Kagemusha, Tokugawa Ieyasu (Tokugawa Ieyasu, The Shadow) aired as a 5-hours special drama in TV Tokyo on 2 January 2014, starring Nishida Toshiyuki, Mizuki Arisa, Takahashi Hideki, and Yamamoto Koji.
I uploaded this drama a couple of months ago, because for a moment I decided to sub this drama, but then I dropped it. Well, I've uploaded the raws anyway, I'd like to share it with everyone because I don't see this drama uploaded in D-Addicts or anywhere else. And I also provide here the first 30-something minutes subbed in English, but the rest stayed Japanese subtitle (because I changed my mind and dropped it :P).
Raw:
First Part (980 MB) |
Final Part (634 MB)English-subbed (first 30++ minutes):
First PartJapanese subtitles:
First Part |
Final Part Synopsis
In 1600, at the time the Battle of Sekigahara was launched, the assassination of Tokugawa Ieyasu (Nishida Toshiyuki) is ordered by Ishida Mitsunari’s (Oikawa Mitsuhiro) vassal Shima Sakon (Takahashi Hideki) and carried out by Kai no Rokuro (Takahashi Mitsuomi) who serves Sakon. If Ieyasu’s death is known to the enemy troops right now, the situation would not be not be in the favour of the Eastern Army. Having made this judgment, Ieyasu’s close associates hurriedly prepare to turn Ieyasu’s body double Serada Jirosaburo (Nishida Teruyuki) into the real Ieyasu. The child of a wandering performer, Jirosaburo gained fame as the man who shot Oda Nobunaga and had made the acquaintance of Ieyasu’s vassal Honda Masanobu (Meguro Yuki) on a battlefield. So the Eastern Army rallies and scores an upset victory over the Western Army. Ieyasu’s third son Hidetada (Yamamoto Koji), who arrived late for the battle, learns about the truth of the matter. Although he was afraid of his father and feared for his own position, ambition now rears its head. He tries to make use of Jirosaburo as Ieyasu. “Ieyasu” is first installed as the shogun. After that, Hidetada plots to become the heir apparent, seize power and destroy the Toyotomi. He orders Yagyu Munenori (Naito Takashi) to kill off his own siblings who are obstacles to his being the heir apparent, and also crush Toyotomi Hideyori (Kochi Yugo). However, Jirosaburo who is simply bewildered by the heavy responsibilities of “Ieyasu”, soon boldly challenges Hidetada. With the help of Ieyasu’s concubine Okaji no Kata (Mizuki Arisa), he invites Sakon, his foe, to be his strategist. He overcomes difficulties and attempts to create a world where everyone can live freely and safely. In his heart is a strong will for his own life and boundless love for the vulnerable.
source:
http://jdramas.wordpress.com/2014/01/02/tv-tokyo-new-year-drama-special-2014-kagemusha-tokugawa-ieyasu/ I read that this drama received positive critics from the audience, a few even mentioned that this jidaigeki drama is much better than the recent NHK Taiga Dramas in the last few years. With Arisa and Koji starring this drama, I decided to sub this while watching it, to understand the story better. I really love Nishida Toshiyuki's acting performance in jidaigeki-s, he has excellent comedic timing, so I was really looking forward to this.
Halfway, I realized this drama is a pro-Toyotomi clan. Hey, I have nothing against Toyotomi clan, definitely nothing, but the thing is I'm a big, big fan of the Tokugawa clan, ever since I watched AOI -Tokugawa Sandai-. This drama made Tokugawa the bad guys. I really don't mind seeing evil guys on the Tokugawa side, but this drama made it like Tokugawa is in the wrong and Toyotomi is the right ones and needs to be pitied. I hate that. There's no right or wrong in history. Tokugawa clan may be evil, but Toyotomi wasn't any less evil than them. I don't like how they made Toyotomi is the angelic ones in this drama. Plus, Nishida Toshiyuki as Ieyasu's impostor and Arisa as Ieyasu's concubine, Okaji were pro-Toyotomi here. And, Yamamoto Koji as the evil Tokugawa Hidetada. Ironically, I became a fan of Tokugawa Hidetada, the real historical figure thanks to Nishida Toshiyuki's portrayal of him in AOI. The Hidetada character that is widely known is a henpecked husband, a very kind man, a clueless son/successor-he don't have leadership as much as his father, and clumsy. Koji portrayed the evil version of Hidetada here. I really don't mind this change, if only it was done in a more fair way. So, in the end, I dropped it. Not to mention, I didn't feel comfortable watching Arisa and Nishida Toshiyuki's romance, considering their age difference is enough to make them father and daughter XD But I love Arisa's performance here, I think she has become more and more comfortable in jidaigeki roles, recalling she was a bit awkward in No-hime, her first jidaigeki.
But anyway, this is just my personal taste. Apparently, there were many people who loved this drama in Japan, so if you have a little bit of interest in this and don't have any problem about the story being pro-Toyotomi, I suggest you give it a try. I do think the production, cast and music were very well-done for a jidaigeki drama.