Celebrated Japanese filmmaker Kore-eda Hirokazu is set to launch Asura, a highly anticipated family drama series on Netflix. Scheduled to premiere on 9th January, 2025, Asura reimagines the 1979 classic Like Asura, originally adapted from Mukoda Kuniko’s novel. First aired on NHK, the story’s impactful exploration of family dynamics has made it a cornerstone of Japanese drama, even inspiring a film adaptation in 2003.
Set in 1979, Asura follows the lives of four sisters — Tsunako, Makiko, Takiko, and Sakiko — as they uncover their aging father’s affair, a revelation that brings both tension and unity. The title refers to demigods in Buddhist cosmology known for embodying intense emotions, which resonate throughout the sisters’ relationships. “With great respect for Mukoda and her influence on his career, Kore-eda infuses Asura with his unique vision, highlighting the independence and complexity of women,” Netflix said in a statement.
Kore-eda’s admiration for Mukoda’s work is evident in his approach. “What makes Kuniko Mukoda’s dramas so rich are the superficial poison exchanged in conversation and the love hidden behind those cruel words,” Kore-eda explained adding that “The four actors playing the sisters understand this well, so the series was very enjoyable to shoot.”
Watch the opening sequence here:
The lead roles are played by Miyazawa Rie, Ono Machiko, Aoi Yu, and Hirose Suzu, portraying the sisters who struggle with conflicting views on love and family duty. Supporting them is a talented creative team, with Yagi Yasuo producing, and music by fox capture plan. The production also includes cinematography by Takimoto Mikiya and set design by Mitsumatsu Keiko and Nunobe Masato, while Netflix and Bunbuku serve as production companies.
The series synopsis, provided by Netflix, reads: “One winter day, the four Takezawa sisters — ikebana teacher Tsunako (Miyazawa), housewife Makiko (Ono), librarian Takiko (Aoi), and waitress Sakiko (Hirose) — get together for the first time in a while. Takiko suspects that their aging father, Kotaro, has a lover and child. While the other sisters find this unbelievable, they promise to keep this from their mother, Fuji. However, this commotion brings to light various conflicts and secrets that lurk in the women’s lives.”
Kore-eda, known for Shoplifters and The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House, brings a profound, culturally resonant vision to Asura, reflecting on the complex realities of family life and individual growth.
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