Kao de Waratte

A slow, earnest family-hospital drama where quiet power struggles and gentle warmth mix, asking patience but rewarding with emotional texture.

Genres

Drama

Starring

Momoe Yamaguchi, Mitsuko Baisho, Ken Utsui

Overview

Hanada Surgical Hospital in Kamakura has been in the family's female lineage for over 100 years. Each generation of directors has been an adopted son-in-law, including the current director, Hanada Seiichiro. Perhaps due to his position as an adopted son, he is unable to stand up to his wife, Kiri, daughter, Hideko, and sister-in-law, Tokuko, and is bullied by Chiyo, the former head nurse, nurses, and doctors. When Seiichiro suffers a cerebral hemorrhage, Yamada Daikichi, a surgeon in Tokyo who had a close relationship with Seiichiro's late father, comes to live with the Hanadas, bringing his daughter, Etsuko, a middle school student. Daikichi lost his wife about 10 years ago and has been raising Etsuko alone. At the request of his former teacher, Seiichiro, Daikichi is appointed acting director.

How it feels

Melancholic, warm, earnest and tense. Measured and needs your attention.

About

Family, work, parenthood, class

Content

No violence, gore, sexual content or swearing.

Note

Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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