Mai Agare!
Date: From 8.00 a.m., Mondays – Fridays, second half 2022
Station: NHK
Scriptwriter: Kuwahara Ryoko (Kokoro no Kizu o Iyasu to iu Koto, Kanojo ga Joubutsu Dekinai Riyuu)
Directors: Tanaka Tadashi, Noda Yusuke, Kotani Takayoshi, Oshima Keisuke, Matsuki Kensuke
Cast: Fukuhara Haruka, Takahashi Katsunori, Nagasaku Hiromi, Yokoyama Yu, Takahata Atsuko, Akaso Eiji, Yamashita Mizuki, Yamaguchi Tomomitsu, Kuwabata Rie, Furutachi Kanji, Matayoshi Naoki, Matsuo Satoru, Takuma Seiko, Aikawa Sho, Suzuki Kosuke, Nagahama Neru
Synopsis: Iwakura Mai (Fukuhara Haruka) lives with her parents Kota (Takahashi Katsunori) and Megumi (Nagasaku Hiromi) and older brother Haruto (Yokoyama Yu). Her father Kota runs a small factory in Higashi Osaka, a district that is known for its craftsmen. Mai is shy and withdrawn. But when she visits her grandmother Shoko (Takahata Atsuko) who lives on Nagasaki’s Goto Islands which has a rich natural environment, she is entranced by the Baramon kites that catch the wind and soar high in the sky. Wanting to fly high in the sky like these kites, Mai’s longing swells into a dream to become a pilot. Even though she works hard, the path to getting there is tougher than she had imagined. As Mai deepens her ties with the people living in her two hometowns of Higashi Osaka and Goto, her dream eventually takes a new form. She gathers enthusiastic friends to build a small electric plane that can fly to and from the islands. Her dream becomes a wing that carries everyone’s dreams and takes off
Website: –
Twitter: twitter.com/nhk_dramas
Kimi no Hana ni Naru
Date: From 10.00 p.m., Tuesdays, October 2022
Station: TBS
Scriptwriter: Yoshida Erika (Koisenu Futari, 30-sai made Dotei da to Mahotsukai ni Narerurashii, Heaven? Gokuraku Restaurant)
Director: Tsuboi Toshio
Cast: Honda Tsubasa, Takahashi Fumiya, Miyase Ryubi, Tsuna Keito, Hachimura Rintaro, Mori Shuto, NOA, Yamashita Koki
Synopsis: As her name suggests, 30-year-old Nakamachi Asuka (Honda Tsubasa) constantly shines brightly. She fulfilled her childhood dream of becoming a teacher. But something caused a setback and turned her into a social recluse. After three years spent bunking in at her older sister’s house and being out of work, Asuka is suddenly thrust into the role of a live-in dormitory matron to a handsome seven-member boy group 8LOOM (Takahashi Fumiya, Miyase Ryubi, Tsuna Keito, Hachimura Rintaro, Mori Shuto, NOA, Yamashita Koki) who want to become top artistes. This also leads to an unexpected reunion with a former student Sagami Dan (Takahashi Fumiya) whose dream she had supported. Asuka is busy cooking, cleaning and doing the laundry for them every day. Dan soon declares that he will take her to a world she has never seen. Asuka’s heart skips a beat each time he shines on stage. As she watches Dan strive for his dream as the group’s leader, this rekindles the passion she had at the time she was a teacher and she begins confronting her own setback.
