Asura comes from Japan. It’s beautiful, charming, full of drama, food, and traditional Japanese life. It’s set in 1979 and revolves around a family with four daughters.
Asura begins as one of the sisters, a librarian, hires a private investigator to see if her father is having an affair. The investigator discovers not only another woman in her father’s life, but also a son about 7 years old with the woman.
Thematically, infidelity is part of every story told in this series. The four daughters are played by Rie Miyazawa, Machiko Ono, Yû Aoi, and Suzu Hirose. One is married with two teenagers. She suspects her husband of an affair with a coworker. Another is the mistress of a married man. One comes home to find her future husband, a boxer, with another woman. Only the librarian finds herself with an apparently faithful man – the private investigator!
Much of what the sisters discuss revolves around what a woman with an unfaithful man should do about it. They all stay in their relationships, including their mother, but they are enraged about it in secret ways. The anger comes out in funny ways – politely Japanese, but funny.

The sisters were individuals but so close and so real with their rivalries and secrets and jokes. The relationship of the siblings was beautifully depicted. There were arguments but there was love and support.
So many scenes revolved around the cooking and eating of food, often in traditional ways. It felt like a food festival. One of the sisters, the one who was having the affair with a married man, dressed in a kimono every day and arranged flowers for a living. The others were less traditional, but events and celebrations that were essential to the Japanese culture were emphasized.
The series was thoroughly Japanese, but universal in theme and action. For a series where people’s sex lives were so explored, it was modest and not at all exploitative. It is rated TV 14, but it barely warrants it.
In case you haven’t stumbled on this one amid all the other Netflix hype, here’s the trailer.
I thought this series was wonderful and recommend it wholeheartedly. If you watch it, please share your reactions.
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Virginia,
I saw the trailer and passed it over. (Too confusing, is it violent?) But your recommendation means a lot, so it’s now on my watchlist. Thank you for your service!!
Christine
There is boxing and maybe another physical fight but it’s mostly about the women. It’s a lot of hours if it doesn’t look appealing to you.