Teppan

Raised by an adoptive family in the port town of Onomichi, a young woman discovers she has a living grandmother and decides to leave her familiar surroundings to build a life in Osaka. She moves with the aim of opening an okonomiyaki restaurant, learning not only recipes but how to run a small business and fit into a new community. The series follows her day to day work, family ties, and personal growth as she adapts to city life and the demands of running a teppan grill. The tone stays grounded, focusing on relationships, food, and the practical realities of starting over without revealing major plot twists.

Teppan aired on NHK from 2010 to 2011 as the 83rd Asadora, created by Masako Imai and Toshio Terada. It introduced Miori Takimoto in the lead role and featured Narumi Yasuda, Kenichi Endo, Haruka Kinami, and Aki Asakura in supporting parts.

The broadcast schedule was interrupted by the Tohoku Earthquake, but the show still averaged a 17.2% rating, placing it fourth among Asadora dramas in the previous five years. That audience success kept attention on regional settings like Onomichi and Osaka, and the series became a point of reference for contemporary television about food and local life.

Critical and viewer responses leaned positive, reflected by a Vote Average of 8.0/10 from available user ratings. The scripts emphasize family bonds, personal identity, and small business challenges, with food acting as a social glue. Performances are steady, and the pacing favors everyday scenes over melodramatic peaks, making it feel familiar and accessible to fans of domestic drama.

There are no widely reported major awards tied to the series, but Teppan is often remembered for launching Miori Takimoto as an Asadora lead and for sustaining solid viewer numbers during a difficult broadcast period, which kept it prominent in Japanese TV listings and conversation.