Asuka (1999)

"Our one piece of a lifetime"

"Asuka" marks the 26th asadora that I've completed and the first for 2025. I'm happy that I saved this one for wintertime since it has weeks dedicated to Christmas and New Years'. For the most part, "Asuka" starts off very strong. Sadly, however, it's ruined towards the middle by an unnecessary love triangle. It does get exponentially better after the love triangle is solved, but it's hard to get back into it after that. This review will mostly be complaints about the storylines I didn't like.

The drama is unique in some of its storytelling and structure. It begins in its first week by telling the parents' love story. Kyoko (Konno Misako), whom is set to inherit her parents' confectionary, runs off from her betrothal ceremony to marry the head confectioner Rokutaro (Fujioka Hiroshi) instead. Of course, this is a big no-no in society at the time and leads to repercussions throughout most of the drama. Kyoko was originally supposed to marry the son of Tahei (Kaneda Ryunosuke), an influential man in Kyoto. He seems to enjoy harassing her family and their from then on. I rather liked his antagonistic role in the story, even if it seemed a bit unreasonable at first.

After the parents' love story, we spend five weeks of episodes with Asuka (Enokizono Miho→Takeuchi Yuko) as a child. The aforementioned love triangle is set up here, but not really a problem yet. Asuka's childhood friends are Hayata "Professor" Shunsaku (Asari Yosuke→Fujiki Naohito) and Ayase Mai (Sugimoto Yuria→Sato Hitomi). Mai turns out to be her cousin through Asuka's wayward, often useless uncle Tamajiro (Umezawa Tomio). Asuka and her parents return to Kyoto to help the family's shop. Tamajiro later abandons Mai and her mother Hiroko (Natori Yuko) at the shop as well. Once they have grown up, Asuka decides to become a confectioner like her dad and Mai aspires to be an ordinary office worker.

The love triangle comes in full force when Shunsaku comes to Kyoto for college. I really think this is the worst part of the drama and really makes all the parties involved look terrible. Mai is in love with Shunsaku and knows that Asuka feels the same way. She, however, has no qualms in using her friend's loyalty against and ropes Asuka into helping her get him. Asuka is pushover and lets all of this happen. (I'm sorry but I can't feel bad for her over that.) Shunsaku is obviously in love with Asuka, but willingly goes out with Mai despite his feelings for her not being that strong. (This goes on for WEEKS btw.) Finally, after Mai and Shunsaku are engaged, she learns that Asuka and Shunsaku have been meeting behind her back. Nothing funny is going on, but once you lost trust, it's over. (Not that I cared that much.) Mai, of course, takes this opportunity to act like a complete victim. She starts dating Asuka's now ex-boyfriend Tetsuji (Inoue Charu) and they marry rather quickly. Despite the obstacles being gone, it takes several weeks of episodes for Asuka and Shunsaku to get together.

I already hated Mai before the love triangle if I'm being honest. Her personality is terrible and she's always treating Asuka meanly. Near the end of the drama, she admits that she has always been jealous of Asuka which explains her behavior. However, after everything, I'm not sure how Asuka can even stand to be in her presence. Asuka is not an angel and made some mistakes, but Mai is just a manipulative bitch who only cares about her own feelings. I don't think she gets any better in the latter half of the drama either. As for Shunsaku, I don't understand how Asuka can be in love with such a wishy-washy man. I really rooting for her to be by herself, but asadora heroines always have to get married seemingly.

After abandoning Mai and Hiroko, Tamajiro returns to them several years later. He couldn't make himself successful with any of his ventures and now wants to take over the family business since it's successful. I can't stand this man lol. He's so sneaky in the way he gets control of the business, nearly ruining Kyoko's and Rokutaro's relationship in the process. He too admits to being jealous of Kyoko his entire life. Just, ugh. Tamajiro runs the business into the ground, thanks in part to the 1980s bubble era. (I'll admit that it wasn't 100% his fault, but he should get most of the blame.) Like his daughter, I don't think he ever gets better. On occasion, the other characters can also be annoying (particularly Asuka's parents) because of their stubbornness. However, I think everyone is written very well and true-to-life (even the characters I hate).

Now for the parts I like. First, there's Takeuchi Yuko as Asuka. She's very expressive in the role and I think she's the real saving grace of this asadora. I liked her aspiration of being a confectioner (and I wish the drama had focused on it instead of the stupid love triangle), and her rivalry with her father whose in the same profession. Then there's the themes of family, togetherness, and community.

For some context, "Asuka" was written in the "Lost Decade," a period of time when the economy was really bad in Japan following the "bubble bursting." The 60s, 70s, and 80s are portrayed with a sense of nostalgia for a time when the economy was booming. "Asuka," in part, feels like it was written to comfort people of that time. To show them that there is hope for the future, for the 21st century. I think the context of when it was written/broadcast is more interesting than the drama itself. However, I'm happy that it ends on such a high note and I will look upon the good parts of the drama with fondness.

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