(Impression) Jdrama NHK Natsuzora (Summer Sky) Part 2

Casts:

Okuhara family:

Suzu hirose as Natsu Okuhara

Okada Masaki as Saitaro Okuhara

Kiyohara Kara as Chiharu Okuhara

Yamada family:

Ayako Kobayashi as Tami Yamada

Shigeyuki Totsugi as Seiji Yamada

Atsuhiro Inukai as Yohei Yamada

Ryo Yoshizawa as Tenyo Yamada

Obata family:

Ken Yasuda as Yukinosuke Obata

Atsuko Takahata as Toyo Obata

Nobuko Sendo as Taeko Obata

Yuki Yamada as Yukijiro Obata

As I already wrote in my previous blog, I’d like to continue writing about other characters around Natsu. Why do I have to bother writing about them? Well, of course, they have their important roles in Natsu’s life. I can say that they take important roles in Natsu’s traits when she grows up.

Natsu Okuhara, I have written about her in this post.

Saitaro Okuhara, Natsu’s older brother. They were separated during the war. At first, Okuhara siblings were put in an orphanage. But then, Chiharu was adopted by a relative, Saitaro was big enough to be left in the orpahange that Natsu then adopted by Shibata family and moved to Hokkaido.

Saitaro Okuhara, the long lost brother of Natsu

Saitaro is known as a tap dancer since he was child. He earned his living by doing tap dance on the street entertaining western soldiers. After the war, he is a kind of floater doing random things in theater. He dreams to be an actor, but his talent is hardly recognized. Before he wants to reach his dream, he wants to reestablish Moulin Rouge, a place used to belong to his stepmom.

After he meets Natsu, he tries his best to be an ideal brother for her, however, his ways are sometimes misleading that Natsu has to take the blame. Poor Saitaro. LOL.

Chiharu Okuhara, Natsu’s younger sister. Similar to Saitaro, they were separated during the war. After Chiharu being adopted by their relative, it’s barely to know how she is. I watched one of weekly spoilers from NHK in YouTube, Chiharu visited Shibata farm, but Natsu is no longer there since she works her heads out in Tokyo as an animator. I can’t say a lot of things about Chiharu, unfortunately. Maybe some more weeks, I’ll get to know her.

For Yamada family, I’d like to make it short since there are so many side characters. Yamada family has 2 children, Yohei and Tenyo. Tenyo is a friend of Natsu when they were in elementary school. Tenyo is the one giving Natsu inspiration to draw. Yohei is also talented in drawing and he’s got his ticket to go to Tokyo to pursue his dream. Meanwhile, Tenyo is chained to stay in Hokkaido. He has to take care of his farm and parents. His love for Natsu is so deep that it breaks my heart. I ship them from the very beginning. Unfortunately, it seems that Tenyo and Natsu have separate ways. In episode 10, his parents already ask Tenyo to forget about Natsu and get a spouse to marry. Oh, NOOOOO…. Please make them together later. Just like Ritsu and Suzume in Hanbun, Aoi. They are finally together, aren’t they?.

Yamada family minus Yohei

Obata family is like the second family for Natsu. The Obata family consists of Toyo Obata—she’s like Natsu’s grandmother, a couple Taeko and Yukinosuke—they’re like Natsu’s third parents, and Yukijiro, another Natsu’s best friend. The Obata family has wagasiya store, it’s a kind of dessert of sweet tooth, including ice cream, parfait, and later ice cream float. Yukinosuke is very creative as well as talented in creating new menu for his wagasiya. It’s possible that his store is going to be number one wagasiya store. He used to study about making sweet tooth in Tokyo. Yukijiro is the only son Obata has, no wonder that Yukijiro has the responsibility to continue the store. However, Yukijiro has set his heart to acting. He fell in love in acting or drama since he was in senior high school. Getting to know Saitaro and his friends make him yearn to be an actor. Well, will he continue to pursue his parent’s wish or his own dream?

Obata family watching school drama

Besides the two families mentioned, there is another family that will later be close to Shibata family, Agawa family. Yaichiro, the father and Sara, the daughter have rescued Natsu from the snow storm. If only they didn’t rescue Natsu at that time, there wouldn’t be Natsu going to Tokyo. LOL. Teruo, Natsu’s step brother fell for Sara at the first sight. I think, if Sara didn’t show up, Teruo might have feeling for Natsu. Well, there are not too many girls in Hokkaido. Most of them are men working as farmers. LOL. Sara would be Teruo’s bride later in the story. Omedetto, Teruo onii-chan.

Natsu just thinks about Nobu-san, then he will show up 😆😆😆

Other than those families, there is someone who is very close to Natsu and her siblings, Nobuya Sasaoka. He is like Natsu’s brother. Nobu is Saitaro’s friend and they had bitter experience during the war. Nobu stayed in the orphanage where Saitaro was supposed to stay, but he ran away. All the letters Natsu wrote all this time went to Nobu. Nobu has been working very hard only to meet Natsu and her siblings. Do you think he doesn’t consider Natsu as a sister, but more than that? From all the men around Natsu, Nobu is the only one I don’t support. LOL. Gomen, Nobu-san.

The first two pics are a bit meanie at first, the last two indeed kind-hearted to Natsu

In Tokyo, Natsu meet a lot of kind people (you’re very lucky, Natsu!). As soon as Natsu landed in Tokyo, she is welcomed by Maejima Kouko, the owner of a restaurant Natsu later would work for. Maejima or people call her as Madam, seems to be a bit meanie taking Natsu as a hostage since she has something unfinished thing with Saitaro, Natsu’s brother. Then later, Natsu would have Kishikawa Ayami, Saitaro’s guardian, or his stepmom. I can imagine how happy she is having Natsu with her. She’s like a daughter to her.

When Natsu visited Tokyo for the first time, she had a chance to visit animation company, Toyo Animation, the pioneer of animation company in 1950s. From then on, she is fired up to become an animator. In Toyo company, her new workplace, she’s got a lot of people who support her, who take care of her. It seems that Natsu is the center of people’s generosity. When Natsu is around, there would be kind hearted people around her. Maybe that’s what the quote by T. F. Hodge says The energy you bring, positive or negative, dictates your perception, receptions and radiations. Everywhere Natsu goes, she always brings positive energy.

One thing for sure of Natsuzora dorama is the existence of ikemens 😉😉😉

I have just finished watching week 72 two days ago. In Japan, I’m sure the story is far ahead from what I watch. I don’t mind getting spoiler here and there, including in NHK official YouTube channel. I watched somewhere that the story would be continued until Natsu’s getting older. The thing I keep wondering is, who would be Natsu’s spouse? Tenyo kun is impossible to go to Tokyo since he has his responsibility in Hokkaido. I also heard that Tenyo is married to someone and have a child. Oh, noooo… In Toyo animation company, there are several candidates, though. Say, Naka-san, Yohei-kun—Tenyo’s brother, the mister police officer (I’m sorry, I couldn’t catch his name). In episode 72, there is a new character introduced, Sakaba Kazuhisa. He’s the only one I support would be Natsu’s partner since the actor playing the character is TAISHI NAKAGAWA! LOL. And one more character coming up, Kamiji Kouya. Shota Sometani who plays the character seems to be back as a mangaka, after his rle as Niizuma Eiji in Bakuman. Even so, I won’t bless him with Natsu. LOL.

Well, I think that’s all I can write about characters in NHK dorama Natsuzora. There must be some other side characters I cannot mention here. But, I suppose I won’t go spoiling things. After finishing episode 72, I’m longing for the next episode already. I would watch even it’s raw. LOL.

Ja, matta ashita…👋👋👋

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