NHK is announcing that Fuurinkazan, is the new Taiga Drama for 2007. The word Fuu Rin Ka Zan means literaly “Wind, Forest, Fire and Mountain” and follows the adventures of Takeda Shingen, a warlord in Fudel Japan. The first episode begins airing this weekend in Japan on NHK Television. It will slowly find its way around the world soon after.

The official NHK Website has some very interesting material for the new show but its all in Japanese. (sorry to some of you who can’t read it!)
Takeda Shingen (originally known as Takeda Harunobu) was born in 1521. He was the eldest son of Takeda Nobutora, the ruler of Kai, a strategic province in the center of Japan’s main island.
Shingen’s home life was remarkably troubled and mired in politics. Over the years, Shingen exiled, imprisoned, or executed several close family members, including his father, his guardian, his cousin and his son.

In his military career, Shingen showed himself to be outstanding. He was admired by his adversaries as well as his followers. A common Japanese military trend during Shingen’s life was the construction of great castles. Shingen resisted this trend, preferring instead to perfect a flexible and highly mobile military force. Shingen’s military accomplishments included:

• The campaigns to expand Takeda control into the neighboring province of Shinano
• Shingen’s epic rivalry with Uesugi Kenshin, leader of the neighboring province of Echigo
• The ability to forestall the military juggernaut of the combined forces of Tokugawa Ieyasu and Oda Nobunaga

More information on Fuurinkazan is available here. An English site on Shingen is available here:

Now I have to say that usually I am a huge fan of NHK Taiga Dramas. Koumyou ga Tsuji (2006) was however very disapointing in my eyes. The series ploded away in a very uninteresting way.

Yoshitsune (2005) was better but still a bit too ‘Fantastic’ for my liking. But how dearly I loved Shinsengumi (2004) and Musashi (2003). Both were fantastic series.

Now if ONLY NHK would produce a new updated series on the greatest Japanese man who ever lived: Sakamoto Ryoma. (He also happens to be like an idol of mine!) Ah that would be grand!