Nagatan to Ao to: Ichika no Ryoricho (Japanese Television Drama)

Nagatan to Ao to promotional poster or visual artwork — Nagatan to Ao to promotional artwork

Nagatan to Ao to: Ichika no Ryoricho (ながたんと青と-いちかの料理帖) is a Japanese television drama series directed by Soushi Matsumoto. Based on the manga series of the same name by Yuki Isoya, the 10-episode series aired on the WOWOW network from March 24 to May 26, 2023, broadcasting on Fridays at 23:00.

Plot Synopsis

Set in post-war Kyoto, the story follows Ichika Kuwanoki, played by Mugi Kadowaki, the eldest daughter of the family running the long-established restaurant Kuwanoki. Following the death of her husband in the war, Ichika works as a chef in a hotel. When her family restaurant faces severe financial and operational difficulties, she enters a convenience marriage with Amane Yamaguchi, portrayed by Ryuto Sakuma. Amane is a 19-year-old university student—15 years younger than Ichika—and the third son of a family operating a long-established hotel in Osaka. Together, while striving to rebuild restaurant Kuwanoki through heart-warming food, Ichika and Amane gradually develop a genuine romantic relationship.

Cast

The series features an ensemble cast portraying the various members of the Kuwanoki and Yamaguchi families, alongside hotel staff and associates.

Mugi Kadowaki portrays Ichika Kuwanoki — Mugi Kadowaki as Ichika Kuwanoki

Ryuto Sakuma portrays Amane Yamaguchi — Ryuto Sakuma as Amane Yamaguchi

Aoi Nakamura portrays Akitsugu Tajima — Aoi Nakamura as Akitsugu Tajima

Keiko Toda portrays Machiko Marukawa — Keiko Toda as Machiko Marukawa

Rinka Kumada portrays Suzune Yamaguchi — Rinka Kumada as Suzune Yamaguchi

Shunya Shiraishi portrays Yukari Yamaguchi — Shunya Shiraishi as Yukari Yamaguchi

Itsuji Itao portrays Yukihiro Togawa — Itsuji Itao as Yukihiro Togawa

Yoshiko Tokoshima portrays Aiko Kuwanoki — Yoshiko Tokoshima as Aiko Kuwanoki

Kisuke Iida portrays Shigeru Yamaguchi — Kisuke Iida as Shigeru Yamaguchi

Kanako Momota portrays Futaba Kuwanoki — Kanako Momota as Futaba Kuwanoki

Takehiko Ono portrays Chikauji Fujiwara — Takehiko Ono as Chikauji Fujiwara

Akiko Kikuchi portrays Kaede Fujita — Akiko Kikuchi as Kaede Fujita

Konatsu Kato portrays Ichika — Konatsu Kato as Ichika

Kohei Takeda portrays Kawakami — Kohei Takeda as Kawakami

Mamoru portrays Shintaro Tsujimura — Mamoru as Shintaro Tsujimura

Taro Yoshikawa portrays Taniguchi — Taro Yoshikawa as Taniguchi

Riku Koshiba portrays Akamatsu — Riku Koshiba as Akamatsu

Ryo Shinoda portrays Arikawa — Ryo Shinoda as Arikawa

Production Background

The series is adapted from the manga Nagatan to Ao to: Ichika no Ryoricho written and illustrated by Yuki Isoya, which was serialized in the manga magazine Kiss starting in October 2017. Screenplays for the television adaptation were written by Izumi Kawasaki and Isamu Yuge, under the direction of Soushi Matsumoto.