Heike Monogatari (The Heike Story)

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Alternative Titles

Japanese: 平家物語

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Information

Type: TV

Episodes: 11

Status: Finished Airing

Aired: Sep 16, 2021 to Nov 25, 2021

Premiered: Fall 2021

Broadcast: Thursdays at 00:55 (JST)

Producers: Dentsu, Pony Canyon, Fuji TV, Asmik Ace, BS Fuji, bilibili

Licensors: Funimation

Studios: Science SARU

Source: Book

Genre: Drama

Themes: Historical, Samurai

Duration: 23 min. per ep.

Rating: PG-13 - Teens 13 or older

Statistics

Score: 7.76¹ (scored by 20,765 users)

¹ indicates a weighted score.

Ranked: #970²

² based on the top anime page. Please note that 'Not yet aired' and 'R18+' titles are excluded.

Popularity: #2334

Members: 66,135

Favorites: 491

External Links

Official Site, AnimeDB, AnimeNewsNetwork, Wikipedia

Streaming Platforms

Funimation

7.76

Ranked #970Popularity #2334Members 66,135

Fall 2021TVScience SARU

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Episodes: /11

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Synopsis

The Taira clan, also known as the Heike, holds immense authority over Japan. When a young girl, gifted with an odd eye that allows her to see the future, foolishly disrespects the clan, her father pays the price of her crime with his life. Soon after, as fate would have it, Taira no Shigemori—the eldest son of the clan leader—stumbles upon the same unfortunate girl, who now calls herself "Biwa." Biwa informs him that the downfall of the Heike is imminent. After learning of the great injustice Biwa suffered at the Heike's hands, Shigemori vows to take her in and care for her rather than let her be killed.

In an era of rising military tension, the Heike are in the midst of a cunning struggle for power, and bloodstained war is on the horizon. Shigemori, whose eyes allow him to see spirits of the dead, is both anxious and hopeful to prevent his clan's demise. Biwa, however, is reluctant to reveal the future to him and must adapt to her new life filled with both happiness and sorrow in this pivotal chapter in Japanese history.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

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Characters & Voice Actors

Biwa

Main

Yuuki, Aoi
Japanese

Taira no, Tokuko

Supporting

Hayami, Saori
Japanese

Taira no, Shigemori

Supporting

Sakurai, Takahiro
Japanese

Minamoto no, Yoshitsune

Supporting

Kaji, Yuuki
Japanese

Taira no, Sukemori

Supporting

Okamoto, Nobuhiko
Japanese

Fujiwara no, Tadakiyo

Supporting

Kusunoki, Taiten
Japanese

Saitou, Sanemori

Supporting

Saitou, Shirou
Japanese

Senoo, Kaneyasu

Supporting

Ikawa, Shuuei
Japanese

Gozu

Supporting

Ihara, Masaaki
Japanese

Mongaku

Supporting

Sasaki, Mutsumi
Japanese

More staff

Staff

Choi, Eun-Young

Producer, Production Manager

Yamada, Naoko

Director, Episode Director, Storyboard

Kimura, Eriko

Sound Director

Takeshita, Ryouhei

Episode Director, Storyboard

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Opening Theme

"Hikaru Toki (光るとき)" by Hitsuji Bungaku (羊文学)

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Ending Theme

"unified perspective" by agraph feat. ANI (++SCHADARAPARR++ (スチャダラパー))

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Reviews

Nov 24, 2021

KANLen09

Recommended

The Heike Story, Heike Monogatari, or more objectively documented in Japanese history books as: The Tale of the Heike. No matter what you call this show, I see it as 3 words: a cult following.

It's so pleasant, fresh and refreshing to watch a historical work like "The Tale of the Heike" which was already very well documented in the history books throughout centuries as an epic account throughout its many translated derivatives, and the well-known 3-person team of director Naoko Yamada, scriptwriter Reiko Yoshida, music composer Kensuke Ushio who were once stationed at KyoAni making "A Silent Voice" and "Liz and the Blue Bird" before ... the well-beloved studio's unfortunate-and-fateful arson tragedy, came together to produce this show being adapted from Hideo Furukawa's 2016 work of the same name, translated into modern Japanese. Which if you read it in context to the series of events, having to see this notable event in animated form, while it will not beat the essence of the original work, at least this show is a statement piece to add to that work.

