Agri(1997)

Agri is the 56th NHK Asadora, a serialized drama that follows the true story of a Showa-era hairdresser who built a seven-decade career in beauty and business. Set across Okayama and Tokyo, the series chronicles how Agri survived wartime hardship by turning to farming when beauty salons were deemed frivolous luxuries. As Japan's economy collapsed under military spending, most salon owners went bankrupt. Agri's resilience and resourcefulness allowed her not only to endure but eventually thrive, becoming a successful businesswoman in postwar Japan. This intimate portrait captures one woman's determination to rebuild her life and livelihood amid national upheaval.