Jan. 18th, 2012 08:09 pm
Deka Wanko 2012 SP (Drama Notes)
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earth_colorsHere are some drama notes from Deka Wanko 2012 SP and pop cultural references that explain some of the inside jokes and scenes. If I missed out on something, well... sorry, this is all I could gather (spoilers ahead):
"Mito Komon." Much beloved TV show that started in 1969. It just ended late last year so the network that had been showing it, TBS (which is the network of Deka Wanko as well) sorta paid tribute to it via this special. The main character Mito Komon is Mitsukuni, the nephew of Tokugawa Ieyasu. He disguises himself as a rich retired crepe merchant, and roves the countryside, instilling order and peace whenever problems and struggles erupt among the social classes.
Suke and Kaku. The two companions of Mito Komon. In Wanko's "dream," Chanko-san was Suke or Sasaki Sukeburo, the jovial one who usually stands on the right side of Komon. On his left was Kaku or Atsumi Kakunoshin (played by Koma-san) who was the most serious among the two. Whenever a fight ensues among villagers, they would announce the presence of Komon and flash his inro, bearing the family crest of the Tokugawa dynasty. The people would then stop, bow down, and eventually sort out their mess. This is why in the SP, Kaku said the inro would've been a great loss if Wanko hadn't found it.
Kazaguruma Yashichi. Or "Pinwheel Yashichi" is another recurring character in "Mito Komon."
(For more info on the show, go to dramawiki or wiki) (pic: houseofjapan)
"Toyama no Kin-san." Another period drama that had a long run (1969 to 1996). Wanko's Ojii-chan was Toyama Kinshiro, sorta like an Edo Period Batman - he pretends to be a samurai-playboy who loves to drink sake. He meets people with questionable characters, and hears or sees their evil wrong-doings. They don't know, however, that he is actually a magistrate who has sent many criminals to jail. Each time, these men have been captured and sent to court, Kin-san as the magistrate, would finally reveal his tattoo of cherry blossoms (which he had shown to the defendants earlier). When he says the line, "Can't you see this blizzard of sakura flowers?" the defendant knows he has already lost. (But in the SP, Yana was like "What the hell is he talking about?" lol).... Another famous line from Kin-san was "Ikken rakuchaku" (Another case is resolved!)."
(info: dramawiki) (pic: fami-geki)
The Dog Shogun and the German Physician. Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, a devout Buddhist, originally had good intentions when he came up with the "Edicts on Compassion for All Living Things." However, as a result of this proclamation, around 100,000 dogs were reportedly roaming the streets of Edo, causing rabies and other diseases to break out among the populace. Despite the ban on foreign traders, he did meet with German physician, Dr. Engelbert Kaempfer, who had traveled from Nagasaki to Edo, to see him. (IMO, I couldn't help but be amused with the historical yet true tidbits [Dog Shogun, German doctor, the recent ending of Mito Komon] that somehow conveniently connects with Wanko's show so I do understand why the writers couldn't resist coming up with this absurd situation in the SP).
Other references. The SP has made obvious references to "Lupin the Third" (above pic), Tegomass ("Yuya-kun and Takahisa-kun"), "Romeo and Juliet," "JIN" and "Roman Holiday." No need for explanation, right?
Love Padlocks. Many countries have places where love padlocks are found. Legend says the practice originates from the story of a Serbian lass who died from a broken heart after her lover failed to return to her from a war for he had found someone else. From thereon, girls place locks on the railings of a bridge where the two lovers used to meet, in the hopes that their own loves would not suffer the same fate.
(info: wiki)
Fuse Akira. Japanese singer (and actor) who married and divorced Argentinian actress, Olivia Hussey, in the 80s. The song being quoted in the SP was from his single "Koi (Love)." If you want to hear the whole song, click on this clip.
(info: wiki)
"Mito Komon." Much beloved TV show that started in 1969. It just ended late last year so the network that had been showing it, TBS (which is the network of Deka Wanko as well) sorta paid tribute to it via this special. The main character Mito Komon is Mitsukuni, the nephew of Tokugawa Ieyasu. He disguises himself as a rich retired crepe merchant, and roves the countryside, instilling order and peace whenever problems and struggles erupt among the social classes.
Suke and Kaku. The two companions of Mito Komon. In Wanko's "dream," Chanko-san was Suke or Sasaki Sukeburo, the jovial one who usually stands on the right side of Komon. On his left was Kaku or Atsumi Kakunoshin (played by Koma-san) who was the most serious among the two. Whenever a fight ensues among villagers, they would announce the presence of Komon and flash his inro, bearing the family crest of the Tokugawa dynasty. The people would then stop, bow down, and eventually sort out their mess. This is why in the SP, Kaku said the inro would've been a great loss if Wanko hadn't found it.
Kazaguruma Yashichi. Or "Pinwheel Yashichi" is another recurring character in "Mito Komon."
(For more info on the show, go to dramawiki or wiki) (pic: houseofjapan)
"Toyama no Kin-san." Another period drama that had a long run (1969 to 1996). Wanko's Ojii-chan was Toyama Kinshiro, sorta like an Edo Period Batman - he pretends to be a samurai-playboy who loves to drink sake. He meets people with questionable characters, and hears or sees their evil wrong-doings. They don't know, however, that he is actually a magistrate who has sent many criminals to jail. Each time, these men have been captured and sent to court, Kin-san as the magistrate, would finally reveal his tattoo of cherry blossoms (which he had shown to the defendants earlier). When he says the line, "Can't you see this blizzard of sakura flowers?" the defendant knows he has already lost. (But in the SP, Yana was like "What the hell is he talking about?" lol).... Another famous line from Kin-san was "Ikken rakuchaku" (Another case is resolved!)."
(info: dramawiki) (pic: fami-geki)
The Dog Shogun and the German Physician. Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, a devout Buddhist, originally had good intentions when he came up with the "Edicts on Compassion for All Living Things." However, as a result of this proclamation, around 100,000 dogs were reportedly roaming the streets of Edo, causing rabies and other diseases to break out among the populace. Despite the ban on foreign traders, he did meet with German physician, Dr. Engelbert Kaempfer, who had traveled from Nagasaki to Edo, to see him. (IMO, I couldn't help but be amused with the historical yet true tidbits [Dog Shogun, German doctor, the recent ending of Mito Komon] that somehow conveniently connects with Wanko's show so I do understand why the writers couldn't resist coming up with this absurd situation in the SP).
Other references. The SP has made obvious references to "Lupin the Third" (above pic), Tegomass ("Yuya-kun and Takahisa-kun"), "Romeo and Juliet," "JIN" and "Roman Holiday." No need for explanation, right?
Love Padlocks. Many countries have places where love padlocks are found. Legend says the practice originates from the story of a Serbian lass who died from a broken heart after her lover failed to return to her from a war for he had found someone else. From thereon, girls place locks on the railings of a bridge where the two lovers used to meet, in the hopes that their own loves would not suffer the same fate.
(info: wiki)
Fuse Akira. Japanese singer (and actor) who married and divorced Argentinian actress, Olivia Hussey, in the 80s. The song being quoted in the SP was from his single "Koi (Love)." If you want to hear the whole song, click on this clip.
(info: wiki)
