History :: The history and story of the shinsengumi Ranks :: The ranks and structure of the Shinsengumi Anime :: The Fictionalized World of the Shinsengumi Links :: Link out to other Shinsengumi/Tokugawa Japan related sites Extra :: Other information that could not have its own section

Extra > SHINSENGUMI! NHK Taiga Dorama Summaries

Each year NHK (Japan Broadcasting Company) has a Taiga dorama (or drama) that is a special presentation lasting a year than the regular 10 - 13 weeks that a normal dorama lasts. Anyway, Taiga doramas mostly focus on Japanese history, like the Heian period or the warring states with Oda Nobunaga. 

Last year, 2004, was the year where the Shinsengumi had their chance to shine in the NHK Taiga drama. Even though the SHINSENGUMI! Taiga dorama had the lowest rating ever when it opened in Japan (for a Taiga dorama), it gained most of its popularity outside of the country. It seemed incomprehensible though, due to the fact that this taiga had some pretty big named actors like Shingo Katori from Japan's number one boyband, SMAP, and Fujiwara Tatsuya from one of Japan's most controversial films, Battle Royale.

Anyway, this dorama incorporated key historical elements of the Shinsengumi (the story starts when the blackships arrive in 1853 and ends with the death of Hijikata or Kondou, I haven't seen the last few episodes yet (1868 or 1869), while on the other hand, over dramatizing and adding a little spice to the story (since this is a drama). Some of the stuff may (or may not) have been heavily fictionalized while others stayed true to the history books. The casting for the members of the Shinsengumi, with what pictures that were available, were pretty close to their historical counterparts, with Yamamoto Koji taking the cake as the best Hijikata Toshizou look-a-like (I've seen yet), some figures, like Ryouma Sakamoto's counterpart (Eguchi Yosuke) didn't even come close.

In the end, to many Shinsengumi fans, this has to be the best retelling of the Shinsengumi to date in its nearly 80 years of reincarnations in books, movies, radio dramas, mangas, and animes.

So please enjoy these summaries! Also, do not take them from this website without permission!!

1. Kurofune ga rai ta! (The Arrival of the Black Ships!)
2. Tama no Hokorito ha (The Pride of Tama)
3. Haha iede suru! (Mother leaves home!)
4. Tenchi hikkuri henru (A Topsy Turvy World)

more coming soon....