Overview
Title: 不毛地帯
Romanji: Fumou Chitai
English: The Waste Land
Format: Renzoku
Genre: Business, Drama
Broadcast Network: Fuji TV
Broadcast Period: 2 Seasons. Starts 2009 October 15 to (to be announced)
Timeslot: Thursdays 22:00
Official Website: http://www.fujitv.co.jp/fumouchitai
Main Theme Song: Sakamoto Ryuichi (坂本龍一) | Official Website

Production
Original Writer: "Fumou Chitai" by Yamazaki Toyoko (山崎豊子)
Screenwriter: Hashibe Atsuko (橋部敦子)
Producer: Osabe Sosuke (長部聡介), Shimizu Kazuyuki (清水一幸)
Directors: Sawada Kensaku (澤田鎌作), Hirano Shin (平野眞), Mizuta Narihide (水田成英)
Music: Kanno Yugo (菅野祐悟)

Cast
Karasawa Toshiaki as Iki Tadashi
Wakui Emi as Iki Yoshiko (wife)
Yanagiba Toshiro as Kawamata Isao (good friend and also army officer in the same batch as Iki)
Koyuki as Akitsu Chisato (woman who gives Iki emotional support)
Sasaki Kuranosuke as Akitsu Seiki (son of military official Akitsu Noritake and a former officer who has entered priesthood)
Hashizume Isao as Tanigawa Taisa (military official)
Nakamura Atsuo as Akitsu Noritake (military official)
Amami Yuki as Beniko
Takenouchi Yutaka as Hyodo Shinichiro
Ito Shiro as Hisamatsu Seizo
Danta Yasunori as Kaizuka Michio
Furuta Arata as Ashida Kunio
Abe Sadayo as Tawara Hideo
Matsushige Yutaka as Koide Hiroshi
Kishibe Ittoku as Saito Tatsuya
Harada Yoshio as Daimon Ichizo (president of the company that Iki joins)

Translation and Credits: Jade_Frost at jdrama.wordpress.com

Karasawa Toshiaki playing the lead role


Fumou Chitai's Powerhouse of Talents

Introduction
Friday, 2009 May 15, 0600 (JST) -- Broadcaster Fuji TV has announced the production of a live-action drama based on the best-selling novel Fumou Chitai. The series is a major project for the network, as it will run for half a year.

The original novel was written by author Yamasaki Toyoko, also responsible for the books behind the dramas Shiroi Kyoto and Karei Naru Ichizoku. The story depicts a former colonel who survived a Siberian detention camp and resumed his life in Japan working for a trading company. It was previously adapted as a movie in 1976, followed a 7-month long TV series on TBS in 1979.

Fumou Chitai will star actor Karasawa Toshiaki , who also played the lead in Shiroi Kyoto. That series, which also lasted six months long, was produced in honor of Fuji TV's 45th anniversary and achieved ratings of 23.9%. Similarly, Fumou Chitai will help mark the network's 50th year, and Fuji TV is hoping that it even surpasses Shiroi Kyoto.

In addition to Karasawa, the cast features several others who have experience in lead roles: Wakui Emi, Yanagiba Toshiro, Koyuki, Sasaki Kuranosuke, Amami Yuki, and Takenouchi Yutaka. There are also many veteran supporting members, such as Hashizume Isao, Nakamura Atsuo, Kishibe Ittoku, and Harada Yoshio.

Shooting starts in mid-July, with locations including New Zealand. The show will run in Fuji TV's Thursday 10:00pm time slot starting in October.

Source: Fuji TV plans new "Fumou Chitai" drama - Tokyograph
Via: Sports Hochi


Synopsis
During WWII, Iki Tadashi (Karasawa Toshiaki) was a staff officer at the headquarters of the Japanese Imperial Army. After the war, he was captured by Soviet troops and forced to do hard labour for 11 years as a prisoner in a concentration camp in Siberia. Returning to Japan upon his release, he rejects the invitation of the Defence Agency to be a part of their organisation and naturally finds himself without employment. Meanwhile, Daimon Ichizo (Harada Yoshio), the president of an Osaka trading company, Kinki Corporation, which started as a wholesale dealer in textiles, hopes to transform the company from an old industrial conglomerate into a full-fledged integrated company. Painfully aware that the company needs men of talent who make judgments from a broad picture and can run the company in an organised way, Daimon decides to target outstanding staff officers who had been with the Imperial Japanese Army headquarters during WWII … After two years of job hunting, Iki, who has no qualifications but military credentials, plunges into the business world.

Translation and Credits: Jade_Frost at jdrama.wordpress.com

Character Descriptions


Karasawa Toshiaki as Iki Tadashi
Born in 1912. An elite soldier who graduated with top honours from the military academy. During WWII, he was involved in planning missions as a staff officer of the Imperial headquarters which has supreme command over the military. To persuade the Kwantung army which insists on a thorough resistance against Soviet troops that won’t accept the cessation of hostilities, he heads to Manchuria with a ceasefire missive in hand but is captured by Soviet troops. After that, he is sentenced to 25 years of forced labour at a military tribunal and is sent to a penal colony in the far north of Siberia which is said to be a place where a person cannot come back alive once he is sent there. He holds up through 11 years of forced labour and returns to Japan in 1956. He joins Kinki Corporation without using his position or connections during his days as a soldier but …


Wakui Emi as Iki Yoshiko
Iki’s wife. The daughter of Sakano, the instructor in charge during the time Iki was at the military academy. She raised their two children on her own while he was detained in Siberia. Even after Iki’s return to Japan, she continues to support the family while working at the Osaka Prefectural Office’s Civil Affairs Division during the period of his severe malnutrition as a result of forced labour to his recovery.

