Asa ga Kita (あさが来た)

1901... Meiji 34.

This is Tokyo over 110 years ago.

TOKYO HINODE WOMEN'S UNIVERSITY

She's here.

It's her.

She's beautiful.

This woman is the heroine of the story we're about to begin...

Her name is Asa Shirooka.

Congratulations on your entrance to the first women's university

in our country, Hinode Women's University.

ASA SHIROOKA

Making a speech like this seems a little pompous...

Learning isn't anything special.

So please learn to your heart's content.

In order to build a world where everyone can

laugh and live, we need the soft power of women.

Asa started a coal mining company, a bank and insurance company

during the tumultuous period in Japan from the end of

the Edo period to the Meiji era.

I'd like to say that...

She's a great woman who devoted her life to the establishment of

Japan's first women's university

1857 (ANSEI 4)

Actually Asa was...

a unbelievably difficult young girl.

ASA IMAI

That hurts.

Asa ga Kita

Week 1 "The Little Fiancée" Episode 1

Original Story: Chieko FURUKAWA

Screenwriter: Mika OMORI

Music by: Yuuki HAYASHI

Theme Song: "365 Nichi no Kamihikouki" Sung by: AKB48

Narrator: Keiko SUGIURA

Asa Shirooka: Haru

Asa Imai (Young Asa): Rio SUZUKI

Shintaro Shirooka: Hiroshi TAMAKI

Rie Imai: Shinobu TERAJIMA

Tadaoki Imai: Takeshi MASU

Ume: TOMOCHIKA

Shokichi Shirooka: Masaomi KONDO

KYOTO

ASA'S FAMILY HOME IMAI FAMILY

20 years before the Meiji era toward the ending of the

Edo period, Asa was born as the second daughter of a wealthy merchant family in Kyoto.

No... This isn't Asa.

This is Hatsu, Asa's sister who is 2 years older.

ASA'S OLDER SISTER HATSU

So where's Asa?

MAID UME / ASA'S MOTHER RIE

Where did Asa go?

Sis!

Mom! Asa's... Asa's hurt!

Asa!

What are you doing?

Mom! Sis! Why?

Why can't I fly like a kite even if I put this on?

Why?

Never mind that!

ASA'S FATHER HEAD OF THE FAMILY TADAOKI

You! You're a girl! Why are you, always getting into mischief?

I wonder why.

I'm sorry Dad.

Why are you laughing?

You!

Hatsu was a kind young girl who was good at playing the koto

while her younger sister, Asa, was a real tomboy.

1861 (FIRST YEAR OF BUNKYU)

It's Asa! It's Asa!

Asa's here.

Why are you running away?

Come back here!

You'd better not be holding back just because I'm a girl.

I won't hold back.

Asa wins again!

I did it!

Miss Asa!

Darn! It's Ume.

How many times have I told you that you can't sumo wrestle?

I'm sorry, but I don't understand it...

You don't get scolded if you sumo wrestle, do you, Kyutaro?

ASA'S YOUNGER BROTHER KYUTARO

No, I don't get scolded.

Master Kyutaro is a boy.

You're a girl.

But I'm strong.

That's right! Asa's strong.

Being strong is no good.

Why?

There you go again...

You're always asking why.

Why can't a girl sumo wrestle?

Because that's just how it is.

What do you mean?

That's right. That's how it's always been from long ago.

Is that it?