It's a bit frightening if I think about it, I mean, I've been watching Japanese dramas since I was 7 but they had all been popular dramas. Atsuhime (2008) is actually my first NHK Taiga drama. I thought there would be a lot of dragging and sope opera characteristics since it's such a long drama, but really, the story is complicated and once you leave the screen for two seconds you won't be able to catch up to the plot I never knew Taiga dramas can be so exciting!
So some brief information about Taiga dramas (大河ドラマ, ) :
Each year, NHK television produces a drama series that begins in January and ends in December. Usually the drama focuses on Historical legends or on fictional dramatized life of important characters from Japanese history. Episodes usually varies around 40~50 I believe. Most of the programs on NHK are educational; that includes its taigas - there would always be a narrator commenting on historical facts in relation to the plot.
Atsuhime is the 47th Taiga drama which was broadcasted throughout 2008. While it was still airing in Japan, it had already made some noise around Asia, at least it got to me. The lead actress Miyazaki Aoi suddenly became a popular figure in Japan (also due to her wedding) and I believe the drama also boosted the tourism industry for Tenshoin Atsuhime's museum and her birth place in Satsuma, Kagoshima. I remember last year the J-pop section on News sites are filled by this Atsuhime trend. It was craaaaazy.
I always wanted to watch this since last year but there were all the other dramas that I have to catch up for each season. Finally two weeks ago I decided to give the first episode a try with my mum. Today we're on the 24th haha.
So Atsuhime....She was the wife of the 13th Shogun of Tokugawa - Tokugawa Iesada. Born 1835 in Kagoshima to a family of Shimazu clan; I guess they're some noble division? She had a dramatic life, first travelling to Edo, then married a Shogun, later was heavily involved in political events during the Meiji Restoration and died at the age of 48.
A really huge attraction to this drama is because the FEMALE IS THE MAIN CHARACTER. I mean, really, how many historical fiction centres around women? How many women are considered significant enough to have their name recorded in history textbooks, especially in Japan?
Oh talk about the casting! A perfect balanced blend of popular idols and experienced seniors! At first I was worried that Miyazaki is too young for such a heavy role, Taiga might not be a suitable choice for Eita as it's his first time taking a lead. BUT I AM so impressed at how well they handle their roles and meeting the NHK level! For the teenage Atsuhime, Miyazaki used her usual Japanese school girl acting, for adult Atsuhime, you could pick out some gradual transformation like her change in voice tone, aura, and facial expression - how she cools down and matures.
AND the scipt. As Tokugawa and Meiji Restoration are one of the greatest turning point in Japanese history, it's generally a contested topic at the same time for experts. The Taiga kept it very subjective and fair, I think this is rather difficult to maintain. What I like the most is it presents how Japan slowly opens up her gateway and began to take part in globalization and took its first step to modernize....in the western perspective that is....not saying that Japanese people were barbaric before........don't misunderstand me...
AND the legendary essence of Atsuhime - friendship, kinship, and the heroine figure is well performed with highlights of qualities - bravery..determination..faith..ethics..you name it, she has it.
於一 (篤姬) 的老女死之前, 曾說過一句影響篤姬一生的話:
"女子之道，是一條直道，掉頭折返，是耻辱"
以現在來看, 與其說是女子之道, 不如說每個人的生存方式時常只限制於一條路, 那條路就是你決定的路. 這也可以說是, 其實每個人都是篤姬, 都和她一樣會碰到困難和失落. 只是篤姬做不管做什麼選擇, 都一定會堅持到底 努力去爭取她想得到的. 每次看到她遇到困難時卻還是不放棄 樂觀的去上戰場 總是會讓我想: "要是我也和她一樣就好了". 我只是認為, 決定歸決定, 但要去面對自己做的選擇並且拋開一切負責到底是需要多少勇氣呢. 想來想去我也曾因為害怕而掉頭折返, 這種感覺的確很不好. 篤姬堅守自己的信念, 不肯退縮的去完成自己認為對的事情, 因此每次看篤姬時都會很感嘆: 真的是個偉大的女性呀!
最後附加這齣大河劇的開頭主題曲 (NHK 真的很厲害, 連主題曲也是自己製作的, 聽說作曲的Ryo Yoshimata 為了寫篤姬的OST特別去篤姬出生地Kagoshima住了三個星期 體驗了當地人們豪爽熱情的氣質, 於是把他對那裡的情感寫了47首曲子, 成了篤姬的配樂. 日劇的OST我最喜歡的是白夜行, Orange Days, 然後篤姬把交響情人夢的OST給擠下去了 哇嘎嘎 這個Opening好比敘述了篤姬的一生, 雄偉的感覺卻夾帶著柔情, 充滿著合式風味!!
原本以為宮崎葵只是去鬧的, 但她的演技真的讓我無話可說啦~~~
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