Website: www.tbs.co.jp/kiminohananinaru_tbs
Twitter: twitter.com/kimihana_tbs
The Travel Nurse*NEW*
Date: From 9.00 p.m., Thursdays, October 2022
Station: TV Asahi
Genre: Medical
Scriptwriter: Nakazono Miho (Doctor X Series, 7-nin no Hisho, Haken no Hinkaku Series)
Directors: Kanai Hiro, Katayama Osamu, Yamada Hayato
Cast: Okada Masaki, Nakai Kiichi
Synopsis: Nasuda Ayumi (Okada Masaki) is a young travel nurse who gives a bad first impression. In fact, he had been an excellent nurse practitioner in the US. He has qualifications to carry out certain medical procedures and assist doctors in surgeries. However, some circumstances trigger his return to Japan where nurse practitioners are relatively unknown and nurses are still expected to do what doctors order. Ayumi ends up working at Amano General Medical Centre where he encounters a mysterious, legendary nurse Kuki Shizuka (Nakai Kiichi) who will become his partner. Shizuka cleans “quietly” just like his name suggests and gets mistaken for a cleaner by the hospital staff including Ayumi. But he is actually a super nurse with boggling skills. Although Shizuka does not defy doctors and is too soft, when it comes to the crunch, he would boldly take decisive action with scathing words. He is quite a “liar” and has a huge secret? With their respective skills and philosophies, Ayumi and Shizuka are different types of unsung nurses who repulse each other but also collaborate to slowly bring about changes in not only the patients but also the healthcare professionals around them.
Website: www.tv-asahi.co.jp/the_travelnurse
Twitter: twitter.com/the_travelnurse
Doronjo
Date: Fall 2022
Network: WOWOW
Original Work: Time Bokan Series Yatterman
Scriptwriters: Kiyasu Kohei (Murai no Koi, Denei Shojo Series), Naito Eisuke, Oshio Satoshi, Sato Midori
Directors: Naito Eisuke, Yoko Hatsuki
Cast: Ikeda Eliza
Synopsis: Dorokawa Nao (Ikeda Eliza) who later became Doronjo has been exploited as if she were a fighting tool in a poor and harsh environment. She cuts a beautifully lonely figure who struggles to live despite the circumstances she has been placed in. The only way she can demonstrate her worth is on the battleground of real intense physical fights with fellow combatants. A series of devastating tragedies befalls her. What led Doronjo to turn to evil?
Website: www.wowow.co.jp/drama/original/doronjo
Twitter: twitter.com/drama_wowow
First Love Hatsukoi
Date: From 24 November 2022
Network: Netflix Japan
Genre: Romance
Inspiration: First Love & Hatsukoi by Utada Hikaru
Scriptwriter: Kanchiku Yuri
Director: Kanchiku Yuri
Cast: Mitsushima Hikari, Sato Takeru, Kaho, Minami, Nakao Akiyoshi, Araki Towa, Aoi Yamada, Hamada Gaku, Mukai Osamu, Iura Arata, Koizumi Kyoko
Synopsis: A couple meet their first love in the late 1990’s, grow up in the 2000’s, and ultimately lead up to the present day as they discover what had made their relationship unforgettable even though more than 20 years have passed. Noguchi Yae (Mitsushima Hikari) wants to be a flight attendant but is thwarted by fate due to an unexpected accident. Namiki Harumichi (Sato Takeru) became a pilot with the Japan Air Self-Defence Force but is no longer pursuing that career path.
Website: –
Shylock no Kodomotachi
Date: From October 2022
Station: WOWOW
Original Work: Shylock no Kodomotachi by Ikeido Jun
Scriptwriter: Maekawa Yoichi (Kareinaru Ichizoku, Tetsu no Hone (2020), Lady Joker)
Director: Suzuki Kosuke
Cast: Inohara Yoshihiko
Synopsis: Tokyo Daiichi Bank’s Nagahara Branch is a small branch which has dealings mainly with micro, small and medium enterprises. Its staff include deputy section chief Nishiki Masahiro (Inohara Yoshihiko) who has been sidelined from the career track; a serious female employee who supports her family; the elite branch manager who is a strategist; and the assistant branch manager who will not shy from harassing subordinates to make sure they perform. Each one of them have their own circumstances and troubles. One day, it is discovered that 1 million yen in cash is missing from Nagahara Branch. Although the female employee is suspected to be the culprit, Nishiki who was supposed to pursue the matter suddenly vanishes. The two mysteries of the missing cash and Nishiki’s disappearing act as well as the stories of the branch employees start to intersect. The wrongdoing behind the missing cash and the shocking truth of his disappearance eventually come to light.
Website: www.wowow.co.jp/drama/original/shylock
Twitter: twitter.com/drama_wowow
© jdramas.wordpress.com.