Naotora: The Lady Warlord

Naotora: The Lady Warlord
Promotional poster
Written byYoshiko Morishita
Directed byKazutaka Watanabe
Mitsuhiro Fukui
Hideki Fujinami
Takashi Fukagawa
Naoki Murahashi
Daisuke Andō
Starring
Narrated byNakamura Baijaku II
Theme music composerYoko Kanno
Opening theme"Ten-tora～Tiger Woman (TV Size)" (「天虎～虎の女 (TVサイズ）」) by Paavo Järvi and Lang Lang
ComposerYoko Kanno
Country of originJapan
Original languageJapanese
No. of episodes50
Production
Executive producerYukie Okamoto
ProducerHirotaka Matsukawa
Running time45 minutes
Original release
NetworkNHK
ReleaseJanuary 8 (2017-01-08) –
December 17, 2017 (2017-12-17)

Naotora: The Lady Warlord[1] (Japanese: おんな城主 直虎, Hepburn: Onna Jōshu Naotora) is a 2017 Japanese historical drama television series and the 56th NHK taiga drama.[2] It is written by Yoshiko Morishita and stars Ko Shibasaki as Ii Naotora.

Plot

During the Sengoku period, the Ii family governs the Totomi region. Due to many past wars, there are no more male successors left to become a lord. Naotora Ii (Kou Shibasaki), the only daughter of the lord, now becomes a lord. She faces a difficult period. The constant love from her fiancé, whom she became engaged to at a young age, helps her to keep moving forward.

Cast

Ii clan

Ono family
Nakano family
  • Toshio Kakei as Nakano Naoyoshi
  • Yūma Yamoto as Nakano "Yukinoji" Naoyuki
  • Keisuke Tomita as Nakano Naohisa
Okuyama family
  • Denden as Okuyama Tomotoshi, Shino's father
  • Miou Tanaka as Okuyama "Rokuza" Rokuzaemon
Monks of Ryōtan-ji
Peasants
  • Gaku Yamamoto as Jinbei
  • Takashi Yamanaka as Hachisuke
  • Kō Maehara as Kakutarō
  • Takehiro Kimoto (TKO) as Tomisuke
  • Takayuki Kinoshita (TKO) as Fukuzō

Imagawa clan

Iinoya Triumvirate
  • Daikichi Sugawara as Suzuki Shigetoki
  • Jun Hashimoto as Kondō Yasumochi
  • Masanobu Sakata as Suganuma Tadahisa

Tokugawa clan

The Four Heavenly Kings of the Tokugawa
Matsushita

Oda clan

Takeda clan

Later Hōjō clan

  • Shinobu Tsuruta as Hōjō Ujiyasu
  • Tōru Shinagawa as Hōjō Gen'an
  • Etsuo Yokobori as Ogasawara Yasuhiro

Ryūun-maru's Bandits

  • Yūya Yagira as Ryūun-maru
    • Kōta Noura as young Ryūun-maru
  • Makita Sports as Mogura
  • Togi Makabe as Rikiya
  • Kengo Yoshida as Kaji
  • Kōki Maeda as Gokū
  • Takashi Ashida as Kuwa

Merchants of Kiga

Others

Family tree

Ii Naohira
b. 1489 or 1479
(Gin Maeda)
Sekiguchi Chikanaga
b. 1518		Sana
(Mari Hanafusa)		Nankei
(Kaoru Kobayashi)		Naomitsu
(Takashi Ukaji)		Naomune
Oda Nobunaga
b. 1534
(Ichikawa Ebizō XI)		Tokugawa Ieyasu
b. 1543
(Sadao Abe)		Sena
b. 1542
(Nanao)		Shino
(Shihori Kanjiya)		Naochika
b. 1536
(Haruma Miura)		Naomori
b. 1526
(Tetta Sugimoto)		Chika
(Naomi Zaizen)		Niino Chikanori
(Shunsuke Kariya)
Tokuhime
b. 1559		Matsudaira Nobuyasu
b.1559
(Kinari Hirano)		Naomasa
b. 1561
(Masaki Suda)		Naotora [3]
(Ko Shibasaki)

Production

Production Credits

  • Music – Yoko Kanno
  • Title designer – Maaya Wakasugi[4]
  • Historical research – Tetsuo Owada
  • Architectural research – Kiyoshi Hirai
  • Clothing research – Hiroaki Koizumi

