The 110th episode of the NHK Asadora drama "Omusubi " starring Kanna Hashimoto was broadcast on March 7th. The sudden turn of events at the end and the preview of the next week's 23rd episode, "Even if we are apart, we will always be connected," which was released after the main story, drew the attention of viewers.
In the 110th episode, Yui (Hashimoto) and her childhood friend Natsumi ( Shima Tabata), who works in the product development department of the convenience store chain "Fortune Store", develop a lunch box for the elderly, which is recognized by Natsumi's boss, Toyooka (Kumamoto Akitoshi). Yui's abilities are recognized and she is scouted to become a registered dietitian exclusively for the product development department of Fortune Store.
At the end of the episode, a narrator said, "Then, in February of 2020, shocking news came...", and the 110th episode came to a close with a news program reporting that the first cases of COVID-19 had been confirmed in Japan.
The preview for next week, which was released after the main story ended, showed medical workers at Osaka Shin-Yodogawa Memorial Hospital wearing masks and protective clothing as they fought to save lives as patients infected with COVID-19 were brought in. Scenes of Yui bowing her head and saying "I'm really sorry" when asked by her junior Ishida (Yoshida Takeaki) "Yoneda-senpai, are you quitting?", Yui talking to her daughter Hana (Miyazaki Ririsa) over the phone, and Yui embracing Hana as she says "This is an important job for mommy."
On social media, people were saying things like, "Ahhh!!! It's come...the coronavirus pandemic...", "2020 has been a tough year for everyone", "I never imagined they'd even depict the coronavirus pandemic", "Despite the light-hearted, bright face of a gal, it's an incredibly sincere and serious drama", and "I'm sure they'll portray it sincerely."
