156 episodes of small-town salt, failure, and stubborn hope — Japan's cosiest obsession.
Season 1 • Episode 156
LatestMare is an elementary school student. She lives with her family in the city, but, right before her father goes bankrupt, they run away and settle down at a fishing village in Noto. The family rents a couple's home who run a salt pond. Mare's father starts a new business, but it also fails. Her mother supports the family by working at the salt pond. 8 years later, Mare, about to graduate from high school, decides to work for the Wajima local government. She wants to have a steady job, unlike her father. Her job is to support people who move to Noto.
Acting
Tao Tsuchiya grows from child to adult on screen
Production
Wajima's actual salt ponds, real seasonal rituals
Writing
Failure as plot engine, not shame
Tao Tsuchiya
Tsumura Mare
Yo Oizumi
Tsumura Tooru
Takako Tokiwa
Tsumura Aiko
Shono Hayama
Tsumura Ittetsu
Kento Yamazaki
Kontani Keita
Mugi Kadowaki
Minori Teraoka
Yoshiko Sengen
Ichiko Kuramoto
Yuta Takahata
Kado Yoichiro
Daichi Watanabe
Futaki Takashi
Min Tanaka
Okesaku Ganji
Yuko Tanaka
Okesaku Fumi
Harutomo Koyama
Takumi Kontani
Yoshi Sakō
Mayor Wajima
Mitsuko Kusabue
Robert Yukie
Shûko
Toko Yano
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Asadora morning dramas are NHK's 60-year institution; Mare helped spark rural 'U-turn' migration to Noto Peninsula after broadcast.
Tao Tsuchiya was cast at 19 and filmed across four years, aging Mare from 10 to 18; her actual growth spurt required costume redesigns mid-production.
JP
