‘Mr. Period and His Daughter’ Sparks Conversations About Menstruation

Photo= NHK, “The Tiger and Her Wings”

NHK’s drama The Tiger and Her Wings has sparked important conversations by featuring menstruation in its storyline. The show’s success underscores the need for frank discussions about this topic.

The NHK drama has sparked international attention from outlets like Shujo Prime for portraying menstruation. This highlights a growing trend of tackling social issues in Japanese public broadcasting.

NHK’s Public Relations Department stated, “Conveying various issues and information related to menstruation is important in realizing a society where diverse lifestyles are recognized.”

Ahead of NHK’s comments on the importance of menstruation awareness, their daily drama The Tiger and Her Wings surprised viewers with a scene depicting the protagonist, Tomoko Inotsume (Sairi Ito), missing school for three days due to menstrual cramps.

An anonymous magazine editor shared, “There has never been a scene in a daily drama where the main character suffers from menstruation.” He added, “I heard that there will be a few more scenes related to menstruation this week. There will be direct expressions and dialogue. The production team of The Tiger and Her Wings is trying to incorporate awareness of menstruation into the content.”

NHK has been actively tackling the topic of menstruation across its programming since last year. Their efforts range from dramas like Mr. Period and His Daughter, which featured a character openly discussing tracking his daughter’s cycle, to documentaries and web content that delve deeper into the subject.

Hashimoto, the director of Mr. Period and His Daughter, stated, “We live with menstruation. Women experience menstruation about 450 times in their lifetime. It would be nice if there were an environment where we could speak openly about it when we face difficulties due to menstruation.”

Founded in 1924, NHK is Japan’s leading public broadcaster. Unlike most broadcasters, it prioritizes public service over commercial interests, opting not to air commercials.