Details
Title: 年下の男
Title (romaji): Toshishita no Otoko
Also known as: Younger Man / Younger Men
Format: Renzoku
Genre: Melodrama
Episodes: 11
Viewership ratings: 12.75%
Broadcast network: TBS
Broadcast period: 2003-Jan-09 to 2003-Mar-20
Air time: Thursday 22:00
Opening Theme Song: Hana by SINBA
BGM Theme Song: TSUKIKAGE by Takahashi Katsunori
Synopsis
Yamaguchi Chikako (30) is a woman who's longing for love and marriage. Because of her 30 years of age, she's finding it more difficult to find a man who will marry her. Her brother Taku (22), who's still attending law school, hangs out with his best friend Kengo (22) and his girlfriend Asami (19). Kengo is in love with Chikako, but she keeps turning him down (who would want to date a man eight years her junior?)
Hanae (51), Chikako's mother, is also looking for love, seeing she's not getting it from her husband Mitsuru (51). With both Chikako and Taku grown up and basically self-sufficient, Hanae finds herself alone, "over the hill" and un-attractive.
Within the first episode alone, the entire storyline is set in place. At the local gym, Chikako meets up with Izaki Shun (43), an advertising executive. Right out of the gate, she's in love with Shun. Outside of the gym, she asks Shun to marry her. Shun immediately responds her with a NO. He didn't even think about it!
The next day, Shun visits a bento shop, where he runs into Hanae. Hanae manages the shop. Shun is intriqued by Hanae, so he asks her out to dinner. A bowl of shark fin soup for dinner at a fancy restaurant, and by the end of the night she's counting ceiling tiles.
What makes the story interesting is that Hanae has no knowledge of Chikako's relationship with Shun, and Chikako doesn't know that Hanae is having an affair with Shun. But like other Japanese dramas, a town is only so small, right?
Toshishita no Otoko is about older women who are seeking purpose in their lives. The series is also about a family of four who each keep even the darkest of secrets to themselves, while living under the same roof. When the truth about everything finally surfaces, it's like the old saying: When it rains, it pours! --- written by groink
Cast
Inamori Izumi as Yamaguchi Chikako
Takahashi Katsunori as Izaki Shun
Fubuki Jun as Yamaguchi Hanae
Kashu Toshiki as Tsuji Kengo
Aso Yumi as Tamai Azusa
Hoshino Mari as Kitamura Asami
Hirata Mitsuru as Yamaguchi Yuichiro
Yamazaki Yuta as Yamaguchi Taku
Suzuki Ranran as Sugimoto Mami
Takahashi Masaya as Okazaki Jiro
Watanabe Dai
Production Credits
Screenwriter: Uchidate Makiko
Producer: Yaguchi Hisao (矢口久雄), Hashimoto Takashi (橋本孝)
Director: Sasaki Akimitsu (佐々木章光), Fujio Takashi (藤尾隆), Asano Atsuya (浅野敦也)
Music: Kuriyama Kazuki (栗山和樹)
Review
If you're looking for a drama with shock value ("No! I can't believe this is happening!!!"), this is a great drama to watch. If you find it very un-pleasing to watch a 51 year old woman making out with a 43 year old man, you may want to stay away. Despite the low viewership rating, the storyline and characters are quite entertaining. I give the drama 3.5 stars (out of 5) --- written by groink
Notes
JN Productions named the series "Younger Men". KIKU-TV aired the series using the same name. Using "men" in a plural form is actually more fitting to the drama's storyline, as both Shun and Kengo are involved with women eight years their senior.
