is a 2018 Japanese historical drama television series and the 57th

NHK , also known as NHK, is a Japanese public broadcaster. NHK, which has always been known by this romanized initialism in Japanese, is a statutory corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee. NHK operates two terrestr ...

taiga drama. It stars

Ryohei Suzuki is a Japanese actor who is represented by the talent agency Horipro. Early life He graduated from Tokyo University of Foreign Studies with a Bachelor's degree in English Studies in March 2006. When he was a student, he worked part-time in NHK ...

Saigō Takamori was a Japanese samurai and nobleman. He was one of the most influential samurai in Japanese history and one of the three great nobles who led the Meiji Restoration. Living during the late Edo and early Meiji periods, he later led the Satsum ...

, who has been dubbed ''the last true samurai''.

Plot

The drama follows the life of historical figure

. Born the first son of a lower-class samurai, he was exiled two times and went through three marriages. He was one of the central figures of the

Meiji Restoration The , referred to at the time as the , and also known as the Meiji Renovation, Revolution, Regeneration, Reform, or Renewal, was a political event that restored practical imperial rule to Japan in 1868 under Emperor Meiji. Although there were ...

but later rebelled against the

government A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a state. In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive, and judiciary. Government is a ...

over dissatisfaction with Meiji reforms.

Cast

Saigo family

**Ao Watanabe as Kokichi (young Takamori) *

Keiko Matsuzaka (born July 20, 1952) is a Japanese actress. Early life Born in Ōta, Tokyo, her father was a naturalized South Korean while her mother was Japanese. Career In the 1960s, Matsuzaka became a child actress. Matsuzaka grew into adulthood in film ...

as Saigō Masa, the mother of Takamori *

Morio Kazama is a Japanese actor. He won the award for best supporting actor at the 2nd Yokohama Film Festival for ''Shiki Natsuko'' and ''Yūgure made'' and at the 6th and 7th Japan Academy Prizes. Filmography Films * ''Wanpaku Ōji no Orochi Taiji'' (1963 ...

as Saigō Kichibei, the father of Takamori *

Toshiyuki Nishida is a Japanese actor. He has won two Japanese Academy Awards for best actor, for '' The Silk Road'' (1988) and ''Tsuribaka Nisshi 6'' (1993). He has also won the Blue Ribbon Award for Best Actor for '' Get Up!'' and '' Tsuribaka Nisshi 14'' (200 ...

as Saigō Kikujirō, Takamori's son **

Yuki Imai is a Japanese actor. Biography When he was three years old, Imai was taken to a theater company since he said that he " antedto be on television", and began his career. He was called after singing the Marimokkori is a character popularized i ...

as Teen Kikujirō **Kairi Jō as Child Kikujirō *

Ai Hashimoto is a Japanese actress, fashion model and singer. Life Hashimoto was born in Kumamoto, Kumamoto Prefecture, the second of three daughters.星原克也「女優魂橋本愛 14歳飛躍の幕開け」,『熊本日日新聞』(Kumamoto Nichinichi S ...

as Suga, the first wife of Takamori *

Haru Kuroki is a Japanese actress. She gained international recognition by winning Silver Bear (Best Actress Award) at Berlin International Film Festival in 2014, for her performance in Yoji Yamada's film ''The Little House ''The Little House'' is a 194 ...

as Iwayama Ito, the third wife of Takamori ** Konomi Watanabe as young Ito *

Ryo Nishikido is a Japanese singer and actor. He was formerly under the management of Johnny & Associates as a member of Japanese boy bands Kanjani Eight and News. His first solo album was released in December 2019. Biography Ryo Nishikido was born in Hyogo ...

Saigō Jūdō Marshal-Admiral Marquis (1 June 1843 – 18 July 1902) was a Japanese politician and admiral in the Meiji period. Biography Early life Saigō was born in Shimokajiyachō, Kagoshima, the son of the ''samurai'' Saigō Kichibe of the Satsuma Domai ...

, one of Takamori's brothers **Taiyō Saitō as Saigō Shingo (young Jūdō) *

Mone Kamishiraishi is a Japanese actress and singer. She is the older sister of actress and singer Moka Kamishiraishi. Biography Born in Kagoshima, Her family lived in Mexico for three years due to her father's work. She can speak English and a little bit of Spa ...

as Saigō Kiyo, the wife of Jūdō *Gōta Watabe as Saigō Kichijirō, one of Takamori's brothers **Taketo Arai as young Kichijirō *

Yuki Kashiwagi is a Japanese idol and singer. She is a member of the Japanese idol girl group AKB48 and a former member of NMB48 and NGT48. She auditioned for AKB48 on December 3, 2006, and is now a member of AKB48's Team B. She was previously the captain of T ...

as Saigō Sono, the wife of Kichijirō *

Nanami Sakuraba (born October 17, 1992 in Izumi, Kagoshima) is a Japanese gravure idol and actress who won "Miss Magazine 2008". Filmography Drama * '' Akai Ito'' (2008) as Sara Nakagawa * '' Tokyo Girls'' (2008) * ''Nadeshiko Tai'' (2008) as Reiko Toriham ...

