NHK drama ‘Kaze, Kaoru’ faces viewership and narrative criticism

The NHK morning drama ‘Kaze, Kaoru’, starring Ai Mikami and Juri Uesaka, is facing scrutiny regarding its viewership and narrative direction. While the series is based on the lives of Japan’s first trained nurses, some critics and viewers have expressed dissatisfaction with the heavy emphasis on romance over the historical nursing themes.

Recent episodes have centered on a pivotal emotional arc involving the character Shimaken (played by Masaya Sano). After facing personal failures and family debt, Shimaken decides to leave the protagonist, Rin, to pursue his own path, leading to a separation that has sparked intense discussion on social media. While some viewers praised the emotional depth and the performances of the cast, including comedian Hikari Ota, others criticized the character of Shimaken as being unappealing or unnecessary to the plot.

As the series enters its final weeks, the narrative is shifting toward the looming shadow of war, with the protagonists continuing their nursing work amidst changing social circumstances.