The drama adaptation of Satoru Noda's manga, starring Kento Yamazaki, continues in the series 'Renzoku Drama W Live-action Golden Kamuy: Hokkaido Tattooed Prisoner Battle Arc' (every Sunday at 10:00 PM, 9 episodes in total), which is being exclusively broadcast and streamed on WOWOW. Tonight (17th), Episode 7, titled "Imitation," will be aired.

This story is set in Hokkaido at the end of the Meiji era, depicting a mystery adventure revolving around Ainu treasure, featuring compelling characters. Sugimoto (Yamazaki), known as "Immortal Sugimoto" after surviving the Russo-Japanese War, joins forces with Ainu girl Asirpa (Anna Yamada) and escaped prisoner Shiraishi (Yuma Yamoto) from Abashiri Prison to search for the escaped prisoners whose tattoos contain the secret of the hidden gold.

EP7 Story

In Episode 7, Sugimoto and his companions run into Hijikata's group. Although Sugimoto (Kento Yamazaki) is supposed to meet Hijikata for the first time, he finds his face strangely familiar, leaving him perplexed. Ogata (Gordon Maeda) also happens to be present, and the situation becomes extremely tense. Meanwhile, they are searching for clues in Edogai's (Yuki Furukawa) workshop to identify fake tattooed skins, but soon find themselves surrounded by soldiers from the 7th Division attempting to destroy evidence. Forming a temporary truce, the characters join forces to fight the 7th Division. At the same time, Tanigaki (Ryohei Otani), who stayed behind in the Ainu village, meets Inkarmat (Maryjun Takahashi), who came looking for Asirpa.

Revealing Hijikata, Nagakura, and Tanigaki's Past

After the encounter with Hijikata's group, Shiraishi, who had secret dealings with Hijikata, grows anxious, fearing that his spying activities might be exposed. This meeting adds new layers to the battle for the treasure.

Furthermore, the story delves into the past between "Demon Vice-Commander" Hijikata and Nagakura (Katsumi Kiba), who had once parted ways with Hijikata and his Shinsengumi. What exactly happened between them in the past? Their flashbacks are significant for deepening the audience's understanding of the characters and showcase emotional moments that convey their pride as samurai.

Episode 7 also focuses on Tanigaki once again. Tanigaki, born into a family of Matagi hunters in Ani, Akita Prefecture, has his history revealed, including why he joined the 7th Division and his experiences at 203 Hill. His encounter with Chikapasi (Akira Aoki), an orphaned Ainu boy who will become deeply connected to Tanigaki later, is also depicted. The portrayal of Tanigaki, who finds a new way of life after his experiences and time recovering in the Ainu village, is a key highlight.

Tributes to Classic Paintings and Packed Action Scenes

Episode 7 features a tribute to Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting "The Last Supper," recreated as a dinner scene at Etorofu's residence. The exact framing from the original manga is replicated in an intricately crafted one-shot.

Other highlights include scenes at Etorofu's house where Nikaidou (Shuntarou Yanagi) engages in a fierce one-on-one battle with Hijikata, and Sugimoto's reaction to Ogata being cornered by the 7th Division. The episode is filled with plenty of noteworthy action sequences.

Episode 7 Ending Theme: Straightener's "Skeletonize

Straightener, formed by Atsushi Horie (Vocals, Guitar, Keyboard) and Shinpei Nakayama (Drums) in 1998, made their major debut in 2003, with Hidekazu Hinata (Bass) joining and Jun Oyama (Guitar) joining in 2008 to form the current four-member band. After watching the theatrical release of the 'Golden Kamuy' movie, Horie was thrilled by the vivid visual portrayal and the soul-driven performances by the cast. According to Horie, the ending theme of Episode 7, "Skeletonize!", is a dramatic, danceable rock tune like no other. He wants audiences to enjoy the sound infused with Straightener's passion to "bring soul to the work," along with the lingering aftereffects of the drama.

EP7 Teaser video

Source : ORICON NEWS