as Ichiki (''née'' Saigō) Koto, one of Takamori's sisters **Yuki Kurimoto as young Koto *Yūki Maekawa as Ichiki Sōsuke, Koto's son *Yū Kayano as Saigō Yasu, one of Takamori's sisters *

Kumi Mizuno is a Japanese actress best known for appearing in several Toho kaiju films of the 1960s and early 1970s. Early life Mizuno was born Maya Igarashi on 1 January 1937 in Sanjō Niigata prefecture, Japan. She was acquainted with Giant Baba, her jun ...

as Kimi, the grandmother of Takamori *Kon Ōmura as Saigō Ryūemon, the grandfather of Takamori *

Muga Tsukaji is a Japanese comedian and actor. He performs '' boke'' (sometimes ''tsukkomi'') in the comedy duo Drunk Dragon. His partner is Taku Suzuki. He is nicknamed . Tsukaji was born in Hannan, Osaka. He graduated from Hannan Municipal Tottori Junior ...

(Drunk Dragon) as Kumakichi *Mayuko Saigō as Saigō Sakurako *Maika Hara as Saigō Taka, one of Takamori's sisters *Yūki Yagi as Saigō Kikusō, Takamori's daughter

Ōkubo family

Eita is a Japanese actor from Tokyo. He has appeared in many Japanese television dramas and movies; most notable is the TV series '' Water Boys''. He also appeared in ''Summer Time Machine Blues'' and '' Tokyo Friends: The Movie''. Career In 2009, ...

Ōkubo Toshimichi was a Japanese statesman and one of the Three Great Nobles regarded as the main founders of modern Japan. Ōkubo was a ''samurai'' of the Satsuma Domain and joined the movement to overthrow the ruling Tokugawa Shogunate during the ''Bak ...

**Tatsuki Ishikawa as young Toshimichi * Rie Mimura as Ōkubo Masu, the wife of Toshimichi *

Mitsuru Hirata is a Japanese actor. He won the award for best actor at the 7th Hochi Film Award and the award for best supporting actor at the 4th Yokohama Film Festival for ''Fall Guy''. Filmography Films *''Fall Guy'' (1982), Yasu *''Theater of Life'' (198 ...

as Ōkubo Jiemon, the father of Toshimichi *Mariko Fuji as Ōkubo Fuku, the mother of Toshimichi *Tamami Kusaka as Ōkubo Suma *

Yuki Uchida (born November 16, 1975) is a Japanese actress, and a popular 1990s idol, model and singer. Biography Uchida was born in Tokyo. She practiced fencing in high school, and ranked 3rd in a tournament in Tokyo in 1991. She began her career as a mod ...

as Oyū

Satsuma Domain The , briefly known as the , was a domain (''han'') of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan during the Edo period from 1602 to 1871. The Satsuma Domain was based at Kagoshima Castle in Satsuma Province, the core of the modern city of Kagoshima, ...

Ken Watanabe is a Japanese actor. To English-speaking audiences, he is known for playing tragic hero characters, such as General Tadamichi Kuribayashi in '' Letters from Iwo Jima'' and Lord Katsumoto Moritsugu in ''The Last Samurai'', for which he was nomi ...

Shimazu Nariakira was a Japanese feudal lord (''daimyō'') of the Edo period, the 28th in the line of Shimazu clan lords of Satsuma Domain. He was renowned as an intelligent and wise lord, and was greatly interested in Western learning and technology. He was e ...

, the master of Takamori *

Munetaka Aoki is a Japanese actor. He played Sanosuke Sagara in the live action adaptation of the manga and anime series ''Rurouni Kenshin''. He is married to Japanese actress and model Yūka. Filmography Film *''Battle Royale II'' (2003) *''Fly, Daddy, F ...

Shimazu Hisamitsu Prince , also known as , was a Japanese samurai of the late Edo period. Hisamitsu was virtual Super Potentate of Satsuma Domain. The younger brother of Shimazu Nariakira, Hisamitsu served as regent for his underage son Tadayoshi, who became the ...

Takeshi Kaga , real name , is a well-known stage and movie actor in Japan who is best known internationally for his portrayal of Chairman Kaga in the Japanese television show ''Iron Chef'' produced by Fuji TV. Biography Kaga was born on October 12, 1950, ...

Shimazu Narioki was a Japanese feudal lord (''daimyō'') of the Edo period, the 27th in the line of Shimazu clan lords of Satsuma Domain (r. 1809–1851). He was the father of Shimazu Nariakira, Shimazu Hisamitsu Prince , also known as , was a Japanese samur ...

Rumiko Koyanagi , formerly known as during her Takarazuka Revue days, is a Japanese actress and singer. She began her career as a member of Takarazuka Revue. She won the award for best new artist at the 13th Japan Record Awards and won the Japan Music Award in ...

as Yura * Raita Ryu as

Zusho Hirosato __NOTOC__ was a Japanese samurai of the late Edo period, who served as karō of the Satsuma Domain. He was also known as . Biography Zusho was born in the Kagoshima castle town in 1776, the son of Satsuma samurai Kawasaki Motoaki. At age 12 he ...

