The 2026 NHK Taiga drama "Toyotomi Brothers!" (General TV, Sundays at 8:00 PM and other times), starring actor Nakano Taiga, will begin airing on January 4th. The first Sengoku period drama in three years, this one depicts the miracle of the Toyotomi brothers, who, together with their brother Hideyoshi, achieve the great feat of unifying Japan through their strong bond, with Toyotomi Hidenaga as the protagonist. Here, we introduce the 17 cast members and their roles that color the drama.
◇Toyotomi brothers
Nakano plays Koichiro (Toyotomi Hidenaga), born into a poor farming family in Nakamura, Owari, who lived a peaceful life until he was dragged into the enticement of his forceful older brother and was forced to become a samurai. He is good at settling disputes amicably and dislikes conflict, but his quick thinking and ability to mediate caught the eye of Oda Nobunaga, who entrusted him with important missions along with his brother.
Tōkichirō (Toyotomi Hideyoshi), played by Ikematsu Sosuke, was born and raised in a poor farming family in Nakamura, Owari, but rose to prominence under his lord, the Sengoku warlord Oda Nobunaga, and eventually achieved the unification of Japan.
◇Family and close friends of Koichiro and Tokichiro
Naka, played by Sakai Maki, is the mother of the Toyotomi brothers. She lost her husband at an early age and raised two sons and two daughters on her own. She warmly watched over her sons' extraordinary success, feeling both joy and confusion, and when Hideyoshi, who became the most powerful man in Japan, was appointed regent, she came to be known as "Omandokoro."
Tomo, played by Emma Miyazawa, is the older sister of the Toyotomi brothers. She is a strong-willed and determined woman. She gives birth to and raises three boys, but her younger brother Hideyoshi, who was unable to provide an heir, uses them as a political tool. Hidetsugu, the eldest son who later becomes Hideyoshi's successor, is accused of treason and executed along with his wife and children.
Asahi, played by Anna Kurasawa, is the younger sister of the Toyotomi brothers. She has a cheerful personality and is always positive and smiling, even though she lives in poverty as a farmer. Thanks to her older brothers' success, she and her husband were living a wealthy and happy life, but one day, she was suddenly divorced by Hideyoshi and married to Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Minami Hamabe plays Nene, the wife of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. After Hideyoshi becomes the regent, she is known as Kita no Mandokoro (Kita no Mandokoro), a woman of competitive spirit who races up the ranks alongside her husband. Eventually, she rises from the daughter of a commoner to become the "First Lady of the Warring States Period."
Nao, played by Shiraishi Sei, is the daughter of a local lord in Nakamura, Owari, the hometown of Koichiro and Tokichiro. She is the same age as Koichiro and is his childhood friend. Although she has a tomboyish personality, she secretly adores Koichiro. She is a tragic heroine at the mercy of turbulent times.
◇Oda group
Oda Nobunaga, played by Shun Oguri, is a charismatic military commander who expanded his territory through bold, innovative strategies and exceptional leadership, and aimed to unify the country under the slogan "Tenka Fubu" (Unifying the World with Military Power). He is the absolute lord of the brothers Koichiro (later Hidenaga) and Tōkichirō (later Hideyoshi), who are striving to rise in the world. However, he has a bitter past, having murdered his younger brother with his own hand during a battle for the throne.
Aoi Miyazaki plays Ichi, the younger sister of Oda Nobunaga. She was at the mercy of the turbulent times and led a tragic life, but she was one of the heroines of the Sengoku period who lived a turbulent life with determination for her brother Nobunaga and the Oda clan. She married Azai Nagamasa of Omi, who was allied with Nobunaga, and gave birth to and raised three daughters, Chacha, Hatsu, and Go, but later her brother and husband came into conflict.
Maeda Toshiie, played by Daito Shunsuke, is a hot-blooded, flashy kabuki actor, but he is also a master of the spear, achieving numerous military feats and competing for success as a friendly rival of Hideyoshi's generation. He eventually becomes a part of the Hokuriku Army as a retainer of Shibata Katsuie, but after Nobunaga's death, Katsuie and Hideyoshi come into conflict. Later, as one of the Five Elders, he supports the Toyotomi government and builds the foundations for the Kaga Domain, known as the Kaga Domain with a million koku of rice.
Matsu, played by Yuka Sugai, is the wife of Maeda Toshiie, the feudal lord of Kaga Province (southern Ishikawa Prefecture). Skilled in both academics and martial arts, she supported her husband, Toshiie, and devoted herself to protecting the family. She became deeply involved with the Toyotomi brothers and their families, and when Toshiie began to support Hideyoshi under the Toyotomi administration, Matsu and Nene also developed a close relationship.
Shibata Katsuie, played by Yamaguchi Makiya, was one of Oda Nobunaga's senior vassals. He was feared for his bravery and skill in battle, earning him the nickname "Demon Shibata." When he was a foot soldier, he was a scary and unpleasant presence for Koichiro and Tōkichirō. As the two men rose in rank, Shibata began to openly dislike him. After Nobunaga's death, they fought over the succession at the Kiyosu Conference, and eventually clashed with his brother at the Battle of Shizugatake.
◇Mino forces
Chika, played by Riho Yoshioka, is Koichiro's legal wife, later known as Jiun'in. She survives a turbulent era and eventually becomes a supporter of the Toyotomi brothers alongside her brother's wife, Nene. When her husband, Hidenaga, is entrusted with the governance of Yamato Province, she and Hidenaga move into Yamato Koriyama Castle and stay with him until his later years.
Saito Tatsuoki, played by Hamada Tatsuomi, is a feudal lord of Mino Province. Following the sudden death of his father, Yoshitatsu, he inherited the headship of the Mino Saito clan at the young age of 14. He was blessed with capable retainers, including his father's senior retainers, Takenaka Hanbei, and the Mino Three (Inaba Yoshimichi, Ando Moriyasu, and Ujiie Naomoto), but due to his young age, he struggled to control them. Oda Nobunaga, who had long been eyeing Mino, seized this opportunity to intensify his offensive, but Tatsuoki put up a fierce resistance, causing Nobunaga great hardship.
◇Other
Tokugawa Ieyasu, played by Kohei Matsushita, is one of the Three Great Heroes of the Warring States period, who put an end to the turbulent times of the Warring States period and established a world of peace as the first Shogun of the Edo Shogunate. His fate changed dramatically after his lord, Imagawa Yoshimoto, was killed by Nobunaga in the Battle of Okehazama. After Nobunaga's death, Ieyasu became the greatest and strongest rival to the Toyotomi brothers, who aimed to unify the country.
Nagamasa Azai, played by Ayumu Nakajima, is a young warrior with a strong sense of justice and great wisdom. He allies with the Oda clan and, as proof of this, marries Nobunaga's younger sister, Oichi. They have three daughters, Chacha, Hatsu, and Go, and live a happy married life. When Nobunaga travels to Kyoto with Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiaki and comes into conflict with Yoshikage Asakura of Echizen, Nagamasa sides with the Asakura and rebels against his brother-in-law, Nobunaga.
Akechi Mitsuhide, played by Kaname Jun, is a wicked minister who drove his lord and ruler, Oda Nobunaga, to commit suicide during the Honnoji Incident, said to be the greatest mystery in Japanese history, and greatly changed the course of history. He was a man of character who was loved by his subjects and praised as a wise ruler, and is also said to have been a cultured and highly educated man, but his true identity is still shrouded in mystery.
The subtitle of the first episode is "Two Monkeys." It will be broadcast for 15 minutes longer.
