NHK drama ‘Kaze, Kaoru’ depicts tragic loss of character Ogawa

In recent episodes of the NHK morning drama ‘Kaze, Kaoru’, the narrative reaches a tragic turning point as the character Ogawa (played by Shoma Kai) passes away. After being sent to war, Ogawa is transported to an army reserve hospital in Hiroshima following a fracture sustained in Taiwan. However, it is revealed that he ultimately succumbed to beriberi rather than his physical injuries.

Before losing consciousness, Ogawa entrusted a button from his military uniform to Tae (played by Erika Ikuta), expressing his longing to see his wife, Naomi (played by Juri Uesaka). Naomi, who had been raising their child alone, receives the button as a memento. The scene, which highlights the symbolic importance of the button Naomi had frequently sewn back onto his uniform during their daily life, has drawn significant emotional reactions from viewers on social media.