Details
Title: 純情きらり (じゅんじょうきらり)
Title (romaji): Junjo Kirari
Also known as: Pure Heart
Genre: Family drama
Episodes: 156 (15 mins. each)
Viewership ratings: 1st=17.7 high=24.2 avg=19.4
Broadcast network: NHK
Broadcast period: 2006-Apr-03 to 2006-Sep-30
Air time: Monday thru Saturday at 8:15am
Series Synopsis
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.
Cast
Arimori Family
Miyazaki Aoi as Arimori Sakurako (heroine, age 15)
Miyama Karen as Sakurako (young girl)
Miura Tomokazu as Arimori Genichiro (father)
Terajima Shinobu as Arimori Fueko (oldest sister)
Kitano Kii as Fueko (young girl)
Igawa Haruka as Arimori Momoko (2nd oldest sister)
Matsuzawa Takeshi (松澤傑) as Arimori Yutaro (younger brother)
Yana Nobuo (八名信夫) as Okita Tokujiro (grandfather on mother's side)
Muroi Shigeru as Arimori Iso (aunt on father's side)
Yamacho Hatcho Production Plant
Toda Keiko as Matsui Kane (proprietress)
Murata Takehiro as Matsui Takuji (president)
Shiomi Sansei as Urabe Senkichi (master crafsman)
Tokui Yuu as Noyama Yoichi (clerk)
Isaka Toshiya (井坂俊哉) as Takeshima Kiyoshi (craftsman)
Music School
Hasegawa Hatsunori as Saionji Kimimaro (music teacher)
Nishijima Hidetoshi as Suji Togo (artist)
Fukushi Seiji as Matsui Tatsuhiko
Others
Gekidan Hitori as Saito Naomichi (lodger)
Hankai Kazuaki as Akiyama Hitoshi (saxaphone player)
Brother Tom
Abe Maiko
Shibuya Takeru
Arakawa Yu
Amada Reki (ep70)
Production Credits
Original story: Tsushima Yuko (津島佑子) Hi no Yama - Yamazaruki
Screenwriter: Asano Taeko
Music: Oshima Michiru
Theme song cello: Hasegawa Yoko
Narrator: Takeshita Keiko as Arimori Masa (Sakurako's deceased mother)
Notes
Animation director, Ito Yuichi, produced the title sequence by repeated computer processing of composite images of musical notes and objects made of clay and paper.
Okazaki City is famous for the Okazaki Castle, where Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu was born. It is also the location where Hatcho miso is produced, which has a unique flavor.
At the ending of each episode M-F, 「音楽をこよなく愛する人びと」, or "a person who really loves music" living in Aichi is introduced. These people have come to love music, and have been encouraged to do so in their homes.
Junjo Kirari DVD Box 1 will be released by NHK 2007-Mar-7.
