The fourth episode of the drama series "Is It Wrong for a Woman Not to Give Birth? DINKs' Ten Months and Ten Days" (TV Tokyo, Mondays at 11:06 PM), starring actress Emma Miyazawa, aired on April 20th. Viewers criticized Asa's (Miyazawa) husband, Tetsuya (Koudai Asaka), saying he was "not suited for marriage or fatherhood."
◇The following contains spoilers.
The drama is based on the manga "DINKs' Ten Months and Ten Days: Is It Wrong to Be a Woman Who Doesn't Have Children?" by Kitamitsu Atsuki. The story follows a couple who are both working and have intentionally chosen not to have children, a "DINKs" (Double Income No Kids) couple, who live a peaceful and free life until the protagonist becomes unexpectedly pregnant due to her husband's planned betrayal. The drama depicts their struggles as they search for the right form of family and continue to face choices with no easy answers.
Tetsuya was overjoyed when Asa, who had never intended to have children, told him she had decided to have one. He immediately reported the news to his colleagues with great excitement, saying, "Now I'm finally a real man, right?" and declared that he would take full paternity leave. He proudly declared, "I'm a hands-on dad!"
That night, when Tetsuya returned home, Asa was suffering from morning sickness. Asa apologized for not being able to make dinner, to which Tetsuya replied, "It's alright, it's alright, that's how it is when you're pregnant, isn't it?" and spread a large amount of prepared food he had bought on the table.
All the side dishes were heavily seasoned, so Asa hesitantly said, "I appreciate the thought, but I'm not really into meat..." Displeased with Asa's reaction, Tetsuya said, "You have to eat properly and get some nutrients, even if it's a little difficult!"
On social media, comments poured in, such as, "I can't forgive him for taking morning sickness so lightly," "Doesn't he know how painful morning sickness is... that there are foods you can't even eat?", "He's such a selfish man, buying greasy ready-made meals when Asa is suffering from morning sickness and complaining about her struggling to cook. He probably won't help with childcare after the baby is born either," "Tetsu-chan... you're not cut out for marriage or being a father," and "I still think it's going to be difficult for her to give birth. He hasn't improved at all. Asa is the one who's going to suffer from now on."
