To the Shining You, No. 44 "Moonlit Night"" Synopsis & Whatever You Want to Say This Week
A new interpretation! The song "I think of this world as my world" was Michinaga's confession of love to Mahiro!!
This week's M-man is on duty. In what scene will the famous "Konoyo wo ba..." song appear? This has been something I've been wondering about ever since the show started airing this year.
Will it be presented as a song that has been commonly interpreted up until now, or will it have a novel interpretation?
In conclusion, the M-man was very satisfied. Wow, as expected of Shizuka Oishi, I was impressed and deeply moved by this episode. (The phrase "As expected of Shizuka Oishi" has been used a lot recently.)
The emperor simply parroted back what he had said. This is what "Sekkansei" (regent politics) was all about.
Emperor Sanjo, who was blind and hard of hearing, was forced to abdicate, and Michinaga's grandson Atsunari finally took the throne as Emperor Goichijo. Michinaga, who became regent, sat behind the screens and assisted Emperor Goichijo, but he also manipulated him as he wished.
Michinaga whispers behind the young emperor's back, and the emperor repeats what he has said to the nobles. It is clear at a glance that this is what regent politics was all about.
Was Michinaga really unwilling to step down as regent?
Nevertheless, Michinaga handed over the position of regent to his son, Yorimichi, after only one year and came to be known as "Odono" or "Taiko."
In the drama, it is portrayed as if Michinaga's close friend, Kinto, persuaded him to give way, but according to historical researcher Kuramoto Kazuhiro, "Rather, Michinaga, now freed from the civil service order, continued to exercise power that exceeded that of Regent Yorimichi."
Michinaga seemed unwilling, but this is probably the historical truth. However, the fact that he seemed "unwilling" is important for the drama. This leads to the story later.
Michinaga again uses a condescending, killer phrase
Michinaga comes to Mahiro's office to pay his respects at the end of the year. Mahiro is still writing as usual. How far has he progressed in the Uji Juyoshu?
Well, well, in this scene again, Michinaga makes a big fool of himself at first, but then casually says the killer line at the end.
However, this actually foreshadows the scene where Mochizuki sings.
When Mahiro asked Michinaga, "Have you conveyed your feelings to Lord Yorimichi?", Michinaga had no idea what "feelings" meant for a moment. When Mahiro told him, "It's my heart that cares for the people," he finally remembered.
Mahiro had always admired Michinaga, who had sworn to rule with the people in mind, but this is truly foolish.
Moreover, he makes Mahiro bitterly remark, "Even in a single story, it's hard to convey the writer's thoughts. It can't be helped." He goes on to say, "Your story is also a story about the emptiness of human life. That's how I read it."
That may be true of The Tale of Genji, but to say that to the author's face... What an insensitive guy.
"Then you alone should keep this in mind." Michinaga's killer line again.
"Even if Michinaga's feelings are not conveyed to Yorimichi right away, he may eventually realize it. And then it will be passed on to the next generation, and the next. That is what I am praying for," says a positive Mahiro.
Michinaga then said, "Then you alone should keep it in your mind."
Hey, isn't this the same tactic you used on the banks of the Uji River two episodes ago, Michinaga? "You must not die before me."
It's a condescending remark, but it's a line that really touches the heart when you hear it. Michinaga is really sneaky, having forgotten the feelings between them. And Mahiro's bravery in answering "Yes" so strongly brings me to tears.
In the previous episode at Ujigawa and in this scene, the two of them repeatedly confirm that their hearts are connected, that is, that they are soul mates. These reaffirmations of their feelings for each other gradually become the foreshadowing of Mochizuki's scene.
In "Learn Japanese History through Manga," a plump Michinaga with a full face looks up at the full moon. That's the standard.
Now, the scene with the moon in question. In "Learn Japanese History through Manga" and other books, the scene where a slightly overweight Michinaga looks up at the full moon with a big smile and a fan in his hand and recites this poem is a standard. M-men have always thought the same, and I remember learning about it in social studies in junior high school.
However, such a one-size-fits-all interpretation does not suit the image of Michinaga that has been created in "To You, the Shining One," and the biggest focus of attention was on how Mahiro would be involved in the story.
Is this a wake? It's supposed to be a happy banquet, but there's something strangely gloomy about it...
I was really surprised. The banquet was strangely dark. It was like a wake. It seemed like the nobles were reluctantly attending. There was no glamorous atmosphere, but it wasn't solemn either. It was just dark and depressing.
No matter how much he drinks, Michinaga's sadness does not go away. Since many things are "unpleasant" to Michinaga, even the sight of the nobles passing around their cups seems boring to him, and he has a terrible look in his eyes.
He then steps onto the stage and begins to recite the song, and the assembled nobles join in, urged by Sanesuke. The men's voices are low, and somehow creepy.
If Mahiro and I can communicate our feelings, this world is my world.
However, Mahiro suddenly realizes something. What did he realize?
From here on, it is the M-man's interpretation, but I think Mahiro realized that this song was addressed to him. "If I could imagine that the full moon was not even chipped" means that "Mahiro and I have a mutual understanding of feelings," and if that is the case, then "I would consider this world to be my own world," meaning that his life is what he wanted.
Michinaga confessed his feelings for Mahiro in front of a large crowd. Mahiro's eyes lit up when she heard this, and the image of the moon on the night they were united in their youth flashed to her mind, and Michinaga's eyes probably sparkled as well.
Michinaga is Michinaga, and although he cannot hide his age, he is smiling with satisfaction after confessing his love.
In this taiga drama, that famous song is not one that loudly boasts about the splendor of the Fujiwara clan, but rather a song that expresses deep feelings for Murasaki Shikibu.
What do you think? Is M-man's interpretation wrong? In the scene where everyone was singing along, Mahiro was in the right corner of the screen, and there was a dim light shining on him.
I thought it was a very, very wonderful performance. Bravo!
I won't be surprised by any developments anymore. I'm just looking forward to it.
Speaking of the moon, Emperor Sanjo was also lying down with his weakened body and gazing at the moon.
Emperor Sanjo is the one who left behind the sad poem "Kokoro mo ara de uki yo ni nagareba koi sarubeki yo no tame yo no tsuki kana" in the Hyakunin Isshu. Even though both poems are about the moon, they are very different from Michinaga's. Along with Ise, he was a villain in this drama, but if you think about it, he was an unfortunate emperor who was at the mercy of Michinaga.
There are only a few episodes left. In the next episode, Michinaga will shave his head and Mahiro will go on a journey? And what's more, it seems that Shumei, who only made a brief appearance in the Echizen arc, will also appear. There's even a bonus that Akasomeemon will be writing "Eiga Monogatari."
As I wrote two posts ago, since the year of Murasaki Shikibu's death is unclear, any development is OK! I won't be surprised. I'm looking forward to it.
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"Premium Japan Literature Club" (exaggeration) was formed by people who love literature within the Premium Japan editorial department. For literature lovers, the 2024 taiga drama ``Hikaru Kimi e'' was a perfect opportunity to discuss this and that. Volunteers from the editorial department will continue to freely review articles. Editor S and Editor N reviewed the differences between historical facts and dramas, a deep dive into foreshadowing, and more!
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