Munô no taka

When I was a kid I loved Japanese TV comedy dramas. "Shimuno" - about some feisty Office Ladies - was my favorite in the late-1990s.

I especially liked those shows with strong female characters. "Shimuno" had Esumi Makiko, who played the lead troublesome OL. Some years later we had "Doctor X" and the headstrong lead played by Yonekura Ryoko.

Like Arai Nanao, all three actresses are or had been models who later transitioned into acting. I don't know much about Ms Arai, but I do think both Esumi and Yonekura had or have acting talents. I hope the same is true for Nanao.

But that remains to be seen. My disappointment is that this series may not be the right vehicle or opportunity for her to do so. The obvious difference is that one of the two leads whom she plays seems to be on the autism spectrum.

No idea if this is really so or not.

In any case, the series gets a minus two points for being formulaic and recycling decades-old troupes about portraying Japanese men and women in the workplace. Aside from Nanao's character, there isn't really anything new with this show.