Taiga Nakano’s secret behind the melancholy aura in hit NHK drama

Shun Oguri said, “I was truly moved and my heart was touched.”

Taiga Nakano (33) stars in NHK’s Taiga drama “Toyotomi Brothers!”. The sixth episode aired on February 15, surpassing the viewership of the previous two episodes, and NHK ONE streaming exceeded one million plays. The series has generated significant buzz, marking the first time in four years that a Taiga drama has captured public attention at this level since “The 13 Lords of the Shogun”, which had held the record for the highest average views among NHK On Demand drama releases at the time.

This year’s drama presents the Sengoku period dynamically from the perspective of Hidenaga Toyotomi (Nakano), the kingdom’s top supporter, as a story of dreams, hope, and upward mobility. In episode five, Hideyoshi (Sosuke Ikematsu, 35), who rose from a peasant background, invades the neighboring province of Mino to earn promotion as a samurai general. In episode six, Hidenaga (Koichiro) works to persuade Nobunaga (Shun Oguri, 43) in a tense plot to save Hideyoshi (Fujikiro), who has become a hostage—an arc that captivated viewers.

“The story presents Hideyoshi as a troubled, overburdened figure (like Nobita from Doraemon), relying on Hidenaga (like Doraemon) to solve problems. It’s an accessible world view, similar to a Doraemon manga, while the thrilling developments reminiscent of Weekly Shonen Jump appeal even to viewers who aren’t historically inclined,” said a director from the production company.

Particularly gripping is Hidenaga’s struggle as a young man striving to rise from peasant to samurai.

In episode two, Koichiro unleashes his anger after his village is attacked by bandits, deciding alongside his brother Fujikiro to become a samurai. Episode three shows him advising peace in the face of Imagawa Yoshimoto’s vast army, earning a harsh rebuke from Nobunaga:

“Even knowing you will lose, there are times when you must fight with your life. That is what it means to be a samurai. Those without resolve, step aside.”

The drama carefully depicts Hidenaga’s (Koichiro’s) journey of learning how a samurai should live.

By episode four, Hidenaga faces a major turning point. After killing Imagawa Yoshimoto at the Battle of Okehazama, Nobunaga offers him a post as a close retainer. Koichiro declines decisively:

“Heaven favors those who do all they can with their own hands. Such determination makes Heaven your ally and opens the way. I do not possess such power myself. I wish to serve my brother and follow him faithfully in serving my lord.”

Oguri, portraying Nobunaga, commented on Koichiro’s performance:

“I was truly moved and my heart was touched. Everyone present among the Oda retainers felt inspired at that moment.”

Following Masaki Suda and Sometani Shota’s backs.

Looking back now, this scene might well be called a masterpiece depicting the birth of Hidenaga Toyotomi, the kingdom’s top supporter.

But Hidenaga was far more than just the kingdom’s top supporter. In the latest episode, he risks his own life to directly negotiate with Nobunaga, conveying his brother Fujikiro’s selfless loyalty.

“I have followed my lord’s command and trusted your words. My brother will never betray you. Losing such a retainer would be your loss,” he declares.

Facing not only Nobunaga but also the entire retainer group, Hidenaga proves himself to be a man of unmatched wisdom and courage.

Taiga Nakano, who stars in the drama, endured numerous hardships before landing the lead role in a Taiga drama.

“In 2006, he entered the entertainment industry at 13. His close friend, Shota Sometani (33), whom he often saw at auditions, won the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Newcomer at the 2011 Venice International Film Festival for the movie Himizu, gaining recognition as a teenager. Another close friend, Masaki Suda (32), won the Japan Academy Prize for Best Actor in 2017 for Ah, Wilderness Part One, quickly dominating the film and drama scene. Nakano was far behind these two friends and rivals at the time. Thinking of his mindset then evokes sympathy,” said a producer from the production company.

Yet Nakano did not break. Following his father Hideo Nakano’s (61) teaching—“Never cut corners, whatever the work. Someone is always watching”—he patiently awaited his breakthrough.

Eventually, in 2021, he won the Japan Academy Prize for Best Supporting Actor for the film The Wonderful World, marking the beginning of his rise as a late-blooming actor.

Particularly in 2024, he co-starred with his idol Takayuki Yamada (42) in the film Eleven Soldiers, brilliantly portraying the earnest, justice-driven samurai Heishiro Washio. In the climax, he takes on thirty opponents alone in a single, intense battle scene, delivering a stunning performance. This gives high expectations for similarly soul-filled moments in the current Taiga drama.

Another charm of Taiga Nakano may be the aura of sorrow subtly reflected in his smile. In the 2024 morning drama Tora ni Tsubasa (NHK), he played the husband of heroine Torako (Sairi Ito, 31), fully showcasing his melancholy Nakano charm.

“Especially in episode 40, when Yusuke (Nakano) departs for military service, the focus was on Torako chasing him with exaggerated facial expressions. But what drew my attention most was the aura of sorrow emanating from Yusuke. This aura is a unique charm only he can produce, following in the footsteps of Masaki Suda and Shota Sometani,” said the director.

His father’s hope—“Aim to be an actor who can appear in a Taiga drama”—gave him the name Taiga. With his determination and the aura of sorrow he carries into each strike, Nakano currently appears unstoppable.