It has been revealed that actress Miyazawa Emma will be starring in the TV Tokyo drama series "Is It Bad for a Woman to Not Give Birth? DINKs no Totsuki Tooka" (Mondays, 11:06 PM), which begins on March 30th. This will be Miyazawa's first time starring in a drama series, and she will play the protagonist, who has chosen to live a childless life but is shaken by an unexpected pregnancy.
The original work is the digital manga "DINKs no Totsuki Tooka: Is it bad for women not to give birth?" by Kita Michi Atsuki, which has garnered support from women who have said things like, "My husband's behavior is too scary" and "I cried because I empathized." "DINKs (Double Income No Kids)" refers to a lifestyle where both partners work and have no children.
Kanazawa Asa (Miyazawa), a freelance hairdresser who dreams of one day opening her own salon, has a brutal past in which she was dominated by her toxic parents. After getting married, she and her husband, Tetsuya, work together and consciously choose not to have children. However, due to a "trap" set by Tetsuya, the man she trusted the most, she ends up carrying an unwanted life. Asa struggles with the collapse of her ideals and reality, pressure from society, and the ultimate dilemma of whether to give birth or not.
Kodai Asaka plays Asa's husband, Tetsuya Kanazawa, who secretly dreams of becoming a father despite the fact that he and Asa have chosen not to have children together. An elite employee at a major manufacturer, he is an ideal husband who respects Asa's decision not to have children, but for some reason he begins to dream of becoming a father and tampers with the contraceptives. He plays the role of a "smiling traitor" who corners his wife with a desire to control her life in the name of love.
Kitayama Hiromitsu plays Ogata Seiji, a single father and colleague of Asa's who works at the same shared salon. He becomes a good friend to Asa, who is hurt by her husband's betrayal, and continues to support her the most. He is the first to notice Asa's loneliness and fear as she is cornered in the "closed room" of her home, and becomes her only sympathetic friend, clumsily embracing her wounded heart.
◇Comment from Emma Miyazawa
When I first heard about the role, I was surprised by the sensational title and began reading the original manga cautiously. I became engrossed in the heart-wrenching plot and, desperate to know the ending, read through it all in one go. Naturally, there are many different opinions and values regarding the "family," "couples," and "children" discussed in this work, and I honestly felt hesitant to accept the role of Asa, as I had no idea what kind of controversy this dramatic story would spark.
However, because it is such a delicate subject, when I heard the passionate desire of the production team to make an important contribution to the fictional world of drama, I decided that I wanted to live up to the kindness of being entrusted with the lead role.
I want to portray Asa as sensitively as possible, as he is tossed about in an unwanted situation and desperately tries to find his own answer. Filming has just begun, but together with Asaka-san, Kitayama-san and the other wonderful cast and staff, I will do my best to make sure that every week you will be thinking, "I just want to watch! I want to know what happens next!" I would appreciate your support.
◇Comment from Kodai Asaka
Because of the sensational title, I prepared myself for the first read of the script, but the characters' strong lines and actions left me heartbroken. It's possible for anyone to unknowingly wield a "motherhood myth." As someone born to a mother, I felt there were things I should actively learn.
The foolishness of the character I play, Tetchan, is almost horrifying. However, everyone has their own values, and it's rare to receive clear teachings about life and love. I think he has led a biased life.
I hope you enjoy watching Tecchan's acrobatic emotional movements. The content is sensitive, but I will approach it sincerely and have fun acting boldly.
◇Comment from Hiromitsu Kitayama
"Is it bad for a woman not to give birth?" When I first saw this title, I felt the strength of the work. As I continued reading, I was reminded that happiness is a matter of freedom, determined by each person's way of thinking and living, and that there are many different aspects to it depending on whether you are male or female. I'm sure it will be a profound work that you won't be able to put down once you start watching. During filming, I want to cherish the space that allows viewers to think, "What would I do in that situation?" I hope to portray Ogata with sincerity, including the weaknesses and doubts that lie within her.
We will carefully act out each episode right up to the final episode so that fans of the original work will be satisfied, so please be sure to watch until the very end.
◇Comment from the original author, Kita Michi Atsuki
I am very happy that my work has been adapted into a TV drama. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone involved and everyone who has supported and assisted me. This is a turbulent story about a woman who decides not to give birth but becomes pregnant, and then faces conflict and betrayal. I imagine that various types of violence will appear in the story. I hope everyone will watch the drama to see how the main character, Asa, makes decisions in the midst of all this, how the story unfolds, and how the actors will portray her.
◇ Comment from program producer/director Isamu Ota (TV Tokyo Drama Room)
"Is it bad for women not to give birth?" This is a question that is difficult to put into words in today's Japan, and this drama attempts to look squarely at it. What this work wants to portray is the conflict, pain, and worry that inevitably arise regardless of whether one chooses to give birth or not, and the determination and dignity that lies beneath each of these ways of life. No conclusion is right or wrong, and I hope it will be one of the catalysts that will lead to society equally accepting that "it is also a choice."
And yet, this is not a serious "study drama." It's a rollercoaster of emotions, with a series of "What?! So that's what happens?!" moments, including betrayal by a partner, abusive remarks, twisted pressure from parents, and even a crazy first love. Asa's husband, Tetsuya, in particular, is a "problematic" husband with many precarious aspects. I hope you'll put yourself in Asa's shoes every week, feeling nervous and anxious, and enjoying her out-of-control behavior.
