First Penguin! (Japanese TV Drama)
First Penguin! (Japanese: ファーストペンギン!) is a Japanese television drama series that aired on NTV from October 5 to December 7, 2022. The series consists of 10 episodes and was broadcast in the Wednesday 22:00–23:00 time slot.
Plot
The story follows Nodoka Iwasaki, a single mother who struggles to adapt to life after moving to a port city. While working at a local hotel, she encounters a fisherman named Hiroshi Kataoka. Impressed by her resourcefulness, Kataoka invites her to work for his fishing group. Despite having no prior experience in the fishing industry, Iwasaki introduces a revolutionary business model: selling fish directly to businesses, bypassing traditional intermediaries. Her initiative creates significant waves within the local industry.
Background
The screenplay, written by Yoshiko Morishita, is inspired by the life of Chika Tsubouchi. In 2011, Tsubouchi founded Hagi Oshima Sendanmaru, a company that pioneered a direct-sales model for fishermen to provide fresh seafood directly to restaurants and retailers.
Cast
The series features a large ensemble cast, including:
- Nao as Nodoka Iwasaki
- Shinichi Tsutsumi as Hiroshi Kataoka
- Rikuto Ishizuka as Susumu Iwasaki
- Nobuyuki Suzuki as Kazuki Nagasawa
- Mitsuru Fukikoshi as Takashi Isoda
Reception
The series maintained an average viewership rating of 7.2% in the Kanto region during its 10-episode run.