I think we're down to the final episode now. Being the first drama I've been able to catch in a long time, I'm liking it. A great deal better than Yoshitsune and Shinsengumi.

Seems to be going to 50 episodes(not cutting the final one in two). This something new with the Taiga Dramas?

I missed the final. Too busy with... STUFF... Oh well... I'll have the final DVDs in March.

Though, I think almost anything is better than Yoshitsune. *shudder* Yoshitsune, the naive little boy... oivech...

Now, for the 47, personally I still think that the motivation for their actions was not "duty" or "loyalty", but simply the outright unfairness displayed by Tsunayoshi. Asano was punished and rightfully so (but even there we can find a lot of unfairness, Asano was forced to commit seppuku in the garden, while someone of his status would usually do it inside). However, Kira escaped without any penalty, even though law demanded punishment for him as well. I'm sure that really pissed them off, which would also explain why only 47 from more than 300 moved against Kira (if "duty" and "loyalty" to their master was the motive, then there would have been more members in this conspiracy). And why was the kabuki play about them so popular (it's been said that a kabuki theater, that was running out of money, only had to play the Chuushingura and they save themselves financially)? Because of "duty" and "loyalty"? Hardly, I seriously doubt that any peasant in the Edo period gave a damn about that. They had other problems, usually created by the samurai. No, people loved it because the 47 dared to stand up against the, most likely, least liked Shogun ever. Tsunayoshi, even today, is referred to as "dog Shogun" (and he gets away in jidai geki even worse than Nobunaga (Ooku Hana no Ran shows him as a serial rapist who drives women into suicide)). And then, after the fall of feudal Japan and the overhyped Restoration, the Chuushingura are changed (13 changes during those days that brought Japan down the road of nationalism and fascism). Duty, loyalty and that stuff appears in the play, ultimately creating something that is used and abused by the Japanese police state in order to promote the Emperor as a bizarre father figure of the Japanese people.

One of the most fascinating things about the "47 Ronin Incident" is the simple fact that it took the Tokugawa government not even 100 years to become extremely corrupted, as Kira's successful escape from punishment shows.
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Quote:

Asano was forced to commit seppuku in the garden, while someone of his status would usually do it inside

Maybe it was a nice day out and he wanted to commit suicide, al fresco.

So true about how history is ignored as time passes. Look at the public perception of how Yoshitsune "should be" and how history portrays him. Look at the Shinsengumi. Hated by history and feared by the people of the times that had live in Kyoto, but now romanticized by so many that saw them as heroes and deny they were a "gestapo" like group.

Has Fuurin Kazan run completely where you are? I just finished episode 49, and apparently there is a full episode 50. They use to have an extended first and 49th episode, but it looks like episode 50 is a complete one. The 4th battle of Kanawakajima runs through both 49 and 50.

Click on button to reveal/hide spoiler:

They changed Kansuke's death from historically correct to more your liking

Now that it's complete.....great series! Kept me watching till the end, and looking for all the ones I missed. Some of the scenes in the final episode would rival the best films made anywhere in terms of directing, acting, cinematography, and music. There were slow parts here and there, but that's expected for a 50 episode series. I haven't seen much of Chiba Shinichi, but his performance here showed why he's a legend in the industry.

Weakest part: Gackt as Kagetora/Masatora/Kenshin. I don't know Gackt from Bleckt or any other wretching noise, but I haven't seen acting this bad since Shingo Katori in Shinsengumi. Everyone is using their "samurai voice", but Gackt is obviously forcing one. The character talks like a pothead that is swaying from wasted drunk to horribly hungover. Every movement or position he takes looks like a pose. It seems the director decided that he needed to film him as "Gackt" which was a shame because the character was written pretty well. Thankfully he only showed up halfway through and not as a major character.

Kijinnmaru wrote:

Now that it's complete.....great series! Kept me watching till the end, and looking for all the ones I missed. Some of the scenes in the final episode would rival the best films made anywhere in terms of directing, acting, cinematography, and music. There were slow parts here and there, but that's expected for a 50 episode series. I haven't seen much of Chiba Shinichi, but his performance here showed why he's a legend in the industry. Weakest part: Gackt as Kagetora/Masatora/Kenshin. I don't know Gackt from Bleckt or any other wretching noise, but I haven't seen acting this bad since Shingo Katori in Shinsengumi. Everyone is using their "samurai voice", but Gackt is obviously forcing one. The character talks like a pothead that is swaying from wasted drunk to horribly hungover. Every movement or position he takes looks like a pose. It seems the director decided that he needed to film him as "Gackt" which was a shame because the character was written pretty well. Thankfully he only showed up halfway through and not as a major character.

Obviously, you never saw Yoshitsune Yes, the final episode Sonny Chiba was in was one of the best. And I wanted to mention Yuki Shibamoto making her debut as Princess Yuu. I thought she was very good.

gaijinmark wrote:

Obviously, you never saw Yoshitsune Yes, the final episode Sonny Chiba was in was one of the best. And I wanted to mention Yuki Shibamoto making her debut as Princess Yuu. I thought she was very good.

Certain members from the Yoshitsune thread wouldn't agree. Yoshitsune turned me off on the first episode, but even the acting there wasn't this bad. Gackt is like Shingo; they look like they're trying to remember lines. Hell, anytime he stood up, he made sure to angle himself to the camera for the perfect manga pose!

I agree, Yuki Shibamoto did a great job as Yuu-hime. I even saw several Shinsengumi alumni who did a better job here than there. Guess they took it more seriously.

Kijinnmaru wrote:

Certain members from the Yoshitsune thread wouldn't agree.

The opinions of fangirls that have posters of Tackey hanging over their bed means nothing to me.

Kijinnmaru wrote:

Weakest part: Gackt as Kagetora/Masatora/Kenshin. I don't know Gackt from Bleckt or any other wretching noise, but I haven't seen acting this bad since Shingo Katori in Shinsengumi. Everyone is using their "samurai voice", but Gackt is obviously forcing one. The character talks like a pothead that is swaying from wasted drunk to horribly hungover. Every movement or position he takes looks like a pose. It seems the director decided that he needed to film him as "Gackt" which was a shame because the character was written pretty well. Thankfully he only showed up halfway through and not as a major character.

Somehow, I missed this post...

Some casting fool inserted Blekt in this drama purely for ratings, hoping he/she/it would bring in viewers...

bmwracer wrote:

Somehow, I missed this post... Some casting fool inserted Blekt in this drama purely for ratings, hoping he/she/it would bring in viewers...

Misfortunately, that's pretty common.
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- Douglas

bmwracer wrote:

Somehow, I missed this post... Some casting fool inserted Blekt in this drama purely for ratings, hoping he/she/it would bring in viewers...

Guess I should have asked you for permission to use "bleckt".

Kijinnmaru wrote:

Guess I should have asked you for permission to use "bleckt".

None necessary... "Yeccht" would would just as well.

Do anyone know where i can donwload this drama with english sub?
Because i interested in this drama .
thx

bokongku wrote:

Do anyone know where i can donwload this drama with english sub? Because i interested in this drama . thx

Have you checked D-Addicts?