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Theme Songs of NHK Taiga Dramas Through the Years: The Allure of Music That Colors Historical Stories

NHK’s Taiga dramas have continued to color Japan’s grand history.

Have you watched any, such as Ryomaden or Atsuhime? The opening themes of Taiga dramas are a treasure trove of masterpieces that remain etched in our hearts across generations.

Just by listening, they whisk you away to that era in an instant—like a time machine.

In this article, we’ve compiled the theme songs from past Taiga dramas! We’ll introduce a variety of exhilarating music that invites us on a journey through history.

Please stay with us to the end!

Theme Songs of NHK Taiga Dramas Through the Years: The Allure of Music That Enlivens Historical Stories (41–50)

A Flower’s Life

A Flower’s LifeTomita Isao

Isao Tomita: A Flower’s Life – Opening ~ Takano Murayama’s Theme
A Flower’s LifeTomita Isao

This is the theme song for “The Flower Life,” composed by Isao Tomita.

“The Flower Life” was the very first Taiga drama, broadcast from April 7 to December 29, 1963.

At a time when 30-minute slots were the norm for TV dramas, it was created in pursuit of film-level quality, and the opening theme—beginning with a weighty resonance—truly evokes the feeling of a movie.

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Yae's Sakura

Yae no Sakura Main ThemeSakamoto Ryuichi

This is the theme song for Yae no Sakura, composed by Ryuichi Sakamoto.

Yae no Sakura is the 52nd Taiga drama, broadcast from January 6, 2013 to December 15, 2013, and it was nominated in the Drama category at the 2014 International Emmy Awards.

The series tells the life story of Yae, the wife of Niijima Jo, the founder of Doshisha University, and became a particularly valuable work—its travel segment in the final episode even featured footage of Yae herself in her later years.

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Heaven, Earth, and Man

Tenchi-jin ~ Opening ThemeŌshima Michiru

[Wind Ensemble] Tenchijin – Opening Theme (Original Key) / Michiru Oshima (arr. Koichi Sugimoto) [Onigiri Brass Orchester 1st Regular Concert]
Tenchi-jin ~ Opening ThemeŌshima Michiru

This is the theme song for Tenchijin, composed by Michiru Oshima.

Tenchijin is the 48th NHK Taiga drama, broadcast from January 4 to November 22, 2009.

It is a very popular theme song, featuring a repeated contrast between the powerful tone of the trumpet and the gentle melodies of the strings.

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The Era of the Lion

Era of the Lion Main ThemeUzaki Ryūdō

[NHK Taiga Drama] (1980) Era of the Lion, Ryudo Uzaki, Katsuhiro Tsubonō (arrangement), Kazuhiko Komatsu, NHK Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo Downtown Fighting Boogie-Woogie Band
Era of the Lion Main ThemeUzaki Ryūdō

This is the theme song for “The Era of the Lion,” composed by Ryudo Uzaki.

“The Era of the Lion” is the 18th Taiga drama, broadcast from January 6 to December 21, 1980.

It was the first series in 13 years to feature fictional protagonists, portraying Kakiaki of the Satsuma Domain and Senji of the Aizu Domain as they survive the tumultuous late Edo period and the Meiji Restoration.

A rock-style theme song is highly unusual.

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In conclusion

The main themes of NHK’s Taiga dramas have long played a vital role in expressing, through sound, the opening of grand historical epics.

Evolving with the times, each opening theme adds color to its story and leaves a deep impression on viewers.

Have you found a piece of music that strikes a chord with you?