Kanryoutachi no Natsu

02Jul09

Official Website
http://www.tbs.co.jp/kanryou09/

Broadcast
Sundays, 9.00 – 9.54 p.m. from 5 July 2009

Station
TBS

Story
The Ministry of International Trade and Industry bureaucrats of the 1960s are discussing how to develop domestic industries such as the automotive and electronic products, which are still unable to compete internationally, to a high degree. Should they be exposed to fierce competition from foreign companies, or should they be protected? These are also problems faced by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry but … the hard work and achievements of one domestic manufacturer after another are revived together with Japanese society of those days. The image of Ministry of International Trade and Industry bureaucrats filled with a burning sense of mission to transform Japan into an affluent country on equal footing with the United States and countries of Europe, centres around the ministry’s vice minister, Kazakoshi Shingo, a high-ranking government official who did not take a job in the private sector.

Characters
Sato Koichi as Kazakoshi Shingo
Head of the Automobile Division, Heavy Industries Bureau. Born in Ibaraki prefecture in 1913. He attended Tokyo University’s faculty of law and joined the Ministry of International Trade and Industry’s predecessor, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in 1935. He selflessly makes every effort for the sake of national development and because he is an unconventional official who transcends the government framework and gives advice to other ministries, he is called “Mr International Trade and Industry” even by heavyweight politicians. He provides strong leadership and is a unifying force.

Sakai Masato as Niwano Takahisa
Assistant to the head of the Petroleum Division, Mining Bureau. Born in Yamagata prefecture in 1919. He attended Tokyo University’s faculty of law and joined the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in 1941. Brought up in a poor family involved in the wood industry, he is a member of the “industry faction” and works together with Kazakoshi who advocates the protection of domestic industries. Kazakoshi regards him as a man of talent who will play a part in the future of the ministry.

Takahashi Katsumi as Ayukawa Kotaro
Head of the Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Division. Born in Saga prefecture in 1916. He worked his way through commercial high school and graduated from Tokyo University’s faculty of law. In 1938, he joined the Ministry of International Trade and Industry. A member of the “industry faction”, he empathises with small and medium businesses and ailing enterprises. His nickname is “Grease” because he does his best to bring cases and issues under control. He supports Kazakoshi both openly and secretly.

Sano Shiro as Nishimaru Kenji
A journalist with Tokyo Keizai Shimbun. He possesses a sharp, critical eye and intently watches the proceedings at the Ministry of International Trade and Industry without fear. He has written many scathing articles on Kazakoshi, but on the other hand, he respects Kazakoshi for dedicating his work to domestic industries. He is superb at interviewing and information gathering, and is also familiar with the situation in politics. He gives Kazakoshi valuable information.

Fukuishi Kazue as Yamamoto Mayu
Born in Tokyo in 1934. After graduating at top of Tokyo University’s faculty of economics, she joined the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in 1956. The first female career elite hired by the ministry in a bold decision by Kazakoshi. Diligent and full of vitality. She holds Kazakoshi, who strives and works vigorously for his ideals, in high esteem.

Takahashi Katsunori as Katayama Taisuke
Assistant to the head of the Forex Division, Trade Bureau. Born in Tokyo in 1921. He completed elementary and junior high school two years earlier than others and was a bright student who graduated from Tokyo University’s faculty of law. In 1941, he joined the Ministry of International Trade and Industry at the same time as Niwano, who is two years his senior. A member of the “trade faction”, who is familiar with the global economy, he is highly esteemed for the articles he contributes to the ministry’s internal newsletter and faces off Kazakoshi with a Westernised, individualistic attitude. He works together with Tamaki also of the “trade faction”.

Funakoshi Eiichiro as Tamaki Hirofumi
Head of the Trade Policy Bureau. Born in Yamanashi prefecture in 1913. He graduated from Tokyo University’s faculty of law and joined the Ministry of International Trade and Industry’s predecessor, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in 1935. He and Kazakoshi, who joined in the same year, have been good rivals since their school days and as a candidate for the vice-ministerial position, he is compared with Kazakoshi within the Ministry. Because his pet theory is to “nurture enterprises with international competition” and he supports trade liberalisation, his perspective conflicts with Kazakoshi who belongs to the “industry faction” that advocates protected trade

Kitaoji Kinya as Ikeuchi Nobuto
A political heavyweight who leads the largest faction within the ruling Democratic Liberal Party. A former official from the Ministry of Finance, he first ran for elections in 1949 and was elected. In his first year as a lawmaker, he was selected as the the Minister of Finance, and in the following year, he assumed another post as the Minister of International Trade and Industry. He originally had the views of the “trade faction” and clashed ideologically with Kazakoshi, but he identifies with Kazakoshi’s chivalry and pays attention to his movements.

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