The Lord on a white horse will appear in Reiwa! Drama “Abarenbo Shogun” starring Ken Matsudaira makes a big comeback after 17 years

■Director: Takashi Miike, script: Mika Omori! “As is typical of director Takashi Miike, we are challenging ourselves with a different shooting technique for the moving scenes.” (Ken Matsudaira)

The drama “Abarenbo Shogun” starring Ken Matsudaira will be revived in Reiwa as “New Abarenbo Shogun”.

“Abarenbo Shogun,” starring Ken Matsudaira, was broadcast from 1978 to 2003 and became a blockbuster series that left its name in the history of Japanese television dramas. In addition to the 12 series, the total number of broadcasts of the “Final Episode Special” (April 2003), “Spring Special” (March 2004), and “TV Asahi 50th Anniversary Drama Special” (December 2008) has been aired for 832 episodes, making it the second longest-running drama for a single drama starring the same actor, second only to “Zenigata Heiji” starring Hashizo Okawa, which aired for 888 episodes. Its popularity remains deep-rooted, and even after its broadcast ended, it was frequently rebroadcast on terrestrial and satellite broadcasts, including TV Asahi, and has continued to be loved by many people for a long time.

The latest special of “Abarenbo Shogun”, a masterpiece that can be said to be the origin and pinnacle of such “shogun” dramas, has been revived for the first time in 17 years in the Reiwa era. It has been decided that it will be broadcast on January 4, 2025.

“Abarenbo Shogun” is known for its opening scene in which he gallops along the shore on a white horse, and the latest visual of the shogun Yoshimune riding a white horse with the same dignity has also been released.

■ Yoshimune is suffering from the “problem of succession”!? The unruly general succeeds in a difficult case full of intrigue!
“Abarenbo Shogun” is about Tokugawa Yoshimune, the eighth shogun who is highly praised as a “great prince”, and the third son of a poor hatamoto, Tokuda Shinnosuke, commonly known as “Arata-san”, who lives in the lives of the common people and defeats various evils that are rampant in Edo. A thrilling historical drama series. Not only the vivid contrast between the friendly “Arata-san” and the dignified Yoshimune, but also the impressive acting skills made it popular, and it goes without saying that it became a masterpiece for lead actor Ken Matsudaira.

The newly revived “New Abarenbo Shogun” is set in the town of Edo, more than 20 years after the reign of Yoshimune. Yoshimune, who was a young general in the original series, is about to reach his 60th birthday and is faced with the problem of succession.

While retaining the worldview and charm of the series that has been cultivated over many years, the story depicts Yoshimune, who is shaken by succession issues, the human situation within Edo Castle, and the difficult incidents that occur in the castle town that are swirling with intrigue, while adding new characters and a touch of the times. What is the parent-child feud and bond between Yoshimune and his sons?

■Director: Takashi Miike x Screenplay: Mika Omori! The best tag brings excitement to your work!
The director has directed films such as Crows Zero (2007), Ichimei (2011), Monster Woodcutter (2023), and Midnight (2024), and has captivated not only Japan but the world. The genius Takashi Miike.

She won the 23rd Kuniko Mukoda Award in 2005 for “Grumpy Gene” (Fuji Television), the youngest in history, and won the 24th award for the TV drama series “Morning Comes” (2016/NHK). Mika Omori, who won the Hashida Prize and has worked on a number of popular works such as “Unresolved Woman” (2018, 2020 / TV Asahi) and the historical drama “Seiten wo Kake” (2021 / NHK), is in charge. Befitting the revival of the masterpiece, gorgeous creators have teamed up to create a new historical drama unique to the Reiwa version that can be enjoyed by all generations, from long-time fans to young people who are experiencing the world of the work for the first time. create

■50th anniversary of entertainment life! Starring Ken Matsudaira is delighted with the return of the turning point! “I don’t feel blank.”
Ken Matsudaira will celebrate his 50th anniversary in the entertainment industry in 2024, and coincidentally just celebrated his 71st birthday on November 28th. He was selected to play the role of Yoshimune when he was 23 years old, and ended up continuing to play the role of “Kamisama” for about half a century, from his 20s to his 70s.

