To Heal the Heart

Based on the life of a pioneer researcher of PTSD in Japan, the series depicts his mission to stand by those deeply hurt by tragedy.

4 episodes (50 min.)

About the Show

Cast

An Kazutaka (Emoto Tasuku)
An Kazutaka (Emoto Tasuku)
A young psychiatrist, he's a shy person who plays jazz piano like a pro and loves records and books. The Great Hanshin Earthquake strikes while he's employed at the psychiatric ward of Kobe University Hospital.

Emoto Tasuku - Profile
Born in 1986 in Tokyo, he made his leading debut in the film "A Boy's Summer in 1945." Through his ability to take on any role with outstanding acting, he has become one of the foremost actors of his generation. In 2018, he won Best Actor in the Kinema Junpo Awards and the Mainichi Film Awards with the films "And Your Bird Can Sing," "Dynamite Graffiti" and "Lovers on Borders." In 2019, he appeared in "It Feels So Good" and "The Great War of Archimedes," winning the Japan Academy Film Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role with the latter. Recent films include "Shape of Red," "Blue, Painful, Fragile" and "Peaceful Death." His many NHK appearances include lead roles in the dramas "Scrap and Build" and "The Founder - Visionary Shogun, Ieyasu - Currency Wars," "Slow na Bushi ni Shitekure" and the Taiga historical drama "IDATEN."
An Shuko (Ono Machiko)
An Shuko (Ono Machiko)
A film buff, she happens to meet Kazutaka in a movie theater and they fall in love. As his wife, she gives him steady support with her sunny disposition.

Ono Machiko - Profile
Born in 1981 in Nara Prefecture. She debuted with the lead role in the film "Suzaku" (directed by Kawase Naomi), for which she won Best Actress in the Singapore International Film Festival Awards. She was also awarded the Japan Academy Film Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for the film "Like Father, Like Son." Recent films include "When Will You Return?," "Dynamite Graffiti," "Shadowfall," "The Stormy Family" and "Tomorrow's Dinner Table." As the heroine of the NHK morning drama serial "Carnation," she captured the hearts of a wide range of generations. She has also appeared in many other NHK dramas, including the Taiga historical drama "Awaiting Kirin."
An Tekkei (Ishibashi Ryo)
An Tekkei (Ishibashi Ryo)
Kazutaka's father. A first-generation Korean resident of Japan, he's a shrewd entrepreneur who lives in Osaka Prefecture. Harboring high expectations for his sons, he's adamantly opposed to Kazutaka's decision to become a psychiatrist.

Ishibashi Ryo - Profile
Born in 1956 in Fukuoka Prefecture, he debuted in 1978 as the lead singer of the legendary rock band ARB. Among his accolades, he won Best New Actor in the 1986 Kinema Junpo Awards for "A Homansu" (directed and starred in by Matsuda Yusaku). In 1993, he acted alongside Viggo Mortensen in the film "American Yakuza," and appeared in his first Hollywood film in 1995 with "The Crossing Guard" (directed by Sean Penn). He is also an official member of the Screen Actors Guild. Recent appearances include the films "Masquerade Hotel" and "The Cinderella Addiction," as well as the NHK Taiga historical drama "Awaiting Kirin."
Park Misato (Kimura Midoriko)
Park Misato (Kimura Midoriko)
Kazutaka's mother. Also of Korean descent, she provides her husband and children with gentle, loving support. She is her 3 sons' greatest ally.
An Tomoaki (Moriyama Naotaro)
An Tomoaki (Moriyama Naotaro)
Kazutaka's older brother. An exceptional and hardworking student from an early age, he's his father's pride and joy. Tomoaki moves to the U.S. after graduating from the University of Tokyo and becomes a leading figure in the development of nuclear power.

