Clouds Over the Hill

Synopsis

Saka no Ue no Kumo is an NHK 21st Century special drama which was aired over three years starting from November 29, 2009. The series runs 13 episodes at 90 minutes each. The first series, with 5 episodes, was broadcast in 2009, while series two and three, each with 4 episodes, were broadcast in late 2010 and 2011. While most episodes were shot in Japan, one of the episodes in series two was shot in Latvia. The TV series is based on the novel Saka no ue no kumo by Ryōtarō Shiba and adopted by Hisashi Nozawa. The theme song of the drama series is titled "Stand Alone". It was composed by Joe Hisaishi, written by Kundo Koyama and performed by British soprano singer Sarah Brightman.

First Air Date: 2009-11-29

Last Air Date: 2011-12-25

Number of Seasons: 3

Number of Episodes: 13

Created By: Hisashi Nozawa, Ryōtarō Shiba

Networks: NHK BS1

View Technical Specifications on IMDb

Top Cast

Masahiro Motoki as 秋山真之
Hiroshi Abe as 秋山好古
Miho Kanno as 正岡律
Takako Matsu as 秋山多美
Marina Aleksandrova as アリアズナ
Teruyuki Kagawa as 正岡子規
Mieko Harada as 正岡八重
Takahiro Fujimoto as 広瀬武夫
Naoto Takenaka as 小村寿太郎
Akira Emoto as 乃木知幸介

Seasons

Season 01 (2009) - (5 Episodes)

Season 2 (2010) - (4 Episodes)

Season 3 (2011) - (4 Episodes)

Season 01 (2009)

No overview available for this season.

Episodes:

Ep. 1: "Shōnen no Kuni" (少年の国) (2009-11-29)

After the defeat of Bakufu system which lasted for 260 years, more modern nation “Meiji” was born in Japan. However, this nation is more of a “land of the children” surrounded by “grownups” in the name of imperialism of western nations. There once were three men at Iyo-matsuyama located in Shikoku region. Yoshifuru Akiyama, Saneyuki Akiyama who later took a great part on “Russo-Japanese War” the biggest crisis Meiji Japan ever encountered and Shiki Masuoka who represents modern Japanese literature we know today with his brother. These 3 men who were raised by the people and land of Matsuyama, decided to move to Tokyo. Time flew by and these 3 men returned home and a took picture in front of Matsuyama castle. In the16th year of Meiji Era (1883), Yoshifuru enrolled at Army War College. In June of the same year, while Shiki was giving a speech for Freedom and People’s Right Movement, he received a letter from his young sister Ritsu, written by his uncle in Tokyo. In the letter his uncle suggests he move to Tokyo. The letter delighted him, and he immediately decided to move.
Ep. 2: "Seiun" (青雲) (2009-12-06)

In 1884, a year has passed since Saneyuki and Shiki moved to Tokyo, a different world from Iyo-Matsuyama due to Westernization. In September, both Saneyuki and Shiki pass the entrance exam to the preliminary University. As Yoshifuru was told about their success, he admonished them to be independent and not pamper themselves. On the other hand, at Army College where Yoshifuru was enrolled, Gentaro Kodama offers Major Mackel a post to teach combat tactics of the German Army. The Japanese Army becomes German style.
Ep. 3: "Kokka Meidō" (国家鳴動) (2009-12-13)

“Land of the children,” Meiji Japan that began treading in rough water of Western power has been suffering from a world stage, just like the main characters. In 1889, the Constitution of the Empire of Japan was proclaimed and Japan began to establish the foundation of a modern nation. In summer of this year, Shiki goes home in Matsuyama for medical treatment. Saneyuki also comes home from Edashima and they see each other after an interval of three years. They spend time with Ritsu who has been taking care of Shiki. However, Shiki says that he will follow the path of Haiku, deciding to use his real name “Shiki” as the pseudonym. Meanwhile, Saneyuki causes a trouble during his homecoming.
Ep. 4: "Nisshin Kaisen" (日清開戦) (2009-12-20)

In 1894, Russia advances policy of southward expansion, Qing Dynasty says that Korea is its vassal state and Japan want to build new footing. Among the three countries, Korea had been swinging. The war broke out between Japan and the Qing Dynasty which stems from the run of so-called party Donghak that occurred there. Yoshifuru campaigns with Marenori Nogi to participate in the attack of the Port Arthur fortress. Yoshifuru felt out Katuaki’s view of the enemy’s position, leading the cavalry. The total attack is initiated based on that report, and the Port Arthur has fallen in a day. The following year, Shiki who works as a reporter for "Japan" newspaper appeals to Katsunan Kuga, an editor in chief, and he becomes a war correspondent and leaves for the battlefront of Qing. However, a peace negotiation between the two governments already had begun. Shiki and Rintaro Mori, a surgeon he met inside around the villages that were destroyed, talk about the war. Saneyuki also participates in the actual battle in the "Tsukushi" cruiser for the first time and the real horrors shocks him to allow subordinates to die. Saneyuki returned and had an opportunity to talk with Heihachiro Togo.
Ep. 5: "Ryūgaku Sei" (留学生) (2009-12-27)

September 1895, Saneyuki visited Shiki in Matsuyama as a warship, "Tsukushi",returned to Kure. At that time, Shiki had been boarding with Kinnosuke Natsume who was appointed as a Junior high school English teacher in Matsuyama. On his way home, Saneyuki asked Ritsu about Shiki's condition. Ritsu bravely answered she will not fail to cure his disease. June 1875, a topic of study abroad was brought up among young naval officers. Saneyuki dared to go to the United States, a developing country under Europe. Saneyuki's best friend, Takeo Hirose, expected a future battle between Russia and Japan, and decides to go to Russia. Saneyuki visits Shiki before he leaves and Shiki tells that he will compose a Haiku, risking his life. While studying in the U.S., Saneyuki asked a world tactician, Alfred Mahan, for guidance and had an opportunity to go as a military officer to observe military operations. The report has been said to excel above all others in Japanese naval history.