The visual of Song Jiang, the leader of Liangshan Marsh, played by actor Yuji Oda in the TV drama "Kitakata Kenzo Suikoden" (WOWOW, to be broadcast in 2026), which is a dramatization of Kenzo Kitakata's historical epic novel, has been released.
The original work is the first of Kitakata's "Da Suikoden" trilogy, which has sold over 11.6 million copies and was followed by "Yang Lingden" and "Yue Fei Den". The story is set in China at the end of the Northern Song Dynasty (early 12th century). Han men with the same aspirations gather at "Liangshanbo" and boldly rise up to correct the corrupt world. Song Jiang (Oda), who has a public face as a low-ranking official in the household registration department, is not skilled in military force, but he brings together his comrades with his sincere words and charisma, and later leads them as the leader of Liangshanbo. He writes the book "Taiten Gyodo" that preaches world reform, and throws himself into a fierce battle to overthrow the corrupt state.
The scene released this time shows Song Jiang taking up his brush and writing "Kaiten Gyodo", a letter vowing to "reform the world". These four characters mean "doing justice on behalf of heaven", and in the story, they become a flag of ambition and a light of hope for those who are cornered by an unreasonable world. The friends scattered across the country read this letter, their hearts are moved, and they rise up. In the released visual, the gaze of Song Jiang, played by Oda, holding a brush, is filled with hidden resolve and quiet passion.
◇Comment from Yuji Oda
Filming began in December last year.
Freezing cold... During the long hours of filming in the harsh environment of the cave, an idea suddenly came to me as if it had fallen from the sky. In fact, I had been struggling to think of how to act in this scene until the last minute. I will never forget filming in this cold cave where it is impossible to tell day or night.
Snowy mountains, other caves, mountains, rivers, lakes... How many prefectures have I visited? I went from north to south by car, bullet train, and plane. This work is still not finished even after half a year (lol). It is scheduled to take eight months.
I've been an actor for almost 40 years, but I've never filmed on this scale before. I'm always amazed at how much effort goes into it, the number of tents and vehicles set up by the film crew deep in the mountains, and the number of staff. It takes a lot of time and effort to put on makeup, hair, and costumes, and then it takes time to get to the filming location.
And even I, the lead actor, am only a part of this work. Because there are many scenes in which I do not appear, I do not know how the other actors act. I cannot imagine what kind of work it will be when all the filming is finished, edited, and broadcasted. I can only look forward to seeing what kind of work will be produced after so much time and effort has been put into it.
The thing I pay the most attention to when playing the character of Song Jiang is that he is an ordinary person you can find anywhere. He does not have the leadership skills of a man like Chao Gai, he does not have the martial arts talent like Lin Chong or Yang Zhi, and he is not a military strategist like Wu Yong.
He's not mentally strong. He worries, he shows his weaknesses... The man called Song Jiang, who is close to people, is simply close to people. Right now, this is the only keyword I use to fight and act.
◇Comment from Kenzo Kitakata
Oda will play Song Jiang.
All those actors put on costumes and speak. But I think that "acting" goes beyond that. We had a conversation. I was very engrossed. I was fired up. I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of Song Jiang we'll see.
The production team is passionate to the point of being sultry. But it would take that much passion to make such a long drama. How does the acting ability and presence of the actors, the expressiveness of the director and scriptwriter, and the creativity of the costumes and props all contribute to this?
This is a battle between the artist and the filmmaker. Right now, I am innocently waiting for the moment that will overwhelm me.
