The NHK Taiga drama " UNBOUND (Berabou) " (General TV, Sunday 8pm and others), starring actor Ryusei Yokohama , aired on November 23rd. In the 45th episode, "His Name is Sharaku," Matsudaira Sadanobu (Inoue Yuki) was tasked with creating a sequel to a "Gennai-style" play, which prompted viewers to comment, "So Sadanobu was the type of otaku who could even create derivative works..."
" UNBOUND (Berabou)" is the 64th taiga drama and depicts the life of Tsutaya Juzaburo(or "Tsutajyu" for short), who is said to have laid the foundations for Japan's media industry and pop culture. The script was written by Yoshiko Morishita, who is known for her work on the highly talked-about "Drama 10: Ooku," which aired on NHK two years ago.
In the previous week's episode, episode 44, Tsutae (Ken Yasuda) was shown pursuing the theory that Hiraga Gennai (Yasuda Ken) was still alive, but what awaited him were Sadanobu and others who were planning revenge against the "puppet-loving daimyo." In episode 45, when Tsutae asked about the play he had obtained, "This wasn't written by Gennai-sensei, was it?", Sadanobu simply confessed, "I wrote it down" based on the story he heard from Miura Shoji (Harada Taizo).
Sadanobu, who has been familiar with literature since childhood and loved the yellow-covered novels by Koikawa Harumachi (Okayama Amane), is a man of otaku temperament. On social media, comments such as "He's doing something amazing without even realizing it. That troublesome otaku who loves yellow-covered novels, Sadanobu-sama, has actually been writing quite a lot behind the scenes," "Yellow-covered otaku Sadanobu has a talent for derivative works," and "Matsudaira Sadanobu is a rare type of otaku who can write derivative works that are extremely close to the original because he has such a deep understanding and love for the original work" were posted.
Sadanobu orders Tsutaju to "cause a stir" by spreading rumors that Gennai "might still be alive," and Tsutaju eventually comes up with the idea of publishing "portraits of Gennai in the style of Dutch painting." When Sadanobu is told of the idea by Tsutaju, he says, "Painting is one of the samurai's refinements," and while showing off his knowledge, he gives orders in a condescending manner. When the conversation then turns to "funds for activities," Sadanobu, who once promoted "simplicity and frugality," and Tsutaju, who was said to be "the most effective man in Edo," exchange sarcastic remarks on the spot.
In the end, Tsutaju, who said "I can't stand the tight financial situation and I might just blurt out a complaint," hits Sadanobu in a sensitive spot by asking, "Why don't you take this revenge to the magistrate's office?" Sadanobu agrees to pay the money, but raises his eyebrows and shows some displeased attitude. Nevertheless, viewers commented, "It looks like Sadanobu and Tsutaju are having fun exchanging nasty remarks."
