Friends keeping an eye on Japan probably know about NHK's annual Taiga drama series. This year's 64th installment, Berabou: Tsutaju's Dream of Glory (べらぼう〜蔦重栄華乃夢噺〜), premiered on Sunday, January 5th, naturally sparking plenty of chatter among J-drama fans and the public alike.
The premiere episode dropped a bombshell with a shocking scene featuring four nude female corpses lying face down. Three of these roles were played by well-known adult film actresses: Nene Yoshitaka, Kanna Fuji (藤かんな), and Suzu Yoda. This full-frontal (well, full-back) nudity, showing their buttocks, is practically unheard of in a Taiga drama, and it immediately set the internet ablaze.
Here's a look at the scene:
Today, the actresses' agency, EIGHTMAN, posted behind-the-scenes photos on their official X (formerly Twitter) account. While acknowledging online criticism questioning the appropriateness of such scenes for public broadcast, the agency expressed their utmost respect for the production team's challenge in pursuing realism, which led them to cast these actresses.
Among the trio, Nene Yoshitaka transitioned from gravure idol to the adult film industry, starting in 2017 and consistently ranking high in popularity. Kanna Fuji, a graduate of Osaka University's Graduate School of Science, previously worked as a researcher at a listed tech company while simultaneously filming adult content. Last April, she released her first book, "The Naked Swan: From Osaka University Graduate Student to Adult Film Actress," detailing her unique journey. Suzu Yoda, who officially debuted last August, gained attention for a special note in her profile: "active pet groomer."
Nene Yoshitaka also shared photos and commented that it wasn't "just about showing butts." Apparently, even their hair and faces were meticulously styled, and their bodies were painted a corpse-like white. She mentioned the 8-hour shoot was incredibly tough but expressed gratitude for the opportunity to appear in a Taiga drama.
While this casting choice certainly sparked conversation, there's also been a wave of online criticism, with many arguing that such depictions are highly inappropriate for a Taiga drama and disagreeing with the production team's approach.
However, other netizens have countered that since the story is set in the Edo period, the NHK production team was simply basing it on historical events. While the sight of nude corpses might be jarring for some viewers, they argue it's an accurate historical recreation.
Regardless, this year's NHK Taiga drama, "Berabou: Tsutaju's Dream of Glory," definitely kicked off with a bang and got everyone talking. What twists and turns will the story take? Why not tune in and see if this year's Taiga drama is your cup of tea!