Scarlet (2019 Japanese TV Series)

Scarlet (Japanese: スカーレット) is a Japanese television drama series produced by NHK. It aired as the 101st asadora (morning drama) from September 30, 2019, to March 28, 2020. The series follows the life and career of Kimiko Kawahara, a woman who navigates the challenges of the male-dominated pottery industry in Shigaraki, Shiga Prefecture.

Promotional poster for the drama Scarlet

Plot

Born in Osaka in 1937, Kimiko Kawahara moves with her family to Shigaraki at the age of nine. After working in Osaka during her teenage years to support her family, she eventually returns to Shigaraki. There, she develops a deep fascination with the local ceramic tradition. Despite the societal barriers of the time, she commits herself to becoming a professional potter, striving to establish her own identity and success in the field.

Cast

The series features an ensemble cast led by Erika Toda as the protagonist, Kimiko Kawahara.

Erika Toda as Kimiko Kawahara
Kazuki Kitamura as Joji Kawahara
Yasuko Tomita as Matsu Kawahara
Nanami Sakuraba as Naoko Kawahara
Mayuko Fukuda as Yuriko Kawahara
Kento Hayashi as Shinsaku Ono
Yuko Oshima as Teruko Kumagai
Ryuta Sato as Soichiro Kusama

Production

The series was broadcast on NHK in the 8:00 AM time slot. It followed the conclusion of Natsuzora and was succeeded by Yell on March 30, 2020. The production involved multiple directors, including Yuki Nakashima, Yuzuru Sato, and Wataru Suzuki, with the screenplay written by Fumie Mizuhashi.