“The First Promised Moon” depicts Murasaki Shikibu’s childhood.
Although it does not depict "The Tale of Genji," there is a foreshadowing!

The first episode ``The Promised Moon'' depicts Murasaki Shikibu's childhood. He lives in a house that wakes up due to leaking rain, and he looks like a very poor aristocrat. The name that suddenly caught my attention was Mahiro. Many of the names of women from the Heian period have not been passed down, and the name Murasaki Shikibu was given when she was working as a wife (ha, could this be Genji's real name?). However, what does it mean as a childhood name for an aristocratic woman of this era? It feels strange. I don't know for sure, but is that Murasaki Shikibu's real name? The person considered to be Fujiwara Kako (there are various theories including Kaoruko and Kyoko). I think Mahiro is too modern.

The setting of him meeting Saburo, who later became Michinaga, and becoming childhood friends also feels strange. Although she is the daughter of a poor aristocrat, it is hard to believe that women could go out easily in the Heian period. Even though it's a drama, I felt it was a bit forced. Professor Kazuhiro Kuramoto, who is in charge of historical research, was also surprised to learn that the two were childhood friends. Apparently, they told NHK that it was impossible, but their reply was that they had already announced it, so they would go ahead with it.

But I think if you try to base it on the conventions of the time, the story won't move. Therefore, it may be best to view it as a period drama with a Heian period flavor.

The summary of NHK's special website for the program says: ``Taiga drama ``Hikaru Kimi e'' (2024). The main character is Murasaki Shikibu (Yuriko Yoshitaka). A woman who wrote ``The Tale of Genji,'' a bestseller that has been around for more than a thousand years, during the Heian period. She uses her feelings for Fujiwara Michinaga (Yu Emoto), her hidden passion, and her unique imagination to create a story about Hikaru Genji (Hikaru-kun). A story of a woman who lived her life with unchanging love in her heart in a changing world."

This drama depicts the life of a woman named Murasaki Shikibu, and does not depict the Tale of Genji. Screenwriter Shizuka Oishi previously said that he had no intention of including a play within a play. Since the details have not been communicated, you can freely create your own creations, but is it still possible to create "The Tale of Genji" even if you don't draw it? There is a question.

For that reason, there are many points that seem to be foreshadowing to ``The Tale of Genji''. There's the scene where he lets his pet bird escape, and the scene where he meets Saburo by chance and tells him his false identity. It's clearly a quote from ``Genji,'' so not only will it make people who know it smile, but it also depicts the vortex of writing ``Genji'' in the future, so isn't there a need for a play within a play? Is it?

The first episode of ``Hikaru Kimi e'' has a shocking ending. Is there a hint that we can expect a slightly depressing development?

I was surprised at the end of the first episode. Saburo (later Michinaga)'s older brother, Michikane, stabbed Mahiro's mother, Chihaya, to death. Murasaki Shikibu's mother is said to have died when Murasaki Shikibu was very young, so she is free to create something, but this development is bad. I don't know how far I'll go with "To Shining You." Do you draw until very late in life? If that's the case, it's a depressing development.

In historical fact, Kenko, the only daughter born to Murasaki Shikibu and her husband, Fujiwara Nobutaka (played by Kuranosuke Sasaki), marries Michikane's son! What kind of fate is this? Is it karma? If Murasaki Shikibu's later years were to be depicted, I think this would be the highlight of the drama.

However, it is. I don't know if we'll get to the episode about her daughter, but it looks like there's going to be another depressing development before that.

Mahiro remembered that when his mother, Chihaya, was killed, the servant called him ``Michikane-sama.'' When he takes his mother back to his home, his father, Tametoki, says, ``Michikane killed me.'' However, if you were watching with subtitles on, this part would say, ``Michikane killed me.'' It was written in katakana. And since his father taught Chinese literature to the future Emperor Kazan with Kaneie's help, he knows who Michikane is. However, she tells Mahiro that she is going to pretend that her mother died from an illness.

...That means, before the episode where Mahiro's daughter Kenko marries Michikane's son in the future, it is revealed that the brother of Mahiro's crush, Michinaga, was actually the one who killed her mother. That's what I mean. Michikane was the one who killed his mother. It might turn out to be a little interesting.

Expectations from unique actors

Mr. S, a member of the Premium Japan literature club, is a fan of Yuriko Yoshitaka. She seems to be very sexy. I liked Bando Minosuke who played the role of Emperor Enyu. The way he took casual pauses was very similar to his late father, Mitsugoro Bando, and the atmosphere of a naughty man was also evident. It was exquisite.

Actress Yo Yoshida plays Fujiwara Akiko (Akiko in the drama), the older sister of Fujiwara no Michinaga, who later became Saburo, who entered the court of Emperor Enyu, but I wonder what it would be like for a 15-year-old to play the role... ...Since both Murasaki Shikibu and Michinaga used child actors, I thought it would be fine if Akiko was also a child actor.

As for Yuriko Yoshitaka, who plays the lead role, I will leave it to Editorial Department S. I hope that Mr. Yoshitaka will talk a lot about his charm.

``For You Shining'' is full of developments that go beyond historical fact. I'm not sure if I'll be able to keep up, but I'm looking forward to next week!

"Premium Japan Literature Club" was formed by literature lovers within the Premium Japan editorial department (exaggeration). For literature lovers, the 2024 taiga drama ``Hikaru Kimi e'' was a perfect opportunity to discuss this and that. Volunteers from the editorial department will continue to freely review articles. For the first time, Editor N reviewed the differences between historical fact and drama, and a deep dive into foreshadowing!