*Seiya Osada as Shimazu Mochihisa **Rasei Nakajima as young Mochihisa *

Naho Toda is a Japanese actress. Career In 1990, she successfully passed an audition called Horipro Talent Scout Caravan( Ja). Personal life She had graduated from Tamagawa University. Her sister was an actress, and her brother Kōhei Toda ( Ja: ...

as Kiku *

Yukiya Kitamura is a Japanese actor represented by Tom company. His father is actor Kazuo Kitamura and his wife is actress Shiho Takano. Biography While in Tokyo Metropolitan Institute Fuji High School, Kitamura was interested in theater and wants to be an aspi ...

as Ōyama Kakunosuke (later Ōyama Tsunayoshi) **Naoki Inukai as young Kakunosuke * Mitsuomi Takahashi as Arimura Shunsai (later Kaeda Nobuyoshi) **Yūto Ikeda as young Shunsai *Arata Horii as Murata Shinpachi **Kenshirō Katō as young Shinpachi *

Ikki Sawamura is a Japanese model, film and television actor, and television presenter signed to Ken-On. His second son, Kōta Nomura is also an actor. Biography Ikki Sawamura was born in Kagoshima in 1967. After graduating from the local high school, he mo ...

as Akayama Yukie *

Jun Itoda is a Japanese comedian who performs ''tsukkomi The following glossary of words and terms (generally of Japanese origin) are related to ''owarai'' (Japanese comedy). Many of these terms may be used in areas of Japanese culture beyond comedy, ...

as Katsura Hisatake *

Yu Tokui is a Japanese actor. He has appeared in more than 90 films since 1987. Selected filmography Films Television References External links * 1959 births Living people Male actors from Osaka Japanese male film actors Japanese male ...

as Yamada Tamehisa *Shūichirō Masuda as Arima Shinshichi **Masaki Izawa as young Shinshichi *

Takurō Ōno (also spelt Ohno), born November 14, 1988, is a Japanese actor and talent. He has had roles in such films as ''The Incite Mill'' and '' Liar Game: Reborn''. Filmography Film * ''The Incite Mill'' (2010) – Yukito Maki * '' Liar Game: Rebo ...

Nakamura Hanjirō was a Japanese samurai of the late Edo period, and an Imperial Japanese Army general of the early Meiji era. Biography Kirino, also known as , was renowned as one of the Four Hitokiri of the Bakumatsu. His sword style was ''Ko-jigen-ryū'', a ...

**Rukito Nakamura as young Hanjirō *Manabu Hamada as Sakoda Tomonoshin *Shiori Sugioka as Oaki *

Tomoya Warabino is a Japanese actor who is represented by the talent agency, A-Team. Biography Warabino graduated from Miyazaki Prefectural Miyakonojō Technical High School.HERO VISION vol56「マッスルルームへようこそ」P81より。 He debuted in ...

as Ebihara Shigekatsu *

Keita Machida is a Japanese actor. He is a member of the theater group Gekidan Exile. Machida is represented with LDH. Biography Machida was born on 4 July 1990, in Higashiagatsuma, Japan. He has one younger and one older sister. Starting in elementary ...

as Komatsu Tatewaki *

Yoshimasa Kondo , born on August 13, 1961 in Nagoya, Japan, is a Japanese theatre and film actor. Biography He debuted as an extra in the series ''Chu-gaku-sei Nikki'', and was later written into the script. He later gained notability while working with the ...

as Tanaka Yūnosuke *Ayumi Tanida as Koba Den'nai *Teppei Akashi as Narahara Kihachirō *Yūki Izumisawa as

Kawaji Toshiyoshi , also known as Kawaji Toshikane, was a Japanese statesman and chief of police during the Meiji period.Lanman, Charles. ''Leading Men of Japan: With an Historical Summary of the Empire''. The University of California. Published by D. Lothrop a ...

Hideo Sakaki (born June 4, 1970) is a Japanese actor and director. He is perhaps best known for his roles in the Japanese cult films '' Versus'', '' Battlefield Baseball'', and ''Alive''. He is a close friend of director Ryuhei Kitamura and appears in several ...

as Shinohara Kunimoto *Yūshin Shinohara as

Beppu Shinsuke was a Japanese samurai of the late Edo period who became an officer in the Imperial Japanese Army. Background He was a samurai of the Satsuma Domain, and an associate of Saigō Takamori. Beppu joined Saigō's forces during the Satsuma Rebell ...

;General public *

Rin Takanashi is a Japanese film and television actress. Career Takanashi starred in the 2007 film adaptation of the Japanese novel '' Goth'' as one of the lead characters, Yoru Morino. She starred in the 2009 Super Sentai series '' Samurai Sentai Shinkenger' ...

as Fuki **Rinka Kakihara as young Fuki * Taku Suzuki (Drunk Dragon) as Heiroku, Fuki's father *Sumie Sasaki as Ishi, Kumakichi's grandmother *Fujita Okamoto as Itagaki Yosaji *Toshiyuki Kitami as Ijūin Naogorō, Suga's father *Masayuki Shionoya as Iwayama Naoatsu, Ito's father ;The people of

Amami Ōshima , also known as Amami, is the largest island in the Amami archipelago between Kyūshū and Okinawa. It is one of the Satsunan Islands. The island, 712.35 km2 in area, has a population of approximately 73,000 people. Administratively it is ...

