Yae's Sakura

Yae's Sakura[1] (Japanese: 八重の桜, Hepburn: Yae no Sakura) is a 2013 Japanese historical drama television series and the 52nd NHK taiga drama. Written by Mutsumi Yamamoto, the drama focuses on Niijima Yae, who is portrayed by Haruka Ayase.[2] Yae is a strong believer in women's rights and the story follows her journey in Japan, during the time it is opened up to Western ideas.

Yae's Sakura
Promotional poster
GenreTaiga drama
Written byMutsumi Yamamoto
StarringHaruka Ayase
Hidetoshi Nishijima
Joe Odagiri
Hiroki Hasegawa
Jun Fubuki
Yutaka Matsushige
Kyōko Hasegawa
Tetsuji Tamayama
Gō Ayano
Shun Oguri
Meisa Kuroki
Kotaro Koizumi
Shido Nakamura
Takumi Saito
Yoshiko Miyazaki
Katsuhisa Namase
Kumiko Akiyoshi
Masaya Kato
Masahiro Takashima
Kōji Kikkawa
Ichikawa Somegorō VII
Izumi Inamori
Takashi Sorimachi
Eiji Okuda
Hiroaki Murakami
Hiroki Matsukata
Toshiyuki Nishida
Narrated byMitsuko Kusabue
Theme music composerRyuichi Sakamoto
Composer(s)Nobuyuki Nakajima
Country of originJapan
Original language(s)Japanese
No. of episodes50
Production
Producer(s)Shinsuke Naitō (chief)
Running time45–75 minutes
Release
Original networkNHK
Original releaseJanuary 6 –
December 15, 2013
External links
Website

Yae, who came from the Aizu Domain (now within Fukushima Prefecture), was chosen for the taiga drama as her story of loss and hope was felt to be timely in the aftermath of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. The drama was nominated for the International Emmy Award for Best Drama Series, losing to Utopia.

Cast
Her family
Aizu Domain
Tokugawa shogunate
Shinsengumi
Government of Meiji
Chōshū Domain
Satsuma Domain
Others

Production

On June 22, 2011, NHK announced that its 52nd taiga drama is titled Yae's Sakura and will be about the life of Niijima Yae, the "Jeanne d'Arc of Bakumatsu", with Mutsumi Yamamoto as writer and Katu Takō as director.[3] The historical figure of Niijima was chosen for her story of loss and hope, along with her coming from the Aizu domain (now within the Fukushima Prefecture), to help inspire Japan after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, which seriously affected Fukushima more than the other prefectures.[4]

Music

Ryuichi Sakamoto was announced as the series' theme music composer on April 10, 2012.[5] This is Sakamoto's first time composing music for a taiga drama.[4]

Reception

In 2014, the series was nominated for the International Emmy Award for Best Drama Series.[1]

Home media

The first 15 episodes of Yae's Sakura were released on Blu-ray on October 23, 2013.[6][7] The next 16 episodes received a Blu-ray release on January 22, 2014, which includes two behind-the-scenes featurettes and the textless series intro among others.[8] The last 19 episodes of the series were released on Blu-ray on March 19, 2014, with the release featuring cast interviews and a behind-the-scenes featurette among others.[9] All of the Blu-ray releases are region free.[7][8][9]

Soundtracks
  • NHK Taiga Drama "Yae no Sakura" Original Soundtrack I (January 30, 2013)[10]
  • NHK Taiga Drama "Yae no Sakura" Original Soundtrack II (July 31, 2013)[11]
  • NHK Taiga Drama "Yae no Sakura" Original Soundtrack III (November 13, 2013)[12]
  • NHK Taiga Drama "Yae no Sakura" Original Soundtrack Complete Edition (January 1, 2014)[13]

References
  1. "Yae's Sakura". International Emmy Awards. International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  2. Corkill, Edan (4 January 2013). "NHK spotlights gunslinging daughter of the north in yearlong Sunday drama". The Japan Times.
  3. "大河ドラマ「八重の桜」...新島八重の生涯を描きます". NHK ドラマ (in Japanese). NHK. 22 June 2011. Retrieved 9 November 2019. その姿は後に讃えられる、「幕末のジャンヌ・ダルク」と。
  4. Corkill, Edan (4 January 2013). "NHK spotlights gunslinging daughter of the north in yearlong Sunday drama". The Japan Times. The Japan Times Ltd. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  5. "坂本龍一、2013年「八重の桜」で大河テーマ音楽初挑戦". Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. 10 April 2012. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  6. "NHK Taiga Drama - Yae no Sakura Complete Edition Part 1 (Blu-ray)(Japan Version)". YesAsia. YesAsia.com Ltd. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  7. "NHK Taiga Drama Yae no Saskura Complete Edition Dai 1 shu Blu-ray BOX". CDJapan. Neowing. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  8. "NHK Taiga Drama Yae no Saskura Complete Edition 2 Blu-ray BOX". CDJapan. Neowing. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  9. "NHK Taiga Drama Yae no Saskura Complete Edition 3 Blu-ray BOX". CDJapan. Neowing. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  10. "NHK Taiga Drama "Yae no Sakura" Original Soundtrack 1". HMV & Books Online. Lawson Entertainment, Inc. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  11. "NHK Taiga Drama Original Soundtrack "Yae No Sakura" 2". HMV & Books Online. Lawson Entertainment, Inc. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  12. "Nhk Taiga Drama Original Soundtrack [yae No Sakura] 3". HMV & Books Online. Lawson Entertainment, Inc. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  13. "NHK大河ドラマ「八重の桜」- オリジナル・サウンドトラック コンプリート盤 (2枚組ALBUM)". Amazon.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 31 March 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.