J-Drama: おんな城主 直虎 (NAOTORA: The Lady Warlord) https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/t170227 Runboard| J-Drama: おんな城主 直虎 (NAOTORA: The Lady Warlord) en-us Fri, 29 Mar 2024 06:19:41 +0000 Fri, 29 Mar 2024 06:19:41 +0000 https://www.runboard.com/ rssfeeds_managingeditor@runboard.com (Runboard.com RSS feeds managing editor) rssfeeds_webmaster@runboard.com (Runboard.com RSS feeds webmaster) akBBS 60 Re: J-Drama: (NAOTORA: The Lady Warlord)https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2070045,from=rss#post2070045https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2070045,from=rss#post2070045It's been a while anyone posted, miss it. In the meantime, I have researching to make up for earlier naive comments like about what name to call Naotora. It seems historians don't know her given name, so please forget my confusion before, I will think of her as "Otowa" which her Buddhist Mentor priest still calls her in the subtitles... or O-Towa elsewhere. Anyway... To understand better what I am missing, I have been reading Tuttle's SHOGUN, and Sansom's A HISTORY OF JAPAN 1334-1615. Plus websites samurai-archives and any links from various asian wiki sites in English. I also made a great discovery: those five minute video chapters are up on the NHK website, and the URLs are in English even if the page is in Japanese. Check out nhk.or.jp/naotora and the first tab is Intro, then Story, then Cast, and so on. So cool when a pop-up sometimes lets me see in English, but cannot find that lately. Anyway, we in L.A. are up to 1575 and the Battle of Nagashino a big victory for Oda (one scary dude, that actor, wow) and Tokugawa - who last episode recognizes Ii Naomasa's worth and hard work, yaye, even when he is only 15 years old. But just to back track, I am not clear why it had to be Otowa who had to pierce with a lance her dear old devious friend and Goh buddy, Ono. In any event, the NHK website had a good entry on Ono's death poem. Well, if anyone is still out there, please chime in, or steer me somewhere for more info. We still have the tragic Tokugawa family drama coming up.....and Naomasa's first battle... nondisclosed_email@example.com (Mlle Irene)Wed, 24 Jan 2018 20:35:46 +0000 Re: J-Drama: おんな城主 直虎 (NAOTORA: The Lady Warlord)https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069968,from=rss#post2069968https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069968,from=rss#post2069968Yes, the Nao character was also used in one of the names of one of the most famous Ii clan members - Ii Naosuke, the controversial political figure of the late Tokugawa period who was active in the Tokugawa shogunate until his demise in 1860. nondisclosed_email@example.com (Hiroshi66)Fri, 04 Aug 2017 13:03:31 +0000 Re: J-Drama: おんな城主 直虎 (NAOTORA: The Lady Warlord)https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069967,from=rss#post2069967https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069967,from=rss#post2069967That's true they also did a good child casting with Toramatsu. The village plot in the drama are not my cup of tea. Later in the drama it switches back and forth between the IeyasuxSena and village plots. I am always more interested in the Ieyasu and Imagawa plot than in the domestic one. Naotora is in history most likely called Naotora in reference to Toramatsu since both names include the symbol for tiger (tora). "Nao" was pretty much used in all male Ii names and her name represents her role until Toramatsu was old enough to get his adult name under which he is famous for.nondisclosed_email@example.com (Fumichan)Fri, 04 Aug 2017 10:35:56 +0000 Re: J-Drama: おんな城主 直虎 (NAOTORA: The Lady Warlord)https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069961,from=rss#post2069961https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069961,from=rss#post2069961<EPISODE 17> This episode was also a little boring for me. Actually, I didn't quite find it interesting until the last 4-5 minutes, when the musket was discovered by Tsuru and used as a way to blackmail Naotora into resigning as guardian. The overall pacing of the episodes seem a bit off now. They spend too much time on certain scenes and then more important moments (like Shino's semi-acceptance of Naotora as guardian) are glossed over. Another problem I've started having with the drama is that they sort of abandoned the Tokugawa Ieyasu side plot. The story was moving along so quickly and now it's sort of slowed down, focusing on the Ii's domestic issues. Though I enjoyed the earlier episodes more, I hope this is just a momentary pause and that the story will speed up again over the next few weeks. By the way, these muskets were named Tanegashima after an island in southern Japan where the Portuguese first landed in the early 1540s. Muskets arrived to this island first before spreading throughout the rest of the country, and the name of Tanegashima stuck! I still find Masatsugu difficult to read. Is he really trying to get Naotora to step down as guardian because he cares for her and doesn't want her in the center of politics, where her life could bge endangered? This seemed like a plausible reason before, but now I'm getting the feeling that he is treating her this way to get revenge for her slighting him before and falling for Naochika. Or maybe he has just become power-hungry and is motivated by his own desire for political control. Who knows. Maybe Masatsugu is motivated by more than one reason? He is still an enigma to me! All I can say is that the Masatsugu actor is my favorite in the whole drama. He does an excellent job in this role! Great facial expressions - especially when he is plotting something sinister or is silent, deep in thought. What a relief that Naotora has finally attempted to make a connection with Toramatsu. After all, she is serving as his regent. Hopefully the rivalry between Naotora and Shino is over, too. Shino finally realized that it may be easier for her to think of Naotora as wanting to take over as a father figure for her son, rather than replace her as his mother. Come to think of it, lots of people have treated and considered Naotora more as a male than as a female. Her childhood name was a male name, her father said that he was treating her as if she were his son, she is ruling as a male lord despite her gender, and now she is considered Toramatsu's father figure. I wonder if this will be discussed more later on, especially if (when?) Naotora finds a love interest. Will the mysterious traveler woo her at some point? By the way, the Shino actress looks very much like the child actor who plays Toramatsu! They did a great job casting this drama. I don't know what year we are in anymore, but I think we're in 1564 now? Episode 18 airs on Saturday! I'll be out of town for two weeks, so I'll catch up with the next few episodes when I get back. nondisclosed_email@example.com (Hiroshi66)Sun, 30 Jul 2017 19:04:26 +0000 Re: J-Drama: おんな城主 直虎 (NAOTORA: The Lady Warlord)https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069956,from=rss#post2069956https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069956,from=rss#post2069956<EPISODE 16> I was frankly a little bored with this episode. There was too much going on throughout the episode that had little to do with each other, and it felt more like we were watching little vignettes of an anime or manga than a Taiga drama. I've been enjoying this drama so far, but I hope this was just a bump in the road and not a sign of things to come. As many Taigas reach their midway points they start to slow down a bit, and I hope that this one doesn't drag out (like Burning Flower, for example) otherwise it will go sour quite quickly. For instance, Hokyu's portrayal has turned into a parody (of who, I'm not quite sure) but I am getting annoyed with every scene he's in. His imitations of a baking dog and those howling sounds he makes (often to the beat of a drum) are so extra. I don't know if it's supposed to be funny, but it's as if he is being made out to be a caricature and I can't take him seriously at all. Nakano got on my nerves at first, but it looks like he is becoming very loyal towards Naotora and I am starting to like him more and more. He seemed genuinely