NHK's 'Toyotomi Brothers' episode 25 draws strong viewer reaction

Episode 25 of NHK’s historical drama “Toyotomi Brothers”, aired on June 28, featured a surprise performance by rock‑band frontman Ishibe Hiroyuki as the warlord Chōsokabe Motochika. The episode showed Oda Nobunaga unveiling his new Azuchi Castle, holding a celebratory sumo contest that ended with the public dismissal of three senior retainers, prompting online debate about Nobunaga’s “kindness”.

The plot also revealed Mitsuhide receiving a letter from former shōgun Ashikaga Yoshiaki, sparking viewer speculation that the correspondence could be a trigger for the historic Honno‑ji Incident. Social‑media users commented on the dramatic twists, with many noting the unusual use of a sumo match as a method of political reshuffling and debating the motivations behind Nobunaga’s actions.