Furin Kazan - 2007 Taiga Drama

The show is finally starting to get interesting.

My roommate wants to know in what episode Gackt starts appearing. *G* Anyone know?

And to be fair, some of the sites I've looked at say that the historical figure he's playing was occasionally rumored to be a woman, and he's been portrayed as feminine in other pop culture stuff (some video game, IIRC). :)

wintersweet wrote:My roommate wants to know in what episode Gackt starts appearing. *G* Anyone know?

You mean Blekt. :beaten:

And to be fair, some of the sites I've looked at say that the historical figure he's playing was occasionally rumored to be a woman, and he's been portrayed as feminine in other pop culture stuff (some video game, IIRC). :)

Sounds like he/she was born to play this role. :hehe:

Has anyone read the novel that this is based on?

wintersweet wrote:My roommate wants to know in what episode Gackt starts appearing. *G* Anyone know?

And to be fair, some of the sites I've looked at say that the historical figure he's playing was occasionally rumored to be a woman, and he's been portrayed as feminine in other pop culture stuff (some video game, IIRC). :)

i would guess based on historical dates that he wouldn't show up thankfully til at least 1/3rd of the way through.

Episode 16 wrapped up last nite, like all Taiga dramas, there've been a few "throwaway" episodes where nothing much happens, but overall, it's been pretty good. I'm just hoping Gackt's appearance doesn't mess everything up :sweat:

I am glad that I don't know enough about this "Gackt" character to obsess over him/her.

The irony of kensuke being called "ugly" when he's really working hard to save lives, is very striking. It's turning into a very Musashi-like drama, with the loneliness of the misunderstood warrior. Kudos!

Episode 19 and still going strong. I just wanted to mention the actresses in this: Of course, you know you're going to get good work from Jun Fubuki and Chizuru Ikewaki, but there's this new actress I've never seen before, Yuki Shibamoto who plays the princess turned concubine, she's doing a good job so far. :applaud:

I really like this show even though it seems GACKt is wearing more makeup than the women. Kansuke is a great lead. I still can't beileve what happen to Chiyo though.

theanonymousafro wrote:I really like this show even though it seems GACKt is wearing more makeup than the women.

LOL, that seems to be the consensus opinion... :hehe:

I can see this Taiga having cost overruns due to makeup usage. :hehe: :rofl:

bmwracer wrote:
LOL, that seems to be the consensus opinion... :hehe:

I can see this Taiga having cost overruns due to makeup usage. :hehe: :rofl:

ha that's actually really funny. well luckily Taigas usually cost alot for the costumes anyway. Ever see him preform? Think he actually has less makeup on the show!

theanonymousafro wrote:Ever see him preform? Think he actually has less makeup on the show!

No interest seeing it perform.

bmwracer wrote:
No interest seeing it perform.

Did you just call him it?
when I heard a singer was on the show I looked him up on the web and say one of his videos. The video was actually pretty cool. The song wasn't great but actually not the worst I've heard.

Itazura ichiban wrote:Has anyone read the novel that this is based on?

Isn't it based off an autobiography or biography by Yamamoto's relatives? I' didn't know it was actually turned into a novel.

From good old Wikipedia:

Like many of the previous Taiga dramas, Fūrin Kazan deals with the Sengoku period. Based on Yasushi Inoue's novel by the same title, it depicts the life of Yamamoto Kansuke who is known as one of Takeda Shingen's renowned strategists.

And it wouldn't be in Wikipedia if it wasn't true. ;)

I gave it a try last Saturday. Just can't get into Taiga dramas....

I had to watch it to see one of my super favorites Ikewaki Chizuru....
Too bad.... She is hopelessly miscast in this. She should only play in modern dramas like Honma Mon and Taiyou no Kisetsu.

her voice is too pure for the usual taiga grunting that passes for acting, not that she is grunting in this but everybody else is and she is just simply out of place...

:grumble:

ralphm1999 wrote:I gave it a try last Saturday. Just can't get into Taiga dramas....

I had to watch it to see one of my super favorites Ikewaki Chizuru....
Too bad.... She is hopelessly miscast in this. She should only play in modern dramas like Honma Mon and Taiyou no Kisetsu.

her voice is too pure for the usual taiga grunting that passes for acting, not that she is grunting in this but everybody else is and she is just simply out of place...

I dunno, ralph, I agree there is always a lot of grunting and frothing at the mouth that goes on in Taigas, that's just the nature of the beast. One of the things I like about Fuurin Kazan is there are several women playing more than just bit parts. Besides Ikewaki, there's Jun Fubuki who is always good, and this newcomer Yuki Shibamoto as Princess Yuu. I'm liking this Taiga a lot so far. :applaud: [/list:u]

gaijinmark wrote: I dunno, ralph, I agree there is always a lot of grunting and frothing at the mouth that goes on in Taigas, that's just the nature of the beast. One of the things I like about Fuurin Kazan is there are several women playing more than just bit parts. Besides Ikewaki, there's Jun Fubuki who is always good, and this newcomer Yuki Shibamoto as Princess Yuu. I'm liking this Taiga a lot so far. :applaud: [/list:u]

I liked the princess too. then as usual all the sets and scenes are so dark and moody that it's just plain depressing to watch. I'm just a "nice lively comedy romance a la Love Generation" guy. The world is depressing enough without having to watch incessant bloodshed and dark sets like petrified forests for entertainment.
But I am a devoted Hidden Blade fan... though I don't think that is a real Taiga drama, the story actually moved along and the sets were bright enough so you could tell which actors were on the sets and there was no grunting. :hehe:

If you watch Japanese TV for the chicks (not that there's anything wrong with that), there's no wonder you're bored by taiga dorama.

Itazura ichiban wrote:If you watch Japanese TV for the chicks (not that there's anything wrong with that), there's no wonder you're bored by taiga dorama.

You hit the nail on the head.

And besides, the women are all covered up. :beaten: :hehe: