earth and sky, colors and dreams

"Ichigeki" SP is the New Year Jidaigeki Presentation of NHK for 2023. "Ichigeki" is based on a Japanese manga by Matsumoto Jiro which was an adaptation of Nagai Yoshio's novel "Bakumatsu Ichigeki Hisshutai". It was adapted for television with script written by Kudo Kankuro. Set at the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate era, it depicts the activities of the "Ichigeki Hisshutai (One-Strike-One-Kill Squad)," a special combat unit composed of peasants formed by the Shogunate to deal with the "goyoto" terrrorist attacks. These are burglaries, street killings, and arson committed by those claiming to be loyal samurai and Satsuma clan warriors, under the orders of the Satsuma clan, in order to provoke and overthrow the Shogunate by force. In response, statesman Katsu Kaishu (Omi Toshinori) dispatched samurai skilled swordsman Shimada (Matsuda Ryuhei) to establish and train a "guerilla"-type of armed group to deal with the Goyoto. Ushigoro (Sometani Shota), Ichizo (Machida Keita), Wasaburo (Tsukaji Muga) and other fellow peasants were chosen for this mission in exchange for large sums of money, and a promise to move up to the status of samurai. Despite being amateurs, they attack and ambush unsuspecting goyoto, and are seen as heroes by the people of Edo. Ushi, however, has to deal with a mighty goyoto member, Imuta (Sugimoto Tetta) who has a personal vendetta against him for killing his comrade...
It's an exciting coming-of-age action story with tears and laughter that is carried at a brisk tempo while interweaving the light and heavy storytelling scenes by rakugo master, Kanda Hakuzan VI.