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.

I generally find Japanese comedies a little awkward, but this one shines because of the production and its actors. The star has really struck me as working gracefully with minimalist gestures and movements to mesmerize us - the simplicity of what she does belies the power she has. Much of the humour exacted is from the context of the very competitive office life - now shadowed by the off the beaten track z generation. Hoodies versus suits. I have witnessed first hand the working practices and the business environment which this series deftly satirizes. Of course like many series these days it has its origin in manga series. Here is of course where the production qualities come into their own - like my favourite recent K Drama series Backstreet Rookie which has even more of the anime feel.