Shitteru Wife (2021 Japanese TV Series)

Shitteru Wife (Japanese: 知ってるワイフ) is a Japanese television drama series that aired on Fuji TV from January 7 to March 18, 2021. The series consists of 11 episodes and was broadcast in the network's Thursday 22:00 time slot. It is a remake of the 2018 South Korean television series Familiar Wife, originally produced by tvN.

Plot

The story follows Motoharu Kenzaki, a bank employee who feels overwhelmed by the pressures of his professional life and his strained marriage to his wife, Mio. The couple, who have two children, first met when Motoharu was a college student and worked as a tutor for Mio, who was then a high school student. Over time, their relationship has deteriorated, with Motoharu feeling that his wife has become increasingly difficult to live with. After a chance encounter with a former university acquaintance who expresses interest in him, Motoharu finds himself transported back to his college days following a mysterious event involving a 500-yen coin, leading him to reconsider the choices that shaped his life.

Production and Cast

The series was directed by Masato Hijikata, Mahito Kimura, and Daiden Yamauchi, with a screenplay by Atsuko Hashibe. The lead roles of Motoharu and Mio Kenzaki are portrayed by Tadayoshi Okura and Alice Hirose, respectively.

Reception

The series recorded an average viewership rating of 7.4% in the Kanto region during its broadcast run, with the final episode achieving a peak rating of 8.9%.