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Mito City Delays Decision to Set NHK Live-Action Adaptation of Tow Ubukata Novel in City

Mito City mayor Yasushi Takahashi held a press conference on Wednesday, where he stated that he had put on hold plans to to accept NHK's offer to set its live-action "Taiga Drama" adaptation of Tow Ubukata's Mitsukuni-den novel in the city, after hearing that Ubukata was arrested on charges of domestic violence.

Mayor Takahashi stated, "It is regrettable that it happened. I was scheduled to meet NHK in September, but I have put those plans on hold." He also added, "I want to confirm with NHK if [Ubukata's] novel can no longer be used."

Ubukata published his Mitsukuni-den novel in 2012, for which he won the Fūtarō Yamada Award in that year. The novel tells the story of the historical life of Tokugawa Mitsukuni, otherwise known as Mito Kōmon, grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu, and lord of the Mito domain in the early Edo period. Mito City still celebrates a Mito Kōmon festival every summer. Ranjō Miyake also adapted Ubukata's novel into a manga in Kadokawa's Samurai Ace magazine in 2012.

Shibuya police arrested Ubukata on Monday on charges of domestic violence against his wife. Ubukata denied the charges, saying "It's true that we quarreled, but I did not hit her."

Source: Sankei News via Yara-On!