“Let It Be 2,” premieres on Sunday, March 15, at 8 p.m.
The story continues from the previous season, with Eri and Makoto now staying at a nearby mansion and commuting to the restaurant daily. With Yoko busy with her studies and Sho with his job as an illustrator, Aya has to hire new staff. Asking her sister Kuni to help in recruiting, Aya employs Kyoko Nakano, a girl with an attitude problem, and she moves into Eri’s old room.
One day, Yoko receives news that she has been accepted into a university in Kyoto. In the midst of everyone happily cheering, an elderly woman named Tatsu takes the opportunity to try and leave the cafe without paying. She was stopped in time, but claiming to be homeless and penniless, she requests to pay off her bill by working at the cafe. Sensing that there is more to her story, Daigo offers her to stay at their home, and thus begins her journey as a live-in employee of “Aya.” Tatsu is an outspoken woman and she doesn’t hesitate to tell Kyoko off for her sloppy attire and bad attitude. Although Kyoko couldn’t stand her at first, she soon has a change of heart as she begins to realize that Tatsu is only doing all of it for her own good.
Harmony is once again restored at “Aya’s,” but it is short-lived. Sho brings his junior from college, Ryo Okumura, to work at the cafe. Like Sho, Ryo had also quit college halfway through. Since his parents have apparently abandoned him, and with no job nor money, he too starts to work at the cafe. Ryo is a typical youth of today; loud clothes, dyed blonde hair with pink highlights and a couldn’t-care-less attitude. Aya and all the staff are all in for a surprise.
“Do You Remember Me?,” premieres on Monday, March 23, at 9 p.m.
A suspense drama about five former school classmates who are reunited after each of them receives a mysterious email. The email is from a classmate who disappeared on a school trip over 20 years ago. Who sent the email? And why?
As the five classmates try to investigate the source of the email, bad luck and misfortunes begin to occur.
“Legacy,” Sunday at 5 p.m.
The CEO of The Legacy Corporation dies leaving three daughters behind. They bicker and argue over their father’s wealth and leadership of the Legacy Corporation. With each daughter claiming to be the rightful heir, only one can be chosen; only one will be recognized as Legacy Corporation’s undisputed leader.
“Doctor X 2,” Sunday at 8 p.m.
Michiko Daimon is a freelance doctor. She was dispatched to a university hospital that lost a number of doctors all at once because of harsh work conditions. When Michiko arrives at the hospital dressed like a fashion model, other doctors cannot hide their surprise. But more than her appearance, it is what she does in the hospital that creates a major stir.
“The Tempest,” Sunday at 9 p.m.
The Tempest is a samurai drama set in the 19th Century during the reign of the Ryukyu Kingdom. Women were not allowed formal education, but Mazuru is a young woman with a desire to complete her studies despite gender restrictions.
When her stepbrother goes missing, Mazuru disguises herself as a Eunuch in order to fulfill her dreams of education, and ends up passing the exam to become a royal government official.
In this drama, Yukie Nakama plays the roles of both the female and male characters.
Starring Yukie Nakama, Yuka Itaya, Takashi Tsukamoto and Saki Takaoka.
“Kuru Kuru Japan,” Monday at 6:30 p.m.
Delicious foods of Japan. Cultured salmon in Tottori, bonito cuisine in
Kagoshima and more!
“Soko ga Shiritai,” Monday through Friday at 7 p.m.
The wildly popular docu-tainment/info-logue that takes you all over Japan seeking out everything from customs, to food and all things interesting. Satisfy your need to know!
“I’ll Still Love You in 10 Years,” Monday at 8 p.m.
A romantic drama about a woman unlucky in love. One day, Rika notices a man shadowing her. He tells her he is her husband from 10 years in the future, but that he has slipped back in time to prevent their marriage.
Why did he come back in time to prevent their marriage? What reason could there be that Hiroshi would travel back in time to undo Rika’s happiness?
“Second Movement,” Monday at 9 p.m.
A drama involving two women who are violinists in an orchestra. One of them, Natsumi, gets pregnant and gives up the violin, and marries a cellist in the orchestra. The other woman, Mari, rises in popularity and soon becomes a solo violinist. The two women meet again by chance 17 years later. As they reconnect and share what’s happened in their lives, both find themselves envying the other’s path in life.
“Hana Moyu,” Tuesday at 8 p.m.
Hana Moyu means “burning flower,” and refers to the life of the main character, Fumi Sugi.
Fumi was the younger sister of Shoin Yoshida, who was well-known for inspiring leaders in the Meiji restoration. They were part of the Choshu clan from Satsuma Prefecture, which is the birthplace of many of Japan’s political leaders. Fumi was a strong supporter of her brother and his philosophies, and much of the Choshu clan’s success can be attributed to the foundation laid by Shoin and Fumi.
Playing the heroine Fumi is Mao Inoue, one of Japan’s up and coming actresses. “Hana Moyu” is the 54th Taiga drama from NHK.
“Oyaji Samurai,” Tuesday at 9 p.m.
“Oyaji Samurai” is about Kotoji Akame, a shabby, middle-aged, low-ranking samurai of small stature. Oyaji means “older man,” but the actual title of this drama is “Yoidore Kotoji,” which translates into “drunken samurai (or drunken Kotoji).” Kotoji’s drinking often gets him into trouble.
One day, after drinking too much alcohol in a drinking contest, Kotoji fails to perform a major duty for his lord. As a result, he is released from service and becomes a wandering samurai. To avenge his lord, Kotoji comes up with a scheme to steal the lances (spears) that are the symbols of prestige for traveling processions of feudal families. He steals the lances of several families, which creates an unlikely alliance amongst them as they scheme to avenge their losses.
In the series, Kotoji’s desire to settle down and spend the rest of his days quietly continues to be disrupted by samurai seeking revenge for the stolen lances.
And as Kotoji finds himself picking up the sword again, he also deals with love and raising a child for the first time in his life, and begins to find a new meaning in life.
“Partners 10,” Thursday at 8 p.m.
Season 10! Detective, Ukyo Sugishita, has great insight and cunning skills. His partner, Takeru Kanbe, is cool and confident. Together they solve many mysterious crimes.
Starring Yutaka Mizutani, Mitsuhiro Oikawa, Ikue Masudo, Seiji Rokkaku, Kazuhisa Kawahara, Ryosuke Otani and Atsushi Yamanishi.
“Omiya-san 7,” Friday at 8 p.m.
Watase Tsunehiko plays the role of Torii Kazaburo, a detective who’s stuck in the data division of the Kyoto East Kamogawa station. He has the knack for solving cases that have turned up cold. His innocent looks hide a superior intellect that can store the details of old case files and help solve the unsolvable. You can’t hide anything from Watase-san!
“Japan’s Local Secrets,” Friday at 9 p.m.; repeats on Saturday at 8 p.m.
Although Japan is a relatively small country geographically, each prefecture has its own traditions, dialects, and . . . foods!!! This program takes us to the secret places throughout Japan known to the people of the area and introduces us to things unique to each place.
“Partners 9,” Saturday at 7 p.m.
Season 9! Detective, Ukyo Sugishita, has great insight and cunning skills. His partner, Takeru Kanbe, is cool and confident. Together they solve many mysterious crimes.
