The eighth episode of the NHK Taiga drama " UNBOUND (Berabou) " (General TV, Sunday 8pm and others), starring actor Ryusei Yokohama , entitled "Kanekan Sensei's Counterattack", was broadcast on February 23rd, with Ichihara Hayato appearing in the role of Toriyama Kengyo.
In the eighth edition, Tsutaju (Yokohama)'s "Yoshiwara Hosomi: Flowers of the Hedge" becomes popular after featuring Segawa's ( Fuka Koshiba) name, and Yoshiwara becomes lively as customers flock to see Segawa.
Segawa is unable to handle the customers and the other prostitutes end up dealing with them, much to Tsutaju's delight. Meanwhile, a blind millionaire named Toriyama Kengyo (Ichihara Hayato) appears as Segawa's new customer.
This will be Ichihara's third time appearing in a taiga drama, following "Naotora: The Lady Warlord" (2017), in which he played Ketsuzan, and "The 13 Lords of the Shogun" (2022), in which he played Hatta Tomoie.
The role Toriyama Kengyo plays in "UNBOUND" is "the blind millionaire who buys Segawa." He is the man who bought Segawa (Fuka Koshiba), who was said to be the most beautiful courtesan in Yoshiwara at the time, for 1,400 ryo. "Kengyo" was the highest official position given to a blind person, and Toriyama, with the permission of the shogunate, engaged in usury and built up a large fortune. Toriyama had obtained everything through the power of money, but...
Fans responded on social media with comments such as, "What a great-built Kengyo! He's the one to buy his freedom!", "Toriyama Kengyo! You can't see him but he looks strong lol", "Here comes the beautiful, muscular monk and sexy Hatta-dono!", and "Hata-dono! Isn't it Hatta-dono? He's been reincarnated as Toriyama Kengyo!!!" Furthermore, there were comments such as, "Ichihara Hayato has a beautiful head shape", "He was very sexy", and "Strip quickly!", which created excitement.