Yanagiba Toshiro as Kawamata Isao
The Defence Agency’s General of the Self Defence Force’s Air Force and rumoured to be the next Air Staff Chief. He has doubts about the role of the Self Defence Forces and dreams of transforming it into an institution that is approved by the public if he becomes the head of the Air Staff Office. Iki and him were in the same batch back in their days at the military academy, and are good friends. During the time Iki was detained in Siberia, he introduced work to Yoshiko and supported Iki’s family in various ways. He invites Iki to join the Defence Agency but …

Koyuki as Akitsu Chisato
The daughter of Lieutenant General Akitsu. She lives in Kyoto and aspires to be a ceramic artist. Listening to the last words of her father, she sends a letter to Iki. She is attracted to Iki who reminds her of her dead father.

Sasaki Kuranosuke as Akitsu Seiki
The son of Lieutenant General Akitsu and Chisato’s older brother. The war in the Philippines ends but feeling responsible for causing the deaths of many of his subordinates, he becomes a Buddhist priest and undergoes rigorous training.

Nakamura Atsuo as Akitsu Noritake
Commanding officer of the railroads on the continent. Lieutenant General. He meets Iki again at Khabarovsk while detained in Siberia. He is forced to appear as a witness for the Soviets in the Tokyo Tribunal of War Criminals. He initially accepts it and sets foot in Japan for the tribunal but …

Hashizume Isao as Tanigawa Taisa
Staff officer of the Manchuria Kwantung army. He was sent to Siberia together with Iki. After his return to Japan, he manages the foundation, Sakufukai, for those who have returned from Siberia and their surviving family members while living a life far from affluence.

Amami Yuki as Hamanaka Beniko
The daughter of the proprietress of the club, Le Bois. She accompanies her piano playing with singing at her mother’s establishment. She has forged close ties with business people and is well-informed. She has been on familiar terms with Hyodo for a long time.

Takenouchi Yutaka as Hyodo Shinichiro
He works at the Steel Division of Kinki Corporation’s Tokyo branch. He was from the military academy’s 58th batch and is Iki’s junior. A remarkable man who looks at Kinki Corporation’s future from a global perspective and constantly approaches work energetically. He comes to understand Iki, who is perplexed by the corporate world, well.

Ito Shiro as Hisamatsu Seizo
Chief of the Economic Planning Agency. He is also a member of the National Defence Council which makes decisions on the Defence Agency’s next generation of fighter planes. He privately discussed early peace overtures with Iki during the war and they are old friends. His connections with political circles and bureaucrats are wide, and he also has influence over the Prime Minister’s faction within the party.

Danta Yasunori as Kaizuka Michio
Deputy Vice-Minister of the Defence Agency. He used to be a former officer of the Interior Ministry and came from the police. He has been a defence career bureaucrat since the National Police Reserve. Aligning himself with Samejima Tatsuzo, he works on the Prime Minister’s faction in order to get Grant Corporation’s Super Dragon adopted as the Defence Agency’s next generation of fighter planes.

Endo Kenichi as Samejima Tatsuzo
Head of Tokyo Corporation’s Aircraft Systems Division. Called the man who built up the aerial capabilities of Tokyo Corporation. He recommends Grant Corporation’s Super Dragon as the Defence Agency’s next generation of fighter planes. He has the nickname “King of the Air” and will stop at nothing to achieve his goals, risking his life in name and in deed, to promote aircrafts.

Furuta Arata as Ashida Kunio
Kawamata’s subordinate. He was colleagues with Koide at the Defence Agency and is now the team leader of planning at the Defence and Operations Division’s Defence Planning Section. He has links with Kinki Corporation and provides the company with information from the Defence Agency at the time of the introduction of the next generation of fighter planes. He has a weakness for money and women, and is a coward.

Abe Sadayo as Tawara Hideo
A reporter from Maichou Shimbun’s political desk. He is currently assigned to the Defence Agency to cover issues relating to the decision on the model of the Defence Agency’s next generation of fighter planes. Aggressive and brimming with the spirit of journalism. Characteristic of newspaper reporters, he possesses information and occasionally pins Iki and the rest down with his incisive approach.

Matsushige Yutaka as Koide Hiroshi
He works at the Aircraft Systems Division of Kinki Corporation’s Tokyo branch. He gets in touch with Ashida in order to receive orders for the Defence Agency’s next generation of fighter planes. He used to be the Section Chief of Research at the Defence Agency’s Defence and Operations Division but when the leak of classified information to Kinki Corporation is exposed, he joins Kinki Corporation. Feeling indebted to the company, he tries to achieve good results. He has an earnest side as well as a cynical side.

Kishibe Ittoku as Satoi Tatsuya
General manager of Kinki Corporation’s Tokyo branch. As the head of the Tokyo branch dealing with steel and aircrafts, he transfers Iki, who is well-connected to the nerve centre of the Defence Agency, to the Aircraft Systems Division at Daimon’s advice in order to win orders for the Defence Agency’s next generation of fighter planes. He pushes for Lukid Corporation’s F104 as the next generation of fighter planes but …

Harada Yoshio as Daimon Ichizo
CEO of Kinki Corporation. A man full of pioneering spirit and with all the attributes of a leader who sees the big picture and comes out with bold policies. To globalise Kinki Corporation which focuses on textiles, he fixes his eyes on Iki’s ability to gather information and analyse situations, and invites him to work for his company.


Tabe Mikako as Iki Naoko


Takahashi Taira as Iki Makoto


ALL Translations and Credits: Jade_Frost at jdrama.wordpress.com.


News


Other Sources: Pinkpineapple at DramaWiki

Nice page luthien!

