SHINSENGUMI 新選組

Movie 'Moeyo Ken'
Film production company Asmik Ace announced today after much consideration on current pandemic status that the film will not be released in Japan until October 2021. I believe many are disappointed, as the film was originally scheduled to premiere on 22 May of this year, followed by screenings in other Asian regions. However, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the release date had to be postponed and friends who were expecting to enjoy the film early next year will now have to wait for an additional ten months.

Moeyo Ken
Director: Shinji Harada
Original Work: Moeyo Ken by Ryōtarō Shiba
Cast: Junichi Okada (as Hijikata Toshizō), Ko Shibasaki (as Yuko), Ryohei Suzuki (as Kondō Isami), Ryosuke Yamada (as Okita Sōji)

Ryōtarō Shiba (1923-1996) was a renowned Japanese historical novelist, particularly known for his depictions of figures from the Edo period such as Sakamoto Ryōma, Tokugawa Yoshinobu, and Miyamoto Musashi, which garnered considerable attention and reference. His real name was Fukuda Sadaichi, and his pen name signifies "far less than Sima Qian." He authored numerous novels set against the backdrop of the Bakumatsu including Ryōma ga Yuku, Moeyo Ken, Shinsengumi Keppūroku, Jūichibanme no shishi, Saigo no Shōgun, Touge and many others, providing rich background information and perspectives for those interested in exploring the turbulent times of the Bakumatsu.

After his passing, the community of Japanese literary established the Ryōtarō Shiba Award in commemoration and recognition of his achievements and contributions. Since its inception in 1998, the Award has been presented annually by a panel representing eleven prominent literary organizations, with winners each receiving a prize of one million yen as commendation.

His novel Moeyo Ken was published in March 1964, and after serialization, it received widespread acclaim, becoming a classic and offering a fresh perspective on the Shinsengumi for the public. Despite being a work of fiction, the story inevitably deviates somewhat from historical facts. Nevertheless, Moeyo Ken became a popular work featuring Hijikata Toshizō, the Vice-commander of the Shinsengumi, leading readers through his ups and downs and establishing his image as a hero in adversity.

A Japanese proverb states, "Cherry when blossoms is the most beautiful among flowers, and a warrior who fights is a dragon among men," which aptly applies to Hijikata Toshizō. The brilliance and transience of cherry blossoms resonate with the splendid life and death of Hijikata Toshizō, embodying the fleeting nature of existence.