frightened when Naotora collapsed - he knew he was powerless to help her if she fell ill, and he couldn't imagine what would happen if she ever went to battle. I chuckled at the scene where Naotora, Nakano, and Hokyu were spreading the word about the incentives farmers could get for working on the Ii's lands. They were pretending to be civilians, and nobody knew that Naotora was the lord of the Ii clan. It must have been easier to slip away and be amongst the people in the streets for rulers back then - before the days of photographs, where they could easily be recognized. Mr. Traveler's entry into the show (whoever he is) seemed so random and out of place. The way his character was brought in made it seem like we were watching an idol drama from 2017 rather than a Taiga drama. The whole scene was weird, but they moved on from it so quickly that I forgot about it five minutes later. What was the point of that scene - to give Naotora the idea of recruiting slave labor? Bizarre. Honestly, the only storyline that interests me is the Ono-Naotora rivalry. Ono seems to still care deeply for Naotora, even though he is also loyal to the Imagawa and takes his role as overseer very seriously. Perhaps he feels that the tougher he is on Naotora, the more safe she will be from scrutiny on the part of the Imagawa? If he knows what's going on, he can settle any issues before the Imagawa find out. As for Naotora, I suppose she is still young and stubborn, refusing to go for ideas that Ono suggests simply because he suggested them. Hopefully she'll grow out of that soon - she's still getting used to being in a position of power. The Reverend is one of the only characters I enjoy watching. Naotora should treasure his advice! Then again, I also enjoy the Ono actor. His facial expressions are excellent, and he really plays the role of Ono well. You don't quite know what he's thinking! We're still in 1563... at least I think we are. They hardly reference real-world events in the story so it is hard to tell what year we are in. Episode 17 airs Sunday. nondisclosed_email@example.com (Hiroshi66)Tue, 25 Jul 2017 16:00:42 +0000 Re: J-Drama: おんな城主 直虎 (NAOTORA: The Lady Warlord)https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069952,from=rss#post2069952https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069952,from=rss#post2069952<EPISODE 15> This episode seemed to mark a transition for Naotora, who is starting to act more like a clan lord in her own right. She's managed to quell all the internal opposition to her rule (I'm so glad we don't have to deal with Nakano's grumpy attitude any longer) and has even managed to win over Lord Imagawa's grandmother! It's not really surprising that Imagawa's grandmother came around and supported Naotora. I didn't really think that she would ever truly cast her aside, given the fact that she's known Naotora since she was a little girl and seems to have a weakness for her courage and bravery. As somebody mentioned, perhaps she's reminded of herself as a young woman. That being said, Naotora should be very careful as I don't see Imagawa's grandmother putting up with the Ii clan's insolence much longer. It really does look like this could be their last chance! Everyone seems to be rooting for Naotora now except for Shino. I don't think this is motivated by any political ambition on her part but just plain disdain towards Naotora. I don't think she's ever forgiven Naotora for the perceived relationship she had with her late husband. Who knows how this will transpire. I suspect it'll be many years before Shino will ever accept Naotora - if at all. One thing Naotora definitely needs to do is harvest a relationship with Shino's son. She is his regent/guardian but I don't think they've ever interacted. I know Shino keeps him away from everybody in the clan, and I definitely don't see her letting Naotora get close to him. However, she needs to start preparing him for the role he will play as Ii clan lord one day. After all, she's only going to be the leader until he comes of age. My comments about Ono being "vile" last week were spoken too soon. I realized that inasmuch as he was trying to prevent Naotora from being regent, this may have been done for her own good - to protect her from assassination at the hands of the Imagawa (or others). The farther Naotora was from administration, the safer she could be. Ono won't ever admit this or let Naotora (or anyone) find out, but I think it may be motivated by his feelings for her. Hmm. We're still in 1563. Episode 16 airs next week! Good Taiga so far. nondisclosed_email@example.com (Hiroshi66)Tue, 18 Jul 2017 16:31:35 +0000 Re: J-Drama: おんな城主 直虎 (NAOTORA: The Lady Warlord)https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069949,from=rss#post2069949https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069949,from=rss#post2069949<EPISODE 14> This was a vexing episode to watch, although it all ended up working in Naotora's favor at the end. She demonstrated that hard work and showing dedication can win over even the most ardent critics, such as the villagers. I agree with Naotora that Hokyu is not the most trustworthy person, given his obsession with money, but I think the villagers are in much better hands if they deal with him and Naotora than with Ono. Speaking of Ono, it is really disappointing to see what a vicious man he has become. He has pretty much surpassed his father when it comes to exhibiting vile behavior. Does he hate Naotora so much that he wants to threaten her infant administration? I understand that his loyalty is to the Imagawa and that his ultimate wish is to see the Ii clan's destruction, but I had hoped that his childhood friendship with Naotora would soften his heart a bit. I guess not. I wonder if Ono's actions are motivated by the fact that he never could win Naotora's heart. I think he's had feelings for her since he was a child, but he had always been overshadowed by Kame. Now, he's lost everybody in his family, and so there really is not much else for him to live for. His feelings have been hardened. Instead of teaming up with Naotora and governing the Ii, it might be easier for him to go against her and play errand boy for the Imagawa. Well, let's see how well they will treat him if he fails them - which he might! Kame means turtle in Japanese, and so the turtle crawling on to the edict and prevent Naotora from signing might have been Kame returning to help Naotora make an important decision. I don't like the fact that the Imagawa want Naotora to travel to Sunpu to meet them so she can be accused of treason. Isn't that what happened to Kame before he met his demise? According to the previews, we'll see Naotora being summoned by the Imagawa (namely, Yoshimoto's mother) and how that all plays out. Shino (Kame's widow) is extremely stubborn and irritating. I really can't stand her, quite frankly. She is going to make Naotora's life miserable, and no matter how Naotora tries to compromise, she won't make it easy at all. She says she's doing it for her son, but if she is saying that Ono should be the guardian of her son instead of Naotora, she is demonstrating that she is being motivated by her selfish jealousy and not her love for her son. Even Shino's own sister realizes the illogical nature of her sister's actions. Naotora may have to forge a relationship with Kame's young son if she wants to justify being his guardian. We're still in 1563. Episode 15 airs later tonight!nondisclosed_email@example.com (Hiroshi66)Sun, 16 Jul 2017 13:53:58 +0000 Re: J-Drama: おんな城主 直虎 (NAOTORA: The Lady Warlord)https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069933,from=rss#post2069933https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069933,from=rss#post2069933<EPISODE 13> Just watched this episode. I'll be referring to Towa as Naotora from now on, and Tsuru will be Ono. They have matured and come so far that it has started feeling odd referring to them by their childhood names. Naotora is now Lord in her own right, although she is technically only a Regent and temporarily taking over the clan until Toramatsu comes of age and becomes the next Lord. It is quite interesting watching her handle so much authority. If you think about