Here's some other information:

Karasawa Toshiaki as Iki Tadashi
Wakui Emi as Iki Yoshiko (wife)
Yanagiba Toshiro as Kawamata Isao (good friend and also army officer in the same batch as Iki)
Koyuki as Akitsu Chisato (woman who gives Iki emotional support)
Sasaki Kuranosuke as Akitsu Seiki (son of military official Akitsu Noritake and a former officer who has entered priesthood)
Hashizume Isao as Tanigawa Taisa (military official)
Nakamura Atsuo as Akitsu Noritake (military official)
Amami Yuki as Beniko
Takenouchi Yutaka as Hyodo Shinichiro
Ito Shiro as Hisamatsu Seizo
Danta Yasunori as Kaizuka Michio
Furuta Arata as Ashida Kunio
Abe Sadayo as Tawara Hideo
Matsushige Yutaka as Koide Hiroshi
Kishibe Ittoku as Saito Tatsuya
Harada Yoshio as Daimon Ichizo (president of the company that Iki joins)

The rest of the cast are probably colleagues.

The drama spans Japan of the 1960s and 1970s. A story about the men who built the foundation for present Japanese society and the women who supported them. This will be the drama of 2009 if executed well. I have high hopes. Shiroi Kyoto was a blast.

^^ Thank you! And thank you so much for all the info on this drama... couldn't have made a page without your goods. You're incredibly fast getting them! I just realized there's no thread for Rinjo? I really really like it... and wanna discuss it more... will create one tomorrow.

Is Koyuki suppose to be the "other woman"? That means Iki and the wife was in some sort of political marriage? Ohhhh.. very interesting!

Yutaka!!!! *sigh* supporting again? Can't really complain, I like Karasawa in Toshiee to Matsu... and have yet to watch Shiroi Kyoto.

This fall drama looks good!

Yay~ Koyuki!!!

Amami Yuki and Takenouchi Yutaka are also in this? They are supporting casts right? Sigh...

^ Amazing cast isn't it? Even if it's two seasons long, I think I'll be overwhelmed with all these actors in one drama. I wish the production all the luck they can get to make this drama a complete success.

Karasawa Toshiaki as Iki Tadashi has a wife, daughter and son.

Danta Yasunori as Kaizuka Michio and Ito Shiro as Hisamatsu Seizo are politicians.

Koyuki as Akitsu Chisato is the daughter of Nakamura Atsuo as General Akitsu Noritake. Together with Sasaki Kuranosuke as Akitsu Seiki, they form the Akitsu family.

Amami Yuki as Beniko either works or owns a club, called Ru Poa.

Iki's colleagues are Yutaka Takenouchi, Harada Yoshio, Kishibe Ittoku and Matsushige Yutaka.

Other additions to the cast:

Tabe Mikako as Naoko, the daughter of Iki Tadashi.

Endo Kenichi as Samejima Tatsuzo, Iki's rival at Tokyo Corp.

Hakamada Yoshihiko and Kajihara Zen as Hanawa Shiro and Kaname Kaibe, Iki's subordinates at Kinki Corp.

(Translated and summarised from Sankei News, 26 August 2009)

Fumou Chita: Extreme cold on-location in New Zealand in mid-winter

Filming for Fumou Chitai which began in early July has moved to New Zealand to film scenes of Karasawa Toshiaki's character Iki Tadashi's internment in Siberia after the war, recreating the "desolate" air of a concentration camp at a location 1,500m above sea level and about an hour's drive away from Queenstown.

At this time of the year, it gets cold with the temperature at night falling close to -10 deg celsius and snow piling up to a depth of 1m. "It's col-d. There are holes in my gloves and water has seeped into my boots ... so my character could die any time in detention," Karasawa says.

With his face smeared with mud and blood, and attired in the ragged clothing of a prison inmate, Karasawa is at the open set. Having lost 7kg since he embarked on a weight loss programme in April, Karasawa, who now weighs 56kg states, "I'm reduced to skin and bones but there are other scenes besides the internment."

Even when his character isn't present, Karasawa would request to participate in everything such as the rehearsal for a long walk in the snow. He restrains himself from going near the stove which has been set up for warmth, giving the local extras priority. "He's very stoic. He's even willing to wait 1 hour in the snow, displaying the attitude of his character to those around him," Director Sawada Kensaku says with respect.

"This protagonist isn't a hero. That's what's interesting," Karasawa notes. "Because this is a drama written for the main character, it's my responsibility whether the original work is a success or a failure. But as an actor I like that challenge."

^^ very interesting article. Thank you for sharing!! ^^ I'm really looking forward to this drama. I hope a fansubbing group puts this on top of their priority list. Is your group going to work on this?

I like Shiroi Kyoto and Karei Naru Ichizoku, so I will give this drama a shot~
Looking forward to its broadcast~

This is my most anticipated drama for next season! I haven't felt this excited in a while. Running for 2 seasons, just like Shiroi Kyoto. It would be even more awesome if Eguchi Yousuke is in it too, but I'm already satisified with the cast.

I would love to but I can't because of work. It is too long a commitment to take up since it runs for two seasons but I'll definitely be staying tuned and doing the episode synopsis on my blog so you can check it out. Maybe someone else in Heiwa Fansubs might consider taking it on.

There are a handful of clips at the official site showing the filming of scenes in the drama:
http://wwwz.fujitv.co.jp/fumouchitai/pre/movie.html

Check out movies 7, 8 and 9. These revolve around Iki's early years in the army.

I can't wait for the drama to start!

(Translated and summarised from Mainichi News, 7 September 2009)

Fuji TV ropes in Fujikawa Yusuke to lead CG staff

The period from late 1950s to early 1960s forms one of the important backdrops of Fumou Chitai which starts airing in October (for two seasons). Therefore the production cannot do without high calibre computer graphics staff because little is left of the landscape and towns of that era. As the person in charge, Fujikawa Yusuke leads a team of 40.

