Oyaji no Senaka (2014)

It’s a gem

I wasn’t planning to watch this but then I saw subtitle for first episode released so I asked myself, why not?

To my surprise, this is actually quite good. . Oyaji no Senaka or Father’s Back will feature 10 episodes about fathers and their sons and daughters. So we can expect different casts for each episode.

First episode is about Hitomiko (Matsu Takako) and Kei-san (Masakazu Tamura) as daughter and father. Hitomiko is 35 years old and single. She still lives together with her father. At first, the scene in the beginning confused me a bit because Hitomiko never calls her father as “Otousan”, instead she calls him by name “Kei-san”. Likewise, Kei-san also addresses his daughter in an unusually polite way “Hitomiko-san”. I thought for a second that they’re not blood-related at first.

That was so sweet! Kei-san’s workplace and Hitomiko’s are nearby so whenever it’s time for lunch, he’ll go outside and waves at her who will be watching by the window.

One night, Kei-san was admitted to the hospital for food poisoning. Then we see Hitomiko starting to get panic attacks at home alone.

Kei-san woke up in the middle of night at the hospital but rushed back because he was worried about his daughter.

Just from this one episode of attack, I’m now realizing the huge responsibility as a father for Kei-san. I can’t help but wonder this – what if he’s gone one day? Who will take care of Hitomiko?

Then out of a sudden Kei-san said he’s going out on dates with this nurse at the hospital. Hitomiko also said she might try to go out with someone at her company who’s been chasing after her (not to mention that guy even divorced in order to ask her out lol).

But actually, the dates are lies. I know Kei-san probably lied because he knows Hitomiko can’t live with him forever. But he’s also worried about his daughter’s condition.


So this led to a misunderstanding where Kei-san met up with the guy he thought was dating his daughter (with the intention of marriage) and asked the guy to take care of Hitomiko.

Hitomiko on the other hand also met up with the nurse and asked the same thing for her father. They only found out about each other’s lies.

A year later, finally Hitomiko found someone she likes.

We’ve heard and watched tons of movies/dramas about motherly love. When it comes to fathers, I find they way they show love towards their children differently, especially with Asian parents, it’s much more subtle. But one thing is for sure, every parent just wants their children to grow up well and find happiness. Hitomiko can’t rely on her father for comfort forever and even if Kei-san wanted to be there for his daughter anytime, he can’t. I’m glad she found someone else to rely on.

Finally they showed why Hitomiko and Kei-san calls each other the way they do. After the accident that took away her mother, Hitomiko took her mother’s role and started cooking/household chores and etc..she wanted to give her father the feeling like their mother is still around, like the past.

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A Promising Start

Mitsushima Hikari plays aspiring Olympic boxer Makoto (Mako for short) and is trained by her father, former boxer Aoki (Yakusho Koji). Compared to the first episode, this one made me laugh a lot and wish that Mitsushima would do more comedies because she’s hilarious. Sakamoto nails it with the witty dialogue that shows the antagonistic relationship between the two as they fight inside and outside the ring. Aoki sabotages all of Mako’s social relationships, driving away her boyfriends and tagging along on her dates. He’s pretty much the dad no girl ever wants to have. Aoki always wanted a boy, naming his daughter Makoto, a common boy’s name, instead of Yuka, like her mother wanted. He just ignores the fact that she’s a girl, even throwing her first bra in the river. Mako isn’t content to suffer alone though; when she sees her father has a new girlfriend, she threatens to break her hand unless he breaks up with her.

Though Mako’s suffering is played for comedic effect, you do get a sense of how much she’s suffered to meet her dad’s demands and her frustration with the fact that she doesn’t have his recognition. So, in spite of all the grief Aoki gives her, Mako keeps at boxing, even though she doesn’t have a talent for it. It isn’t until she fails to qualify for the Olympics that she finally gives up, not of her own accord, but because of the agreement between Aoki and Mako’s mother. The look on Mako’s face speaks volumes about how hurt she is that her dad’s given up on her and reaffirms her belief that she’s not good enough for Aoki.

It all boils over when a year later, Mako visits Aoki the night before her wedding. It’s a raw exchange revealing how even though Aoki was aware that pushing Mako was putting a strain on their family, it wasn’t something he could give up on. He tries to convince Mako to go back to boxing and the two end up duking it out to see if it’s marriage or the Olympics. The fight is about more than though. It’s really Mako’s last chance to prove herself to Aoki and when she manages to knock him out like she did the day her mother left, it’s like he realizes her ability and accepts her.

Both episodes were solid from beginning to end, showing different perspectives of a father daughter relationship, so I look forward to what else Oyaji no Senaka holds.

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Heartwarming and beautiful

I watched Oyaji no Senaka a while back for the golden combo that is writer Sakamoto Yuji and Mitsushima Hikari before deciding that I might as well watch the whole series. There have been some great ensemble casts this year like MOZU and Wakamonotachi 2014, but the writing just isn’t up to par. Thankfully Oyaji no Senaka realized that a drama is only as good as its story and brought in solid screenwriters to back up its cast. TBS, you’re doing it right.

Oyaji no Senaka (Father’s Back) is a ten-part omnibus drama that tells the various stories of fathers and their relationship with their children. It sounds like it could easily veer into oversentimental drivel, but so far, Oyaji no Senaka has a nice, heartwarming vibe without ever getting too sappy.

Episode 1 (simply titled Hitomiko and Kei) is penned by Okada Yoshikazu (Saigo Kara Nibanme no Koi) and follows 35-year-old Hitomiko (Matsu Takako) who lives with her father Higuchi Keitaro (Tamura Masazaku). Hitomiko has suitors, but isn’t interested in getting married and is content to live forever with her father. Hitomiko definitely has a rather strange attachment to Keitaro as she addresses by “Kei-san” instead of “Otou-san” or “Oyaji,” but it’s cute. A small scene I liked is when Keitaro leaves during lunch to wave at Hitomiko while she’s at work. He could do something simple like text or call her, but he knows she’d feel better seeing his face. I love little things like that.

It is eventually revealed that part of the reason the two stick so close together is because Hitomiko suffers from panic attacks due to an accident that killed her mother. She can’t be left alone at night and the only person that can calm her is Kei.

Can Matsu Takako do more dramas? Her fear was so palpable when she started having the attack and even after her father arrived to soothe her, it was like she still felt helpless and maybe even self-loathing that Kei always has to come to her rescue. It’s good to know that he’ll be there, but obviously her dad won’t always be around.

Over all a solid drama.

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