Scarlet
Date: From 8.00 a.m., Mondays – Saturdays, 30 September 2019
Station: NHK
Scriptwriter: Mizuhashi Fumie (Haha ni Naru, Hayami-sensei Kekkon Surutte Hontou desu ka?, Sharehouse no Koibito)
Cast: Toda Erika, Kitamura Kazuki, Tomita Yasuko, Sakuraba Nanami, Fukuda Mayuko, Sato Ryuta, Oshima Yuko, Hayashi Kento, Zaizen Naomi, Magy, Mizuno Miki, Mizobata Junpei, Kimoto Takehiro, Hano Aki, Mitsubayashi Kyoko, Nishikawa Takanori, Matsushita Kohei, Issey Ogata
Synopsis: Shortly after the end of the war, Kawahara Kimiko (Toda Erika) moves to Shigaraki, a pottery town in Shiga Prefecture, from Osaka. The eldest of three girls, she is a hardworking person who has supported the family (Sakuraba Nanami, Fukuda Mayuko, Kitamura Kazuki, Tomita Yasuko) since she was a child. Having grown up around Shigaraki ware, Kimiko eventually plunges into the male-dominated world of ceramics where she proceeds to blaze a trail as a pioneering female ceramic artist. She falls in love and gets married to her husband who is also a ceramic artist. United by their aspiration to be the ideal creative couple, they strive to create unique Shigaraki ware with their own kiln. She becomes a mother of two children and also cultivates many disciples.
Website: –
Kekkon Dekinai Otoko Season 2
Date: From 9.00 p.m., Tuesdays, October 2019
Station: Fuji TV
Scriptwriter: Ozaki Masaya (Signal, Chinmoku Houtei, Kekkon Dekinai Otoko Season 1)
Genre: Romance
Cast: Abe Hiroshi
Synopsis: Kuwano Shinsuke (Abe Hiroshi), a successful architect, is well-to-do, knowledgeable and good-looking. He is now 53, still lives alone in the same apartment, which has the latest gadgets, and enjoys single life. Although he fell for Hayasaka Natsumi, the doctor who treated him and changed his perspective toward marriage, and even dated, they later broke up. So Kuwano’s heart is shut firmly to love again. He is even more eccentric now, and feels a little anxious when he thinks about the future. One day, the wheels of fate start to move all of a sudden after a chance encounter with some women.
Website: –
Shinya Shokudo ~ Tokyo Stories Season 2
Date: Fall 2019
Network: Netflix Japan
Scriptwriters: Manabe Katsuhiko (Shinya Shokudo Series), Mukai Kosuke (Shinya Shokudo Seasons 1 – 3), Kojima Kensaku (Shinya Shokudo ~ Tokyo Stories Season 1,) Oshima Mari
Original Work: Shinya Shokudo by Abe Yaro
Genre: Food
Cast: Kobayashi Kaoru, Fuwa Mansaku, Ayata Toshiki, Ando Tamae, Matsushige Yutaka, Yo Kimiko, Odagiri Joe, Nakamura Toru (guest star), Emoto Akira (guest star), Emoto Tasuku (guest star), Katsuji Ryo (guest star), Nagayama Kento (guest star)
Synopsis: There is a small eatery ‘Meshiya’ in a back alley of a busy street which is run just by its owner (Kobayashi Kaoru). Called the “midnight eatery”, its opening hours are from midnight to 7 am in the morning. The only items on the menu of are miso soup with pork and vegetables set, beer, sake and shochu. All sorts of customers visit the eatery which is based on the owner’s policy of “making whatever can be done”. The encounters between the owner, food and customers are humorous and at times heartrending.
