Teruhiko Saigo
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese
singer and actor. As a singer, he is known as one of the three "Gosanke", referring to gosanke
, the three great Tokugawa houses.
Saigō made his debut in 1964 with the song "Kimi Dake o", for which he won a Japan Record Award
for best new artist.
As an actor, he has portrayed people as varied as 20th century Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka
(in the 1983 film Shōsetsu Yoshida Gakkō) and 16th century samurai Katakura Kagetsuna
(in the 1987 NHK Taiga drama
Dokuganryū Masamune). A native of Kagoshima
, he has played the roles of native sons such as Kuroda Kiyotaka
and Saigō Tsugumichi, but his characters also include Tokugawa Ieyasu
, Yagyū Jūbei and Hattori Hanzo
. His roles in Chūshingura
tales have included Mōri Koheita (1985).
Saigō has starred in various prime-time television series. These include Edo o Kiru
, Genkurō Tabi Nikki Aoi no Abarenbō, Abare Hasshū Goyō Tabi
, and Abare Isha Ranzan. NHK has tapped him for various Taiga drama roles as well. Among them are Mōri Hiromoto (in Mōri Motonari
, 1997), Sanada Yukimura
(Aoi Tokugawa Sandai, 2000), and Honda Masanobu
(NHK's Taiga drama
Musashi, 2003) in addition to Katakura Kagetsuna. Other NHK roles have included the contemporary daytime drama Niji no Sekkei (1964) and the uncle of the title character in the asadora Wakaba (2004–05).
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
singer and actor. As a singer, he is known as one of the three "Gosanke", referring to gosanke
Gosanke
The , also called simply Gosanke or even Sanke, were three branches of the Tokugawa clan of Japan descended from clan founder Tokugawa Ieyasu's three youngest sons, Yoshinao, Yorinobu and Yorifusa and allowed to provide a shogun in case of need. The three houses were called Owari House of Tokugawa,...
, the three great Tokugawa houses.
Saigō made his debut in 1964 with the song "Kimi Dake o", for which he won a Japan Record Award
Japan Record Award
for outstanding achievements in the Japan Composer's Association, is major music awards show held annually in Japan.- Categories :The Japan Record Award are four awards which are not restricted by genre....
for best new artist.
As an actor, he has portrayed people as varied as 20th century Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka
Kakuei Tanaka
was a Japanese politician and the 64th and 65th Prime Minister of Japan from 7 July 1972 to 22 December 1972 and from 22 December 1972 to 9 December 1974 respectively...
(in the 1983 film Shōsetsu Yoshida Gakkō) and 16th century samurai Katakura Kagetsuna
Katakura Kagetsuna
was a Japanese samurai of the Katakura clan during the late Sengoku period. Also known by his court title, Bichū no Kami , or more commonly, as Katakura Kojūrō. Together with Oniniwa Tsunamoto and Date Shigezane, Kagetsuna was known as one of the "Three Great Men of the Date Clan"...
(in the 1987 NHK Taiga drama
Taiga drama
is the name NHK gives to the annual, year-long historical fiction television series it broadcasts in Japan. Beginning in 1963 with the black-and-white Hana no Shōgai, starring kabuki actor Onoe Shōroku and Takarazuka star Awashima Chikage, the network has hired a producer, director, writer, music...
Dokuganryū Masamune). A native of Kagoshima
Kagoshima, Kagoshima
is the capital city of Kagoshima Prefecture at the southwestern tip of the Kyūshū island of Japan, and the largest city in the prefecture by some margin...
, he has played the roles of native sons such as Kuroda Kiyotaka
Kuroda Kiyotaka
, also known as , was a Japanese politician of the Meiji era. He was the second Prime Minister of Japan from 30 April 1888 to 25 October 1889.-As a Satsuma samurai:...
and Saigō Tsugumichi, but his characters also include Tokugawa Ieyasu
Tokugawa Ieyasu
was the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan , which ruled from the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Ieyasu seized power in 1600, received appointment as shogun in 1603, abdicated from office in 1605, but...
, Yagyū Jūbei and Hattori Hanzo
Hattori Hanzo
, also known as , was a famous samurai and ninja master of the Sengoku era, credited with saving the life of Tokugawa Ieyasu and then helping him to become the ruler of united Japan. Today, he is often a subject of modern popular culture.-Biography:...
. His roles in Chūshingura
Chushingura
is the name for fictionalized accounts of the historical revenge by the Forty-seven Ronin of the death of their master, Asano Naganori. Including the early , the story has been told in kabuki, bunraku, stage plays, films, novels, television shows and other media...
tales have included Mōri Koheita (1985).
Saigō has starred in various prime-time television series. These include Edo o Kiru
Edo o Kiru
Edo o Kiru or Slashing Edo was a popular jidaigeki on Japan's Tokyo Broadcasting System. During the decades from its September 24, 1973 premiere until the July 25, 1994 finale, 214 episodes aired. It lasted through eight series, with several casts and settings...
, Genkurō Tabi Nikki Aoi no Abarenbō, Abare Hasshū Goyō Tabi
Abare Hasshu Goyo Tabi
was a network prime-time television jidaigeki series in Japan from 1991 to 1994. It starred Teruhiko Saigō.The series began in 1991 in the 9:00 p.m. time slot on the TV Tokyo network. Saigō created the role of Tōdō Heihachirō. The character was a , a law-enforcement official of the Tokugawa...
, and Abare Isha Ranzan. NHK has tapped him for various Taiga drama roles as well. Among them are Mōri Hiromoto (in Mōri Motonari
Mori Motonari
was a prominent daimyō in the west Chūgoku region of Japan during the Sengoku period of the 16th century.-Early years:Mōri Motonari was born under the name Shojumaru in a small domain of Aki province in 1497. He is said to have been born at Suzuo Castle, his mother's homeland...
, 1997), Sanada Yukimura
Sanada Yukimura
was a Japanese samurai, second son of the Sengoku period daimyo Sanada Masayuki . His proper name was Sanada Nobushige , named after Takeda Shingen's younger brother Takeda Nobushige, who was a brave and respected warrior. He and his father were known as being excellent military tacticians...
(Aoi Tokugawa Sandai, 2000), and Honda Masanobu
Honda Masanobu
was a commander and daimyo in the service of Tokugawa Ieyasu in Japan during the Azuchi-Momoyama and Edo periods.In 1563, when an uprising against Ieyasu occurred in Mikawa Province, Masanobu took the side of the peasants against Ieyasu...
(NHK's Taiga drama
Taiga drama
is the name NHK gives to the annual, year-long historical fiction television series it broadcasts in Japan. Beginning in 1963 with the black-and-white Hana no Shōgai, starring kabuki actor Onoe Shōroku and Takarazuka star Awashima Chikage, the network has hired a producer, director, writer, music...
Musashi, 2003) in addition to Katakura Kagetsuna. Other NHK roles have included the contemporary daytime drama Niji no Sekkei (1964) and the uncle of the title character in the asadora Wakaba (2004–05).