See Hear Love CM

Summer 2023 Dramas

Homeru Hito Homerareru Hito
Date: From 10.45 p.m., Mondays – Thursdays, 12 June 2023
Station: NHK
Original Work: Homeru Hito Homerareru Hito by Takeda Nozomu
Scriptwriter: Fujiki Mitsuhiko (Saisho wa Paa, Byplayers Series, Asunaro San San Nana Byoushi)
Directors: Okada Ken, Kasaura Tomochika, Tanaka Kenji, Kaji Genichiro
Cast: Morikawa Aoi, Kawasaki Takaya, Noro Kayo, Hayama Shono, Masana Bokuzo, Sekiguchi Mandy, Kanno Rio, Sano Hiroki, Mimura Akari, Shimizu Michiko, Ibu Masato, Hamada Mari, Takemori Sento, Dronzu Ishimoto, Asagaya Shimai
Synopsis: 25-year-old Ichikawa Eiko (Morikawa Aoi) works for the general affairs department. She normally does not get much appreciation even if she does her job properly. But when she makes a slight mistake, she gets thoroughly scolded. A senior colleague Bando Hajime (Kawasaki Takaya) suddenly starts trying to compliment and cheer her up after hearing her dejectedly mutter that she wants to be praised. However, his choice of words are quite unusual such as likening her enthusiasm to the Nebuta Festival. Eiko thought she would not feel happy but strangely enough, his strange compliments start to comfort her and their communication inspires all sorts of miracles in the general affairs department and across the company.
Website: –
Twitter: twitter.com/nhk_dramas

Upcoming Fall 2023 Dramas

Boogie Woogie
Date: From 8.00 a.m., Mondays – Fridays, Fall 2023
Station: NHK
Scriptwriter: Adachi Shin (Hirowareta Otoko, Nusumareta Kao, Itsuka de Tiffany de Choshoku o)
Directors: Fukui Mitsuhiro, Futami Daisuke, Izunami Takamasa
Cast: Shuri, Yanagiba Toshiro, Mizukawa Asami, Tsubasa Kazuki, Shimizu Kurumi, Katayama Yuki, Ihara Rikka, Kikuchi Rinko
Synopsis: The poster girl of a small public bath in an Osaka neighbourhood around the end of the Taisho period, Hanada Suzuko (Shuri) loves singing and dancing. Wanting to make everyone smile through song and dance, she decides to join a newly established musical theatre troupe in Dotonbori. Suzuko practices hard and stands out with her outstanding singing talent. In 1938, she moves up to Tokyo where an encounter with a popular songwriter dramatically alters her destiny. Under his guidance, she becomes popular as the Queen of Swing. But when World War II begins, Suzuko’s situation drastically changes. The songs she had sung are considered the enemy’s music and her singing and dancing are severely restricted. Adding to her troubles, her younger brother is sent to the warfront and their mother Tsuya (Mizukawa Asami) dies of illness. Suzuko falls in love with a young man and they make a commitment to get married. But his family is dead set against their union. By the time the war ends after Japan’s surrender, Suzuko is pregnant with his child. However, he falls ill and she cannot see him. In the final month of her pregnancy, she receives word of his passing. Several days later, Suzuko gives birth to a baby girl. She raises their child on her own while singing on stage. Tokyo Boogie Woogie is born at this time. Bright and natural Suzuko shows her charm, singing with all she has got. This singing voice resounds across the country which has been blighted by the war. She becomes known as the Queen of Boogie and rapidly rises to be a huge star.
Website: –
Twitter: twitter.com/nhk_dramas

