Matsuyuki plays the part of Nao Suzuhara, an elementary school teacher. When she realizes that one of the female students is receiving abuse from her mother, Nao's maternal instincts kick in, and she impulsively decides to bring the girl into her own care. Serving as a substitute mother, Nao takes the child on a trip from Hokkaido to Tokyo, and the two experience various events together along the way. --Tokyograph

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  Matsuyuki Yasuko (Suzuhara Nao)

  Main Role

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  Ashida Mana (Michiki Reina)

  Main Role

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  Otoo Takuma (Kayama Keigo)

  Supporting Role

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  Ono Machiko (Michiki Hitomi)

  Supporting Role

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  Sakai Wakana (Suzuhara Mei)

  Supporting Role

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  Takahata Atsuko (Suzuhara Toko)

  Supporting Role

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  Rising Young Stars

  0000 gives you her top 3 noteworthy young actors.

  • 19 days ago

• Mar 31, 2012 11 of 11 episodes seen

  shiningskyline
  16 of 17 people found this review helpful
  Other reviews by this user
  • Overall  10
  • Story  10
  • Acting/Cast  10
  • Music  8
  • Rewatch Value  9

  You know a drama's good when it makes you cry. You know it's excellent when it turns you into a snivelling wreck every single episode. Thus, my main issue with Mother was what it cost me in Kleenex.
  
  The most devastating thing about this drama (and there are a fair few to choose from) is that you know there's no way it can end happily. It's very premise sets it up to have at best a bittersweet ending.It is extremely well written in this respect, and believable throughout. I found myself truly invested in the characters and the storyline, desperately hoping both Nao and Reina could find safety and happiness on a more permanent basis than constantly being on the run.
  
  I would now spend a paragraph picking apart the faults of this drama, except I'm rather convinced it doesn't have them. Everything from the acting (Ashida Mana may have become my favourite child actor of all time through this drama) to the movie-esque quality to the filming records it down as a must-watch in my book. It truly is once watched, never forgotten. read more

  report I found this review Helpful Not Helpful
• Dec 14, 2012 11 of 11 episodes seen

  TheTranquilKnight
  14 of 15 people found this review helpful
  Other reviews by this user
  • Overall  10
  • Story  10
  • Acting/Cast  10
  • Music  9
  • Rewatch Value  8

  I’ll keep this review short and simple. Mother is an award winning drama of 2010. It won 2 best drama awards, 3 best actress awards, 3 best supporting actress awards and also 1 best newcomer award, 2 screenplay awards and 1 direction award; and it deserves every award. Mother is one of those dramas that have ability to create huge impact on viewers. It’s one of few meaningful dramas that make you think about life.
  
  Story of this drama is very serious. Writers brought up very unusual and sensitive humanity related topics like child abuse, abandoning child, foster parents and adoption. Story is quite realistic and has strong sub plots of background of some characters. Story is strong enough to keep you glued to screen from very first moment to very last moment. It’s soft and warm. It’s slow but to enjoy beauty of this kind of drama slow pace is required.
  It has one of the most beautiful endings I've ever seen. Writers gave best possible ending.
  
  There isn't overacting like other Asian dramas. Matsuyuki Yasuko is great as Suzuhara Nao. Wonder kid Ashida Mana is incredible at such young age. She is charming and cute. Chemistry between her and Matsuyuki Yasuko is really beautiful. Supporting cast is great too.
  
  With amazing sensitive and moving topic, great acting and superb music makes this drama one of my most favorite dramas.
  
  Mother is a drama which won’t suit many people’s taste. So if you’re bored of sappy and unrealistic dramas or looking for a drama related with humanity and realism, watch it!! read more

  report I found this review Helpful Not Helpful

• 
  The Queen's Classroom

  Both Mother and The Queen's Classroom have theme of abuse. Both are different from typical dramas, moving, realistic, thought provoking and all about life.

  reportRecommended by TheTranquilKnight
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  The Crucible

  Both stories based on children who suffer abuse. The Crucible is a lot darker & more graphic dealing with sexual abuse

  reportRecommended by Doomed