Toto One-chan
Date: From 8.00 a.m., Mondays – Saturdays, 4 April 2016
Station: NHK
Scriptwriter: Nishida Masafumi (Nobunaga Concerto, Jikken Keiji Totori, Yokai Ningen Bemu)
Cast: Takahata Mitsuki, Nishijima Hidetoshi, Kimura Tae, Sagara Itsuki, Sugisaki Hana, Mukai Osamu, Daichi Mao, Kataoka Tsurutaro, Ohno Takuro, Akino Yoko, Pierre Taki, Hiraiwa Kami, Kawaei Rina, Abe Junko, Sakaguchi Kentaro, Katagiri Hairi
Synopsis: The eldest daughter of the Kohashis, Tsuneko was 11 year old when her father Takezo (Nishijima Hidetoshi) died of tuberculosis. Taking her father’s teachings about the importance of ordinary life to heart, she became ‘Toto One-chan’, a paternal figure to her mother Kimiko (Kimura Tae) and two younger sisters Mariko (Sagara Itsuki) and Yoshiko (Sugisaki Hana). She struggles to sustain the family as the head of the household. Right after the war, she launches a lifestyle magazine created for the sake of females together with Mariko and Yoshiko in a devastated Tokyo. It is called ‘Your Life’ and was full of practical articles for readers. With the help of the genius editor Hanayama Isaji, the magazine grew to become essential to females living in the period of high economic growth.
Website: –
Seirei no Moribito
Date: March 2016 (continues in 2017 & 2018)
Station: NHK
Scriptwriter: Omori Sumio (64, Nezumi Edo o Hashiru, Akumu-chan)
Original Work: Moribito Series by Uehashi Nahoko
Genre: Period fantasy
Cast: Ayase Haruka, Kobayashi Kai, Higashide Masahiro, Kimura Fumino, Hayashi Kento, Fukikoshi Mitsuru, Kamio Yu, Matsuda Satoshi, Kiyohara Kaya, Kikkawa Koji, Takashima Reiko, Hira Mikijiro, Fujiwara Tatsuya
Synopsis: Balsa (Ayase Haruka), a skilled female bodyguard, comes across the young prince Chagum (Kobayashi Kai) of the New Yogo Empire. He has fallen into a river and she rescues him. Invited to the palace for saving him, Balsa is asked by the Empress (Kimura Fumino) to take Chagum and run away. The egg of a spirit, which is said to be an evil demon, dwells in Chagum. This is why the Emperor (Fujiwara Tatsuya) has attempted to assassinate Chagum. Chagum’s fall into the river was not an accident. Balsa reluctantly takes Chagum and flees. To protect the prince from imperial assassins and monsters of the underworld, Balsa starts to teach him the harshness of living and techniques to defend himself. With the help of shamans who can communicate with spirits, she learns about the true nature of the spirit in Chagum. But with the passage of time, the egg has grown and is about to hatch. The two of them cannot run away forever. Balsa eventually faces a showdown with the assassins and monsters … …
Website: www.nhk.or.jp/moribito
Hibana
Date: Spring 2016
Station: Netflix Japan
Scriptwriters: Kato Masato (Fushigina Misaki no Monogatari, Sougen no Isu, Kokou no Mesu), Takahashi Miyuki (Monster, Ai to Makoto)
Original Work: Hibana by Matayoshi Naoki
Genre: Semi-autobiographical
Cast: Hayashi Kento, Namioka Kazuki, Kadowaki Mugi, Kobayashi Kaoru, Taguchi Tomorow, Sometani Shota, Yamamoto Sayaka, Nahana
Synopsis: Struggling artiste Tokunaga (Hayashi Kento) has an electrifying encounter with a senior artiste Kamiya (Namioka Kazuki), a genius who has his own unique stand-up comedy philosophy, and becomes his disciple. This is the story of the friendship and struggles between two performers trying to make it in the competitive world of show business.
Website: www.netflix.com/jp
Watashi Kekkon Dekinai Janakute, Shinai desu
Date: From 10.00 p.m., Fridays, April 2016
Station: TBS
Scriptwriter: Kaneko Arisa (Zainin no Uso, Tightrope no Onna, Haken no Oscar)
Original Work: Sparta Konkatsu Juku by Mizuno Keiya
Genre: Love comedy
Cast: Nakatani Miki, Fujiki Naohito, Seto Koji, Omasa Aya, Hiraiwa Kami, Chisun, Hirata Kaoru, Midori Yurie, Morita Kanro, Tokui Yoshimi, Natsuki Mari
Synopsis: 39-year-old Tachibana Miyabi (Nakatani Miki) is a aesthetic dermatologist who dismissively declares, “I can get married anytime I want to”. She enjoys a fulfilling single life and has a condescending attitude. One day, she encounters the caustic owner Tokura Seiji (Fujiki Naohito) of a Japanese restaurant that she visits with her friends. He points out the reality that she is “romance-impaired (unpopular female)” with a triple handicap of beauty, career and age. At first, Tokura’s unexpected insolence enrages Miyabi and she leaves his restaurant. But when she faces up to reality, she has to confront being denigrated as “romance-impaired” in the romance and marriage market, and she is forced to listen carefully to the grudging advice of Tokura … …
Website: www.tbs.jp/watashi_kekkon
Kakkou no Tamago wa Dare no Mono*UPDATED*
Date: From 10.00 p.m., Sundays, 27 March 2016
Station: WOWOW
Scriptwriter: Tanabe Mitsuru (Akagi, Henshin, dinner)
Original Work: Kakkou no Tamago wa Dare no Mono by Higashino Keigo
Genre: Suspense
Cast: Tsuchiya Tao, Hongo Kanata, Totsugi Shigeyuki, Ihara Tsuyoshi, Mano Erina, Takasugi Mahiro, Morinaga Yuki, Yano Masato, Toda Masahiro, Yamashita Yorie, Otsuru Gitan, Maeda Aki, Yajima Kenichi, Asano Kazuyuki
Synopsis: Hida Kazami (Tsuchiya Tao) aspires to be a top skier just like her father Hiromasa (Ihara Tsuyoshi). One day, it is discovered that she has a gene that only top athletes have. Wanting to unlock this mystery, a gene researcher Yuzuki Yosuke (Totsugi Shigeyuki) approaches Hiromasa to carry out research. But Hiromasa stubbornly refuses because he is burdened with the horrible past associated with his daughter’s birth. 10 years ago, a newborn was kidnapped and his wife died. Who are the parents of this daughter? Distressing facts are revealed one after another, and then an inexplicable event … …
Website: www.wowow.co.jp/dramaw/kakkou
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