Fumi Nikaidō is a Japanese actress and fashion model. Career Starting as a model in Naha, Okinawa, Nikaidō made her film debut in 2009 in ''Toad's Oil'', directed by Kōji Yakusho. She and Shota Sometani received the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best ...

as Aikana, the second wife of Takamori *

Akira Emoto is a Japanese actor. Career In 1999, he won the Japanese Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in '' Dr. Akagi''. He also won the award for best supporting actor at the 7th Hochi Film Award for ''Dotonbori River'' and '' Hearts and F ...

as Ryū Samin *

Midori Kiuchi Midori Kiuchi ( ja, 木内みどり, Kiuchi Midori, September 25, 1950 – November 18, 2019)''Shukan Asahi'' November 26, 1982 issue, page 61 was a Japanese actress. Beside acting, she was a Japanese representative of the Norbulingka Institute. S ...

as Ishichiyo Kane *Natsuko Akiyama as Yuta *Tsutomu Takahashi as Tomiken *Honami Kurashita as Komurume *Anna Sato as Satochiyo Kane ;The people of

Okinoerabujima , also known as Okinoerabu, is one of the Satsunan Islands, classed with the Amami archipelago between Kyūshū and Okinawa. The island, 93.63 km² in area, has a population of approximately 14,000 persons. Administratively it is divided into th ...

Renji Ishibashi , born is a Japanese actor. He won the award for best supporting actor at the 15th Hochi Film Award for '' Rōnin-gai''. Filmography Film Television Video game * '' Yakuza: Dead Souls'' - Oyassan References External links * Renji Ishi ...

as Kawaguchi Seppō *Yoshiki Saitō as Tsuchimochi Masateru *Yōko Ōshima as Tsuchimochi Tsuru

Chōshū Domain

Tetsuji Tamayama is a Japanese TV and film actor. He joined modeling competitions and was active in ''Checkmate'' and other fashion magazines. In 2001, Tamayama debuted in '' Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger'' as GaoSilver. He continued to star in more movies and TV dr ...

as Kido Takayoshi *

Kenta Hamano is a Japanese musician, composer, and actor who is represented by the talent agency Kakubarhythm. He played the trombone in the band Sakerock. Filmography TV dramas Video on demand Film Video games Dubbing *''Soul In many religiou ...

Itō Hirobumi was a Japanese politician and statesman who served as the first Prime Minister of Japan. He was also a leading member of the ''genrō'', a group of senior statesmen that dictated Japanese policy during the Meiji era. A London-educated samur ...

* Hayashiya Shōzō IX as

Ōmura Masujirō was a Japanese military leader and theorist in Bakumatsu period Japan. He was the "Father" of the Imperial Japanese Army, launching a modern military force closely patterned after the French system of the day. Early life and education Ōmura ...

*Hikaru Futagami as

Kusaka Genzui , (born Kusaka Hidezaburō; May 1840 – 20 August 1864) was a samurai of the Japanese domain of Chōshū who was active during the Bakumatsu period and a key proponent of the ''sonnō jōi'' movement. Early life He was born Kusaka Hide ...

*Osaomu Kaō as Shiraishi Shōichirō *

Riki Choshu , better known by his ring name , is a Japanese retired professional wrestler who is best known for his longtime work in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) as both a wrestler and a booker. He is considered one of Japan’s most influential wrestle ...

Kijima Matabei , also known as Masahisa (政久), was a Japanese samurai who served as a retainer to Lord Mōri of Chōshū. Though his name was Masahisa, he is known by his "common" name of Matabei. While his income (a stipend of 59 koku) may not have been p ...

Manabu Ino is a Japanese actor and voice actor. He is known for acting in several live action films and known for Japanese voice-dubbing Peter Parker/Spider-Man in '' Spider-Man: The New Animated Series'', as well as dubbing Tobey Maguire's role as Peter ...

as Kikkawa Kenmotsu *Masayuki Satō as Miyoshi Shinzō

Tosa Domain The was a feudal domain under the Tokugawa shogunate of Edo period Japan, controlling all of Tosa Province in what is now Kōchi Prefecture on the island of Shikoku. It was centered around Kōchi Castle, and was ruled throughout its history by t ...

Shun Oguri is a Japanese actor and voice actor, son of stage director Tetsuya Oguri, and the youngest of 3 siblings, including older brother Ryo, who is also an actor. He started in small roles as extra in the works in which his father and brother worked ...

Sakamoto Ryōma was a Japanese ''samurai'', a '' shishi'' and influential figure of the ''Bakumatsu'' and establishment of the Empire of Japan in the late Edo period. He was a low-ranking ''samurai'' from the Tosa Domain on Shikoku and became an active oppon ...

Asami Mizukawa is a Japanese actress. She grew up in Ibaraki, Osaka. She made her debut in 1996 at age 13 in an advertisement for Asahi Kasei's "Hebel Haus". In 2000, she won the ''Grand Prix'' at the “3rd Miss Tokyo Walker” competition (the first winner ...

as Oryō, the wife of Ryōma *

Shogo Yamaguchi in Aichi Prefecture is a Japanese actor. He debuted as an actor in V-cinema in 2001, and made his theatrical film debut in 2003 in '' Azumi''. His first main lead starring role was in the ''tokusatsu'' television series ''Madan Senki Ryukendo'' ...

