Since there's already been one thread started and some discussion, might as well start a full-blown thread. This is just a basic synopsis and the cast:
Tenchijin (�V�n�l, Tenchijin?) is the 48th NHK Taiga drama. It is scheduled to premiere on NHK on January 4, 2009, and will consequently air every Sunday at 20:00 to 20:44 till December 13, 2009. The story centers on the life of the 16th century samurai Naoe Kanetsugu.
The drama series is intended to depict the love and righteousness of Japan, which have been slowly disappearing in current Japanese society.  The story is based on the novel Tenchijin by Masashi Hisaka and is being adapted for screen by scriptwriter Eriko Komatsu.
The protagonist of the drama, Naoe Kanetsugu, was taught by Uesugi Kenshin in his youth that to conquest the world is a trifle matter, but what matters is to live one's life with righteousness. After Uesugi's death, Naoe supports Uesugi Kagekatsu, who came to hold the destiny of Echigo province and lives righteous life.
 
 Staff
Music: Michiru Ōshima 
Script: Eriko Komatsu 
Production coordinator: Shinsuke Naitō 
Narrator: Nobuko Miyamoto 
Cast
 Naoe house
Satoshi Tsumabuki as Naoe Kanetsugu 
Takako Tokiwa as Osen 
Masanobu Takashima as Higuchi Sōemon 
Misako Tanaka as Ofuji — Kanetsugu's mother. 
Kotaro Koizumi as Higuchi Yoshichi, childhood actor: Homare Mabuchi 
Miro Ebato as Kito 
Michiko Kichise as Oyū — Osen's elder sister. 
Joe Shishido as Naoe Kagetsuna 
Shinji Yamashita as Naoe Nobutsuna 
Hisako Manda as Oman 
 Uesugi clan
Kazuki Kitamura as Uesugi Kagekatsu 
Tetsuji Tamayama as Uesugi Kagetora 
Saki Aibu as Hanahime 
Manami Higa as Kikuhime 
Reiko Takashima as Sentōin 
Hiroshi Abe as Uesugi Kenshin 
 Uesugi retainers and their family members
Mikihisa Azuma as Izumisawa Hisahide 
Shingo Katsurayama as Abe Masayoshi 
Papaya Suzuki as Tosaka Fujiemon 
Satoru Matsuo as Sakurai Haruyoshi 
Minoru Matsumoto as Fukazawa Yashichirō 
Yasuhiro Arai as Kitajō Takahiro 
Kei Yamamoto as Yoshie Munenobu 
Nobuaki Kakuda as Kakizaki Haruie 
Takejō Aki as Kayo 
Shunsuke Sugiyama as Nishiyama Kanzaemon 
 Sengoku commanders and their family members
Masami Nagasawa as Hatsune — Sanada Yukimura's younger sister. 
Shun Oguri as Ishida Mitsunari 
Kyōko Fukada as Yodo 
Yū Shirota as Sanada Yukimura 
Yūsuke Kamiji as Kobayakawa Hideaki 
Shun Ōide as Kōsaka Masanobu 
Kōji Kikkawa as Oda Nobunaga 
Takashi Sasano as Hashiba Hideyoshi 
Sumiko Fuji as Nene 
Hiroki Matsukata as Tokugawa Ieyasu 
Shingo Tsurumi as Akechi Mitsuhide