Kie Kitano

The 74th NHK Asadora Drama is Junjo Kirari, which means something along the lines of "pure-hearted Kirari." The story is set in Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture in the era around the Second World War. When the story opens in 1928, the heroine, Sakurako, is a very active seven-year-old girl. Indeed, even in the first episode she exhibits her confidence and enthusiasm. But above all else, Sakurako is interested in becoming a jazz pianist, and music features extensively in the plot.

Dr. Shindo seems cold, but is a competent surgeon. He is also an ER doctor capable of accurate decisions and treatment, who always tries to see things from the patient’s side. Although once retired from his profession, he one day discovers someone in need of help, who he treats and rushes to the Kohoku Medical University Emergency Center. This incident encourages him to once again work as an ER doctor. Confrontation erupts between female doctor Tamaki, and Shindo, now a just-arrived ER doctor. While this human drama depicts the relationships among doctors and nurses, it appeals emotionally to viewers on the subject of life.

Okuhara Natsu was born in Tokyo in 1937. In 1945, she loses both parents to war and becomes an orphan, but her father’s comrade, Shibata Takeo, takes her in and moves to Tokachi in Hokkaido. In an unfamiliar land surrounded by unfamiliar people, Natsu feels lost at first, but surrounded by Tokachi’s vast nature and its strong, yet compassionate people, she grows up to be a strong girl. When Natsu enters elementary school, she meets Yamada Tenyo who draws lovely pictures of horses. Tenyo tells her that in America, animation in which pictures move is becoming popular, Natsu’s curiosity is piqued. Upon graduating high school, Natsu goes to Tokyo to look up her brother, and takes a jump into the world of animation.

After her mother took the blame for a tragic fire 13 years ago, Anzu plots revenge by working as a housekeeper under a pseudonym for her icy stepmother.

Based on the manga by Ritsu Miyako, this unique drama pairs a penniless detective with a razor-sharp eye for detail with a mysterious woman who can detect lies...?! Together, they unravel complex cases where truth and deception intertwine like threads in a delicate web, all set against the backdrop of a retro-modern cityscape.

When the creator of the world, Arceus, comes to pass judgement on humanity for the theft of the legendary Jewel of Life, Ash and his friends are sent back in time to possibly reverse the events that led to Arceus' vendetta.

Miki Ichinose is a 14-year-old schoolgirl who is very outgoing and cheerful. She lives with her parents and younger brother. She is in a romantic relationship with Satoshi Kirino who is 15 years old. They keep their relationship a secret from their parents because Miki is young and Satoshi is expected to excel in school and get into a university so he can take over the family business by his overbearing mother. One night, after a date, they sneak into a treehouse and consummate their relationship. Soon after, Miki suspects that she is pregnant and steals a pregnancy test, which her mother later finds. She is taken to a doctor who confirms her pregnancy. Initially upset, Miki's parents promise they will support her. Miki tells Satoshi of the pregnancy and he takes the news well. However, his mother is furious when she learns of it and forbids the two from seeing each other.

A transgender bar owner and a troubled housewife uncover buried regrets and get caught in a murder mystery in Osaka, where literature and intuition guide them toward the truth.

Adapted from Keiko Suenobu's manga "LIFE," this drama delves into the dark side of high school life. The story focuses mainly on bullying, but the manga also touches on subjects such as self-mutilation, suicide, and rape. Kitano Kii stars as Ayumu Shiiba, one of the students bullied by a group of classmates led by Ayumu's former friend, Manami Anzai (Fukuda Saki).

A 38 years-old single woman Mugimaki Satoko’s life has completely changed after being diagnosed with a "lifelong" illness. She is forced to quit her job and finds an old housing complex with a monthly rent of 50,000 yen. With her landlord living next door and a sketchy cook, Satoko encounters "medicinal cuisine," a way of eating seasonal food to maintain bodily functions. A story that will warm you from the bottom of your stomach, just like a bowl of rice porridge, is about to begin!

A woman with one year left to live meets a high school student who has lost all emotions other than joy.

Master thief Kinosuke arrives in Edo to pull off one final heist for a tea-server who resembles his long-lost love, while Hasegawa Heizo’s spy Kumehachi tries to stop him, only to be exposed and trapped alongside the thief by Kinosuke's own crew.

