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Unbound (TV series)

2025 Japanese TV series From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Unbound (べらぼう〜蔦重栄華乃夢噺〜, Berabou Tsutajū Eiga no Yume-banashi)[1] is a Japanese historical drama television series starring Ryusei Yokohama as Tsutaya Jūzaburō. The series is the 64th NHK taiga drama.[2][3][4]

Written byYoshiko Morishita
Directed byTaku Ōhara and others
Starring
Narrated byHaruka Ayase
Quick facts Written by, Directed by ...
Unbound
Written byYoshiko Morishita
Directed byTaku Ōhara and others
Starring
Narrated byHaruka Ayase
ComposerJohn R. Graham
Country of originJapan
Original languageJapanese
No. of episodes48
Production
Running time45 minutes
Production companyNHK
Original release
NetworkNHK General TV
ReleaseJanuary 5 (2025-01-05) –
December 14, 2025 (2025-12-14)
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Plot

In the mid-18th century Japan, the Rōjū Tanuma Okitsugu prioritized commerce over agriculture to rebuild the nation's finances. As the economy improved, a relatively liberal atmosphere emerged among the common people, fostering cultural development. One of the central figures in this cultural movement was Tsutaya Jūzaburō, a publisher. However, when the era transitioned to Matsudaira Sadanobu's governance from Tanuma's, stricter controls on entertainment were imposed, causing hardship for Jūzaburō. Even so, he remained undeterred, discovering and making talents such as Utamaro, Hokusai and Sharaku[a] famous.

