The 111th episode of the NHK Asadora drama "Omusubi " starring Kanna Hashimoto (General TV, Monday to Saturday 8:00 am and others) was broadcast on March 10. The episode marked the 23rd week of the series, which depicts the COVID-19 pandemic, and drew a variety of reactions from viewers who were reminded of that time.
In episode 111, as the first cases of COVID-19 infection are confirmed in Japan, Yui (Hashimoto) is unsure how to respond to her friend Natsumi ( Shima Tabata)'s invitation to develop a convenience store bento lunch box.
Meanwhile, Ayumi (Riisa Naka) is preparing for a spring fashion event with Yuma (Wataru Ichinose) and others in order to promote her own brand, and Masato (Kitamura Yukiya) is also excited about participating in a barber's skills competition to be held in May.
However, in Japan, vigilance against the new coronavirus is on the rise, and more people are wearing masks. At the end of February, the government requested people to refrain from holding large events, and requested the cancellation of events and temporary closure of elementary, junior high, and high schools nationwide.
As the number of infected people continues to increase day by day, the hospital where Yui works also begins preparations to accept coronavirus patients. A part of the ward floor is designated as an infection-only area, and a process called "zoning" is carried out, with positive spaces designated as red zones, areas where medical staff take off their protective clothing designated as yellow zones, and the rest as green zones.
The characters in the drama also appeared wearing masks, and comments on social media included, "I don't think there are many other dramas that so realistically recreate the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic," "The beginning of the long and painful COVID-19 pandemic was depicted gradually, and the tension really came through," "The images of the actors acting while wearing masks were powerful," and "I remember running around buying masks everywhere."