Casting

Ko Shibasaki was announced to portray the lead role of the warlord Ii Naotora on August 25, 2015.[5][6] The rest of the main cast was announced on May 26, 2016, which included Tetta Sugimoto, Naomi Zaizen, Gin Maeda, Kaoru Kobayashi, Haruma Miura, Issey Takahashi, and Yūya Yagira among others.[7] The third cast announcement on July 12, 2016 included Shunpūtei Shōta, Once Matsuya II, Ruriko Asaoka, Sadao Abe, Nanao, Masaki Suda, and Hayato Ichihara among others.[8]

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 and shot.[9] Filming began in September 2016.[10]

Music

Yoko Kanno was announced as the series composer on November 16, 2016.[11] By December 6, Paavo Järvi and Lang Lang were announced as the performers for the series' theme music.[12]

Marketing

On November 16, 2016, the first visual poster for Naotora: The Lady Warlord was released.[13] A trailer for the drama was later released in December 2016.[14]

Kotobukiya released Naotora-themed chopsticks in January 2017 to coincide with the series' broadcast.[15]

TV schedule

Episode Title Directed by Original airdate Rating
1 "Iinoya no Shōjo" (井伊谷の少女) Kazutaka Watanabe January 8, 2017 (2017-01-08) 16.9%
2 "Gakeppuchi no Hime" (崖っぷちの姫) January 15, 2017 (2017-01-15) 15.5%
3 "Otowa Kiki ippatsu" (おとわ危機一髪) January 22, 2017 (2017-01-22) 14.3%
4 "Onago ni koso are Jirōhōshi" (女子にこそあれ次郎法師) Mitsuhiro Fukui January 29, 2017 (2017-01-29) 16.0%
5 "Kamenojō Kaeru" (亀之丞帰る) Kazutaka Watanabe February 5, 2017 (2017-02-05) 16.0%
6 "Hatsukoi no Wakaremichi" (初恋の別れ道) February 12, 2017 (2017-02-12) 14.5%
7 "Kenchi ga yattekita" (検地がやってきた) Mitsuhiro Fukui February 19, 2017 (2017-02-19) 12.9%
8 "Akachan wa madaka" (赤ちゃんはまだか) February 26, 2017 (2017-02-26) 13.4%
9 "Okehazama ni Shisu" (桶狭間に死す) Hideki Fujinami March 5, 2017 (2017-03-05) 14.0%
10 "Hashire Ryūgūkozō" (走れ竜宮小僧) March 12, 2017 (2017-03-12) 12.5%
11 "Saraba Itoshiki Hito yo" (さらば愛しき人よ) Kazutaka Watanabe March 19, 2017 (2017-03-19) 13.7%
12 "Onna jōshu Naotora" (おんな城主直虎) March 26, 2017 (2017-03-26) 12.9%
13 "Jōshu wa Tsurai yo" (城主はつらいよ) April 2, 2017 (2017-04-02) 13.1%
14 "Tokuseirei no Yukue" (徳政令の行方) Mitsuhiro Fukui April 9, 2017 (2017-04-09) 12.9%
15 "Onna jōshu tai Onna daimyō" (おんな城主対おんな大名) April 16, 2017 (2017-04-16) 14.4%
16 "Watage no An" (綿毛の案) Hideki Fujinami April 23, 2017 (2017-04-23) 13.7%
17 "Kesareta Tanegashima" (消された種子島) April 30, 2017 (2017-04-30) 11.0%
18 "Arui wa Uragiri toiu Na no Tsuru" (あるいは裏切りという名の鶴) May 7, 2017 (2017-05-07) 14.3%
19 "Tsumi to Batsu" (罪と罰) Kazutaka Watanabe May 14, 2017 (2017-05-14) 13.6%
20 "Daisan no Onna" (第三の女) Hideki Fujinami May 21, 2017 (2017-05-21) 14.5%
21 "Nushi no Na wa" (ぬしの名は) Kazutaka Watanabe May 28, 2017 (2017-05-28) 13.2%
