide whether or not Iemochi will take Katsu's ship by playing "go" with him and seeing who wins. Tenshoin stands her ground and orders for Iemochi to take the safer land route from Edo to Kyoto. And so it was decided. Tenshoin begins sewing a little bag for Iemochi, so that he can carry a miniature Buddhist statue with him to Kyoto as an amulet. She remarks that she thinks of him as her real son.
Meanwhile, Iemochi visits Kazunomiya at night. She tells him she doesn't want to worry while waiting for him, but Iemochi asks her to trust that he'll be back from Kyoto safely. He tells her that he is going to sincerely tell Emperor Komei that it is impossible to expel the foreigners. Kazunomiya is shocked when Iemochi tells her that his mother, Tenshoin, gave him the "final push" to help him make his decision. The next day, Kazunomiya angrily meets with Tenshoin. Kazunomiya tells her that if anything should happen to Iemochi while in Kyoto, she will hate her and resent her. Tenshoin is taken aback, and becomes very sad.
In the last scene, the day for Iemochi to go to Kyoto finally arrives. Tenshoin and Kazunomiya both walk to the doors of the Ooku to bid him farewell. Before Tenshoin can give him her amulet, Kazunomiya gives Iemochi an amulet of her own. Nonetheless, Tenshoin still gives him her amulet she made, and he thanks both of them and asks them to take care of each other. After Iemochi walks out, Tenshoin suggests to Kazunomiya that they both pray together for his safe and quick return home. Kazunomiya says that she'll pray on her own, and walks away from Tenshoin.
*****
Looks like by the end of the episode, we're in February of 1863. I thought this episode was excellent. There was a lot of events going on, but it was very well done. Now that Iemochi has left for Kyoto to discuss his views on expelling the foreigners with the Emperor, it looks like both Tenshoin and Kazunomiya are left alone in the Ooku. Now, Kazunomiya is resenting Tenshoin for encouraging Iemochi to go to Kyoto.
Episode 39 airs next Sat.! (11/08)
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11/2/2008, 8:02 am
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sylia74
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J-Drama: 篤姫 (Atsu-hime)
I'm glad they showed the scene with Sakamoto and Katsu. Apparently Sakamoto not only apologized to Katsu for trying to kill him but also apologized for his narrow-mindedness and begged Katsu to take him as his student. I hope we see more of Sakamoto.
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11/4/2008, 6:13 pm
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Hiroshi66
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Re: J-Drama: 篤姫 (Atsu-hime)
Atsu-hime - Episode #39
Satsuma in Flames
 
I really liked last night's episode, even though parts of it were really sad.
Even though Shogun Iemochi safely reached Kyoto, it was sad to see that he was not able to get any of his thoughts across to Emperor Komei or the rest of the anti-alienist imperial court. It almost looked like the court nobles noticed that Iemochi was about to speak his thoughts on the difficulty of expelling the foreigners and kept interrupting him so he couldn't get a word in edgewise. No wonder poor Shogun Iemochi became ill in Kyoto. The court ordered him to set a date for expelling foreigners (May 10th, 1863) and kept him as a virtual hostage there. It was sad that Iemochi went with such a clear agenda, but was completely trapped and overruled by Emperor Komei and the court.
We were able to see Regent Yoshinobu's true colors in this episode. He's sure changed from those early episodes where he had told Nariakira and Abe that he had "no interest in government". Now, after lying to the imperial court and saying that the Tokugawa will expel foreigners, it looks like he's gotten quite involved in political administration. I noticed that he clashed with Iemochi while they were in Kyoto -- Iemochi wanted to tell the truth about the difficulty of expelling foreigners, while Yoshinobu wanted to lie and appease the imperial court and deal with the issue later. It looks like Yoshinobu (and the imperial court) got their way.
I thought it was smart of Tenshoin to send Katsu Rintaro to Osaka to be at Iemochi's side while he was ailing in Osaka Castle. Though Tenshoin couldn't go herself, I thought it was just as good for her to send Katsu. After seeing how Katsu immediately took in Sakamoto Ryoma as his pupil/protege, he seems to be quite a kind, positive, and open-minded person. He told Shogun Iemochi that even if places like Choshu and Satsuma begin driving the foreigners away on May 10th, he is certain they will be unable to drive them away and will lose. Katsu feels that the losses will be sufficient proof to the anti-alienists and the imperial court that it is impossible to drive the foreigners away, and that the best thing for Japan is to borrow and import the ideas and skills of the Western countries. In return for his advice, Iemochi allows Katsu and Sakamoto to open up their school/training ground for a navy (which is just what Katsu wanted!)
What was also interesting for Katsu to point out to Iemochi was that the power and authority of the shogunate had deteriorated. Now, people seemed to view Emperor Komei as the central figure in the government, rather than the shogun. I think that comment made an impact on Iemochi.
