Details
Title: ひまわり
Title (romaji): Himawari
Also known as: Sunflower
Tagline: 夏目雅子２７年の生涯と母の愛
Tagline (romaji): Masako Natsume 27-sai no Shougai to Haha no Ai
Format: Tanpatsu
Genre: Human drama
Viewership ratings: 13.6
Broadcast network: TBS
Broadcast date: 2007-Sep-16
Air time: Sunday 21:00
Synopsis
Based on the book Futari no Masako by Odate Sue. The drama will be about the life of actress Masako Natsume, who died of leukemia in 1985 at the age of 27. --Tokyograph
Masako Odate is the only daughter of Sue and Kazu Odate. She aspired to be an actress, because she wanted to live the lives of other people; experience their pain and joy, which may be very different from her's. Sue objected to Masako entering the entertainment world, as she felt that actresses were frivilous and thought too highly of themselves. However, with her father's and elder brother's support, Masako managed to overcome Sue's objections. Unfortunately, her first acting experience bombed out, and she wasn't getting anywhere in acting. Then, the Kanebo marketing people saw her picture, and decided to make her their character girl. Again, Sue objected to it initially, and told Masako that should she decide to pursue this path, then she must stop using the Odate family name. And thus Natsume Masako was born!
Masako went on to become one of Japan's most successful actress of the 80's, but her life was cut tragically short, when she was diagnosed with acute leukimia. Chemotherapy was a new way of treating cancer, then, and it was only used by Masako as a last resort. Although, it seemed like she had successfully battled the disease, and was due for discharge, Masako caught a chill, and her health rapidly deteriorated. She died on November 9th, 1985.
Cast
Nakama Yukie as Natsume (Odate) Masako
Yagi Yuki as the young Masako
Mita Yoshiko as Odate Sue
Kishibe Ittoku as Odate Munekazu
Kaneko Ken as Odate Kazuo
Ishiguro Hideo as Odate Toshiaki
Shimizu Shuto (清水志優人) as the young Toshiaki
Ogata Naoto as Ijuuin Shizu
Hasegawa Hatsunori
Okamori Akira (岡森諦)
Tanaka Yoshiko
Takeda Tetsuya
Enjoji Aya
Mano Yuko
Ran Issei (乱一世)
Yamazaki Satohiro (山崎聡弘)
Yasoda Yuichi (八十田勇一)
Ichikawa Isamu
Muto Akiko (武藤晃子)
Yamazaki Nobuo (嶋崎伸夫)
Production Credits
Original Work: Odate Sue (小達スエ) Futari no Masako (novel)
Screenwriter: Sato Shimako
Producer: Matsubara Hiroshi, Shimizu Masaya (清水雅哉)
Director: Takezono Hajime