Nakaoka Shintarō was a samurai in Bakumatsu period Japan, and a close associate of Sakamoto Ryōma in the movement to overthrow the Tokugawa shogunate.National Diet Library (NDL), Portraits of Modern Japanese Historical Figures Nakaoka, Shintaro/ref> Biography ...

Akira Otaka (born 1957) is a Japanese actor. Selected filmography Films *''Charisma'' (1999) *''Cream Lemon'' (2004) *''Persona'' (2008) *''Climber's High'' (2008) *''The Great Passage'' (2013) *''The Vancouver Asahi'' (2014) *''My Tomorrow, Your Yesterda ...

Yamauchi Yōdō Yamauchi Toyoshige , also known as , was a Japanese ''daimyō'' in the Shikoku region in the late Edo period. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005)"Yamauchi Toyoshige"in ''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 1045. He was usually referred to as “Lord Yōdō” ...

, the lord of Tosa * Ryo Segawa as

Gotō Shōjirō Count was a Japanese samurai and politician during the Bakumatsu and early Meiji period of Japanese history.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Gotō Shōjirō" in He was a leader of which would evolve into a political party. Early life ...

Fukui Domain

Kanji Tsuda is a Japanese actor. Career Tsuda appeared in Kiyoshi Kurosawa's '' Tokyo Sonata''. He co-starred in Sion Sono's ''Guilty of Romance'' with Megumi Kagurazaka. Filmography Film * '' Sonatine'' (1993) * ''119'' (1994) * '' Kids Return'' (1996) ...

Matsudaira Shungaku , also known as Matsudaira Keiei,Beasley, William G. (1955). ''Select Documents on Japanese Foreign Policy, 1853–1868'', p. 335. or better known as Matsudaira Shungaku (春嶽) was a Japanese ''daimyō'' of the Edo period. He was head of the ...

Shunsuke Kazama is a Japanese actor and television personality affiliated with Johnny & Associates. Biography In 1997, when Kazama was in his second year of junior high school, he entered Johnny & Associates and started activities as a trainee. He made his de ...

Hashimoto Sanai was a Japanese samurai and loyal supporter of the Emperor during the final days of the Tokugawa regime. Biography Hashimoto was born April 19, 1834 in Echizen Province, Japan. The son of a doctor in the Fukui Clan, he studied medicine in Osa ...

*Asahi Yoshida as Nakane Yukie

Tokugawa shogunate The Tokugawa shogunate (, Japanese 徳川幕府 ''Tokugawa bakufu''), also known as the , was the military government of Japan during the Edo period from 1603 to 1868. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005)"''Tokugawa-jidai''"in ''Japan Encyclopedia ...

Shota Matsuda is a Japanese actor. Matsuda is best known for his roles in the ''Hana Yori Dango'' series, the ''Liar Game'' series, and ''Love Shuffle''. Personal life Matsuda was born on September 10, 1985 in Suginami, Tokyo, Japan, to Yūsaku Matsuda, a ...

Tokugawa Yoshinobu Prince was the 15th and last ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan. He was part of a movement which aimed to reform the aging shogunate, but was ultimately unsuccessful. He resigned of his position as shogun in late 1867, while aiming ...

, the last shōgun *

Kenichi Endō is a Japanese actor and writer. He also worked as a narrator for many documentaries, both on television and film. He is best known for his roles in '' Visitor Q'' (2001), ''Crows Zero'' (2007), ''Crows Zero 2'' (2009), and '' The Raid 2: Beran ...

Katsu Kaishū Count , best known by his nickname , was a Japanese statesman and naval engineer during the late Tokugawa shogunate and early Meiji period. Kaishū was a nickname which he took from a piece of calligraphy (Kaishū Shooku ) by Sakuma Shōzan. He ...

Naoki Matayoshi is a Japanese comedian, screenwriter, and novelist who won the Akutagawa Prize in 2015 for his book ', which was adapted into the Netflix series '' Hibana: Spark''. Matayoshi is the '' boke'' of his comedy duo ''Peace'' alongside his partner Yu ...

Tokugawa Iesada was the 13th ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan. He held office for five years from 1853 to 1858. He was physically weak and was therefore considered by later historians to have been unfit to be ''shōgun''. His reign marks the begin ...

, the 13th shōgun *Tamotsu Kanshūji as

Tokugawa Iemochi (July 17, 1846 – August 29, 1866) was the 14th ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan, who held office from 1858 to 1866. During his reign there was much internal turmoil as a result of the "re-opening" of Japan to western nations. ...

, the 14th shōgun **Towa Araki as young Iemochi *

Naohito Fujiki is a Japanese actor and singer. Filmography Drama * (1996), Guest at Table 3 * ハートにS (1996) * (1996) * * ''Shin-D Love Blood'' (1997) * (1997) * * * (1998) * (1998) * (1999) * (1999) * (1999) * (2000) * * ''LOVE REVOLUTION ...

Abe Masahiro was the chief senior councilor ('' rōjū'') in the Tokugawa shogunate of the Bakumatsu period at the time of the arrival of Commodore Matthew Perry on his mission to open Japan to the outside world. Abe was instrumental in the eventual signi ...