During a fierce battle in Japan's Warring States era, a young swordswoman named Yui is suddenly transported 500 years into the future by the mysterious blade Muramasa. Lost in modern-day Japan, Yui finds refuge at a traditional brewery in Usuki, Oita. While struggling to understand this unfamiliar world, she discovers something she has never seen before: KENDO, the modern martial art descended from the swordsmanship she devoted her life to mastering. The brewery's KENDO club, once proud and successful, is on the verge of collapse. Determined to protect what she believes is worth preserving, Yui helps revive the team alongside Masato Fujii, the brewery's young president and a former national champion who abandoned KENDO after inheriting the family business. As the team prepares for an impossible challenge against their long-time rivals, Yui and Masato grow closer. Yet the possibility that Yui may someday return to her own time threatens the future they are beginning to imagine together.

In 1905, in the village of Asotsu, Fukui prefecture. Gozaemon Masunaga was struggling to establish industry in the area. At that time, his younger brother, Kohachi, proposed manufacturing eyeglass frames in the village. Amid fierce opposition from the villagers, the two begin a difficult journey together. This is the story of two brothers who changed the world with their glasses.

A stage play adaptation of William Shakespeare's timeless masterpiece "Romeo and Juliet". The setting is Verona, a dark city where "the present" and "the past" intertwine. The romance of pure lovers and the unresolved passions and conflicts of young people will be presented in a contemporary and fantastical way through a richly artistic movement that combines theater and dance.

Japanese adaptation of Agatha Christie's A Murder is Announced.

Having lost her parents at a young age, Osumi was taken in by her uncle, who ran a shoe shop, and grew up without ever experiencing happiness or a sense of joy. Against her will, she was betrothed to a rough-mannered clog maker named Katsuzo, and she lived a gloomy life. Then one night, a stranger named Shinshichi suddenly bursts into her home, where she lives alone, and begs her to hide him. As she reluctantly takes in this man with a mysterious past, Osumi gradually begins to feel a flutter in her heart.

Shinjiro Watari, a former tap dancer, plays the lead as a dancer who is forced into retirement following an accident while on stage. He tries his hand at Directing, but struggles to make the transition. Shinjiro turns to alcohol to cope with his plight. But when the manager of a theater being closed down turns to Shinjiro to direct its final performance, he works with a group young dancers and in the process learns a few things about himself. The movie is very well done and worth the price of admission. A view into the Japanese dancing world, as well as Japanese society.

Akira Mochizuki survived a kidnapping as a child. Now, she's a detective, and there are signs that the kidnapper may be back again after 20 years.

Following the death of his wife professor Kyoichi leads a solitary life by the sea. A stray cat called Mii, who was being fed by his wife, not only continues to drop by, but also seems to be visiting the altar Kyoichi has set up for his deceased wife. While uncomfortable with the cat and its visits, he nonetheless takes up a search when Mii goes missing. The endeavour connects him with the town's folk and reveals that he is not alone.

The talented Korean tenor, Bae, who penetrate the audience's hears through his delicate and powerful singing, is on the rise to stardom at the European opera scene. Sawada, a Japanese music producer, is searching for a new tenor for an upcoming performance. He watches a performance of Bae and invites him to Japan, which marks the beginning of friendship. But, the thyroid cancer strikes Bae. During an operation, the nerves of his vocal cords has be cut due to the widely spread cancer. Unfortunately, Ba ends up losing his voice at the peak of his career. Sawada cant's stand to watch Bae's miserable so he starts to look for a solution.

Nobuko Sawaguchi is a surly, unattractive housekeeper in her mid-thirties. However, in actuality, she is a beautiful woman, but she hides this fact using her makeup because of a traumatic past experience. One day Nobuko is sent to housekeep for the Uehara family, known for its tremendous wealth. In the Uehara family, there is a massive quarrel over each member’s future succession and inheritance. In the middle of this hectic situation, Nobuko is asked by the daughter called Akemi to protect her.

Second year high school student Kodaka Hasegawa has transferred to his new school about a month ago, but he still hasn't made any friends. Kodaka Hasegawa was born from a Japanese father and a British mother. Because of his appearance, people think Kodaka Hasegawa is a troubled kid. One day, Kodaka Hasegawa sees classmate Yozora Mikazuki pleasantly talking to herself. Kodaka Hasegawa talks with her about how to make friends. To make friends, Yozora Mikazuki decides to form the Neighbor's Club and forces Kodaka to enroll in the club.

