It has been announced that the eighth and latest installment of NHK's unique period drama series "XX's Smartphone," which has been generating buzz with its premise of what would happen if historical figures had smartphones, will be called "Sharaku's Smartphone," and will begin airing on September 15th.
The "XX's Smartphone" series attracted attention for its setting in which historical figures such as Akechi Mitsuhide, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Minamoto no Yoshitsune, Tokugawa Ieyasu, and Murasaki Shikibu all had smartphones, and for its unusual direction in which the entire program revolves around a smartphone screen.The series received high praise, winning the 58th Galaxy Award Frontier Award and the 47th Broadcasting Culture Foundation Award.
This is the eighth installment of the series, and the story unfolds over eight episodes, centering on the mysterious painter Sharaku, who was active in the mid-Edo period and who is also depicted in the historical drama "UNBOUND (Berabou)." The protagonist, Sharaku, is played by Mizukawa Katamari of the comedy duo "Kuuki Kaidan," and the cast also includes Mitsushima Shinnosuke, Tsuji Kohei of "Nippon no Shachou," Yoshihara Rena of "Dow 90000," and Yokota Eiji. The story depicts the life of the mysterious painter Sharaku, who suddenly appears and then disappears.
"Sharaku's Smartphone" will start on September 15th on General TV. It will be broadcast from 11:45pm to 11:50pm Monday to Thursday.
◇Comment from Katamari Mizukawa
When I first read the script, I thought Sharaku was clumsy. He has a talent for drawing, but he has absolutely no ability to self-produce, or to look at himself objectively. In that respect, he may be similar to me. Because it is depicted through a modern tool like a smartphone, I think the work makes Sharaku's clumsy yet lovable feel relatable. When I actually filmed it, I was so happy with the topknot. Unlike in the comedy sketches, this may be the last time I get to wear such a professional topknot. I don't usually take selfies, but I ended up taking two.
