Awaiting Kirin

Awaiting Kirin (麒麟がくる, Kirin ga Kuru) is a 2020 Japanese historical drama television series starring Hiroki Hasegawa as Akechi Mitsuhide, a samurai and general during the Sengoku period. The series is the 59th NHK taiga drama,[3][4][5] premiering on January 19, 2020. It is the first regular taiga drama to be fully shot in 4K resolution,[Note 1] as well as the first taiga drama to be composed by a non-Japanese (John R. Graham).

Awaiting Kirin
Promotional poster
Kirin ga Kuru
Written byShunsaku Ikehata
Yōichi Maekawa
Directed byTaku Ōhara and others
Starring
Narrated byIchikawa Ebizō XI
Theme music composerJohn R. Graham
Opening theme"Warrior Past" by the NHK Symphony Orchestra[1]
ComposerJohn R. Graham
Country of originJapan
Original languageJapanese
No. of episodes44
Production
ProducersMasaru Ochiai (chief)[2]
Hideki Fujinami[2]
Ryōhei Nakano[2]
Running time45 minutes
Release
Original networkNHK
Original releaseJanuary 19, 2020 (2020-01-19) –
February 7, 2021 (2021-02-07)

Plot

The story is based on the life of Akechi Mitsuhide, a general under Oda Nobunaga.

Cast

Akechi clan

Oda clan
The vassals

Saitō clan

Hosokawa clan

Imagawa clan

Tokugawa (Matsudaira) clan

Toki clan

Asakura clan

Azai clan

Ashikaga shogunate

Miyoshi clan

Takeda clan

The imperial court

Others

Production

Production Credits

On April 19, 2018, NHK announced Awaiting Kirin as its 59th taiga drama, starring Hiroki Hasegawa as Akechi Mitsuhide, a samurai and general during the Sengoku period, with Shunsaku Ikehata as writer.[7] Ikehata previously wrote the 29th taiga drama, Taiheiki (1991). The drama aims to shed light on the first half of Akechi's life, of which little is known about due to lacking historical records.[7][2] On March 8, 2019, NHK announced that John R. Graham will be Awaiting Kirin's composer, having previously been a composer for Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV; he is the first American hired to compose the score and the main theme of a taiga drama.[8] Meanwhile, Junichi Hirokami acts as conductor of the NHK Symphony Orchestra.[1] Historical researcher Tetsuo Owada, a professor emeritus at Shizuoka University who specializes in the Sengoku period of Japanese history, previously advised taiga dramas such as Hideyoshi (1996), Tenchijin (2009), and Gunshi Kanbei (2014).[9]

Casting

After Hasegawa, the rest of the main cast was announced on March 8, 2019, which included Mugi Kadowaki, Takashi Okamura, Sayuri Ishikawa, Masahiko Nishimura, Katsunori Takahashi, Erika Sawajiri, and Masahiro Motoki among others.[9] The second cast announcement on June 17, 2019, included Fumino Kimura as Hiroko, as well as Kaho Minami, Takehiro Murata, Satoshi Tokushige, Kataoka Ainosuke VI, Rei Dan, and Kuranosuke Sasaki.[2] The third cast announcement on August 7, 2019, included Machiko Ono, Osamu Mukai, Shunsuke Kazama, and Goro Ibuki.[10] Ono previously had the main roles in Ashio Kara Kita Onna (2014) and Natsume Soseki no Tsuma (2016), two NHK drama series written by Shunsaku Ikehata.[10] The fourth cast announcement on February 19, 2020, included Yūsuke Santamaria, Shotaro Mamiya, Kanata Hongō, Masanobu Ando, Kyōko Maya, and Bengal.

Filming

The usual taiga drama production would first have one-third of the expected number of scripts finished before shooting begins. Afterwards, audience reception is taken into account as the rest of the series is written.[11]

Shooting for the series began on June 3, 2019.[12][13] Awaiting Kirin is the first regular taiga drama to be fully shot in 4K resolution.[14][Note 1] Chief producer Masaru Ochiai stated that the colorful costumes to be worn are made with adherence to feng shui.[12]

On November 16, 2019, Erika Sawajiri, playing Oda Nobunaga's wife Kichō, was arrested over MDMA possession. She was replaced by Haruna Kawaguchi five days after being taken into custody.[6] The series' start date was delayed by a fortnight as all of Sawajiri's scenes in the first 10 episodes – along with advertising and promotional footage – had to be reshot.[15]

