The Happy Housewife: Mikako Tabe in “Taigan no Kaji”

Continuing on with Mikako Tabe’s string of wholesome roles comes “Taigan no Kaji: Kore ga, Watashi no Ikiru Michi!” with Tabe as Shiho Murakami, a mother of a young child who decides to give up work and dedicate her life to being a fill-time housewife, while her husband Torao runs an eatery.

For those of us from the X Generation and earlier, this is probably no big deal, but in current times where both parents strive to pursue careers while also juggling childcare, the Murakamis' choice of living can seem almost controversial!

Indeed, Shiho gets looked down upon and criticized by the the other mothers around her, including her next door neighbor, the business-obsessed Reiko Nagano (Noriko Eguchi) who looks upon Shiho’s withdrawal from the work force as a sort of failing.

There are also those parents like the stand-offish Tatsuya Nakatani (Dean Fujoika) who, while also trying to raise his child while his wife is away on business, is highly critical of Shiho and her methods, believing his stringent way is the only way to raise a child.

Of course, this is Mikako Tabe we’re talking about, so naturally her kind heart and caring sensibilities shine through even the harshest judgements, and even her hardest detractors come to realize that being a stay at home housewife can be as strong a choice as any prolific career!

talking it through with her neighbor (Misato Tanaka)

Funny how, whenever you see Mikako Tabe in any new drama, you can almost sense what kind of show it will be, she is like a female Jimmy Stewart or Tom Hanks where you know she will play an earnest character you will definitely like. Some of the most gentle dramas I’ve liked have starred her; Tsubaki Bunguten, Watashi no Kaseifu Nagisa-san, Ichiban Sukina Hana, all the way back to her sweet role of Sadako in “Kimi Ni Todoke”, she always charms, and this role of the kind Shiho is yet another fine one!

PS: If I thought it was surprising when I realized Morning Musume's Kusumi Koharu was the actress playing Hirona Yamazaki’s co-worker in the drama Jofu: Josei ni xxxxtte Hitsuyo Desuka, I was even MORE surprised to find out that the actress playing the gorgeous svelte wife of Dean Fujioka was none other than HIROKO SHIMABUKURO, she late of the popular 90’s group SPEED!

 Huh, had no IDEA she was acting, and to see her ALL grown UP was a particular shock! YES, as I've said often, time FLIES!!!

Below: LOL, the other wives' reaction when they see what a stunner Nakatani’s wife is couldn’t be any greater than if it was revealed that he was actually married to a member of SPEED, they’re THAT shocked!

Like Koharu Kusumi, I still think of Hiroko as a young girl in my mind, though she is five years older than Mikako Tabe and only four years younger than Noriko Eguchi!

Poisted by zdorama @zdoramaagain.blogspot.com

Another Quartet in "Ichiban Suki na Hana"

Ichiban Suki na Hana, a story of four shy and introverted people who have, since childhood, struggled with the concept of pairing up with others and making true allies in life, and have found that, as adults, this same stigma has kept them feeling isolated and completely alone within the busy world they occupy.

There is Yukue Ushio (Mikako Tabe), a young woman working as a Cram School instructor who has recently been told by her supposed best friend (Taiga Nakano) that he can’t hang out with her anymore 'cause his new wife forbids it…

There is Tsubaki Haruki (Kouhei Matsushita), a man who earnestly believes he had found a woman to settle down with (Asami Usuda)…only to be dumped over phone just as the wedding day is on the horizon…

There is Yoyo Miyuki (Mio Imada), a pretty hairstylist who has never had real friendship outside of the men who see her as someone to go out with purely for her physical appearance… (where she is told off for constantly "leading guys on" when she says she only sees them as acquaintances)

...and finally, there is Momiji Sato (Fuju Kamio), a quiet lad working at a convenience store with dreams of someday making it as a graphic designer but is told that for his illustrations to touch others, he needs to be a more outgoing and warm person.

At this point, all four of our characters are unmoored and seem to be drifting into a desperate outlook...They all need something to spark their lives...and such a chance is on the horizon!

Through an unusual set of wild circumstances, each of the four happen to cross paths when fate gives Momiji, Yukue, and Yoyo individual reasons to appear at Tsubaki's doorstep!  Through this wonderful chance meeting, the four get to talking and through animated discussion, find that their personal problems at creating bonds and retaining relationships may not be so unique after all!

Though skeptical to even begin thinking about making new friendships, that same playful fate has decided that these four are meant to be in each others’ lives, and through that chance first meeting, will see them find solace in each other and realize they are not alone in the world.

As Bogie once said:  "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship!"

MAN, after just the first episode, I am feeling so STRONGLY about this drama- you never know what kind of drama you’re going to get with these “ensemble cast” kind of shows,  gratefully, what I found was less “Manatsu no Cinderella”, and more like the excellent “QUARTET” from few years back or even the recent “Nichiyou no Yoru Gurai wa”… Intelligent dialog and earnest characters make this for one drama that I’m SURE I’m going to enjoy watching in the coming weeks!

Posted by zdorama @ zdoramaagain.blogspot.com