Computer graphics in a typical contemporary drama would have 10 cuts in an episode but in this instance there are a few hundred cuts. "It's unprecedented. We don't get a break." And it isn't just desk work. He goes with the production team to choose filming locations and also directs filming on-location.

"I'd be happy if people who are watching (the drama) wonder whether places reminiscent of such an era still exist and where the scenes were shot, and want to visit them."

(Translated and summarised from Mainichi News, 17 September 2009)

Fumou Chitai: Karasawa Toshiaki gives powerful performance of the hardships of detention

Fumou Chitai (The Wasteland), based on author Yamasaki Toyoko's original novel of the same name, begins this October (Thursdays, from 10.00 pm). The full-length work which will span two seasons (six months) and be the grandest of all time, is Fuji TV's pride. Mainichi interviews lead actor, Karasawa Toshiaki, on location in New Zealand.

The drama began production in July. In mid-August, filming moved to New Zealand, which is in the dead of winter, to shoot scenes of Iki Tadashi's (Karasawa Toshiaki) life-changing internment in Siberia for Episode 1.

An open set with a detention camp and a coal mine has been created in a wide area near a ski slope at a location 1,500m above sea level and about an hour's drive by car from Queenstown on New Zealand's South Island.

Karasawa wears clothes that look like old rags during the filming of a coal mine accident. The ground is covered with snow and ice. The chill penetrates the body. Thirty minutes, and then one hour passes by. "It's cold. There are holes in my gloves and water has seeped into my boots," Karasawa says. He mingles with scores of extras, voluntarily joining in even though the filming is done from a distance and he cannot be made out. At other locations, he also has to go into the river.

Learning that the detainees were starved and skeletal, he cut down his weight from 63 kg to 56 kg in preparation for his role. He "intended to be like skin and bones," but was talked out of that for the sake of the filming of scenes after his return to Japan. "I've never focused on my weight up to this point. It's been tough."

Karasawa headed the cast of Fuji TV's 2003 production, Shiroi Kyoto (Great White Tower), which had an average viewership rating of 23.9% and hit a record high of 32.1% in the Kanto region. When asked about the target for this production, Karasawa replies, "Saying that 'viewership ratings are poor but it is a good drama' is an excuse. It's meaningless if more people don't watch and whether it's a success or a failure, it's my responsibility." He exudes enthusiasm for the drama.

Iki has a complicated character, having fallen from elite soldier into this abyss and then made a comeback. "There are other people who can act the role of a good or bad person. But it is hard to find a person who can act as a person who has a good and bad side," producer Osabe Sousuke says, placing his trust in Karasawa.

Actors and actresses of leading star status such as Amami Yuki, Wakui Emi, Yanagiba Toshiro, Sasaki Kuranosuke and Takenouchi Yutaka have been cast as his co-stars. Director Sawada Kensaku displays keen enthusiasm for the unique portrayal of the complex interpersonal relationships and comments, "Iki is a central character show."

The scenes of Siberia are scheduled to be used mostly in Episode 1. As might be expected of a grand drama on which time and money have been spent, Ogawa Shinichi, who heads Fuji TV's Programme Bureau, has set a high target. He says, "We are aiming for the average viewership rating to exceed 20%."


About Fumou Chitai
Yamasaki Toyoko's full-length original novel was serialised in Sunday Mainichi from 1973 - 1978. The main character, Iki Tadashi, who was a staff officer at the Imperial Army Headquarters, was detained in Siberia for 11 years by the Soviet troops after Japan's defeat. Upon his return to Japan, he joined a trading company and continued his fight against rival companies and the world. The character is modelled after Sejima Ryuzo, the former president of Itochu Corporation who died in 2007.

All this made me nervous for its premiere!

Fumou Chitai Trailers

Trailer 1 (15s): http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/KeOF_0HzXO8/

Trailer 2 (15s): http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/DbCmvrxMx8M/

The start date has not been officially announced by Fuji TV yet but sources say 8 or 15 October in a two-hour premiere.

I'm really looking forward to this one. I suffered a drought in summer.

Thanks jade_frost for updating us as always. I can't wait for this drama to air!

It's official now! The start date is 15 October. And the first episode will have a special long run-time of 2 hr and 18 min!

The official website has also been updated with all the info as well as trailer info for Ep1.

looks like this drama is nearly dominated by Ken-On XD
anyway, looking forward to this drama, hope this drama can surpass shiroi kyoto!
(shiroi kyoto is seriously damn great~)

The press conference for Fumou Chitai, which starts on 15 October at 9.00 p.m. (subsequent episodes will start at 10.00 p.m.) was held in Tokyo on 4 October. The drama will air for two seasons and is part of Fuji's 50th anniversary productions.

Front row (left to right): Harada Yoshio, Koyuki, Karasawa Toshiaki, Wakui Emi, Yanagiba Toshiro
Back row (left to right): Abe Sadayo, Endo Kenichi, Amami Yuki, Takenouchi Yutaka, Hashizume Isao

Press conference clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtErNW7HpRI

General synopsis from Japan Times:

Toyo Yamazaki's classic novel "Fumo Chitai" (A Barren Land) has been made into movies and TV shows, and it has been turned into a new series to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Fuji Television (Thurs., 9 p.m.).

Iki Tadashi (Toshiyuki Karasawa) is captured by the Soviet Army in the final days of World War II and sentenced to hard labor in a Siberian prison camp. After eleven years he is released and returns home to Osaka, where his wife, Yoshiko (Emi Wakui), has been raising their two children by herself. He takes time to reacquaint himself with her and his children before taking up offer from the president of a trading company who wants him to join his sales staff.

Iki becomes one of the "corporate warriors" who help Japan emerge from the ruins to become a world economic power.

