The 43rd episode of the NHK Taiga drama " UNBOUND (Berabou) " (General TV, Sundays at 8pm and other times), starring actor Ryusei Yokohama , entitled "Love Song of Betrayal", was broadcast on Getsuku, and the contents of the letter that Tsutaju (Yokohama) left for Utamaro (Sometani Shota) attracted the attention of viewers.
"UNBOUND (Berabou)" is the 64th taiga drama and depicts the life of Tsutaya Juzaburo(or "Tsutajyu" for short), who is said to have laid the foundations for Japan's media industry and pop culture. The script was written by Yoshiko Morishita, who is known for her work on the highly talked-about "Drama 10: Ooku," which aired on NHK two years ago.
In episode 43, Tsutaju was preparing 50 paintings of prostitutes for Utamaro to paint as payment for his debt to Yoshiwara.
Tsutaju pushes ahead with his work, unaware of Utamaro's troubled feelings about his relationship with Tsutaju, but one day he becomes upset when he hears that Utamaro is teaming up with Manjiro (Nakamura Tsubame) of Nishimuraya. Meanwhile, in Edo Castle, Sadanobu (Inoue Yuki) is devoting all his energy to countering Orosha.
He handles this incident, gets recognition from Shogun Ienari (played by Shiro Kairi), and aims to become the "Tairo" (chief councilor), but...
When Tsutaju comes to see him, Utamaro hands him a drawing depicting his "love," and then tells him, "I'm no longer working with Tsutaju." He complains that his name on the drawing is placed below the name of the bookstore, and praises Manjiro of Nishimuraya, saying that Tsutaju isn't the only interesting bookstore. He also says that he will "repay my kindness in my own way" to Yoshiwara. Tsutaju bows and says he'll do anything, but refuses to accept Utamaro's request to "give me that bookstore." Utamaro then replies, "You never give me anything I want."
Tsutaju then left a message for Utamaro, which read, "I thought I'd treasured you, but before I knew it, you'd become a bird in a cage. I'm sorry. Thank you for following me for the past 20 years since that day. You've given me the most amazing dreams. Take care of yourself. You're the pride of the Edo people, the greatest artist of your time."
On social media, harsh comments were also made, such as, "I don't know what I did, but I'm sorry if I made you feel bad, which is the standard insensitive way of apologizing," "It's too late now," "Is it ever so difficult to sympathize with the main character? The letter is so annoying it makes my brain boil. Utamaro should just forget it all and be happy," "Tsutaju's sincerity has hurt Utamaro again," "That's not true, Tsutaju! You don't understand Uta's feelings!" "It's not so bad that you treated him like a bird in a cage, Juzo," "Don't praise him for being an artist," "He makes no effort to consider other people's feelings, just forces his own thoughts on them, and then ends it with a letter - that's the worst!"
