The first episode of the Tuesday drama "Toki Sude ni Osushi!?" (TBS, Tuesdays at 10 PM), starring actress Hiromi Nagasaku, aired on April 7th. Minato Machiyama (Nagasaku), who has finished raising her children, said, "Being a mother was my reason for living," which resonated with viewers.
◇The following contains spoilers.
The drama tells the story of Minato Machiyama, who, having finished raising her children, is bewildered by the "time to herself" that she finally has again at the age of 50, but begins her second life and jumps into a "sushi academy" where she can become a sushi chef in three months.
This spring, Minato's son, Nagisa (played by Motoki Nakazawa), became independent, and in an attempt to escape the sense of loss, she impulsively enrolled in the "Sushi Academy." However, she became discouraged when she compared herself to her classmates who were seriously aiming to become sushi chefs, and she submitted a request to the school's administrative office to withdraw.
Meanwhile, instructor Oedo Kaimiya (Kenichi Matsuyama) learns that Minato wants to drop out of school and comes to see him out of concern.
Minato recalled that during the first week after her child started school, she was so engrossed in the activities that she forgot about "the anxiety she felt about losing the title of mother." Reflecting on the days leading up to that point, she told Oedo with genuine feeling, "It was really tough."
"But being a mother was my reason for living. So when I was suddenly told to live for myself, I didn't know what to do..." she confided, revealing that she wasn't living for her family, nor for herself, but that her own life was "lost."
"There's only one thing I can say," Oedo began, looking at Minato's hands and commenting, "These are hands that have cooked with the person they were cooking for in their heart." "If you keep going with those hands, one day what you started for yourself might end up benefiting someone else," she encouraged, causing Minato to shed large tears.
On social media, comments included: "That's right. Being a mother was my reason for living. I cried at Nagasaku-chan's words. I felt the same way," "'Being a mother is my reason for living,' I understand that. It really hit home," "Nagasaku Hiromi's acting was wonderful. I cried towards the end," "I cried from the first episode. I understand a mother's feelings so well it hurts," and "A drama that will resonate with women who have finished raising their children."