As for Kazunomiya and the others in the Ooku, the Kyoto entourage seems to be lightening up. Lady Niwata still appears extremely hostile to Tenshoin and the entire Tokugawa regime, but I really enjoyed the scene between mother and daughter -- Lady Kangyouin and Kazunomiya. Kangyouin seemed to understand how her daughter was torn between supporting her family (Kyoto & the imperial court) and her husband (Edo & the Tokugawa). I'm glad Kangyouin persuaded Kazunomiya to write a petition to the Imperial Court, asking them to allow for the return of Shogun Iemochi to Edo. It was good of her to have a talk with her daughter, giving her the green light to follow her true feelings and her heart.
It was funny to see Honjuin and her sidekick, Utahashi, back during the beginning of the episode! Even the strong (and sometimes temperamental) Honjuin isn't immune to an insult from the Kyoto entourage, LOL!
I thought it was interesting for Kazunomiya to tell Shogun Iemochi (after he returned) that she wanted to have his child more than ever. In the end, though, she still seems to be extremely hostile to Tenshoin. Kazunomiya must still be angry that Tenshoin asked her to petition the Emperor to allow for Iemochi's return. It looks like the only reason Kazunomiya ended up writing the petition was because of her mother Kangyouin's encouragement.
Back in Satsuma...
It was very interesting to see how this drama covered the Anglo-Satsuma War of 1863. I think this was one of the very first times that Japan went to war with a Western country. Naogoro looked like he was extremely hesitant to go to war, but Hisamitsu wanted to prove a point by going to war with England (even though the odds were severely against Satsuma). He might have wanted to prove to the rest of Japan that if Choshu could go to war against the Americans and the French, that Satsuma could just as easily go to war with the English.
It was sad to see all of Satsuma burn down as a result of the war. Naogoro must have felt extremely responsible for Satsuma's defeat, even though the war lasted much longer than everybody had predicted. Also, I was happy to see that both Naogoro and Ochika survived the war, even though their home burned down. Despite Ochika's encouraging remarks, Naogoro appears to still feel responsible that he couldn't carry out his promise to Tenshoin that he would "protect Satsuma".
At least Atsu's mom and brother were also safe. It must have been so difficult for Atsu's mother to send out her only remaining child (and family member) to war. She had already lost her husband, and Atsu was in Edo, so the risk of losing her son to the war must have been devastating. I was glad that they both survived the war, though.
Tenshoin seemed very shaken up and taken aback by the Satsuma-England war. But I think in the end, it was for the good of the entire country. Iemochi (and Katsu) predicted that Choshu's and Satsuma's losses of the wars with the foreign powers will prove to the country that the expulsion of the foreigners is impossible. I wonder if this will turn out to be true.
We're in autumn of 1863, and Shogun Iemochi is safely back in Edo. During the ending scene of the episode, both he and Tenshoin have expressed their desire to create a new and improved Japan, centered around the Tokugawa family. Hopefully Tenshoin and Kazunomiya's relationship will also improve. Episode #40 airs next Sat.! (11/15)
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11/9/2008, 8:06 am
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nchristi
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Re: J-Drama: 篤姫 (Atsu-hime)
I was struck by the grave consequences of Atsu's psychological maneuvering of Iemochi. She meant well and encouraged him to do only what she herself would have done. But she was wrong. Having no experience with Imperial Court inner workings, Iemochi was sent off like a lamb to the slaughter. Katsu Rintaro was a god send in helping the vastly overpowered (in every way) Shogun regain some inner confidence and fortitude.
Although Atsuhime is our heroine, my empathy for Kazu is steadily growing. She truly loves her husband, yet has a back seat to Tenshoin, it seems. Even though Tenshoin's MIL was very controlling, Iesada loved Atsu and controlled his mother. Kazu isn't so lucky... yet. He is too young and inexperienced and is influenced by his 'mother' Tenshoin—and by others, as well. With his lack of age and experience, nothing else can be expected of him.
Naogoro's reaction to defeat...
Having looked into the Japanese social view/implications of 'failure' a year or more ago, I had a different take on Naogoro's reaction from what I would have thought in the past. The basic Western view is that failure provides a learning experience, pick yourself up, and go forward. The deeply ingrained Japanese view is that failure means death—there is no other option.
Thus, the one samurai reported to Chika that they had defeated the foreigners, that's why they left the bay. Naogoro, on the other hand, could not hide from or rationalize the truth—the Satsuma warriors had been resoundingly defeated and the foreigners left for reasons of their own. Having failed, Naogoro probably wishes he had died in battle. The shame of having been defeated (of failing) is nearly unbearable to him.
The modern-day equivalent are all the salary men who literally work themselves to death to accomplish their work rather than fail. Another example is the Japanese hostages held in Iraq. When they were released to Japan, they were heavily criticized by the public for having brought shame on the country for having failed by allowing themselves to be captured.
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11/9/2008, 11:35 am
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11/30/2009, 2:58 am
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I'm also really enjoying this taiga drama. The story, acting, and background music are superb.
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