Taira no Kijomori

A very carefully made historical series with beautiful visuals and sets, all accompanied by pleasant music. Taira no Kiyomori's life was certainly an interesting one, and he made many enemies and followers throughout his life, but he lived by his own convictions, by his samurai code. If you like history, this is a straightforward, detailed romp through the life of a "despot" – from the fighting to the political intrigue, which was truly overwhelming, you find it all here. Not to mention the fact that this series brings together a bunch of great actors and big Japanese names (Matsuyama, Tamaki, Fujiki, Kamiki, Matsuda, Kamikawa, Nakai, Nikaidō, Aoki, and more). A very interesting insight into the life of a major historical figure featuring the acting elite. If you don't enjoy history, there's no point in watching this, even if you love the actors who star in it a hundred times over. (2016.01.22)