Chouyaku Hyakunin Isshu: Uta Koi – 13 (END)

「定家と式子 式子内親王 権中納言定家」 (Teika to Noriko Shokushi Nishinou Gon Chunagon Teika)
“Teika and Noriko Princess Shokushi Gon Chunagon Teika”

Just as quietly as it began, Uta Koi ends its run without much fanfare. Although the final tale revolving around Teika and Princess Noriko (Oohara Sayaka) didn’t quite have the same poignant or understated atmosphere as some of the other stories, it still managed to have its own charm by finally revealing the backstory behind the recurring “mystery” of the series.

Teika’s story certainly didn’t play out in any conventional manner, with his love going wholly unrequited to the end – actually there’s never really a true sense of “love” anywhere in the episode. Due to his capricious and precocious nature, it’s difficult to get a handle on his character. He changes his mind faster than a shopaholic can clean out a department store sale, and it’s precisely this jocular, borderline shallow attitude that makes it quite the task to accept his emotions as real. It very much seems like a youthful fancy, a passing infatuation that will fade away once something else catches his attention. This of course turns out not to be the case, but it’s very much the impression he leaves and I assume that’s what Noriko felt as well. The two of them have very different views of poetry, love, and life in general – this is inevitable considering the age difference between them, and the fact their personalities are like night and day does not help.

I would actually liken their relationship to that of Hazuki and Rokka’s in Natsuyuki Rendezvous, where the main character’s affections are certainly sincere, but difficult to perceive it as so because of the different places the characters are in life. Noriko is a lot frailer than Rokka however, seemingly wearied by the confines of her status and the restricted life she has been forced to lead – this no doubt contributed to the tragic end to Teika’s story. It’s clear she does not have anything else to rely on other than the small comfort poetry offered her and while it seems cruel of her to hold on to Teika even though she rejects him, it speaks to her desperation and need to hold on to a lifeline in order to continue living. Noriko feels very similar to Teishi in terms of how tragic they are; both are women who had no control over their lives, strung along by politics and the whims of court officials. There’s absolutely no doubt that is a frustrating and suffocating way to live, so who can blame Noriko for wanting a brief paradise to escape to?

Accepting that part of Noriko is what bolstered Teika’s character, however. Unlike some of the other male leads so far, his “love” isn’t the best method to judge Teika – while sincere, love isn’t what defines him. His actions are a far better way to measure the depth of his character, and accepting Noriko’s need for poetry and not a lover revealed a maturity that wasn’t immediately clear. It validates the realness of his emotions and marks a moment of change where his personality takes a different turn. I find this apt since Teika’s tale isn’t really about his failed love, but how that experience gave him a reason to love and embrace poetry. Noriko, while certainly a character on her own, is mainly a frame for Teika’s growth – she pushes him past what he knows and forces him to mature. Quite simply, she is the reason the Hyakunin Isshu exists. That’s the connection Uta Koi seems to be implying, and if it is true, then there’s something poignant about Noriko finding life through the poems that Teika picked out of the passion she inspired him with.

Final Impressions – Standout Stories

Narihira and Takaiko

Opening stories always leave an impression, and suave Narihira and tsundere Takaiko certainly left a lasting one. His poem is my favorite one of the Hyakunin Isshu because of the vivid and grand imagery used in the verses. The symbolism is rich and the picture the words paint in the readers’ mind is colorful and full of life, unbridled and powerful. Narihira is also a character that made the deepest impact in the series – cavalier yet passionate and flippant yet mature, he was a combination of characteristics that gravitated viewers’ attention towards him and radiated on-screen charisma. He commanded every single one of his scenes with ease and his rapport with Takaiko was a delight to watch.

Munesada and Yoshiko

Despite my dissatisfaction with the resolution of the lovestory, I did like the characters, particularly Munesada. I found him strangely likeable and although his words can sound dangerously sexist to modern viewers, it offered a glimpse of the social expectations of men and women during that time period. And he was certainly easy on the eyes.

Parody Episode

No explanation necessary.

