Hakkenden: Fiction and Reality (15)

About the show

In early 19th-century Edo, celebrated novelist Takizawa Bakin (Koji Yakusho) embarks on an ambitious story of eight samurai warriors. They are bound by a mystical orb that grants them supernatural powers to lift the curse afflicting the Satomi clan. Seeking an illustrator, Bakin turns to his close friend, the legendary ukiyo-e master Katsushika Hokusai (Seiy? Uchino). Though Hokusai declines to collaborate, he continues to visit, eager to hear each new chapter as it unfolds.

Nearly three decades pass, but when his life’s work reaches its climax, Bakin’s private life takes its toll. In addition to family strife, he begins to lose his sight. Just as despair sets in, his devoted daughter-in-law, Omichi (Haru Kuroki), offers to assist him, rekindling his determination to complete the masterpiece.

Hakkenden has been adapted for film numerous times since the 1950s, but this adaptation is different. Masterfully directed by Sori Fumihiko (Pinpon, 2002), it effortlessly blends the intimate true story of some of Japan’s most renowned artistic historical figures with the world of fascinating heroes Bakin created, alongside breathtaking visual effects.