Jun. 1st, 2016 02:42 am
Seirei no Moribito (Season 1): Drama Notes
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earth_colorsSorry if it took so long to post this. But finally here are the notes for NHK's live action 2016 drama, Seirei no Moribito (Season 1). Basically most of these are additional information and details from the novel, that are not mentioned in in the live-action adaptation. I will not discuss about the anime, since I have not watched it. So far, I have only read the first book (wonderful English translation by Cathy Hirano), and read the synopses of the rest (there are nine books in the series), so my knowledge is still very limited.
Moribito Series. There are nine books (published 1996-2007 under Kaiseisha and Shinchosha) overall, which also includes short stories that offer sneak look into the past of Balsa and Tanda. The first book had been made into a manga and anime.
(info/pic: wiki)
Uehashi Naoko. According to wiki, the author of the Moribito series is also "a Professor of Ethnology at Kawamura Gakuen Women's University, having completed a PhD focusing on the Yamatji, an indigenous Australian people." Her other work is Kemono no Soja or "The Beast Player Series" which was also adapted into an anime series.
(pic: hotjupiter)
Balsa. At the start of the series, she was 30 years old. In the last book she was 37 (Chagum who was 11, had become 18 by this time). In the novel, she was not captured and tortured but actually given special treatment for saving the Prince. The Second Empress also had her background checked beforehand, and said Balsa is well-known in her trade, as "Balsa, the Spear-Wielder -- a wanderer from Kanbal fluent in many tongues, a spear woman who has saved lives."
(click to another tab for a bigger image)
New Yogo Empire. The name of the setting of Season 1, a land governed by a divine ruler only known as the Mikado or "Emperor". In Japanese, it's Shinyogo Koukoku [新ヨゴ皇国]. However in the drama, it was written as Shinyogo Kuni [新ヨゴ国], omitting the [皇] in [皇国], thereby instead of "empire" it became "country", that is why in the subs I called it "New Yogo Country". I am not sure why NHK made this particular change in the name, but I respected it, and kept to the script(even if "country" sounds awkward).
New Yogo is located in the Nayoro Peninsula (in the drama it was only mentioned as the "North Continent"). It was first inhabited by "large-jawed, dark skinned" people called the Yaku (also Yakoo), until people of Yogo ("Yogoese") from across the sea to the south came to settle in the land, driving the Yaku up north.
The capital of New Yogo is Kosenkyo, which means "Shining Fan", since it is said to be in the shape of a fan. The Imperial Court is located in the section called Ogi no Kami or "the handle of the fan". The nobility lives in Ogi no Naka or the "center of the fan" while the common folks are in Ogi no Shimo (The Ends of the Fan).
(pic with modifications by me:kaiseisha)
Nayugu and Sagu. As told in the drama, the unseen world of spirits and elemental is called "Nayugu". Not mentioned that the "seen world" or reality is called "Sagu".
The Imperial Court. The Royal Court is divided into four quadrants. The main quadrant is the Yogo palace of the Mikado or Emperor. Next is the area of the Ichinomiya or First Palace where the First Empress and Crown Prince Sagum lives, as well as the Ninomiya or Second Palace (which got destroyed in the fire), where the Second Prince Chagum, and his mother, the Second Empress lived. The third quadrant (not mentioned in the drama) is where the Sannomiya or the Third Palace is, the home of the Third Empress who lives along with her daughters (no sons). And the final area in the Court is the Star Palace (with the Star Tower depicted in the drama), where the Star Diviners live.
Holy Sage (Seidoshi or 聖導師). He is the Master Star Reader, although he is no longer a star reader, and only concerned with running the country, as officially the prime minister and consul who is actually the real power behind the throne. In the novel, his name is Hibi Tonan. He leaves the star reading to the Star Diviners or "Hoshidoku Hakase" [星読博士], literally "Star Reading Experts". In the first book, the Holy Sage wasn't portrayed as "ruthless" as the one in the drama. The drama showed that the Holy Sage will do anything to save the country, even if he has to resort to devious means, like the sudden death of the Crown Prince (in the book, there was no hint that the Holy Sage might be behind it, but I'm not sure about the other books though).
