NHK’s Morning Drama Omusubi Starring Kanna Hashimoto Sparks Debate Over Its Earthquake Depiction
Kanna Hashimoto, the heroine of Omusubi, has also been chosen to host NHK’s Kohaku Uta Gassen (The Red and White Song Contest).Omusubi follows the heroine, Yonekida Yui (played by Kanna Hashimoto), born in 1989, who pursues her career as a nutritionist with a strong gal spirit, always staying true to herself. It’s portrayed as a “Heisei youth graffiti,” focusing on her energetic journey.
Despite casting Kanna Hashimoto, already considered a national actress, the drama seems to lack the expected excitement. The question remains: why isn’t the audience more engaged?
The year marks the 30th anniversary of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake.
In long-running morning dramas, it has traditionally been common to focus on historical figures from both pre- and post-war periods, such as in Tora ni Tsubasa, Boogie Woogie, Ranman, and Eire. These have been considered the classic formula for morning dramas. On the other hand, original contemporary dramas have often faced difficulties in gaining widespread popularity.
The scriptwriter for Omusubi, Nonji Nemoto, admitted that “recent original contemporary dramas for morning TV have been both good and bad, and they attract attention for many reasons. Honestly, I hesitated to write an original drama.” However, he felt strongly that it was important to create such a drama, especially since 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake.
This sense of responsibility is even stronger given that the drama is being produced by NHK Osaka Broadcasting Station. Despite the challenges, the team is tackling the project with determination. However, it’s not all headwinds.
When thinking of original contemporary dramas about earthquakes, Amachan—written by Kankuro Kudo and broadcast in the first half of 2013—immediately comes to mind. It successfully addressed the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and became popular, providing inspiration to the Omusubi team, including the writer and staff.
Evidence of Amachan’s influence can be found in Omusubi, which includes several scenes that seem to be tributes to the earlier drama.