The third episode of "24時間女優-待つ女" titled "Kie Kitano x Toru Yamamoto," aired on Hikari TV, in November 22, 2013. This 8 minute short drama was born from a serious collaboration between the actress and the director. In the grounds of a shrine, where the scent of autumn fills the air, a girl in a school uniform (Kie Kitano) sits on a bench, reading an old poetry collection. As she is lost in the beautiful world of poetry, she is interrupted by the voice of a rough-mannered man, that says "Hey, let's play..."

25-year-old Nanami is managing an amateur band. She is broke, cannot pay her rent, and the singer has run off. Yoshinori is 65. His wife dies the day before his retirement. Having suddenly lost everything, he becomes desperate. After the two accidentally meet, Nanami moves into Yoshinori's place and invites a few other people to become their flatmates – the beginning of an extraordinary life together.

Ken Katakura (Naoto Takenaka) has worked as a salaryman for the past 25 years. He's on his way to Malaysia to stop his daughter's wedding. Unfortunately for Ken, the plane makes an emergency landing in a remote part of Malaysia, far from the capital city of Kuala Lumpur where he needs to go. With only 2 days left until his daughter marries, Ken looks for a way to get to Kuala Lumpur. Ken then comes across an odd Chinese truck driver named "Mary" and, with his help, sets out for Kuala Lumpur.

Natsumi (Kie Kitano) moves to Tokyo to enter a fine arts university. In Tokyo, Natsumi meets Ryosuke and they soon become a couple. Ryosuke is a good person, but he doesn't have a job. Every day he just loafs around. To pay for her living expenses, Natsumi begins work at bar. Natsumi and Ryosuke become estranged from each other. They decide to break up. Natsumi's book is finally published.

Film adaptation of an original story from Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum Director and Akutagawa Prize winner Yuichi Seirai, directed by Taro Hyugaji, who made the live-action version of Grave of the Fireflies. Depicts the fateful encounter between a daughter whose mother has died and a mother whose daughter has died. Jazz pianist Makoto Ozone makes his debut as a film composer. University student Kiyomi (Kie Kitano) is wracked by guilt after her mother dies of a heart attack the night they have an argument. Meanwhile, Saori (Izumi Inamori) finds out she is pregnant, but her daughter died a year before, and she is terrified of losing another child.

Former actor Mito Yusuke has spent years searching for the truth behind the mysterious death of his beloved wife, a teacher at the prestigious private boys’ school Mankai Academy. Believing her death is connected to an incident she had been investigating, Mito conceals his identity and infiltrates the school as a teacher.

A couple facing infertility struggles appears to have a perfect marriage, but the husband hides a secret life that puts their relationship at risk.

At a police unit dedicated to supporting crime victims, two women with contrasting approaches work together to help survivors rebuild their lives while confronting the emotional aftermath of tragedy.

A transgender bar owner and a troubled housewife uncover buried regrets and get caught in a murder mystery in Osaka, where literature and intuition guide them toward the truth.

A 38 years-old single woman Mugimaki Satoko’s life has completely changed after being diagnosed with a "lifelong" illness. She is forced to quit her job and finds an old housing complex with a monthly rent of 50,000 yen. With her landlord living next door and a sketchy cook, Satoko encounters "medicinal cuisine," a way of eating seasonal food to maintain bodily functions. A story that will warm you from the bottom of your stomach, just like a bowl of rice porridge, is about to begin!

A heartwarming drama inspired by true stories of individuals who built new lives in 12 cities and towns across Fukushima.

Based on the manga by Ritsu Miyako, this unique drama pairs a penniless detective with a razor-sharp eye for detail with a mysterious woman who can detect lies...?! Together, they unravel complex cases where truth and deception intertwine like threads in a delicate web, all set against the backdrop of a retro-modern cityscape.

The wives take down the worst husbands who trample on their wives' dignity! A new, "at-home" revenge story that depicts the extreme situations of three couples at the end of their marriages and their condemnation of their husbands in an omnibus format!

