Morning Drama ‘Tora ni Tsubasa Challenges’ Taboos and Signals Future Directions for Japanese Television

Three Reasons Why NHK Must Take on Challenges

The morning drama “Tora ni Tsubasa,” which weaves in various social issues such as menstruation, LGBT issues, and the atomic bomb, has become a hot topic. Why is it so boldly tackling themes and events that have been considered taboo in previous morning dramas?

Toshihiko Tabuchi, a drama producer at TV Tokyo and currently a professor in the Arts and Culture Department at AOBI University, cites “three reasons unique to NHK.”

1. To be mindful of viewer ratings.
2. Because managing content solely through a single terrestrial program has become challenging.
3. To demonstrate the status of public broadcasting.

The second and third points will be explained in the following section.

 

■The first part entitled “NHK Challenges Taboos in Morning Drama Tora ni Tsubasa Addressing Menstruation LGBT Issues and Atomic Bombs” is here.

The program is “managed” as “content” and can be “rehashed” multiple times !?

Next, I want to explain the second (2) point: “because managing content solely through a single terrestrial program has become challenging.”

This is closely related to the first (1) point about “being mindful of viewer ratings.” Even for NHK, there are reasons to consider ratings, as mentioned earlier, but at the same time, the decline in ratings continues unabated. As audiences shift away from terrestrial broadcasting, TV stations that have lost the battle against streaming services can no longer be satisfied with airing just one program. They must treat the program as “content” that can be “managed” and “rehashed” multiple times.

The approval and enactment of the amended broadcasting law on May 17 this year, which mandates internet operations for NHK, has been a significant trigger. Going forward, viewership through the internet will also be subject to license fee collection. As license fee revenues dwindle, seizing this opportunity will determine their fate.

They cannot afford to miss this business opportunity. NHK itself likely feels this most acutely as it stands at the crossroads of “terrestrial broadcasting ⇔ streaming.”

Thus, NHK is incorporating themes and topics into its dramas that can be adapted and utilized for streaming, making it easier to feature them on other programs and platforms.

 

You can’t attract viewers’ interest by simply portraying “dreams”.

For example, the topic of “menstruation” has been featured in various programs, such as the documentary “Hello! Menstruation: 5 Stories from Around the World” (aired in 2021), the drama “Menstruation Uncle and His Daughter” (aired in 2023), and “Asaichi” (aired on November 27, 2019), which included a segment titled “Let’s Talk About Menstruation and Menopause.” Additionally, “Close-Up Gendai” (aired on April 6, 2021) highlighted “period poverty,” showcasing women who struggled to purchase menstrual products due to financial difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

As mentioned above, menstruation is proven to be a highly versatile theme. There is no option but to incorporate it effectively. Such themes resonate with viewers not only on terrestrial broadcasting but also when content is distributed online.

One example is the recently released Netflix drama “Love Battle Royale,” which, while taking the form of a romance drama, weaves in social issues like “educational disparity” and “the role of schools.” The portrayals of love are diverse, including representations of lesbians and gay men. This relatable “reality” resonates with viewers and has garnered their support.

Terrestrial dramas are often seen as light and easy to watch. Endings that lean toward “happy endings” are generally preferred over “bad endings.” They tend to hide “realism” and depict “dreams.”

However, with terrestrial ratings stagnating and even declining, portraying “dreams” will not capture viewers’ interest. Instead, they aim to pique viewers’ curiosity by depicting the problems and events before them in a “real” manner. A prime example of this is “Tora ni Tsubasa,” which suggests a new direction for Japanese dramas moving forward.

 

The status and presence of “Public Broadcasting” represented by “Tora ni Tsubasa,” “Asaichi,” and “Ohayou Nippon”

Finally, the third (3) point, “to demonstrate its status as a public broadcaster,” is related to a Finally, regarding the third point: “to demonstrate the status of public broadcasting,” there is a certain statistic relevant to the international community.

This is related to the Global Gender Gap Index announced this year by the World Economic Forum (WEF). In the rankings, Japan ranked 118th out of 146 countries, improving from 125th the previous year, but still remaining at the bottom among the G7 nations. The largest gender gap compared to other countries was seen in the participation rate of women in politics and economics, as well as in management positions.

In this context, NHK has participated in the “50:50 The Equality Project” since 2021. This project was originally proposed by the UK’s BBC and aims for an equal gender ratio of 50% for the presenters, reporters, and experts appearing in programs.

NHK is the only Japanese broadcaster participating in this initiative. Furthermore, “Tora ni Tsubasa” is one of the relevant programs alongside “Asaichi” and “Ohayou Nippon.” The topic of “menstruation” is closely related to the challenge of achieving “gender equality.” As NHK pledges its contribution to the SDGs, it not only cannot ignore this issue but also likely wants to emphasize its contribution to achieving “gender equality” by promoting it strongly.

This represents a significant opportunity for NHK to demonstrate its status and presence as a “public broadcaster” amidst Japan’s declining position in the international community regarding “gender participation.”

In conclusion, having analyzed the unique reasons why NHK is challenging numerous taboos with the morning drama “Tora ni Tsubasa,” I would like to finally discuss the significance of “Tora ni Tsubasa” in taking on these taboos.

The “facts” that can only be expressed through drama.

While there are unique circumstances for NHK, the ability to skillfully weave these themes into a compelling story that resonates with viewers is a testament to the efforts of those working on the ground.

There is a “relentless effort” and “passionate commitment” behind this. Criticism can often be found online, saying, “Don’t use social issues for entertainment.”

However, portraying “the present” through the lens of past true stories is the essence of entertainment.

This becomes clear when considering the question: “Why show facts through drama instead of using a documentary approach?”

There are “facts” that can only be expressed through drama. The brilliance of Yoshida’s screenplay lies in realizing the themes that NHK seeks while ensuring it remains entertaining.

If the situation at NHK were portrayed as it is, it could become unbearable. Directly depicting marginalized individuals or those directly involved raising their voices could lead to accusations of “forcing a narrative” or using drama to convey political intentions.

However, this work possesses a power that disregards such criticisms. Conversely, if those voices were present, bringing them to light may be the greatest significance of “Tora ni Tsubasa.”

In the final episode on September 27, the program producer stated, “Yoshida wants to show that even in her later years, Torako’s essence and core will not change.” The unwavering stance. I look forward to seeing how this is expressed.