it, it's quite a traumatic experience for her! She's lived a rather isolated life, and is still quite young. Now, she finds herself as the Lord of the Ii clan surrounded by nobody but potential enemies and "vassals" who are really quite skeptical of her abilities. The only allies she has are her mother and the Reverend, really. Still, I think Naotora has the heart and soul to govern wisely as the Ii lord. She's always had a certain presence about her, and I don't think there is anyone who loves the clan and province as much as she does. At the same time, Naotora is still rather naive and we see this in her governing style. She is a people-pleaser by default, and it may not have been wise to promise forgiving the debt of an entire village without doing the research beforehand. Sure, Naotora got the support of the people right away, but as she learned, it is just as easy to lose their support if you break a promise - which is what she has essentially done. I didn't recognize Seto Hokyu as the homeless man who had helped the young Towa when she was a child! He certainly isn't who I would think of as a potential ally, but his business sense and knowledge of economic matters may help Naotora down the line. Things are tough right now, but I'm sure everything will be resolved... at least I hope it will! The person who have irritated me the most are Shino, Naochika's widow. I understand that she is grieving over the loss of her husband, but so are many others in the Ii clan and nobody acts the way she does. Shino is rude, unappreciative, and downright cruel when it comes to Naotora. I understand the complex emotions that are at play, but it just has gotten annoying to see it over and over again. I've also had it with the young man who is serving Naotora. With an ally like that, who needs enemies!? It is getting to the point where I find even Ono more tolerable than this guy! Speaking of Ono, it looks like he's the one stirring the pot again - this time, he's trying to throw Naotora under the bus. I'd never think that he would do that to her, but I suppose Ono has changed and his position of power/influence within the Imagawa clan is more important than any sense of loyalty he has to Naotora. We'll see what happens now, but it looks like the villagers may team up with the Imagawa against Naotora. Yikes. We're still in 1563. Episode 14 airs next week! nondisclosed_email@example.com (Hiroshi66)Mon, 03 Jul 2017 18:22:55 +0000 Re: J-Drama: おんな城主 直虎 (NAOTORA: The Lady Warlord)https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069923,from=rss#post2069923https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069923,from=rss#post2069923<EPISODE 12> Excellent episode that will prove to be a pivotal one for furthering the plot, as well as permanently altering Towa's life. She started off as a nun in mourning for the deaths of not only her childhood sweetheart, Kame, but also the lives of her great-grandfather and maternal uncle. She ended the episode as Ii Naotora, the regent ruling the Ii clan on behalf of Kame's infant son. The stage is also set for an epic rivalry between Towa and Tsuru. I had hoped that Tsuru, Kame, and Towa would rekindle their friendship and rule the Ii clan together for the next few decades. That has proven to have been nothing but a "what could have been" situation. With Kame dead at the hands of behind-the-scenes maneuvering courtesy of Tsuru, I don't see how Towa could ever forgive him. What's worse is that Tsuru has essentially turned into his dad. He appears to feel no remorse for what he has done and fulfilled his late father's prediction - that he would eventually turn against the Ii clan (including Kame and Towa) if push came to shove. In any other situation, I could see Towa try to understand Tsuru's position and feel sympathetic towards him, but now that Kame is dead and Tsuru is trying to destroy the Ii clan by stepping in as Kame's son's guardian, there is no (or very little) chance of a reconciliation between them. If anything, the two of them find themselves as rivals in the middle of a power struggle over who will be Kame's son's guardian until he comes of age and rules the Ii clan in his own right. Towa has the support of the Ii clan and is the most legitimate - being an Ii princess. Tsuru has the support of the ruling Imagawa clan and has the authority to do whatever he pleases. Tokugawa Ieyasu is being portrayed as a bumbling fool who is in over his head. He led a premature rebellion against the Imagawa and now has no idea what to do. Sadao Abe is certainly doing a good job portraying Ieyasu in this early stage of his life. The episode was a tragic one, with lots of characters who have been around from the beginning losing their lives. The Ii clan essentially lost everyone who had ruled the province for the last 2-3 decades. Now, everything is in the hands of Towa - who has been a nun since she was a child and is brand new to political life. The only people left who can advise and guide her through this time are essentially her mother and the Reverend. It'll be an interesting ride. We're now in 1563. Episode 13 airs tomorrow! nondisclosed_email@example.com (Hiroshi66)Sat, 01 Jul 2017 16:49:15 +0000 Re: J-Drama: おんな城主 直虎 (NAOTORA: The Lady Warlord)https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069914,from=rss#post2069914https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069914,from=rss#post2069914<EPISODE 11> This episode started off on a positive note since we saw Towa, Tsuru, and Kame united again - just like when they were children. I thought we'd never see the three of them gathering around the well again, but sure enough, the détente between Tsuru and the Ii family has allowed for the three friends to hang out together again, despite the fact that they are all in different places in their lives. As I mentioned last time, with all the turmoil taking place around the country between the Oda, the Imagawa, and the Tokugawa clan, Tsuru and Kame need to be united to create a strong Ii clan. The Ii need to put up a strong front in order to survive during these changing times. Otherwise, they may be caught up in another current. Unfortunately, the Imagawa clan will test Tsuru and Kame's newly recultivated friendship. At the end of the day, Tsuru is still the Imagawa-appointed overseer of the Ii clan, and he is ultimately responsible for making sure they don't rebel against the Imagawa. I must say that it was very smart of the Imagawa to try and nip a potential Ii revolt in the bud by testing Kame's loyalty and setting up that fake meeting with the imposter Ieyasu. With the Imagawa declining so quickly, they are desperate to make sure that they don't lose any more lands to the Tokugawa, and the worst thing for the Imagawa right now would be a Tokugawa-Ii alliance. Unfortunately, Kame's overtures to the Tokugawa were exposed and now he is potentially in a lot of trouble - hence the reason he is being summoned to Sunpu. It was not a surprise that Sena refused to help Towa by going as a hostage to the Ii residence. Her mother (the last connection to the Ii clan) had just been forced to kill herself by the Imagawa, and if she left Ieyasu's side, she and her children might be forgotten, considering there were already calls for Ieyasu to take another wife. Towa might be upset, but I guess she should also consider Sena's position. I found it a bit bizarre that Kame asked Towa to marry him if and when he returns from Sunpu. I know he's always loved her, but didn't he just have a tearful goodbye with his wife and son? Yes, Kame could take another wife, but let's assume he did marry Towa. Towa would have to be the official wife, taking into consideration her position as an Ii princess. What. then, would happen to Kame's wife who he was just having a special moment with? I guess Kame just made that comment in the moment - he thought he would never return and wanted to hear Towa promise she would marry him before he left. It might be why Towa answered him with a "yes", as well. What a cliffhanger! Now, Kame is surrounded and ambushed - I just hope he will be okay. I have no idea what will happen, since this history is so new to me. I guess that's why I'm enjoying this Taiga so much. It's the