‘Asura’: A Modern Take on a Classic Japanese Family Drama Starts Streaming January 9

Premiering on January 9, Asura brings a fresh take on the classic Japanese family drama Like Asura, with top Japanese actors like Rie Miyazawa, Machiko Ono, Yu Aoi, and Suzu Hirose.

Directed and written by Hirokazu Kore-eda (known for Shoplifters and Our Little Sister) and produced by Yasuo Yagi, the show offers a relatable look at family life and universal relationships. A newly released opening video shows the story’s 1970s setting, keeping the drama’s original feel.

The original Like Asura, written by the late screenwriter Kuniko Mukoda, set the stage for Japanese family dramas. Set in 1979, it follows four sisters — Tsunako, Makiko, Takiko, and Sakiko — as they deal with the shock of their elderly father’s affair.

Like the “asura,” or fierce demigods from Buddhist stories, the sisters experience a storm of emotions, sometimes clashing but also finding deep connections. As they each navigate their own views on love and life, their path is filled with both challenges and growth.

Kore-eda, who greatly respects Mukoda’s work, brings his own perspective to Asura, emphasizing the strength and depth of women. “What makes Kuniko Mukoda’s dramas special is the surface-level tension in conversations and the caring hidden beneath harsh words,” he says. “The actors playing the sisters truly understand this, making the filming a rewarding experience.”

Producer Yagi, who worked with Mukoda early in his career, reflects on her legacy. “As we approach the 40th anniversary of her passing, I revisited her work and found that Like Asura was key to her impact. We carefully chose the right actors for the sisters, and with Kore-eda directing, I believe we’ve created an ideal drama.”

Join these sisters on their journey to find true happiness in Asura, streaming on January 9 on Netflix.

Synopsis: One winter day, the four Takezawa sisters — ikebana teacher Tsunako (Rie Miyazawa), housewife Makiko (Machiko Ono), librarian Takiko (Yu Aoi), and waitress Sakiko (Suzu 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 it from their mother, Fuji. However, this commotion brings to light various conflicts and secrets that lurk in the women’s lives.

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