Date: From 9.00 p.m., 26 February 2014
Cast: Yanagiba Toshiro, Natsukawa Yui, Okuda Tatsuhito, Shimizu Yumi, Hiraga Masaomi, Masumoto Shoichiro, Yoshizawa Ken, Yoshimura Jitsuko, Sasai Eisuke, Harada Mieko
Synopsis: In 1965 (Showa 40), Kunikata Chiyoko (Harada Mieko) visits Sasaki (Sasai Eisuke) who had once been her the secretary of her father Umeya Shokichi (Yanagiba Toshiro). Shokichi founded the first major movie studio in Japan and was called the movie industry’s soldier of fortune. However, he had another unknown side. In his will, Shokichi who had never breathed a word, ordered that the matter not be publicised. However, Sasaki wants to tell the world about the journey that Shokichi and his wife Toku (Natsukawa Yui) who had supported him throughout life, had taken and hands a wooden box to Chiyoko. It is filled with the couple’s secret life which Chiyoko does not know about … … Shokichi was born in 1868 (Meiji 1), the son and heir of a Nagasaki trade merchant. However, he ran away from home at the age of 25 because of his daring character and went missing. Fed up with his profligate son, Shokichi’s father Kichigoro (Yoshizawa Ken) took in Toku, who was born and raised in Iki, as his adopted daughter and heir. But two years later, Shokichi unexpectedly came home from Hong Kong. His father asked him to marry Toku before his death and the two who had just met became husband and wife. However, Kichigoro soon passed away and Shokichi set off for Hong Kong alone right after the funeral service. The photo studio that Shokichi started in Hong Kong provided services he had personally developed and enjoyed a booming business. In 1895 (Meiji 28), he met Sun Yat-sen (Okuda Tatsuhito) through an introduction by Dr James Cantlie. The two men instantly hit it off. Sun was passionate about a revolution for the sake of the masses forced into hard lives because of the Qing Emperor’s rule, and sought Shokichi’s assistance. Touched by Sun’s response, Shokichi started to provide financial support. Sun immediately raised an army but failed countless times. However, Shokichi continued to send funds after that … … On the other hand, Toku who had been left waiting in Japan for nine years finally came to Hong Kong uninvited one day in 1903 (Meiji 36). She began to live with three orphans that Shokichi had adopted and learned that he had been supporting Sun. When asked for the reason, Shokichi wrote the word “universal benevolence” on a piece of paper which he held out to her. This referred to universal love without discrimination. Toku came to grips with her husband’s feelings and decided to support his secret activities.
Official Website: www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/tattaichido
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Tagged: Natsukawa Yui, Yanagiba Toshiro