Website: www.meshiya.tv
Ai Naki Mori de Sakebi
Date: Fall 2019
Network: Netflix Japan
Scriptwriter: Sono Shion (Tokyo Vampire Hotel, Minna ESPer dayo! Series, Jikou Keisatsu Series)
Cast: Shiina Kippei, Mitsushima Shinnosuke, Denden, Hinami Kyoko, Kamataki Eri, Matobu Sei
Synopsis: Murata Jo (Shiina Kippei) is a ruthless criminal. On the surface, he is cheerful and lively. But he emotionally controls other people, milks them for money and makes them commit brutal crimes.
Website: –
Million Joe
Date: From 1.35 a.m., Thursdays, October 2019
Station: TV Tokyo
Scriptwriter: Masaike Yosuke (Miki Clinic de Kanpai o, Zettai Seigi, Miss Sherlock)
Original Work: Million Joe by Juguchi Ryoji
Genre: Comedy suspense
Cast: Kitayama Hiromitsu
Synopsis: Kurei Soichi (Kitayama Hiromitsu) gave up on his dream to be a manga artist and is now the editor in charge of the huge hit manga Million Joe at manga magazine Shukan Shonen Glory’s editorial department. However, he is unmotivated and has no love for the manga. One day, Magata Tsuneo, the eccentric author who created Million Joe, dies all of a sudden. Believing that the widely popular Million Joe, which has avid fans all over the world, cannot be left uncompleted, Kurei hides Magata’s death. He persuades Magata’s trusted chief assistant Terashi Ryota who draws the pictures, and makes a shocking suggestion. They will try to contine the series based on the creative notes that Magata left behind. But will they be able to fool the fans and spin the story with new characters?
Website: www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/millionjoe
Doctor X ~ Gekai Daimon Michiko Season 6
Date: From 9.00 p.m., Thursdays, October 2019
Station: TV Asahi
Scriptwriters: Nakazono Miho (Sego-don, Doctor X Series, Hatsukoi), Hayashi Makoto (Doctor X Seasons 2 – 5, Isan Sozoku Bengoshi Kakizaki Shinichi, Strawberry Night)
Cast: Yonekura Ryoko, Endo Kenichi, Uchida Yuki, Katsumura Masanobu, Suzuki Kosuke, Kishibe Ittoku, Nishida Toshiyuki
Synopsis: Totei University Hospital faces a huge deficit like never before as the medical community is inundated by a host of challenges such as balancing the next generation with an authoritarian generation, and also coexisting with computers and AI close in. An investor Nicholas Tange, with the nickname Vulture, arrives at this “white tower” which is on the verge of bankruptcy. Tange, who is one of the best professionals in the world for corporate restructuring, puts Totei University Hospital on the path to a turnaround as part of his plan. However, this also forces a rationalisation of medical care, and the hospital is faced with the reality of restructuring and cost-cutting. With business now taking top priority, the hospital transforms into a ground for politics and power struggles. Daimon Michiko (Yonekura Ryoko) is summoned by Tange and comes to Totei University Hospital. She fights a solitary battle once again as a new power game intensifies.
Website: www.tv-asahi.co.jp/doctor-x
Related: Doctor X ~ Gekai Daimon Michiko Season 5
Jikou Keisatsu Hajimemashite
Date: From 11.15 p.m., Fridays, October 2019
Station: TV Asahi
Scriptwriter: Miki Satoshi (Atami no Sousakan, Jikou Keisatsu Series)
Genre: Comedy mystery
Cast: Odagiri Joe, Aso Kumiko, Yoshioka Riho, Toyohara Kosuke, Fuse Eri, Eguchi Noriko, Hida Yasuhito, Mitsuishi Ken, Iwamatsu Ryo
Synopsis: Kiriyama Shuichiro (Odagiri Joe) returns to Japan after a 12-year secondment to the FBI in the US, and rejoins the Statute of Limitation Management Division at Sobu Police Precinct. The primary job of this division is to send documents on cases where the statue of limitations have run out to the prosecution, and to manage these investigation materials. However, ever since the statue of limitation was abolished for serious cases such as murders, the division has become more redundant than ever. Kiriyama returns to his old haunt and gets started on his hobby again with his assistant Mikazuki Shizuka (Aso Kumiko). It is to personally investigate cases where the statute of limitation is expiring. He is not particularly concerned about identifying the criminal or the size of the cases. All he wants to do is to make sure his deductions are correct.