Screen caps from Fuji TV's Waratte Ii Tomo Autumn SP that the cast of Fumou Chitai (Karasawa Toshiaki, Yanagiba Toshiro, Amami Yuki, Wakui Emi, Koyuki, Abe Sadayo) participated in along with the actors and actresses from Real Clothes, Tokyo Dogs and Liar Game 2.

i watched the waratte iitomo SP ytd, it's so funny!!!
karasawa-san's so MAGIC~~ lucky he changed amami with koyuki..

and he said tamori looks like iguana and he laughed at his own words >.<

2 more days to the debut!

1 more day to the premiere! I can't wait.

(Translated and summarised from Chunichi News, 5 October 2009)

Leading Actor Karasawa takes on Second Challenge in Yamasaki Toyoko's Fumou Chitai


The press conference for Fuji TV's 50th anniversary drama production, Fumou Chitai which starts on 15 October (Thursdays from 10.00 p.m., 9.00 p.m. for Episode 1) was held at ANA Intercontinental Hotel Tokyo in Akasaka, on 4 October, and the main cast spoke enthusiastically about the drama's costumes.

The drama is based on author Yamasaki Toyoko's bestseller. This is the second time that leading actor Karasawa Toshiaki, 46, is acting in a drama adapted from Yamasaki's original novel since Shiroi Kyoto six years ago.



A former Japanese army elite returns to Japan after being confined for 11 years in the harsh land of Siberia since the end of WWII. He joins a trading conglomerate and suddenly finds himself fighting with other companies in the world in the "battlefield" of business. This literary masterpiece will be broadcast for six months, ending in March next year.

The original novel sold 5.12 million copies and in 1976 it was made into a film starring Nakadai Tatsuya.

Karasawa stars as Iki Tadashi, the protagonist. Wakui Emi, 38, stars as his wife; Yanagiba Toshiro, 48, his good friend; Koyuki, 32, the woman who gives him emotional support; Hashizume Isao, 68, a senior officer from his days in the army; Harada Yoshio, 69, the CEO of the trading conglomerate. Amami Yuki, 42, Takenouchi Yutaka, 38, and other members round out the sterling cast.



Karasawa, who is taking a second turn at a Yamasaki novel, says with confidence, "I feel grateful. She told me, 'You had a lot of nerve!" when she saw me in Shiroi Kyoto and so I once again been given a role," but, "This time, I haven't met her yet." He breaks into a sheepish grin.


While Hashizume praises him, "Karasawa-kun has a small face but nice eyes that draws a person in," he also says, "But he's usually rather noisy," commenting on Karasawa's manner of speaking, and the people around him burst into laughter.

Spoilers ahead!


(Translated and summarised from 47News, 13 October 2009)

Preview of Fumou Chitai Episode 1

Today, we preview the first episode of Fumou Chitai, Fuji TV's 50th anniversary drama production. The drama portrays elite soldier Iki Tadashi's detention in Siberia for 11 years after WWII and his plunge into the economic warfare of trading companies. Actor Karasawa Toshiaki stars as Iki Tadashi. His co-stars include Harada Yoshio, Yanagiba Toshiro, Wakui Emi, Koyuki, Takenouchi Yutaka and Amami Yuki.

On a morning when the sun still has not risen, Soviet troops approach a shabby wooden building. Their boots make dry, rough sounds as they tread in the snow. Then there are clanging noises. When the metal attached to the entrance is beaten, men wearing ragged clothes fumble and get out of bed. Their unsteady bodies are whipped and they hurry outside.

... The scene gets solemn but this is the opening of this drama. It has been a long time since we have had such a heavy-hitting drama.

Fumou Chitai is based on the novel of the same name by best-selling author, Yamasaki Toyoko, and follows in the wake of Shiroi Kyoto, another Yamasaki-Karasawa collaboration. Zaizen's ambition in Shiroi Kyoto felt dazzling but Iki keeps his emotions under wraps, giving a somewhat mysterious impression. He does not seem like a person who will display a strained nervousness.

It is really oppressive watching the detention scene which was shot in New Zealand in the dead of winter. I'm instinctively stunned by the 25-year sentence to hard labour that has been meted to Iki who is made to stand in line during a snowstorm. People who lose their lives because of the meagre rations and harsh labour appear one after another and we continue to remember the horror of this fact in history.

Some viewers may find the scene of his internment a little long but if you consider it to be an experience that weighs on Iki's life afterwards, it would not be too long.

The drama is flush with co-stars of leading star status but they are not just gorgeous, everyone is very well-suited to their roles. Harada, who plays the CEO of Kinki Corporation, has the airs of a "dirty Osaka businessman" and Takenouchi also fits his role as the decadent company employee perfectly. Amami Yuki as Beniko, the free-spirited daughter of a club proprietress, is suitably coquettish too.

I like this but the ending theme is actually the most moving. After the intro on strings, the person who begins to sing ... ooh, is that not Tom Waits?! Sung with a hoarse voice, the heartrending melody gently shrouds the undercurrent of sorrow and the deeds of the awkward men in this drama. This is a terrific choice!

^ lucky you get to watch it raw.. this is the title i'm looking forward to the most... yet there is no one listed to sub this in DA's fansub map. it's really sad for those relying on subs like me.

I'm glad I know Japanese even though I'll probably only get 80% of it. If anything, I think that there will eventually be a subbing group that will eventually pick Fumou Chitai up, especially if it becomes a ratings monster. But the length of the drama might perhaps be keeping many from making the commitment since it runs for six months rather than the usual three months. In the meantime, I'll be posting recaps on my blog, so you can check it out if you don't want to wait until it gets subbed.

