The historical drama "BROTHERS IN ARMS （Toyotomi Brothers!）", starring Taiga Nakano (NHK General, Sundays at 8 PM, etc.), concluded with its 17th episode, "The Fall of Odani Castle," aired on May 3rd. In this episode, Shingen (Masahiro Takashima) dies, Yoshiaki (Ukon Onoe) is driven out of Kyoto, and the Asai and Asakura clans are destroyed, bringing the story to a kind of conclusion. The drama has now taken on a much more weighty feel as a "warring states" story, but it seems that the "boys' manga-like" quality that characterized the work was intentionally maintained. We asked Yoshio Watanabe, the chief director of "BROTHERS IN ARMS （Toyotomi Brothers!）", to summarize what has happened so far.
◇The comedic elements and edgy expressions are being well-received.
"BROTHERS IN ARMS （Toyotomi Brothers!）" is the 65th Taiga drama. With Toyotomi Hidenaga (Koichiro) as the protagonist, it depicts the miraculous feat of the Toyotomi brothers, who, together with their older brother Hideyoshi (Tokichiro), achieve the great feat of unifying Japan through their strong bond. It is a success story of dreams and hope, a story of overcoming adversity.
When Watanabe started working on this project, his first thought was "a coming-of-age story for the main characters."
The "youth" referred to here is not about age, but rather about "feelings." He explains, "I wanted to depict the dynamism of the two (Koichiro and Fujikichiro) as they charge into the Sengoku period. When I thought of it as a buddy story, I wanted to include not only the serious aspects, but also comedic elements, such as the teasing that only brothers can have, while maintaining a balance. That's why it's often described as 'like a shonen manga,' and there are parts of it that I'm doing on purpose."
They acknowledge that, as the times change, and as the brothers get older and move up in their positions, "things won't be the same as they used to be." However, they are certain that for the first half of the season, "they've made it with the intention of valuing the comedic elements shown through the brothers' teasing and playful banter, as well as their agility."
On the other hand, death is unavoidable in any story set in the Sengoku period. This is not limited to battle scenes, but one example is the gruesome depiction in the second episode, "The Bell of Wishes" (aired January 11th), when Nobuyoshi (Wakabayashi Tokie), one of Koichiro's (Nakano) fellow farmers, meets a tragic end, with his head severed from his body.
"Although it wasn't written that way in the script, I directed it so that Nobuyoshi is beheaded and dies, and Koichiro embraces the head and weeps. The Sengoku period was an era where very ordinary things and a kind of absurd death were two sides of the same coin, and death was deeply ingrained in everyday life. If what we delivered to everyone, with its balance of comedic elements and the harshness of the Sengoku period, has been well received, then we are very happy, and we feel that even such edgy expressions are being accepted."
◇The Honnōji Incident was filmed on an open set.
In episodes 15, "The Great Battle of Anegawa" (aired April 19th), and 16, "The Determination of Mount Hiei" (aired April 26th), mountains of corpses were piled up in battle, and in episode 17, "The Fall of Odani Castle," there was a scene where Asakura Kageakira (played by Mansaku Ikeuchi) beheaded Asakura Yoshikage (played by Shingo Tsurumi). As the bloody developments increased, it seemed that the "boys' manga feel" was fading, but will that be the case...? Some viewers have said things like "the boys' manga style is over," but Watanabe also revealed that "from episode 18 onwards, we will enter a new phase."
Naturally, one of the major turning points is the Honnō-ji Incident.
While acknowledging that "we don't know what form it will ultimately take when it's delivered to everyone," he mentioned that this "Honnoji Incident" is being filmed on an open set, and added, "I can't go into too much detail, but there is a scene where Nobunaga clearly commits suicide."
Regarding the Toyotomi brothers after the Honnoji Incident, Fujikichiro (Hideyoshi) in particular made up his mind that "I am the one who will inherit Nobunaga's ideals, not the others," and entered "ruler of the country mode." Watanabe predicted that Koichiro (Hidenaga), seeing Fujikichiro heading towards becoming the ruler of the country, would "naturally come to think that 'I have to change too.'"
The 18th episode, "The Hashiba Brothers!", which marks the start of Chapter 5, "The Omi Nagahama Arc," will air on May 10th. (Fumio Kishitani/MANTANWEB)