first time in a long time that I'm watching and genuinely in the dark about what will happen. The scene that worried me was Tsuru having a flashback to his father, who told Tsuru that he would one day retaliate against the Ii the same way he did if he was put in a corner. I hope Tsuru wasn't responsible for Kame's ambush. All I can say is, the Imagawa is very brutal.They want to take everyone down with them! We're already in late 1562. Episode 12 airs tonight! It looks like it'll be a sad episode...nondisclosed_email@example.com (Hiroshi66)Sun, 25 Jun 2017 08:03:20 +0000 Re: J-Drama: おんな城主 直虎 (NAOTORA: The Lady Warlord)https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069913,from=rss#post2069913https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069913,from=rss#post2069913<EPISODE 10> Glad to hear that you're watching this drama, Mile Irene! I like it, too, and I like the unique perspective we're getting on the final years of the Ashikaga Shogunate and the Warring States Period. Sorry that I'm a little behind with my comments. I'm trying to catch up with what I missed over the last couple of weeks, but I finished Episode 10 and will get to Episode 11 either later tonight or tomorrow. Episode 10 was a good one! But first, to answer your questions, yes, I was using the childhood names of the characters. They are easier to type, which is why I prefer using them. You are correct - Kame is Ii Naochika, the current lord of the Ii clan. Tsuru is Ono Masatsugu, and Towa is Ii Naotora. Good question about the go games used in the drama. I'm not too sure if they use real game matches or not, but I'd imagine that it is all determined and calculated before filming! What a relief that Tsuru and Kame have 'made up' and are able to resume their friendship. Things got awfully tense, especially after Tsuru was responsible for the death of Kame's father-in-law. However, he was defending himself, and Tsuru really had no choice if he wanted to save his own life. Wise move on the part of Tsuru to return the Ii's lands to Kame (more specifically, to his newborn heir). Kame has a soft spot for Tsuru, and now that he has an heir, and with the Ii family's future secure, he can start anew with Tsuru again. Speaking of Tsuru,it never occurred to me that Tsuru's brother and Kame had married two sisters. I must have missed that. How interesting that Tsuru's brother's wife dealt so differently with the situation compared to Kame's wife. The two sisters both loved their father, but they reacted to the situation very differently. I'd much rather see Tsuru and Kame as friends than rivals. With all the turmoil taking place within the Imagawa clan, the Ii will need to be fully united in order to protect themselves from external threats. Speaking of the Imagawa, we're seeing Ieyasu's rise to power, and it will undoubtedly cause some trouble with his wife and children, who are still hostages in Sunpu at the Imagawa mansion. Now that Towa has gotten involved, I hope things will go okay, although Ieyasu's murder of an Imagawa family member in his aim to conquest Mikawa Province will not go over well with the Imagawa. I'm vaguely familiar with this history but do not recall what went down with Ieyasu in his early life and how the Imagawa clan met their demise, so I am excited to find out what happened next. This is all new history to me! We're still in 1560. Episode 11 is next! nondisclosed_email@example.com (Hiroshi66)Sat, 24 Jun 2017 21:34:32 +0000 Re: J-Drama: おんな城主 直虎 (NAOTORA: The Lady Warlord)https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069910,from=rss#post2069910https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069910,from=rss#post2069910I am enjoying this new Taiga a lot. But I missed some episodes and have trouble downloading from internet sources. So I really depend upon your comments here. OK, per usual, the characters change their names as they grow up or some other rite of passage, and Asian wiki and other websites don't have all those names listed. So please help me Hiroshi, to keep them straight? Kame is Ii Naochika, yes? That Tsuru actor is too cute, so distracting, LOL, he is Ono Masatsugu, yes? I like Towa, but whenever the actress is directed to get too excited with her voice (the hyper way they seem to expect in these dramas, did they really talk like that), I hit the mute button. Wondered about all those go games in these taigas, if they use real game matches on the set, like I suppose they can with chess sample matches in Western films. I like how we are really getting a different viewpoint of that period, with angles on different families. I'm in it for the year. Will have to visit Kinokuniya bookstore in Little Tokyo soon though...nondisclosed_email@example.com (Mlle Irene)Fri, 23 Jun 2017 19:09:15 +0000 Re: J-Drama: おんな城主 直虎 (NAOTORA: The Lady Warlord)https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069897,from=rss#post2069897https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069897,from=rss#post2069897It's great to hear from you, Peggy! Thank you so much for checking in with us on the board - we always enjoy reading your posts. If you ever decide to give this drama another chance, it airs on Sunday evenings at 6:00pm on UTB. <EPISODE 9> This was a very sad episode, and I did not expect Towa's father to die so early on in the story. You could tell how much he loved his daughter, and was a devoted husband and father. It's a shame that he had to go so soon, and I suspect that the Ii clan will miss the kind yet firm nature of his governing style. Kame seems very able yet I cannot picture him as the leader of the Ii clan just yet. As we saw with Tsru's assassination attempt, I am concerned that the death of Towa's father will result in a period of confusion and violence within the Ii clan. People who were once very loyal will undoubtedly try to exert their influence within the clan, or get rid of testy rivals. Unfortunately, the person who seems to be stirring the pot the most is Towa's grandfather, who never liked the Ono clan and who may use this opportunity to get rid of Tsuru once and for all. It's ironic that the man who tried to murder Tsuru is actually the father of Tsuru's late brother's wife, who has decided to stay in the Ono household and raise her son within that family, instead of returning home. As was common practice back in the day, I could even see her marrying Tsuru at some point, since he was the brother of her late husband and is not married yet. Politically speaking, it would be a good chance for Tsuru to remain within the Ii hierarchy now that the Imagawa are no more. Who knows, maybe that will happen!? Imagawa Yoshimoto's death in battle in 1560 marked the beginning of Oda Nobunaga's climb to power, and I'm very interested in finding out how the Ii clan fares in all this. It will also be fascinating to look at how the Imagawa clan survives post-Yoshimoto, and how the Tokugawa will fare, as well. Ieyasu is starting to come into his own, and I look forward to seeing a more active role for Sadao Abe's Ieyasu. It isn't fun to just watch him playing go by himself. Perhaps the Reverend (Towa's great-uncle) will end up playing a more fatherly role in her life now that her father is gone. At the same time, Towa may play a more active role in her family, too. With Kame succeeding as the lord at such a critical time, Towa may find herself embroiled in family strife. At least Kame and his wife are expecting now! What good news for the Ii family during an otherwise dark time. The letter Towa's mother wrote to her was beautiful. It must have taken so much for her to write that letter during a time of personal heartbreak upon losing her husband. Things are getting interesting! We're in 1560. Episode 10 airs tonight. nondisclosed_email@example.com (Hiroshi66)Sun, 11 Jun 2017 10:43:00 +0000 Re: This dramahttps://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069895,from=rss#post2069895https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069895,from=rss#post2069895I am having a strange time with this drama. I can't find it most of the time as it seems to be on TV when I am watching one more to my liking. I thought it was very slow at the very beginning and I cannot say I admired