The Eight Hunters. The names of the Hunters mean numbers, as well as their ranking: Mon (One), Jin (Two), Zen (Three), etc. In the book, it was explained that they were the descendants (last born sons) of the eight men who were said to have accompanied Emperor Torugaru, and who fought the demon with him by wielding the torches.
Torogai. In the first book, she was 70 years old. In Nayugu language, her name means Land Dweller. This is the term the Yona Ro Gai (The Water Dwellers) call anyone from the land, even Tanda. So it means Torogai's real name might be different.
Additional stuff not mentioned in the drama:
- Rogsam, the Kanbal King who had his brother and Balsa's father killed, was already dead, and his son has taken over the throne by the time the first book happened.
- It was shown in the anime (but not in the drama) that it was Gakai and the Second Empress who witnessed the first time the Spirit's egg glowed inside Chagum while he was asleep. It was also Gakai who "diagnosed" it as a demon, and even contemptibly assumed that Chagum was not the son of the Emperor.
- The Mikado and the Second Empress only had one scene each in the first novel (unlike in the drama, they had more scenes). The Mikado in the drama was portrayed as a somewhat crazy guy who is jealous and wary of his son, Chagum. In the anime, he was portrayed as a sane and just ruler but actually, in the book series (the last ones), the Mikado reveals his true nature, that he is against Chagum taking over the throne, and so father and son will have to confront each other in the end.
- When Chagum heard the death of his brother the Crown Prince, he felt sad but at the same time, remembered that Sagum was not close to him, and actually treated him (Chagum) with disdain.
Seirei no Moribito Season 2. It will be shown in early 2017. It should be noted that not every book in the Moribito Series has Balsa as the main focus in the stories. For example Book 3 (Yume no Moribito) focuses on Tanda and Torogai. Book 4 (Koku no Tabibito) is a story about Chagum when he was 14 years old. So Season 2 will skip those books and jump to Book 5 (Kami no Moribito) and Book 6 (Ten to Chi no Moribito) which take place 3-4 years after the first book. In these stories, Balsa and Chagum will have their own separate adventures outside New Yogo.
Seirei no Moribito Season 3. The third and final installment will be shown in 2018. I'm guessing Book 2 and Book 7 will be tackled in Season 3 which will put a closure to Balsa's issue with the Kanbal Kingdom. And along with Chagum, she will help forge an alliance with the Kanbal King to save New Yogo from being invaded by another kingdom.
Episode Subs (link)
Moribito Series. There are nine books (published 1996-2007 under Kaiseisha and Shinchosha) overall, which also includes short stories that offer sneak look into the past of Balsa and Tanda. The first book had been made into a manga and anime.
(info/pic: wiki)
Uehashi Naoko. According to wiki, the author of the Moribito series is also "a Professor of Ethnology at Kawamura Gakuen Women's University, having completed a PhD focusing on the Yamatji, an indigenous Australian people." Her other work is Kemono no Soja or "The Beast Player Series" which was also adapted into an anime series.
(pic: hotjupiter)
Balsa. At the start of the series, she was 30 years old. In the last book she was 37 (Chagum who was 11, had become 18 by this time). In the novel, she was not captured and tortured but actually given special treatment for saving the Prince. The Second Empress also had her background checked beforehand, and said Balsa is well-known in her trade, as "Balsa, the Spear-Wielder -- a wanderer from Kanbal fluent in many tongues, a spear woman who has saved lives."
(click to another tab for a bigger image)
New Yogo Empire. The name of the setting of Season 1, a land governed by a divine ruler only known as the Mikado or "Emperor". In Japanese, it's Shinyogo Koukoku [新ヨゴ皇国]. However in the drama, it was written as Shinyogo Kuni [新ヨゴ国], omitting the [皇] in [皇国], thereby instead of "empire" it became "country", that is why in the subs I called it "New Yogo Country". I am not sure why NHK made this particular change in the name, but I respected it, and kept to the script
New Yogo is located in the Nayoro Peninsula (in the drama it was only mentioned as the "North Continent"). It was first inhabited by "large-jawed, dark skinned" people called the Yaku (also Yakoo), until people of Yogo ("Yogoese") from across the sea to the south came to settle in the land, driving the Yaku up north.
