Saiyuuki
Encyclopedia
is a 2006 Japanese historical TV drama
based on the 16th Century Chinese story Journey to the West
. It is a successor to the popular 1970s TV show Saiyūki, known outside Japan as Monkey
. There have been three dramas and one special based on Journey to the West that have aired previously, making this one the fifth adaptation in Japan.
Fuji TV
made an unusual decision to air this on 9pm every Monday, a primetime slot usually reserved for romantic dramas, hoping to capture both the young and the old by making this choice. While the series started off with viewership nearly reaching 30%, its rating gradually sank, barely making it at 20% at one point; the last episode finished off with 24.5%.
Rather than producing a second season, Fuji TV
and Toho
produced a feature film version of Saiyūki,http://www.saiyuki.jp/index.html that was released in Japan on July 14, 2007. The film was a box office success, becoming the 8th highest-grossing film of 2007 in Japan.http://boxofficemojo.com/intl/japan/yearly/?yr=2007&p=.htm The DVD was released on January 1, 2008 in two formats; a single disc version with audio commentary and trailers, and a 2-Disc limited collector's edition with documentaries and making-of featurettes.
Japanese television drama
, also called , are a staple of Japanese television and are broadcast daily. All major TV networks in Japan produce a variety of drama series including murder romance, comedy, detective stories, horror, and many others...
based on the 16th Century Chinese story Journey to the West
Journey to the West
Journey to the West is one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. It was written by Wu Cheng'en in the 16th century. In English-speaking countries, the tale is also often known simply as Monkey. This was one title used for a popular, abridged translation by Arthur Waley...
. It is a successor to the popular 1970s TV show Saiyūki, known outside Japan as Monkey
Monkey (TV series)
Monkey is the dubbed English language version of the Japanese television series , based on the classic sixteenth century Chinese novel Journey to the West by Wu Cheng'en. It was originally produced by Nippon Television and International Television Films in association with NHK.The series ran for...
. There have been three dramas and one special based on Journey to the West that have aired previously, making this one the fifth adaptation in Japan.
Fuji TV
Fuji Television
is a Japanese television station based in Daiba, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, also known as or CX, based on the station's callsign "JOCX-DTV". It is the flagship station of the Fuji News Network and the ....
made an unusual decision to air this on 9pm every Monday, a primetime slot usually reserved for romantic dramas, hoping to capture both the young and the old by making this choice. While the series started off with viewership nearly reaching 30%, its rating gradually sank, barely making it at 20% at one point; the last episode finished off with 24.5%.
Rather than producing a second season, Fuji TV
Fuji Television
is a Japanese television station based in Daiba, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, also known as or CX, based on the station's callsign "JOCX-DTV". It is the flagship station of the Fuji News Network and the ....
and Toho
Toho
is a Japanese film, theater production, and distribution company. It is headquartered in Yūrakuchō, Chiyoda, Tokyo, and is one of the core companies of the Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group...
produced a feature film version of Saiyūki,http://www.saiyuki.jp/index.html that was released in Japan on July 14, 2007. The film was a box office success, becoming the 8th highest-grossing film of 2007 in Japan.http://boxofficemojo.com/intl/japan/yearly/?yr=2007&p=.htm The DVD was released on January 1, 2008 in two formats; a single disc version with audio commentary and trailers, and a 2-Disc limited collector's edition with documentaries and making-of featurettes.
Cast
- Son GokūSun WukongSun Wukong , also known as the Monkey King is a main character in the classical Chinese epic novel Journey to the West . In the novel, he is a monkey born from a stone who acquires supernatural powers through Taoist practices...
- Shingo KatoriShingo Katoriis the youngest member of SMAP, a popular Japanese idol group from the agency Johnny & Associates, and he is from Yokohama, Japan. Shingo Katori has acted in several dramas such as Three Peace, and has appeared as a voice actor in such anime series as Akazukin Chacha, in which he voiced the part of... - SanzōhōshiXuanzang (fictional character)The fictional character Xuanzang is a central character of the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West.For most of the novel he is known as Táng-sānzàng, the title Sānzàng referring to his mission to seek the Sānzàngjīng, the "Three Collections of Scriptures"...
- Eri FukatsuEri FukatsuEri Fukatsu , nicknamed , is a Japanese actress.Eri Fukatsu was born in Ōita, Ōita, Japan. Among other things, she has appeared in the TV series and the subsequent spin-off movies of the series. She is managed by Amuse Inc... - Cho HakkaiZhu BajieZhu Bajie, also named Zhu Wuneng, is one of the three helpers of Xuanzang in the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West. He is called "Pigsy" or "Pig" in many English versions of the story....
- Atsushi ItoAtsushi Itois a Japanese actor, He started acting at the age of three in education programs. He is currently studying at Hosei University Business Faculty. He is frequently cast as geeky or otaku characters... - Sha GojōSha WujingShā Wùjìng is one of the three disciples of Xuánzàng in the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, although versions of his character predate the Ming novel. In the novels, his background is the least developed of the pilgrims and he contributes the least to their efforts...