Shirō Sano is a Japanese actor. Career Born in Yamanashi Prefecture, Sano lived in Tokyo and Matsue, Shimane as a child, before returning to Tokyo to enter art school. He joined several theatrical troupes, including Jurō Kara's Jōkyō Gekijō. He had h ...

Ii Naosuke was ''daimyō'' of Hikone (1850–1860) and also Tairō of the Tokugawa shogunate, Japan, a position he held from April 23, 1858, until his death, assassinated in the Sakuradamon Incident on March 24, 1860. He is most famous for signing the Ha ...

*Shinji Asakura as Hotta Masayoshi *Satoshi Jimbo as Nagano Shuzen *

Takahiro Fujimoto is an actor and a retired male medley swimmer from Japan, who represented his native country in two consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1988. His best Olympic result was the 8th place (4:23.86) in the Men's 400m Individual Medley event ...

Yamaoka Tesshū , also known as Ono Tetsutarō or Yamaoka Tetsutarō, was a famous samurai of the Bakumatsu period, who played an important role in the Meiji Restoration. He is also noted as the founder of the '' Itto Shoden Muto-ryu'' school of swordsmanship. ...

Jundai Yamada is a Japanese actor. His real name is . He is represented with Horipro, Horipro Booking Agency. His father is actor and singer Ryōtarō Sugi. He graduated from Seijo Gakuen Education Institute, Seijo Gakuen Primary School. After graduating from ...

as Hiraoka Enshirō *

Masami Horiuchi is a Japanese actor. Filmography Television *''Shiroi Kyotō'' (1978) – Taniyama *''Tokugawa Ieyasu'' (1983) – Kobayakawa Hideaki *''Byakkotai'' (1986) – Sanjō Sanetomi *''Kamen Rider Drive'' (2014) – Freeze/Soichi Makage *''Gunshi Ka ...

Itakura Katsukiyo was a Japanese ''daimyō'' of the late Edo period. Famed for his tenure as rōjū, Itakura later became a Shinto priest. Biography Itakura, born to the Hisamatsu-Matsudaira of the Kuwana Domain, was adopted by Itakura Katsutsune, the lord of ...

;

Ōoku The refers to the women's quarters of Edo Castle, the section where the women connected to the reigning resided. Similar areas in the castles of powerful , such as the Satsuma Domain, were also referred to by this term. History The ''Ōok ...

Keiko Kitagawa is a Japanese actress and former model. She was an exclusive model for the Japanese '' Seventeen'' magazine from late 2003 to mid-2006, and quit modeling when she left the magazine. Her first acting role was Sailor Mars in the Sailor Moon live ac ...

as "Tenshō-in" Atsuhime *

Yoko Minamino , also known as Nanno (ナンノ), is a Japanese actress and singer. She graduated from Horikoshi High School. She played Saki Asamiya in the second season of the live action ''Sukeban Deka'' TV series replacing fellow idol star Yuki Saitō. She ...

as Ikushima, the tutor of Atsuhime *

Pinko Izumi is a Japanese actress and singer. Her legal name is , and she originally performed under the name . Filmography Television * '' Onna Taikoki'' (NHK, 1981) as Asahi no kata * ''Oshin'' as Fuji (NHK, 1983) * '' Sanga Moyu'' (NHK, 1984) * ''Inoc ...

as Honjuin, Iesada's mother

Aizu and
Kuwana Domain 250px, Reconstructed portion of Kuwana Castle was a Japanese feudal domain under the Tokugawa shogunate of Edo period Japan, located in Ise Province. It was centered on Kuwana Castle in what is now the city of Kuwana, Mie Prefecture. It was con ...
s

* Shuji Kashiwabara as

Matsudaira Katamori Matsudaira Katamori after the Meiji restoration was a samurai who lived in Bakumatsu period and the early to mid Meiji period Japan. He was the 9th ''daimyō'' of the Aizu Domain and the Kyoto Shugoshoku (Military Commissioner of Kyoto). He in ...

*Ken Shōnozaki as

Matsudaira Sadaaki was a Japanese ''daimyō'' of the Bakumatsu period, who was the last ruler of the Kuwana Domain. Sadaaki was the adopted heir of Matsudaira Sadamichi, the descendant of Matsudaira Sadatsuna, Sadatsuna, the third son of Hisamatsu Sadakatsu (1569� ...

Imperial Court

*Nakamura Kotarō VI as

Emperor Kōmei was the 121st Emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'')孝明天皇 (121)/ref> Kōmei's reign spanned the years from 1846 through 1867, corresponding to the final years of the ...

*Nomura Man'nojō VI as

Emperor Meiji , also called or , was the 122nd emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession. Reigning from 13 February 1867 to his death, he was the first monarch of the Empire of Japan and presided over the Meiji era. He was the figur ...

Shōfukutei Tsurube II , born , is a Japanese rakugo comedian and actor. Filmography Film *''Tokyo Heaven'' (1990) *'' Moving'' (1993) *'' Wait and See'' (1998) *'' Kabei: Our Mother'' (2008) - Senkichi *'' Dear Doctor'' (2009) - Dr. Osamu Ino *'' About Her Brothe ...

