With the start of a new year, it's time for winter drama series to begin one after the other. One of my recommendations for this winter's dramas is "Kyotojin no Hisokana Tanoshimi Rouge - Keisho" (Sundays at 10pm, 9 episodes), which will begin airing on NHK BS and BS Premium 4K from January 4th. Many people may recognize the series just by hearing the title "Kyotojin no Hisokana Tanoshimi." This is the latest installment in the "Kyotojin no Hisokana Tanoshimi" series, which has a passionate fan base. I'll explain why I recommend it in a few points.
◇The latest installment of the "Kyoto People's Secret Pleasures"
"The Secret Pleasures of Kyoto People" was a drama and documentary that was broadcast five times at irregular intervals between January 2015 and May 2017. Through the drama and documentary, it introduces a glimpse into the lifestyle and culture of "Kyoto people," a side of life that you would never be able to see just by visiting Kyoto as a tourist. Perhaps this would not have been possible with just drama or documentary alone. By combining non-fiction and fiction, it is a program that makes you feel like you are getting a glimpse into the true faces of "Kyoto people," which are rarely seen.
The drama revolves around Sawafuji Sanya (Tokiwa Takako), the beautiful young proprietress of Kuraya Harunobu, a long-established Japanese confectionery shop in Kyoto. Edward Heathrow (Takako Tokiwa Tokiro), a professor of cultural anthropology at Rakushisha University who lives near the shop, is so interested in Kyoto culture that he begins to "observe" Sanya's daily life, which seems to embody it. Heathrow serves as the viewer's point of view, and with Heathrow's guidance, viewers are naturally drawn into the world of the drama and Kyoto culture.
Sanya continues to turn down arranged marriage proposals brought to her by her mother, the proprietress, Tsuruko (Ginpocho). Not only Heathrow but everyone in the community is curious as to why the beautiful young proprietress, played by Tokiwa, lives a modest life. One reason for this, which gradually becomes clear as the drama progresses, is that she intends to follow her father's will and have Seitetsu take over the business. Seitetsu is the illegitimate son of her late father and a geisha from Gion. Following the death of his mother, he has now become a monk and takes the name Seitetsu. The drama unfolds with a touch of humor, as Heathrow sees Sanya secretly meet with Seitetsu and persuades him to take over the business, mistaking him for her secret love interest.
Between the main drama, there were documentaries on the work of Kyoto artisans and how to make obanzai, as well as mini-dramas featuring Heathrow students, making for a packed program of about two hours each.
The five-episode series "Kyoto People's Secret Pleasures" tells the story of Mihachiko, who had given up on marriage because her former love interest, Mikami Takeru (played by Kanji Ishimaru), who lives in Paris, was already married. However, upon learning that the man's wife had passed away, she heads to Paris to marry him. The drama ends with this.
"Kyoto People's Secret Pleasures Rouge - Inheritance -" is the long-awaited sequel to "Kyoto People's Secret Pleasures." The "Kyoto People's Secret Pleasures" series focused on young people in Kyoto, and aired "Kyoto People's Secret Pleasures Blue: Training" from September 2017 to May 2022, leaving Sanhachiko's drama on hold. What is Sanhachiko up to now that she's traveled to Paris? Viewers will once again be able to get a glimpse of Sanhachiko's current state.
◇Written and directed by Takashi Minamoto, with a strong passion for food
The biggest feature of "Kyoto People's Secret Pleasures" is that Minamoto Takashi is solely responsible for the script and direction. Depending on the production, there are cases where trying to do too much on one person can lead to failure, but having the same person handle everything from the script to the film adaptation has the advantage of ensuring that the worldview of the work remains consistent. Minamoto is a veteran who has worked on numerous dramas and films, after having been involved in the production of commercials and TV variety shows.
His works since he began taking on the role of screenwriter and director have been particularly well-received, receiving numerous awards. In 2015, he won the ATP Grand Prix for "The Secret Pleasures of Kyoto People." In 2020, he received the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's Art Encouragement Prize for the unique TV period drama "Make Me a Slow Samurai: Kyoto Studio Rhapsody" and the period drama "Reiwa 1st Edition: The Ghost Story of the Peony Lantern, Beauty & Fear." In 2022, he won the Grand Prize at the Agency for Cultural Affairs Arts Festival Awards for the period drama "Chushingura Rhapsody No. 5: Nakamura Nakazo's Staircase of Success." And in 2024, he even won the Mukoda Kuniko Award, given to outstanding screenwriters, for the drama "The History of Grace," for which he also wrote and directed.