the girl who played Naotora at the beginning maybe that was because it seemed a slow moving story to me. Also it is no longer easy for me t see the TV now that eyesight is failing.That is why I cannot write about dramas as I would like to but I am still watching an enjoying many. Greetings Greg.....nondisclosed_email@example.com (PeggyME)Tue, 06 Jun 2017 17:09:36 +0000 Re: J-Drama: おんな城主 直虎 (NAOTORA: The Lady Warlord)https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069893,from=rss#post2069893https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069893,from=rss#post2069893Yes, I loved that bit with the falconry from a few episodes back. We've always seen Ieyasu as a skilled falconer, so it wasn't lost on me that he started off raising a sparrow while he was an hostage over at the Imagawa's. I'm completely in the dark about what happened between Ieyasu and the Imagawa later on, so I look forward to finding out in future episodes of this Taiga.nondisclosed_email@example.com (Hiroshi66)Tue, 30 May 2017 07:42:56 +0000 Re: J-Drama: おんな城主 直虎 (NAOTORA: The Lady Warlord)https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069892,from=rss#post2069892https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069892,from=rss#post2069892It's interesting to see Ieyasu's growth. He was passed around as hostage as a child first to the Oda than to the Imagawa until he was married. His parents basically had no influence on his development. I guess that basically having to take responsibility for himself very early influenced him a lot. The bird/falconry image is interesting as well. Falconry became one of Ieyasu's hobbies. However in the Taiga he at first uses small birds. It's the one step at a time image which is also often used to describe Ieyasu's personality.nondisclosed_email@example.com (Fumichan)Mon, 29 May 2017 21:51:45 +0000 Re: J-Drama: おんな城主 直虎 (NAOTORA: The Lady Warlord)https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069889,from=rss#post2069889https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069889,from=rss#post2069889Let's try to keep extensive discussion regarding last year's Taiga drama in its respective topic. Returning back to the discussion of Naotora, I, too, feel that the Sena-Ieyasu plotline is an interesting one. I personally am not too well acquainted with the first half of Ieyasu's life and so watching him as a vassal to the Imagawa here is fascinating. The chose of Sadao Abe to play Ieyasu is also a great decision. He is funny, but I also think he will begin to hold his own as Ieyasu ages and matures in the coming episodes. Excellent Taiga thus far!nondisclosed_email@example.com (Hiroshi66)Mon, 29 May 2017 12:35:14 +0000 Re: J-Drama: おんな城主 直虎 (NAOTORA: The Lady Warlord)https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069888,from=rss#post2069888https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069888,from=rss#post2069888Shihori also played Mitsu in Fuurin Kazan. I like her a lot. The jealousy part wasn't necessary at all just like in Sanadamaru. In reality Kame returned already married and technically actually dumped Naotora. In Shino's case I have to say that the pressure for heirs might be understandable though. Sanadamaru's jealousy part made me facepalm more since it was ridiculous: Haru was the daughter of Otani Yoshitsugu, a decade younger and 10 times more beautiful than Kiri (who looked rather old), she produced many important kids quickly and was historically important to Yukimura unlike Kiri who was pushed aside. In fact I thought that Sakai Masato's Yukimura should have worshipped the ground Haru walked on considering that Matsuoka Mayu who played her is gorgeous. It was embarassing that he pretended that she is gross or something. Especially since it is pointed out by many in Sanadamaru that Yoshitsugu's daughter is very beautiful (she was sweet in Sanada Taiheiki as well). On the other hand she was compared to Ume a lot and he didn't want her to die against the Tokugawa forbidding her to fight alongside lil Daisuke. Actually I think that Sakai's Yukimura should have deserved to watch Haru die since he treated her like trash. Interestingly I recently rewatched Sanada Taiheiki and noticed that Yodo, Hideyori and even Daisuke there got a well executed suicide scene unlike in Sanadamaru in very dramatic way. You will feel sorry for each of them, especially Daisuke who unlike in Sanadamaru has a good connection to his father. Back to Naotora: Ieyasu and Sena are very entertaining and I like the actors. In this case I like the weird relationship. Sena/Tsukiyama as a character has appeared in Taiga quite often as a footnote however since there is a theory that Sena is related to the Ii she is a character with an arc in Naotora. I also like Shihori and Kou as actresses. nondisclosed_email@example.com (Fumichan)Mon, 29 May 2017 12:17:46 +0000 Re: J-Drama: おんな城主 直虎 (NAOTORA: The Lady Warlord)https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069887,from=rss#post2069887https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069887,from=rss#post2069887<EPISODE 8> This was another good episode! I was on the edge of my seat watching Shino and Otowa go at it. Poor Otowa! Shino was clearly unhinged and suffering from the emotional stress associated with the pressures of not being able to conceive in a family that is desperately searching for an heir. Until Shino produces an heir, the fate of the Ii family will be up in the air. I did get a kick out of how Otowa lost her cool against Shino when she was accused of putting a curse on her. The Taigas usually portray the heroines as larger than life figures who end up sacrificing and suppressing their own emotions in order to look cool, calm, and collected. However, I end up questioning if they would really allow themselves to be trampled on for the sake of looking good. Not Otowa! I'm glad she didn't hide her emotions and acted as horrified as she should have been for being accused of such a horrible thing. It's nice to see the main characters act like actual humans! Otowa is definitely right. Shino is immature and unstable, but I think she will make an excellent mother who will stake her life for the family's future when she eventually does conceive. The arrangement Kame and Shino made with Otowa's parents was a fair one. If Shino cannot conceive in one year, it will be only fair for Kame to take a concubine. I know it is a difficult pill for Shino to swallow, but Kame seems to be a nice person who will not divorce Shino or force her to leave even if he does take a concubine. As was mentioned, she will still be the official wife and will most likely be responsible for raising Kame's son as the heir to the Ii family. Otowa played a largely peripheral role in this episode, but I believe her role will expand as the episodes move on. Great acting by Shibasaki Kou! Speaking of acting, I finally realized that Shino is played by actress Shihori Kanjiya, who we've seen in dramas like Chiritotechin, the asadora from a few years back. She is a great actress and it was good to see her here, even though Shino got on my nerves a bit! The Tokugawa Ieyasu plotline is interesting, indeed. He is now married to Sena, who is a cousin of Otowa's father and Kame. (Otowa's grandfather, Kame's father, and Sena's mother are brothers and sister). I guess we will see Ieyasu mature and rise to power - although at this point, he is still a hostage of the Imagawa. We're now in 1560, and the Oda are coming onto center stage. We are about to see the showdown at Okehazama between the Imagawa and the Oda - with the Ii also sending troops as vassals to the Imagawa. Episode 9 airs next week! nondisclosed_email@example.com (Hiroshi66)Mon, 29 May 2017 10:36:37 +0000 Re: J-Drama: おんな城主 直虎 (NAOTORA: The Lady Warlord)https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069883,from=rss#post2069883https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069883,from=rss#post2069883I would like to point out that Kiri was no love interest in Sanadamaru. Yukimura's Love interests were Ume and Haru who sadly were portrayed largely negatively. In reality Yukimura cared about Otani Yoshitsugu's young daughter a lot and was said to be very close with