Moriyama Naotaro - Profile
Born in 1976 in Tokyo, he made his major label debut as a singer in 2002, and soared to fame the following year with the popular hit "Sakura (Solo)." He has released music and held concerts at a constant pace ever since. His unparalleled singing, as well as the distinctive world view of his songs, has won fans across a wide range of generations. He has also written many theme songs for films and dramas, including "Koe," "Rakujitsu" and "Sakura (2019)." In 2006, he appeared in the play "Nanigenai Mono," written and directed by poet and song coauthor Okachimachi Kite. In subsequent plays such as "To Aru Monogatari" and "Ano Shiro," he has constantly received high praise for his acting ability. He has also acted in the NHK morning drama serial "Yell."
An Sosuke (Kamikawa Shusaku)
An Sosuke (Kamikawa Shusaku)
Kazutaka's younger brother. Raised in the footsteps of Tomoaki and Kazutaka, he becomes his father's business successor.
Yuasa Koji (Hamada Gaku)
Yuasa Koji (Hamada Gaku)
Kazutaka's inseparable best friend from an early age. He pursues a career in psychiatry like Kazutaka and founds a jazz ensemble with him as a saxophonist.

Hamada Gaku - Profile
Born in 1988 in Tokyo. He was awarded the Takasaki Film Festival Award for Best Actor in "The Foreign Duck, the Native Duck and God in a Coin Locker" (directed by Nakamura Yoshihiro). Recent films include "Masquerade Hotel," "Samurai Shifters," "The 47 Ronin in Debt," "Good-Bye," "The Confidence Man JP: Episode of the Princess," "A Beloved Wife" and "Ora, Ora Be Goin' Alone." His many NHK appearances include the Taiga historical drama "Strategist KANBE" and the morning drama serial "Laugh It Up!"
Tanimura Hideto (Cho Tamiyasu)
Tanimura Hideto (Cho Tamiyasu)
A newspaper reporter with Nippo Newspaper. Two days after the Great Hanshin Earthquake, he asks Kazutaka to write a series of articles on the psychological effects of the disaster.
Mama (Hamada Mari)
Mama (Hamada Mari)
Owner of Skuld, a jazz club Kazutaka and Koji frequented in their student days.
Yuki Rie (Tanimura Mitsuki)
Yuki Rie (Tanimura Mitsuki)
A patient whom Kazutaka met in an evacuation center who suffers from mental instability because of the earthquake.
Principal (Uchiba Katsunori)
Principal (Uchiba Katsunori)
Principal of Asahi Elementary School, which became an evacuation center.
Azusa (Konno Mahiru)
Azusa (Konno Mahiru)
A woman with 2 small children who moves into temporary housing after the earthquake.
Kataoka Kokoa (Shimizu Kurumi)
Kataoka Kokoa (Shimizu Kurumi)
A patient who is admitted to the hospital for acute alcoholism and is diagnosed with multiple personality disorder by Kazutaka.
Kitabayashi Fumiya (Asaka Kodai)
Kitabayashi Fumiya (Asaka Kodai)
A young doctor who enters as a new research fellow and stays loyally attached to Kazutaka amid changing circumstances. Though rather inept, he is serious and kind and works with Kazutaka to heal the hearts of earthquake victims.
Niijima Satoko (Hiraiwa Kami)
Niijima Satoko (Hiraiwa Kami)
A nurse who works with Kazutaka. After experiencing the destruction of her hospital, she meets Kazutaka while working as a nurse in an evacuation center.
Nagano Yoshio (Kondo Masaomi)
Nagano Yoshio (Kondo Masaomi)
One of Japan's most prominent psychiatrists. Deeply revered by Kazutaka, he inspires Kazutaka to enter the field of psychiatry.

Kondo Masaomi - Profile
Born in 1942 in Kyoto Prefecture, he debuted in 1966 in the film "The Pornographers." Since gaining popularity through the NHK Taiga historical drama "Kunitori Monogatari," he has acted with unparalleled stage presence in numerous movies, dramas and plays. His many NHK appearances include the morning drama serial "Here Comes Asa!" and the Taiga historical drama "Sanada Maru." Among his recent films are "Ryuzo and the Seven Henchmen," "S -Saigo no Keikan- Dakkan RECOVERY OF OUR FUTURE," "A Man Called Pirate," "Honnouji Hotel" and "We Make Antiques!"

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