On April 1, 2020, NHK announced that filming schedules for both Awaiting Kirin and Yell were cancelled until April 12 to consider the safety of performers and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.[16] By April 7, NHK extended the cancellation of shooting for both series after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe proclaimed a one-month state of emergency for Tokyo and other prefectures.[17] The series resumed on August 30, 2020.[18]

Reception

According to Kaori Shoji of The Japan Times, observers during the reshoots of the first 10 episodes criticized Haruna Kawaguchi's performance as being "too flimsy".[15]

Ryusei Iwata's performance as Takechiyo, the child Ieyasu, has received praise from viewers online.[19]

TV schedule
EpisodeTitleDirected byOriginal airdateRating
1"Mitsuhide, Nishi e" (光秀、西へ, Mitsuhide, to the West)Taku ŌharaJanuary 19, 2020 (2020-01-19)19.1%
2"Dōsan no Wana" (道三の罠, Dōsan's Snare)January 26, 2020 (2020-01-26)17.9%
3"Mino no Kuni" (美濃の国, Mino Province)February 2, 2020 (2020-02-02)16.1%
4"Owari Sennyū Shirei" (尾張潜入指令, Infiltration Order: Owari)Hideki FujinamiFebruary 9, 2020 (2020-02-09)13.5%
5"Iheiji wo Sagase" (伊平次を探せ, Find Iheiji!)February 16, 2020 (2020-02-16)13.2%
6"Miyoshi Nagayoshi Shūgeki Keikaku" (三好長慶襲撃計画, Miyoshi Nagayoshi's Battle Plan)Taku ŌharaFebruary 23, 2020 (2020-02-23)13.8%
7"Kichō no Negai" (帰蝶の願い, Kichō's Wish)Takashi IsshikiMarch 1, 2020 (2020-03-01)15.0%
8"Dōmei no Yukue" (同盟のゆくえ, The Future of the Alliance)Taku ŌharaMarch 8, 2020 (2020-03-08)13.7%
9"Nobunaga no Shippai" (信長の失敗, Nobunaga's Failure)Yoshiharu SasakiMarch 15, 2020 (2020-03-15)15.0%
10"Hitoribocchi no Wakagimi" (ひとりぼっちの若君, The Lonely Young Lord)Takashi IsshikiMarch 22, 2020 (2020-03-22)16.5%
11"Shōgun no Namida" (将軍の涙, The Shogun's Tears)Taku ŌharaMarch 29, 2020 (2020-03-29)14.3%
12"Jūbei no Yome" (十兵衛の嫁, Jūbei's Bride)Yoshiharu SasakiApril 5, 2020 (2020-04-05)14.6%
13"Kichō no Hakarigoto" (帰蝶のはかりごと, Kichō's Scheme)Takashi FukagawaApril 12, 2020 (2020-04-12)15.7%
14"Shōtoku-ji no Kaiken" (正徳寺の会見, The Audience at Shotokuji)Taku ŌharaApril 19, 2020 (2020-04-19)15.4%
15"Dōsan, Waga Chichi ni Arazu" (道三、わが父に非ず, Dōsan is not my father)Takashi IsshikiApril 26, 2020 (2020-04-26)14.9%
16"Ōkina Kuni" (大きな国, A Great Land)May 3, 2020 (2020-05-03)16.2%
17"Nagaragawa no Taiketsu" (長良川の対決, Showdown at Nagaragawa)Taku ŌharaMay 10, 2020 (2020-05-10)14.9%
18"Echizen e" (越前へ, To Echizen)Yoshiharu SasakiMay 17, 2020 (2020-05-17)15.1%
19"Nobunaga wo Ansatsu seyo" (信長を暗殺せよ, Assassinate Nobunaga!)Takashi FukagawaMay 24, 2020 (2020-05-24)15.7%
20"Ieyasu e no Fumi" (家康への文, The Letter to Ieyasu)Takashi IsshikiMay 31, 2020 (2020-05-31)15.3%
21"Kessen! Okehazama" (決戦！桶狭間, The Battle of Okehazama)June 7, 2020 (2020-06-07)16.3%
