A preview and press conference for the NHK Taiga drama "Toyotomi Brothers!" (General TV, Sundays at 8pm and others, with the first episode extended by 15 minutes), which will begin airing on January 4, 2026, was held at the NHK Broadcasting Center (Shibuya Ward, Tokyo) on December 8, with lead actor Nakano Taiga, co-star Ikematsu Sosuke, chief producer Matsukawa Hirotaka, and chief director Watanabe Yoshio in attendance. Chief producer Matsukawa stated his goal, saying, "Let's aim to create a 'Reiwa version of Taikoki.'"
"Toyotomi Brothers!" is a success story of hope and dreams, depicting the miracle of the Toyotomi brothers' rise to power, with Hidenaga, the younger brother of "the great ruler of Japan," Toyotomi Hideyoshi, as the protagonist. Hidenaga will be played by Nakano, and Hideyoshi by Ikematsu. The script will be written by Yatsushi Hiroyuki, known for "Hanzawa Naoki" (TBS) and the Asadora drama "Ochoyan."
Filming for this film began in June of this year. Nakano spoke to reporters after the preview, saying, "It took six months to make, but I'm proud to say that it's a powerful piece that I'm sure everyone will enjoy."
Ikematsu introduced the story by saying, "It's a straightforward, straightforward story. It's a success story of two brothers who grew up in a poor village, seeking a peaceful world, and rise to become the greatest man in Japan. I remember that the previous taiga drama about the Toyotomi clan, 'Hideyoshi' (1996), was broadcast after the collapse of the bubble economy, during the employment ice age, and had a viewer rating of over 30 percent. Since then, the Toyotomi clan will be featured in this difficult time. I hope to create a drama that will inspire people."