her (they had 7 children in the span of 14 years). Also Otani Yoshitsugu's daughter was a supportive and kind woman and not jealous. Historically she was there for Yukimura during Kudoyama and Osaka while Takanashi Naiki's aging daughter historically did nothing and was irrelevant and very likely wasn't there anymore at the time Yukimura married Otani's daughter. The portrayal of Ina (Nobuyuki's wife) was also a catastrophe since historically she was pretty cool and respected. The garbage Sanadamaru versions can't hold a candle to the historical versions and the accurate versions of Ina and Otani's daughter in Sanada Taiheiki. Sanadamaru just bashed all important female characters and showed endless filler Kiri scenes. Sakai Masato was also a badly written and miscast Yukimura. As for Naotora: While unlike Kiri she isn't a filler/largely fictional character there are several mistakes in the portrayal. Historically neither Kame nor Tsuru loved her. Kame (Naochika) was said to be a Playboy who slept around while gone for years. He returned already married to Hiyo (Shino in the drama). He historically seemed to have had 0 interest in Naotora. However this plot at least doesn't drag. NHK Taiga aren't trustworthy they spread many false information nowadays. It's all about showcasing actors. In Naotora I think Ieyasu's plotline is the most interesting so far. nondisclosed_email@example.com (Fumichan)Sun, 28 May 2017 22:46:49 +0000 Re: J-Drama: おんな城主 直虎 (NAOTORA: The Lady Warlord)https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069882,from=rss#post2069882https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069882,from=rss#post2069882<EPISODE 7> Good episode, but I'm not looking forward to the rivalries that are developing between the characters. I can already predict what will happen between Tsuru and Kame. Two childhood friends who both failed to win the heart of the women they loved are now embroiled in political strife, not able to win the trust of each other. I certainly hope this does not end in somebody breaking out in rebellion - either Kame or Tsuru. Who knows. I think one of these two will have to "eat it" if they want to save their relationship. In Tsuru's defense, he is caught between a rock and a hard place. He can lose his life if he protects the Ii clan, since the Imagawa would have his head if he went against them. At the same time, even if he were to sacrifice himself for the Ii, they wouldn't save him - we saw that Kame got awfully close to throwing Tsuru under the bus when the truth behind the secret village was going to be exposed by the surveyor. At the same time, I think Kame is trying to exert his power and feel Tsuru out. It was the wrong way to go about it, and I wish Kame hadn't tried to expose Tsuru in that way - right in front of the land surveyor! At the same time, hopefully Kame will realize that Tsuru is trustworthy, and perhaps the two will begin to rebuild their friendship. Kame moving away will result in him being away from both Tsuru and Otowa for a while, and maybe that's a good thing. Being away from it all may let the fire die down a bit, and when Kame does come back, hopefully things will be less awkward between the three childhood friends. One side story I'm not looking forward to is the rivalry between Otowa and Shino, Kame's wife. Shades of Sanadamaru! A jealous wife is largely ignored by her husband, who prefers to associate more with a woman he will never marry, but who he trusts (and perhaps loves) more than anyone else. I hope this storyline will be squashed, because I don't want to spend another 50 episodes repeating the same tired plot lines we saw in Sanadamaru. I'm glad Kame and his wife are moving away - then again, from the looks of the previews, Otowa is still getting involved in their martial woes! I started the episode off not caring much for Tsuru, but now that I watched this episode, I actually feel sorry for him. Like Otowa, he sacrificed his life for the sake of the Ii - having to cancel two marriage offers! At the same time, Otowa is loved and respected by her family. Tsuru is disliked and distrusted - not a good place to be. Good episode! We're still in 1554. Episode 8 airs tonight. nondisclosed_email@example.com (Hiroshi66)Sun, 28 May 2017 11:27:18 +0000 Re: J-Drama: おんな城主 直虎 (NAOTORA: The Lady Warlord)https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069878,from=rss#post2069878https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069878,from=rss#post2069878<EPISODE 6> OK, I am finally all caught up with the Taiga just in time for tomorrow's new episode. Is it anybody else watching? It would be fun to read your comments about what we've seen so far! Though I was sad to see that Kame and Otowa won't be getting married, perhaps it is for the best. Otowa being released from the temple would undoubtedly result in an attack from the Imagawa, resulting in the complete destruction of the Ii family. Plus, Kame and Otowa are the only heirs to the Ii family. If something happened to both of them, there goes the entire family bloodline. It was a big sacrifice, but Otowa's decision shows how deeply she loves her family and cares about continuing the Ii family. This way, she'll be on "standby" to lead the country should anything happen to Kame going forward. It is sad that Otowa has had to sacrifice herself since the time she was a child for her family. When she was younger, going to the temple saved the family from destruction at the hands of the Imagawa. Now, Kame is back, and Otowa is once again sacrificing herself by staying behind at the temple so that Kame can regain his position as the heir to the Ii family and begin training for the role as the eventual lord of the clan. It must be painful for Otowa to see that Kame has gotten married so quickly, even though he didn't really want to do it. My gut feeling is that despite Kame's marriage, he and Otowa will remain very close and Otowa will advise Kame on many political issues going forward. After all, she is extremely wise - more so than a lot of the people in her family! There is a little rivalry developing between Kame and Tsuru, as I expected. Kame seems to be more popular and socially adept than the rather cold and frigid Tsuru, and Tsuru doesn't seem well-liked because of his late father's ties to the Imagawa. Still, though, I think there is a real friendship there and despite a little rivalry, I don't think Kame will stab Tsuru in the back (and vice-versa). I'm curious to see how the story will pan out now that the ball is rolling. It's such a surprise to see one of my favorite actors, Sadao Abe, play Tokugawa Ieyasu. I'm interested in seeing his interpretation of the character! We're still in 1554. Episode 7 airs tomorrow. I'm glad to be all caught up with this drama! nondisclosed_email@example.com (Hiroshi66)Sat, 20 May 2017 15:53:55 +0000 Re: J-Drama: おんな城主 直虎 (NAOTORA: The Lady Warlord)https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069877,from=rss#post2069877https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069877,from=rss#post2069877<EPISODE 5> Well, the child actors have finally been replaced by the adult actors who will portray them for the rest of the series, presumably. Fumichan, was right - the actors they chose do resemble the child actors, indeed. The one who shows the most resemblance is Tsuru! He looks like the actor who played his father, Ono, too. Speaking of Ono, I was surprised that his character passed away so early on. He was quite the villain and, as we saw, a master manipulator and liar! I don't think anyone really knew what was going on inside of Ono's mind. He claimed that everything he did against the Ii was for their own sake, so that the Imagawa wouldn't enforce stricter measures against the Ii. At the same time, as we saw, Ono did enjoy controlling the Ii, so who knows what he really felt. Now that Ono has died and his son has succeeded him as councillor, I suspect things will change a lot between the Ii and the Imagawa. The Ii won't have to feel like they are being spied on all the time by the Ono, but then again, the Imagawa have bigger fish to fry now that they have allied themselves with the Hojo and the Takeda, so perhaps they would have left the