Series synopsis
Antarctica, also known as 南極大陸 is a Japanese drama television series that premiered on TBS on October 16, 2011. It ended on December 18, 2011. It stars Takuya Kimura, Haruka Ayase, Kyôhei Shibata and Teruyuki Kagawa.
Set in the 1950's, a Japanese Antarctic research exploration team and 19 dogs that accompanied the team are stationed at the Showa Base in Antarctica. After a year, the exploration team is ordered to withdraw from the Antarctic station due to severe weather conditions. The dogs have to be left behind. The following year, the next team arrives at the Showa Base station and a miraculous reunion occurs between a dog handler accompanying the new tean and two dogs, Taro and Shiro, that are brothers.
Premise
Set in the 1950's, a Japanese Antarctic research exploration team and 19 dogs that accompanied the team are stationed at the Showa Base in Antarctica. After a year, the exploration team is ordered to withdraw from the Antarctic station due to severe weather conditions. The dogs have to be left behind. The following year, the next team arrives at the Showa Base station and a miraculous reunion occurs between a dog handler accompanying the new tean and two dogs, Taro and Shiro, that are brothers.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Takuya Kimura as Takeshi Kuramochi
- Haruka Ayase as Miyuki Takaoka
- Kyôhei Shibata as Suguru Shirasaki
- Teruyuki Kagawa as Eitaro Hoshino
- Masato Sakai as Haruhiko Himuro
- Naoto Ogata as Noriaki Utsumi
- Yusuke Yamamoto as Natsuo Inuzuka
- Susumu Terajima as Naohito Samejima
Supporting cast
- Hisashi Yoshizawa as Shinkichi Yokomine
- Yoshinori Okada as Ikuzo Funaki
- Yôsuke Kawamura as Hajime Arashiyama
- Doronzu Ishimoto as Kinpei Yamazato
- Kotaro Shiga as Kinnosuke Tani
- Takako Katou as Junko Samejima
- Ito Ohno as Mitsuko Inuzuka
- Tae Kimura as Ayako Furutachi
- Yukie Nakama as Yukari Kuramochi
- Mana Ashida as Haruka Furutachi
- Tsunehiko Watase as Takeshi Kuramochi's Father
- Tomoko Naraoka as Narrator (voice)
Episodes
This series spans 1 season with 10 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 10 | October 16, 2011 | December 18, 2011 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
A Moving Story of Life and Love Japan's Postwar Recovery / A 56-Year-Old Miracle Between Man and Dog Begins Hoping to improve his nation’s standing after World World II, geologist Kuramochi pushes for a Japanese expedition to Antarctica but meets resistance. |
October 16, 2011 |
| 2 |
Arrival in Antarctica! Vice exploration leader Hoshino asks Shirasaki to allow him and a team of people to spend the winter in Antarctica. The Soya encounters stormy seas. |
October 23, 2011 |
| 3 |
Miracle Dogs Kuramochi suggests setting up the research base on an island connected to the continent by an ice sheet. Later, he has trouble with the sled dogs. |
October 30, 2011 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | TBS |
|---|---|
| First aired | October 16, 2011 |
| Last aired | December 18, 2011 |
| Status | ended |
| Schedule | Sunday at 21:00:00 |