It took a while for the realisation to sink in – Karei Naru Ichizoku, or The Grand Tribe in English, was one of the most-watched dramas for the Winter 2007 season. And it took one night of boredom and a couple of episodes to understand why.
The one star fronting the drama is the member of boyband SMAP often called the king of J-dramas – Takuya Kimura. He plays Manpyo Teppei, director of a steel-making firm and member of the Manpyo family, one of the most famous in Japanese financial circles.
Veteran stars deck out the entire line-up of this show, with people like Hasegawa Kyoko, Yamada Yu, Aibu Saki, Suzuki Kyoka, Yamamoto Kouji, and Nakamura Toru. A quick search of their names reveal the sheer number of combined J-dramas they’ve starred in.
The plot sounds boring. It tells of the struggles of a huge family, as Teppei goes up against his father, Daisuke – also the president of a bank. Family ties get embroiled into work as Daisuke finds out the reasons behind his father’s dislike of him.
Indeed, the sheer politics and history in this drama will bore many. It’s set in the 1960s, when Japan was undergoing a financial crisis and also a major reorganisation – for one, many banks get the short end of the stick as the finance ministry forces them to merge up and restructure themselves.
But it is also the politics that bring out the beauty of the drama. Bear with the slow pace at the start, and you’ll eventually end up being engaged in the intense character development and interaction – so much so that episodes will be over before you expect.
Watch out for the many family scenes, including the all-powerful mistress played by Suzuki Kyoka – a character many would love to stab.
Unlike the many renzoku dramas currently airing, this one tells much of how the Japanese lived just after World War II, including many of the workings of their corporate world still ongoing today.
It is hard to convince people to watch Karei Naru Ichizoku, especially with a lack of humour and young, upcoming names to look out for. This is a serious, more mature drama that people who prefer being engaged intellectually would enjoy.
-Valentine Chua
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