Taking a bite of Anpanman
NHK executives Ken Kurasaki and Hiroshi Kashi introduce DQ to the Japanese broadcaster’s latest daily drama – based on the artist behind a classic superhero character – and explain why character development is crucial to making its 15-minute episodes.
Airing since 1961, Japanese broadcaster NHK’s morning serial slot is nothing short of a national phenomenon. The 15-minute daily strand is part of many people’s daily routine, and continues to be one of the network’s top-rating programmes, with new stories launching twice a year.
The slot’s 112th series is the currently airing Anpan, which depicts the life of the artist behind Anpanman, a beloved Japanese superhero with a head made of pastry filled with a red bean paste (the titular Anpan). When he’s not patrolling the neighbourhood, he’s fighting a germ-like character who tries to bully others, while also trying to preserve his head, of which he might offer a piece to a hungry person. He can also regain his health and strength when his Uncle Jam bakes him a new head.
The character has been made famous by picturebooks and then an anime series. This new drama, meanwhile, is inspired by the life of manga artist Yanase Takashi, who published the Anpan books in 1973 until his death in 2013. In the show, when Takashi struggles to find meaning in life, his wife Nobu refuses to let him to give up on his dreams, with the pair having come from humble origins and survived a world war as they continue to overcome adversity at every turn.
Produced by NHK and distributed internationally by NHK Enterprises, the 120-part series debuted in March and stars Takumi Kitamura as Takashi and Mio Imada as Nobu, alongside Yuumi Kawai, Kotaro Yoshida, Takenouchi Yutaka, Sadawo Abe and Nanako Matsushima. The script comes from Miho Nakazono.
Here, Anpan executive producer Ken Kurasaki and Hiroshi Kashi, head of drama productions at NHK, tell DQ more about the story that inspired the series, the production challenges behind making a 15-minute morning show, and the impact streaming has had on how daily dramas are now watched in Japan.
Introduce us to the story of Anpan.
Kurasaki: Nobu Asada is a trailblazer. As a girl in the 1920s, she would run through town like the wind. After the war, with all that she believed in crumbled away, Nobu determines never to trust anything unless she sees it for herself – and becomes the first post-war female journalist at the local newspaper.
There, she is reunited with her old schoolmate Takashi Yanai. Takashi harbours a dream of becoming a manga artist but is afraid to take the leap. Nobu, meanwhile, tells him to join her in Tokyo, quits her job and relocates. Takashi joins her and the couple begin their life in a rundown apartment that leaks when it rains, but where one can look upon the stars at night when the weather is clear. Together, the two can overcome any hardship. And with this formidable woman by his side, Takashi is destined to create some of the most memorable children’s classics of all time…
Why did you think this would be a good subject for NHK’s morning drama slot?Kurasaki: In recent years, I have found myself unconsciously humming Anpanman’s March more frequently. As we enter an era when life expectancy is reaching 100 years, the older I get, the more I struggle with how to live, and then these lyrics resonate with me even more deeply.
Why was I born, and what should I do with my life? I don’t want to live without knowing the answer
Life is truly a once-in-a-lifetime journey, and I often wonder how I truly want to live. This is what sparked my interest in Takashi Yanase, who created these lyrics, and his wife Nobu, who continued to support him.
Anpanman is a character that almost every child in Japan gets hooked on at least once in their life, and he is so beloved that he is considered an indispensable character to the Japanese people. Anpanman will give part of his own face to those who are hungry. A true hero of justice is not someone who defeats others, but someone who can sacrifice themselves for others, and I feel that this spirit is what is needed in today’s world.
Anpanman became a hit when Takashi was 69 years old, making him a late bloomer. I thought his story of how Anpanman was born after meeting Nobu would be perfect to depict in the morning drama format over six months, and I was confident it would be a subject viewers would enjoy.
Who are the main characters and how do we follow them through the series?
Kurasaki: The main characters are Takashi Yanai (similar to his real name, Yanase, but different) and his wife Nobu Asada, who became the first female journalist after the war. She was the driving force behind Takashi, who became a successful manga artist later in life after working in various professions. When he quit his job at the local newspaper to move to Tokyo, or when he left his position at a department store to become a freelance manga artist, it was Nobu’s actions and words that were always there. She had what you might call ‘breakthrough power.’
