Preview of "Machikouba no Onna" - Autumn 2017

Title: Machikouba no Onna マチ工場のオンナ (The woman of the small town factory
Official website: here
O.A. Start Date: 24 November 2017
Timeslot: Fridays 10pm
Broadcast by: NHK
Original book by: Suwa Takako
Theme Song: "Atarashii Ashita" by Matsuda Seiko
Cast: Uchiyama Rina, Tachi Hiroshi, Nagai Masaru, Ichige Yoshie, Takenaka Naoto, Yanagisawa Shingo, Murakami Jun, Oshinari Shugo, Yoshimura Kaito, Watanabe Yutaro and Kariya Shunsuke

Screening event & press conference of new NHK drama "Machikouba no Onna"

The screening event and press conference of new NHK drama "Machikouba no Onna" was held at its Tokyo HQ on 15 November which was attended by cast members Uchiyama Rina, Tachi Hiroshi, Takenaka Naoto, Yanagisawa Shingo and Nagai Masaru. The drama which consists of 7 episodes, begins its run from 24 November in the Fridays 10pm timeslot.

Press conference of new NHK drama "Machikouba no Onna"

The press conference of new NHK drama "Machikouba no Onna" was held at NHK Nagoya on 27 Sep which was attended by staff members Uchiyama Rina, Tachi Hiroshi and Nagai Masaru. The drama which consists of 7 episodes, will begin its run from 17 Nov.

The story is based on the book "Machikouba no Musume" by Suwa Takako and set in a small town factory in Aichi Prefecture. Uchiyama plays the lead character Arimoto Hikari who is a 32-year-old housewife and lives with her husband (Nagai) and their son. When she was a child, her father Taizo (Tachi) tried to groom her to become his successor and manage the family business i.e. a small factory but Hikari resisted the idea. One day, when Taizo collapses due to exhaustion, Hikari is shocked to find out that her father has cancer and only has 4 days to live. In order to protect his factory, she decides to take on the role of company president. However, her husband who she is thinking of relying on to help her with the business, is sent to the US for an overseas posting. To make things worse, Hikari is seen as a president in name only and is belittled by the factory's executives, employees and their main bank. Co-stars include Yanagisawa Shingo, Murakami Jun, Oshinari Shugo, Kariya Shunsuke, Ichige Yoshie and Takenaka Naoto.

Uchiyama revealed that it has been a very enjoyable filming experience working with her co-stars and hopes to be able to continue this good momentum right to the end. As for Tachi whose hometown is in Nagoya, he commented that he always felt that he was doing something good for his parents whenever he appears in a NHK Nagoya work although it is a pity that his character will die in the first episode. Last but not least, Nagai said that as his character has the same name as him (reading is different even though the Kanji character is the same), he could ease into the role more easily. In addition, as this is his first role since becoming a father, he could tap on his personal experience to immerse himself into the story from the perspective of a parent.

Source: Oricon

Uchiyama Rina to star in new NHK drama "Machikouba no Onna"

Uchiyama Rina will be starring in the new NHK drama "Machikouba no Onna" (The woman of the small town factory) which consists of 7 episodes and will begin its run from 10 November in the Fridays 10pm timeslot. The story is based on the book "Machikouba no Musume" by Suwa Takako and set in a small town factory in Aichi Prefecture so filming will be done on location in Nagoya.

Uchiyama plays the lead character Arimoto Hikari who is a 32-year-old housewife and lives with her husband (Nagai Masaru) and their son. When she was a child, her father Taizo (Tachi Hiroshi) tried to groom her to become his successor and manage the family business i.e. a small factory but Hikari resisted the idea. One day, when Taizo collapses due to exhaustion, Hikari is shocked to find out that her father has cancer and only has 4 days to live. In order to protect his factory, she decides to take on the role of company president. However, her husband who she is thinking of relying on to help her with the business, is sent to the US for an overseas posting. To make things worse, Hikari is seen as a president in name only and is belittled by the factory's executives, employees and their main bank. Co-stars include Yanagisawa Shingo, Murakami Jun, Oshinari Shugo, Kariya Shunsuke, Ichige Yoshie and Takenaka Naoto.

Uchiyama who will be acting in the leading role of a NHK drama for the first time, said that although she is worried and nervous, she is prepared to take on the challenge and show how a housewife manages a company with her unique perspective and finds out more about her late father through the process. As such, this is not just a business story but also one about a father and his daughter.

Sources: Oricon / Nikkansports