This 13th-century historical epic depicting the rise and fall of the Taira clan that's set during the Genpei War between 1180-1185, this story comes to us from a 3rd person's POV perspective of Biwa, a young girl and traveling biwa (the instrument) minstrel. And the first thing that you should be aware about Biwa is of the uncommon trope of a character that has heterochromia, which if you have watched shows like Wonder Egg Priority before, you know that there's a legit story to tell behind those pair of differently coloured eyes. And in the case of Biwa, her "origin" story is that she is the daughter of a biwa hoshi (lute priest) who got killed by guards of the Taira clan after she unintentionally insulted them, and she dresses up as a boy in order to avoid detection from the Taira assassins. Biwa is brought into the Taira clan after her blind father got killed through the help of Taira no Shigemori, the next in-line heir to the clan, in the midst of the Genpei War and needing to claim supremacy to spread the Heike name far and wide. Being the eldest son of the monk Kiyomori, the irresponsible and hard-headed leader of the Taira clan, Shigemori is a true taskmaster of what he does to keep his clan alive, no matter the hard tasks and internal strifes between family members (most especially the leader Kiyomori) in concern towards the raging war against their natural enemies, the Genji. Like Biwa, Shigemori is also heterochromic, but as opposed to Biwa foreshadowing the future with her pair of eyes, Shigemori on the other hand, can only see the spirits of the dead. But the two come together because of the fact that they're both heterochromic of seeing the future and who dies in various periods of time, and knowing Biwa's resentment on the Taira Clan for killing her father, this fact is only known in the most secret of secrecy between the two as Biwa is taken into Shigemori's family disguised as the usual orphaned child to be a companion for his wife (Tokuko) and 4 children (Koremori, Sukemori, Kiyotsune and Arimori).

The fact that both Shigemori and Biwa have "merged hands" is just for one sole purpose: to avoid the downfall of the Taira clan (and simultaneously the Heike) and with the amount of foreshadowing done between the two, they make amends to save the people they know that will face death imminent at specific junctures of their lives. But don't forget that as much as Biwa can only do so much to help the loved ones around her, her main role is to serve to chronicle the events of the Taira clan's rise and fall. Playing the biwa as the events are documented through solemn song, Biwa's voice gave some atmospheric pressures thanks to her VA Aoi Yuuki, and the juxtapositions of how both the Taira clan and the Heike are slowly but surely squandered of their control provides a sense of realism for a time period that many of us would've preferred to be in just for a day, and nothing more. Truth be told, I always get goosebumps whenever Biwa plays her lute to depict the winners and losers growing towards the Genpei war, and not just for Aoi Yuuki's distinct vocal performance, but also that Kensuke Ushio's magic for BGM around those periods are the ones that you'll really feel that it hit the hardest as you see people die for glory, valor and especially not to be humiliated by a rival clan like the Genji. Remember, pride back in those days are akin to today's high-standing political positions, only that the olden days have more weight to carry people and moral with them. It's for this reason where the story really shines, and as complex as the Tale of the Heike gets with many characters, locations and motives that you will not understand if you're that type of person who likes to have a fix on the content, but it's meant to tell a much bigger story: a larger than life story that only some like Biwa have the privilege to witness while helping others out of their rut if it's possible. We are also seeing this in a 3rd person perspective, so we're also in Biwa's shoes to really see what'll happen in this epic journey of proportions unimaginable. Your mileage may vary depending on whether it makes or breaks your experience.