The production was suspended for about three months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
22"Kyō yori no Shisha" (京よりの使者, The Messenger from Kyōto)Taku ŌharaAugust 30, 2020 (2020-08-30)14.6%
23"Yoshiteru, Natsu no Owari ni" (義輝、夏の終わりに, The End of Yoshiteru's Summer)Yoshiharu SasakiSeptember 13, 2020 (2020-09-13)13.4%
24"Shōgun no Utsuwa" (将軍の器, Fit to be Shogun)September 20, 2020 (2020-09-20)13.1%
25"Hane Hakobu Ari" (羽運ぶ蟻, The Ant and the Wing)Takashi FukagawaSeptember 27, 2020 (2020-09-27)12.9%
26"Mitsubuchi no Kankei" (三淵の奸計, Mitsubuchi's Scheme)October 4, 2020 (2020-10-04)13.0%
27"Sōkyū no Yakusoku" (宗久の約束, Sokyu's Promise)Takashi IsshikiOctober 11, 2020 (2020-10-11)13.0%
28"Atarashiki Bakufu" (新しき幕府, A New Shogunate)Taku ŌharaOctober 18, 2020 (2020-10-18)12.5%
29"Settsu Harukado no Keiryaku" (摂津晴門の計略, Settsu Harukado's Plot)October 25, 2020 (2020-10-25)13.2%
30"Asakura Yoshikage wo Ute" (朝倉義景を討て, Defeat Asakura Yoshikage)Yoshiharu SasakiNovember 1, 2020 (2020-11-01)11.9%
31"Nigeyo Nobunaga" (逃げよ信長, Run, Nobunaga)Takashi IsshikiNovember 8, 2020 (2020-11-08)13.8%
32"Hangeki no Nihyakuchō" (反撃の二百挺, 200 Guns)Takashi FukagawaNovember 15, 2020 (2020-11-15)13.3%
33"Hieizan ni Sumu Mamono" (比叡山に棲む魔物, The Demons of Mount Hiei)Takashi IsshikiNovember 22, 2020 (2020-11-22)13.1%
34"Yakiuchi no Daishō" (焼討ちの代償, The Price of the Massacre)Yoshiharu SasakiNovember 29, 2020 (2020-11-29)13.6%
35"Yoshiaki, Mayoi no Naka de" (義昭、まよいの中で, Yoshiaki Bewildered)Taku ŌharaDecember 6, 2020 (2020-12-06)12.7%
36"Ketsubetsu" (訣別, Parting Ways)Takashi IsshikiDecember 13, 2020 (2020-12-13)12.3%
37"Nobunaga-kō to Ranjatai" (信長公と蘭奢待, Nobunaga and the Ranjatai)Takashi FukagawaDecember 20, 2020 (2020-12-20)12.2%
38"Tanba Kōryaku Meirei" (丹波攻略命令, The Order to Conquer Tanba)Hideki FujinamiDecember 27, 2020 (2020-12-27)11.5%
39"Hongan-ji wo Tatake" (本願寺を叩け, Crushing Honganji)Takashi FukagawaJanuary 3, 2021 (2021-01-03)11.4%
40"Matsunaga Hisahide no Hiragumo" (松永久秀の平蜘蛛, Matsunaga Hisahide's Hiragumo)Taku ŌharaJanuary 10, 2021 (2021-01-10)13.6%
41"Tsuki ni Noboru Mono" (月にのぼる者, Reaching for the Moon)Yoshiharu SasakiJanuary 17, 2021 (2021-01-17)13.4%
42"Hanare-yuku Kokoro" (離れゆく心, Fading Heart)Takashi IsshikiJanuary 24, 2021 (2021-01-24)13.8%
43"Yami ni Hikaru Ki" (闇に光る樹, A Tree that Shines In the Dark)January 31, 2021 (2021-01-31)13.9%
44"Honnō-ji no Hen" (本能寺の変, The Honnoji Incident)Takashi Isshiki and Taku ŌharaFebruary 7, 2021 (2021-02-07)18.4%
Average rating 14.4% - Rating is based on Japanese Video Research (Kantō region).[20]

Highlight
EpisodeTitleOriginal airdateOriginal airtime
1 "Mino Chapter" (美濃編) February 23, 202113:05 - 14:00
2"Jōraku Chapter" (上洛編)14:00 - 15:00
3"Shin-Bakufu Chapter" (新幕府編)15:05 - 16:20
4"Honnō-ji Chapter" (本能寺編)16:20 - 17:35

