Back in the late 70s and early 80s, Singapore Broadcasting Corporation's (SBC - presently MediaCorp) Channel 8 also televised its fair share of sci-fi, period (samurai/ninja action), romance and detective dramas. Once again, Ol'Dan has done some research and YouTube also yielded some gems:
Drama 01
Title: 柳生一族の陰謀, Yagyu Ichizoku no Inbo, Yagyu Clan Conspiracy (1978)
Title during SBC broadcast: Samurai From Edo City
Genre: Period (Jidaigeki, aka 時代劇)
Episodes: 39
Cast:
Shinichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba (千葉真一) as Yagyu Jubei (柳生十兵衛)
Yuki Meguro (目黒祐樹) as Yagyu Samon (柳生左門)
Etsuko Shiomi (志穂美悦子) as Yagyu Akane (柳生茜)
Etsuo Shima (島英津夫) as Yagyu Matajuro (柳生又十郎)
So Yamamura (山村聰) as Yagyu Tajima (柳生宗矩)
Mikio Narita (成田三樹夫) as Ayamaro Karasumaru (鳥丸文麿)
Synopsis:
A close ally of the Tokugawa Shogunate, the Yagyu clan thwarts schemes by those seeking to undermine and topple the Shogunate, chiefly the courtiers/nobles loyal to the Emperor.
Dan's thoughts on this drama:
This drama kicks total ass with action choreographed by the JAC (Japan Action Club). As a kid, I remember the eye-patch worn by Yagyu Jubei most followed by that seemingly sissy courtier (Ayamaro Karasumaru) with painted eyebrows who's actually a master swordsman/Class 'A' villain.
Music by: Toshiaki Tsushima (津島利章)
Drama 02
Title during SBC broadcast: Shadow Corps
Genre: Period (Jidaigeki, aka 時代劇)
Episodes: 27
Cast:
Shinichi 'Sonny' Chiba (千葉真一) as Hattori Hanzo (服部半蔵)
Synopsis:
Masquerading as the owner of a bathhouse, master ninja Hattori Hanzo and his spy network eliminate those who undermine the power of the Tokugawa Shogunate from the shadows.
Music by: 渡辺茂樹 (Shigeki Watanabe)
Now you know where Sega got their SHINOBI from...
Trivia: Sonny Chiba reprised his role as Hattori Hanzo (masquerading as a sushi chef) in KILL BILL Volume 1.
Drama 03
Title: 赤い疑惑, Akai Giwaku, Red Suspicion (1975)
Genre: Junai (Pure Love, 純愛), Tragic Romance
Episodes: 29
Cast:
Momoe Yamaguchi (山口百恵) as Sachiko Oshima (大島幸子)
Tomokazu Miura (三浦友和) as Teruo Sagara(?) (相良光夫)
Synopsis from wiki.d-addicts.com:
Sachiko is the 17-year old daughter of radiotherapist Professor Oshima. After exposure to radiation in the hospital, she develops leukemia. As if that was not enough trouble for one lifetime, discovers that Oshima is not her real father, and that her boyfriend is really her half brother.
Song title: ありがとう あなた (Thank You)
Singer: 山口百恵 (Momoe Yamaguchi)
There're snippets from the show (Mandarin dubbed though, but better than nothing) after the opening credits song below:
Trivia:
There's a remake of this drama starring Satomi Ishihara and Tatsuya Fujiwara.
Drama 04
Title: 日本沈没, Nihon Chinbotsu, Submersion of Japan (1974)
Title during SBC broadcast: Submergence
Genre: Sci-fi/Disaster
Episodes: 26
Cast:
Takenori Murano (村野武範) as 小野寺俊夫
Kaoru Yumi (由美かおる) as 阿部玲子
Keiki Kobayashi (小林桂樹) as 田所雄介博士
Toshio Kurosawa (黒沢年男) as 中田一成秘書官
Photos copyright © TBS (Tokyo Broadcasting System)
Synopsis:
When a series of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions rock Japan, a scientist is convinced the events will lead to Japan's submersion. However, the government is sceptical and the scientist risks his life to pilot a mini-submarine to obtain facts to support his claim. Adapted from a novel by Sakyo Komatsu.
Song title: 明日の愛 (Love of Tomorrow)
Singer: 五木ひろし (Hiroshi Itsuki)
Trivia:
Made into a movie (2nd actually, first movie was made in 1973) in 2006 starring Tsuyoshi Kusanagi and Kou Shibasaki.
Drama 05
Title: Gメン'75 , GMEN'75
Genre: Detective Drama
Cast:
Tetsuro Tamba (丹波哲郎)
Yasuaki Kurata (倉田保昭)
Daijiro Harada (原田大二郎)
Fujita Okamoto (岡本富士太)
Mihoko Fujita (藤田美保子)
Yu Fujiki (藤木悠)
Yosuke Natsuki (夏木陽介)
Read the previous JAPANESE DRAMA - BLAST FROM THE PAST entry.
YouTube banzai! Banzai! Banzai!
