The fashion designer who captivated the world—

“Madame Butterfly,” Hanae Mori

A drama portraying her untold early struggles…

Cast: Rikako Yagi, Yuto Nakajima, Mizuki Kayashima, Towa Araki, Kurumi Shimizu, Win Morisaki, Junpei Yasui, Ukon Onoe, Yoshino Kimura, Toru Nakamura, and more.

Marking the 100th anniversary of her birth,

this drama portrays Hanae Mori’s little-known youth

as she forged her path in postwar Japan with the spirit of “LOOK UP!”

Hanae Mori was the only Japanese designer to succeed in Paris haute couture, the pinnacle of fashion.
She shared “Japanese elegance” with the world, and her signature butterfly motif earned her the nickname “Madame Butterfly.”

Overcoming the devastation of war, her rise was driven by an unyielding spirit, tireless dedication, and the steadfast support of her husband.

Her story—of moving forward despite doubt—
will inspire everyone pursuing their dreams today.

©tv asahi

Raised in a rural village in Shimane as one of five siblings, Hanae (Rikako Yagi ) grows up under her strict father Tokuzo (Toru Nakamura ) and warm, cheerful mother Nobu (Yoshino Kimura). Although she dreams of studying art, her father opposes the idea, and she instead enrolls in a women’s college in Tokyo. During the war, she is mobilized for labor and sent to an army arsenal, where she meets Ken Mori, (Yuto Nakajima) the man who will later become her husband. After the war, she defies her father’s wishes and marries him at the age of 22.

Later, what begins as sewing for her child turns into a true passion, and as her skills improve, Hanae opens a custom-made clothing shop called “Hiyoshiya” in Shinjuku at age 25, encouraged by Ken. The shop quickly gains popularity, but about a year and a half later, she is hospitalized with tuberculosis. Determined to return to her work, she overcomes the illness and soon receives offers to design costumes for films. To support her, Ken takes over managing the shop, and the two begin building their future together as a creative and business partnership.