The defining feature of Gen's work is the beautiful visuals. And even when dealing with serious themes, they never forget their sense of humor. What's more, there is deep attention to detail in the script, visuals, and music.
The most obvious example of this commitment is the food. In "Kyoto People's Secret Pleasures," food expert Chizuru Ohara appears in the documentary section of every episode. She explains cooking methods in dialogue with announcer Tsuyoshi Matsuo, and explains Kyoto culture and seasonal ingredients, making her an indispensable "character" in Gen's works.
In "TRUE COLORS," broadcast on NHK in 2025, there is a scene in which an Italian wife prepares carpaccio of kintsu (gurnard) caught in Amakusa, Kumamoto, the setting of the story, and "cacciucco" (Italian fisherman's meal) stewed in tomato sauce for the heroine. A glass of Vermentino white wine is served. Each and every dish on the table was actually carefully written into the script from the beginning. Food is also an essential element in the development of the drama, and is an important ingredient in constructing the worldview. But not just any Italian dish will do. This attention to detail seems even stronger in "Kyoto's Secret Pleasures."
◇ Ken Watanabe, who was eager to appear in the "Kyotojin" series, appears
The new series, "Kyoto People's Secret Pleasures: Rouge - Inheritance," consists of nine 45-minute episodes. Continuing its theme from the previous series, it continues to be "the inheritance of tradition." Having fled Kyoto, Sanya (Takako Tokiwa) finds love with Takeru (Kanji Ishimaru), who is now married and living in Paris. Returning to Japan temporarily for work, Takeru learns that Sanya's mother, Tsuruko (Ginpucho), is seriously ill, and begins to wonder what will happen to the succession of the restaurant. With his first wife, he has a daughter, Miyako (Moeka Hoshi), who is a graduate student and grew up in Paris. It appears that Takeru will make a bold proposal to Takeru, who wishes to study abroad.
The heroine of this work is Hoshi. Hoshi, who gained attention for her role in the period drama "SHOGUN," produced and starring Sanada Hiroyuki, was cast by Minamoto as the heroine's younger sister in "TRUE COLORS." In this work, she is the heroine. Raku, whose name is pronounced "Miyako" the same as Sanya's, likely comes to Kyoto and becomes embroiled in the issue of succession of the long-established Japanese confectionery shop, "Kurakuya Harunobu." How will Raku, who grew up in Paris, confront the "Kyoto people" who are based on a long tradition and the complicated and troublesome rules of the city?
Another hot topic is that Ken Watanabe will be appearing in the role of Raku's supervisor, Shinonome Sakutaro, starting with this production. Watanabe has been eager to appear in a Gen work, especially the "Kyotojin" series. He made his first appearance in a Gen work in 2025's "TRUE COLORS," and this time he has finally made his long-awaited appearance in the "Kyotojin" series. Dan, who played Heathrow, passed away in 2023, and this time Shinonome and Raku will take on the role of Heathrow, looking at the "Kyotojin" from an "outsider's perspective."
Co-stars include Yasunori Danta, Natsuko Akiyama, So Morita, Rairin Sugita, Jun Yamanishi, and Takashi Sasano. Akiyama played Shiho Wakabayashi, the mother of the lead apprentice gardener, Kento Wakabayashi (played by Kento Hayashi), in "Kyoto People's Secret Pleasures Blue: Training." Shiho's charming bar, "Forest Down," was a regular haunt for Kotaro's friends and Heathrow, and Shinonome and Raku may be frequenting it again this time.
One concern is that the broadcast time of each episode will be shorter, so I wonder if there will be documentary elements like in the past. If the drama becomes more dramatic, Ohara may not appear. Also, will Ishibashi Renji, one of the actors who is indispensable to the Gen series, appear? Ishibashi played the landscape gardener Miyama Seibei in "Kyoto People's Secret Pleasures Blue: Training," and fans will be delighted if he makes a brief appearance as Seibei in the new work.
Naturally, the people who appear are actors, but the drama is so realistic in a sense that if you actually go out to the city of Kyoto, you will feel as if you could meet them somewhere. I hope you will enjoy the show for the approximately three months it will be broadcast, with the feeling that you are living in the city of Kyoto and watching over the "Kyoto people" as a bystander. (Sasamoto Hirozai/MANTAN)
