Details
Title: 女の一代記
Title (romaji): Onna no Ichidaiki
Also known as: A Woman's Biography
Genre: Human fiction based on real facts
Broadcast network: Fuji TV
Theme song: Inochi no Relay, by Nakajima Miyuki
Renzoku
Episodes: 3 (in separate story format)
Broadcast period: 2005-Nov-24 through 2005-Nov-26 (three nights)
Air time: 21:00
Synopsis
The real-life experiences of three famous women over the last century.
The First Night
Title: 『瀬戸内寂聴~出家とは生きながら死ぬこと』
Title (romaji): "Setouchi Jakucho: Shukke to wa Ikinagara Shinu Koto"
Viewership ratings: 18.5%
The first night retells the story of Setouchi Harumi, a woman with a troubled history of divorce and adultery who eventually abandons her family and leaves for Tokyo to devote herself to writing. She becomes involved in an affair with novelist Kosugi Shingo and with his help she wins a literature contest and succeeds in getting her first novel published. The drama recounts the events that shaped Harumi into today's Setouchi Jakucho, a well-respected writer and Buddhist nun.
Cast
Miyazawa Rie as Setouchi Harumi (Jakucho)
Abe Hiroshi as Kosugi Shingo
Nakamura Kantaro (中村勘太郎) as Kinoshita Ryouta
Hino Shohei as Saeki Juuzou
Ichige Yoshie as Setouchi Koharu
Ibu Masato as Kon Toukou
Sano Shiro as Kusumoto
Osugi Ren as Setouchi Toyokichi
Saito Yuki as Setouchi Tsuya
Izumi Pinko as Omata Kin
Production Credits
Original writing: Basho, Setouchi Jakucho (Shinchosha, 2004)
Screenwriter: Kamiyama Yumiko (神山由美子)
Executive producers: Ota Toru, Ishihara Takashi
Producers: Nakamura Yuriko (中村百合子), Suzuki Shintaro (鈴木伸太郎), Nagai Reiko (永井麗子)
Director: Hoshida Yoshiko (星田良子)
The Second Night
Title: 『越路吹雪・愛の生涯~この命燃えつきるまで私は歌う』
Title (romaji): "Koshiji Fubuki: Ai no Shougai ~ Kono Inochi Moetsukiru made Watashi wa Utau"
Viewership ratings: 19.8%
The second night follows the life story of Koshiji Fubuki, a woman who lives and breathes music and theatre. As a member of the Takarazuka Revue, she comes to know Iwatani Tokiko, who works behind-the-scenes for the theatre troupe, and the two become intimate friends. When Koshiji decides to leave Takarazuka for the world of cinema, Iwatani joins her as her manager. The drama depicts Koshiji's early struggle as a singer and eventual rise to national fame, and the manager who stood behind the curtain supporting her throughout her career.
Cast
Amami Yuki as Koshiji Fubuki
Matsushita Yuki as Iwatani Tokiko
Ozawa Yukiyoshi as Naitou Tsunemi
Sudo Risa as Yuuko (Koshiji's fan)
Uehara Misa as Ota Kazuko (helper)
Watanabe Tetsu as the cabaret manager
Nukumizu Youichi as the Takarazuka publishing editor
Aragaki Yui as Koshiji Fubuki (child)
Tanihara Shosuke as Toshiro Mayuzumi
Tsurumi Shingo as Yamamoto Shirou (Nichigeki director)
Harada Taizo as Abe (Koshiji's mahjong partner)
Tamura Ryo as Matsuoka Tatsurou (Toho president)
Kazama Morio as Fujimoto Sanezumi (president of Fujimoto Productions)
Production Credits
Original writing: Ai to Kanashimi no Refrain, Iwatani Tokiko (Kodansha, 1982)
Screenwriter: Mizutani Ryuji (水谷龍二)
Executive producers: Ota Toru, Ishihara Takashi
Producer: Kita Reiko (喜多麗子)
Director: Nagayama Kozo
The Final Night
Title: 『悪女の一生~芝居と結婚した女優・杉村春子の生涯~』
Title (romaji): "Akujo no Isshou: Shibai to Kekkon Shita Joyuu, Sugimura Haruko no Shougai"
Viewership ratings: 15.9%
The final night follows the story of Nakano Haruko, a young girl with a love for the theatre, born into a family that runs a residence for geisha. After discovering that she is actually the illegimate daughter of a geisha, she strikes out on her own, heading for Tokyo to pursue her dream of becoming a singer. The story depicts two facets of Nakano's life: one as the star actress of the Japanese stage, Sugimura Haruko, and one as a woman yearning for love and family.
Cast
Yonekura Ryoko as Sugimura Haruko
Yanagiba Toshiro as Morimoto Kaoru
Yamaguchi Tatsuya as Nagahiro Kishirou
Narimiya Hiroki as Ishiyama Toshihiko
Sugita Kaoru as Tagami Fuyuko
Itao Itsuji as Ogawa Yasuo
Sonim as Taichi Kiwako
Production Credits
Original writing: Sugimura Haruko: Joyuu to Shite, Onna to Shite, Nakamaru Mie (Bungei Shunju, 2005)
Screenwriter: Hayashi Hiroshi (林宏司)
Executive producers: Ota Toru, Ishihara Takashi
Producers: Nishioka Yoshinobu (西岡善信), Sakai Minoru (酒井実), Tsukada Youko (塚田洋子), Kurihara Miwako
Director: Hirano Shin
Special
Title: 女の一代記『向井千秋』
Title (romaji): Onna no Ichidaiki: Mukai Chiaki
Tagline: ~夢を宇宙に追いかけた人~ / Yume wo Uchuu ni Oikaketa Hito
Format: Tanpatsu
Episodes: 1
Viewership ratings: 9.7%
Broadcast period: 2007-Jan-12
Air time: 21:00~23:07
Synopsis
This special retells the story of Mukai Chiaki, an upbeat woman with a can-do attitude. Overturning the stereotypical image of women, she ventures into the field of medicine as a surgeon, a profession dominated by men. But one day she realizes she has even bigger dreams and sets her eyes on becoming the first Japanese woman to go to outer space.
Cast
Morisako Ei → Kanno Miho as Mukai Chiaki
Ishiguro Ken as Mukai Makio
Sakurai Shizuku (櫻井詩月) → Kato Rosa as Naitou Chiharu
Morimoto Leo as Professor Kurihashi
Nishimura Masahiko as Sugimoto
Inoue Jun as Naitou Kikuo
Yoshiyuki Kazuko as Naitou Mitsu
Hayakawa Yasutaka (早川恭崇)
Maruyama Ayumu (丸山歩夢)
Tsuji Yoshihito (辻義人) as Mori Mamoru
Haneda Youichi (羽根田陽一) as Doi Takao
Production Credits
Original writing: Kimi ni Tsuite Ikou, Mukai Makio (Kodansha, 1998); Zoku: Kimi ni Tsuite Ikou -- Nyoubou ga Uchuu wo Tonda, Mukai Makio (Kodansha, 2002)
Screenwriter: Orito Nobuhiro (折戸伸弘)
Executive producers: Ota Toru, Ishihara Takashi
Producers: Makino Tadashi (牧野正), Azuma Yasuyuki (東康之)
Director: Suzuki Masayuki
Music: Oshima Michiru
