Tetsuhiro Ikeda plays Niwa Nagahide in the NHK Taiga drama "Toyotomi Brothers!" (General TV, Sunday 8pm and other times), starring actor Taiga Nakano. Nagahide is a senior retainer of the Oda clan, and Ikeda, who said "I sometimes get a little nervous when our eyes meet on set" with Oguri, who plays Nobunaga, talked about his role.
"Toyotomi Brothers!" is the 65th taiga drama. It is a success story of hope and dreams, depicting the miracle of the Toyotomi brothers, Hidenaga (Koichiro) and his older brother Hideyoshi (Tokichiro), who achieve the great feat of unifying the country with their strong bond.
Niwa Nagahide was a chief retainer whom Nobunaga trusted absolutely, commonly known as "Goroza." He supported the Oda clan by practicing both the arts and martial arts among a group of vassals filled with hot-blooded military commanders. Ikeda reveals, "When I talk to history buffs, they often say, 'Niwa Nagahide was a great military commander.'"
"The portrait of him with a gentle expression made a lasting impression on me. I imagine he was the kind of person who could calm the often-outburst Oda Nobunaga with just one expression, and ease the tension in a situation. When I heard the production staff's passionate desire to create an exciting work like a boys' manga, I realized that the supporting characters in boys' manga are full of quirks. Niwa Nagahide is a character who later sides with Toyotomi Hideyoshi (Tōkichirō, played by Ikematsu Sosuke), so I thought it would be good to show from the beginning that he somehow trusts Tōkichirō, and so in the Great Match in front of the Emperor in episode 5 (aired on February 1st), when Tōkichirō lands a good blow on his opponent, I acted in a way that made him smile unconsciously."
Ikeda also believes, "I don't think Shibata Katsuie (Yamaguchi Makiya) was very happy about Koichiro (Nakano) and Tokichiro's success, but I think Niwa Nagahide was rather excited."
"It's simply amusing to see these two men, who come from peasant backgrounds and don't dress well, rise through the ranks, and it makes you want to root for them. It's really satisfying to watch a 'free character' get stronger and stronger (laughs). Taiga and Ikematsu are a perfect pair. When I started filming, they had already formed a relationship as 'brothers.' I could sense their strong determination to make 'Toyotomi Brothers!' an entertaining production, and I really took that feeling to heart. They're both very considerate people, and whenever I feel a little nervous, they'll quietly come over to me. Their kindness always helps me."
If the Toyotomi brothers represent the "fun of rising to the top," then Nobunaga embodies the "coolness of a military commander."
"Oguri Shun, who plays the role, is on set with the same charming air as Nobunaga. Oguri has created a character who is 'a man that even men fall in love with,' so when our eyes meet on set, I sometimes feel a little nervous, but I believe that this tension is what lives in the master-servant relationship between Nobunaga and Niwa Nagahide, so I deliberately use that feeling to my advantage in my performance. I would be happy if I could convey the feeling of 'wanting to be of service to my lord.'"
