Namida o Fuite (Wipe Your Tears)

Yosuke Eguchi plays the character of Katsuo Onishi, a 35-year-old carpenter and former college football player who sees life almost in the same balance as a football game (guts and glory along with team spirit). One day he learns that his friend (a college football teammate) was killed when his house burned down.

His friend's wife is in a coma and his four kids are now homeless, Eguchi has the children live with him (in his one room apartment) above his bosses home.

This drama will most likely be compared to his previous hit drama "Hitotsu Yane no Shita" but in this case, Eguchi has more interaction with younger kids and the story doesn't have a darker side like "Hitotsu Yane no Shita".

STARRING: Eguchi Yosuke, Uchida Yuki, Turtoise Matsumuto of Ulfuls, Ninomiya Kazunari, Ueto Aya, Ikariya Chosuke, Kamiki Ryunosuke, Ishida Ayumi and more.
THEME SONG:  "Tobenai Yuri" by Yuzu and "Kansha kangeki ame arashi" by ARASHI
NETWORK: Fuji TV
DURATION: Started in October 2000 through December 2000.
REVIEWS:

So far, "Namida wo Fuite" is a good family drama. I don't see it as a "Hitotsu Yane no Shita" wannabe drama but I'm sure it will be compared to it. Although we see Eguchi play a caring person especially to the youngest boy (like a father-son relationship), it doesn't have the sad/dark type of storyline like "Hitotsu Yane no Shita" which maybe a good thing. You don't want to hear about the children getting all messed up mentally because of their father's death. You get a good family drama and I'm guessing that was the director's intention. If there was something I found really entertaining is the character played by Ulfuls vocals, Turtoise. Recommended for those who want a good family drama.-KNDY