22 "Tora to Ryū" (虎と龍) June 4, 2017 (2017-06-04) 12.1%
23 "Tōzoku wa Nido Hotoke wo Nusumu" (盗賊は二度仏を盗む) Takashi Fukagawa June 11, 2017 (2017-06-11) 12.3%
24 "Sayonara dakega Jinsei ka?" (さよならだけが人生か？) June 18, 2017 (2017-06-18) 12.4%
25 "Zaimoku wo daite Tobe" (材木を抱いて飛べ) Hideki Fujinami June 25, 2017 (2017-06-25) 12.3%
26 "Tagatameni Shiro wa aru" (誰がために城はある) Kazutaka Watanabe July 2, 2017 (2017-07-02) 12.4%
27 "Kiga wo Waga Teni" (気賀を我が手に) July 9, 2017 (2017-07-09) 12.4%
28 "Shi no Chōmen" (死の帳面) Naoki Murahashi July 16, 2017 (2017-07-16) 12.0%
29 "Onna tachi no Banka" (女たちの挽歌) Mitsuhiro Fukui July 23, 2017 (2017-07-23) 11.9%
30 "Tsubusarezaru Mono" (潰されざる者) Hideki Fujinami July 30, 2017 (2017-07-30) 11.3%
31 "Toramatsu no Kubi" (虎松の首) August 6, 2017 (2017-08-06) 10.6%
32 "Fukkatsu no Hi" (復活の火) Naoki Murahashi August 13, 2017 (2017-08-13) 12.0%
33 "Kiraware-Masatsugu no Isshō" (嫌われ政次の一生) Kazutaka Watanabe August 20, 2017 (2017-08-20) 12.4%
34 "Kakushiminato no Ryūun-maru" (隠し港の龍雲丸) August 27, 2017 (2017-08-27) 11.2%
35 "Yomigaerishi Monotachi" (蘇えりし者たち) September 3, 2017 (2017-09-03) 11.3%
36 "Ii-ke Saigo no Hi" (井伊家最後の日) Mitsuhiro Fukui September 10, 2017 (2017-09-10) 12.1%
37 "Takeda ga Kitarite Hi wo Hanatsu" (武田が来たりて火を放つ) Hideki Fujinami September 17, 2017 (2017-09-17) 13.3%
38 "Ii wo Tomo ni Sarinu" (井伊を共に去りぬ) September 24, 2017 (2017-09-24) 11.7%
39 "Toramatsu no Yabō" (虎松の野望) Kazutaka Watanabe October 1, 2017 (2017-10-01) 11.7%
40 "Tenshō no Zōriban" (天正の草履番) October 8, 2017 (2017-10-08) 11.6%
41 "Kono Genkan no Katasumide" (この玄関の片隅で) Daisuke Andō October 15, 2017 (2017-10-15) 11.8%
42 "Nagashino ni Tateru Saku" (長篠に立てる柵) Mitsuhiro Fukui October 22, 2017 (2017-10-22) 11.9%
43 "Onshō no Kanata ni" (恩賞の彼方に) Hideki Fujinami October 29, 2017 (2017-10-29) 12.9%
44 "Iinoya no Bara" (井伊谷のばら) November 5, 2017 (2017-11-05) 11.4%
45 "Maō no Ikenie" (魔王のいけにえ) Takashi Fukagawa November 12, 2017 (2017-11-12) 10.7%
46 "Akujo ni Tsuite" (悪女について) Kazutaka Watanabe November 19, 2017 (2017-11-19) 12.0%
47 "Kessen wa Takatenjin" (決戦は高天神) November 26, 2017 (2017-11-26) 11.3%
48 "Nobunaga, Hamamatsu Kitaitteyo" (信長、浜松来たいってよ) Mitsuhiro Fukui December 3, 2017 (2017-12-03) 11.9%
49 "Honnō-ji ga Hen" (本能寺が変) Hideki Fujinami December 10, 2017 (2017-12-10) 12.0%
50 "Ishi wo Tsugu Mono" (石を継ぐ者) Kazutaka Watanabe December 17, 2017 (2017-12-17) 12.5%
Average rating 12.8% - Rating is based on Japanese Video Research(Kantō region).[16]

Omnibus

Episode Title Original airdate Original airtime
1 "Kore ga Jirō no Ikiru Michi" (これが次郎の生きる道) December 30, 2017 13:05 - 14:00
2 "Naotora no Kakusei" (直虎の覚醒) 14:00 - 15:00
3 "Nigeru wa Haji da ga Toki ni Katsu" (逃げるは恥だが時に勝つ) 15:05 - 16:30
4 "Iinoya wa Midori nari" (井伊谷は緑なり) 16:30 - 17:43

