NHK drama Blossom: Tama faces family turmoil in episode 10

The tenth episode of the NHK morning drama series ‘Blossom’, scheduled to air on October 9, follows a period of intense conflict for the protagonist, Tama (played by Shizuka Ishibashi). The story, inspired by the life of author Chiyo Uno, depicts Tama’s journey through the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa eras as she overcomes various hardships to become a novelist.

In this episode, titled ‘Liberation from Father’, Tama’s father, Seiji (played by Atsuro Watabe), suffers a mental breakdown caused by hallucinations. He flees the house, prompting Tama and Ryo (played by Ryoko Kuninaka) to pursue him. During the commotion in town, Seiji leaves Tama with a cryptic message that she continues to ponder. The episode also touches upon the social pressures of the Taisho era, specifically the rigid education of women in high schools aimed at producing ‘good wives and wise mothers’.