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

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%