I really didn't want to watch it because the summary sounded boring and the picture wasn't that great, either - But I'm so glad I did!
Everything about this was perfect. You will know after having watched the first episode. Each of the episodes could just as well be a movie, they are amazing.
The acting was incredible, especially the dogs'. Anyway, the dogs were the stars of this drama. I have no idea how they got them to act like they did, but it was amazing. Okay, sometimes it was a little too human to be realistic, but to be honest that's what people want to see..
The scenery looked real, too. It was very interesting to see everything happening without all the new technology.
The music was as dramatic as the drama itself, the opening and ending song was wonderful and fitting.
I think I never cried as much because of a drama as I did while I watched this one. Not even 1 Litre of Tears.
Even if you don't want to, at least watch the first episode! It will change your mind.
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Anyways, the story itself is touching and heartwarming. The first few episodes are them working on setting up the exhibition, finding the dogs, and setting out to Antarctica. Like the last reviewer stated, how many dramas (Asian ones at that) settle around the Arctic? But not only that, this story is based off of a true one. While I'm sure they through in scenes to make it more moving and to draw you in more (which they did excellently by the way) most of what you see is how it really took place.
The acting was top notch. This is my first drama with Kimura Takuya and he really stood out in his role. His love for the dogs and his actions as a leader. Of course the rest of the cast was great as well, and I think Yamamoto Yusuke acted his best in this role.
The dogs were who really really stood out though. Again, like the last reviewer stated, how they got the dogs to act so perfectly in their roles amazed me. It was natural and realistic, everything they did and how they acted. And it added 10x more to the story. You can't watch this drama and not expect to get attached to the dogs and their teamwork and spirit. I can only imagine how well trained these dogs are.
The music fitted the drama, but it's nothing I'd really listen to outside of it. The instrumentals were moving and the actual ending song went along well with it.
I'm not sure when I'll ever rewatch this, but I can definitely see myself watching it again someday. It's a really good drama. I just can't see it happening for awhile (my next step is watching the original movie and then rewatching Eight Below and comparing the stories).
Overall, I feel this drama is a bit underrated on MDL. It's a drama about faith and encouragement and working together as a team. It's a drama that shows that the life of a dog is just as valuable as a life of a human. It's a drama that really pulls you in and leaves you with a bittersweet feeling. You can't watch this drama and not feel a single drop of emotion.
Keep a box of tissues by you!
This drama has a hint of romance, but it's not what it's about or focused on so don't expect much in that department. Same with Comedy. Expect discovery and teamwork and drama.
TL;DR?
Watch it!! It's worth your time!
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What makes this drama special are for sure the setting and the story. There're not so many drama dealt with Antarctic, right?
But for me personally, the casts were more special. They were all stunning!! Yes, all the casts, including the dogs. I have no idea how the director, or whoever, had the dogs acted perfectly for this drama. Their facial expressions were just awesome!! I mean it. Not to mention their bonding with the "real" casts. It was precious!
I recommend this drama to those who love Japanese spirit, those who love a heart-warming story, those who love beautiful scenery, those who love dogs, and last but not least, those who love Takuya Kimura ^^
ps: I suppose this is the most costly J-dramas ever!
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With perfect acting, most beautiful scenery and one of the best piano OSTs this drama is one the best I've seen through the years. While I was messing around on drama streaming sites searching through tags, I choose (animals) tag and this had a good rating so I watching first episode, then onto the second and I finished 10 in less that 16 hours. Next thing you know I'm a crying shampoo full of tears.
The story about a man who tries to give Japan after the Second World War some hope, by going to Antarctica, the government and everyone laughed at him, but he managed to assemble the crew and go to Antarctica , kimura always dreamed of going there just like his father did, the first episode was 2 hours while the starting was slow for me because I didn't know anything about this movie but once the boys gathered and found the cute huskies to follow them I was all excited. It was inspirational what the crew went through, but due to bad weather they had to abandon the dogs in Antarctica leaving them for what can be sure death ( cried a lot ).
This drama is not only about the HUMAN crew but the loyalty first coming from dogs and then the boys returned their love back and it had a lot of comrade sense.
The drama covered beautifully how Japan was not all about war but there are good people who wanted to give people some hope, achieve the impossible back then.
Keep an eye on takuya and masato, hands down of the best performances I've seen.
10/10 for epic journey adventure and love (shampoo approve)
Favorite ost
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5koZHzvWbtk
Semi-good quality stream
http://www.gooddrama.to/japanese-drama/nankyoku-tairiku
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The first couple of episodes may seem a bit slow and too idealistic (Now I didn’t mind it at all but it’s for the sake of my endeavor to make this review objective). However, remember that it’s based on a true story and don’t give up on it. This drama is one which gets better with each episode. It had a huge budget and they tried to make it as realistic as possible. I don’t possess much knowledge ‘bout Antarctica but I think they did a fair job.
