Woman

The latest drama I'm following is this one... Woman.

I have to admit I found it because I like Oguri Shun, then I heard it's the same screen writer as for the drama series Mother, which I followed back in 2010. Then also, the story in itself is very interesting and I think this is a big problem not only in Japan but in many countries around the world.

Anyway so far I have seen the 3 episodes that has been released and I'm hooked. I wonder how the story will develop.

Title: Woman
Title (romaji): Woman
Format: Renzoku
Genre: Family
Episodes: TBD
Viewership rating: TBA
Broadcast network: NTV
Broadcast period: 2013-Jul-03
Air time: Wednesday 22:00
Theme song: VOICE by androp

Story
Currently, there are over 1 million single mothers in Japan. Their average annual income is about 2 mil yen (1.8 mil if government subsidies are excluded), which is about a third of the nation's average annual income of 5.4 mil yen. We cannot begin to imagine the stress they are under to make ends meet. Shunned by society, they find it difficult to find a way out of their poverty. This drama showcases how a single mother gives her all in trying to provide for her beloved children.

Koharu (Hikari Mitsushima) lost her husband Shin (Shun Oguri) in an unexpected accident. Koharu must go on for her two children Nozomi (Rio Suzuki) and Riku (Rai Takahashi).
Koharu works hard to make a living, but her financial situation does not improve. She goes to the social welfare office to apply for assistance, but is refused due to not meeting certain requirements.
An employee at the welfare office asks Koharu if she has family that can support her, but she says no. Koharu's father passed away and her mother Sachi (Yuko Tanaka) left her and her father for another man (Kaoru Kobayashi) twenty years ago. They have been estranged since then.
An employee at the welfare office then contacts Sachi. Her mother makes it known she will provide support for Koharu. Meanwhile, Koharu is stunned by her mother's response. After twenty years, Koharu decides to meet her mother again.

Cast
Mitsushima Hikari as Aoyagi Koharu
Suzuki Rio as Aoyagi Nozomi
Suda Rio as 4-yr old Nozomi
Takahashi Rai as Aoyagi Riku
Tanaka Rei as 1-yr old Riku
Oguri Shun as Aoyagi Shin
Tanaka Yuko as Uesugi Sachi
Kobayashi Kaoru as Uesugi Kentaro
Nikaido Fumi (二階堂ふみ) as Uesugi Shiori
Tanimura Mitsuki as Sunagawa Aiko
Miura Takahiro as Sunagawa Ryosuke
Takahashi Issei as Sawamura Yugo
Usuda Asami as Kamata Yuki
Kose Tatsuya as Kamata Naoto
Takada Manato as Kamata Masato