News Digest

'I feel ready for action': Prince William turned into a samurai warlord

With a sword in his hand, a glittering helmet on his head and a regal tunic on his shoulders the Duke of Cambridge looked every inch a samurai warlord after visiting a TV studios. William (pictured) was transformed into Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the formidable Japanese ruler who unified his country in the 16th century, during a tour of the Tokyo studios where the Sunday night historical drama Taiga is filmed. When William first arrived at the studios of Japan’s public broadcaster NHK (Nippon Hoso Kyokai) which makes the show, he was greeted by a long line of actors dressed as soldiers.

If I put this on my brother would never let me forget it - I seriously can’t.

The Duke had considered wearing a samurai wig, made with real hair and slicked back into a tiny ponytail

He asked one of the senior staff: “Is it a show like EastEnders?” before being taken on to the set that depicted a chaya or tea house, used by samurai as a members’ club, complete with geisha. As staff put the helmet on his head, the Duke joked: “I feel there should be a sword in my hand as well.” When he was told actors wore the costume and heavy armour for many hours, he replied: “Not particularly easy to go for a coffee break.” When they were finished he looked into a mirror and asked his entourage: “How do I look?” before adding: “I feel ready for action.” Later the mood was more serious in NHK’s newsroom, where the Duke watched a three-minute film showing how the station covered the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami which triggered the meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

This is going straight on to the Foreign Office website - brilliant.

Tim Hitchens, Britain’s ambassador to Japan