The final episode (episode 48), "Beyond the Story", of the NHK Taiga drama "To Dear Radiance (Hikaru Kimi e)" (General TV, Sundays at 8pm and others), starring Yoshitaka Yuriko, was broadcast on December 15th, bringing the year-long story to a close, but the unsettling final scene caught the attention of viewers.
In the final episode, Mahiro (Yoshitaka) is questioned by Rinko (Kuroki Haru) about her relationship with Michinaga (Tasuku Emoto), and she reveals everything that has happened between the two of them so far.
After learning everything, Noriko is shocked and entrusts a certain wish to Mahiro.
Later, Mahiro meets a strange girl who is interested in "The Tale of Genji" and hears her unexpected opinion. As time passes, Michinaga, who supported the country with him, and his beloved family members pass away, realizes that his own death is near and makes his final decision.
Mahiro hears the news that Michinaga is in critical condition...
With Noriko's permission, Mahiro tells Michinaga stories, extending his life by one day at a time, but eventually Michinaga passes away.
After Michinaga's death, Mahiro sets out on a journey again accompanied by the elderly Otomaru (Yabe Taro), and along the way they encounter Sojumaru (Ito Kentaro) galloping on horseback.
Mahiro explains to Sojumaru the reason for his journey, saying, "I want to live without being tied down by anything." However, when Sojumaru tells him, "War has broken out in the eastern provinces. You will now join the imperial punitive force," Mahiro tells him, "Be careful," but then he mutters to himself, "Lord Michinaga, a storm is coming," and his expression becomes somewhat grim.
The story ended here, but there was no indication of the end or completion. Viewers were a little confused by this final scene on social media, with comments such as "What?", "Here?!" and "The end??" In addition to comments such as "Wow, I got goosebumps," "That was an amazing ending..." and "It ended with, 'A storm is coming...'", there were also comments such as "It closes with the beginning of the age of the samurai, huh...?", "So the age of the samurai is starting," "Mahiro foresaw the age of war," and "It's an unsettling ending that suggests the age of the samurai will continue, and it doesn't end simply with 'happily ever after,' which is unusual for a story."
