The Ultimate Guide and Discussion Board for Asadora (Japanese Morning Dramas)

~ The MDL Asadora Discussion Thread ~

Hi guys, let's use this thread to discuss absolutely everything about Asadoras!

Renzoku Terebi Shousetsu ("serial TV novel"), also known as asadora ("Morning Drama"), is a serialized Japanese television drama programs series broadcast in the mornings by Japanese public broadcaster NHK. The asadora started in 1961 with the black-and-white 'A Daughter and Me' (Musume to Watashi), starring Takeshi Kitazawa. Today, works in the first half of the year are produced by the NHK Tokyo Broadcasting station and works in the second half of the year are produced by the NHK Osaka Broadcasting station.

Asadora currently airs in Japan Monday through Saturday morning on NHK General TV from 8:00 to 8:15, with a rebroadcast the same day from 12:45 to 13:00. The asadora have become some of the most popular shows on Japanese television, with series such as Oshin, earning an overall 52.6-percent ratings for the series.

Virtually all of the storylines center on the life of a female  heroine who faces challenges while working to achieve her dreams. The  heroine is chosen by NHK through an audition that involves interviews  with several thousand applicants. The winning actress not only stars in  an asadora, but also becomes a spokeswoman for NHK, and is usually involved in NHK-sponsored events—including the annual Kouhaku Uta Gassen New Year's Eve event. Often, the asadora serves as a springboard for  the actress to bigger and better opportunities within the Japanese  entertainment industry. - wiki

Fun facts:

• Each Asadora centers on the life of a female heroine who faces challenges while working to achieve her dream (and that is the main theme of the drama).
• Two Asadoras are released per one year.
• Each episode is broadcast 2x daily and lasts only 15 minutes.
• All protagonists are female, except for 9 Asadoras with male leads - Hashiran ka!, Romansu, Kokoru wa itsumo ramune-iro, Tabiji, Tamayura, Akatsuki, Musume to Watashi,  Ranman, and Yell .
• Welkame is the lowest rated Asadora to this date (13.5%).
• Oshin is the highest rated Asadora to this date (62.9%).
• Asadoras do not have to be only historical, they can be contemporary too.
• Some of the Asadoras are based on true events and real historical figures. 

THE LIST OF ALL ASADORAS

		Tora ni  Tsubasa 110th (2024)	Bugiugi 109th (2023)
		lawyer	singer

Ranman 108th (2023)	Mai Agare! 107th (2022)	Chimudondon 106th (2022)	Come Come  Everybody 105th (2021)
botanist *male protagonist	pilot	chef	radio teachers

Okaeri Mone 104th (2021)	Ochoyan 103rd (2020)	Yell 102th (2020)	Scarlet 101th (2019)
weather  forecaster	actress	composer *male protagonist	ceramics artist

Natsuzora 100th (2019)	Manpuku 99th (2018)	Hanbun, aoi. 98th (2018)	Warotenka  97th (2017)
animator	inventor of instant noodles	cartoonist	comedy/theater

Hiyokko 96th (2017)	Beppin-san 95th (2016)	Toto nee-chan 94th (2016)	Asa ga Kita 93th (2015)
restaurant (?)	a designer for children's clothes	female magazine	a businesswoman

Mare 92nd (2015)	Massan 91st (2014)	Hanako to Anne 90th (2014)	Gochisousan 89th (2013)
a pâtissière	distillery	a translator	Japanese cuisine

Amachan 88th (2013)	Jun & Ai 87th (2012)	Doctor Ume 86th (2012)	Carnation 85th (2011)
diving / an idol	hotel manager	a doctor	a fashion designer

Ohisama 84th (2011)	Teppan 83rd (2010)	Wife of Nyobo 82nd (2010)	Welkame 81st (2009)
a school teacher	okonomiyaki maker	a manga artist	a magazine editor

Tsubasa 80th (2009)	DanDan 79th (2008)	Hitomi 78th (2008)	Chiritotechin 77th (2007)
radio / DJ	a musician / geisha	a dancer	a rakugoka

Dondo Hare 76th (2007)	Imo Tako Nankin 75th (2006)	Junjo Kirari 74th (2006)	Kaze no Haruka 73rd (2005)
a ryokan manager	a novelist	a jazz pianist	a travel agent

Fight 72nd (2005)	Wakaba 71st (2004)	Tenka 70th (2004)	Teruteru Kazoku 69th (2003)
?	gardening	a nurse	bread baking

Kokoro 68th (2003)	Manten 67th (2002)	Sakura 66th (2002)	Honmamon 65th (2001)
a flight attendant	a meteorologist	a school teacher	a chef

Churasan 64th (2001)	Audrey 63rd (2000)	Watashi no Aozora 62nd (2000)	Asuka 61st (1999)
a nurse	an actress	a single mother	a wagashi maker

Suzuran 60th (1999)	Yanchakure 59th (1998)	Ten Urara 58th (1998)	Amakara-shan 57th (1997)
the Japanese railroad	a shipbuilding company	a carpenter	a sake brewer

Agri 56th (1997)	Futarikko 55th (1996)	Himawari 54th (1996)	Hashiran ka! 53th (1995)
a beauty stylist	a shogi player	a lawyer	a rock musician * male protagonist

Haruyo, Koi 52nd (1995)	Piano 51st (1994)	Karin 50th (1994)	Eenyobo 49th (1993)
a screenwriter	a children book writer	a miso maker	a doctor

Hirari 48th (1992)	Onna wa Dokyo 47th (1992)	Kimi no Na wa 46th (1991)	Kyo, Futari 45th (1990)
a nutritionist	hot springs	WW2 air raids	tsukemono store

Rinrinto 44th (1990)	Wakko no Kinmedaru 43rd (1989)	Seishun Kazoku 42nd (1989)	Jun-chan no Ouen-ka 41st (1988)
development of TV	a volleyball player	?	?