Soundtrack
  • Kirin ga Kuru NHK Taiga Drama Original Soundtrack Vol. 1 (January 29, 2020)[21]
  • Kirin ga Kuru NHK Taiga Drama Original Soundtrack Vol. 2
  • Kirin ga Kuru NHK Taiga Drama Original Soundtrack Vol. 3 (December 23, 2020)

Accolades
Ceremony Category Nominees Result Ref
24th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix Best Actor Hiroki Hasegawa Won [22]
Best Supporting Actor Shōta Sometani Won

See also

Notes
  1. Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit, a taiga fantasy drama from 2016 to 2018, was fully shot in 4K, but it is not counted as part of the official list of taiga dramas.

References
  1. Sony Music Entertainment (28 January 2020). "Warrior Past". YouTube. YouTube, LLC. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  2. "《2020年大河ドラマ》"美濃編" の出演者を発表！". NHK_PR (in Japanese). NHK. 17 June 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  3. "《2020年大河ドラマ》"美濃編" の出演者を発表！". NHK. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  4. "大河「麒麟がくる」織田信長は染谷将太！門脇麦、沢尻エリカ、本木雅弘ら12名出演". Natalie. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  5. "《2020年大河ドラマ》"戦国武将＆戦国の華" 出演者発表". NHK. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  6. "沢尻容疑者大河の代役は川口春奈「気高さと強さを」". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). November 21, 2019. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  7. "2020年 大河ドラマ 制作・主演決定！ 脚本 池端俊策 ＆ 主演 "明智光秀" 長谷川博己". NHK_PR (in Japanese). NHK. 19 April 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  8. "2020年大河ドラマ「麒麟がくる」"美濃編"出演者発表". NHKドラマ (in Japanese). NHK. March 8, 2019. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  9. "《2020年大河ドラマ》"美濃編" の出演者を発表！". NHK_PR (in Japanese). NHK. 8 March 2019. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  10. "《2020年大河ドラマ》新たな出演者発表". NHK_PR. NHK. 7 August 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  11. Shinozuka, Jun, ed. (January 2011). "Feature 1: JQR Interview – Yoshiko Nishimura". Japan Quality Review Vol. 0-1. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  12. "2020年大河「麒麟がくる」撮入、光秀・長谷川博己「期待以上のものお見せできる」". 映画.com (in Japanese). Eiga.com, Inc. 4 June 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  13. "撮影スタート！出演者の衣装を初お披露目". NHK_PR (in Japanese). NHK. 7 June 2019. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  14. "2020年 大河ドラマ 制作・主演決定！ 脚本 池端俊策 ＆ 主演 "明智光秀" 長谷川博己". NHK_PR (in Japanese). NHK. 19 April 2019. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  15. Shoji, Kaori (17 January 2020). "NHK's taiga drama hopes to shake off its curse". The Japan Times. The Japan Times Ltd. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  16. "NHK 朝ドラ「エール」と大河「麒麟がくる」収録一時休止を発表 放送に影響ない見込み". Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). Sports Nippon Newspapers. 1 April 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  17. "ＮＨＫ、「麒麟がくる」「エール」の収録中止さらに延期". The Sankei News (in Japanese). The Sankei Shimbun. 7 April 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  18. "『麒麟がくる』放送再開に歓喜の声 「麒麟がきたぁぁぁぁ！」「OP聞いただけで泣けてくる」開始直後にトレンド1位". Crank-in!. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  19. Ishii, Yuriko, ed. (March 23, 2020). "「麒麟がくる」竹千代役・岩田琉聖に絶賛相次ぐ". Yahoo! Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 29 March 2020. 放送後、そのけなげで聡明な竹千代の姿に心を動かされた視聴者が多く、演じた子役・岩田の演技に「かわいい」「天才」「引き込まれた」
  20. "ＮＨＫ大河「麒麟がくる」最終回視聴率は18.4％ 全回平均14.4％". Sankei Shimbun. 8 February 2021. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  21. "NHK Taiga Drama Kirin ga Kuru Original Soundtrack Vol.1". HMV & Books Online. Lawson Entertainment, Inc. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  22. "2020年度ドラマGP年間大賞発表". Nikkan Sports. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
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