Heartwarming and beautiful

I watched Oyaji no Senaka a while back for the golden combo that is writer Sakamoto Yuji and Mitsushima Hikari before deciding that I might as well watch the whole series. There have been some great ensemble casts this year like MOZU and Wakamonotachi 2014, but the writing just isn’t up to par. Thankfully Oyaji no Senaka realized that a drama is only as good as its story and brought in solid screenwriters to back up its cast. TBS, you’re doing it right.

Oyaji no Senaka (Father’s Back) is a ten-part omnibus drama that tells the various stories of fathers and their relationship with their children. It sounds like it could easily veer into oversentimental drivel, but so far, Oyaji no Senaka has a nice, heartwarming vibe without ever getting too sappy.

Episode 1 (simply titled Hitomiko and Kei) is penned by Okada Yoshikazu (Saigo Kara Nibanme no Koi) and follows 35-year-old Hitomiko (Matsu Takako) who lives with her father Higuchi Keitaro (Tamura Masazaku). Hitomiko has suitors, but isn’t interested in getting married and is content to live forever with her father. Hitomiko definitely has a rather strange attachment to Keitaro as she addresses by “Kei-san” instead of “Otou-san” or “Oyaji,” but it’s cute. A small scene I liked is when Keitaro leaves during lunch to wave at Hitomiko while she’s at work. He could do something simple like text or call her, but he knows she’d feel better seeing his face. I love little things like that.

It is eventually revealed that part of the reason the two stick so close together is because Hitomiko suffers from panic attacks due to an accident that killed her mother. She can’t be left alone at night and the only person that can calm her is Kei.

Can Matsu Takako do more dramas? Her fear was so palpable when she started having the attack and even after her father arrived to soothe her, it was like she still felt helpless and maybe even self-loathing that Kei always has to come to her rescue. It’s good to know that he’ll be there, but obviously her dad won’t always be around.

Over all a solid drama.

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