Every year in Japan, the Japan Broadcasting Company (NHK) air a weekly year-long historical 'Taiga' drama. In 1985-86, that series was Sanada Taiheiki (Saga Of The Sanada Clan), charting the fortunes of the Sanada Clan in the Warring States Period (after the death of Takeda Shingen) and into the foundation of the Tokugawa Shogunate, roughly 1582-1615. This is one of the best Taiga's that i have seen and was absolutely compulsive viewing. This was due in no small part to an excellent cast including Watase Tsunehiko as Sanada Nobuyuki, his brother Sanada Yukimura played by Kusakari Masao and stalwart Tanba Tetsuro as their father, the wily and courageous Sanada Masayuki. Special mention must go to the excellent performances of Natsuyagi Isao as Tsuboya Matagoro and Haruka Kurara as Oko, two of the Sanada's finest ninja. Like 'Fuurin Kazan', this series has everything you could want in a Taiga drama : political intrigue, philosophy, history, violence, it provides a real window into the transition from the turbulent Sengoku Period into the Tokugawa ascendancy. This has some of the best samurai & ninja action that you will see anywhere. An absolute classic.
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