Series Blurb
Carnation is a Japanese television drama that aired in the Asadora slot on NHK from 3 October 2011 to 31 March 2012. It is the 85th Asadora. It is based on the life of the fashion designer Ayako Koshino in Kishiwada, Osaka. Ayako was the mother of the internationally famous designers Hiroko Koshino, Junko Koshino, and Michiko Koshino.
Status
Finished
More Information
Providers
Watching in:
Powered by
Episodes
151Reviews
(5/5)October 16, 2025
Gradings
Why can't I grade this item?
Activity
No activities
Incredibly inspiring, also great for Kansai-ben
Language: this show is 100% in Osaka-ben, with a very wide variety of characters. If you're looking to improve your Kansai-ben, this is the show. There are a few characters later who speak Tokyo-ben, and one who speaks Nagasaki-ben, but they are the sole exceptions. I watched it on Amazon, where it's fully subbed.
Format: the 15 minute episodes were a perfect choice for this. They also made it feel very easy to just keep watching (compare to 舞妓さんちのまかないさん, which has 40 min episodes)
Story: Set in 岸和田市, the show covers the life of this incredibly inspiring woman and her family (and many other women as well), from the early 1920s through 2006 or so. It was really interesting seeing all the societal changes from the different eras, and how all the women (and men) in the show adapted to or challenged all the changing norms. Fashion isn't something I otherwise have any interest in, but the show was really interesting in that regard as well. There's a lot of uplifting parts to the story, but definitely bring a box of tissues while you're watching.
CW: there is a good amount of domestic violence (mostly parent-child) in this show - particularly early on. Somehow I didn't get triggered watching it (and the portrayal was not the most extreme), but if that's something you're very sensitive to, it will probably be a challenging show.