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Jun Ai

The 67th NHK Asadora Drama follows the story of Manten, a young woman who grew up on a small island in southern Japan surrounded by nature. Inspired by her father, who disappeared at sea when she was eight years old, Manten holds onto his dream of space exploration. At eighteen, Manten faces pressure from her mother to decide on a career path or start paying rent, while also dealing with a declaration of love from a childhood friend. Despite these challenges, Manten remains determined to pursue her dream of joining Japan's National Space Development Agency, NASDA. However, she realizes that achieving this goal will require hard work and dedication, including obtaining a college education and gaining three years of experience in the field. As Manten navigates the complexities of life and love, she remains steadfast in her pursuit of space travel, making unlikely friendships along the way.

The 81st NHK Asadora introduces a new series titled Welkame. The plot follows Nami, a young woman who grew up in a minshuku. After moving to Tokyo for a job at a magazine company, she unexpectedly loses her position and is forced to return to her hometown, where she must navigate relationships with her family and old friends.

The narrative follows Tenka, a 17-year-old girl born and raised in Sendai, Miyagi prefecture. When her father changes jobs, her family relocates to Tokyo. Tenka stays briefly with her grandfather, a passionate rice farmer residing at Igune, a forest surrounded by vast rice fields in the Sendai plains. Upon completing high school, she moves to Kichijyoji in Tokyo to live with her family in a residence situated on the grounds of a temple owned by her grandfather's longtime friend, Suzuki Shozo. Also on the property is a small nursery school operated by Shozo's wife, Yoshiko. Tenka begins to contemplate a career as a pediatric nurse. Over time, it is revealed that Tenka's family and the Suzuki Shozo family have a deep-rooted connection spanning generations. Tenka discovers that she is betrothed to Shozo's grandson, Ryunosuke, as per an agreement between her grandfather and Shozo. (DramaWiki) Notable locations in the story include Sendai, Miyagi and Musashino, Tokyo.

Song Jiao Yang, a talented student in the field of fashion design, unexpectedly finds herself thrust into the world of supermodeling. As she navigates this new industry, she forms connections with Li Zhen (played by Godfrey Gao) and Zhao Yu Tian (portrayed by Jed Lee). Zhao Yu Tian, an established model, takes a tough-love approach with Jiao Yang but harbors hidden feelings for her. On the other hand, Li Zhen is kind and supportive towards Jiao Yang, though he conceals his past and origins. Feeling rejected by his family, Li Zhen's demeanor changes, leading him down a path of vengeance where he will go to great lengths, including manipulating his relationship with Song Jiao Yang.

Yumi and Yuusaku are on the verge of getting married. Yumi is dressed in her wedding gown, anxiously waiting for the ceremony to start. However, she is concerned because they have not officially gotten engaged. To add a special touch to the event, she invited five couples to the ceremony with a card that reads, "Please share your words of love with the most significant person in your life." As the couples make their way to the ceremony, they each start expressing their heartfelt emotions.

During the mid-to-late 1980s, Xiao Zhan, Cong Xiao Qing, and several other talented college students with diverse backgrounds and personalities set out to chase the American dream. Initially regarded as stars in China, they faced numerous challenges upon their arrival in the United States. Despite obstacles such as academic struggles, emotional setbacks, financial difficulties, and interpersonal conflicts, they persevered through hardships and eventually achieved success in their respective careers. Eventually, they made the bold decision to return to China and collaborate on a business venture, marking a new chapter in their journey. Over the course of more than three decades, their group transitioned from China to the United States and back again, demonstrating remarkable achievements in fields such as scientific research and finance on a global scale.

In Hong Kong, while many individuals pursue careers in finance, real estate, or commerce, affluent heiress Katy Kung prefers to venture into unconventional endeavors. Together with her close friend Jason Chan, they establish a technology start-up. A cyber attack exposes Katy to the exceptional skills of IT expert Owen Cheung, prompting her to offer him a position in their company. Owen, a reclusive tech whiz, gradually learns to engage with others with the help of nurse MoonLau, and finds himself drawn to her. As Katy and Owen transition from conflicting perspectives to collaborating and compensating for each other's weaknesses, she unknowingly develops romantic feelings for him. Initially believing in the transformative power of technology, Katy's faith is shaken when a series of internet scandals involving her father, brother, and sister unfold.

Yamanaka Konoha, an 18-year-old girl from the rural Kumano area of Wakayama prefecture, comes from a family that relies on forestry for their livelihood. Konoha's mother, Senri, is a teacher of traditional farming methods and local history to tourists, while her father, Ichiro, dreams of opening a restaurant in Osaka. Konoha was raised in the forested hills by her grandfather, Sadamichi, who taught her ranger skills and meditation techniques. With a natural talent for tasting food, Konoha decides to pursue a career as a chef after her grandmother's passing. She joins her father in leaving Kumano for Osaka, where she plans to learn the art of cooking while Ichiro works towards opening his own restaurant.

