Alarmed by the rapid disappearance of samurai from Japanese TV dramas, officials from Kyoto, the home of historical drama studios, visited three of Tokyo's major commercial TV networks Tuesday to urge them to produce more such dramas, saying they are an important tool to convey Japanese culture to the world.
The senior local government officials' trip to the capital was spurred by Tokyo Broadcasting System Television Inc.'s decision in July to terminate "Mito Komon" — a period drama series running since 1969 — at the end of its current season in December.
To preserve and pass on knowhow accumulated by staff involved in the production of historical drama series, such as artisans who make costumes, constant production is indispensable, Kyoto Gov. Keiji Yamada and Kyoto Mayor Daisaku Kadokawa said in a joint written request handed by their deputies to officials at TBS, TV Asahi Corp. and TV Tokyo Corp.
The dramas are "extremely effective" in teaching Japanese culture, the paper said, asking the key TV stations to "continue or restart" producing period dramas. It will be delivered to the remaining two major commercial broadcasters — Fuji Television Network Inc. and Nippon Television Network Corp. — in the near future, the Kyoto officials said.
On Tuesday, TV Tokyo said it will start broadcasting a period drama series called "Nogaremono Orin 2" in January.