Asa ga Kita

Late in the Edo era, Kyoto hums with commerce and tradition as the Imai family keeps a thriving merchant house. The patriarch Imai Tadamasa has three children: Hatsu, Asa and Kyutaro. Hatsu is all measured poise, content with the crafts of her era she loves the koto and sewing. Asa, by contrast, is lively and headstrong, with a taste for sumo and a stubborn streak. She is set to marry Shinjiro Shirooka, the second son of a renowned Osaka money changer family. At first she bursts with anger over the arrangement, but Shinjiro's charisma catches her eye and a genuine attraction grows.

Released in 2015 as NHK's Asadora, the show was created by Mika Ohmori. It is part of NHK's long running morning drama lineup and features Haru in the title role with a strong ensemble.

The series left a mark by centering a woman who combines grit with heart and business savvy, during a transitional era. Viewers connected with Asa's stubborn optimism and the way her choices ripple through family, shop life, and local culture.

Critics echo that the drama balances tradition with progress, giving weight to themes of resilience, family duty, and female agency. Through Asa, the show interrogates social expectations without turning the era into a dated backdrop, offering a grounded portrait of the period's ambition.