Happiness Nurtured, Rather Than Others’ Misfortune

Re-runs of the serial morning drama “Oshin” have begun.

This story holds the record for the highest viewer rating of any TV drama, and was apparently deeply popular overseas as well.

Wanting to know why this drama caught on with people, I—who had never seen it—tuned the TV to Oshin at the same time every morning.

Struck, made to cry, betrayed, bullied, cursed at, enduring hardship and clawing her way up—the sight of Oshin puts me in a dark mood every morning, and a disagreeable feeling lingers, yet somehow I want to see the next one.

Why? Surely one reason is that I keep chasing and hoping that tomorrow, at last, will bring a happy Oshin.

Still, I’m impressed the screenwriter, Ms. Hashida, could keep dreaming up such a run of misfortunes.

I reached the conclusion that, for me, watering the plants in the morning gives me more power to live through the day—yet it’s funny that I go and record Oshin anyway.