The fourth episode of the drama series " Taigan no Kaji ~Kore ga, Watashi no Ikiru Michi~ " (TBS, Tuesdays at 10pm), starring actress Mikako Tabe , aired on April 22nd. The character of working mother Nagano Reiko, played by Noriko Eguchi Noriko, became a hot topic on social media.
◇The following contains spoilers
When a female colleague approached her and asked, "I heard you had a hard time with your child's illness the other day," Reiko apologized, saying, "I'm sorry for causing you so much trouble." When she replied, "Don't worry about it. Raising a child is hard, isn't it?" Reiko replied frankly, "It is hard, but children are so cute," and shared her own thoughts, saying, "If there is anyone out there who wants to have a child, I want to support them."
Later, in the bathroom, the colleague who had been talking to Reiko started complaining to another colleague, "Sorry, but I haven't even gotten married, let alone given birth."
"I don't think she meant any harm, but doesn't it come across as a bit arrogant? I felt like she was pressuring us to have children. People with the wealth, like Reiko, lose all consideration for people like us who don't have it."
Reiko, who was in the same bathroom, happened to hear the harsh words directed at her and became completely depressed.
At night, when Reiko went out onto the balcony, she happened to see Shiho (Tabe) on the balcony next door. Reiko let Shiho know that she was having a hard time with people, and began to talk, "My colleagues thought I was a rich person. They thought I was arrogant because I had money."
"They don't know how exhausting it is to get to work every morning. Or how they have to sprint from the office to the station to make it in time to pick up their kids. Children are not just cute. Everyone who has children knows that. But they don't understand. I know they don't mean any harm."
Venting her frustrated feelings, Reiko said, "Oh, I'd like to go for yakiniku after work too! I'd like to treat myself to a massage or go to the movies. From my perspective, I think those people are more fortunate. They have the freedom to spend time on themselves."
On social media, people were posting comments such as, "It's tough for Reiko to hear her colleague complaining about her in the bathroom," "Reiko's story is so true! A mad dash to pick up her child. But it's true that there are some things that only the people involved can understand," "The story of the 'haves' and the 'have-nots' is thought-provoking. It's best not to easily envy or feel sorry for others," and "The haves and the have-nots, everyone is greedy, but it's tough for adults too," and the story became a hot topic.
The film is based on the novel "Taigan no Kaji" (Housework on the Other Side) by Kiko Akano (published by Kodansha Bunko). It depicts the "endless work" of housework through the protagonist's interactions with "people on the other side" who have different positions and ways of thinking than her.
