Taiko – Jošikawa Eidži (2021)

It is the second half of the sixteenth century. The star of the Ashikaga shogunate has definitively dimmed, and Japan is once again caught in the throes of civil war – disputes rage across the country between rival clans, each eager to expand their territory. Many noble families do not hide their intention to unify Japan, but only three individuals have the real capabilities to see this intention through: Nobunaga Oda, Ieyasu Tokugawa, and the son of a fallen samurai, Hideyoshi Toyotomi. At the very beginning, we find the future warlord as a poor village boy, whose father, a samurai who was injured in battle, can no longer provide for his family. He soon dies, and Hideyoshi's mother remarries; however, Hideyoshi's relationship with his stepfather remains tense, partly because the boy intends to follow in his deceased father's footsteps and become a samurai. Eventually, he runs away from home to seek service with a nobleman. However, he is far from indifferent about which nobleman it will be; after a long journey, during which he proves his worth to various lords, he finds himself in the service of Nobunaga Oda, in whom he senses a strong and capable personality. From a lowly position as a sandal bearer, he quickly rises to commander thanks to his abilities and dedication...