Byakkotai

白虎隊 （びゃっこたい）

Cast:
Yamashita Tomohisa as Sakai Mineji and Sakai Shintaro
Tanaka Koki as Shinoda Gisaburo and Shinoda Yusuke
Fujigaya Taisuke as Itou Matahachi
Yakushimaru Hiroko as Sakai Shige (Mineji's mother)
Nogiwa Yoko as Sakai Mon (Mineji's grandmother)
Takashima Masanobu as Sakai Yasuemon (Mineji's father)

(Complete List of the Cast at Dramawiki ^_^)

Genre: Historical, JDrama

Episodes: 2

Summary: Sakai Shintarou leads a life where he is allowed to do whatever he pleases and is utterly irresponsible and ungrateful. His paternal grandmothers who lives in Aizu spots him hanging out on a street with his girlfriend, smoking, and having no respect or regard for other people when she comes to visit. So after she arraives at his house, she tells him off for not having the spirit that was there in their ancestors, who had the pure spirits of warriors of Aizu, despite being a direct descendant of the Sakai family. She informs that she be staying with them for three days to teach them how live properly and to rekindle the Byakkotai of the Aizu's spirit in them. Shinoda Yusuke, a friend of Shintarou who gets caught in the crossfire, and Shintarou decide to "escape" while they can.

They run away to Shintarou's grandparents house, since it would be the last place his grandmother would come to look for them. His grandfather takes them in and promises not to tell his grandmother who is at his house at the moment. Since they are in Aizu, he insists that Shintarou and Yusuke visit the Byakkotai Memorial, and they reluctantly go. In the museum they encounter portraits which uncannily resemble themselves, which makes them really aware that they are descendants of the Aizu and witnesses history through the eyes of their ancestors.

Review: This is based on a true story and the story of the Byakkotai is an extremely tragic one. It is a pretty awesome tale of very awesome times. I mean, there is something infinitely cool about the Code of the Bushido and everything. Although, I reaaaally don't understand the way they think that committing ritual suicide is honorable or dignified. I really don't.

As always, Yamapi was totally adorable in this (as if there ever was a doubt. o^_^o). I feel that his portrayal of this character was totally on the dot too. He was an honorable yet confused adolescent who was also SUCH a momma's boy, to perfection. It also needs to be stated how totally hot he looked in his modern version hairstyle in which you can see his forehead. *_* How he and Tanaka Koki coment on his characters grandmother much like she was a natural disaster and plan how to escape is soo adorable as well.

I really did like this drama. It was very interesting, in addition to being moving and funny at times and inspiring and touching and sad. (And sad it was. Very. T_T)


~Spoilers~

Specially when all the members of the squad Gisaburou was in committed suicide, it was soo sad, and I couldn't help thinking what a total and utter WASTE of life it was. I mean they were so youthful and full of life and so YOUNG. and it was entirely based on a misconception too since the castle itself was not burning, the roads around the castle was and they only thought that all was lost and their families had committed suicide too only in their desperate and distraught state. Although I really feel sorry for their commander too, coz he had to live with the guilt that it was possible that they might have lived had he not gotten separated from them when he went to find food.

I also like how the drama raises the issue of whether it was more honorable to live on like Mineji or to commit the ritual suicide like they are supposed to like the Byakkotai who did so on Iomoriyama. Because, depending on the times, and how their were raised, it was certainly admirable and maybe even honorable (although I still cannot agree with it), and it shows a certain strength of will and extreme dedication to their code of honour and what they were taught.

But I think, that Mineji, was much more braver, to choose NOT to die (although he was about to commit ritual suicide once, which had me holding my breath going 'nooooo' ~_~). Because due to the situation, there was a possibility that people would call him dishonorable and things, but he chose to live on because he felt that it was the right thing to do. And like the girl whom Koki's character had a crush on's mother said, Mineji would have to work much harder in living then the ones who died.

It was also soo sad when Mineji's mother died. At least she was able to stop being cold to him and Mineji was able to discover how much his mother really did love him in the end.

It had it's funny moments too, this drama. Like when they went for artillery lessons and didn't speak to any of the women coz they had been taught not to, and how when the woman spoke they went all awkward, and the women kept repeating "You don't have to reply."

It was also so cute how Mineji and Matahachi observed how Gisaburou and Sayako interacted. Specially when Gisaburou mistakenly answered her they automatically turned their heads and went "You spoke to a woman!" And how they commented that they too, can shoot perfectly but weren't complimented like Gisaburou was by Sayako-san.

Mineji confessing that he was actually envious of Gisaburou for speaking to a woman was so adorable too.

It was also so sweet and funny how Shintarou returned home and was so polite and stuff, and when people kept commenting on it he kept repeating that he "wasn't sure how long it would last". Heh. ^_^

Music: You Raise Me Up by Celtic Woman (I actually like this song and thought it kinda went well with some of the situations, but I found it extremely inappropriate in this drama, considering its a Japanese HISTORICAL drama and this is an English song.)

Rating: 8/10

Quotes:

One day, when people can live according to their wishes...

Mineji, at that time... I'll always support you no matter what.

Mineji, please be born as mother's child again in another life in the future... okay?

~Mineji's Mother

***
No matter how painful it is, if we live on,
the rain will definitely stop, and we'll see a beautiful sky.

~Sakai Mineji

***
I won't give it up. I'm only giving up the appearance.
If I don't cast off my Samurai clothes, I won't make it back to the castle alive, right?
Every living person should have pride.
In order to keep the pride of a Samurai, I can't die.

~Sakai Mineji

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More Quotes?
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Note: Apparently there is a poem by Matsudaira Katamori on the site where the Byakkotai are buried.

幾人の　涙は石にそそぐとも　その名は世々に　朽じとぞ思う
Ikutari no namida wa ishi ni sosogu tomo sono na wa yoyo ni kuji to zo omou
"No matter how many people wash the stones with their tears,
these names will never vanish from the world."