* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Taiga Drama: Segodon (NHK, 2018)
大河ドラマ 西郷どん
The 57th NHK Taiga Drama, based on Mariko Hayashi's novel "Segodon!," aired in 2018 and starred Ryohei Suzuki as Saigo Takamori, depicting his rise from a low-ranking Satsuma samurai to a leading figure of the Meiji Restoration.
Description
Overview
"Segodon" is the 57th NHK Taiga Drama, broadcast from January 7 to December 16, 2018. Based on Mariko Hayashi's novel "Segodon!", with a screenplay by Miho Nakazono, it starred Ryohei Suzuki as Saigo Takamori across 47 episodes. Its average viewership rating in the Kanto region was 12.7%. It was produced as a project marking the 150th anniversary of the Meiji Restoration in 2018.
Story Overview and Connection to Swords
The drama depicts the life of Saigo Takamori "from a woman's perspective," from his days as a low-ranking samurai of Satsuma to his role as a central figure in the movement to overthrow the shogunate, and finally to his death in the Satsuma Rebellion (Seinan War). In the battle scenes depicting the Boshin War and the Satsuma Rebellion, sword fighting and martial arts choreography were handled by Kunihide Kuruma, and samurai fighting with swords are depicted throughout.
Swords Associated with Saigo Takamori
Several real swords are passed down as having a connection to Saigo Takamori. "Tegai Kanenaga" was presented to Emperor Meiji by Saigo's younger brother Tsugumichi after Saigo's death, and is said to be held today by the Tokyo National Museum. "Rai Kuniyuki" is said to have been given by Saigo to former Satsuma retainer Tokuno Ryosuke when Saigo withdrew from government in the Meiji 6 political crisis and returned to Kagoshima. "Nobukuni" is said to have served as the model for the saber worn by the bronze statue of Saigo (Kagoshima Prefecture) erected for the 50th memorial of his death. None of these are props from the drama; they are real swords whose connection to Saigo himself is passed down as historical fact.
Cultural Impact and Reception
Marking the 150th anniversary of the Meiji Restoration, the drama drew attention as a new approach that portrayed Saigo Takamori "from a woman's perspective." Ryohei Suzuki's compelling performance and a star-studded cast including Ken Watanabe and Keiko Kitagawa were also topics of discussion.
Real Swords Featured
Tegai Kanenaga
A beloved sword of Saigo Takamori. After his death, it was presented to Emperor Meiji by his younger brother Tsugumichi, and is today said to be held by the Tokyo National Museum.
Rai Kuniyuki
A beloved sword said to have been given by Saigo to former Satsuma retainer Tokuno Ryosuke when Saigo withdrew from government in the Meiji 6 political crisis and returned to Kagoshima.
Nobukuni
A beloved sword said to have served as the model for the saber worn by the bronze statue (Kagoshima Prefecture) erected for the 50th memorial of Saigo's death.
This page is intended to introduce Japanese sword culture and is not affiliated with any of the works mentioned.