Website: www.tv-asahi.co.jp/jikou2019
Top League
Date: October 2019
Network: WOWOW
Scriptwriter: Shinozaki Eriko (Saka no Tochuu no Ie, The Good Wife, Hanzai Shokogun Series)
Original Work: Top League by Aiba Hideo
Cast: Tamayama Tetsuji
Synopsis: Matsuoka Naoki (Tamayama Tetsuji) is a journalist who has worked for the business desk of Daiwa Shimbun, a major Tokyo-based newspaper publisher, for 15 years. One day, he is told that he is being transferred to the political desk for a year. Matsuoka caught the attention of Chief Cabinet Secretary Kondo when he disregarded the rules and posed the question, “What do you think about the safe discovered in a landfill in Minato ward?” at the Chief Cabinet Secretary’s first scheduled briefing. He rises to the top of the league in a flash. Meanwhile, Sakai Yuji, a weekly magazine reporter who used to be Matsuoka’s colleague, has been pursuing the truth of the safe found in the landfill. Then a robbery takes place. The victim is someone whom Sakai had just interviewed regarding the safe. Matsuoka and Sakai have gone along different paths as reporters. However, they meet again after 10 years, and the biggest taboo in the offical residence which rocks the country’s political centre is gradually exposed.
Website: www.wowow.co.jp/dramaw/topleague
TBA
Date: From 10.00 p.m., Sundays, October 2019
Station: TBS
Scriptwriter: Kuroiwa Tsutomu (Maison de Police, Monte Cristo Haku, Kizoku Tantei)
Cast: Kimura Takuya, Suzuki Kyoka
Synopsis: A talented Japanese chef (Kimura Takuya) in French cuisine has devoted his life to food. He opened his own restaurant in Paris and earned two Michelin stars. Hailed as a superstar chef, his confidence has turned into conceit. But no matter how he tries, three Michelin stars are beyond his reach. He feels pressured and up against a wall. At this moment, a serious incident occurs at the restaurant and he ends up losing both the place and his team. While he is feeling at his lowest, he happens to meet a female chef (Suzuki Kyoka) and makes the decision to start over again as a chef. He makes it his goal to create the world’s greatest three Michelin star restaurant and tries to put together the best staff. However, he is spurned by his former colleagues and has problems even though he has found new talent. But he does not give up. He shove unreasonable demands at other people and aims higher himself. The attitudes of the people around him gradually begin to change as they watch him.
Website: www.tbs.co.jp/program/nichiyogekijo201910
Aku no Hadou ~ Satsujin Bunseki-han Spin-off*UPDATED*
Date: From 10.30 p.m., Sundays, 6 October 2019
Network: WOWOW
Scriptwriter: Shimizu Masashi (Mushikago no Jomae, Otoko Meshi)
Original Work: Ishi no Mayu Keishichou Satsujin Bunseki-han by Asami Kazushi
Genre: Crime suspense
Cast: Furukawa Yuki, Sumire
Synopsis: In 2014, a series of murders targeting women takes place in Kawasaki City. All the victims have been killed as if they had hanged and these are dubbed the “Hanging Murders” in public. The police investigation runs into difficulties without clues on the murderer. However, Detective Iguchi from the First Investigation Division, has his eye on a man whom he suspects to kill for pleasure. This man is Nogi Naoya (Furukawa Yuki). He lies about his identity, erases his traces in public and lives as if he is holding his breath. Nogi is actually Yaginuma Masato, the victim in the sensational Akishima mother and son kidnapping case. He gets his neighbour Yoshika (Sumire) involved as he tries to escape the police dragnet but comes to realise some facts. What is his true motive?
Website: www.wowow.co.jp/dramaw/hadou
Related: Ishi no Mayu
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