, also known as Kazoku Game, is a Japanese television drama based on the award-winning novel of the same name by Yohei Honma, as well as an adaptation of its filmed version. The drama is directed by Yuichi Sato and Kazuyuki Iwata and was broadcast on Fuji TV. It aired from April 17 until June 19, 2013.
The drama was a critical and commercial success and received several awards.
Synopsis
Kazushige Numata (Itsuji Itao) and his wife Kayoko (Honami Suzuki) have two sons. The elder son, Shinichi (Ryunosuke Kamiki), is considered an honor student, but the second son, Shigeyuki (Seishuu Uragami), is an underachiever, who might even fail to enter high school. To make matters worse, Shigeyuki has stopped going to school. His parents, worried about Shigeyuki, find an advertisement for a private tutor on the internet. They contact and then meet Koya Yoshimoto (Sho Sakurai), who becomes Shigeyuki's tutor. During their meeting, both parties lay out one condition to work with each other. The father stipulates that Shigeyuki must go back to school within a week or Yoshimoto will be fired. Meanwhile, Yoshimoto stipulates that the parents must not interfere with his work. Yoshimoto's extraordinary teaching methods then influence not only Shigeyuki, but also his entire family.
Cast
Sho Sakurai as Koya Yoshimoto / Yuudai Tago Ryunosuke Kamiki as Shinichi Numata Honami Suzuki as Kayoko Numata Seishuu Uragami as Shigeyuki Numata Itsuji Itao as Kazushige Numata Shioli Kutsuna as Maika Asami / Maki Tachibana
Ratings
In the table below, represents the lowest ratings and represents the highest ratings.
EpisodeOriginal broadcast dateAverage audience share, videor.co.jp. Retrieved on 13 October 2017.Kanto Region1April 17, 201312.0% 2April 24, 201313.7%3May 1, 20134May 8, 201312.2%5May 15, 201312.4%6May 22, 201312.9%7May 29, 201313.6%8June 5, 201312.6%9June 12, 201312.4%10June 19, 2013Average
Reception
The drama received positive reviews from critics. Philip Brasor from Japan Times compared the drama to the film adaptation. He said that "it exaggerates the elements that made the movie (The Family Game 2013) shocking. The characters aren’t just deluded, they’re twisted." Brasor particularly praised Sho Sakurai's portrayal of Yoshimoto, in which he said that "[Yūsaku] Matsuda’s tutor was an antisocial loser with a streak of cruelty. Sakurai’s is a full-blown sociopath. Matsuda struck Shigeyuki just to get a rise out of him. Sakurai not only strikes Shigeyuki (Seishuu Uragami), he practically destroys the Numata home on a weekly basis, cackling all the while like the Wicked Witch of the West. Matsuda’s power over the Numata household came from the force of his personality. Sakurai’s power is of the purely calculating kind, as is the writing in general....Like Matsuda’s tutor, Sakurai uses gamesmanship instead of pedagogy to get results, but his methodology is more sadistic."Family drama is reimagined for today’s Japan, japantimes.co.jp. Retrieved on 13 October 2017.
Sho Sakurai's acting reportedly made fans find it "too disturbing to watch". It was dubbed as 2013's Biggest Drama Surprise by critics, and Sakurai was given a number of awards.Sakurai won numerous awards because of his role in 'Kazoku Game', tumblr.com. Retrieved on 14 October 2017.
Awards and nominations YearAwardCategoryNominated workResult2013 17th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix (Spring)The 17th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix Spring:2013, doramaworld.blogspot.com. Retrieved on 13 October 2017. Best Drama The Family Game Best Actor Sho Sakurai Best Supporting Actor Ryunosuke Kamiki Best Supporting Actress Honami Suzuki 77th Television Drama Academy Awards77th Television Drama Academy Awards, kazoku-game.livejournal.com. Retrieved on 13 October 2017. Best Drama The Family Game Best Actor Sho Sakurai Best Supporting Actor Ryunosuke Kamiki Best Supporting Actor Seishuu Uragami Best Supporting Actress Honami Suzuki Best Screenwriter Muto Shogo Best Director Yuichi Sato Best Theme song Endless Game by Arashi 2014 23rd TV Life Annual Drama AwardsDrama 'Kazoku Game' tops TV Life's '2013 Drama Awards', tokyohive.com. Retrieved on 13 October 2017. Best Drama The Family Game Best Lead Actor Sakurai Sho Best Supporting Actor Ryunosuke Kamiki Best Supporting Actress Honami Suzuki Best Theme Song Endless Game by Arashi
References
External links