0.5 no Otoko

Official Website
www.wowow.co.jp/drama/original/the-0.5

Twitter
twitter.com/drama_wowow

Broadcast
From 10.00 p.m., Sundays, 28 May 2023

Episodes
5

Network
WOWOW

0.5 no Otoko CM

Upcoming Winter 2024 Dramas

Hikaru Kimi e^*UPDATED*
Date: From 8.00 p.m., Sundays, January – December 2024
Station: NHK
Genre: Period
Scriptwriter: Oishi Shizuka (Shiranakute Ii Koto, Ie Uru Onna Series, Dairenai)
Directors: Nakashima Yuki, Sasaki Yoshiharu
Cast: Yoshitaka Yuriko, Emoto Tasuku, Kishitani Goro, Kuninaka Ryoko, Takasugi Mahiro, Danta Yasunori, Mitsuishi Kotono, Iura Arata, Tamaoki Reo, Yoshida Yo, Itaya Yuka, First Summer Uika, Santamaria Yusuke, Kuroki Haru, Takiuchi Kumi, Akiyama Ryuji, Machida Keita, Kanada Satoshi, Watanabe Daichi, Honda Daisuke, Masuoka Toru, Ishino Mako, Hashizume Jun, Sasaki Kuranosuke, Takahata Mitsuki, Mikami Ai, Miura Shohei, Nagayama Kento, Bando Minosuke, Hongo Kanata
Synopsis: Born in the later half of the 10th century to Fujiwara Tametoki (Kishitani Goro), a poet who excelled in waka, Mahiro (Yoshitaka Yuriko) lost her mother Chiyaha (Kuninaka Ryoko) at a young age but she grew up with the love of her father and younger brother (Takasugi Mahiro). While Tametoki was by no means a high-ranking aristocrat, he came from a distinguished family. Mahiro had such a flair for literature that she could remember Chinese classics and waka just by listening to lectures for her brother. One day, she had an encounter with the future Fujiwara Michinaga (Emoto Tasuku), who would become the most powerful man in the land. At that time, he was still hiding in his older brothers’ (Iura Arata, Tamaoki Reo) shadows. As they grew up, Mahiro and Michinaga became attracted to each other. However, the status between the two families and a secret related to her mother’s death cast a pall on their relationship. Mahiro decided to forget about Michinaga and marry Fujiwara Nobutaka (Sasaki Kuranosuke) who was about as old as her father. Although Mahiro bore Nobutaka a daughter, he passed away after one year. Meanwhile, Michinaga schemed to marry his daughters to the emperor and become the grandfather of the next emperor. Learning about this complicated relationship between the emperor, aristocrats, empress and princesses from gossip, fuelled Mahiro’s imagination. She began to write The Tale of Genji. The popular story eventually reached Michinaga’s ears. He invited her to enter the imperial court as a court lady to teach his daughter (Mikami Ai) and suppress his rival. Mahiro decided to do so in order to bring up her daughter. With Michinaga’s support, she continued to write The Tale of Genji which fascinated even the emperor, and she was named after Murasaki no Ue, the heroine of her story.
Website: –
Twitter: twitter.com/nhk_dramas

Last Man ~ Zenmou no Sousakan

Official Website
www.tbs.co.jp/lastman_2023_tbs

Twitter
twitter.com/LASTMAN_tbs

Broadcast
From 9.00 p.m., Sundays, 23 April 2023

Station
TBS

Winter 2025 Dramas

Berabo ~ Tsutajueiga no Yumebanashi^*NEW*
Date: From 8.00 p.m., Sundays, January 2025
Station: NHK
Genre: Period
Scriptwriter: Morishita Yoshiko (Ooku Series (2023), Dakara Watashi wa Oshimashita, Gibou to Musume no Blues Series)
Directors: –
Cast: Yokohama Ryusei
Synopsis: Born to poor commoners in Yoshiwara in the outskirts of Edo, Tsutaya Juzaburo became the adopted child of a tea house after he was separated from his parents at a young age. He started from a rental book business and later began editing and publishing books. Tanuma Okitsugu, who was the man in power at that time, created a liberal environment where Edo culture flourished and produced various literary figures. Tsutaju (Yokohama Ryusei) published a series of hits with the writer Kisanji Hoseido’s illustrated book known as kibyoshi. At the age of 33, Tsutaju set up a store in Nihonbashi’s Toriaburacho and rose to become the king of publishers. He discovered young talents such Kitagawa Utamaro, Katsushika Hokusai and Jippensha Ikku – many of whom would later become great masters and the pillars of Japanese culture. However, the times changed and Tanuma fell from power. With the implementation of the Kansei Reforms by Matsudaira Sadanobu, Tsutaju’s freedom and political satire became a problem. Half of his assets were seized as punishment. Some of the people around him were exiled from Edo or driven to their death. Tsutaju continued to be relentlessly suppressed by the shogunate government even after that. However, he remained anti-establishment and fought on with the power of the written word. In the midst of this, he was afflicted with an illness and as the end of his life drew near, he launched the great entertainment of Sharaku which could never be taken away … …
Website: –
Twitter: twitter.com/nhk_dramas

TV Tokyo Drama Special 2023 ~ Kami no Te

Date: From 8.00 p.m., 15 May 2023
Original Work: Kami no Te by Mochizuki Ryoko
Scriptwriter: Yamamoto Mutsumi (Byouin no Naoshikata Series, Kounodori, Gegege no Nyobo)
Director: Tsukamoto Renpei
Cast: Yoshioka Riho, Otani Ryohei, Iriyama Noriko, Hashimoto Ryosuke, Ichikawa Yui, Sato Megumi, Yamamoto Mirai, Omi Toshinori, Yasuda Ken
Synopsis: Journalist Kibe Michiko (Yoshioka Riho) attends a literary award ceremony where she hears from chief editor Manabe Takejiro (Omi Toshinori) about suspicions that the winning novel Hana no Hito by Hongo Motoko (Yamamoto Mirai) was plagiarised.

Nichiyoubi no Yoru gurai wa

Official Website
www.asahi.co.jp/drama_22_abctv

Twitter
twitter.com/nichigura_abc

Broadcast
From 10.00 p.m., Sundays, 30 April 2023

Station
ABC TV