Apr. 3rd, 2015 02:23 am
Neko Zamurai (Season 1): Drama Notes
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earth_colorsHere are some few notes for Neko Zamurai (S1):
Tamanojo. She was portrayed by a number of white cats. The main cat was Anago (middle cat above), the green-eyed 14 year old female cat, that's on the posters, and always being held by Madarame Kyutaro. Other cats were Sakura (right cat), 4 year old female cat which is the one in the scenes showing a leaner, active cat; while another cat also named Sakura (left cat), 15 year old female which was the rotund, rather sleepy cat in some scenes. According to Kitamura Kazuki, on how to differentiate the three cats: "Anago has round and big eyes. She's the one I coo and baby-talk to in the movie. Sakura (The Younger) has a kind of slanted eyes, a more prominent nose, and is a cool beauty. Her body is larger than Anago's. Sakura (The Elder) has a plump body and is charming. Its sleeping figure is soothing, and is most popular with the staff."
(info: ja.wiki, news.ameba) (pic: news.ameba)
"Neko no Ongaeshi or The Cat Returns" [猫の恩返し]. It is a rakugo story (not to be confused with the Ghibli movie). In the drama, Kyutaro says it is his favorite story. Here's how it goes:
A street peddler (who carries his wares using a pole on his shoulders) in Edo named Kin, gambled his money away during a gathering with friends on New Year's Eve. The money was worth 3 ryo (gold oval coins) which was supposed to be used to buy for his wares. He gets drunk while lamenting to his beloved cat Koma, about his bad luck. "I know it's useless saying this to you but I wish you can bring me 3 ryo," he said before passing out drunk. The next morning, Kin woke up to find 3 ryo by his side. Rejoicing, he went out and bought more liquor to celebrate. When he got home, he thanked his cat if ever it was the one who got him the money. And as a joke, he added, "Anyway, it'd be nice if you can give me 3 ryo more." The next day, his cat wasn't around. He then went to the big wholesale store where he usually buys his wares. He noticed that it was unusually solemn inside the store. The clerk explains to him that two nights ago, 3 ryo were stolen from them. "Then last night, I heard a rattle and checked what it was. I saw a cat trying desperately to open our chest of drawers by pulling the knob with its mouth. It was the one who took the 3 ryo the other night!" The clerk said he got a stick, drove the cat to a corner and beat it to death. Fearing the worst, Kin was shown the body of the cat, and he recognized it as his beloved cat Koma. "Koma! Please forgive me!" Kin shouted, and cried. The owner of the store heard his cries and was told of the story. The owner was so moved by the loyalty of the cat, that he offered to bury Koma. He even gave 5 ryo to Kin as a sympathy gift. To honor the cat, Koma was buried next to the grave of the famous thief Nezumi Kozo. Kin, after that, lived a straightforward life, and began to work hard, and had quit gambling and drinking. Eventually he got to establish his own big store, which thrived up to the Meiji era. People heard the story of Koma, and so Kin was referred to as "Neko-Kin".
(info: ja.wiki) (pic: nyafemelange)
Why Kyutaro became a ronin. It wasn't mentioned in the drama as to why he was dismissed from his job as swordplay mentor. However, in the 2014 movie (which is the same as the drama but with a different take), it seems Kyutaro refused to assist in a ritual suicide, and so he quit and became a ronin.
Tanka poetry. The poems that Kyutaro utters every time an episode ends is tanka poetry.
Maneki neko [招き猫] or Beckoning cat. A common talisman that could bring good luck to its owner. Usually depicted as a calico cat with a raised paw. It is often displayed in shops. Also called "welcoming cat", "fortune cat" or "money cat".
(info/pic: wiki)
Bake neko [化け猫]. Cats that have turned into yokai or supernatural creatures with magical powers. Powers are said to include possessing humans, speaking human language, casting spells and curses, and shape-shifting into human forms.