I hope it's good. It's also my most anticipated drama of the season. Summer was crap! The drama has just started airing in Japan. Whee!

watched it thru sopcast too
the drama's better from what i've expected~ it's not bad!! =D
i saw amami-san and i LOL-ed =X (reminds me of the monkey incident in waratte iitomo SP on monday)
karasawa-san sugoi ne~ the image resembles zaizen goro of shiroi kyoto but doesnt have any feeling of zaizen at all!

waiting for the rating to be out, fujitv expect this drama to have an average of 20% :S

Thank you luthien and especially jade frost for all your hard work. Been looking forward to this and will wait patiently for the subs! *fingers crossed

For those who missed the first episode, here's the streaming link: (no subs)

http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/xqORuCTKe3g/

14.4% for Ep 1. I don't think the folks at Fuji TV are going to be thrilled but it's a respectable rating. And Fumou Chitai may just be slow off the block. Things didn't really get moving until much later in the episode after the backdrop of the story and introductions were out of the way.

There might be subbing news coming out very soon. In the next few days or so. Stay tuned.

im shocked at the rating.. didnt really expect this

Just 14.4%? I was expecting the high teens at least if it didn't break the 20% barrier. After Fuji TV promised this being bigger than Shiroi Kyoto, 8% difference in premiere night is huge! Karei Naru Ichizoku pulled off a very high premiere rating too.. With the success of the previous adaptations, I honestly thought that more viewers would tune in to this drama. Also, it was partly because of those two adaptations that expectations for this drama was abnormally high. How often do you have a broadcaster promising a project to be "huge"? This 14.4% can really dampen the spirit of a fan and most likely the production & cast. Oh not to mention, the more popular the drama, the more likely it'll get subbed.. esp if it doesn't have idols in it.

If you take a look at the positive side, premiere rating doesn't always mean it'll hover in those numbers in the remaining episodes.... it's slated for 2 seasons. Therefore if like Jade_frost said, it might just be a slow start... there is still a probability it could easily and sharply rise as it gains followers in the coming weeks. *crosses fingers*

ohhhhh.... subbing news!!! So I guess a certain team(s) has checked this drama out already and was convinced of its potential?

jade_frost, I'm slowly updating the first post with your translated info. Thanks for always providing us with much needed updates on Jdramas.. all the info are in one place.. usually, the only way you'd get news is if you're in some fandom/community who may have dedicated fans available to translate news about their favorite actor/actresses. Keep up the great work you're doing!

i heard other tv channels such as tbs ytd showed variety shows which were at least 2 hours long.. well, looks like they've succeeded in blocking fmct from getting high ratings.

im waiting for the chinese sub to be out, chinese's sub teams are always very fast at producing the drama (:

*cross fingers for next week*

Found this torrent link for chinese subs. Enjoy! *rushes off to download

http://bbs.btpig.com/viewthread.php?tid=86...;extra=page%3D1

Source: BTpig

im waiting for people to put up in raysource..
i had a bad experience with bt.. it makes my comp infected wif lots of virus.

heard from my friend the record ranking, #1 is fmct.
tat means a lot ppl recorded it but didnt watch it live.. |||
next thur the same timeslot, TBS's having arashi's variety show SP.. s**t~
hope the rating will go up.

lucky you could read Chinese!

Fumou Chitai Episode 1 is available in D-addicts!!!!!!!

hehe.. the power of Arashi? i like Arashi though .. but i don't watch their variety, just their dramas.

fmct's rating not tat good, i tink is becoz in the same timeslot, TBS's having arashi's 2hr variety show SP, and NTV (if i never remember wrong) had a 3 hrs variety show SP.. so fmct's sandwiched by these 2..

Here's the news everyone has been waiting for: Momotami from Heiwa Fansubs will do softsubs for Fumou Chitai so the wait isn't gonna be indefinite

It's interesting that people chose to watch the variety specials over Ep 1. I caught some of the specials while in Japan the week before and let's just say that some of them are barely worth the time watching. On another note, the specials will have to come to an end once the season really gets underway since most of the dramas would have premiered by the end of next week. By that time, there'll be nothing to hold Fumou Chitai back if it has all the elements of a good drama.

Luthien thanks. I'm not sure how long I'll keep at this. I'm really into dramas (although I don't always watch dramas some seasons) and it helps me stay in touch with Japanese so I'm happy to keep posting information on dramas. But it's not exhaustive. And it's tiring to get people fan-girling on the blog or demanding to know why I omitted some drama coverage.

Screen captures from episode 01:

Excerpts from Interview with Karasawa Toshiaki
(translated from Yahoo's special feature)

It'll soon be two months (the interview was conducted at the end of September) since filming began. Shall we take a look back at filming that has been done so far?
No matter how we film and film, it feels like it won't end (laughs). First thing I knew, we had a location shoot in New Zealand and started on a punishing schedule but Director Sawada was psyched up and because we have pretty good footage, I'm looking forward to watching the completed Episode 1.

It seems that you dieted in preparation for the scenes of Siberia.
That's because I couldn't be overweight for the scenes of Siberia. I lost seven kilograms but I wanted to lose more weight. However, I was told that it would be filmed together with my scenes at the trading company after my release from internment in Siberia, so before I went to New Zealand, I started to eat again and I gave up on losing weight (laughs). Oh well, I thought that since I'd already lost weight, I might as well carry on this way.

What dieting method did you use to lose weight?
I just consumed herbal juice in the morning and at night. Apart from that, I would drink supplements at intervals. It took away a little of my hunger when I drank that. But as you'd expect, it was killing me just drinking juice morning and night. When I started my diet, I kept looking at pizza shop leaflets at night for close to two weeks (laughs).