Sanetaka and Nagiko

With another poem that was quite rich in symbolism, the poem was a perfect snapshot of the bittersweet turns life and love can take. Sometimes it just doesn’t work out and the parting can leave many things left unsaid, many emotions that never find proper closure. I feel this was the one tale that could have ended happily as social standing was not really an issue that posed much problems for this couple. But I suppose that’s the unpredictability of love and life at work – nothing works out the way it’s supposed to.

Nagiko and Yukinari

This was another story that tugged at my heartstrings, because it really could have worked. But the timing just wasn’t there, and timing is critical in love. The situation can be perfect – wonderful chemistry, genuine feelings – but if you’re not ready for it, it isn’t going to wait for you. For Nagiko and Yukinari it’s missed timing over and over again, as Nagiko closes off her heart after Sanetaka and Yukinari stops contacting her. The episode also had one of the best visual composition in the series and the directing was particularly exemplary in making sure every element came together to convey the emotions behind the scenes.

Final Impressions – General

Uta Koi is a show that flew under most people’s radar – poetry combined with history sounds like a highly intimidating and unfriendly genre, and I do admit some episodes did require some vague understanding of Japanese history during that time to fully appreciate the scope of societal issues the show touched upon, the major one being the role of women and poets in the era. But knowledge of the time period wasn’t necessary to enjoy Uta Koi, which is the most important thing. Prior experience with the Hyakunin Isshu was also unnecessary, as the show was more about providing context to the poems rather than providing a thorough literary analysis. In that aspect, the first half of the series accomplished the task exceedingly well, complemented by a lively cast of characters that established some great and lasting rapport with one another and with the audience. The poems felt like they had an integral role in each of the tales, whether as the illustration of the characters’ feelings or a snapshot of their lives. Whatever the case the verses were a part of them, carrying some sort of thematic message that encapsulated the story as a whole.

Admittedly, the series lagged a little in its second half as the poems became more of add-ons than something that tied the events of the tale together, resulting in a loss of thematic cohesiveness that was present in the first half. The cast, while memorable, didn’t have the same vivacity as the likes of Narihira, Yoshiko, and Yasuhide. There was a general somber atmosphere to the characters of the mid-Heian period and the fact there wasn’t really a solid sense of continuity as there was in the previous arc leads to a more disconnected, self-contained feel. This improved with Yukinari and Nagiko’s tale spanning several episodes, but the lack of intimate interaction across the cast was slightly disappointing. Narihira, Yoshiko, and Yasuhide’s friendship was sweet and featured different facets to each of the characters that contributed to their depth and growth.

I did like the melancholy nature of the tales in the second arc much better though, particularly that sense of missed timing and bittersweet memories in Yukinari and Nagiko’s story. Their friendship and love has the makings of a typical romance drama/movie that spans several years, chronicling snippets of a relationship that could have worked wonderfully. At the same time though, it rings true to life – sometimes, no matter how much we want to go back the past, we can’t. It’s a feeling every person can relate to, the feeling of having things left unsaid, trying to come to terms with the past and an unfavorable present. It’s something to appreciate about Uta Koi, subverting happy endings in favor of that somberness. The feelings last longer and it tells a wonderful message: that one great love is not the end all be all. I’ve felt the same message first in Narihira’s tale, where as sad as it was, he and Takaiko went on with their lives. Neither forgot their love, but life doesn’t wait. The only way to go is forward and they respected their time together in the greatest manner by carrying on and living their life. All the characters share a common thread – their love might not have worked out, but they learn to move on from it and let it change them, inspiring them to do greater things as in the case of Kaori and Teika, or using the memories as a reprieve and consolation as in the case of Yukinari, Masako, and perhaps Yoshiko.

Chouyaku Hyakunin Isshu: Uta Koi is not a show that would attract many viewers with its unique visual style and genre. But for those who watched it, it instilled a deeper appreciation for poetry, and love and life in general.

NOTE: So sorry for the late post. On top of settling down I caught a cold…

Full-length images: 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 23, 24, 31, 34, 35, 36, 39, 40, 41.