"Jaa, Anta ga Tsukutte Miro yo It(Ja Tsuku)" (TBS, Tuesdays at 10pm) is a story that begins with the breakup of a "lover-first" girlfriend and a "patriarchal" boyfriend, and is becoming the center of attention among commercial TV dramas. Meanwhile, NHK's nighttime drama "Hirayasumi" (Mondays to Thursdays at 10:45pm) is already gaining popularity, gently depicting the single-story home life of a carefree young part-time worker and an impressionable girl who has moved to Tokyo. Did you know that there is a connection between these two much talked about autumn dramas?
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"Ja Tsuku" tells the story of Yamagishi Ayumi (Kaho), a "lover-first" woman who cooks elaborate meals for her girlfriend, and Ebihara Katsuo (Takeuchi Ryoma), a somewhat rare patriarchal man in the Reiwa era. Katsuo confidently proposes marriage to Ayumi, who rejects him, saying it's impossible. Through the opportunity to "cook," Katsuo reexamines what he takes for granted and grows as a man. The story follows Katsuo's growth since being rejected and Ayumi's determination to reexamine her own self-identity, sparking buzz. The first episode, which aired on October 7th, has been viewed over 6 million times on "TVer," making it the most popular TBS drama of all time, making it the center of attention for the fall drama season.
"Hira Yasumi" tells the story of Hiroto (Okayama Amane), a 29-year-old former actor and part-time worker, and his 18-year-old cousin Natsumi (Mori Nana), who has moved to Tokyo from Yamagata. Hiroto inherited a single-story house in Asagaya, Tokyo, from a nearby grandmother, and the two begin living together with Natsumi, who has moved to Tokyo to attend art school. The story follows the group as people gather around them, each struggling with difficult life issues. Although the series only began airing in the first week of November, its gentle worldview has already garnered support from many viewers and is already generating buzz.
Both of these popular works are based on popular manga. "Jaa Tsuku" is serialized in "Comic Tanto" (Bunkasha) by Natsuko Taniguchi, while "Hirayasumi" is based on the manga of the same name by Keigo Shinzo, which is currently serialized in "Weekly Big Comic Spirits" (Shogakukan).
And, as is well known to those familiar with manga, Taniguchi and Shinzo are also known as a married couple of manga artists. They appeared together on "Kawashima and Yamauchi's Manga Swamp" (Yomiuri TV), which aired in July. They spoke of their respect and consideration for each other as creators, saying, "We only talk about work and praise each other," and "We try not to read each other's work too much." They also revealed that they have a good relationship, with Shinzo drawing a portrait of Taniguchi on display in Taniguchi's workspace and Taniguchi revealing that, unlike Katsuo, who has a tendency to be emotionally abusive, "Shinzo has zero emotional attachment."
It's heartwarming to see the stories of these two couples at the center of attention this fall's dramas. These two dramas, which depict the struggles and growth of everyday life, are sure to resonate with viewers this fall.
