Shrink: Seishinkai Yowai

A trio of heartfelt stories dealing with conditions of mental illness and their impact on the patient and the lives of people around them. The stories could serve as a source of information on the conditions covered because they don't just list the symptoms, they show the colourful ways in which they can present themselves. Some lovely and understated acting adds gentle drama to make the topic more palatable and easily digested. The inclusion of treatments, as part of the story, may help to show that the diagnosis is not the destination of a journey, but it is the starting point of a voyage of recovery.

I understand that there is much stigma associated with mental health conditions in Japan. Dramas like this can only help people get past that, wherever they are.

It's nice to see some familiar acting faces (especially Master from Midnight Diner) and new talent. Many thanks for the show, Arigatou.