Official Website
tokai-tv.com/itsuame
Broadcast
From 11.40 p.m., Saturdays, 4 August 2018
Network
Fuji TV
Story
The dead body of a woman who was stabbed in the chest with a knife, lies by the bank of a beautiful lake. A youth stands stock still in a daze, staring at her … … A hostess at a hostess bar in the outskirts of the city sends off a heavily intoxicated customer with a smile. Once the customer leaves, her smile quickly vanishes and is replaced by a chilly expression. This is Kitazono Hikari. 15 years ago, her older brother, Kunihiko, was arrested for murdering his girlfriend, the musical actress Yabuki Asami, and Hikari’s life completely changed after that. Her father lost his job as a result of this murder case and passed away leaving behind a lot of debt. Hikari supports her emotionally unstable mother Yuko while she lives as if holding her breath as a murderer’s younger sister. Her only emotional support has been her dream of becoming a musical actress which she continues to chase even as she scrapes along. Her time with the troupe Umihebi which director Tenjiku Kaname and star actress Hanada Maiko belong to is the only moment when she can forget about reality. One day, Hikari is reunited with her childhood friend Tanigawa Kazuya. Kazuya is the chef at his family’s traditional Japanese restaurant, Tanigawa. His father expects him to be his successor and he is dating his girlfriend Mikami Saya with an eye toward marriage. Life has been smooth sailing and different from the world of a criminal’s family which Hikari lives in. Hikari is hit by the bleakness of her own future through this meeting with Kazuya. Meanwhile, Kunihiko’s release from prison is decided. Hikari is contacted by the lawyer and waits for her brother outside the prison. She has come, not to pick him up but to make a clean break with him. However, he makes a shocking declaration to her, “I didn’t kill Asami.” Hikari cannot believe his words. If that were the case, why did he not insist upon his innocence during those 15 years. Kunihiko refuses to say anything more and disappears. Kazuya, on the other hand, feels the agony that Hikari has experienced for 15 years and wonders what he can do for her.
Characters
Watanabe Mayu as Morimura/Kitazono Hikari
A hostess at a hostess bar. She has belonged to the musical troupe Umihebi since six years ago. 15 years earlier, her brother Kunihiko was arrested and convicted for the murder of his girlfriend. He is serving time in prison. She was cheerful and loved to laugh in her childhood but her life completely changed after she became a murderer’s younger sister. When she was in high school, her mother had mental illness and turned into a social recluse. She was forced to work part-time for living expenses and also look after her mother. She still hates Kunihiko for committing murder and changing their lives. As the younger sister of a murderer, she thinks it is unpardonable for her to love someone or to be loved. Only when she is involved in her favourite musicals can she forget bitter reality.
Horii Arata as Tanigawa Kazuya
Morimura Hikari’s childhood friend. The chef of his family’s long-established traditional Japanese restaurant, Tanigawa, and hopes to be the successor. His mother has already passed away and his father has a second wife. His older brother who is in charge of doing Tanigawa’s accounts, is his stepmother’s child from her previous marriage. 15 years ago, Hikari’s older brother Kunihiko, who was training at Tanigawa, doted on him. But he witnessed Kunihiko leave the scene of the murder and was the first person to discover the dead body of Kunihiko’s girlfriend Asami. After the case, Hikari’s family was forced to move away. The icy look that Hikari gave him on the last day when he rushed over, is seared in his mind.
Fukikoshi Mitsuru as Tenjiku Kaname
The director of the troupe Umihebi. He is something of a genius. 15 years ago, he discovered the talent of Yabuki Asami who belonged to Umihebi, and selected her to play Juliet in Romeo and Juliet. But she pulled out because of poor health. The play was immediately sealed off since Asami’s death. He is now in a slump and decides to stage another run of Romeo and Juliet after he sees Morimura Hikari.
Kiriyama Ren as Morimura Kunihiko
Morimura Hikari’s older brother. 15 years ago, his breakup talk with his girlfriend Asami did not go well and he was convicted on murder charges and is serving time in prison. Two years before the case happened, he was training at a traditional Japanese restaurant called Tanigawa.
Kimura Yuichi as Goda Hitoshi
The precinct detective who was in charge of the case 15 years ago. When Morimura Kunihiko is released from prison, he begins to snoop around Morimura Hikari and Tanigawa Kazuya.
Saito Yuki as Kitazono Yuko
Morimura Hikari’s mother. She is a social recluse and depends on her daughter. The stigma of being the family of a murderer made her mentally ill, but she blindly believes that the happy days of the past will return once her son Kunihiko comes back. This contributes to Hikari’s irritation but she does not realise this.
Scriptwriters
Takahashi Maki (Asa ga Kuru, Alice no Toge)
Sato Nao
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