Iwakura Tomomi was a Japanese statesman during the Bakumatsu and Meiji period. He was one of the leading figures of the Meiji Restoration, which saw Japan's transition from feudalism to modernity. Born to a noble family, he was adopted by the influential Iwa ...

*Tomiyuki Kunihiro as

Konoe Tadahiro Prince Senior first rank , son of Motosaki, was a ''kugyō'' or Japanese court noble of the late Edo period (1603–1868). He held a regent position kampaku from 1862 to 1863. His consort was Shimazu Kyoko, an adopted daughter of Shimazu Narioki ...

*Nomura Manzō IX as

Sanjō Sanetomi Prince was a Japanese Imperial court noble and statesman at the time of the Meiji Restoration. He held many high-ranking offices in the Meiji government. Biography Born in Kyoto, Sanjō was the son of ''Naidaijin'' Sanjō Sanetsumu. He hel ...

*Takeshi Nadagi as Nakagawa-no-miya * Kenichi Ogata as

Nakayama Tadayasu Marquess Nakayama Tadayasu (Japanese 中山忠能, 17 December 1809 – 12 June 1888) was a Japanese nobleman and courtier of the Edo period and then one of the Kazoku of the post-1867 Empire of Japan. He was the father of Nakayama Yoshiko (1836 ...

*Yasuto Kosuda as

Prince Arisugawa Taruhito was a Japanese career officer in the Imperial Japanese Army, who became the 9th head of the line of '' shinnōke'' cadet branches of the Imperial Family of Japan on September 9, 1871. Early life Prince Arisugawa Taruhito was born in Kyoto in ...

The Government of Meiji

Shugo Oshinari is a Japanese actor. Career Oshinari co-starred in Shunji Iwai's ''All About Lily Chou-Chou'' with Hayato Ichihara. He also appeared in films such as Kenta Fukasaku's '' Battle Royale II: Requiem'' and Takahisa Zeze's ''Heaven's Story''. Filmog ...

Inoue Kaoru Marquess Inoue Kaoru (井上馨, January 16, 1836 – September 1, 1915) was a Japanese politician and a prominent member of the Meiji oligarchy during the Meiji period of the Empire of Japan. As one of the senior statesmen ('' Genrō'') in J ...

*Shingo Murakami as

Yamagata Aritomo '' Gensui'' Prince , also known as Prince Yamagata Kyōsuke, was a senior-ranking Japanese military commander, twice-elected Prime Minister of Japan, and a leading member of the '' genrō'', an élite group of senior statesmen who dominated J ...

Kiyohiko Shibukawa is a Japanese fashion model actor. He debuted as a model under the name Kee, but changed his name to "Kiyohiko Shibukawa" in 2006. He has appeared in more than 60 films since 1998. Selected filmography Film Television Awards See also *Nan ...

Itagaki Taisuke Count was a Japanese politician. He was a leader of the "Freedom and People's Rights Movement" and founded Japan's first political party, the Liberal Party. Biography Early life Itagaki Taisuke was born into a middle-ranking ''samurai'' ...

Hiroyuki Onoue (born July 16, 1985), is a Japanese actor from Osaka Prefecture. Selected filmography TV drama *''Doremisora'' (2002) *'' Journey Under the Midnight Sun'' (2006) *''Ryōmaden'' (2010), Itō Shunsuke *''Carnation'' (2011) *''Hana Moyu'' (2015) ...

Ōkuma Shigenobu Marquess was a Japanese statesman and a prominent member of the Meiji oligarchy. He served as Prime Minister of the Empire of Japan in 1898 and from 1914 to 1916. Ōkuma was also an early advocate of Western science and culture in Japan, and ...

*Takaya Sakoda as

Etō Shinpei was a Japanese statesman during the early Meiji period, remembered chiefly for his role in the unsuccessful Saga Rebellion. Early life and Meiji bureaucrat Etō was born into a crestless and poor samurai family in Yae (modern-day Saga), ...

Foreigners

Thane Camus Thane Alexander Camus (; born November 27, 1970) is an American TV personality and actor in Japan. Biography Camus was born in New York on November 27, 1970. Camus arrived in Japan in 1980 and graduated from a board school in Fujisawa, Kanagawa ...

Harry Smith Parkes Sir Harry Smith Parkes (24 February 1828 – 22 March 1885) was a British diplomat who served as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary and Consul General of the United Kingdom to the Empire of Japan from 1865 to 1883 and the Chinese ...

*Hannah Grace as Mrs. Parkes *Steve Wiley as

Ernest Mason Satow Sir Ernest Mason Satow, (30 June 1843 – 26 August 1929), was a British scholar, diplomat and Japanologist. Satow is better known in Japan than in Britain or the other countries in which he served, where he was known as . He was a key fig ...

*Blake Crawford as

Townsend Harris Townsend Harris (October 4, 1804 – February 25, 1878) was an American merchant and politician who served as the first United States Consul General to Japan. He negotiated the "Harris Treaty" between the US and Japan and is credited as the di ...

*Gilles Beaufils as

Léon Roches Léon Roches (September 27, 1809, Grenoble – 1901) was a representative of the French government in Japan from 1864 to 1868. Léon Roches was a student at the Lycée de Tournon in Grenoble, and followed an education in Law. After only 6 mo ...

