Series synopsis
Awaiting Kirin, also known as 麒麟がくる is a Japanese drama war & politics television series that premiered on NHK on January 19, 2020. It ended on February 7, 2021. It stars Masahiro Motoki, Shota Sometani, Hiroki Hasegawa and Haruna Kawaguchi.
After the Onin War, the world is plunged into chaos. Amid this situation, heroes of the warring states begin to emerge in an attempt to unify the country and rule in these turbulent times. In the mid-1540s, there is a young wandering samurai in Mino which is strategically located between the East and West. His name is Akechi Mitsuhide. At this time, there is plenty of internal strife within the Toki clan which rules Mino. Surrounded by the Oda of Owari, the Imagawa of Suruga and the Asakura of E ...
Premise
After the Onin War, the world is plunged into chaos. Amid this situation, heroes of the warring states begin to emerge in an attempt to unify the country and rule in these turbulent times. In the mid-1540s, there is a young wandering samurai in Mino which is strategically located between the East and West. His name is Akechi Mitsuhide. At this time, there is plenty of internal strife within the Toki clan which rules Mino. Surrounded by the Oda of Owari, the Imagawa of Suruga and the Asakura of Echizen, Mino has constantly faced the risk of invasion. Mitsuhide is pulled into battle and destroys the enemy. His bravery as well as stratagem catches the attention of Saito Toshimasa, the chief retainer of the Toki clan, and he is singled out. This man who is also known as Saito Dosan will go on to takeover the Toki and make Mino his own.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Masahiro Motoki as Saitou Toshimasa / Saito Dousan [the "Viper of Mino"]
- Shota Sometani as Oda Nobunaga
- Hiroki Hasegawa as Akechi Mitsuhide
- Haruna Kawaguchi as Oda Kicho [Nobunaga's legal wife]
- Satoshi Tokushige as Fujita Dengo [Akechi family retainer]
- Katsunori Takahashi as Oda Nobuhide [Nobunaga's father]
- Sayuri Ishikawa as Akechi Maki [Mitsuhide's Mother]
- Rei Dan as Dota Gozen [Nobunaga & Nobukatsu's mother]
Supporting cast
- Marie Machida as Bamboo [Prostitute]
- Shotaro Mamiya as Akechi Samanosuke
- Sei Ando as Miki
- Yusuke Santamaria as Asakura Yoshikage [Asakura family head]
- Masahiko Nishimura as Akechi Mitsuyasu [Mitsuhide's uncle]
- Masato Yano as Toki Yorizumi
- Jingi Irie as Maeda Toshiie
- Kyoko Maya as Genouni [Motoyasu's grandmother]
- Machiko Ono as Iroha-dayu
- Shunsuke Kazama as Matsudaira Takechiyo
- Reo Tamaoki as Iheiji
- Fumino Kimura as Akechi Hiroko [Mitsuhide's wife]
Guest cast
- Takaki Uda as Yahira
Episodes
This series spans 1 season with 44 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 44 | January 19, 2020 | February 7, 2021 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mitsuhide Goes West | January 19, 2020 |
| 2 | Dosan's Trap | January 26, 2020 |
| 3 | The land of Mino | February 2, 2020 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | NHK |
|---|---|
| First aired | January 19, 2020 |
| Last aired | February 7, 2021 |
| Runtime | 45 minutes |
| Status | ended |
| Schedule | Sunday at 20:00:00 |