NHK drama 'Kaze, Kaoru' ignites debate over 10‑yen rookie nurse salary
The NHK morning drama “Kaze, Kaoru,” set in Meiji‑era Japan, follows the newly trained nurses Rin (Mieue Ai) and Naomi (Uesaka Juri). In episode 62, aired 23 June, the pair receive their first paycheck of only 10 yen, far less than the 30 yen they expected. Viewers on social media compared the amount to the earlier drama “Bakabake,” calling the pay “black” and questioning whether 10 yen could be considered a large sum in that period.
The previous episode (61) showed the inexperienced nurses being tasked with supervising nursing students at Imperial University Hospital, a demanding assignment that drew criticism online for being an unreasonable workload for fresh graduates. Episode 63, broadcast 24 June, continues the storyline with Naomi arguing with a visitor, Ogawa, and the characters facing further challenges, including a prophetic warning from a fortune‑teller and ShimaKen (Sano Akira) completing a novel.
Overall, the series has generated considerable discussion about historical nursing conditions, wage expectations, and workplace pressures in the drama’s fictionalized Meiji setting.