Massan

Massan reimagines the true story of a Scottish woman and the Japanese man she marries as they build a life together in early 20th century Japan. Eri Kameyama, a foreigner with a lively spirit, meets Masaharu Kameyama while he studies abroad, and their relationship grows into marriage, family and a shared ambition to make whisky in a country that barely knows the spirit. The series follows their domestic struggles, clashes with tradition and the practical challenges of starting a business, as they juggle love, duty and the slow, often stubborn work of turning a dream into reality.

Released in 2014, the TV drama was directed by Yusuke Noda and created by Daisuke Habara. It draws on the lives of Masataka Taketsuru and Jessie Roberta "Rita" Cowan and stars Charlotte Kate Fox as Eri and Tetsuji Tamayama as Masaharu, supported by Pinko Izumi, Gin Maeda and Akari Hayami.

The series had a noticeable cultural effect by placing a non-Japanese actress in the lead of a traditional morning-drama format, an uncommon move that generated conversation about casting and representation. It also brought wider attention to the historical origins of Japan's whisky industry and to the realities of cross-cultural marriage in a conservative era.

Viewer scores reflect a warm reception, with a user average of 8.0/10 from available votes, and many audiences appreciating the domestic detail and period atmosphere. The show revolves around themes of partnership, identity, perseverance and the tension between family expectations and entrepreneurial drive. Performances and the gradual, realistic pacing help the drama focus more on everyday resilience than on melodrama.

Within the industry the series prompted discussion and respect for its historical source and casting choices, drawing attention from critics and viewers interested in biographical drama and historical domestic stories. Its blend of personal life and business history made it a topic of conversation beyond typical soap audiences.