The life of the drama was, of course, as one can guess from the synopsis, the relationship (or the comradeship as they called it) between the members and the dogs. The nice cinematography was able to capture the expression of the dogs and present it beautifully. The hardship of the expedition, the uncertainty of Antarctica, the struggle of survival and the loyalty of the dogs…everything was enjoyable and inspiring.
As expected, once again, I was mesmerized by the touching performance of Kimura Takuya. Undoubtedly this is one the best works of Kimura I’ve seen so far. Despite that the fact that my favorite character in this drama is not played by Kimura rather by Sakai Masato shows how amazing the rest of the cast was. This drama assembled some of the best TV actors of Japan and each one of them gave their best ….including the dogs.
Watch this drama. Watch it if you love animals. Watch it even if you don’t.
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This review may contain spoilers
Oh Well I don't know where to start with this drama, I felt so many emotions like: happiness, sadness, fear, empathy, anger and the list is even longer. But yeah you can guess this drama left a big impact on me, Nankyoku Tairiku is the first one which made me cry from the beginning to the end. It's a drama about strong friendship I would dare say of strong relations between member of a same family, because we can definitely see the deep connections between each characters, as if they were brothers. A drama about human relationships indeed !!!!Here is the legend : I'm warning you because my reviews generally contain spoilers.
[#] : spoiler alert so don't read if you plan on watching the drama.
[%] end of spoiler
As I said before nothing can beat Nankyoku Tairiku,I can't even count the tears I shed for this drama and I constantly felt like I was with all these characters and dogs. It was so hard for me to see them suffering: [#] seeing the dogs wandering all by themselves in Antarctica when the members of the 1st expedition had to leave the continent and prepare the 3rd expedition.[%] I felt so sad for the dogs, I so wanted to hug and comfort them because they are pure treasure, they deserved to be loved and taking cared of. They touched me on so many levels :
1| the way they helped each others, I, for example will never forget the scene when [#]Kuma saved Riki's life, and this was even more meaningful when one knows that they did not get along at the beginning [%]; so right at this moment I started to cry like I never did, I was not able to contain myself for 10 long minutes.
2|They dedicated their lives to the members and the success of the expedition, they were the ones which prevent[#] Kuromachi and Himuro from dying[%]
3|Their willing to survive, I was so proud to see them fighting for their lives and not give up even if food was lacking.
To be honest I have/had a deep aversion towards dogs because I've always found them aggressive, I had been attacked years ago , it was not serious but still It was a bad experience and one thing is sure if they are hungry they can be very dangerous. However little by little I realized they are also living being and they need love like anybody else. I started to think diferently as I know they are the only ones that will save a human or non human life, furthermore they are the man's best friend, there's a reason for it right?
Anyway I'll stop being off-topic, these dogs were for me the stars of the show, the actors were even overshaddowed by them ;D
However one thing bothered me , beside Kuma, Riki, Taro, Jiro and Bekku all other dogs were set aside, I don't understand why because all the dogs were unique on their own way ;(
And now it's finally time to talk about the actors, and what an amazing casting!
I won't beat around the bush my fav character is Shirasaki sensei, I can't be objective as I'm big fan of Shibata Kyohei, you know he is the kind of person who radiates joy of living if he is sad he won't let others see this side of him , I'm sure I'm not the only one thinking that way ?! I also love his interactions with other characters, how he always take their side and put himself at risk for them : A trustworthy Man! As I'm talking about Trustworthy Man, in this drama the male characters are all reliable, I was so impressed by Kuramochi and his devotion for the success of the expedition, he gave everything he had, his strenght ,his knowledge his time only for others's dreams he did not mind if he could not go in Antarctica as long as his friends have this opportunity. I also loved his approach with dogs and how he protected them even if it means to bring upon himself the danger. Then Himuro who was a real surpise, at first he was very disagreeable with others, but little by little he showed his true colors: he is a sensitive person like everyone and he was just more realist than his comrades because he did not want to see them being disappointed. When I saw him crying for the dogs I realized how much he cared for them, that was his most sincere feelings.
And of course other characters were amazing, the kids they were the ray of sunshine of the show, the workers (Terajima san was so touching in this drama),Haruka and her deep love for Rikki, Natsuo,Hoshino San, the cook etc. There's only Ayase Haruka who did not leave an impression on me, she's good actress but her character was not enough developed or maybe that's just me who have a problem with Miyuki!