(info: wiki) (pic: nihaoperio)
Filming locations. The drama was mostly filmed in Tochigi prefecture (with pix above from left to right):
Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura [江戸ワンダーランド 日光江戸村], Nikko, Tochigi prefecture. It is a Japanese cultural theme park that features life, culture and architecture of the Edo period. It is also a common place for shooting period dramas and movies. (info/pic: wiki, hondadog)
Kasoyama Jinja [加蘇山神社], or Kaso Mountain Shrine, Kanuma, Tochigi prefecture. The shrine with the steep mossy steps where Kyutaro ran up to retrieve Tamanojo. Taiga drama "Yoshitsune" also filmed here. (info/pic: ja.wiki)
Dai Ou-ji [大雄寺], Otawara, Tochigi prefecture. The scene of the "mercy temple" in the drama where Tamanojo was left in the care of a priest. (info/pic: ja.wiki)
Tamanojo. She was portrayed by a number of white cats. The main cat was Anago (middle cat above), the green-eyed 14 year old female cat, that's on the posters, and always being held by Madarame Kyutaro. Other cats were Sakura (right cat), 4 year old female cat which is the one in the scenes showing a leaner, active cat; while another cat also named Sakura (left cat), 15 year old female which was the rotund, rather sleepy cat in some scenes. According to Kitamura Kazuki, on how to differentiate the three cats: "Anago has round and big eyes. She's the one I coo and baby-talk to in the movie. Sakura (The Younger) has a kind of slanted eyes, a more prominent nose, and is a cool beauty. Her body is larger than Anago's. Sakura (The Elder) has a plump body and is charming. Its sleeping figure is soothing, and is most popular with the staff."
(info: ja.wiki, news.ameba) (pic: news.ameba)
"Neko no Ongaeshi or The Cat Returns" [猫の恩返し]. It is a rakugo story (not to be confused with the Ghibli movie). In the drama, Kyutaro says it is his favorite story. Here's how it goes:
A street peddler (who carries his wares using a pole on his shoulders) in Edo named Kin, gambled his money away during a gathering with friends on New Year's Eve. The money was worth 3 ryo (gold oval coins) which was supposed to be used to buy for his wares. He gets drunk while lamenting to his beloved cat Koma, about his bad luck. "I know it's useless saying this to you but I wish you can bring me 3 ryo," he said before passing out drunk. The next morning, Kin woke up to find 3 ryo by his side. Rejoicing, he went out and bought more liquor to celebrate. When he got home, he thanked his cat if ever it was the one who got him the money. And as a joke, he added, "Anyway, it'd be nice if you can give me 3 ryo more." The next day, his cat wasn't around. He then went to the big wholesale store where he usually buys his wares. He noticed that it was unusually solemn inside the store. The clerk explains to him that two nights ago, 3 ryo were stolen from them. "Then last night, I heard a rattle and checked what it was. I saw a cat trying desperately to open our chest of drawers by pulling the knob with its mouth. It was the one who took the 3 ryo the other night!" The clerk said he got a stick, drove the cat to a corner and beat it to death. Fearing the worst, Kin was shown the body of the cat, and he recognized it as his beloved cat Koma. "Koma! Please forgive me!" Kin shouted, and cried. The owner of the store heard his cries and was told of the story. The owner was so moved by the loyalty of the cat, that he offered to bury Koma. He even gave 5 ryo to Kin as a sympathy gift. To honor the cat, Koma was buried next to the grave of the famous thief Nezumi Kozo. Kin, after that, lived a straightforward life, and began to work hard, and had quit gambling and drinking. Eventually he got to establish his own big store, which thrived up to the Meiji era. People heard the story of Koma, and so Kin was referred to as "Neko-Kin".
(info: ja.wiki) (pic: nyafemelange)
Why Kyutaro became a ronin. It wasn't mentioned in the drama as to why he was dismissed from his job as swordplay mentor. However, in the 2014 movie (which is the same as the drama but with a different take), it seems Kyutaro refused to assist in a ritual suicide, and so he quit and became a ronin.
Tanka poetry. The poems that Kyutaro utters every time an episode ends is tanka poetry.
Maneki neko [招き猫] or Beckoning cat. A common talisman that could bring good luck to its owner. Usually depicted as a calico cat with a raised paw. It is often displayed in shops. Also called "welcoming cat", "fortune cat" or "money cat".
(info/pic: wiki)
Bake neko [化け猫]. Cats that have turned into yokai or supernatural creatures with magical powers. Powers are said to include possessing humans, speaking human language, casting spells and curses, and shape-shifting into human forms.
(info: wiki) (pic: nihaoperio)
Filming locations. The drama was mostly filmed in Tochigi prefecture (with pix above from left to right):
Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura [江戸ワンダーランド 日光江戸村], Nikko, Tochigi prefecture. It is a Japanese cultural theme park that features life, culture and architecture of the Edo period. It is also a common place for shooting period dramas and movies. (info/pic: wiki, hondadog)
Kasoyama Jinja [加蘇山神社], or Kaso Mountain Shrine, Kanuma, Tochigi prefecture. The shrine with the steep mossy steps where Kyutaro ran up to retrieve Tamanojo. Taiga drama "Yoshitsune" also filmed here. (info/pic: ja.wiki)
Dai Ou-ji [大雄寺], Otawara, Tochigi prefecture. The scene of the "mercy temple" in the drama where Tamanojo was left in the care of a priest. (info/pic: ja.wiki)