The narrative focuses on the experiences of a married couple, as narrated by Mura. (Tokyograph) Based on the memoir "Gegege no Nyobo" penned by Mura Nunoe, the spouse of manga artist Mizuki Shigeru. Presented as the 82nd NHK Asadora.

Kawahara Kimiko, the oldest of three sisters, was born in Osaka in 1937. When she was nine years old, her family relocated to Shigaraki in Shiga Prefecture. Surrounded by the local Shigaraki pottery, Kimiko developed a passion for ceramics and aspired to become a ceramics artist. Despite the challenges she faced as a woman in a male-dominated industry, she persevered and built a groundbreaking career in ceramic arts, from her early years to her marriage.

A luxury hotel faced competition from a rival named Li Rong Hao, prompting the president to bring back Lin Chong Guang for assistance. Despite leaving three years ago due to false rumors, Lin Chong Guang returns to boost the hotel's success. Li Rong Hao once again tries to take control of the hotel by hiring an expert in hotel acquisitions, Wen Ze Kai. As time passes, Wen Ze Kai undermines Lin Chong Guang by taking away his girlfriend, Tong Xin. The hotel becomes a battleground testing the boundaries between greed and morality.

An unsuccessful bid for a project causes locomotive designer Lin Zhen Yi to feel defeated. She loses her role as project leader to a highly skilled professional who has returned from overseas, Tan Qing Chuan. While collaborating with Tan Qing Chuan, Lin Zhen Yi carefully observes his work approach along with his assistant Jian Ai Xing, allowing her to understand her previous shortcomings. With this newfound knowledge, she achieves success in her subsequent project. Additionally, Lin Zhen Yi finds herself being pursued by both Tan Qing Chuan and her new neighbor Li Yan Feng, a research test pilot.

The tale of President Chi Qi, who is detached and possesses the ability to hear others' thoughts, and Nan Yu, a screenwriter who appears outgoing but is actually insecure and delicate. Due to a mishap, they are compelled to cohabitate and eventually develop romantic feelings for each other. (Douban)

The story revolves around Cheung Yee Fai, a cautious and observant salesman, who is tasked with supervising Ng Sin Yu, his confident secretary. Unbeknownst to him, Sin Yu is actually the daughter of the company's owner. As they spend more time together, their relationship evolves into a doomed romance between a man of modest means and a wealthy woman. Meanwhile, Dr. Geung Sum Yu, a dedicated professional, rediscovers her compassion and emotions as she falls in love with Yee Fai.

The series follows the story of Dai Siu Leung, played by Bobby Au Yeung, and the residents of Apliu Street in Hong Kong, known for their collection of valuable secondhand items referred to as "Hidden Treasures." Leung is a seller of electronic goods and also serves as the leader of the community. However, his leadership is challenged when a rival convinces the townspeople to elect him instead by spreading negative rumors about Leung. As a result, Leung faces financial difficulties and struggles to manage his electronics store, especially with his competitor opening a similar store right next to his.

Crafted in honor of the 10th commemoration of Hong Kong's handover to China, this series delves into the intertwined past of these regions. The storyline will center on the expansion of China's automotive sector, a prominent car production corporation, and the family at its helm.

Yuko Amano, employed at a food company and the daughter of rice shop owners, does not have much luck in her life. At the same time, the group of men that Sachiko instantly fell for began appearing weekly, each one trying to establish a romantic connection.

When Haruka was nine years old, she moved from Osaka to Yufuin with her father, Yosuke, and younger sister, Asuka. Yosuke wanted to start a restaurant in the town. Haruka's mother, Yuko, stayed in Osaka, leading to her parents getting a divorce shortly after. Yosuke opened a restaurant but had to close it down not long after. Fast forward ten years, Haruka is working part-time while attending junior college to support her family. Yuko, concerned about Haruka, invites her to Osaka and offers her a job. Despite not forgiving her mother, Haruka decides to work in Osaka to help Yosuke reopen the restaurant. Haruka's experiences in Osaka help her to better understand her mother and she excels as a tour planner, utilizing her knack for pleasing people.

Due to a past incident, Ogata Kouhei steps down from his role and leaves the country in disgrace. As the hotel celebrates its 30th anniversary, a crisis emerges with the president hospitalized and a potential takeover looming. Assistant manager Odagiri Kyoko is sent to Korea to persuade Kouhei to return. During her trip, Kyoko encounters trouble when her purse is stolen and receives help from Mizusawa Keigo. Despite her efforts, Kyoko returns to Japan without success. With guidance from Korean hotel manager Shin Dong Hyuk, Kouhei agrees to come back as the new general manager of Tokyo Ocean Hotel. Upon his return, Kyoko crosses paths with Mizusawa Keigo once more. Unbeknownst to Kyoko, Keigo not only has plans to take over the hotel but also harbors feelings for her.