Historical work like this, there's bound to have characters which may seem like a lot of actors running around a traditional town going places, and unless you're the type to really analyze what these characters add to the mix (I sure as hell understood), then this will also prove as a miss point to you. I have watched many historical live-action dramas that has the setting be like this (most of it are Chinese-based but it's similar), and can largely understand the adage of "too much cooks spoil the broth". But for a show that's based solely on this time period, you have to understand that there's a lot going on under the hood from royal families to ordinary townsfolk, because every fateful decision will be carried down to the people, and these decisions have serious implications to affect not tens but hundreds and thousands of people, affiliated or not. For example, taking Biwa into context as she journeys and dictates the life of a Heike, there's not one single person that is the sole cause for many to act. It's through meticulous and calculated actions to think for your own people, starting from the top-down royalty, and when pride and ego comes into the mix for characters like Kiyomori, the downfall is just as striking as the rise to fame, even if albeit a short-lived one. Everyone's decision matters, and not one character is wasted because he/she feels redundant to the entire story, which says a lot about character dynamics, especially for one rooted in the historical complex.

Unsurprisingly, you should already know of the 3 names by now: Naoko Yamada, Reiko Yoshida, Kensuke Ushio. These 2 ladies and a man have very prolific portfolios of works to their name, and the departure from KyoAni to Masaaki Yuasa's studio Science SARU marks a brand new chapter where this feels like the old Madhouse standards of Masao Maruyama being flexible with his staff to do what they want to do with creative freedom. Nevertheless, The Heike Story also really glows with vibrancy and colour throughout the entire show, and since "Eizōuken ni wa Te wo Dasu na!" a.k.a "Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!" was a significant mouthpiece for Masaaki Yuasa's studio in 2020, that excellence carries over in this show, and I can never get bored of watching visuals done the same that are made different which gives it a very unique feel of watercolour oozes. It's mouth-droppingly gorgeous, I'd say so myself. Making things better is the OST for the show, part of which I've already covered especially for Biwa's song recital tunes. Hitsuji Bungaku's OP is really good that's not worth even an episode's skip, and agraph feat. ANI's ED "unified perspective"...I don't know if you're feeling this with me, but there's a sense of duality, not just with the black-and-white visuals. It almost seems condescending to have monochrome colours to show Biwa's state of mind, and I guess the two-toned, mostly instrumental song is there to provide context of perspectives that somehow, work really well to give a ghastly vibe.

Does it really hurt for me to say that I want more of the trio's work portfolio, now that The Heike Story is offically added into the list that stands alongside KyoAni's films? Hell yeah, I suppose. The consensus is that you don't just watch shows that are done by well-enough reputable people, entities or even companies, because what concerns us is the real meat of the show and its contents, and for a work that's based on a centuries-old book, The Heike Story is a story worth telling for the many generations to come, and you and I both form the cult that will spread this underrated work that has gone under the radar for time past and present. Let this story not be gone and left in the dust in the future, and I applaud Naoko Yamada, Reiko Yoshida and Kensuke Ushio for the substantial effort for this underrated anime that's one hell of a learning journey through Japanese history.

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Nov 24, 2021

DungBeetle69420

Recommended

I’m so glad Yamada Naoko is alive.

Amidst the absolute worst circumstances, amidst brutish violence, amidst the burden that will continue to be carried every day, I can still be thankful that there were survivors of the KyoAni arson. I can be thankful that KyoAni are holding their heads up high, continuing to produce high-quality work, without cynicism, and as if completely unfazed. Despite occurring so close to the disaster, The Violet Evergarden movies were still released to the world in a wonderful state. The work's messages of living through trauma and bringing joy to the world through letters, through labours of love, couldn't have been ...

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Nov 24, 2021

Grusomhed

Recommended

I Love Japan
People always say that, but they hardly know anything about Japan. Stop for a second and think, do you want to have even a slightest understanding of the country you claim to love so much? If you do not want to understand Japan, then just do not waste your time on this series. If you do, I am glad that there are people like you and this review will be for you. The Heike Story is a great opportunity for you to know more about Japan. Even though, it will not be easy, it will only make the victory tastier. What makes The ... Heike Story difficult to understand? Let us see into it. The Heike Story is not just some random anime about some random events. The Tale of the Heike focuses on the struggle for power between the Heike and the Genji houses in the late twelfth century. It is considered one of the most influential literary works in Japanese literature. The Tale of the Heike gave birth to a number of other Japanese literary works. In fact, there are so many of them that no one will be able to name them all, but many Japanese know, at least, something about the epic and those who are not Japanese and are not knowledgeable in Japanese history, might feel a little bit lost and it is totally okay.