Regarding the revival, Matsudaira said, “Abarenbo Shogun” and Yoshimune are very important people who lived with my entertainment life and nurtured me as an actor, Ken Matsudaira.That’s why I couldn’t be happier with this offer. I’ve always wanted to make a comeback, so I’m really thrilled that it’s happening.”

He recently started filming at the Kyoto Toei Studio, but he said, “When I started acting, I didn’t feel blank at all and was able to get into it easily. Maybe it’s because not much has changed…I felt a little strange about that, too.”

Furthermore, he expressed his confidence in the new production team, including director Takashi Miike and scriptwriter Mika Omori, saying, “This time, we will be able to create a good work with a lot of content, as it depicts things like parent-child love and succession disputes that have never been seen before.” Also, Director Takashi Miike. As a director, I’m trying a different filming method for the fighting scenes, so I’m really looking forward to seeing the finished product.” .

What kind of conspiracy will attack Yoshimune and his sons…!? Will Yoshimune’s signature lines, “Did you forget to see my face” and “Success or defeat!” appear again this time…!? And what Matsudaira said, What is the original sword fight…!? “New Abarenbo Shogun” is a must-see, as there is no shortage of highlights.

Furthermore, befitting a new year drama, a gorgeous and fresh lineup of performers will be gathered together. Interested co-stars will be revealed one after another in the future.

■Main characters
Tokugawa Yoshimune/Tokuda Shinnosuke…Ken Matsudaira
Eighth Tokugawa shogun. Although he is the most powerful person in the Edo shogunate, he goes out into the town calling himself Shinnosuke Tokuda, the third son of a poor hatamoto, and solves many cases. A true hero who helps the weak and foils the strong, with the belief that “the smiles of the people are the treasure of the nation.”

More than 20 years after taking up the post of shogun, he is saddened by the recession caused by the Great Kyoho Famine, and hastened to take countermeasures to save the people. Although he loves each of his three sons, he is also troubled by the question of who should be chosen as the next general.

■Ken Matsudaira comment
In 2024, I will celebrate my 50th anniversary in the entertainment industry, and “Abarenbo Shogun” and Yoshimune are very important to me as they have lived alongside my entertainment life and helped me develop into the “actor Ken Matsudaira.” That’s why I couldn’t be happier with this offer. I’ve always wanted to make a comeback, so I’m really thrilled to be able to make it happen.
It’s been a while since I filmed a drama for “Abarenbo Shogun,” but when I acted in the role, I didn’t feel blank at all and was able to get into it easily. I guess it’s because my feelings are the same as they were in the series and haven’t changed much. Even I felt a little strange about that.
“Abarenbo Shogun” is a so-called hero historical drama, so up until now, things like family and home have never been expressed at all, but this time three sons appear in the story. I think it will be a good work with a lot of content, depicting things like parent-child love and succession disputes that have never been seen before. Also, in typical director Takashi Miike’s style, he tried a different filming method for the moving scenes, so I can’t help but look forward to seeing the final result. I would like many people to see it.
■Nobuyuki Hattori (General Producer/TV Asahi) Comment
Over the past year, “Shogun” has become a hot topic on the other side of the ocean.
The shogun that Japan is proud of to the world is the “barbaric shogun”. The period dramas brought to you from Uzumasa, Kyoto are entertainment that Japan is proud of around the world. With this in mind, we have decided to restart “Abarenbo Shogun” for the first time in 17 years as “New Abarenbo Shogun”.
With Takashi Miike as the director and Mika Omori as the scriptwriter, Japan’s top creators have joined the team, and by fusing new ideas with traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation, we have created an entertainment blockbuster worthy of celebrating the beginning of 2025. I am proud of it.
On the first day of filming, when Mr. Matsudaira appeared in the costume of Yoshimune, the staff who had worked with him over the years to create the brazen Shogun called out to him, saying, “Welcome back!” and “We’ve been waiting for you!” My heart warms as I realize once again that “Shogun Bo” is a historical drama that has been loved by everyone.
Matsudaira, who played Yoshimune for the first time in 17 years, showed no signs of being absent at all, and his final sword fight against 25 people was so fast and beautiful that I couldn’t help but admire him.
We hope that you can look forward to the colorful New Year’s co-stars that will be announced one after another, and that you and your family can enjoy Japan’s world-class entertainment, “New Abarenbo Shogun.”