Non-chan no Yume 40th (1988)	Hassai-sensei 39th (1987)	Chotchan 38th (1987)	Miyako no Kaze 37th (1986)
a magazine	a teacher	Based on Tetsuko Kuroyanagi's mom	a ryokan manager

Hanekonma 36th (1986)	Ichiban Daiko 35th (1985)	Mio Tsukushi  34th (1985)	Kokoru wa itsumo ramune-iro 33rd (1984)
a reporter	theater *male protagonist	?	manzai  *male protagonist

Romansu 32nd (1984)	Oshin 31st (1983)	Youi don 30th (1982)	Haikara-san 29th (1982)
a film director*male protagonist	various	a marathon runner	hotel

Honjitsu mo Seiten Nari 28th (1981)	Mansaku no Hana 27th (1981)	Niji o Oru 26th (1980)	Natchan no Shashinkan 25th (1980)
a radio anouncer	?	Takarazuka Revue	a photographer

Ayu no Uta 24th (1979)	Ma-ne-chan 23rd (1979)	Watashi wa Umi 22nd (1978)	Otei-chan 21st (1978)
fishing port	a manga artist	war orphans	Sadako Sawamura

Kazamidori 20th (1977)	Ichibanboshi 19th (1977)	Hi no Kuni ni 18th (1976)	Kumo no Jutan 17th (1976)
bakery	a singer	a landscape gardener	a pilot

Ohayousan 16th (1975)	Mizuiro no Toki 15th (1975)	Hatoko no Umi 14th (1974)	Kita no Kazoku 13th (1973)
an office worker	a doctor	amnesia	a coming of age

Ai Yori Aoku 12th (1972)	Mayuko Hitori 11th (1971)	Niji 10th (1970)	Nobuko to Obachan 9th (1969)
a businesswoman	agriculture	war struggles	a life with grandma

Ashita koso 8th (1968)	Tabiji 7th (1967)	Ohanahan 6th (1966)	Tamayura 5th (1965)
a family drama	a national railroad	the Meiji era	a traveler *male protagonist

Uzushio 4th (1964)	Akatsuki 3rd (1963)	Ashita no Kaze 2nd (1962)	Musume to Watashi 1st (1961)
poverty	a professor *male protagonist	family life	family life *male protagonist

Articles:

 Introducing Japanese Morning Dramas by Hanna
Top 10 Favorite Asadora Heroines by Oricon

Why do you like Asadoras? Which ones are your favorites?

 Hanna:

Doesn't everyone think it's odd that they announced Hirose Suzu for the 100th Asadora but they still haven't announced anyone for the 99th? Especially since they'll definitely need to start filming in April or May to be ready for October. It seems very disorganized and frankly it's a bit frustrating, as if Manpuku is already less of a priority than Natsuzora. Poor Manpuku :(

Here's why: https://doramaworld.blogspot.rs/2017/12/hirose-suzu-to-be-heroine-of-nhks-100th.html

It's got something to do with reforms, not sure if that's true or they're just hiding the real reason.

Fujino Ryoko was good in Hiyokko but she's still really young. Hopefully she can gain more experience and return to Asadoras in a few years like how Tsuchiya Tao was in two Asadoras (Ohisama and Hanakoto Anne) before finally getting to lead one. 

Also! More supporting cast for the 98th Asadora Hanbun Aoi was announced today: Toyokawa Etsushi, Igawa Haruka, Seino Nana, Shison Jun, Nakamura Tomoya, and Furuhata Seika. (source) Lots of veterans and really busy young actors! Hard to believe they could fit an Asadora into their schedule, especially Shison Jun since he's been everywhere lately. Only a few more months left to wait! 

Wow Ceki, Thanks a lot! I got into Asadora lately and became very addicted. I just finished Gegege no Nyobo and looking for other interesting Asadora. Thanks!

So far, I had finished 3 asadora: Mare, Amachan, and Gegege no Nyobo. Compare to other typical J drama, asadora has better plot and real character growth. 

 Simplifica:

Oh, and pls make a semi musical asadora like amachan with sakurako ohara or sakura fujiwara as heroine :D

We dont have musical asadora for quite a while

Wow I would loveeee another musical asadora! And those actresses you suggested are so awesome: Sakurako is one of my favourite female soloists and she's a greta actress too!
I can't help but think that Hashimoto Kanna would be so perfect for something like that too! I loved her in Rev. from DVL and was so sad when she stopped being an idol.  She's gained a lot of popularity lately and is only 18 right now...so by the time the 101st Asadora rolled around she would be 20/21 which is the NHK's favourite casting age haha
It would really be a dream come true for me if that could really happen... now I'm definitely going to get my hopes up... sigh ????

I think asadora must be really good. But its too lengthy and my Japanese is lacking. However... this is a super asadora OP.

Manpuku's heroine has been announced! It's Ando Sakura! (source)

(from the press conference today!)
I'm really surprised, since I'm pretty sure 2006 was the last time we had a heroine over 30!
But I'm really happy for her! And she just had a baby in the summer!
I'm not so familiar with her previous works... has anyone seen any of her movies or dramas?