What a Wonderful Life

8.5 1993 1 Season

Drama

Yume (Asano) is a single mother raising a now teenage daughter, Haruka, by herself. She has trouble trusting men, as Haruka's real father Kunio left before Haruka was born, and her first marriage ended when her husband…

Season 1

12 episodes

Episode 1

60 min

Episode 1

Shibaki returns to his hometown to work as a high school teacher, only to find that his niece Haruka is his student. He visits her mother, Yume, and his long buried feelings of love for her reawaken.

Shibaki confesses his love for Yume at school. Her ex-husband Shimpei hits Tsubaki, but then Yume's daughter Haruka and Shibaki's girlfriend Hatsune appear, baffled by what the fight is about.

Shibaki tutors Haruka. Yume comes, and overhears him telling Haruka about his first love, Yume. He takes them out to supper. Yume explains she fears love because of what she's been through.

Shibaki takes over the announcements to speak out for true love. Meeting with the principal, Yume says Shibaki should marry Hatsune, but Shibaki yells how can she talk about love, while hiding from it herself.

Yume is admitted to hospital to have a breast removed. Shimpei stays there all night. The next night Shibaki comes, and swears her he will take care of her no matter what.

Shibaki ends it with Hatsune. He convinces Haruka to let him marry Yume, who finally accepts Shibaki's love. Haruka returns home to find a tape from her real father, Shibaki's older brother.

Kunio meets his daughter Haruka for the first time. Her adoptive father Shimpei leaves, and Haruka yells at Kunio for leaving. Shibaki worries that with his brother back, Yume's feelings will turn to him.

Haruka heads out on a trip with her father. Shibaki invites Yume and Shimpei to a special class where he proposes to Yume in front of everyone. She says yes.

Shibaki's ex-girlfriend Hatsune starts stalking him, while the father of Yume's child, Kunio, hatches his own plot to try to pry Yume away from his younger brother.

Hatsune is pregnant with Shibaki's child. Shibaki asks her to get an abortion, but gets cold feet. Amiko finds out, and tells Shimpei who tells Yume. Yume confronts Shibaki at Hatsune's place.

Yume and Mitsugu get word that Hatsune is dead. They go to the funeral. Mitsugu accepts the blame, but then disappears. Yume sets out for his father's home trying to track down Mitsugu before he does something rash.

60 min