After her mother took the blame for a tragic fire 13 years ago, Anzu plots revenge by working as a housekeeper under a pseudonym for her icy stepmother.

Akizuki Haruto, a police detective on childcare leave, finds himself solving cases using the hints he notices while raising his infant son, Ren, in this light mystery. Along with his wife Saki, Haruto is navigating the challenges of parenthood when he is unexpectedly taken hostage during a robbery. Despite the tense situation, Haruto uses his keen observation skills to gather clues and secretly calls his own police division for assistance. However, as he deals with the unfolding events, he must also attend to Ren's needs, including diaper changes and feeding times, adding a unique twist to his crime-solving endeavors.

Kagura Ran is a former child actor-turned-lawyer who left the legal circle after her best friend was framed of murder. A year later, an article written by scriptwriter Kurosawa Jin about her ends up circulating online in which she becomes acknowledged as a capable lawyer who has never lost a case. She decides to resume her work as a lawyer once more, and attempts to regain her trust in the law by joining forces with Kurosawa in order to exonerate her friend from the accusation and resolve the case once and for all.

“Who is the last person you would like to see？” When junior high school teacher Sakuraba Ayako wakes up, she sees a man standing there. Calling himself a guide of this mysterious place that extends in front of them, he tells her that this is “goodbye’s other side”. As his words sink in, Ayako recalls that she has died. She lets slip that she had never thought she would die in this manner. Visitors to this other side can meet people of this world one last time within a 24-hour time period. Ayako immediately thinks of her son Yuta and husband Hirotaka. However, the guide says the ones she can meet are only those who still do not know about her death. Ayako goes to the house of her former teacher Ishibashi Nobuyoshi. She is greeted by his daughter Megumi, but Nobuyoshi passed away about two years ago…

A comedy drama set at a cineplex in a rural city and it features the people working there. Mizusawa Kenta is the general manager of the cineplex while Nakazuka Kaori is a manager who is transferred to the cineplex from the parent company.

Toko Aso and Hisae Aso are sisters with a "queen" and "slave" relationship. The older sister, Toko, has the beauty and talent that everyone envy and is currently the president of a company. Despite looking perfect, Toko has another side which she only exposes to her younger sister. Hisae on the other hand, only sees the reason for her existence when she is with her older sister. However, the relationship between the two sisters starts to fall apart after Toko fell in love with a man.

When a comatose salaryman's spirit becomes her unexpected wingman, an ordinary office worker's love life gets hilariously extraordinary.

Clad in her wedding dress, Izumi , a teacher at Seishun High School is found stabbed to death and floating in the school`s rooftop pool. A student confesses to being her murderer to Hibino Meina , class 3C`s president and Goshima, the detective in charge. Noting inconsistencies with their supposed methodology and an incomprehensible motive, this student`s confession is quickly ruled out , only to have another one immediately step forward to take responsibility for the crime. Why are her students claiming to be guilty? And how did she happen to be in her wedding dress?

Okuhara Natsu was born in Tokyo in 1937. In 1945, she loses both parents to war and becomes an orphan, but her father’s comrade, Shibata Takeo, takes her in and moves to Tokachi in Hokkaido. In an unfamiliar land surrounded by unfamiliar people, Natsu feels lost at first, but surrounded by Tokachi’s vast nature and its strong, yet compassionate people, she grows up to be a strong girl. When Natsu enters elementary school, she meets Yamada Tenyo who draws lovely pictures of horses. Tenyo tells her that in America, animation in which pictures move is becoming popular, Natsu’s curiosity is piqued. Upon graduating high school, Natsu goes to Tokyo to look up her brother, and takes a jump into the world of animation.

Okita’s older sister, Mitsuba, visits the quarters of the Shinsengumi to announce her marriage to the trader Kuraba Toma. The two siblings spend time together. Mitsuba worries that her brother has no friends and in order to assure her, he introduces Sakata Gintoki, who happened to pass by, as his best friend. Meanwhile, there are reports of strange boats going in and out of Edo. Hijikata Toshiro investigates this and it turns out that the incident has an unexpected link to Mitsuba.

A huge Japan newspaper company decides to sell itself due to failing sales. An eager buyer for the acquisition is a domineering Japanese man like Donald Trump who heads a foreign company. A dynamic finance drama that questions the role of the media of the 21st century.