“Letter to Mom in Heaven,” airs on Thursday, Oct. 1, at noon.
A bittersweet story about a family trying to heal itself after the death of the wife and mother.
Haruki Mizunuma is a workaholic who focused all his energy on his career, leaving the raising of his young son to his wife, Kyoko. But after Kyoko passes away, Haruki is faced with raising his son, who becomes despondent and loses the will to live.
Haruki and Ren visit Kyoko’s hometown to visit her father after the one year anniversary of her death. But Haruki has another motive for the visit. He is searching for the meaning behind the “tree of happiness” Kyoko wrote about in her diary.
“Chasing Moments,” premieres on Saturday, Oct. 11, at 6 p.m.
A thrilling story about love and intertwined relationships.
Alex and Cindy find love and inspiration in each other’s arms. However, when Cindy leaves to study abroad, though devastated, Alex decides he must continue his life and pursue his dreams of becoming a photo journalist. Janice, an older woman, works as an editor-in-chief at a famous tabloid, but her successful career is not mirrored in her personal life. Despite her age gap and social differences their special friendship grows into an unlikely romance. Things get more complicated when Alex learns that Janice is Cindy’s mother!
“The Emperor’s Chef,” premieres on Sunday, Oct. 25, at 9 p.m.
This is based on the true life story of Tokuzo Akiyama, head chef of the Imperial Household Ministry’s Cuisine Division from 1921 to 1989.
As a young boy growing up in the country, Tokuzo tastes a new food and this awakens his awareness and interest in cooking. Tokuzo goes to Tokyo and Paris to pursue the culinary arts.
Fighting against discrimination and prejudice, he becomes a chef at Hotel rits in Paris, the epitome of high society and luxury.
At the young age of 26, he rises to become the Emperor’s Chef in Japan.
“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.
“Oyaji Samurai (NHK),” Sunday at 8 p.m.
Introduce yourself to the series by watching the “Oyaji Samurai Special” on Sept. 13.
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.
“Second Movement” (NHK), Sunday at 9 p.m.
“Second Movement” is 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.
“Investigator Mariko 11,” Monday at 8 p.m.
Crimes today utilize increasingly clever tricks and techniques. The police and crime laboratories must respond to these crimes quickly and with scientific knowledge. The lab must deal with such diverse tasks as analysis of hair, blood type, DNA, voice pattern and handwriting, as well as polygraphs, the reconstruction of facial features, and superimposing. The lab forms the main stage for this drama, which follows a female lab agent as she goes about her work. Mariko Sakaki, the main character, practices forensic medicine at the crime laboratory of the Kyoto Prefecture Police Department.
“Doctor X 3,” Monday at 9 p.m.
The third season of “Doctor X.” Michiko Daimon is a freelance doctor who was dispatched to a university hospital who lost a number of doctors all at once due to harsh work conditions.
She visits an island. Due to an accident by a luxury liner, some of its passengers are injured. Among the injured passengers, she finds Ryonosuke who is an ex-hospital director, and treats his wound.
Later, Ryonosuke is hospitalized at the National Center for Advanced Medical Care. He has suffered from a cardiac tumor and hepatocellular carcinoma. At the conference for Ryonosuke’s upcoming surgery, two factions of the National Center for Advanced Medical Care have an intense argument over his surgery. Michiko suddenly appears at the warlike conference and tells them that Ryonosuke is her patient.
“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.
“Behind the Noren (Fuji),” Tuesday at 9 p.m.
“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, the madam of an old-style Japanese inn (ryokan) and her new daughter-in-law, that go on behind the curtain.
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.
“The Tempest” (NHK), Thursday at 8 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 step-brother goes missing, Mazuru disguises herself as a Eunuch in order to fulfil 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.
“Partners 11,” Thursday at 9 p.m.
The 11th season of this popular detective series.
Detective, Ukyo Sugishita, has great insight and cunning skills. His partner, Takeru Kanbe, is cool and confident. Together they solve many mysterious crimes.
“My Prince” (Yomiuri TV), Friday at 8 p.m.
Takako Hara has a history of failed romances and is resigned to a life of loneliness. At only 32, she is convinced she will be alone the rest of the her life.
That is, until Koutarou Ozu comes to teach at her school.
Although Takako is seven years older than Koutaro, she finds herself falling for him. What happens when she learns he is already engaged to be married?
“Japan’s Local Secrets,” Friday at 9 p.m. and 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.
