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| Bangaku no Issho (2002) Bangaku's Life Story |
| Created on January 6, 2008 |
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| Based on Pymmik's Koji Yakusho News 1 June 2, 2001 Koji's TV serial drama, titled, "Bangaku No Issho"(Life of Bangaku) is to be shown from October on Fuji TV. This is a samurai drama, which was shot just after "Dora-Heita" was finished in April, 1999. Two out of ten episodes were shot by Kon Ichikawa. "Bangaku No Isshou" is well-known to old Japanese movie fans, since Sadao Yamanaka (Humanity Paperballoons) directed the film with Denjiro Okouchi in 1933 as a silent film but it doesn't exist any more. Only the scenario which Yamanaka wrote based on a novel under the same title by Kyoji Shirai exists. Kon Ichikawa is now one of the rare persons who saw the movie by Yamanaka. ................................. Koji Yakusho's TV serial drama called, "Bangaku no Issho" (Life of Bangaku) with nine episodes started on Fuji TV from March 5, 2002. However, it stopped after the second episodes for some unknown reason. The third episode is going to be shown on April 30. Kon Ichikawa, who directed "Dora-heita", directed the first and second episodes of "Bangaku no Issho". This TV drama was filmed from November, 1999 to March, 2000 but, for various reasons the release was postponed until March 5 this year.(2002) Koji Yakusho's portrayal of Bangaku is again superb. The character of Bangaku is quite interesting. He is honest, sincere, vigorous and strong. He passionately loves his valuable sword called, "Heki Mitsuhira", which was given to him by his former kendo teacher. He is a lonely man and he rather regards this sword as if it were his sole friend. The drama develops as Bangaku meets various people while travelling. In each episode, he believes people but he ends up being betrayed by them. In his fury he finally decides to use his beloved sword against them. |
| Episodes: 10
Broadcast network: Fuji TV Broadcast period: 2002-Mar-05 to 2002-June-18 Air time: Tuesdays 19:59 to 20:54 Episodes: 10 Broadcast network: Fuji TV Broadcast period: 2002-Mar-05 to 2002-June-18 Air time: Tuesdays 19:59 to 20:54 |
| Synopsis:
Based on a novel by Shirai Kyoji, the drama follows the story of a roaming samurai, Achigawa Bangaku. Unable to turn a blind eye to injustice and deception, Bangaku works to right wrongs with his trusty sword and unbending determination. |
| Cast
Yakusho Koji as Achigawa Bangaku Production Credits Original writing: Shirai Kyoji Bangaku no Issho (novel) Planning: Nomura Yoichi Nishoka Yoshinobu Producers: Endo Ryunosuke , Hobara Kenichiro Directors: Ichikawa Kon Yamashita Tomohiko Tsushima Masaru Tanaka Mikihito Hayashi Toru, Mimura Haruhiko Saito Kosei Harada Shinji Ogasawara Yoshibumi . |
| Notes
Yakusho Koji plays the only regular in the cast. Episodes 1 through 8 were aired through Fuji TV, but episodes 9 and 10 were broadcast on digital television only through Jidaigeki Senmon Channel. |