It has been revealed that the first episode (broadcast on January 12th) of the ABC TV/TV Asahi drama "Forest" (Sunday 10:15pm), co-starring actors Manami Higa and Iwata Takanori, has been viewed over 2 million times on "TVer" (according to Video Research).
Ikushima Kaede (Higa), who works at a flower gift shop, and Ichinose Jun (Iwata), who runs a dry cleaning shop, are lovers who have been living together for a year. The two lead an ordinary but happy life, but anxiety is always hanging over them like a shadow. This is because they have been telling each other certain "lies". Eventually, that anxiety becomes reality, and the modest happiness built on the "lies" begins to crumble... This is the story. This is the first suspense drama to be aired in this time slot, and the original idea is by Ryui Yukari of "Strawberry Night", and the script is written by Yamaoka Junpei of "Omukae Shibuya-kun".
In the first episode, Kaede (Higa) tells Jun (Iwata) that she has no family, but one day the two receive news of the death of Kaede's mother, who is not supposed to be alive. In fact, Kaede has a mother, Suzuko, who she has been estranged from since she ran away from home three years ago. Suzuko is the president of a famous hotel group, and Kaede is her only daughter. Jun finds out about Kaede's lie, but...
