Kankuro Kudo Returns to NHK Morning Drama With 'Hon no Mokichi' After 15 Years
Kudo's return to the asadora format, which he last wrote for the phenomenon 'Amachan,' is the biggest name attachment NHK could make for the 118th serial, and the choice of the unconventional Teruko Saito story signals a deliberate break from the usual morning drama mold.
Reporting from 1 sources: KAI-YOU.
NHK announced the 2028 morning drama 'Hon no Mokichi,' written by Kankuro Kudo, his first script for the slot since 'Amachan' in 2013. The series is based on poet Mokichi Saito and his wife Teruko, played by Yuumi Kawai. Kudo said he wants to take a completely different approach from last time.
NHK announced on June 4 that the 118th continuous television novel, 'Hon no Mokichi,' will air in the first half of 2028. The script comes from Kankuro Kudo, who last wrote a morning drama with the 2013 hit 'Amachan.' The series reconstructs the life of poet Mokichi Saito and his wife Teruko Saito, described as 'the most discordant couple in morning drama history.' Actress Yuumi Kawai, winner of the 48th Japan Academy Prize for Best Actress, will play Teruko. Kudo said he immediately thought of Kawai for the role and that the story, full of marital quarrels, will not be painful to watch with her in the lead.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.