In a run-down shopping district, Shinoda Mariko stars as the owner of a clothing store with a unique talent for instantly knowing a customer's clothing size. The narrative will revolve around her interactions with various patrons. (Credit: JapanBullet)

Yoneoka and Fujiiwa collaborate on editing a novel in the tranquil office of the proofreading department while Etsuko is on her yearly break. The storyline of the novel starts to play out vividly in their minds, leading to continuous critique from the two proofreaders as the dramatic scenes unfold.

Is it possible to forget your first love? In this romantic drama, a woman who is set to marry unexpectedly encounters her former partner, prompting her to question whether her fiancé is genuinely the right choice for her or if the man she left behind long ago still occupies a special place in her heart. (AsianCrush)

"All Love in the World" offers a contemporary and humorous portrayal of the romantic lives of several young couples today. This web drama is structured into three seasons, with each season highlighting a different couple and their unique challenges. The first season centers on a pair who begins their relationship while in college but faces difficulties stemming from their age gap.

A typical young woman in her twenties faces challenges in areas like employment, romance, and interpersonal connections.

"All Love in the World" presents a contemporary and humorous portrayal of the romantic lives of several young couples today. This web series is structured into three seasons, with each season centered around a different couple facing their unique challenges. In the second season, the narrative follows an office couple, where their relationship resembles more of a suspenseful thriller than a traditional romance.

In the city of Xing Hai, Meng Hao is a prosperous young billionaire who leads Kun Peng Real Estate. Despite being admired by many women, he has never shown any interest in romantic relationships. However, everything changes when he unexpectedly falls in love with Lin Yu Xin, who happens to be the girlfriend of his brother Meng Wei's best friend. Meng Hao's pursuit of Yu Xin causes tension with her boyfriend, Hao Liang, ultimately strengthening their bond. Tragically, Hao Liang suffers a severe injury at work and slips into a coma. Desperate to cover the medical expenses, Yu Xin turns to Meng Hao for assistance after exhausting all other options. He agrees to foot the bill on one condition: Yu Xin must be his partner or spouse for a year.

The NHK Asadora Renzoku Drama titled Churasan tells the story of Kohagura Eri, a young woman born on Kohamajima Island in Okinawa on May 15, 1972, the day Okinawa was returned to Japan from the U.S. When Kamimura Shizuko and her two sons, Kazuya and Fumiya, visit Eri's family's small inn, they are warmly welcomed by her fun-loving yet quirky family. Eri is surprised to learn that Kazuya is terminally ill, prompting Shizuko and her sons to spend their final days together in the beautiful Okinawan nature. After Kazuya's passing, Fumiya and Eri make a promise to marry in the future. Eventually, Fumiya and his mother leave the island to return to Tokyo. Years later, Eri works as a nurse and Fumiya as a doctor at the same hospital in Tokyo, where they are reunited.

Akari's biological mother hails from Osaka. In order to delve deeper into her roots, she relocates to Osaka to reside with her grandmother. It is revealed that Akari's grandmother shut down the okonomiyaki eatery following the departure of Akari's adolescent mother. Subsequently, Akari takes it upon herself to revive the okonomiyaki restaurant and launch the business independently.

Chen He Dong was raised as an orphan by Chen Jin Shui, who found him and brought him home. As he grew older, he learned different business tactics from the people around him. As an adult, he continues to develop his business skills by traveling across China. During his journeys, he encounters Lu Yu Zhu, who has a similar background, and Yang Shiu, a wealthy girl recently returned from overseas.

The plot of Wonderful Life follows Xu Tian (portrayed by Zhang Jia Yi), as he faces challenges in both his personal and professional life. After enduring setbacks, he decides to leave the United States, where he has resided for a decade, and return to his homeland. However, upon his arrival at the airport, an old illness resurfaces, necessitating a heart transplant to save his life. Following the surgery, he resides at his mother Dao Mei Lan's (played by Song Dan Dan) matchmaking agency, where he crosses paths with his former blind date Liang Xiao Hui (played by Li Xiao Ran). Initially exchanging banter, they eventually develop a friendship. Xiao Hui is taken aback, as Xu Tian bears a striking resemblance to her late husband. Seeking guidance, she turns to Psychologist Bian Zhi Jun (portrayed by Xin Bai Qing).

