Around 40

Synopsis

39-year-old Ogata Satoko is a highly capable psychiatrist who is single. She's forthright, a caring older sister and reliable in her job and in private. Her interests are staying in luxurious Japanese inns and watching stand-up comedy videos.

Satoko hasn't had a boyfriend in the past five years. Nevertheless, she derives satisfaction from work and isn't worried about her finances. Among her good friends that she hangs out with are 35-year-old Morimura Nao, her junior who proclaims that she won't marry, and 39-year-old Oikawa Sadao, her peer since high school. Satoko is happily enjoying the single life.

At an alumni reunion as everyone is on the verge of 40, Takeuchi Mizue, her good friend since high school who is now a full-time housewife, rushes Satoko into action. "If you want children, you should marry now" and "It's women's happiness", but both are lost on Satoko, who isn't convinced.

One day, Satoko attempts to cheer up Nao, who is downcast over a shocking incident, and goes to her favourite hot-spring inn. There she coincidentally encounters a breakup between a handsome but somewhat odd man, Okamura Keitaro, and his girlfriend.

Cast

• Amami Yuki as Ogata Satoko
• Fujiki Naohito as Okamura Keitaro
• Otsuka Nene as Morimura Nao
• Matsushita Yuki as Takeuchi Mizue
• Tsutsui Michitaka as Ohashi Sadao
• AKIRA as Ogata Tatsuya
• Sakura as Ogata Maki
• Matsumoto Runa as Ogata Ruka
• Hayashi Ryuzo as Ogata Tomoyasu
• Kaga Mariko as Yoshinaga Haruko
• Jinbo Satoshi as Takeuchi Akio
• Kimura Haruki as Takeuchi Yosuke
• Matsuo Takashi (松尾貴史) as Kawasaki Kengo
• Matsumoto Wakana as Katayama Haruka
• Hoshino Ryoko (星野涼子) as Uemura Asuka
• Hiei Yosuke (日栄洋祐) as Yajima
• Katagiri Hairi as Yanagihara Kazuko (Matchmaker)
• Kato Masaya as Kanasugi Kazuya

Details

• Title: アラウンド40
• Title (English): Around 40
• Tagline: 注文の多いオンナたち / Chumon no Oi Onna-tachi / Demanding Women
• Format: Renzoku
• Genre: Human drama, comedy
• Episodes: 11
• Viewership rating: 14.6 (Kanto)
• Broadcast network: TBS
• Broadcast period: 2008-Apr-11 to 2008-June-20
• Air time: Friday 22:00 - 22:54
• Theme song: Shiawase no Monosashi by Takeuchi Mariya