It looked like the filming in New Zealand was hard.
Filming itself was really difficult. It was cold there. In the scene where we had to walk in the snowfield, there was a camera shooting from a distance the whole time but it was no good because the weather was fair. We were told, "Please wait for the clouds!" We couldn't go back because there would be footprints so we kept waiting in the snow. After that, there was a scene where we were in a river, and as you'd expect, it was tough. It didn't feel cold. It felt painful. I had socks on but ... I thought, "Oh, this is what it is like to get frostbite ..." (laughs). If it was the sea, it would probably be warmer going into a large body of water, but because the river is melted snow water, it's different.

In your view, what is your impression of Iki Tadashi?
He's a very serious and noble person. It's that graciousness which emerges from having a mission in one's own life. I strongly felt that part. Midway through reading the original work, there was an instant when I thought, "Oh man, isn't that just like me?" but at the very end it became, "Oh, so it goes like this?" I guess he's noble. He will do what must be done matter-of-factly, no matter what the people around him think. Furthermore, he will do so in order to make a difference. In this present era of excesses, that graciousness of doing things not for one's own sake will be good ...

Iki plunges into a completely different world at the age of 46. If it were you, what would you do?
A person usually doesn't plunge into a completely different world from the age of 46. But I guess his experience of being a staff officer during the war probably prepared him well? It came about because he has such a background. For people who don't, it will probably be difficult if they are told to do new things at the age of 46.

What did you bear in mind when portraying Iki Tadashi?
Iki Tadashi isn't an expressive person so I thought I should not deviate too much in that aspect.

Did you have any hesitation or confusion acting as the lead in Yamasaki Toyoko-san's work after Shiroi Kyoto?
I didn't have any hesitation. I received a big role so I certainly have the responsibility to do it well. That's why I have to perform in a way that the staff wouldn't ridicule me, and I want to make it a drama that makes people who watch say, "It's interesting." I have my own part ... I will do my very best for the part of Iki Tadashi; the other actors also have their own parts to play. I believe that when these are combined, we'll definitely have a good drama. And Professor's (Sakamoto Ryuichi who worked on the main theme) song is also terrific.

thx u jade for the translation!
i watched the movie version of fmct, and the male lead, the face seriously =.=|||, u will feel like slapping him >.<
but it's exciting towards the end, im curious how fujitv gonna split the story into 2 parts.

ROFL. karasawa-san is so cute, look at the pizza leaflet at night
i love him even more now

Heh yeah he is!

Would you recommend watching the movie?

I've watched the first half of episode one, which covered Iki's internment in Siberia and subsequent events, and it was good. It felt like going to the depths of hell and then being wrenched back. The scenes were just long enough to establish the life-changing experience that Iki underwent during the 11 years of hard labour and also flesh out his character - stoic, principled and, like Karasawa Toshiaki said in his interview, noble.

Before watching the episode, I was under the impression that he was a victim of circumstances. But now that I've seen it, I realise that much of it was of his own choosing at that moment when he turned down the chance to fly back to Japan after delivering the ceasefire missive in Manchuria and his refusal to meet his family in a reunion that the Soviets had orchestrated in the hope that he would cave in and testify for them.

The scene that stuck in my mind was the one with Tanigawa Taisa after Iki points a gun to his own head.

Tanigawa to Iki:
Iki, what is your duty?
Is it to persuade the Kwantung Army not to allow anymore men to die in vain and then go back to the Imperial Army headquarters?
See with your own eyes the hardship that our country, our army will have to taste from now on.
That is your duty.
And then live to become a witness of history so that this mistake is never made again.
This is your mission.
Live. Live to go back.

It's kind of haunting and then later heart-wrenching and soul-churning when Iki embraces this notion and then struggles with the repercussions of his military tactics on the common people, deaths/suicides of fellow comrades and bleak despair in the brutal climate of Siberia.

I'm interested to see how he navigates his way in the corporate world. He looked so uncomfortable and somewhat a misfit in the Textile Division of Kinki Corporation.

^ Interesting bit there... I'm still wondering whether I should watch the drama raw and read the recap/spoilers.. or just wait out till subs comes out then read the recap. Dunno yet, cos I just end up reading the spoiler you've got htere.. haha.. but really, it got me teary-eyed reading what Tanigawa said to him. It seems like a very interesting first episode, makes me even more intrigued. Thanks.. and also thanks for the translations to the interview. Finding out how much effort he put in here, I will surely appreciate it as I watch those scenes.. hope it wasn't cut out.

I had a feeling it was gonna be Heiwa! Just felt so bad for the drama for not being in anyone's priority.. but I finally understood why when you said it's a bigger commitment compared to usual jdramas. I'm so glad it's Heiwa picking up on it.... I won't be too far behind you and the others who can watch c-subs.

I didn't know there's a movie.. it must be rare? ETA: it's old afterall.

Hahha.. I felt bad for him drinking just herbal juice and staring at the leaflet.. but really, would staring at pictures of food help? I can't imagine how it worked for him, because if that was me, I would've caved in binged big time.



From reading kdrama blogs, although I'm impressed with the writing and appreciate the comments.. sometimes I get a feeling that the tone of the writing tends to solicit a certain perspective and type of comments. With jdramas, it is incredibly hard to get any info on the jdramas.. However, you update immediately.. from the news and/or directly from the website. What I like most about your site is that you translate as it was written from the source.. well I don't know japanese, but that's how it sounds. There's no bias, you don't affect your readers' opinion regarding the updates. You give the synopsis, character description, etc as is... then let the reader decide for themselves whether to watch it or not. Although of course, I'm always curious what you think.. the potential of the show.. comments here and there since you do know your jdramas... and I like to read your opinions. LOL on fan-girling.. I feel bad spamming your blog with my fangirling tendencies (re: Shida Mirai). gomen ne

I finally found this thread, thanks for the updates.
WOW! The writer of Shiroi Kyoto. Hope this drama will be great too.

