Fuji TV’s 37-Year Drama Slot: An Unexpected Work Named Most Interesting “Strongest Getsuku”

“Getsuku” refers to Fuji TV’s flagship drama slot that airs on Monday nights at 9 PM, a hallmark of Japanese television culture since 1987. This time slot has produced numerous masterpieces that represent various eras, especially in the Heisei era, with many works depicting youth culture and romantic relationships, garnering significant support from viewers. To determine the “Strongest Getsuku,” former Sophia University professor and media culture critic Hiroshi Usui, along with writer Wakako Tayuki, who is well-versed in television dramas, engaged in an in-depth discussion.

 

Tokyo Love Story [January 1991 Season]

Starring: Honami Suzuki, Yuji Oda

Highest Rating: 32.9%

Usui: “It’s a very grand theme. When we think of Getsuku, we might have a strong image of ‘trendy dramas.’ In the early days, works like Kimi no Hitomi wo Taiho suru! (1988) and Doukyuusei (1989) were characterized by three elements: ‘handsome men and beautiful women,’ ‘katakana professions,’ and ‘latest fashion.’ It was all about ‘love is everything!’ portraying sparkling urban relationships. However, as we entered the 1990s, the atmosphere in society began to change, and trendy dramas shifted towards ‘pure love.’ With the collapse of the bubble economy, the focus transitioned from ‘glamorous romance’ to genuine feelings of love. Representative works of this shift are Tokyo Love Story (1991) and 101st Proposal (1991).”

“I’m not going to die!”

Tayuki: “Tokyo Love Story portrayed the everyday romance of young people, as captured by its catchphrase, ‘In Tokyo, anyone can become the protagonist of a love story.’ The character Kanji Nagaow, played by Yuji Oda, is a simple young man who has just moved to Tokyo from the countryside, completely different from the previous trendy drama protagonists. His love interest is Rika Akana, played by Honami Suzuki. Although her famous line, ‘Kan-chi, let’s have sex,’ has become widely known, it was actually an important moment that depicted Rika’s straightforward expression of love. Kanji is captivated by Rika, whose words and actions are bold, and although they love each other passionately, they ultimately do not end up together due to misunderstandings. It was rare for a Getsuku to not have a happy ending at that time, but I believe that’s why their story continues to resonate in our hearts.

Usui: “I love 101st Proposal. This work features a new type of protagonist. Tetsuya Takeda plays Tatsuhiro, an unremarkable middle-aged man. He faces the fear of losing his lover (played by Atsuko Asano), and at one point, he jumps in front of a truck, shouting, ‘I won’t die!’ This represents his commitment to love her with his life; he will never disappear from her life. It’s not a glamorous romance, but it’s a genuine expression of feelings. Tatsuhiro reflects the changing values of marriage and love in society.

— It’s the ultimate pure love story. The fact that Getsuku reflects the atmosphere of its time makes it interesting.

Usui: “Exactly. Long Vacation (1996), which aired the year after the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake and the Tokyo subway sarin attack, is also characteristic. In it, Takuya Kimura plays a trainee pianist named Sena, who falls in love with Minami, an unsuccessful model played by Tomoko Yamaguchi. However, romance is not the main focus. It captures the characters’ frustrations about their uncertain futures and the inner conflicts they harbor. Alone, they might be stuck, but together, they can somehow move forward. Their growth as they support each other was very appealing. Above all, the characters were vibrant, and their interactions were incredibly engaging.”

101st Proposal [July 1991 Season]

Starring: Atsuko Asano, Tetsuya Takeda

Highest Rating: 36.7%

Kimutaku says, “Can’t it be me?”

Usui: “Kimura Takuya has starred in 11 Getsuku dramas so far. His leading roles consistently receive overwhelming support from viewers, marking high ratings. He’s truly an iconic figure.”

