Drama: Sunshiny Asa (English title) Romaji: Asa ga Kita Japanese: あさが来た Director: Shinichi Nishitani, Shinzo Nitta, Yoshiharu Sasaki Writer: Chieko Furukawa (novel), Mika Omori Network: NHK Episodes: 156 Release Date: September 28, 2015 - April 2, 2016 Runtime: Mon-Sat 8:00-8:15 Genre: Based on True Story / Biopic Language: Japanese Country: Japan **Plot** In the late Tokugawa Shogunate, Asa was born as the second daughter of a wealthy merchant in Kyoto, Japan. Later, in Osaka, Asa entered various business fields like coal mines, banks, life insurance. She also founded the first female university in Japan. **Notes** Based on the novel "Shosetsu Tosaborigawa Josei Jitsugyoka Hirooka Asako no Shogai" by Chieko Furukawa (published 1988 by Ushio Shuppansha Co., Ltd). "Asa ga Kita" is NHK's 93rd asadora. **Cast** Haru as Asa Imai Aoi Miyazaki as Hatsu Imai Takeshi Masu as Tadaoki Imai Shinobu Terajima as Rie Imai Yoichi Hayashi as Tadamasa Imai Sotaro Okitsu as Kyutaro Imai Tomochika as Ume Kaya Kiyohara as Fuyu Hiroshi Tamaki as Shinjiro Shirooka Masaomi Kondo as Shokichi Shirooka Jun Fubuki as Yono Shirooka Yoshikazu Kikuchi as Shotaro Shirooka Hatsuki Yoshida as Eizaburo Shirooka Takaya Yamauchi as Gansuke Hiroki Miyake as Kisuke Tasuku Emoto as Sobee Mayuyama Takuro Tatsumi as Eitatsu Mayuyama Hisako Manda sa Kiku Mayuyama Rio Suzuki as Asa Imai (young) Manase Moridono as Hatsu Imai (young) **Additional Cast Members:** Sumika Nono - Miwa