“Doctors (TV Asahi),” premieres on Monday, May 18, at 9 p.m.
Kousuke Sagara is a highly skilled surgeon working at a corrupt hospital. There is a kind side to Kousuke that is evident in his dealings with his patients, but behind his skill and kindness lies a mysterious dark side.
“The Vulture (NHK),” premieres on Sunday, May 24, at 8 p.m.
The Vulture is a drama set in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, when the bubble economy collapsed. It depicts the ambitions, struggles, and hopes of those involved in corporate acquisitions.
Masahiko Washizu is a businessman who once worked for a Japanese bank. After working in New York as a fund manager, he returns to Tokyo from New York to buy out Japanese businesses, earning him the nickname “The Vulture.”
“Paper Moon,” premieres on Monday, May 25, at 8 p.m.
A five-part drama about a woman who goes from being a trusted bank officer to a woman on the run. Rika Umezawa works at a bank, where she assists the bank’s customers with their transactions. She is especially sensitive to the needs of the bank’s elderly customers, and builds a strong level of trust with her clients. One of her customers is Kozo Hirabayashi, a wealthy property owner, who becomes infatuated with Rika.
After two years, Rika is now on the run, having left Japan with 100 million yen. Does Kozo Hirabayashi have anything to do with the money? Is Rika a thief or is she safeguarding the money for someone?
“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.
“Let It Be 2,” Sunday 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.
“Behind the Noren,” Sunday at 9 p.m.
This is a drama about the fiery relationship between the madam of an old-style Japanese inn and her new daughter-in-law, a former career woman.
Naoko, a career woman working in Tokyo, marries the eldest son of a family that owns a distinguished traditional inn in Kanazawa. Naoko’s new mother-in-law, Shino, views her as an outsider and refuses to accept her.
However, when Naoko’s husband Sosuke abruptly disappears one day, leaving behind a large debt, Naoko tells Shino about her plan to work at the inn to pay off Sosuke’s debts.
“Noren” is the short curtain often seen hanging at the entrance to a Japanese business. This is a family drama about the laughs, tears, and battles between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law that go on behind the curtain.
“A Bright Tomorrow (Hanasaku Ashita),” Monday at 8 p.m.
In this NHK comedy, a mother who abandoned her five children comes waltzing back into their lives more than 20 years later. The siblings still live in their family home in Kamakura, and each is dealing with his or her own daily challenges. Does their mother’s return ease or further complicate their already complicated lives?
“Do You Remember Me?,” Monday 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.
“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.
“The Interrogator,” (from TV Asahi) Thursday at 9 p.m.
Yukiko Makabe is the only female interrogator in a department full of men. Their job is to question suspects immediately after a crime, using interrogation skills and psycho-analysis to solve crimes.
As the only female in the department, Yukiko has a different perspective and style from her colleagues. This brings her success in her interrogations of suspects, but Yukiko continues to be troubled by an unsolved cold case from years ago.
“Fat Detective 2,” Friday at 8 p.m.
Season 2! Taro Hanazawa has been on the police force for 20 years, but while all of the other recruits in his class have been promoted, Taro still works at the neighborhood koban (community police station). It’s not because he’s a bad cop; on the contrary, Taro is an excellent police officer. But Taro weighs nearly 250 pounds, which makes it difficult for him to chase down criminals, and even harder for his superiors to take him seriously. That is . . . until Chief of Investigation First Division Reiko Nishikori observes Taro’s keen police skills in action and taps him to join her squad. Will Taro be able to keep up with the other detectives? Or will his investigative skills leave the other detectives chasing after him?
“Fishermen’s Pride (from Sapporo TV),” Friday at 9 p.m.
Early each morning, the fishermen of Hokkaido set out for the open ocean. Crab, shrimp, salmon, and many other seafood delicacies are found in the waters around Hokkaido and eventually make their way to tables in other parts of Japan.
But before the bounty can be enjoyed on those tables, it is savored in the homes of the Hokkaido fishermen using recipes handed down for countless generations.
Experience the pride of Hokkaido’s fishermen in this ocean-to-table series highlighting the seafoods of Hokkaido.
