Marlon Brando's title character in the 1972 film "The Godfather" might not be the first thing that comes to mind at the mention of 12th century warlord Taira no Kiyomori, but the comparison has proven particularly effective for public broadcaster NHK, which will air a yearlong Sunday-evening drama about the famous samurai next year.
NHK executive director Takeshi Shibata first announced the new drama, "Taira no Kiyomori," in October 2010. At the time, he didn't know who would play the lead role, but he knew what he wanted from the show: "an energetic Heian Period (794-1185) version of 'The Godfather.' "
It was likely little more than a throwaway line, but it reverberated in unexpected quarters. Included as a quote in a short news item on an Internet site, the comparison grabbed the attention of young actor Kenichi Matsuyama, who, like most conscientious Japanese at the time, was shaking his head in disbelief at the latest national pension scandal, which was then just coming to light.