It is important to note that Buddhism had a great influence on the tale. In fact, there are two main Buddhism themes in The Tale of the Heike. The first theme is karma, meaning that your present actions affect what will happen to you in the future, and eventually, if you are a sinner, you will be punished by a series of misfortunes for your evil deeds. (Karma is endless, only a handful of people are able to escape it and reach nirvana; it is nearly impossible to escape karma and reach it without the help of Buddha.) And the second being, impermanence, which means that everything changes and nothing lasts forever. In addition to this, it is important to note that The Tale of the Heike was mostly told by the lute priests. Usually, they were blind and earned their bread by reciting vocal literature to the accompaniment of biwa music.

What Do You See With Your Eyes?
Basically, the story is not new. The series focuses on Biwa. They together with their father travel peacefully, without that much money, but still happy to be alive and together. One day, young Biwa makes a remark that becomes the reason for her father’s death. Biwa comes into the care of Taira no Shigemori, his father’s soldiers are responsible for the death of Biwa's dad. This becomes the beginning of a story that simple words cannot describe, full of despair and helplessness, sometimes with small, yet, brief moments of joys and happiness, The Heike Story will give you a superb understanding of a small portion of the Japanese history.

While the story does not have anything new about it, the way it is portrayed will not leave anyone indifferent to its beauty that will make your heart ache. We have many clans, many people, who are absolutely different. The viewer sees the story through Biwa’s perspective, although, she is not usually the main focus of the series, often, trying to not interfere with the historical events. We have the leader of the Heike clan, who is but a ‘blind’ old man, who is drunk with power and everyone bowing to him. Even though he loves power, he has no qualities of a leader and his son, who is an absolutely different kind of a leader rather than his father, is the true leader, the leader who cares about the people more than about his own life. On top of that, there are also many other clans, emperors, constant mind games, small clashes and big wars between the clans, there are just too many things for you to feel bored.

Beauty in Details
The Heike Story is something very dear and important for every Japanese. It goes without saying, the staff members that made this animated series possible are all professionals of their craft, including the voice actors, who left a small part of their soul in their heroes, making them truly alive. The art somehow resembles Katanagatari, but it looks more realistic. There are many small details and never ending symbolism; you literally drown in the sea of colors of The Heike Story. This, together with an amazing OST that keeps you in the constant state of tension, worrying for the series’ characters, but when it is needed, offering you the needed comfort, with the time to rethink what you are seeing, helps to appreciate the series even more.

Different Characters One Story
The Heike Story has many characters, who are absolutely different: you have the fools, the thinkers, the doers, the believers, the murderers and even more examples. Some characters will immediately win your heart; some will be hated by you through the series. The Heike Story has many interesting to analyze characters that will help you to understand one simple thing: any drive for power will require one to pay a great price. When you start your quest to the leadership, when you reach the wanted result, it might cost you too much and the true terror is when you are left alone. This is just one of the messages, the rest if for you to find.

Overall
All in all, it is up to you if you want to watch this series, or just ignore it. But if you want my opinion, The Heike Story is a must watch, because it will give you a slight understanding of what Japan was like in the 12th century. With that being said, The Heike Story is a very unique story that will not leave you indifferent.

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Heike Monogatari

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Characters & Voice Actors

Biwa

Taira no, Tokuko

Taira no, Shigemori

Minamoto no, Yoshitsune

Taira no, Sukemori

Fujiwara no, Tadakiyo

Saitou, Sanemori

Senoo, Kaneyasu

Gozu

Mongaku

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Ending Theme

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Heike Monogatari

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Information

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External Links

Streaming Platforms

Synopsis

Background

Visit MALxJapan MALxJapan -More than just anime-

Characters & Voice Actors

Staff

Opening Theme

Ending Theme

Reviews

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