The 16th episode of the NHK Taiga drama "BROTHERS IN ARMS （Toyotomi Brothers!）" (NHK General, Sundays at 8pm, etc.), starring actor Taiga Nakano, titled "Resolve at Mount Hiei," aired on April 26th, and the sudden appearance of Kei, played by Riho Yoshioka, in a single scene towards the end of the episode attracted the attention of viewers.
"BROTHERS IN ARMS （Toyotomi Brothers!）" is the 65th Taiga drama. With Toyotomi Hidenaga (Koichiro) as the protagonist, it depicts the miraculous feat of unifying Japan together with his older brother Hideyoshi (Tokichiro) through their strong bond, a success story of dreams and hopes.
The script is written by Hiroyuki Yatsu, known for his work on "Hanzawa Naoki" (TBS) and the Asadora drama series "Ochoyan." The music is composed by Hideaki Kimura, and the narration is provided by actress Sakura Ando.
In episode 16, Fujikichiro (played by Sosuke Ikematsu) is tasked with persuading Miyabe Tsuguyoshi (played by Donpei), a loyal retainer of the Asai clan. Tsuguyoshi promises to side with the Oda clan if Fujikichiro offers his son as a hostage.
Childless Fujikichiro tries to offer Tomo's (Emma Miyazawa) son, Manmaru, but Tomo is furious. Desperate, Fujikichiro entrusts the persuasion to Koichiro (Nakano). Meanwhile, the defeated Nagamasa (Ayumu Nakajima) and Asakura Yoshikage (Shingo Tsurumi) take refuge in Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei. Nobunaga (Shun Oguri Oguri) orders Mitsuhide (Jun Kaname) to burn down the temple if they do not submit to the Oda...and so the story unfolds.
Towards the end of the episode, which depicts the burning of Mount Hiei, Tomo visits Tsugujun accompanied by her husband Yasuke (Shusaku Kamikawa), and is told by Tsugujun that Manmaru is doing well and hasn't cried. Although she feels lonely, she sheds tears of relief. Tomo and Yasuke then bow their heads and say once again, "Please take good care of Manmaru." Tsugujun takes their words to heart, but someone is watching this scene from outside the mansion. It is Kei, and he is holding some kind of "package."
Kei quietly left the scene, but viewers reacted on social media with comments such as, "Huh, was that it?", "Why is Kei here?", and "Why is Kei here?". Others wondered, "What is Kei doing?", "So the woman who appeared at Miyabe's house at the end was Kei after all. If so, I really don't understand her purpose," "What does it mean that Kei was there? Was she trying to meet Miyabe-sama?", "I'm curious about the package Kei was carrying and whether she had any business there," "What was in the package Kei was carrying?", and "I'm hopeless, I don't understand Kei's clues at all."