Tayuki: “Interestingly, Kimura first gained significant attention not from a leading role but as a supporting actor in Asunaro Hakusho (1993). He played a character who harbored deep feelings for the heroine (Hikari Ishida). The scene where he hugs her from behind, saying, ‘Am I not good enough?’ became known as the ‘Asunaro Hug’ and sparked a huge sensation. This was a pivotal moment that launched Kimura’s career. Recently, in TBS’s Tuesday Drama, which has become the representative slot for romance dramas, there has been a trend of spotlighting male supporting characters, like Taishi Nakagawa in Eye Love You (2024) and Kenjiro Tsuda in Saionji-san wa Kaji o Shinai (2024), but I believe Kimura’s role in Asunaro laid the foundation for this trend.”

Usui: “While romantic dramas are great, the number one work in Getsuku for me is HERO (2001, 2014). It’s a courtroom drama centered around the prosecutor, Kohei Kuryu, played by Kimura. Kuryu is quite an eccentric character: he dropped out of high school to become a prosecutor, never wears a suit, and is always in a down jacket. He’s also a shopping enthusiast who frequently checks and receives deliveries at work. His unconventional approach to solving cases makes him a truly new type of hero. This drama established a new genre called occupational comedy and broadened the scope of Getsuku. I also think it was one of the first successful examples of a character drama where an eccentric protagonist drives the story forward.”

Tayuki: “Kimura’s influence led to a trend in down jackets and online shopping (laughs). One of the most captivating eccentric protagonists was in Nodame Cantabile (2006), played by Juri Ueno as Nodame and Hiroshi Tamaki as Chiaki. Nodame struggles with cleaning and organizing, living in a cluttered environment. Her free-spirited nature defies rules and conventions, yet she possesses a genius-level talent for classical music. Chiaki, whom she falls in love with at first sight, appears to be a perfect prince but is actually afraid of flying and often gets swept up in Nodame’s chaos, making him relatable. Their relationship is humorously depicted, making it a series you want to watch over and over. However, what I think makes this drama truly exceptional is its attention to detail in visuals and direction to maximize the charm of the characters and music. The scenes where Nodame plays the piano in her unique style, slouched over and whimsically arranging the score, express her distinct world, leaving everyone in awe of her talent.”

HERO [Season 1: January 2001, Season 2: July 2014]

Starring: Takuya Kimura

Highest Rating for Season 1: 36.8%

Highest Rating for Season 2: 26.5%

Nodame Cantabile [October 2006 Season]
Starring: Juri Ueno, Hiroshi Tamaki
Highest Rating: 21.7%

The Rise of Occupation and Mystery

Usui: “Since 2000, Getsuku dramas have begun to place more emphasis on the protagonists’ careers, individual growth, and comedic elements.”

Usui: “There’s a noticeable increase in occupational dramas and mysteries. A representative example of the occupational genre is Code Blue: Doctor Helicopter Emergency Lifesaving (Season 2) (2010). Its charm lies in the fact that the entire team is considered the main character. The drama shines a spotlight on the medical field of air ambulances, which wasn’t widely known before, and depicts the doctors and nurses working together on the front lines of saving lives as they overcome challenges. The pressure, fears, and passion for medicine that each individual carries are explored deeply. The cast is also star-studded, featuring prominent actors such as Tomohisa Yamashita, Masami Nagasawa, and Erika Toda. Each character shows strong individuality and growth, resonating with and moving the audience.”

Tayuki: “For mysteries, we have the Galileo series (2007, 2013), Kagi no Kakatta Heya (2012), and Mystery to Iunakare (2022), all featuring eccentric protagonists. Personally, I found Masaki Suda’s performance as the philosophically-minded university student, Seiri Kunou, in Mystery to Iunakare  to be the most impactful. What are your thoughts?”

