Agri (1997)
A moving NHK Asadora drama based on the true story of Mochizuki Agri, a hairdresser whose resilience carried her through wartime Japan and beyond.
Agri - Series Information
- Original Title: あぐり
- First Air Year: 1997
- Last Air Year: 1997
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Drama, Family
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode: 15 minutes
- Number of Seasons: 1
- Number of Episodes: 156
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: Japanese
- Spoken Languages: Japanese
- Networks: NHK
- Alternative Titles: Aguri (JP)
- Production Companies: NHK
- Production Countries: Japan
Agri - Plot
The 56th NHK Asadora Renzoku Drama is Agri. Story's settings include Okayama and Tokyo (Ichigaya). This renzoku chronicles the life of a Showa period hairdresser, and is based on a true life story of Moshizuki Agri. Agri has worked for over 70 years as a beautician. She is a successful business woman who survived the war by becoming a farmer. During the war, going to the beauty salon was considered a frivolity, so many such businesses went bankrupt as Japan suffered from the energy spent as all the yen was fueled into the war effort.
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Agri - Cast & Crew
Main Cast
- Misato Tanaka
- Mansai Nomura
- Kōtarō Satomi
- Yuriko Hoshi
- Yūko Natori
- Sawa Suzuki
- Haruma Miura
Writers
- Yûki Shimizu
Agri - FAQs
Is Agri based on a true story?
Agri is indeed based on a true story. The series chronicles the real life of Mochizuki Agri, a Japanese hairdresser who worked in the beauty industry for over 70 years. She famously kept her business alive through the hardships of wartime Japan by turning to farming when salons were deemed a frivolity.
Who plays the lead role in Agri?
Misato Tanaka takes on the lead role of Mochizuki Agri, the resilient hairdresser at the heart of the story. Mansai Nomura co-stars as Mochizuki Eisuke, while the supporting cast includes Kōtarō Satomi, Yuriko Hoshi, Yūko Natori, Sawa Suzuki, and a young Haruma Miura as Shotaro.
What is Agri about?
Set across Okayama and Tokyo during the Showa era, Agri follows the life of a determined hairdresser who navigates wartime hardship, economic collapse, and personal resilience. When beauty salons were forced to close during the war, she reinvented herself as a farmer before ultimately building a thriving career spanning more than seven decades.
What is the NHK Asadora format of Agri?
Agri is the 56th entry in NHK's beloved Asadora (morning drama) tradition — a format that airs short daily episodes, each around 15 minutes, over several months. These serialized dramas typically follow a woman's life journey across historical periods and are a cornerstone of Japanese television culture.
How many episodes does Agri have?
Agri consists of 156 episodes across a single season, each running approximately 15 minutes. This compact daily-episode format is characteristic of NHK's Asadora dramas, designed to be watched as part of a morning routine over the course of the broadcast year.
What are similar shows to Agri?
Fans of Agri will likely enjoy other NHK Asadora classics such as Oshin (1983), Amachan (2013), Massan (2014), Gochisousan (2013), and Warotenka (2017). Older entries like Jun-chan's Cheering Song (1988), Sister Ma (1979), and Hanekonma (1986) also share the same warm, life-affirming spirit.
Who wrote the screenplay for Agri?
The screenplay for Agri was written by Yûki Shimizu, who crafted the adaptation of Mochizuki Agri's remarkable real-life story for the NHK Asadora format. The series' music was composed by Taro Iwashiro, adding an emotional and period-appropriate sonic backdrop to the drama.
What network aired Agri and when?
Agri aired on NHK, Japan's national public broadcaster, in 1997. It was produced by NHK as the 56th installment in their long-running Asadora morning drama series. The show is set in Japan and was filmed in Japanese, reflecting the authentic Showa-era atmosphere central to the story.
More About Agri
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