The capital of New Yogo is Kosenkyo, which means "Shining Fan", since it is said to be in the shape of a fan. The Imperial Court is located in the section called Ogi no Kami or "the handle of the fan". The nobility lives in Ogi no Naka or the "center of the fan" while the common folks are in Ogi no Shimo (The Ends of the Fan).
(pic with modifications by me:kaiseisha)
Nayugu and Sagu. As told in the drama, the unseen world of spirits and elemental is called "Nayugu". Not mentioned that the "seen world" or reality is called "Sagu".
The Imperial Court. The Royal Court is divided into four quadrants. The main quadrant is the Yogo palace of the Mikado or Emperor. Next is the area of the Ichinomiya or First Palace where the First Empress and Crown Prince Sagum lives, as well as the Ninomiya or Second Palace (which got destroyed in the fire), where the Second Prince Chagum, and his mother, the Second Empress lived. The third quadrant (not mentioned in the drama) is where the Sannomiya or the Third Palace is, the home of the Third Empress who lives along with her daughters (no sons). And the final area in the Court is the Star Palace (with the Star Tower depicted in the drama), where the Star Diviners live.
Holy Sage (Seidoshi or 聖導師). He is the Master Star Reader, although he is no longer a star reader, and only concerned with running the country, as officially the prime minister and consul who is actually the real power behind the throne. In the novel, his name is Hibi Tonan. He leaves the star reading to the Star Diviners or "Hoshidoku Hakase" [星読博士], literally "Star Reading Experts". In the first book, the Holy Sage wasn't portrayed as "ruthless" as the one in the drama. The drama showed that the Holy Sage will do anything to save the country, even if he has to resort to devious means, like the sudden death of the Crown Prince (in the book, there was no hint that the Holy Sage might be behind it, but I'm not sure about the other books though).
The Eight Hunters. The names of the Hunters mean numbers, as well as their ranking: Mon (One), Jin (Two), Zen (Three), etc. In the book, it was explained that they were the descendants (last born sons) of the eight men who were said to have accompanied Emperor Torugaru, and who fought the demon with him by wielding the torches.
Torogai. In the first book, she was 70 years old. In Nayugu language, her name means Land Dweller. This is the term the Yona Ro Gai (The Water Dwellers) call anyone from the land, even Tanda. So it means Torogai's real name might be different.
Additional stuff not mentioned in the drama:
- Rogsam, the Kanbal King who had his brother and Balsa's father killed, was already dead, and his son has taken over the throne by the time the first book happened.
- It was shown in the anime (but not in the drama) that it was Gakai and the Second Empress who witnessed the first time the Spirit's egg glowed inside Chagum while he was asleep. It was also Gakai who "diagnosed" it as a demon, and even contemptibly assumed that Chagum was not the son of the Emperor.
- The Mikado and the Second Empress only had one scene each in the first novel (unlike in the drama, they had more scenes). The Mikado in the drama was portrayed as a somewhat crazy guy who is jealous and wary of his son, Chagum. In the anime, he was portrayed as a sane and just ruler but actually, in the book series (the last ones), the Mikado reveals his true nature, that he is against Chagum taking over the throne, and so father and son will have to confront each other in the end.
- When Chagum heard the death of his brother the Crown Prince, he felt sad but at the same time, remembered that Sagum was not close to him, and actually treated him (Chagum) with disdain.
Seirei no Moribito Season 2. It will be shown in early 2017. It should be noted that not every book in the Moribito Series has Balsa as the main focus in the stories. For example Book 3 (Yume no Moribito) focuses on Tanda and Torogai. Book 4 (Koku no Tabibito) is a story about Chagum when he was 14 years old. So Season 2 will skip those books and jump to Book 5 (Kami no Moribito) and Book 6 (Ten to Chi no Moribito) which take place 3-4 years after the first book. In these stories, Balsa and Chagum will have their own separate adventures outside New Yogo.
Seirei no Moribito Season 3. The third and final installment will be shown in 2018. I'm guessing Book 2 and Book 7 will be tackled in Season 3 which will put a closure to Balsa's issue with the Kanbal Kingdom. And along with Chagum, she will help forge an alliance with the Kanbal King to save New Yogo from being invaded by another kingdom.
Episode Subs (link)