Soundtracks

  • NHK taiga drama Naotora: The Lady Warlord, 音楽虎の巻　イチトラ (Ongaku Tora no Maki: Ichitora) (January 11, 2017)[17][18]
  • NHK taiga drama Naotora: The Lady Warlord, 音楽虎の巻　ニィトラ (Ongaku Tora no Maki: Niitora) (April 5, 2017)[19][20]
  • NHK taiga drama Naotora: The Lady Warlord, 緊急特盤　鶴のうた (Kinkyū Tokuban: Tsuru no Uta) (August 23, 2017)[21][22]
  • NHK taiga drama Naotora: The Lady Warlord, 音楽虎の巻　ベストラ (Ongaku Tora no Maki: Besutora) (December 20, 2017)[23]

See also

References

  1. ^ Hawaii Herald (23 February 2017). "TV Guide Revision". The Hawai'i Herald. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  2. ^ "柴咲コウさん主演！平成29年 大河ドラマ「おんな城主 直虎」". NHK. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  3. ^ "井伊直虎 人物像". Hamamatsu City. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  4. ^ "平成29年 大河ドラマ「おんな城主 直虎」題字決定！". NHK ドラマ (in Japanese). NHK. 26 August 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  5. ^ "柴咲コウさん主演！平成29年 大河ドラマ「おんな城主 直虎」". NHK ドラマ (in Japanese). NHK. 25 August 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  6. ^ ustar (26 August 2015). "Shibasaki Kou to star in 2017 Taiga drama". Tokyo Hive. 6Theory Media, LLC. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  7. ^ "平成29年 大河ドラマ「おんな城主 直虎」出演者決定！". NHK ドラマ (in Japanese). NHK. 26 May 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  8. ^ "平成29年 大河ドラマ「おんな城主 直虎」新たな出演者発表！". NHK ドラマ (in Japanese). NHK. 12 July 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  9. ^ Shinozuka, Jun, ed. (January 2011). "Feature 1: JQR Interview – Yoshiko Nishimura". Japan Quality Review Vol. 0-1. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  10. ^ "柴咲コウ、井伊直虎のお墓参りに「ご加護をいただけた思い」". Oricon (in Japanese). Oricon ME inc. 26 August 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  11. ^ "菅野よう子、柴咲コウ主演NHK大河ドラマ『おんな城主 直虎』の音楽を担当". Amass (in Japanese). Amass.jp. 16 November 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  12. ^ "2017年NHK大河ドラマ≪おんな城主 直虎≫のテーマ曲を担当する、世界的音楽家ラン・ランとパーヴォ・ヤルヴィが来日合同インタビューで語る、作曲家・菅野よう子の世界。". ソニーミュージック オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. 6 December 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  13. ^ "おんな城主 直虎：ポスタービジュアル公開 柴咲コウがおかっぱ頭の"城主姿"披露". Mantan Web (in Japanese). Mantan Inc. 16 November 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  14. ^ J Trailers (19 December 2016). "[trailer] Onna Joushu Naotora [Drama 2017]". YouTube. YouTube, LLC. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  15. ^ @Press (30 November 2016). "Dine with Chopsticks Inspired by Ii Naotora's Samurai Sword!". Tokyo Otaku Mode. Tokyo Otaku Mode Inc. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  16. ^ "おんな城主 直虎:最終回視聴率は12.5％ 期間平均12.8％で史上3番目の低さ". Mantan-web. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  17. ^ "NHK大河ドラマ「おんな城主 直虎」 音楽虎の巻 イチトラ". Sony Music Shop (in Japanese). Sony Music Solutions Inc. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  18. ^ ""Onna Joshu Naotora (TV Series)" Ongaku Tora no Maki Ichitora [Blu-spec CD2]". CDJapan. Neowing. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  19. ^ "NHK大河ドラマ「おんな城主 直虎」 音楽虎の巻 ニィトラ （通常盤）". Sony Music Shop (in Japanese). Sony Music Solutions Inc. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  20. ^ "Nhk Taiga Drama Onna Joushu Naotora Ongaku Toranomaki Niitora". HMV&BOOKS Online. Lawson Entertainment, Inc. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  21. ^ "NHK大河ドラマ「おんな城主 直虎」 緊急特盤 鶴のうた". Sony Music Shop (in Japanese). Sony Music Solutions Inc. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  22. ^ "Nhk Taiga Drama[onna Joushu Naotora] Kinkyuu Tokuban Tsuru No Uta". HMV&BOOKS Online. Lawson Entertainment, Inc. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  23. ^ "NHK大河ドラマ「おんな城主 直虎」音楽虎の巻 ベストラ 配信限定で12月20日リリース！". Sony Music (in Japanese). Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. 17 December 2017. Retrieved 19 August 2019.