The series "In the Realm of Love" is captivating due to its compact size, capturing the essence of young urban individuals in various stages of love. Despite being only 5 minutes long, each episode presents a unique love story, showcasing the power of storytelling within a brief timeframe. The show explores themes such as fortune and regret in love, reconciliations after arguments, and the intensity of passion, offering a glimpse into authentic urban life and crafting a microcosm of love within the "love apartment" setting.

Yan Ning struggles with expressing herself verbally and has harbored feelings for Shen Zhi Zhou for a long time. Unable to handle the potential rejection, she decides to address her emotions through therapy. Shen Zhi Zhou, on the other hand, is skeptical of love due to fear of losing his close friend and tries to avoid developing feelings for Yan Ning. Their paths cross again on a celebrity dating show, leading them to collaborate and tackle various challenges together. Eventually, they come to realize that confronting their emotions is the key to finding happiness.

At 42 years old, Bian Liang finds himself in a state of uncertainty as he enters his forties, a time that is typically associated with stability and success. Despite being a proactive father seeking new opportunities, he is faced with challenges in his reserved and unresponsive son, as well as a career standstill. Previously believing that his family life was running smoothly, Bian Liang is now surprised to find them in crisis. His decades of wisdom and experience no longer seem sufficient to tackle the various obstacles he is encountering, leading him to question his previous methods. Despite feeling lost and powerless, Bian Liang, as a responsible middle-aged man, is determined to push forward and search for solutions. As he navigates through shattered past experiences, he learns to mend relationships with his wife, son, relatives, and friends, ultimately discovering a new path to follow.

During the hotel inheritance ceremony, Wu Xiao Song had a fateful encounter with Chen Ying Zi, the person responsible for renovating the hotel. Chen Ying Zi quickly became the main target of criticism among the merchants in Liaohe Old Street. To secure ownership of the hotel, Wu Xiao Song had to swallow his pride and reach out to Chen Ying Zi. As Chen Ying Zi worked on the transformation project, she faced the challenge of gaining approval from the family. Despite initial conflicts, the two eventually formed a bond and even developed feelings for each other. When the renovation was complete, Chen Ying Zi chose to show compassion by implementing ancient building protection measures to save Wu Jia Hotel and earn the trust of the merchants.

The story revolves around Cui Jia Yan, a wealthy and proud woman who faces heartbreak and financial ruin. Determined to turn her life around, she takes control of her father's recruitment agency. In her new role as a novice headhunter, she enlists the help of Lu Li, an experienced headhunter, to guide her. However, Lu Li's unexpected decision to leave a prominent company to join Cui Jia Yan's small firm raises suspicions of hidden intentions.

The story centers around Amelia Wong, a secretary who decides to start fresh following the conclusion of a lengthy romantic partnership. Upon returning to work, she encounters new individuals and forms a romantic connection with her supervisor, Matt. Like others in her circle, Amelia proactively embarks on a quest for love, self-discovery, and pursuing her aspirations.

The 62nd NHK Asadora Drama titled Watashi no Aozora is set in Oma-cho, Aomori and Chuo-ku, Tokyo. The series follows the journey of Kitayama Nazuna, a young mother, and her son Taiyo from Ohma, a small town in Aomori. Taiyo's father, Murai Kento, had dreams of becoming a professional boxer but had to give up due to a detached retina. Unaware of Nazuna's pregnancy, Kento left for America with another woman for eye treatment. After a successful operation, he returned to boxing but faced challenges in achieving success. Meanwhile, Nazuna gave birth to Taiyo and moved to Tokyo in search of Kento. Their paths cross by chance, leading Kento to try to reconnect with his newfound family. The series delves into their journey as they navigate the complexities of forming a family together.

The 71st Asadora is called Wakaba, which follows the story of a young woman who fulfills her father's desire by becoming a landscape gardener. Wakaba, originally from Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, enjoyed a happy life with her family until the devastating Great Hanshin Earthquake struck in 1995. After losing her architect father in the disaster, Wakaba, along with her mother and brother, relocates to Obi, an ancient castle town in Nichinan, Miyazaki Prefecture, where her grandmother, uncle, and aunt reside. Surrounded by Obi's lush natural surroundings, Wakaba discovers the healing power of plants and decides to return to Kobe to help rebuild the city with abundant greenery.

The 75th NHK Asadora is titled Imo Tako Nankin and is set in 1962 Osaka. The series is inspired by an essay written by Tanabe Seiko, an acclaimed writer, which reflects on her own life. The main character, Hanaoka Machiko, is a 37-year-old single woman who works at a hardware store in Osaka City and also pursues writing. After falling ill from overwork, Machiko meets and falls in love with Tokunaga Kenjiro, a doctor who treats her. They eventually marry, but Kenjiro comes with a large extended family, including his five children, brother, sister, and parents. The drama follows Machiko as she navigates her new family dynamics while continuing to pursue her career as a novelist in a humorous and heartwarming manner.