What Will You Do, Ieyasu? (2023)
A sweeping NHK taiga drama tracing Tokugawa Ieyasu’s harrowing journey from captive child to the warlord who would unify Japan.
What Will You Do, Ieyasu? - Series Information
- Original Title: どうする家康
- First Air Year: 2023
- Last Air Year: 2023
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Drama, War, Politics
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (43 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 1
- Number of Episodes: 50
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: Japanese
- Spoken Languages: Japanese
- First Air Date: January 8, 2023 (South Korea - 15)
- Networks: NHK
- Alternative Titles: What Will You Do Ieyasu (US), Dō suru Ieyasu (JP), 怎麼辦家康 (CN), 어쩌지 이에야스 (KR)
- Production Companies: NHK, NEOTECH
- Production Countries: Japan
What Will You Do, Ieyasu? - Plot
He lost his land, his father, and was torn from his mother. Lonely and wounded, young Takechiyo thought he’d live out his days quietly as a hostage. But fate had other plans. Inspired by Mikawa warriors, he becomes a minor lord and dives into a war-torn world ruled by monsters like Nobunaga and Shingen. Life-or-death moments, miscalculations, and no time to breathe—what will you do, Ieyasu?
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What Will You Do, Ieyasu? - Cast & Crew
Main Cast
- Jun Matsumoto
- Junichi Okada
- Kasumi Arimura
- Tsuyoshi Muro
- Mansai Nomura
- Hiroshi Abe
- Nao Omori
- Yuki Yamada
- Yosuke Sugino
- Rihito Itagaki
Writers
- Ryota Kosawa
What Will You Do, Ieyasu? - FAQs
Is What Will You Do, Ieyasu? based on a true story?
The series is rooted in the real life of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the historical warlord who unified Japan and founded the Edo shogunate. While the drama takes creative liberties with characterization and pacing, the major figures — Nobunaga, Shingen, Hideyoshi — and key events are drawn from actual Sengoku period history.
Who plays Tokugawa Ieyasu in the series?
Jun Matsumoto takes on the central role of Tokugawa Ieyasu, also known in his youth as Takechiyo. Matsumoto portrays the character across his entire arc, from a vulnerable child hostage to the determined warlord who would eventually shape the course of Japanese history.
What is What Will You Do, Ieyasu? about?
The series chronicles the life of Tokugawa Ieyasu, who spent his childhood as a hostage before rising to become one of Japan’s most powerful rulers. Set during the chaotic Sengoku period, it follows his survival against formidable rivals like Oda Nobunaga and Takeda Shingen through constant conflict and political intrigue.
How many episodes does What Will You Do, Ieyasu? have?
The series consists of 50 episodes across a single season, each running approximately 43 minutes. It aired on NHK throughout 2023 as that year’s annual taiga drama, a prestigious long-form historical format that NHK has produced every year since 1963.
What makes this NHK taiga drama stand out?
What Will You Do, Ieyasu? takes a notably fresh angle on a well-known historical figure by portraying Ieyasu as an anxious, emotionally complex young man rather than the stoic legend of tradition. Screenwriter Ryota Kosawa injects modern sensibility into the period setting, making the character feel surprisingly relatable and human.
Where can I watch What Will You Do, Ieyasu?
Streaming availability for What Will You Do, Ieyasu? varies by region. You can check the most up-to-date viewing options — including streaming, rental, and purchase platforms available in your country — via JustWatch, which tracks current availability across all major services.
Who wrote the screenplay for What Will You Do, Ieyasu?
The series was written by Ryota Kosawa, a highly regarded Japanese screenwriter known for his work on acclaimed dramas and films. Kosawa brought a contemporary emotional sensibility to the historical material, crafting a version of Ieyasu that feels more vulnerable and human than traditional portrayals.
What are similar shows to What Will You Do, Ieyasu?
Fans of the series often enjoy Shōgun (2024), which also explores feudal Japanese power struggles with international appeal, and Last Samurai Standing (2025). For more Japanese period drama, Ming Dynasty (2019) offers a comparable epic historical scope, while ERASED (2016) and Gannibal (2022) deliver gripping Japanese storytelling in different genres.
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