Cast

Starring role

His family

Publishing industry

Artists

Tokugawa shogunate

Ōoku

Yoshiwara pleasure quarters

Others

TV schedule

More information Episode, Title ...
EpisodeTitleDirected byOriginal airdateRating
1"Arigata-yama no Kangarasu" (ありがた山の寒がらす)Taku ŌharaJanuary 5, 2025 (2025-01-05)12.6%
2"Yoshiwara Saiken <Aa, Oedo>" (吉原細見 『嗚呼御江戸』)January 12, 2025 (2025-01-12)12.0%
3"Senkyaku Banrai <Hitome Senbon>" (千客万来 『一目千本』)January 19, 2025 (2025-01-19)11.7%
4"<Hinagata Wakana> no Amai Wana" (『雛形若菜』の甘い罠)Takashi FukagawaJanuary 26, 2025 (2025-01-26)10.5%
5"Tsuta ni Karamaru Inga no Tsuru" (蔦に唐丸因果の蔓)Taku ŌharaFebruary 2, 2025 (2025-02-02)10.6%
6"Uroko Hagareta <Setsuyō-shū>" (鱗剥がれた『節用集』)Takashi FukagawaFebruary 9, 2025 (2025-02-09)10.2%
7"Kōki Tōrai <Magaki no Hana>" (好機到来『籬の花』)February 16, 2025 (2025-02-16)10.0%
8"Gyakushū no <Kinkin Sensei>" (逆襲の『金々先生』)Shinzo NittaFebruary 23, 2025 (2025-02-23)9.8%
9"Tamagiku-dōrō Koi no Jigoku" (玉菊灯籠恋の地獄)March 2, 2025 (2025-03-02)10.4%
10"<Seirō Bijin> no Miru Yume wa" (『青楼美人』の見る夢は)Taku ŌharaMarch 9, 2025 (2025-03-09)10.6%
11"Tomimoto, Jingi no Uma-zura" (富本、仁義の馬面)Takayoshi KotaniMarch 16, 2025 (2025-03-16)9.6%
12"Niwaka naru <Meigetsu Yojō>" (俄なる『明月余情』)March 23, 2025 (2025-03-23)9.9%
13"Oedo Yurugasu Zatōgane" (お江戸揺るがす座頭金)Takashi FukagawaMarch 30, 2025 (2025-03-30)9.6%
14"Tsutajū Segawa Fūfu Dōchū" (蔦重瀬川夫婦道中)Shinzo NittaApril 6, 2025 (2025-04-06)10.8%
15"Shi o Yobu Tebukuro" (死を呼ぶ手袋)Taku ŌharaApril 13, 2025 (2025-04-13)9.9%
16"Saraba Gennai, Mitate wa Hōrai" (さらば源内、見立は蓬莱)April 20, 2025 (2025-04-20)9.6%
17"Midarezaki Ōrai no Sakura" (乱れ咲き往来の桜)Takashi FukagawaMay 4, 2025 (2025-05-04)9.5%
18"Utamaro yo, Mirugatoku wa Issui no Yume" (歌麿よ、見徳は一炊夢)Takayoshi KotaniMay 11, 2025 (2025-05-11)9.6%
19"Uroko no Okimiyage" (鱗の置き土産)Keisuke ŌshimaMay 18, 2025 (2025-05-18)10.2%
20"Nebokete Sōrō" (寝惚けて候)May 25, 2025 (2025-05-25)9.7%
21"Ezo no Sakura Ueno no He no Oto" (蝦夷桜上野屁音)Taku ŌharaJune 1, 2025 (2025-06-01)10.0%
22"Shōsei, Sake no Ue no Furachi nite" (小生、酒上不埒にて)Takashi FukagawaJune 8, 2025 (2025-06-08)9.4%
23"Ware koso wa Edo-ichi no Kikimono nari" (我こそは江戸一の利者なり)June 15, 2025 (2025-06-15)8.8%
24"Geni Tsurenaki wa Nihon-bashi" (げにつれなきは日本橋)Takayoshi KotaniJune 22, 2025 (2025-06-22)8.1%
25"Hai no Ame furu Nihon-bashi" (灰の雨降る日本橋)Taku ŌharaJune 29, 2025 (2025-06-29)9.3%
26"San-nin no Onna" (三人の女)July 6, 2025 (2025-07-06)9.8%
27"Negawakuba Hana no Moto nite Haru Shinan" (願わくば花の下にて春死なん)Keisuke ŌshimaJuly 13, 2025 (2025-07-13)9.3%
28"Sano Yonaoshi Daimyojin" (佐野世直大明神)Takashi FukagawaJuly 27, 2025 (2025-07-27)9.7%
29"Edo Umare Tsutaya no Adauchi" (江戸生蔦屋仇討)Hidetaka TerasakiAugust 3, 2025 (2025-08-03)8.8%
30"Hitomane Utamaro" (人まね歌麿)Takayoshi KotaniAugust 10, 2025 (2025-08-10)9.4%
31"Waga Na wa Ten" (我が名は天)Keisuke ŌshimaAugust 17, 2025 (2025-08-17)9.0%
32"Shinnosuke no Gi" (新之助の義)Hidetaka TerasakiAugust 24, 2025 (2025-08-24)9.2%
33"Uchikowashi Entame no Kudoku" (打壊演太女功徳)Taku ŌharaAugust 31, 2025 (2025-08-31)8.2%
34"Arigata-yama to Katajike-nasubi" (ありがた山とかたじけ茄子)September 7, 2025 (2025-09-07)9.2%
35"Machigai-dako Bunbu no Futamichi" (間違凧文武二道)Takayoshi KotaniSeptember 14, 2025 (2025-09-14)7.8%
36"Omu no Keri wa Kamo" (鸚鵡のけりは鴨)Takashi FukagawaSeptember 21, 2025 (2025-09-21)7.4%
37"Jigoku ni Kyōden" (地獄に京伝)Keisuke ŌshimaSeptember 28, 2025 (2025-09-28)8.9%
38"Jihon-don'ya Nakamakoto no Hajimari" (地本問屋仲間事之始)Sumire TeraiOctober 5, 2025 (2025-10-05)8.9%
39"Shirakawa no Kiyoki ni Sumikane Shinshō Hangen" (白河の清きに住みかね身上半減)Taku ŌharaOctober 12, 2025 (2025-10-12)9.0%
40"Tsukisenu wa Yoku no Izumi" (尽きせぬは欲の泉)Takayoshi KotaniOctober 19, 2025 (2025-10-19)8.8%
41"Utamaro Fudebijin Ōkubi-e" (歌麿筆美人大首絵)Takashi FukagawaOctober 26, 2025 (2025-10-26)8.2%
42"Manekarezaru Kyaku" (招かれざる客)Yuki NishioNovember 2, 2025 (2025-11-02)8.4%
43"Uragiri no Koiuta" (裏切りの恋歌)Taku ŌharaNovember 9, 2025 (2025-11-09)8.7%
44"Sora Tobu Gennai" (空飛ぶ源内)Takashi FukagawaNovember 16, 2025 (2025-11-16)9.0%
45"Sono Na wa Sharaku" (その名は写楽)Takayoshi KotaniNovember 23, 2025 (2025-11-23)8.6%
46"Soga-matsuri no Hen" (曽我祭の変)Takashi FukagawaNovember 30, 2025 (2025-11-30)8.8%
47"Manjū Kowai" (饅頭こわい)Taku ŌharaDecember 7, 2025 (2025-12-07)8.4%
48"Tsutajū Eiga no Yume-banashi" (蔦重栄華乃夢噺)December 14, 2025 (2025-12-14)9.5%
Average rating 9.5% - Rating is based on Japanese Video Research (Kantō region).[64]
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Omnibus

More information Episode, Title ...
EpisodeTitleOriginal airdateOriginal airtime
1 "Soshuhen Maki no Ichi" (総集編 巻之一, Vol. 1) December 29, 202512:05 - 13:00
2"Soshuhen Maki no Ni" (総集編 巻之二, Vol. 2)13:05 - 13:48
3"Soshuhen Maki no San" (総集編 巻之三, Vol. 3)13:48 - 14:31
4"Soshuhen Maki no Yon" (総集編 巻之四, Vol. 4)14:31 - 15:15
5"Soshuhen Maki no Go" (総集編 巻之五, Vol. 5)15:20 - 16:03
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Awards and nominations

More information Award, Category ...
Award Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
18th Tokyo Drama Awards Best Domestic Series Unbound Nominated [65]
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Notes

  1. While the theory that Sharaku's true identity was Saito Jurobei is considered the most promising, there is also a theory that he was the result of a collaboration between multiple artists, and this drama adopts the latter.
  2. dual role

References

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