Ken Matsudaira:Revealing the circumstances behind the revival of "Abarenbo Shogun": "Yoshimune, who is close to turning 60," was the suggestion of the actor himself; also his thoughts on the decline of period dramas

A press conference was recently held for TV Asahi Drama Premium "Shin Abarenbou Shogun" (January 4, 2025, 9:00 p.m.), which will see the popular period drama series "Abarenbou Shogun" (TV Asahi, 1978-2003) being revived for the first time in about 17 years, and Matsudaira Ken, who plays the main character and the eighth shogun of the Edo shogunate, Tokugawa Yoshimune, attended.

"Abarenbou Shogun" hadn't aired since the December 2008 special. Matsudaira said he had been "eager" to revive the series. When asked about the circumstances that led to its revival, he revealed that it may have been triggered by a conversation he had with director Takashi Miike, who is in charge of this work, on the set of the drama "Detective Daimajin" (TV Asahi, 2023).

"When I appeared in 'Daimajin', Director Miike and I were talking about doing a new 'Abarenbo'. I think (the reason for the revival) is because those conversations back then were so exciting. (2024) is also my 50th anniversary in the entertainment industry, so I think TV Asahi was doing it to celebrate. I immediately replied that I would definitely like to do it."

"I've had the opportunity to do a variety of period dramas, but this is definitely my masterpiece," he said. "I've also heard from fans that they wanted me to do something new. 17 years have passed since then, and the number of period dramas on television has steadily decreased, and you hardly ever see any with the so-called 'rasutachi' (final fight scenes) anymore, but I still find 'Abarenbou Shogun' very entertaining when I watch reruns (early in the morning), so I thought it would be nice to revive it."

I felt sad that period dramas were steadily declining in number.

"It seems like there are a lot of period dramas being released in cinemas, but there aren't many old-fashioned works that are completely about punishment for evil. Hiroyuki Sanada's 'Shogun' was well received overseas, and I'm very happy that there is interest (from around the world) in Japanese period dramas. I hope that more period dramas will be revived. I've always thought that 'Abarenbo Shogun' would be good for educating children, because when they do bad things they get 'punished' (laughs). The story is based on historical facts, so I thought it could be educational as well. I wouldn't be more pleased if young people watch it (with this revival)."

The story is set more than 20 years after the reign of Yoshimune. At the beginning of the series, Yoshimune was a young shogun, but now that he is approaching his 60th birthday, he faces the issue of succession. His eldest son, Ieshige (played by Daigo Nishihata), is paralyzed in his right arm and face due to illness, and while there are voices within Edo Castle calling for him to be deposed, a huge conspiracy attacks the shogun family.

He also revealed that he himself proposed to play Yoshimune in later years, rather than as the young Yoshimune of old, saying, "Yoshimune's sons appear in the story for the first time, showing his 'fatherly face' like never before. It incorporates a variety of elements, such as the conflict between father and son and the appearance of someone aiming for the position of shogun, so it's really worth watching. There's a fight scene at the beginning, and another big fight at the end, which is also a highlight. (While there are new parts) it's definitely got the 'worldview of a rowdy boy'."