NHK Challenges Taboos in Morning Drama Tora ni Tsubasa Addressing Menstruation LGBT Issues and Atomic Bombs

Three Reasons Why

The morning drama “Tora ni Tsubasa” is making headlines for weaving various social issues such as menstruation, LGBT problems, and atomic bombs into its story. NHK is boldly tackling themes and events that have been considered taboo in past morning dramas for three unique reasons. What exactly are these reasons? Toshihiko Tabuchi, a drama producer at TV Tokyo and currently a professor in the Arts and Culture department at Oberlin University, explains.

Questioning systems that are disadvantageous for women.

The NHK “Asadora,” the 110th installment titled “Tora ni Tsubasa,” features an original screenplay by Erika Yoshida, who won the Kuniko Mukoda Award for the night drama “Koisenu Futari,” based on a true story.

The protagonist, Tomoko Inotsume, is modeled after Mibuchi Yoshiko, Japan’s first female lawyer, judge, and court chief. The drama depicts the life of a woman who questions the systems that disadvantage women and boldly enters the legal world, which at the time was dominated by men, resonating with many viewers and generating buzz. The lead role is played by Sairi Ito, marking her second appearance in an asadora since “Hiyokko,” which aired in the first half of 2017, and this is her first time as the lead. Yoshida is making her debut in asadora.

 

“Same-sex love” and the pain of “menstruation” mark the first attempt in an asadora.

The drama approaches its climax as it depicts the “A-Bomb Trials,” which took eight years to conclude, alongside themes in weeks 21 (aired August 19–23) and 22 (aired August 26–30) that include “separate surnames for married couples and de facto marriages,” “same-sex marriage and sexuality,” and “women’s social advancement.”

This marks the first time that same-sex love has been portrayed in an asadora. There’s a scene where Tomoko’s classmate from university, Tozuka Junki as Todoroki Taichi, confesses his love for another classmate, Iwata Takanori as Hanaoka Satoru, who is a judge.

In a scene where Tomoko struggles with severe menstrual pain, the difficulty of menstruation for women is emphasized. This is also a first for the series.

According to NHK’s public relations department, “We believe that conveying various issues and information related to ‘menstruation’ is important for creating a society where everyone can live comfortably and diverse lifestyles are recognized.”

Because it’s NHK, there is a special reason they must take on this responsibility.

As seen in ‘Tora ni Tsubasa’, the show boldly tackles topics that have previously been considered taboo in past asadora dramas. Of course, much of this can be attributed to the intentions of the screenwriter, Erika Yoshida, who is making her debut in an asadora. However, there is also a special reason, hidden behind the scenes, that NHK must carry this responsibility.

There is something I would like to point out here. That is, unlike previous morning dramas, “Tora ni Tsubasa” has a clear theme.

There is something I would like to point out here: unlike previous asadora dramas, Tora ni Tsubasa has a clear theme.

Generally, asadora revolves around the protagonist’s (often a woman in recent years) life, focusing on family and home life, and is presented as a family drama. Combined with the 8:00 a.m. timeslot, the idea has been to offer something “light and easy to watch every day.”

However, Tora ni Tsubasa is a bit different. While it still portrays the life of a woman, it takes on a strong social stance by depicting gender inequality and the realities of a society that discriminates against women.

This social focus was made clear from the very first episode. In the opening scene, Torako reads a newspaper article featuring the Japanese Constitution by a river, in tears. This indicated that the drama would center around Article 14, Section 1, which emphasizes equality under the law, and would explore equality for all people throughout its story.

Naturally, the story will depict various forms of inequality, starting with gender inequality, and the harsh realities of a society that discriminates against women. The plot follows Torako as she fights against these injustices as a lawyer and judge.

But why does the drama go so far in emphasizing “equality under the law,” and why does it incorporate social issues that have traditionally been considered taboo in asadora, such as menstruation, LGBT issues, and the atomic bomb?

There are three reasons behind this, which stem from NHK’s unique position:

1. To appeal to viewership ratings
2. Because it has become difficult to sustain content with just a single terrestrial TV program
3. To assert its status as a public broadcaster.

 

Programs that care about ratings and those that don’t.

First, let’s address the first (1) point about “caring about viewership ratings.” While it’s probably common knowledge now, NHK does indeed care about ratings. As stated on their website, “We believe it is necessary to make efforts to broadcast programs with high ratings in order to meet the expectations of viewers.” NHK has become more concerned with ratings than it used to be.

This shift is due to the increasing backlash against NHK over time. 

Every time a scandal occurs, calls for refusing to pay the license fee resurface. Furthermore, the accelerating “negative spiral” of population decline and people moving away from TV has led to a dramatic drop in NHK’s revenue from license fees. Although critics often claim, “What are they doing with our tax money?” NHK’s income comes from license fees, not taxes.

However, because the Broadcast Law stipulates that “NHK’s license fees are determined by the National Diet’s approval of its income and expenditure budget,” NHK sometimes faces questioning in parliamentary inquiries about how the license fees are being used. This leads to the misconception among some that NHK is being held accountable for “how tax money is spent.” NHK is not a “national broadcasting service.” It’s important to fully understand this when analyzing NHK’s intentions with the current “Tora ni Tsubasa.”

For this article, we spoke with a creator who has been producing programs at NHK for many years. This individual firmly stated:

“Even at NHK, there are programs that ‘care about ratings’ and others that ‘don’t.’”

The creator also mentioned that shows like the “Asadora” and “Taiga dramas” are programs where high ratings are expected.

They further explained the harsh reality, saying, “If a production team fails to achieve high ratings, they won’t be given another chance.” In other words, NHK’s “Asadora” and “Taiga dramas,” which are considered the lifeline of NHK dramas, bear the responsibility of generating high ratings.

Appealing to the core younger audience, who will likely pay license fees in the future, is crucial. In this context, issues like menstruation and LGBT rights hold universal relevance, especially for young people and women.

NHK’s public relations department has also acknowledged the appeal of these topics, stating, “Issues and information related to menstruation are important for realizing a society where diverse ways of living are accepted.” Addressing “equality” also brings a sense of satisfaction, like defying an unequal society. In this way, NHK deliberately incorporates themes that resonate with viewers, particularly young people, aiming to evoke empathy.

 

In the next part, I will explain the second (2) reason, “Because it has become difficult to manage content with just a single terrestrial program,” and the third (3)  reason, “To demonstrate its status as a public broadcaster.”

Click here for [Part 2] “Morning Drama ‘Tora ni Tsubasa Challenges’ Taboos and Signals Future Directions for Japanese Television”