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Hiroshi66
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Re: J-Drama: 篤姫 (Atsu-hime)
class blockquote nchristi wrote:
(No pun intended, I'm sure...  ) Haha, I always get confused when I'm talking about Okoto in Kyoto... sometimes, I'm tempted to write "Okyoto", LOL!
Nchristi, that's a good point about Ochika -- even though Naogoro's heir was born to Okoto, Ochika would still be his official mother (since she is Naogoro's official and first wife.) But I agree, I think it would be better for Okoto and her son to move to Satsuma and live alongside Ochika. That way, Naogoro wouldn't have to maintain two separate "families" in Kyoto and Satsuma -- and Ochika's pain and loneliness would be minimized, too.
I agree about the actor who is portraying Naogoro -- he has done a great job portraying how his character his developed and matured. It looks like changing the hair-do from his traditional top-knot style to Sakamoto Ryoma's hair-do is yet another element to Naogoro's evolving life-style.
This is indeed becoming a very sad drama. Looking at Tenshoin's life until this point (she was born in 1835, so by this point she's 32 years old), it looks like she has lost so many loved ones and people precious to her. I am enjoying this drama though, its very well written and acted.
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12/8/2008, 6:38 am
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Hiroshi66
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Re: J-Drama: 篤姫 (Atsu-hime)
Atsuhime #44 - Even After Ryoma Dies
 
I just finished watching tonight's episode. Even though there are only six episodes left that still have to air (counting this episode), I feel that the writing and the acting for this drama is still just as good as it was before. If anything, the performances have strengthened. What I've enjoyed most about this drama is watching Atsu and Naogoro mature and develop, and I think this episode was a perfect example of what powerful and influential individuals they have both become.
Politically speaking, I think this episode really makes it seem like a rift has developed between Naogoro and Okubo/Saigo. While Okubo, Saigo, and Iwakura (the man with the cat) felt that the only way to change Japan would be by securing an Imperial Edict to destroy the Tokugawa shogunate by military force, Naogoro and Ryoma seemed to stick to their belief that convincing Shogun Yoshinobu to peacefully surrender his power to the Emperor would cause less bloodshed. Since Yoshinobu surrendered and power was once again restored to the Emperor, it looks like Naogoro and Ryoma's more peaceful path was able to come up on top. But there was one particular scene showing Saigo and Okubo's discontent with the pace at which things were going. Despite the fact that Shogun Yoshinobu has surrendered his power to the Emperor, it seems that all three of them (Okubo, Saigo, and Iwakura) are still discontent. Now that Iwakura showed them the secured Imperial Edict to crush the Tokugawa, I wonder what the next actions of this 'triumvirate' will be?
I don't care much for Iwakura. He does seem like quite the sly and manipulate type -- even going as far as saying that the new Emperor is "in the palm of his hands". Too bad that Saigo and Okubo are being easily influenced by him. Okubo did bring up an interesting point to Naogoro about Tenshoin, though. Is part of the reason behind Naogoro's hesitation to attack the Tokugawa by force because of Tenshoin? Even though Naogoro denied it flat out, I do think that his relationship with Tenshoin is one of the reasons for Naogoro's adherence to Ryoma's "peace-first" policy.
Back in the Edo Ooku, it was also a sad episode for Kazunomiya. Now, she is faced with yet another death within her family -- this time, it was Lady Niwata. Kazunomiya has lost so many loved ones since entering the Ooku -- her mother, brother, husband, and now her trusted attendant. She is only 21 years at this point, but has already lost her entire family.
One thing I really enjoyed seeing in this episode was seeing Tenshoin's influence in the Ooku. Even while Shigeno, Karahashi, and even Takiyama and Lady Honjuin were panicking about the fate of the Ooku now that Shogun Yoshinobu surrendered power to the Emperor, Tenshoin managed to keep her composure. Also, her speech to the members of the Ooku at the end of the episode really showed how Tenshoin has gained the ultimate authority in the Ooku. Rather than worry and panic about what kind of changes are awaiting the Ooku and Tokugawa Shogunate, she realized that she must fight for peace (just like Katsu said.) She also comforted the Ooku, since they now are able to better understand what exactly "restoring Imperial power" meant.
Did anyone else notice Lady Honjuin's shocked expression when Kazunomiya referred to Tenshoin as "Mother"? She was shocked! I guess she hadn't heard that before, LOL!
