Ranman
Date: From 8.00 a.m., Mondays – Fridays, April 2023
Station: NHK
Scriptwriter: Osada Ikue (Gunjo Ryouiki, Sugu Shinun Dakara)
Directors: Watanabe Yoshio, Tsuda Atsuko
Cast: Kamiki Ryunosuke, Hamabe Minami, Shison Jun, Sakuma Yui, Kasamatsu Sho, Nakamura Riho, Shimazaki Wakako, Terawaki Yasufumi, Hirosue Ryoko, Matsuzaka Keiko
Synopsis: A long-awaited baby boy was born at the end of the Edo Period in 1862 to a wealthy merchant family that runs a brewing business in Kochi Prefecture. He would later become the gifted botanist Makino Mantaro (Kamiki Ryunosuke). Raised by his grandmother Taki (Matsuzaka Keiko) after his parents passed away when he was young, Mantaro loves plants for some reason and adults consider him a curious child. When he is older, Mantaro goes up to Tokyo for the National Industrial Exposition in Ueno. He gets to meet natural historians whom he admires and see precious plants from every region of the country as well as rare plants from overseas. This experience ignites his passion for botany and desire to identify all plants in Japan. Mantaro starts working as an assistant at Tokyo Imperial University’s Department of Botany where he immerses in research. He discovers one new species after another and gives them scientific names. In addition, he falls head over heels in love with Sueko (Hamabe Minami) whose mother runs a confectionary store. They get married and enjoy a happy life blessed with children. However, Mantaro has to deal with harassment by a group of professors who are jealous of his achievements. He also has to go through a rough time including being underpaid because he has no academic qualifications. Despite these challenges, he never loses his passion and single-mindedly presses on for the sake of the plants he loves and his dream of compiling a picture book of plans unique to Japan.
Website: –
Twitter: twitter.com/nhk_dramas
Nagatan to Aoto ~ Ichika no Ryouricho*NEW*
Date: Spring 2023
Network: WOWOW
Episodes: 10
Original Work: Nagatan to Aoto ~ Ichika no Ryouricho by Isoya Yuki
Scriptwriters: Kawasaki Izumi (Saihate kara Toho 5-hun, Hankei 5 metres, Nibun no Ichi Fuufu), Yuge Isamu
Director: Matsumoto Soushi
Cast: –
Synopsis: 34-year-old Ichika’s family runs an established traditional Japanese restaurant in post-war Kyoto. She lost her husband in the war and spends her days working as a chef in a hotel kitchen. One day, she decides to strike it out on her own in the world of Western cuisine but her family’s restaurant faces financial difficulties as the number of customers continue to decline after the war. Marriage with the Yamaguchis, a family that owns hotel(s) in Osaka, is raised in order to save the restaurant. However, the prospective groom turns out to be a 19-year-old university student called Amane! With his outspoken nature, Amane’s interactions with Ichika can best be described as volatile. Nevertheless, she commits to this marriage of convenience for the sake of the restaurant. This is the start of a testy marriage and process of turning around the restaurant’s business.
Website: www.wowow.co.jp/drama/original/nagatantoaoto
Twitter: twitter.com/drama_wowow
Grace no Reriki
Date: From 10.00 p.m., Sundays, 19 March 2023
Station: NHK BS Premium
Episodes: 8
Scriptwriter: Minamoto Takashi (Liquid, Kamisama no Boat)
Director: Minamoto Takashi
Cast: Takito Kenichi, Ono Machiko
Synopsis: Hasumi Kikuo (Takito Kenichi) lost his wife Minako (Ono Machiko) in a sudden accident and is left with her beloved car named Grace. After finding far-flung places in the car navigation records which were not part of her routine, he suspects that she was unfaithful and sets out on a journey to trace her routes and unravel the mystery. As he goes to Fujisawa, Matsumoto, Omi Hachiman, Onomichi, Matsuyama, Kikuo digs up the past that he had sealed off everywhere he goes and also starts to perceive Minako’s feelings.
Website: –
Twitter: twitter.com/nhk_dramas
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