It has been announced that Ozawa Yukiyoshi, Fujima Sawako, Kimura Ryo, Komakine Akita, Naito Shuichiro, Katsumura Masanobu, Ono Takehiko, Takashima Reiko, and Namase Katsuhisa will appear in "TV Asahi Drama Premium 'New Abarenbou Shogun'" (to be broadcast on January 4, 2025 at 9:00 pm), starring Matsudaira Ken. Namase will play Tatsugorou, the head of the Edo town fire brigade "Megumi", a role previously played by Kitajima Saburo and Sakai Masaaki.
"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 work, which is 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 reign, and 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.
Ozawa plays the role of the samurai Homma Yojiro. Yojiro holds a grudge against Yoshimune for exposing the corruption of his father, Yozo, who was a young councilor, and works in secret for his own terrible ambitions. Ozawa's "bizarre" performance greatly disturbs the story.
Fujima, who is also the head of the Murasakiha Fujima School of Japanese dance, plays the heroine of this work, Okinu. Okinu runs away from home in rebellion against a arranged marriage and is tricked by the actor Ranmaru and almost sold into prostitution, but is saved by a man who calls himself Fukutaro (Nishihata Daigo), the third son of a merchant family. Unaware that Fukutaro's true identity is actually the shogun's eldest son, Ieshige, Fujima develops a faint crush on him. Fujima's grandmother, the first Fujima Murasaki, and her mother, Shimamura Yoshie, have both made guest appearances in "Abarenbou Shogun," making this the third generation of Okinu to appear in the show.
Kimura plays Tadamitsu Ooka, a loyal page who has served Ieshige since he was a child. He is the only aide who can accurately understand what Ieshige is saying, as he is unable to speak well due to illness. He is the person who speaks for Ieshige in all situations.
Komakine, who starred in "Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger" (2021-2022) and became a hot topic, will play Tokugawa Munetake, Yoshimune's second son and Ieshige's younger brother. Munetake is known for being a master of both the literary and military arts, and is said to be "the spitting image of Yoshimune in his younger days." Many people in Edo Castle say that Munetake is more suitable to be the next shogun than his older brother Ieshige, and he himself has mixed feelings about this.
Naito, who gained attention for his starring role in "Kamen Rider Saber" (2020-2021), will play the handsome actor Ranmaru, a villain who uses his good looks to deceive young women into selling themselves into prostitution.
Katsumura plays Ooka Tadasuke, the Edo Minamimachi magistrate who is highly trusted by Yoshimune. He has a strong sense of justice and is a famous magistrate who always stands on the side of the common people, and he also knows that Yoshimune is out in the streets as "Shinnosuke."
Ono will play Kano Gorozaemon, the personal attendant and intermediary who served Yoshimune from his childhood and was nicknamed "Grandpa."
Takashima plays Osai, the wife of Tatsugorou, the head of the "Megumi". She is a reliable and strong-willed woman who supports her husband Tatsugorou and her fellow Megumi members. Takashima, who made her debut in 1988 as the gardener Kozue in "Abarenbou Shogun III", will be making a triumphant return to the series.
