Nankyoku Tairiku

56 years ago, in November 1956, the first Japanese expedition set off to Antarctica. The crew, consisting of explorers, scientists as well as Karafuto-ken, Sakhalin Husky breed dogs, stayed there cross-winter. Next spring, due to bad conditions the crew was forced to leave the dogs behind and head back to Japan. Suddenly, the heroes who were the first ever Japanese to live in Antarctica were bashed harshly about leaving the animals for inevitable death. However, two dogs - siblings Taro and Jiro - survived South Pole's severe conditions by themselves and were later safely brought back to their homeland.

The story of Taro and Jiro is well known among both adults and children in Japan. Two Sakhalin Huskies are a bit of an icon actually (I daresay second to loyal Hachiko, whose figure is a meeting spot in Tokyo's Shibuya). Surely though, not everyone is fully aware of all the facts regarding the Cross-Winter expeditions. These were written down by Kitamura Taiichi, a member of the 1st and 3rd expedition. One of his books, „Nankyoku Ettotai: Taro Jiro no Shinjitsu” (“Antarctica Cross-Winter Expedition: the truth behind Taro and Jiro”), published in 1997 became a base for TBS 2011 tv-drama Nankyoku Tairiku.

However, don't expect the drama to be as faithful as a documentary. It's based on true events, but the scenario is actually fictional. Kuramochi Takeshi (Kimura Takuya), our main “human” hero, is created upon Kikuchi Tetsu – South Pole explorer and mountaineer, member of the first expedition, who was in charge of the dog sleds. The traces of Kitamura Taiichi can be found in the youngest member of the crew, university student researching aurora effects, Inuzuka (Yamamoto Yusuke). The facts and ficition regarding those two characters are mixed and if you're interested you might want to check that up.

The expectations towards the drama were very high. Star-studded cast was led by SMAP’s Kimura Takuya, whose well known for being picky in terms of his appearances in TV series and co-workers. You can expect high quality and ratings form the shows Kimutaku graces with his name (recent years though, the tendency seems to be a little falling from “high” to “decent” though). Unfortunately, Nankyoku Tairiku is one of the shows that leaves a dissapointment taste.

The characters in the First Cross Winter expedition members are varied and likeable and we got a sufficient introduction of their background to care for their safe return home. Their families waiting and following the news back home are also depicted very well. Also the Antarctica glaciers (filmed on Hokkaido) and post-war Japan backgrounds are picturesque and believable, though from time to time we get a little over the top CG effect that ruins the overall feeling. The South Pole continent is wild and dangerous, the impression enhanced by the music, especially the first chords of Nakajima Miyuki’s (another big namein the credits!) ending theme “Kouya yori” that strikes in the right moment for a major cliffhanger.

That's all for the good. In terms of scenario, the show is draggy. At one point it gets close to absurd when all characters repeat the same lines over and over again for half and episode or more and we go nowhere. Weaker points turn up throughout the whole series and might work as a turnoff.

My point for this show

The cameos - Nakama Yukie appears as Kuramochi Takeshi's wife. Her appearance is as short as one glimpse of a black and white photo. And you wonder and wonder if you get to see her again. Musician Miyazawa Kazufumi (from The BOOM, author of international hit Shima-Uta) appears as Iwashiro, ficitonal leader of the second expedition.