Ii alone regardless. It just dawned on me that the Reverend is Otowa's great-uncle! He is the paternal uncle of Otowa's father and also Kame, who are first cousins. The family relationships in the Ii family are a bit confusing so it took me a while to come to that realization. LOL! We're being introduced to a very young Tokugawa Ieyasu, who was a hostage of the Imagawa at this time. How interesting to see this less examined time period of Ieyasu's life. I'm interested to find out how the relationship between Otowa and Kame will develop. Will she leave the temple and be Kame's wife? He seems to be very open to that idea, and now that the Imagawa probably don't care so much about what happens to Otowa, it could very well happen. I just don't know if Otowa will allow herself to do that after spending almost 10 years at the temple, though. Excellent Taiga so far. We're still in 1554. Episode 6 is next! nondisclosed_email@example.com (Hiroshi66)Sat, 20 May 2017 14:28:29 +0000 Re: J-Drama: おんな城主 直虎 (NAOTORA: The Lady Warlord)https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069876,from=rss#post2069876https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069876,from=rss#post2069876<EPISODE 4> Finally catching up with the Taiga. I think this has been the longest introduction to the story we've seen in Taigas so far. Usually, the child actors appear for 1-2 episodes and we move on to the "meat and potatoes" and the main story. However, it wasn't until the last 20 seconds of the fourth episode where we are finally introduced to the actress who will portray Otowa as an adult for the remainder of the Taiga, presumably. Not that I'm complaining, though! All 3 child actors (who portrayed Otowa, Tsuru, and Kame) did a superb job and I think they will develop into excellent actors in their own right as they grow. Otowa in particular did an outstanding job. The first few episodes of a Taiga can sometimes be boring since they just feature the characters as children, but all four episodes have been riveting and well-done. What a transition it was for poor Otowa to go from being the princess of the Ii clan to working hard as a child nun in the temple. I found it entertaining that the Reverend pretended to not know her at the beginning - after all, she was technically no longer a princess and was working for the Reverend as a young disciple who needed to be trained and disciplined! He was looking out for her behind the scenes, though. I'm glad that Otowa eventually adjusted to her new life as a nun and realized that it was for the good of her province and for her clan. It's quite a lofty responsibility for a 10-year old, but Otowa is mature beyond her years and adjusted rather quickly to her new responsibility. Very smart of Otowa's father not to heed his grandfather's advice and jump on the "Let's assassinate Ono <Tsuru's father>" bandwagon. By interjecting on Ono's behalf and saving his life, Lord Ii (Otowa's father) now has made Ono indebted to him (partially, at least) and will be in a position where Ono will have to repay this favor. His first move was pressuring Ono to only take half of Kame's late father's lands and leave the other half to the Ii family. I suspect Ono will continue to be in check - if he ever tries to force his authority on Lord Ii or anyone else in the family, all Lord Ii has to do is remind him of the fact that he saved his life! I thought Lord Ii was meek and spineless, and while he isn't exactly the toughest he could be, I think he is very wise and did the right thing! Instead of being involved in assassinating Ono and getting Lord Imagawa angry again, he very smoothly got Ono into the subordinate position by saving his life! Ono will have to return the favor now. We're now in 1554, and I look forward to Episode 5, where we will see all the characters grown up! nondisclosed_email@example.com (Hiroshi66)Sat, 20 May 2017 11:56:11 +0000 Re: J-Drama: おんな城主 直虎 (NAOTORA: The Lady Warlord)https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069861,from=rss#post2069861https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069861,from=rss#post2069861<EPISODE 3> I love this Taiga! I realized that I really have no idea about what happened to the historical figures who are being portrayed, and the time period we see here is usually lumped into the "Warring States Period" frequently overshadowed by the controversies of the Nobunaga/Hideyoshi/Ieyasu epoch that occurred a few decades later. So, I can enjoy the events of this drama without knowing how it will all end up. I am going to resist reading about these people so that I can be pleasantly surprised! This also feels like the longest we have gone in a drama with the hero/heroine still being portrayed by the child actor. Usually, we're done with the "childhood" story arc by the end of Episode 2 or 3. According to the previews, the child actress who plays Towa will be appearing for most of Episode 4, and for good reason! I think the young actress' portrayal of Towa has been my favorite performance by a child actress in a Taiga so far. She definitely has a bright future ahead of her and can carry the entire Taiga practically by herself! She's almost as good as the Oshin child actress who is in a league of her own. We're being introduced to the Imagawa family, such as Yoshimoto himself, and his mother, Lady Jukei-ni. I love how Imagawa Yoshimoto is being portrayed as a sort of larger than life tyrant who never opens his mouth in public, in order to appear as semi-legendary or almost like a god-like figure. Then again, I think Imagawa's vassals and subordinates saw him as a larger-than-life figure, since he commanded such power in those times. We also met Yoshimoto's son who was defeated in the ball game by Towa. What a big baby who refused to admit defeat! I'm glad his grandmother was on Towa's side and convinced him to give her the reward he had promised. Speaking of the Imagawa, I have heard that they were unusual in that they were half-courtier, half-samurai. They did not live in Kyoto and were warriors but behaved like aristocrats - not only in the way they dressed, but also in their hobbies and the ways they carried themselves. I guess that's why many Kyoto courtiers preferred living in Sunpu as opposed to the violent capital, destroyed after years of warfare. The Reverend, played by our "Master" from Midnight Diner, seems to have an interesting background all on his own. His relationship with his sister, who was taken from the Ii as a hostage years ago by the Imagawa and later became Yoshimoto's concubine for a short time, seems to be a troubled one. I think she feels abandoned by the Ii and was annoyed that they were doing so much to help Towa - though they presumably didn't do as much for her when she first became a hostage. I suspect there is still hope for a reconciliation between Reverend and his sister. Glad Towa is back home safely! Let's see how things pan out. We're still in 1544 or 1545. Episode 4 airs Sunday! nondisclosed_email@example.com (Hiroshi66)Sat, 29 Apr 2017 11:50:40 +0000 Re: J-Drama: おんな城主 直虎 (NAOTORA: The Lady Warlord)https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069855,from=rss#post2069855https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069855,from=rss#post2069855<EPISODE 2> Great episode! I am really enjoying this Taiga so far. Maybe it's because of the time period that is being covered, but it reminds me a bit of the Taiga dramas of old. The child actors they have chosen to portray Towa, Kame, and Tsuru are excellent! It's already been two episodes, but the casting choices are so well done that it doesn't feel like we've seen two episodes starring kids. I think all three will mature into great actors in their own right. We see a perfect example of how children were used as political pawns, without any regard for their feelings. Not only did Towa have to deal with the loss of her best friend Kame and the death of her great-uncle, but now she has been ordered to marry her other friend, Tsuru. I don't think Towa feels negatively about Tsuru in any way - but nobody has considered the feelings of a little girl and what she may be feeling about this situation. The adults could care less about what the children are