The saddest part of the episode was when Ryoma was brutally killed. He was also born in 1835 (like Naogoro and Atsu), so he was only 32 years old. I wonder who killed him? He and Naogoro had just orchestrated Shogun Yoshinobu's surrender to the Emperor. But I'm sure Ryoma had a lot of enemies, too. Maybe people were not content with him taking the 'peaceful' route. I'll miss Ryoma's character. He was always so optimistic and kind. Back in Satsuma, Naogoro must be feeling an indescribable amount of pain. After all, he lost someone who may have been his very best friend. Naogoro must feel even more alone now, especially since he's had a bit of a falling out with Okubo and Saigo.
We're now in late 1867, and Shogun Yoshinobu has surrendered his authority to the Emperor (per Naogoro and the late Ryoma's plan). Okubo, Saigo, and Iwakura don't seem too content with this, though. Meanwhile, Tenshoin has informed the Ooku of her intention to fight and protect the Ooku. Excellent drama -- it's getting better and better! Episode #45 airs next Sunday, December 20th!
Last edited by Hiroshi66, 12/13/2008, 10:37 pm
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12/13/2008, 10:33 pm
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Hiroshi66
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Re: J-Drama: 篤姫 (Atsu-hime)
class blockquote nchristi wrote:
She played "Kaoru" in the morning drama, "Tenka." Kaoru, Tenka's best friend who went off to Paris to become a model... and, oh yes, to steal Tenka's love, Ryunosuke! I couldn't shake having a slight shudder every time I saw Oryu—now I understand it is a leftover feeling from the character in "Tenka."So that's where we saw Oryu before! Yeah, ever since we first saw Oryu, I was trying to remember which drama we had seen the actress in, but I couldn't remember. Looks like Oryu is none other than good ol' Kaoru! At least her character in Atsuhime seems a lot more different than Kaoru was, LOL!
I came across a picture on Japanese Wikipedia which is believed to be a photograph of Oryu. It's pretty remarkable that there were photographs taken of both Sakamoto Ryoma and his wife.
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12/14/2008, 8:07 pm
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sylia74
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Registered: 08-2006
Location: Hollywood
Posts: 223
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J-Drama: 篤姫 (Atsu-hime)
I think Komatsu Taitewaki's role in restoring the power to the emperor has been exaggerated. If he was really the one who convinced the shogun to return the power he would have been murdered like Sakamoto. A lot of people whose life depended on the shogunate blamed Sakamoto for destroying their lifestyle. No one really knows who murdered Sakamoto but it could have been any number of people.
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12/15/2008, 5:48 pm
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bubu13
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Re: J-Drama: 篤姫 (Atsu-hime)
Atsuhime achieves best ratings since 1997
December 16, 2008
The final ratings data are now in for the NHK taiga drama Atsuhime. The popular show, starring Aoi Miyazaki, ended its run on Sunday with its 50th episode, which averaged 28.7% in the Kanto area. That fell slightly short of its highest rating - 29.2% for episode #48 - but it still helped raise the show's overall average to 24.5%. This makes it the highest rated taiga drama in the 12-year period since Hideyoshi in 1997, which averaged 30.5%.
The show started out at only 20.3% in January, but ratings gradually rose throughout the year. For the final episode, ratings peaked at 34.9%.
Next year's taiga drama, Tenchijin starring Tsumabuki Satoshi, premieres on January 4.
Source: Sankei Sports | Tokyograph
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12/16/2008, 8:39 pm
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brad6
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Re: J-Drama: 篤姫 (Atsu-hime)
I have a question.
I was just reading the thread about the new taiga 'Tenchijin' particularly the post that nchristi just made mentioning Atsuhime also.
I know we all love these taigas. aAso we love most of the Asian dramas. That is one of our interests. No problem for us to dive in to any drama to test the waters so to speak.
However, I was thinking ...what would happen if we showed this 'Atsuhime' drama to someone who had never seen Japanese drama?? Would they be impressed by anything they saw? The actors are all good. The settings are beautiful and the costumes are so authentic and gorgeous to the eye. However, what would a newcomer to Japanese drama think of the whole thing? Would they be full of enjoyment? Would they really understand all the nuances for the political plots? I admit I do not get all of the minor details but I know how to look things up and find out.
This thought just struck me and I wonder what anyone else might think.
Peggy
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12/17/2008, 11:43 am
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