NHK has started filming for "Saka no Ue no Kumo," a drama project that will span the next four years. The story is based on a historical novel by Ryotaro Shiba, set in the Meiji era and dealing with a group of three young men - Akiyama Saneyuki (a naval officer during the Russo-Japanese War), Masaoka Shiki (a poet and author), and Natsume Soseki (a novelist) - who were friends and classmates at the same university.

Masahiro Motoki plays Akiyama, while Teruyuki Kagawa and Yukiyoshi Ozawa play Masaoka and Natsume, respectively. The supporting cast includes Hiroshi Abe as Saneyuki's brother Yoshifuru, and Miho Kanno as Shiki's sister Ritsu.

Filming will take place over a span of three years and includes overseas locations. The series consists of 13 90-minute episodes, which will be aired in three parts. The parts will be broadcast in the fall of 2009, 2010, and 2011.