Usui: “Some people found it difficult to follow Suda’s character’s philosophical perspective and unique thought process, but I think that was within the producers’ expectations and might even be considered intentional. As a result, the first week of the show’s streaming on TVer garnered over 4.24 million views, leading to a film adaptation. This is how mystery dramas continue to expand their horizons. Although it’s out of chronological order, I believe Confidence Man JP is another work that broadened the scope of Getsuku. Like Code Blue, it features a team as the main characters, but this time, they are a group of con artists formed not for justice but for scams. Their targets are often wealthy individuals and those in power who commit wrongdoings, and the justice con artists punish them. While what they’re doing is undeniably a crime, they resemble figures like the legendary Edo-period thief Nezumi Kozo, providing a refreshing sense of satisfaction. The original screenplay is solid, with each episode concluding with a twist. I find myself bracing for ‘Are they going to try to trick me again?’ only to get fooled every time (laughs). Although the average rating was 8.88%, all three films based on the series were hits.”

 

Mystery to Iunakare [January 2022 Season]

Starring: Masaki Suda

Highest Rating: 13.6%

Confidence Man JP [April 2018 Season]

Starring: Masami Nagasawa

Highest Rating: 9.5%

The new heroine of Yamato Nadeshiko.

Tayuki: There has been talk about a decrease in romance-themed dramas, but since 2000, the love stories depicted in the “Getsu9” (Monday 9 PM) time slot have given rise to several new heroines, and there are a few works that I found particularly interesting.

First, I’d like to mention Yamato Nadeshiko (2000). The protagonist, Sakura, played by Nanako Matsushima, is a talented and beautiful cabin attendant who lives by the belief that money is the key to happiness due to her childhood poverty. Her character is quite novel, as she aims to marry into wealth and does not believe in true love, which leaves a strong impression on the audience. However, in the end, Sakura falls in love with a poor fishmonger. The story depicts her realization of what is more important than money, making it a deep thematic romantic comedy.

There are also hidden gems. Date: What Is Love? (2015), which marked the first appearance of Anne and Hiroki Hasegawa in “Getsu9,” is a unique and heartwarming work that stands apart from other romance dramas. Anne plays a highly rational woman who graduated from the University of Tokyo’s graduate school, almost like a robot. On the other hand, Hasegawa plays a self-proclaimed high-level freelancer and a reclusive NEET. The story comically depicts how these two clumsy individuals gradually change while reflecting on themselves. This is a work I want to see in this era, where young people are becoming more cautious about love.

Usui: The themes of “Getsu9” have continued to evolve over the years, reaching a new frontier this year. The “Getsu9” drama Umi no Hajimari (July) is neither a romance nor a family drama. The protagonist, Natsu (Ren Meguro, 27), suddenly learns of the death of his ex-girlfriend Mizuki and that they had a daughter together. The story follows Natsu as he faces his current partner, people around Mizuki, and his daughter, but it doesn’t just evoke simple empathy or emotional attachment; it feels as though it’s asking, “How will you live?” The entire work inherits the calmness of the talk-of-the-town series Silent, where no one shouts loudly. However, the pain in the characters’ hearts gradually resonates. It deeply explores the essential parts of humanity, resulting in a very profound theme.

—— We’ve discussed everything from classic masterpieces to recent dramas, but I would like you to determine the strongest Getsu9 drama.

Usui: Personally, I consider HERO to be the strongest. The quality of the courtroom scenes is high, and the characters, such as the prosecutor (Hiroshi Abe, 60) who has an affair with a colleague while valuing his family and the head prosecutor (Takuzo Kadono, 76) who is filled with self-preservation, are very compelling. The office workers, including Takako Matsu, Munetaka Aoki, and Tomohiro Yashima, are all talented actors. It’s undoubtedly a special work that expanded the possibilities of “Getsu9.” If I had to mention another, it would be Confidence Man JP. The unique characters of the con artists are vividly portrayed, and I feel a special charm in the clever storytelling that not only deceives the villains but also the viewers.

Tayuki: Personally, my favorite is Nodame Cantabile, but Confidence Man JP is indeed wonderful. The recognition of the work itself is high, and many people may not know it aired on “Getsu9.” I think Confidence Man JP is the strongest in the sense that it’s a masterpiece that transcends the boundaries of “Getsu9”!

 

Date: What Is Love? (January 2015)

Starring: Anne

Highest Rating: 14.8%

 

From the October 11, 2024 issue of FRIDAY