Details
Title: Mother
Format: Renzoku
Genre: Human drama, suspense
Episodes: TBA
Viewership ratings: TBA
Broadcast network: NTV
Broadcast period: 2010-Apr-14 start
Air time: Wednesday 22:00
Theme song: Nakigao Smile by hinaco

Synopsis
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

Cast
Matsuyuki Yasuko as Suzuhara Nao
Yamamoto Koji as Fujiyoshi Shunsuke
Sakai Wakana as Suzuhara Mei
Kurashina Kana as Suzuhara Kaho
Ashida Mana (芦田愛菜) as Michiki Reina
Ono Machiko (尾野真千子) as Michiki Hitomi
Kawamura Yosuke as Kimata Kohei
Ichikawa Miwako as Yuzukawa Tamami
Otoo Takuma as Kayama Keigo
Tanaka Minoru as Fujiyoshi Kensuke
Ayano Go (綾野剛) as Uragami Masato
Takahata Atsuko as Suzuhara Toko
Tanaka Yuko as Mochizuki Hana

Production Credits
Screenwriter: Sakamoto Yuji
Chief Producer: Tanaka Yoshiki (田中芳樹)
Producers: Tsugiya Hisashi (次屋尚), Chiba Yukitoshi (千葉行利)
Directors: Mizuta Nobuo (水田伸生), Naganuma Makoto
Music: REMEDIOS

Official Site
http://www.ntv.co.jp/mother/index.html

Very good first episode, I can see why many have been taken with it so far. Quiet, but powerful and moving at times, in no small part due to the great performances by the two leads (Matsuyuki and the little girl), this has a lot of possibilities. I just hope the writing doesn't go too far in terms of provoking emotions from the audience.

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I got the feeling that it's going to have a "tragic" ending with the little girl going back to her mother, when I heard her new name.

It was beautifully shot too. I like the scenery and also seeing some of the more ordinary sides of Hokkaido.
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xploring wrote:

Very good first episode, I can see why many have been so taken with it so far. Quiet, but powerful and moving in a way, in no small part due to the great performances by the two leads (Matsuyuki and the little girl), this has a lot of possibilities. I just hope the writing doesn't go too far in terms of provoking emotions from the audience. Click on button to reveal/hide spoiler: I got the feeling that it's going to have a "tragic" ending with the little girl going back to her mother, when I heard her new name.

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Yes, I have the same feeling. First episode seemed rather dark.

Takoyama wrote:

Click on button to reveal/hide spoiler: Yes, I have the same feeling. First episode seemed rather dark.

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It was less dark than I expected from the comments I read before watching the first episode. Looking at who the writer is and his previous works, a tragic ending looks almost certain already.

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Not much happened in the second episode but it was good too.

But this series seems a lot more predictable after this episode.
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Another good episode, I felt it passed by very quickly even though the pace in terms of plot developement is very slow. It was very sad when

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Nao was recounting her past, I really felt for ... what she went through.

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This drama is really awesome, I wasn't planning to see it but I was bored and I downloaded it. I was so touched by almost every scene in the 1st and 2nd ep and I watch several times (which I've never done so in my life for jdramas). By the end of it I was crying and felt so heart- warming by their performance . Matsuyuki is great as usual and the little girl is truly a prodigy~ recommend to whoever looking for quality drama to watch ~

The way the little girl looked at Nao near the end of episode 5 ... She is really one of the best if not the best child actress I have seen.
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It's a really emotional drama and the acting is top notch especially from the adorable little girl. Very underrated!

I've just watched the first episode and omg! it made me speechless!!! A very good acting by both Matsuyuki Yasuko and Ashida Mana. A very emotional one indeed. Can't wait to download the next episodes.
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qnuy wrote:

I've just watched the first episode and omg! it made me speechless!!! A very good acting by both Matsuyuki Yasuko and Ashida Mana. A very emotional one indeed. Can't wait to download the next episodes.

Oh man, it just gets more and more emotional after that. You haven't seen nothing yet...!

Mother has turned out to be the most well-acted, well-written drama this season. Seriously, everyone needs to see this.

I watched episode 2 and 3 last night and they were less emotional than the first one but still they didn't fail to make me the ending of each episode is just


the chemistry between Matsuyuki Yasuko and Ashida Mana is really great.
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Just finished this brilliant drama.....

If you're looking for a serious drama with superb acting, story and some beautiful scenery, this is the one to watch. Highest recommendation...

niknik wrote:

Just finished this brilliant drama..... If your looking for a serious drama with superb acting, story and some beautiful scenery, this is the one to watch. Highest recommendation...

+1

I'd love to see a different ending though, but I think that's the best way ne? The last scene is just indescribable. A very good drama indeed

to both Matsuyuki Yasuko and Ashida Mana
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qnuy wrote:

I'd love to see a different ending though, but I think that's the best way ne?

Yup..Any other ending would have been a cop out.

Quote:

to both Matsuyuki Yasuko and Ashida Mana

Both of them plus the drama deserve the Spring Drama Academy Award. We'll see.....

A very satisfiying sad drama about family life! It had a realistic feel to it, but I admit it sometimes pushed emotional buttons a bit too hard but it never drifted fully into the painfully corny.

I am very happy with the ending, though I still had many questions

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Was Mei's baby healthy - did she really forgive the coward father, could the the mum return to her business, how did Nao deal with the loss of both her mother and her daughter, did she remain friends with her reporter ally etc -> I would have loved to see a few more snippets of their lives.

EstherM wrote:

A very satisfiying sad drama about family life! It had a realistic feel to it, but I admit it sometimes pushed emotional buttons a bit too hard but it never drifted fully into the painfully corny. I am very happy with the ending, though I still had many questions Click on button to reveal/hide spoiler: Was Mei's baby healthy - did she really forgive the coward father, could the the mum return to her business, how did Nao deal with the loss of both her mother and her daughter, did she remain friends with her reporter ally etc -> I would have loved to see a few more snippets of their lives.

Yeah, I have those questions as well. I agree, the show had a very realistic tone and I think that made the ending appropriate.

EstherM wrote:

I am very happy with the ending, though I still had many questions Click on button to reveal/hide spoiler: Was Mei's baby healthy - did she really forgive the coward father, could the the mum return to her business, how did Nao deal with the loss of both her mother and her daughter, did she remain friends with her reporter ally etc -> I would have loved to see a few more snippets of their lives.

Jav_sol wrote:

Yeah, I have those questions as well. I agree, the show had a very realistic tone and I think that made the ending appropriate.

Maybe they'll make a special to tie up all the loose ends if there's enough of an uproar like there was with JIN. I wonder who'd would be a good Rena/Tsugumi
12 years down the road?

niknik wrote:

Maybe they'll make a special to tie up all the loose ends if there's enough of an uproar like there was with JIN. I wonder who'd would be a good Rena/Tsugumi 12 years down the road?

The thing is, if they do a SP that takes place many years later, the little girl the played Reina wouldn't have much airtime. For me she was one of best part of the show.

Jav_sol wrote:

The thing is, if they do a SP that takes place many years later, the little girl the played Reina wouldn't have much airtime. For me she was one of best part of the show.

They definitely chose the right girl for Rena. She's better than most of the actors/actresses acting in the dramas now.

True, it would be tough to do a SP without her. Guess they'll have to wait 12 years and round the cast up to do the SP. At least it would give the writer a lot of time to think about it......