Japanese Drama: Clouds over the Slope
‘Saka no Ue no Kumo’ is a Japanese historical drama directed by Takeshi Shibata, Kanio Sato, and Taku Kato, written by Hisashi Nozawa, Takeshi Shibata, Kanio Sato, and Ryotaro Shiba, and starring Masahiro Motoki and Hiroshi Abe. It is adapted from Ryotaro Shiba's novel of the same name. The series consists of 13 episodes, broadcast in three seasons on NHK from November 2009 to 2011, with the first season having 5 episodes, and the second and third seasons having 4 episodes each. The story is set during the Meiji period and follows the growth of the Akiyama brothers, Yoshifuru and Saneyuki, from Matsuyama Domain, along with their friend Masaoka Shiki. The first half depicts their educational experiences and explorations in cavalry tactics, naval strategy, and literature, while the second half focuses on the historical figures during the Russo-Japanese War.
