“Kishibe no Arubamu” (literally, “riverbank album”) is the title of a highly successful TV drama series from nearly half a century ago about the collapse and revival of a seemingly placid middle-class family.

Written by acclaimed screenwriter Taichi Yamada (1934-2023) and aired in 1977, it was recently adapted for the stage.

Looking to enjoy this timeless classic, I went to see it at the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre.

The father of the family, Kensaku, is a “bucho” (general manager) of a trading house. He is practically married to the company, but the business is in trouble. My heart skipped a beat when a young employee suggested that the company should sell........

© The Asahi Shimbun