It was revealed on March 3rd that the title of NHK's historical drama series to be broadcast in 2027 has been decided as "The Gyakuzoku no Bakushin," and that actor Tori Matsuzaka will star in it. Matsuzaka will play the role of Shogunate official Oguri Tadamasa . The script will be written by Naoko Adachi , who also wrote "Transparent Cradle" and " Okaeri Mone " (both NHK), and the synopsis has also been released.
The protagonist of " The Gyakuzoku no Bakushin,"Oguri Kozukenosuke Tadamasa, was a man said to be "Katsu Kaishu's rival." He was a genius of the Edo shogunate who became Japan's first envoy to the United States, experienced the civilization of a new era, and designed the new form of the nation. However, he was branded a "traitor" by the Meiji government and buried in the shadows of history. This thrilling and exciting entertainment depicts the untold exploits of this shogunate official.
◇Synopsis
In 1860, Oguri Tadamasa was welcomed aboard the USS Powhatan as a core member of Japan's first diplomatic mission to the United States, and had the honor of setting sail on the open sea. Meanwhile, Katsu Kaishu, aboard the Kanrin Maru, a Japanese warship accompanying the mission, was unable to leave his cabin due to poor health and trembled with humiliation at having to relinquish command to American officers.
However, it is the Kanrin Maru that is remembered as a great achievement by later generations. This is because Oguri was considered a "traitor" by the Meiji government and his story was buried in the shadows of history.
It was Grand Elder Ii Naosuke who first promoted Oguri. As Japan was caught up in the turmoil of the global economy following the arrival of the Black Ships, Naosuke took notice of Oguri, who, unusually for a samurai, was skilled in accounting and numbers, and who spoke frankly to his superiors. Having witnessed Western civilization firsthand as part of the Japanese embassy to the United States, Oguri resolved to hasten the creation of a modern nation that would not be absorbed by foreign powers.
However, it was no easy task. The assassination of Ii, the imperial court's refusal to open the country, and a series of anti-foreign incidents such as the Namamugi Incident all exacerbated the financial strain. Furthermore, the reparations for these incidents, the marriage of Princess Kazunomiya to a commoner, the shogun's visit to Kyoto, and the Choshu Expedition further strained the shogunate's finances. In addition, Satsuma and Choshu patriots like Saigo Takamori, as well as powerful daimyo such as the Shimazu family, interfered in shogunate politics, and the people, suffering from inflation and inequality, revolted. Amidst all this, the great powers, backed by their military strength, threatened the country's independence.
While holding key positions in finance, diplomacy, and military affairs, Oguri worked tirelessly to prevent invasion and domestic division. Eventually, as a last resort, he secured support from France and aimed to accelerate reforms, but the true intentions of Shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu, with whom he had been cooperating, gradually became unclear. Meanwhile, Katsu, while maintaining ties with Satsuma, Choshu, and Britain, was conceiving his own path to modernization.
One was a rigid elite, the other a charming, self-made man. Oguri and Katsu were complete opposites in every way, yet both were progressive and disliked within the shogunate, but when things got tough, they were ultimately relied upon and used. They were also remarkably similar in that the more they did what needed to be done, the more enemies they made and the more their lives were threatened.
The two men recognized each other's talents, which they lacked, and while they were at odds, they also held each other in high regard. However, Oguri wanted to "improve" the shogunate and create a "system" to unite the people, while Katsu wanted to "dismantle" the shogunate and allow talented "individuals" to thrive, and their destinies diverged dramatically...
Filming is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2026.
