Seiten wo Tsuke
Seiten wo Tsuke (Japanese: 青天を衝け), internationally known as Reach Beyond the Blue Sky, is the 60th installment in the long-running NHK taiga drama series. The series aired from February 14 to December 26, 2021, occupying the network's Sunday 20:00 time slot. It follows the life of Eiichi Shibusawa, a prominent Japanese industrialist often referred to as the "father of Japanese capitalism."
Production and Background
The series was written by Mika Omori and directed by a team including Hiroshi Kurosaki, Naoki Murahashi, Tetsuya Watanabe, and Kenji Tanaka. It succeeded the drama Awaiting Kirin and was followed by The 13 Lords of the Shogun in January 2022. The production focuses on the transition of Japan from the late Edo period through the Meiji Restoration and into the modern era.
Plot
The narrative centers on Eiichi Shibusawa, portrayed by Ryo Yoshizawa. Born in 1840 into a farming family involved in indigo production and sericulture, Shibusawa's life trajectory shifted significantly when he entered government service at the age of 23. His travels to Paris exposed him to Western banking systems, which he later adapted to help establish the first modern bank in Japan. Throughout his career, Shibusawa was instrumental in the founding or support of approximately 500 companies and contributed to roughly 600 public service initiatives, including advancements in women's education.
Cast
The series features an extensive ensemble cast representing various historical factions of the era.
The cast includes:
- Ryo Yoshizawa as Eiichi Shibusawa
- Kaoru Kobayashi as Ichiroemon Shibusawa
- Emi Wakui as Ei Shibusawa
- Tsuyoshi Kusanagi as Yoshinobu Tokugawa
- Ai Hashimoto as Chiyo Odaka
- Shinichi Tsutsumi as Enshiro Hiraoka
- Naoto Takenaka as Nariaki Tokugawa