*Noam Katz as

Charles Lennox Richardson Charles Lennox Richardson (16 April 1834 – 14 September 1862) was a British merchant based in Shanghai who was killed in Japan during the Namamugi Incident. His middle name is spelled ''Lenox'' in census and family documents. Merchant Richardso ...

*Nathan Berry as Dr. William Willis

Others

Masatō Ibu is a Japanese actor and voice actor. He is sometimes credited as Masato Eve. Filmography Films * ''Love Hotel'' (1985) *''Maison Ikkoku'' (1986) *''Empire of the Sun'' (1987) – Sgt. Nagata *'' Sukeban Deka'' (1987) *'' Toki o Kakeru Shōj ...

Tokugawa Nariaki Tokugawa Nariaki (徳川斉昭, April 4, 1800 – September 29, 1860) was a prominent Japanese ''daimyō'' who ruled the Mito Domain (now Ibaraki Prefecture) and contributed to the rise of nationalism and the Meiji Restoration. Biography C ...

, the father of Yoshinobu *Onoe Kikunosuke V as Getshō *Kimihiko Hasegawa as Date Munenari *Takayasu Komiya as

Tokugawa Yoshikatsu was a Japanese ''daimyō'' of the late Edo period, who ruled the Owari Domain as its 14th (1849–1858) and 17th daimyō (1870–1880). He was the brother of Matsudaira Katamori. His childhood name was Hidenosuke (秀之助). Early years Yoshik ...

*Michiko Tanaka as Tama *Takashi Tome as Den'emon *

Hitori Gekidan , known by the stage name is a Japanese comedian, lyricist, actor, novelist, and film director. He is mainly known his improvisational ability and for his style of physical comedy. Gekidan is represented with Ohta Production. His wife is '' ...

as John Manjirō *Haruna Kondō ( Harisenbon) as Tora *Michifumi Isoda as Naiki Jinzaburō, the first mayor of

Kyoto Kyoto (; Japanese: , ''Kyōto'' ), officially , is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture in Japan. Located in the Kansai region on the island of Honshu, Kyoto forms a part of the Keihanshin metropolitan area along with Osaka and Kobe. , the ci ...

*Kōkichi Tanoue as Naoo Nakahara

Production

Production Credits *Narrator –

*Music – Harumi Fūki *Historical research – Izumi Haraguchi, Manabu Ōishi and Michifumi Isoda *Architectural research – Kiyoshi Hirai *Costume designer –

Kazuko Kurosawa is a Japanese costume designer. She won the 2008 Genie Award for Best Achievement in Costume Design. She is the daughter of famous filmmaker Akira Kurosawa and actress Yōko Yaguchi, her son is actor Takayuki Kato. She is married to the son of a ...

Kagoshima dialect The , often referred to as the , is a group of dialects or dialect continuum of the Japanese language spoken mainly within the area of the former Ōsumi and Satsuma provinces now incorporated into the southwestern prefecture of Kagoshima. It m ...

instructors – Takaya Sakoda and Kōkichi Tanoue The series is based on the novel ''Segodon!'' by Mariko Hayashi which was first released in serial format starting February 2016 in the literature magazine ''Hon no Tabibito'', and published as a book by

Kadokawa Shoten , formerly , is a Japanese publisher and division of Kadokawa Future Publishing based in Tokyo, Japan. It became an internal division of Kadokawa Corporation on October 1, 2013. Kadokawa publishes manga, light novels, manga anthology magazines su ...

the year after.

Casting

was announced to portray the lead role of

in ''Segodon'' on November 2, 2016. The main cast for the Saigo and Okuba family were announced on March 27, 2017, which includes

, Gōta Watabe,

, and

. The main cast for the Shimazu family was announced on June 27, 2017, which includes

, and

. In September 2017, it was announced that Yuki Saito would not be able to play as Ikushima, and was eventually replaced by

. By November 2017,

Etsuko Ichihara was a Japanese actress. She appeared in over 100 films. Biography She graduated from Waseda University School of Letters and Art and Sciences with B.A. degree. Ichihara was a member of the Haiyuza theater troupe from 1957 to 1971. She won an ...

also had to drop out as narrator of the series due to her ongoing recovery from

encephalomyelitis Encephalomyelitis is inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. Various types of encephalomyelitis include: * '' Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis'' or ''postinfectious encephalomyelitis'', a demyelinating disease of the brain and spinal cord, ...

, and was eventually replaced by

TV schedule

Highlight

Soundtracks

*''"Segodon" Taiga Drama Original Soundtrack I'' (February 21, 2018) *''"Segodon" Taiga Drama Original Soundtrack II'' (August 8, 2018) *''"Segodon" Taiga Drama Original Soundtrack III'' (October 10, 2018)

References

External links

Official Site
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Segodon Taiga drama 2018 Japanese television series debuts 2018 Japanese television series endings Cultural depictions of Tokugawa Yoshinobu Television shows written by Miho Nakazono Television series set in the 1840s Television series set in the 1850s Television series set in the 1860s Television series set in the 1870s Television series set in the 1880s Television series set in the 1890s