- Teruyoshi UchimuraTeruyoshi Uchimura, half of the Japanese comedy duo Utchan Nanchan, is one of the most famous and influential comedians in the owarai community. His nickname is Utchan , and his partner, Kiyotaka Nanbara, is known as Nanchan. He was born on July 22, 1964 in Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto. Though he has worked for years as a... - Rin Rin - Asami MizukawaAsami Mizukawais a Japanese actress. She grew up in Ibaraki, Osaka.She made her debut in 1997 at age of thirteen in an advertisement for Asahi Kasei's "Hebel Haus". In 2000, she won the Grand Prix at the “3rd Miss Tokyo Walker” competition and gained the supporting role in the 2002 J-horror film Dark Water...
Notable guests
- Kadono Takuzo
- Takuya KimuraTakuya Kimura, nicknamed , is a Japanese singer and actor. He is also a member of the Japanese idol group SMAP. Most of the TV dramas he starred in produced high ratings in Japan...
- Rieko MiuraRieko MiuraRieko Miura is a J-pop singer, and a former member of the group Coco. She was born in Nakano, Tokyo, Japan. Her solo debut was on 14 September 1991. After her career ended, she became a voice actress, performing the voice of Yomiko Readman in the Japanese animation series R.O.D. the OAV and R.O.D...
- Keiji MutohKeiji Mutohis a Japanese professional wrestler who first gained international fame in the National Wrestling Alliance. He is mostly known for his work as The Great Muta in New Japan Pro Wrestling during the 1990s, but he has also competed in United States, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Taiwan...
- Hitomi TakahashiHitomi Takahashi (actress)is a Japanese actress.-Selected filmography:* Farewell to the Ark * Ultraman Cosmos: The First Contact -External links:*...
- Shaku Yumiko
- Ayumi Ishida
- Masaaki SakaiMasaaki Sakaiis a popular Japanese performer from Tokyo. He is best known to English-speaking audiences as the title star of the TV show Monkey.- Biography :...
-- Portrayed Son Goku in the original Monkey series
Trivia
- Eri Fukatsu actually shaved her head for her role as Sanzohoshi.
- Traditionally, the role of the monk has been played by a female in Japanese dramas.
- The theme song, "Around the World," is performed by Japanese pop group Monkey MajikMonkey MajikMonkey Majik is a Japanese pop-rock band formed in 2000, consisting of two Canadian brothers and two Japanese members .- Profile :...
, who took their name from the theme song of the original MonkeyMonkey (TV series)Monkey is the dubbed English language version of the Japanese television series , based on the classic sixteenth century Chinese novel Journey to the West by Wu Cheng'en. It was originally produced by Nippon Television and International Television Films in association with NHK.The series ran for...
series, "Monkey Magic," performed by Japanese group GodiegoGodiegois a popular band from Japan, consisting of the Mickie Yoshino, Yukihide Takekawa, Takami Asano, Steve Fox, and Tommy Snyder...
. - Journey to the WestJourney to the WestJourney to the West is one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. It was written by Wu Cheng'en in the 16th century. In English-speaking countries, the tale is also often known simply as Monkey. This was one title used for a popular, abridged translation by Arthur Waley...
is one of the Four Great Classical NovelsFour Great Classical NovelsThe Four Great Classical Novels, or the Four Major Classical Novels of Chinese literature, are the four novels commonly regarded by scholars to be the greatest and most influential of pre-modern Chinese fiction. Dating from the Ming and Qing dynasties, they are well known to most Chinese readers...
of Chinese literatureChinese literatureChinese literature extends thousands of years, from the earliest recorded dynastic court archives to the mature fictional novels that arose during the Ming Dynasty to entertain the masses of literate Chinese...
. It was written during the Ming DynastyMing DynastyThe Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
, in the 1590s. Its attributed author is Wu Chengen.
See also
- Monkey (TV series)Monkey (TV series)Monkey is the dubbed English language version of the Japanese television series , based on the classic sixteenth century Chinese novel Journey to the West by Wu Cheng'en. It was originally produced by Nippon Television and International Television Films in association with NHK.The series ran for...
- Saiyuki (manga)
- Patalliro Saiyuki!Patalliro!is a long-running manga series written and illustrated by Mineo Maya, one of the few known male manga artist for shōnen-ai manga. Patalliro! is the first anime series to present shōnen-ai themes on television.- Plot :...
- Monkey MajikMonkey MajikMonkey Majik is a Japanese pop-rock band formed in 2000, consisting of two Canadian brothers and two Japanese members .- Profile :...
External links
- Fuji TV official
- Saiyuuki at J-dorama.com
- Journey to the West- Comprehensive and detailed website with in-depth information about Journey to the West, the book Saiyūki was based on.
- Feature film home page (Japanese)