Under One Roof (1993)

"Where's the love in that?" —Kashiwagi Tatsuya

Many consider the 1990’s a golden age in Japanese drama. It’s been said there was a certain spark at that time, an outpouring of talented writers and actors, even more daring scripts and sizzling romances. Unfortunately I have yet to experience many of these gems from another era. But after Hitotsu Yane no Shita (Under One Roof), believe me when I say they will be a priority and a must! As one whose go-to genre must be considered “family,” I cannot remember the last time I’ve seen one as memorable or involving. Plus the screenwriter is Nojima Shinji (Pride), so how can you go wrong?

Viewers join Kashiwagi Tatsuya—or An-chan—as he attempts first to reunite with his scattered siblings, then to keep them together again. But can blood ties bridge seven years’ worth of separation, resentment, and loneliness? Are they better off as a family or apart in their new situations? Hitotsu Yane no Shita ventures to answer these questions, focusing on the Kashiwagis and their struggle to live both as individuals and a family. Each sibling is granted their own plot line, from which many types of stories spring (some with shockingly mature themes); these build up throughout the series and connect to the final arc with a masterful touch. What stays constant across the board is the unique humor and gentle warmth that allows Hitotsu Yane no Shita continued relevance. One might connect deeply with the members of the Kashiwagi clan, and then leave the drama feeling they’d all grown a lot. What an incredible experience—though I must admit I didn’t watch quickly. It would have meant saying goodbye to this wonderful family, and I wasn't ready to for a while.

For those familiar with Wakamono Tachi, they are very similar to one another. They have the same high-speed bickering, brotherly wrestling matches, etc.

Casting a family must be tricky. If one member fails to ignite chemistry with the others, you can bet the whole thing will be thrown askew. But have you seen this cast? It’s pretty much perfect for the purpose. First we have Eguchi Yosuke, now an exquisite veteran actor, but apparently he could carry a drama even twenty years ago. His An-chan is a lovable dummy who follows his heart with admirable determination and adores Ken-Ken the Dog (Muttley from Whacky Racers!); beneath all his silly bluster, An-chan is reliable, hard-working, and every bit a pillar of strength. Eguchi-san proves his ability to perform comically and turn right around with the most believable tears time and again. The second brother Masaya/”Chi-niichan,” lands us another present-day veteran in Fukuyama Masaharu. Perhaps being a good friend to Eguchi-san helped, but their scenes make you believe they might actually be brothers. An early episode between the two could be considered one of the best of the series for that matter. And if you allow me a moment’s shallowness, both are as cute as anything in Hitotsu Yane no Shita.

Of the other Kashiwagi siblings, most memorable are Yamamoto Koji and Sakai Noriko. Sakai-san performs beautifully as the backbone of the Kashiwagis, the adopted daughter Koyuki; her presence is calm, gentle one without being pretentious, and there’s a maternal strength in her performance that’s very appealing.

For someone who grew up in the 90’s, Hitotsu Yane no Shita is a delightful nostalgia trip. Every single track sent me back in time and was an utter delight, especially paired with the series. Probably most memorable will be the fantastic theme song, “Saboten no Hana” by TULIP; between this and the family Muttley-laugh, there's a lot that I'll take away from this series. You can bet it's worth watching twice, too~

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Classic

This is one of my fave dorama ever, i like all the characters in the Kashiragi family coz each could represent most of people in the real world. The supporting characters made an important roles too. The interaction between characters just so naturally happened that made people really into this dorama. It showed not only the love between man and woman, but also the love as family and as friend.

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Living together as a family can mean more than you think

I had high hopes for this drama before I watched it. Lately I have been running out of dramas that I want to watch but I found this one. A reason why I wanted to watch it was due to Eguchi Yosuke as the lead playing a father figure role that I have seen him play before which I loved.

Story : I admit the first episode started a bit slow introducing the plot but as it went on I got the hang of it. What I loved is that each sibling had a backstory and weren't shoved in the background most of the times. I say each of them had fair amount of time. They all felt important. There was also good side characters that connected with each sibling in a way. There were plently of life lessons and issues in the drama like dealing with a victim of sexual assualt, the challanges a ex-convict faces in life, or what is there to live for a disable person. There is also a love triangle you could say between 3 oldest siblings but it doesn't end with a winner because it focuses more of the family love aspect.

Acting/Cast : I was hooked because of Eguchi Yosuke but finished loving Sakai Noriko more. Outside of Eguchi, I haven't seen much dramas or movies from the rest. It didn't matter because I fell in love with their roles. They each stood out and made me cheer for them.

Music : It had a calming gentle song used for the op of the drama. It fit the tone of the drama perfectly.

Rewatch value : I put it at very high if I would re watch this drama. Just because of how simple but relaxing it was.

Overall: I highly recommend people to watch this drama. It's a classic but one of the best family dramas out there.

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