feeling. I feel more sorry for Tsuru. He knows that his father was to blame for the Uncle Naomitsu's arrest/execution, and ultimately for Kame's current plight. At the same time, I think he has feelings for Towa and wouldn't mind marrying her, but is holding back in respect for her and also for his friend, Kame. I wouldn't want to be Tsuru right now, and I don't blame him for keeping his distance from his father. The father is trying to control the Ii family from behind the scenes, and I think he has figured that the Imagawa might keep him around even if they were to crush the Ii at some point. I felt bad for Tsuru when his father told him that even if he refused to marry Towa, he was easily replaceable - the father would simply ask Tsuru's younger brother to marry Towa instead. One complaint I have with this Taiga is the "over-acting." An example of this was at the very end, when Towa's father discovered his daughter cutting her hair, presumably so she can join a Buddhist convent and become a nun - thus getting out of the marriage to Tsuru. The father looked ridiculous opening his mouth and screaming, as if he had just seen a ghost. It's the usual dramanga effect - with J-drama writers trying to make their characters act like anime characters. I just can't get into this, and I feel like it cheapens J-drama. If we want to watch anime, we'll watch anime - this is a drama and I feel like they need to adjust the acting to a certain standard. Maybe the audience likes it, though, who knows. Towa, Tsuru, and Kame are all mature for their age and I am interested to see what kind of people they will grow up into. I like that we are being given a lot of character development about these historical figures as children, as it will make things more interesting as we watch their stories develop in the future. We're still in 1544. Episode 3 airs on Sunday! Great Taiga thus far.nondisclosed_email@example.com (Hiroshi66)Sat, 22 Apr 2017 10:36:04 +0000 Re: re: missing second part of first episodehttps://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069849,from=rss#post2069849https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069849,from=rss#post2069849Thanks for letting me know that the last 20 minutes was the part that had been unaired. I think I am not supposed to talk about this, but I did find a place on line to catch up with that episode. nondisclosed_email@example.com (merrie)Mon, 17 Apr 2017 08:11:55 +0000 Re: J-Drama: おんな城主 直虎 (NAOTORA: The Lady Warlord)https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069848,from=rss#post2069848https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069848,from=rss#post2069848Thank you for your comments, Fumichan. Yes, despite only having watched Episode 1 so far here on Channel UTB, I am already pleased with this Taiga. What makes it most exciting for me is that I don't know very much about the historical figures depicted in this drama, even Imagawa Yoshimoto. So, it's pretty much unchartered territory for me. With other Taigas, I already know how things are going to pan out since we've seen the same story so many times, but with this time, I will genuinely be surprised! Looking forward to it. nondisclosed_email@example.com (Hiroshi66)Sun, 16 Apr 2017 10:01:31 +0000 Re: J-Drama: おんな城主 直虎 (NAOTORA: The Lady Warlord)https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069847,from=rss#post2069847https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069847,from=rss#post2069847So hello again . I will continue to comment every now and then on this Taiga Drama to elaborate. I am quiet far having watched Episode 15 however I will post regarding the episodes discussed here. It is way more decent and closer to history than Sanadamaru. On Sanadamaru I will still post a big insight article. It's good to see a Sengoku drama way before Sekigahara and Osaka. The last one was Fuurin Kazan which along with Kanbee and Kiyomori was one of the few decent Taiga in the last years. I researched and do know quiet a lot about the Ii clan. The depiction in the Taiga is ok though some comments can be posted. The children casting in Naotora is very good. The have chosen some of the children due to their close resemblence to the adult performers.nondisclosed_email@example.com (Fumichan)Sun, 16 Apr 2017 09:55:54 +0000 Re: J-Drama: おんな城主 直虎 (NAOTORA: The Lady Warlord)https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069846,from=rss#post2069846https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2069846,from=rss#post2069846Merrie, I just caught up with watching both Parts 1 and 2 of the first episode today. The first 40 minutes of the second week was a repeat of Part 1, and the new footage was aired during the last 20 minutes or so of Part 2. We'll be seeing Episode 2 tomorrow. <EPISODE 1> (Parts 1 and 2) Very enjoyable premiere episode. It's been a while since we've seen a Taiga that hasn't focused either on the Nobunaga/Hideyoshi/Ieyasu trio, or on historical figures who lived during the end of the Tokugawa period/beginning of the Meiji era. It'll be a welcome change to go back to the Warring States Period, which so many Taiga dramas used to focus on. Though the plot is similar to other Taigas in that it seems to center on a tomboyish heroine who was before her time in wanting to reform/change society (wanting to be the leader of her clan in a very patriarchal society, for example) the different era we're seeing portrayed is making it quite interesting. I know very little about the Ii clan from which Towa hailed from, so it'll be a new story for me, too. For instance, I had no idea that the Ii family had been conquered by the Imagawa clan, who were at the height of their power in the 1540s, during which this drama takes place. Towa's birth year is unknown, but the Japanese Wikipedia page speculates that she might have been born in 1536 or sometime after that. If that is the case, Towa was at most 8 years old in 1544, which is the year that the events of Episode 1 took place. That means she was only 8 when she was betrothed to her father's (very young) cousin, Kame. Speaking of which, the family dynamics in the Ii clan are very confusing, so I'll summarize them here. Towa's father is the lord of the Ii clan, Ii Naomori. Naomori's father had passed on, but his paternal uncle (much younger than Naomori's father, presumably) was still alive and this is the uncle who is the father of young Kame, who was engaged to Towa. That's why Towa's father and Kame are first cousins - since their fathers were brothers. The age difference between the cousins makes things confusing, but I guess this was common back in the day. I suppose we'll see lots of factions and infighting - with some people in the Ii clan kissing up to the Imagawa, and others trying to rebel against their new overlords. The lush greenery is so beautiful - you can tell they are going to be paying a lot of attention to the scenery when filming this drama. I especially enjoyed the nature as we were listening to Kame playing the flute during the episode. I enjoyed the friendship between Towa, Kame, and Tsuru. Even though Tsuru's father orchestrated the eventual murder of Kame's father at the hands of the Imagawa, I'm glad that this didn't impact the friendship... yet, anyway. Now that Kame has been forced into hiding, he won't be able to see Tsuru and Towa again for a while. Also, when he grows older and finds out the truth about what happens to his father, he may grow to resent Tsuru upon learning the truth. I hope this inconvenient truth doesn't come back to threaten the friendship of these three once they all grow up. Will Tsuru's father try to get his son to be betrothed to Towa now that Kame is out of the picture? His family is pro-Imagawa, so the Imagawa overlords may welcome the union. It's sad to see children used as political pawns - something we've seen more often than not in these Taigas. What a pleasant surprise to see "Master" from Midnight Diner here as the "Reverend." He seems like he'll be a omnipresent character of sorts, always around and participating in the various plots. We're now in 1544. Great start to this Taiga. Episode 2 airs tomorrow! nondisclosed_email@example.com (Hiroshi66)Sat, 15 Apr 2017 16:47:26 +0000