The final episode (episode 48) of the NHK Taiga drama " UNBOUND (Berabou) Yumebanashi" (General TV, Sundays at 8pm and others), starring actor Ryusei Yokohama , was aired on December 14th, and revealed the continuation of the true identity of the "mysterious painter" Toshusai Sharaku.
This time, " UNBOUND" has adopted the theory that Sharaku's true identity was "multiple people, centered around Kitagawa Utamaro." Meanwhile, the accepted theory in art history is that Saito Jurobei, who is believed to be Sharaku's true identity, appears as a Noh actor who "looks identical" to Hitotsubashi Harusame, a Noh fan. He played the role of "Harusame's double" in the revenge of Matsudaira Sadanobu and his men.
Saito Jurobei lives out his days as "Jisai" in place of Jisai, who was secretly sent to an isolated island in Awa (he escaped on the way but was struck by lightning and died). Tsutaju realizes that if you rearrange the three kanji characters in "Toshusai," it becomes "sai, tou, juu," and tells his associates involved with Sharaku about Jurobei's existence as "someone who worked hard behind the scenes." After revealing the rearrangement of the three kanji characters, he asks everyone for advice, saying, "Is there any way we can create a scheme so that this person will be remembered as a member of Sharaku in the future?"
On social media, many people expressed their admiration, saying things like, "Ah...Saito Jurobei...this is the most likely theory about Sharaku's true identity," "The way it incorporates historical facts is also clever...what a script...!", "I see, so this is how it mixes in the theory that Sharaku is Saito Jurobei, what a brilliant script...," "The established theory is that Saito Jurobei is Sharaku, so the script is brilliant in bringing it up here," "A brilliant script that outwits those who were critical of Team Sharaku," "Morishita's script is scary because it neatly ties up the theory that 'Sharaku's true identity is Saito Jurobei'," and "When Saito Jurobei says, 'It doesn't matter if I'm here or not...' it was also brilliant to make Sharaku = Jurobei. The way it makes the story add up is brilliant."
