Shocking Twist in Taiga Drama 'Toyotomi Brothers!': Oichi’s Final, Bloody Act of Love Stuns Viewers

In the 17th episode of the Taiga drama Toyotomi Brothers!, which aired on May 3rd, the fall of the Azai-Asakura alliance was depicted with a sequence that has left audiences reeling. In an unconventional and shocking departure from typical portrayals, Oichi-sama—the sister of Oda Nobunaga—was shown performing the kaishaku (the act of beheading to end a suicide's suffering) for her husband, Azai Nagamasa.

The story unfolded at Odani Castle, which had been driven into a corner by the Oda army. With Nagamasa resolved to take his own life and no one available to serve as his second in his final moments, the narrative took a dramatic turn: Oichi-sama, who was supposed to have already fled the castle, picked up a sword herself to oversee her husband’s end. Her dignified appearance—splattered with blood as she sought to save her beloved husband from the agony of a slow death—sparked an outpouring of emotion on social media. Viewers praised the scene as "beyond intense" and "an incredibly beautiful yet tragic conclusion."

While the bold script drew some skeptical comments from history buffs questioning the physical feasibility of a woman performing kaishaku or the deviation from historical records, the majority of the audience embraced the dramatic interpretation. Fans noted that "as a piece of fiction, the emotional direction couldn't be better" and "seeing the face of his beloved wife as the last thing he saw was a form of salvation that moved me to tears."

The episode also highlighted the efforts of the brothers Tokichiro (Hideyoshi) and Koichiro (Hidenaga) as they scrambled to save Oichi, as well as the stoic behavior of Shibata Katsuie, who harbored feelings for her. Given that Katsuie would eventually marry Oichi and share her final moments years later, viewers found their interactions particularly poignant, with some even calling them the "Destiny Couple."

The tragedy at Odani Castle, set against a backdrop of shifting history including the exit of Takeda Shingen and the fall of the Muromachi Shogunate, combined the typical cruelty of the Sengoku period with a story of pure love. The impact was so significant that "Oichi-sama" continued to trend on social media long after the broadcast ended.

The context

This article refers to NHK's annual "Taiga Drama," a year-long historical epic that is a staple of Japanese television. Toyotomi Brothers! focuses on the relationship between the unifier of Japan, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and his younger brother Hidenaga. The scene described takes place during the Siege of Odani Castle (1573), a pivotal historical event where Oda Nobunaga destroyed the Azai clan. Oichi-sama is a famous historical figure known for her tragic position, caught between her brother Nobunaga and her husband Nagamasa. In traditional historical accounts, Oichi and her three daughters were rescued from the castle before Nagamasa committed seppuku (ritual suicide). The kaishaku role mentioned is traditionally performed by a skilled swordsman to ensure a quick death, making the drama's choice to have a noblewoman perform it a highly stylized and provocative creative decision.