Mito Kōmon (水戸黄門?) is a Japanese jidaigeki or period drama that has been on prime-time television since 1969. The title character is the historic Tokugawa Mitsukuni, former vice-shogun and retired daimyo of the Mito domain.

In the guise of Mitsuemon, a retired crêpe merchant from Echigo, he roams the realm with two samurai retainers, fun-loving Sasaki Sukesaburō (Suke-san) and studious Atsumi Kakunoshin (Kaku-san). Episodes typically conclude with a brawl in which the unarmed, disguised protagonists better a crowd of samurai and gangsters, culminating with the presentation of the inrō that reveals the hero’s identity.

Five actors have portrayed the lead character in the series. Eijirō Tōno created the part and appeared in 13 seasons. His successor was Kō Nishimura. Asao Sano followed, and Kōji Ishizaka took the role in two series, quitting for cancer treatments. Kōtarō Satomi, has played Mitsuemon since 2002.

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The character normally sports a pointed white beard. He wears the lavish garb of a wealthy retiree, and carries a walking stick.

Singer-actor Ryōtarō Sugi was the series’ first Suke-san, followed by Kōtarō Satomi (who many years later took the lead role). Teruhiko Aoi was next, then Yūji Kishimoto, and Ryūji Harada. Opposite them, Tadashi Yokouchi, Shin’ya Ōwada, Gorō Ibuki, Jundai Yamada, and Masashi Gōda have played Kaku-san.

In each of the show’s 37 seasons, various other regular characters have joined the retinue. For many years it was the food-loving commoner Hachibei, the reformed thieves Kazaguruma no Yashichi and his wife Kasumi no Oshin, and the ninja Tsuge no Tobizaru and Kagerō Ogin. Portrayed by Kaoru Yumi, Ogin was the lead character in a light-hearted spinoff, Mito Kōmon Gaiden Kagerō Ninpō-chō. The same actress took on a new role, Oen, in which she continues as of 2007.

Many former regular actors appeared in the show’s gala 1000th episode, which aired on December 15, 2003. A 1978 film distributed by Toei Company shared the cast, production crew, and title.

Since its inception, the program has been a mainstay of the Panasonic Drama Theater (formerly known as the National Theater), sponsored by Panasonic. The TBS network airs the show throughout Japan, and shows reruns on both its analog stations and its CS satellite channel. For nearly three decades, Mito Kōmon shared the time slot with Ōoka Echizen, and various actors and actresses appeared in both series.

An unusual feature of the series is that the credits list the maker of the inrō.

Synopsis

With over 1000 episodes aired, Mito Komon is currently the longest running Japanese TV drama in history.

The main character, Mito Mitsukuni, is based on Tokugawa Mitsukuni, one of Tokugawa Ieyasu’s grandsons (son of Tokugawa Yorifusa) and lord of the province of Mito (now Ibaraki prefecture). Born in 1628, he was a scholarly recluse best known for researching the Dai-Nihonshi, a history of ancient Japan. Late in his life, he adopted the literary name “Komon” (Yellow Gate). The stories are based on popular legends about his incognito rovings around Ibaraki. Of course, in the series, he also puts right any wrongs wherever he finds them.

The plots are basically the same. Accompanied by his faithful attendants, servants and ninja, Mito Komon wanders around the countryside, helping those he finds oppressed by corrupt officials or evil landowners. A violent struggle typically ensures near the end of each episode, at which point one of his attendants flashes Komon’s inro, a lacquered case bearing the Tokugawa crest, thus revealing his true identity and proclaiming, “Here before you is Lord Mitsukuni of Mito, uncle of the Shogun.” Realizing they are facing someone who wields incredible power, the evil doers drop to their knees and grovel. Suppressing their rage as being outdone, the episode ends with Mito Komon always putting everything right once again and then continuing on his journey.

Other Information

• Title: 水戸黄門
• Title (romaji): Mito Komon
• Genre: Jidaigeki renzoku with a kanzen-choaku flare
• Episodes: 1152 (as of end of season 39)
• Broadcast network: TBS
• Broadcast period: 1969-Aug-4 to present, with one-season breaks in-between
• Air time: Monday 22:00

Main Cast

• Satomi Kotaro as Mito Mitsukuni (S31 to present)
• Ishizaka Koji as Mito Mitsukuni (S29 to S30)
• Nishimura Ko as Mito Mitsukuni (S14 to S29)
• Tono Eijiro as Mito Mitsukuni (S1 to S13)
• Harada Ryuji (S36)
• Goda Masashi (S36)
• Yumi Kaoru (由美かおる) (S36)
• Shoei (S36)
• Saito Akira (斉藤晶) (S36)
• Yamamoto Gaku (S29)

Links

• Official website

This entry was posted on Monday, August 4th, 1969 at 1:07 am and is filed under Action, Ancient, Historical, Japan, Melodrama. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.