NHK’s Clouds Over the Hill Gains Viewers on BS, but Teruyuki Kagawa’s Full Return Still Uncertain

The drama “Clouds Over the Hill”, which has begun reruns on NHK, is well received.

The drama is based on the novel of the same name by Ryotaro Shiba. It was structured in three parts and broadcast over a total of 13 episodes. Unlike regular dramas, Part 1, consisting of 5 episodes, aired from November 29 to December 2009; Part 2, with 4 episodes, aired in December 2010; and Part 3, also with 4 episodes, aired in December 2011, spanning nearly three years.

Each episode of the drama is 89 minutes long, double the length of a typical Taiga drama. With many location scenes, the climactic battle scenes of the Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese wars are as powerful as those in a war film, giving a sense of the substantial production budget that must have been invested.

 

The cast is not limited to Kagawa, but also includes Kan Abe and Toshiyuki Nishida.

The cast featured popular and skilled actors ranging from young to mid-career, including Masahiro Motoki as Saneyuki Akiyama, Hiroshi Abe, Teruyuki Kagawa, Miho Kanno, Satomi Ishihara, and Takako Matsu. Additionally, Japan’s leading veteran actors joined, such as Tetsuya Watari, Hideki Takahashi, Go Kato, Toshiyuki Nishida, Koji Ishizaka, Toru Emori, Hiroshi Tachi, Shiro Ito, Akira Emoto, Keiko Takeshita, and Naoto Takenaka, creating an extraordinarily star-studded cast. Moreover, narration by Ken Watanabe added to the luxury.

However, the average rating for all 13 episodes was 14.5%, which was somewhat lower than expected.

One reason suggested for the modest ratings was that with a one-year gap between seasons, viewers’ motivation waned.

In the rerun, however, the episodes have been split into two parts, with half the original runtime, and are aired weekly, making it easier for viewers to enjoy the drama.

In this context, Teruyuki Kagawa, who plays Shiki Masaoka, has drawn particular attention.

 

 

In August 2022, Kagawa faced reports of alleged assault on a club hostess in Ginza, and by September of the same year, he stepped down from his role as host of the news program “THE TIME,” and withdrew from all his regular shows and commercials.

Though Kagawa disappeared from television, he resumed his other role as a kabuki actor, performing as Ichikawa Chusha at the December 2022 naming ceremony for the 13th Ichikawa Danjuro Hakuen, marking his return to acting.

In August of last year, he released a statement on the official website of “ARANCIONE,” where he serves as CEO, declaring his intent to focus on activities related to kabuki and “nsects moving forward.

This could suggest that he has no intention of appearing in dramas, movies, or on television again. However, on the 12th of this month, he quietly returned to TV in the BS Fuji documentary program “KOKOROTOTONOU.”

His son Danko Ichikawa, was present.

While it’s neither on terrestrial television nor in a drama, the rerun of “Clouds Over the Hill” could serve as a stepping stone for a complete return to television, according to film industry insiders.

“Among film industry professionals, Kagawa’s drinking habits have been well-known for years, so no one was surprised by the scandal in Ginza. However, he changed after marrying his ex-wife. He has become remarkably more approachable. This led to an increase in work offers for him. While he can be somewhat persistent, his acting is skilled, and he has a unique style that adds flavor. Although there aren’t any film projects currently in discussion, I’ve heard that some are in the planning stages.”

Meanwhile, a broadcasting drama industry insider remarked,

“Since around last year, there have been voices suggesting that it might be time for his return, but nothing concrete has emerged. It seems they are still observing the situation. However, with NHK starting reruns of ‘Clouds Over the Hill,’ the sentiment might shift to ‘if NHK can do it, then we can too.’ Additionally, since CX has lifted restrictions on BS, I believe his name will start appearing in project meetings from now on” (from a drama production company).

What remains concerning is the aforementioned declaration of intent. According to kabuki industry sources,

“The reputation of his son, Ichikawa Danko, is very good. While he is not yet fully established, to be honest, I didn’t expect him to grow this much. His father is fully backing him, so I doubt he has the energy to appear in dramas or films. Those around them also think it’s not beneficial for the son if the father makes a public comeback and causes a stir. I believe he understands that as well.”

It seems he may intend to focus on kabuki until his son is fully established. Although Kagawa’s acting is said to have a strong style, it’s also quite addictive for the audience. It appears that the opportunity to see him perform may still be a long way off.