New Abarenbou Shogun:Daigo Nishihata takes on the role of Yoshimune's eldest son, Ieshige, in a unique sword fight scene using a rapier in his left hand. Ken Matsudaira praises him for his "brilliant performance."

It has been revealed that Daigo Nishihata of the popular group "Naniwa Danshi" will appear in the period drama "Shin Abarenbou Shogun" (TV Asahi), which will be broadcast on January 4, 2025 at 9:00 pm. He will play the main character, Ieshige, the eldest son of the eighth Shogun, Tokugawa Yoshimune (Matsudaira Ken). This will be his first time acting alongside Matsudaira, and he will portray a father and son with a feud. He will also "seal" his dominant right arm and take on a unique sword fight scene in which he wields a Western-style rapier with his left arm.

"Abarenbou Shogun," broadcast from 1978 to 2003, is a thrilling period drama series in which Yoshimune fights the evil rampant in Edo while blending into the lives of ordinary people as the third son of a poor samurai, Tokuda Shinnosuke (nicknamed Shin-san). This latest work, which is being revived for the first time in about 17 years since the "TV Asahi 50th Anniversary Drama Special" (December 2008), is set in Edo more than 20 years after Yoshimune's rule. It depicts Yoshimune facing the issue of succession, the human drama within Edo Castle, and the difficult cases swirling with conspiracies that occur in the castle town, with the addition of new characters and a sense of the era. It is directed by Miike Takashi and written by Omori Mika.

Nishihata plays Ieshige, the eldest son of the candidate for the next Shogun, but his right arm is disabled due to illness and he cannot speak fluently. He often loses his temper due to the frustration of not being able to move or speak properly, and tends to stay in his villa. He also closes his heart to his father, Yoshimune. Therefore, within the castle, there are voices pushing for his second son, who is skilled in both literature and martial arts, to be the successor, and Yoshimune is troubled by the issue of succession.

One day, Yoshimune goes out to town disguised as Shinnosuke and encounters a commotion where he meets a man who wields a rapier with ease. The man, who calls himself "Tokunaga Fukutaro," the third son of a merchant family, speaks in a rough manner and is actually Ieshige. Yoshimune is shocked to learn that his son, who should not even be able to hold a sword, is sneaking out of the castle and interacting with common people just like him. In fact, Ieshige is a man of great intelligence.

Nishihata is also active as an actor, having appeared in "Hissatsu Shigotonin" (2022) and the currently-showing movie "Doctor-X FINAL." When asked about the offer, he commented, "I was really surprised because I never thought I would be chosen to play the eldest son of Yoshimune, played by Matsudaira Ken. I'm very happy to be able to participate in such a long-loved and historic work." Regarding the character Ieshige, he said, "He is physically disabled, and despite being the eldest son of the shogun family, he is not well-liked by those around him. I'm thinking about how much I can express his feelings as he lives his life carrying many things on his shoulders, and I'm taking on the challenge of filming every day."

Regarding the sword fighting scenes in which he wields a Western sword with his left hand, he said, "At first, I was very worried about whether I could do the sword fighting with my left hand. But then I saw Matsudaira's sword fighting scene, and it was absolutely amazing, just as you'd expect...I felt I had to keep up, so since then I have made a conscious effort to use my left hand in my daily life. I want to show Iehisa's fighting style and his sense of justice."

Matsudaira praised Nishihata, saying, "His elegant presence makes him perfect for the role of the head of the family. His performance as Fukutaro when he goes out on the town is also wonderful, and he breathes fresh air into the production." He also praised Nishihata from a father's perspective, quoting a line from the play, saying, "His sword fighting was also magnificent. He took on the difficult role with sincerity, and it really felt like, 'I'm so happy right now.'"