Tsugumi e... (Kidnap)

TV Asahi, which seldom scores a winner in the drama competition, may have a rare dramatic hit on its hands this summer. Top actors Mayu Tsuruta and Toru Nakamura star as a couple whose beloved daughter is murdered by a stalker (a dentist by day) and then have to cope with victimization at the hands of the police and the press, too. Tentatively titled Tsugumi e, it starts Thursday, July 6 at 8:54 p.m.

Tsugumi e (For Tsugumi; Thursdays from 8:54 p.m. to 9:48 p.m.) may be the first major dramatic hit TV Asahi has had in a very long time. It features Mayu Tsuruta and Toru Nakamura as a very believable young couple with a first grade daughter named Tsugumi, who is abducted by the end of the first episode.

The excellent script features sharp, realistic dialogue that gives the characters depth right from the start. The story begins with the happy family moving into their new dream home in a nice residential neighborhood. Nakamura is sitting in front of the TV listening to a crime report and commenting on the sorry state of the world with the aloof disdain of one who never expects to become a crime victim himself.

But his world begins to turn upside down when Tsugumi gets a toothache and heads off to an unknown dentist. The dentist soon starts stalking Tsuruta, calling and turning up at the front door when he should be off filling teeth. (We are quickly led to believe he will also probably be the kidnapper.)

Eventually Nakamura has to take a morning off work to confront him but, underestimating the seriousness of the situation, ends up perturbed at his wife for having to waste his time on such things. She in turn is disappointed by his reaction. By that evening (and the end of episode one), Tsugumi is gone and the trauma truly begins.

Tamao Sato plays a fledgling weekly magazine reporter assigned to look into sexual harassment charges against the dentist, and Tsutomu Yamazaki lurks around every corner making Tsuruta suspicious, but he is in fact a police detective--the force's own problem child.

Starring: Tsuruta Mayu and Nakamua Toru
THEME SONG: "The Rose" by Suzuki, "Chizu nio nai bashou" by Janne de Arc
NETWORK: TV Asahi
DURATION: July 6, 2000 through September 2000
ASU JUDGMENT:  I really applaud TV Asahi for taking on a drama about a family who loses a child through murder.  I also applaud TV Asahi for finding two very good actors for the role!
REVIEWS:  

After watching the drama completely, my thoughts of how messed up it was to see the family go through so much and how the death of their child and how they are treated by police and others were almost enough to destroy the family.  More so, you feel you want revenge for the death of Tsugumi.  That the killer is brought to justice or for some of you, the family gets payback.  Well, at the end, without ruining the drama, I just want to say that payback is there and I'm content with the series finale.-KNDY

Tsugumi e is serious, convincing, and very realistically done. Four stars for episode one. Don't miss this one. (Daily Yomiuri, 7/12/00, Wm. Penn)