Change (TV series)

CHANGE is a Japanese television drama which aired on Fuji TV starting May 12, 2008.[1][2]

For the Armenian sitcom, see Change (Armenian TV series).

CHANGE
Genredrama, politics
StarringTakuya Kimura
Eri Fukatsu
Ending themeMiles Away (Madonna)
Country of originJapan
Original language(s)Japanese
No. of episodes10
Production
Producer(s)Hiroyuki Goto, Kazuyuki Shimizu
Production location(s)Tokyo
Running time54 min./episode
Release
Original networkFuji TV
Picture formatNTSC
Original releaseMay 12 –
July 14, 2008
External links
Website

Plot

Keita Asakura, an elementary school teacher who has no interest in politics, suddenly gets taken to the position of the Prime Minister. He is forced to campaign in the Fukuoka Prefecture for a seat in the House of Representatives for the Seiyu Party when his father and brother, both involved in Diet politics, die in a plane crash en route from Vietnam. Asakura wins the prefectural elections, and heads to Tokyo to take his father's place in the House.

After being sworn in, Asakura is dubbed the "Prince of the Parliament" (kokukai ouji) by the news media. The current Prime Minister is embroiled in a sexual harassment scandal and resigns, leading Kanbaya, one of the most senior politicians in the Seiyu Party, to propose that Asakura run for the party's leadership. This puts Asakara in the running for the premiership should the Seiyu Party win a majority in an upcoming general election. Nirasawa and Hikaru arrives in Tokyo from Fukuoka and stays over at his residence, in time becoming his trusted aides.

Asakura decides to run for the party leadership, but performs disastrously in two televised debates. Supporting his campaign, three other Seiyu politicians educate him in the various aspects of Japanese law, economics and politics. In the final debate, Asakura looks confused when two other candidates start discussing the topic in political verbiage. Finally, he states that he did not understand what they were saying, as do the majority of the Japanese citizens. With this obvious point brought out, he wins the party's internal elections by a landslide, leading to his election as Prime Minister.

After appointing his ministers, Asakura is asked to sign a document denying the government's responsibility for the commercial impact of a dam built in Yakushima. Asakura does not understand the denial, and sets out to get a proper explanation in order to make the right decision. Members of the government, including Kanbaya, are furious at this development, as Asakura's stand opens the government to the possibility of compensation paid to local fishermen in Yakushima.

One night, Asakura escapes from the Prime Minister's residence at night and goes to his parents' house, conducting research on the Yakushima affair with the help of Nirasawa and Hikaru. He promises Miyama that he will not neglect his official duties. Onoda, a senior Seiyu politician involved in the Yakushima affair, is asked by Kanbaya to dissuade Asakura's crusade against the dam. However, Onoda comes to respect Asakura and ultimately helps him. Asakura apologises to the public at a press conference and vows to compensate all those affected by the dam.

Cast

Reception

CHANGE began okay with a 23.8% rating on its first episode. As the week progressed, the rating dropped to below 20%, which is unusual for a Japanese television drama. It hit 31.2% at 22:15 during the 60-minute extended finale episode.[3]

The single episode ratings are as follows: [4] [5]

Episode Title Kanto
01Elementary Teacher Changes Japan?! An Amateur in Politics Becomes the Youngest Prime Minister of Japan!!
(小学校教師が日本を変える！？政治の素人が最年少総理大臣に!！)		23.8%
02Prince of the Diet's First Experience
(国会王子の初体験)		23.0%
03Tonight, the Prime Minister of Japan's Debut!!
(今夜、総理誕生！！)		22.4%
04The Prime Minister Is Bullied
(いじめられる総理)		19.3%
05Big Incident on the Prime Minister's Day Off
(総理休日の大事件)		19.5%
06Love Scandal
(恋愛スキャンダル)		19.1%
07The Prime Minister Disappears
(消えた総理)		20.9%
08Separation. And Counterattack
(別れ。そして逆襲)		19.5%
09Shock!! The Prime Minister's Collapse
(衝撃！！　総理倒れる)		22.3%
10Goodbye, The Prime Minister's Tearful Last Message
(さようなら、朝倉総理涙のラストメッセージ)		27.4%
Average21.7%

Special campaign

Takuya Kimura is currently appearing in Toyota's commercial. Collaborating with Toyota, there will be a quiz after every episode, and the "Change" original car "STAR Fielder" made by Toyota (model based on Corolla Fielder) will be given to one of the viewers. From May 12, 2008, Takuya will continue appearing in Toyota's commercial but as Keita Asakura, this drama's character. On 10 and 12 May, two specials will be broadcast prior to the premiere, and Takuya and Eri Fukatsu will appear live on Mezamashi Terebi, Toku Dane!, and Waratte Iitomo (only Takuya), promoting the drama.[6]

International broadcast
Country Network(s)/Station(s) Series premiere Title
ThailandTPBSApril 2009, Repeat telecast in 2011นายกมือใหม่ หัวใจประชาชน (nāyk mụ̄x h̄ım̀ h̄ạwcı prachāchn; literally Freshman Prime Minister[7])
gollark: PotatOS Media Server can even serve potatOS.
gollark: PotatOS Media Server is an Arch Linux-based system for serving media and stuff.
gollark: PotatOS Media Server > openmediavault
gollark: Just say it's traffic, that worked for me at school.
gollark: Don't worry, just join late and... er, say it's traffic.

References
  1. SMAP×SMAP – March 31, 2008.
  2. キムタク内閣発足！所信表明は「ドラマ通じ政治に関心持って」 (in Japanese). April 10, 2008. Archived from the original on April 10, 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-09.
  3. "「CHANGE」31.2% 瞬間最高視聴率" (in Japanese). Sankei Sports. July 15, 2008. Archived from the original on July 16, 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  4. "Show schedule and ratings". Audience Rating Japan (in Japanese).
  5. "CHANGE Episode Guide" (in Japanese).
  6. 木村拓哉主演月９ドラマで視聴者に車プレゼント (in Japanese). Sankei Sports. May 10, 2008. Archived from the original on May 12, 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-10.
  7. "CHANGE : นายกมือใหม่ หัวใจประชาชน-สำหรับคนที่ต้องการเปลี่ยนแปลง". ASTV Manager (in Thai). April 30, 2009. Archived from the original on January 5, 2016. Retrieved April 30, 2009.
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