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Saka no Ue no Kumo is an NHK 21st Century special drama which was aired over three years starting from November 29, 2009. The series runs 13 episodes at 90 minutes each. The first series, with 5 episodes, was broadcast in 2009, while series two and three, each with 4 episodes, were broadcast in late 2010 and 2011. While most episodes were shot in Japan, one of the episodes in series two was shot in Latvia. The TV series is based on the novel Saka no ue no kumo by Ryōtarō Shiba and adopted by Hisashi Nozawa. The theme song of the drama series is titled "Stand Alone". It was composed by Joe Hisaishi, written by Kundo Koyama and performed by British soprano singer Sarah Brightman.
Directed by Hisashi Nozawa, Ryōtarō Shiba, Clouds Over the Hill leans on a strong ensemble — Masahiro Motoki, Hiroshi Abe, Miho Kanno — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.
The series landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about war & politics titles of 2009.
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An English navigator becomes both a player and pawn in complex political games in feudal Japan.
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