I still remember Karasawa Toshiaki & Wakui Emi in 1994 drama Imoto Yo.

Hey, Jade frost, like luthien, I cannot thank you enough for your translations! Without your synopsis for episode 1, I would be totally lost, and this in spite of Chinese subs as I think I could only understand about half of it!

YAY! Can't wait for e-subs

What struck me most was the cinematography and the feel of the drama so far. Love how the director used not just the framing of each shot but colours to tell the story. The hardship of the Siberian episode was amplified by a largely bleak monotone though not quite the black and white of Spielberg's "Schindler's List". I love the last scene during the end credits best, when the blizzard slowly revealed a lone figure dressed in the corporate uniform of a suit, ready to take on a different battlefront of business as he embarked on the second half of his life. And this....



No words needed here. Country above self and family. And for such an honourable and single-minded man on a mission, from the perspective of his family, he may not be the best husband and father to protect and look after their interests.

The somewhat non-linear retelling of the story was ingenius. Instead of the usual flashback, which may drag down the momentum of the story development, episode 1 flip-flopped easily between Iki's internment, his recuperation and starting anew as a corporate warrior to sufficiently keep viewers' interest and to draw them into the story.

As for Karasawa Toshiaki, he seemed to meld into his characters with such ease and so convincingly at such. Whether it was the brilliant surgeon in White Tower or the brilliant soldier, he exuded gravitas.

Looking forward to episode 2 !

BTW, does anyone know the title of the song at the end of the episode? Thanks so much in advance!

imouto yo's purely sweet!! i still remember the kiss @ the themepark, super OMGGGG!!
but wakui aged a lot~ sigh*

anyway for the movie, i didnt pay attention at all XD
the male lead, i wont say he cant act, but i cant stand his blurr face from the beginning to the end of the movie..
my friend felt like slapping him =X
anyway, the movie's abt 3 hrs long.. and i heard the movie only cover a portion of the novel, so the ending might not be the same as the movie but will contain tat story too.
for ur info, the movie was made in abt 1979~

i went to a forum for jdrama in baidu, a lot of ppl said karasawa-san cmi~
hurts me a lot
kara-chan (my nickname for him) has his own way of acting, and i truly believe in him
iki has the image which is abt 95% close to zaizen goro in SK, but the feeling's totally different! SUGOI!

my fav scene for the 1st ep will be the very last scene, where iki recalled his memories and decided to ask for a transfer to another department~
for the ending song, it is "Tom Traubert's Blues" by Tom Waits

Yup the story of Iki's earlier years was interestingly portrayed and I could feel the toll that each episode encountered over the course of the 11 years took on him.

The subs will probably take a longer while since it clocks in at almost 2 hours but I'm sure everyone will be able to enjoy it in the next week.




The scenes mentioned are all in the episode. What courage, loyalty and sense of mission a man must have to sacrifice all for his country. With little hesitation.

Here are the translations of two other relevant scenes:
(1) Iki's conversation with Tanigawa after they are transported by the Soviets to Siberia and just before he was taken away and put aboard a train bound for an unknown destination.

Tanigawa: Why didn't you go back to Japan? If you remain here, there's no guarantee of life.
Iki: Until the day the Kwantung troops can return to Japan ... I think it is my responsibility to watch with my own eyes until the last person returns. And it is my mission to live to become a witness of history so that this mistake is never made again.
Tanigawa: Iki, no matter what happens, live. Survive.

(2) Iki's remarks to Daimon at the end of the episode when he makes his request to transfer to the Aircraft Systems Division.

Iki: CEO, I hope you'll let me transfer to the Aircraft Systems Division.
Daimon: Didn't you say that you didn't wish to use your military connections in your job?
Iki: It is my mission to protect and develop this country so that this mistake is never made again.

I think the only issue I had so far is the implication that Japan was a victim of the war in the dialogue that Kawamata had with Iki after the rather strained dinner session with Daimon even if it was a fictional work, that's pretty hard to swallow.




Oooooh thank you. I try my best to be as precise in my translations though I take liberties sometimes when I can't tell without watching the drama who does what to whom. At times the text is too ambiguous to make sense! Well, I've always thought that the blog would be more complete if I wrote reviews but truth be told, I'm lazy and I don't think I would make a good reviewer because I usually go by gut feel and then try articulate what it was that struck me as terrific or horrid, if asked. Now imagine how that would sound. Constipated.

I realised that I made one translation error. The US fighter jet company that Kinki Corp endorses is Luckheed. Not Lukid.

Your Shida Mirai comments aren't fangirling. The fangirling stuff are the sort where people proclaim that they are so in love with actor xxx and want to be their wife or god knows whatever stuff!




There was apparently a movie and a drama. The drama was produced by TBS in 1979 and ran for 31 episodes. The movie was made earlier in 1976 according to some Japanese websites.

I should think that they've made an unfair statement and it is too early into the drama to make judgment. He was certainly good in other productions though I can't say the same of the drama Kobayakawa Nobuki no Koi. Especially when one considers how many of the younger generation of actors and actresses cannot act or keep "acting" similar characters in each drama. Some actually have the luxury of scripts tailored to fit their image or perhaps shortcomings. One particular actor in this season's Monday getsu slot immediately comes to mind, having just translated the character description. And another actress in a time-warp TBS drama ... But I digress.

3 more days to Ep 2!

^ I think the company name is supposed to be Lockheed, now known as Lockheed Martin.

Hey biggirl20, thank you so much for the song title.

Hmmm....that's why there was a reference to "Waltzing Matilda". Here's a background of the song:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_Change


And the lyrics:

http://www.ripcat.free-online.co.uk/waitsh...blueslyrics.htm


And here's something on the Kwantung Army for history buffs:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwantung_Army