Asuka

Asuka aka Sweet Ambition

Details

• Name: あすか / Asuka
• Also known as: Sweet Ambition
• Genre: Asadora drama, human drama
• Episodes: 149 x 15 minute episodes
• Viewership: Ep1=25.9, High=27.6, Avg=24.4
• Broadcast network: NHK
• Broadcast period: 1999-Oct-04 to 2000-Apr-01

Synopsis

The 61st NHK Asadora Drama is Asuka. Asuka's parents run a traditional family business in Kyoto, producing the delicate sweets that accompany the tea ceremony. Asuka trains to become a talented confectioner herself, winning many competitions. These contests are a highlight of the drama, the designs being a must-see for their originality and beauty.

Asuka wants to contribute to her art by creating an original masterpiece. Her father cannot accept Asuka's creations as "real" confectionery. Father and daughter face off in a confectioners' contest. Both produce fine work, but who will win the acclaim of their peers? Meanwhile, Asuka's relatives plot to gain control of the business. The feud concludes with disastrous consequences for the firm.

-- NHK

Cast

• Takeuchi Yuko as Miyamoto Asuka (heroine, age 19)
• 榎園実穂 as Miyamoto Asuka (as a young girl)
• Fujioka Hiroshi as 宮本緑太郎
• Konno Misako as Miyamoto Kyoko
• Ashiya Gannosuke as 藤吉巌次郎
• Arima Ineko (有馬稲子) as 藤吉志乃
• Umezawa Fumio (梅沢富美男) as 藤吉玉治朗
• Natori Yuko (名取裕子) as Ayase Hiroko
• Enokizono Miho
• Kaneda Ryunosuke (金田龍之介) as 松坂太兵衛
• Azuma Chizuru as Terashima Kikue
• Sato Hitomi as Fujiyoshi Mai
• 杉本友莉亜 as Fujiyoshi Mai (as a young girl)
• Fujiki Naohito as 速田俊作
• Mishima Yuriko (三島ゆり子) as 今村嘉
• Asari Yosuke (浅利陽介) as Hakase

Production Credits

• Screenwriter: Suzuki Satoshi (鈴木聡)
• Producer:
• Director: Tamura Fumitaka (田村文孝)
• Music: Oshima Michiru (大島ミチル)
• Narrator: Arima Ineko (有馬稲子)

External Links

• Official NHK Asadora web site