I will stop here because my review is long enough, but this drama really deserves to be praised and watched by many people and I'll be honest, to me Kuramochi is the best character Kimura Takuya ever portrayed. Of course I did not see all of his dramas ( so my judgement is only based on: Pride, A Sleeping Forest, Long Vacation and Nankyoku ) but he did such a great job that now I'm seeing him differently ;)
Last words? will be for the cinematography which was breathtaking, seriously this was one of the best I've ever seen in dramaland. I was already impressed by the amazing landscapes we could see in Japan , but Antarctica is such a beautiful place I'm not surprised because I've always found the snowy-land to be one of the most pleasing in the world !
Oh and there's something that truly annoyed me in this drama: The Narrator! I don't mind if there's a narrator to explain what will happen, but when it's so repetitive and only for telling about the coming unfortunate events , I simply disagree, because most of the time it ruined my mood + it was like real spoilers.
I highly recommend this drama, not only for Slice of Life Lovers nor for Kimura San's lovers but to everyone because this drama is simply beautiful and totally worth of your time, you just need to be aware that the eps are around 55 min long.
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"Making clear judgments is key to surviving in Antarctica"
Antarctica was based on the real adventures of the first Japanese crew to spend the winter on the frozen continent. The story took place during the mid to late 1950s encompassing the struggles to get the expedition off the ground to fighting to return to recover the furry crew left behind. For dog lovers, this will be a painful watch because these were some of the best boys and girls ever.Kuramochi Takeshi is a geology professor determined to help Japan participate in the International Geophysical Year with a trip to Antarctica. His father had once traveled there and Takeshi is eager to follow in his snowshoes. With Japan suffering from not only devastating economic post war issues, it was also grappling with an identity crisis. Takeshi believes that a successful trip to the bottom of the world will revive the people’s spirits and help them to dream big once again. Takeshi desperately wants to give the children something to look forward to and to be proud of. The Japanese government and the international community are not keen on the idea, thinking Japan under prepared and funded for such a venture. Takeshi and friends convince even the most hard-hearted politicians with the help of school children donating their meager savings to the cause. When the men finally set sail, they have no idea of the wonder and hardships that await them.
The first episode was slow with political posturing and the struggles of adapting a ship for the ice filled waters, finding and training sled dogs, and picking a crew. Time was severely limited and those involved were not always experts on what needed to happen. Takeshi and the young Inuzuka were charged with finding sled dogs and training them, something neither had ever done. Takeshi also helped with the ship renovations. Developing a cohesive crew that could depend on each other with their lives proved daunting.
The acting was quite strong overall. With a great deal of melodrama milked for all it was worth the tears flowed freely. Men from different walks of life with different motivations for the trip had to overcome personality conflicts to work together. The drama filmed in Antarctica which showed the beauty and grandeur of the isolated continent. And of course, the stars of the show, the sled dogs were the heart and heartbreak of the story. I was saddened to learn that Sakhalin huskies couldn’t be used as there were only two purebreds left in Japan in 2011. Today there are none according to a recent report.
The drama often stalled due to a great deal of redundancy. Watching them retrofit the Soya once was okay, three times a bit much. And then the crowds gathering to send them off and welcome them home each time became repetitive. Every people wants to feel proud of their country and rousing speeches used judiciously lead to a heartwarming effect. But when patriotic, rousing speeches are overused it begins to wear thin.
This drama, like my review, felt like it should have been significantly shortened, a lengthy list of concerns follows for anyone interested in reading the rest. I enjoyed the redemption stories and the desire to venture forth to new horizons and give the people new dreams to dream. Takeshi’s developing love for his dogs and need to return to them was the crux of the drama buried in a pile of bureaucratic red tape. Dramas and films based on real world events are something I enjoy, but this one strained my attention span on several occasions. Near the end even when I knew a scene was made up for dramatic effect, tears still filled my eyes. The Sakhalin huskies were a lesson in triumph, resiliency, and survival. And ultimately, the bottomless well of forgiveness and love these majestic animals bestow on us, whether we are worthy of their devotion or not.
8 August 2025
Things that perplexed me, spoilery, but not too spoilery comments below:
The Japanese felt looked down upon because they had lost WWII and were constantly declaring that a successful trip would cause the international community to no longer think of them as losers. This felt like projection as much of the world was more concerned with the aggressor actions of the Japanese that contributed to a world war and up to 85 million deaths, not the fact that they were stopped. Germany had fences to mend as well. Acceptance and forgiveness take time.