Without Nobu, the manga artist Takashi Yanai would not have existed. Their tumultuous lives, filled with not only joy but also overcoming hardships and sadness, will surely inspire viewers and share with them the joy of living.
What is the writing process on the show?
Kurasaki: First, we thoroughly researched extensive material about the Yanase couple and about Kochi, which is the location where the couple actually lived in their youth and where the drama is set. We then created a simplified timeline and rough plot for all 26 weeks. We repeatedly refined the overall flow and started by sharing the story’s concept and the message we wanted to convey with the entire team. We aimed to depict known historical facts as faithfully as possible, including the timeline. Based on this, we created the plot, engaged in discussions and then began working on the first draft.
Since a morning drama requires 15 minutes of broadcast every day for six months, speed is crucial. Additionally, when depicting an era we are unfamiliar with, historical research is an important element. While working on the script for the coming week, we also have experts verify the historical details, enhancing the script’s precision until we reach the final version.
What challenges are there making the series?
Kurasaki: As we need to depict the more than 50 years, spanning from pre-war to post-war, the thorough portrayal of Takashi’s war experiences was unavoidable. It was his experience of extreme hunger on the battlefield that later led to the creation of Anpanman. Through the war, Nobu and Takashi experience that “justice can easily be overturned,” and they continuously asked themselves, “So then, what is justice that cannot be overturned?” They spent their lives finding their own answers to this question.
Portraying the war accurately is challenging and requires the team’s commitment. However, in a world where there is a strange trend of claiming one’s own justice and defeating everything unpleasant, we feel it is necessary to confront and address this topic properly.
Tell us more about the show’s daily 15-minute format – is there a structure to every episode?
Kashi: There is no specific format. Currently, in Japan, we broadcast five episodes a week, one episode a day from Mondays to Fridays. Just like any regular drama, we aim to create a climax/highlight in each episode and often structure the story with a beginning, development, turn, and conclusion within the week’s arc.
What are the rules for making a shortform daily drama for this morning slot? Does the series need to have a certain tone or style?
Kashi: There are both contemporary and historical stories. Some morning drama series depict real people, while others are entirely original. There are no set rules, but 90% of the protagonists in morning dramas we’ve made so far are women. Viewers spend six months cheering on these protagonists as they overcome various obstacles to pursue their dreams.
In Japan, it has become part of people’s daily routine to watch the morning drama before going to work or school or before starting household chores. We aim to create dramas that are suitable for the start of the day, giving viewers courage and energy. This is why many morning dramas are based on people who have achieved something significant.
And what does production look like, compared to a ‘traditional’ hourlong drama series?
Kashi: Morning dramas are broadcast on weekday mornings for more than a period of six months. Series produced before 2019 typically had 156 episodes, while series produced after 2019 have an average of 120 episodes. By watching the drama daily over a long period, viewers gradually feel more attached to the characters and can deeply empathise with them. Therefore, character development is crucial – not only of the protagonist but also of the surrounding characters, whose stories are usually depicted in parallel. While the overall story’s appeal is necessary, a successful morning drama often creates many captivating characters.
With record numbers of viewers now watching Anpan on NHK’s streaming and catch-up platform, what is the future for the daily drama after 112 instalments?
Kashi: The environment surrounding television and the media landscape is currently undergoing a major transformation, but production-wise for drama, the values and methods we’ve nurtured over the years have not and probably will not change. As we are doing with Anpan, we will aim to maintain our viewer base through broadcasting while also attracting new viewers through streaming.
Why might the series appeal to international audiences?
Kurasaki: The philosophy and messages of Anpanman and Takashi Yanase have universal appeal that can easily resonate with people not only in Japan but around the world, even if they don’t know Anpanman itself. I hope to share this drama with people worldwide and would love to learn how they perceive it.
Like that? Watch this! Suggested by AI, selected by DQ
Massan: A previous entry among NHK’s daily dramas, this series aired in 2014, inspired by Masataka Taketsuru and his Scottish wife Jessie Cowan and their attempts to open a whiskey distillery.
Good Morning Call: This romantic 2017 teen series follows Nao, who rents her dream apartment, only to find she will be sharing it with the school heartthrob.
Midnight Diner: An anthology series based on a manga series, it focuses on a late-night diner and its mysterious chef, with each episode exploring the stories of different customers.
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tagged in: Anpan, Anpanman, Hiroshi Kashi, Ken Kurasaki, NHK, NHK Enterprises