Kitagawa Eriko to write the script for new NHK morning drama "Hanbun, Aoi."

Kitagawa Eriko will be writing the script for the new NHK morning drama "Hanbun, Aoi" (Half Blue) which will be shown in the first half of 2018 at 8am from Mondays to Saturdays. The title of the drama represents the state of the sky after the rain has stopped.

The drama which is based on Kitagawa's original script, features the heroine Suzume who lost hearing in her left hear and describes her turbulent life and the process of building an electrical appliances manufacturing company over half a century from 1971 to the present era which will be set in Gifu and Tokyo. Kitagawa revealed that she wrote the story with the feel of reliving her life once more (she is also deaf in her left ear) and that she was born in the same year as the morning dramas began in 1961. In addition, she was the one who approached NHK with the story and hopes that everyone can watch the drama when it airs.

Although it may be imprudent to think this way, Kitagawa commented that when she lost her hearing, she actually was spurred on to work even harder and got the inspiration to write. As she is known for her love stories, she hopes to describe in this story how a man and a woman keep missing the timing to get together despite loving each other. As for the actress to play the heroine, the selection will be done via an audition.

"Hanbun, Aoi." which is the 98th morning drama to date and consists of 156 episodes, will begin its run from 2 April 2018 and end on 29 September. Filming begins in autumn this year.

Sources: Nikkansports / Sanspo / Yomiuri Hochi / Sponichi