I hope that many of the hazards the men dealt with were examples of dramatic license, otherwise they nearly proved to the international community that they were in fact not quite ready to take this step. Sometimes it pays to call in experts, I could not understand the decision for men unaccustomed to dogs in general attempting to train sled dogs which is a specialized skill. The decision to over-winter was shown as a last-minute decision onboard the Soya which went against governmental orders. How did they have enough supplies? Especially when they lost months’ worth of food supplies not once, but twice. Sakhalin huskies are voracious eaters and would have needed an enormous amount of food. The humans would also have required twice their normal calorie consumption. They mentioned fishing but catching enough fish in the deep dark of winter would have been a dangerous proposition. They often failed to plan ahead and had nearly deadly consequences more than once. Also, when facing death due to hypothermia, wouldn’t using the dogs for warmth have helped? They also didn’t seem to know that being so close to the magnetic pole would affect their compasses. One man made the team by lying on his resume which was caught early on, but was allowed to stay. His ineptitude all but caused a deadly disaster. Einstein’s quote was used repeatedly, “People are born to gain experience.” True, but in a place as unforgiving as Antarctica’s winter, everyone had to be counted on for survival.
Poor planning may have contributed to the canine tragedy as well. When the ship was in trouble, they delayed asking for help in order for the higher ups to save face putting the men and dogs in danger. The dogs’ lives were only considered by the government when the people turned against them and by then it was too late. The haphazard approach the team often defaulted to could be frustrating to watch.
The men would have stayed in Antarctica during the long dark winter. This total blackness was never shown to great effect, too often all of the action was well lit outdoors. Given they would have filmed in the summer when it was safer, but the rising sun constantly appearing over the horizon was overused. Yes, we wanted to see the actors' faces but that exposed skin would have been a health hazard in the winter. Same for when the sun was out all the time, where were their sunglasses to protect their eyes? Finally, even sled dogs should be given some form of shelter when conditions are extreme. Many of the dogs dying of “natural” causes at the age of 4 or 6 may not have been so natural. Sakhalin lifespans often reached 20 years old.
These are the things that tripped me up as I watched this drama, making me feel far more sympathy for the dogs than the people who couldn’t seem to get out of their own way at times. The expeditions and discovery of Jiro and Taro gave the Japanese a sense of excitement and pride when they dearly needed it so in the end perhaps it was all worth it, though the loss of the dogs that saved their lives on more than one occasion was a heartbreaker. Worth a watch, but would have benefited from condensing the story.
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the story is really good and touch my heart ( i cry in 2 last episodes ), with great acting from kimura takuya, other cast and the dogs ( i cry twice and both of them cause the acting of the dogs ), Brilliant dramas.
each of episode have their own story that will make you wonder what's next, and that's the best of this drama. and after watch all of this drama's episode make me realize that the dogs must be genius and they are the real lead actor from this drama.
this drama is really worth to watch,,, a beautiful story, with brilliant acting and wonderful scenery.
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Animal lovers will cry buckets, your colleagues might think you had a break-up
Similar to Nankyoku Monogatari and Eight Below (Disney), this drama is based on the true story of the Japanese expedition to Antarctica back in 1950s.The main story is about the survival of the dogs in extreme weather and harsh conditions in Antarctica. So just an alert to animal lovers and dog-parents, your heart will be wrenched out and you will cry buckets. I remember watching this in a burst of 2 to 4 episodes per night over a few days and my eyes became quite swollen, my colleagues thought I broke-up with my partner. I didn't have any, so it was quite awkward having to explain that I cried over watching a Japanese drama about dogs.
Having famous casts helped to increase the drama's rating when it was aired. But in any case, the drama's production itself is good; I always wonder how they manage to get the dogs to act out the scenes. The pace is quite slow as you follow the day-to-day survival of these pack of dogs and their humans. But you also don't want it to go too fast, each dog needs their own air time <3
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Then I started watching it, I got hooked, not only because it has Kimura as one of its casts, but because of the story as a whole and the dogs. Yes, the dogs.
I can't say more without spoiling the series more. Just know that I loved it with all my heart and that I would really recommend that you watch it.
Acting was superb, dogs were great, the cinematography was great as well. Everything was great.
Original Review: https://elijahmaliksmom.wordpress.com/2017/06/22/nankyoku-tairiku/
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A Truly AMAZING, heartfelt survival drama - with loads of cute dogs!
A beautifully produced, absolutely riveting drama with realistic scenery, outstanding animal acting and the always excellent value Takuya Kimura as "The Captain", alongside outstanding established senior actors and cast. 10 episodes of an hour each, that highlight the politics, post war mood and national ambitions of 1950s Japan. The finale is indeed gripping and a reminder that early explorers truly risked everything to create new knowledge and science. I know you will love it and will rush straight out the next day to get an Alaskan hound ... maybe! 😃Was this review helpful to you?
