Lord Taira no Masakado PART 7 is "Teito Monogatari." Aramata Hiroshi's novel (serialized from 1985), depicting the battle between the sorcerer Kato Yasunori, who seeks to awaken Masakado's vengeful spirit and destroy the imperial capital, and those who stand against him, became a film (director Jissoji Akio, 1988), anime, and manga. Masakado (Kubi) Mound near Palaceside Building is the center of the vengeful spirit in the story. The obi of "Did Taira no Masakado Become a God?," introduced last time, carried Aramata's blurb: "Countless spells are laid upon the imperial capital..."
As for the film "Teito Monogatari," historical figures such as Shibusawa Eiichi, Terada Torahiko, Koda Rohan, and Izumi Kyoka appear one after another in lively fashion. Above all, Shimada Hisakazu as Kato was terrifying = photo below, from YouTube. (By the way, a photo on Shimada's blog with his cat on his head is "kowakawaii"—scary-cute!!)
If Kato seeks to destroy the capital by reviving Masakado's vengeful spirit, Yoichiro Tatsumiya (Ishida Tsumabuki), who confronts him as Masakado's descendant, brilliantly embodies Masakado's "dual nature"—slain as an enemy of the court yet feared and worshipped as guardian of Edo.
The film features "Gakutensoku," said to be the East's first robot, which plays a role in the fight with Kato. Gakutensoku was real: in 1928 (Showa 3), Osaka Mainichi Newspapers (now The Mainichi Newspapers) exhibited it at the Kyoto Exposition commemorating Emperor Showa's enthronement. The film includes an exposition scene (photo above, Gakutensoku in gold slightly right of center = from YouTube), and Nishimura Akira (Mainichi commentator), the robot's creator, was played by his second son Nishimura Akira (Akira), causing a stir. A restored Gakutensoku is displayed at Osaka Municipal Science Museum since 2008.
