NHK's The Employee Examines Workplace Stereotypes Facing Women
Producer Akiko Ueda discusses the drama, the second series from NHK's Writers' Development Room, starring Yoh Yoshida and Sara Minami.
NHK's new drama series The Employee has launched in Japan and drawn discussion about the workplace stereotypes women face, according to Deadline. The series stars Yoh Yoshida and Sara Minami and is the second show produced through NHK's Writers' Development Room program.
The story follows Eriko, a 50-year-old executive hopeful who receives an anonymous threatening letter just before the launch of a major project. In an interview with Deadline, senior producer Akiko Ueda, of NHK's content production team, discussed the series and the program behind it.
The Employee was written by Tomomi Naka, Shu Matsui, Tomoe Asaka and Sou Tateya. Keita Hosaka, Keisuke Oshima and Yuki Nishio directed, and Akiko Ueda produced with Shouta Ishimura.
The Writers' Development Room's first series was 30,000,000 Yen, which Deadline profiled last year in its Global Breakouts column and which Ueda said was widely praised for its fast-paced plot and unpredictability. The Employee won the program's second year after beating eight other scripts shortlisted last summer.
NHK hopes to run a third Writers' Development Room but has given no date.
Quick answers
What is The Employee about?
It follows Eriko, a 50-year-old executive hopeful who receives an anonymous threatening letter just before the launch of a major project.
Who stars in NHK's The Employee?
Yoh Yoshida and Sara Minami star in the series.
What is NHK's Writers' Development Room?
It is an NHK program for developing drama writers. The Employee is its second series, after 30,000,000 Yen.