Season 1
7 episodes Jan 9, 2025 8.2
Overview
In 1979 Tokyo, four distinct sisters uncover their aging father's affair, causing their happy facades and bottled-up emotions to slowly unravel.
Seasons
1 listed- Status
- Ended
- Seasons
- 1 season
- Episodes
- 7 episodes
- First aired
- Jan 9, 2025
- Last aired
- Jan 9, 2025
- Network
- Netflix
Latest episode: S1 E7 Episode 7 (Jan 9, 2025)
Cast
9 people
Reviews
6 min readThe Quiet Storm of Asura
I’ve been thinking about the way Asura lingers in the corners of a room. Not the grand, operatic moments of betrayal or confrontation—though there are plenty of those—but the smaller, almost imperceptible shifts: a sister’s fingers tightening around a teacup, the way a father’s voice cracks just slightly when he thinks no one is listening. Hirokazu Kore-eda’s seven-episode Netflix series, adapted from a 1979 Japanese television drama, is a masterclass in the art of domestic tension.
It doesn’t shout. It doesn’t need to. The weight of its silence is enough.
Kore-eda has spent his career dissecting families—how they fracture, how they endure, how they lie to themselves and each other. Asura is no different, but it feels like a refinement of his obsessions. Set in 1979 Tokyo, the series follows the Takezawa sisters—Tsunako (Rie Miyazawa), Makiko (Machiko Ono), Takiko (Yu Aoi), and Sakiko (Suzu Hirose)—as they grapple with the revelation that their father, Kotaro (Jun Kunimura), has been unfaithful.
The affair isn’t just a betrayal; it’s a crack in the foundation of their carefully constructed lives, exposing the fault lines beneath their polite, performative harmony. The title, borrowed from Hindu and Buddhist mythology, refers to demigods whose virtuous exteriors mask volatile inner lives. It’s a fitting metaphor for the Takezawa family, and for the era itself—a time when Japan’s economic miracle was beginning to show its seams, and the rigid social expectations of the Shōwa era were starting to chafe.
What makes Asura so compelling is its refusal to simplify. There are no villains here, only flawed, deeply human people trying to navigate a world that demands more from them than they can give. Kore-eda’s camera lingers on the mundane—meals prepared, dishes washed, cigarettes smoked in silence—because it’s in these moments that the truth of the characters emerges.
The series is shot on 35mm film, and the texture of the image, with its warm, slightly grainy quality, feels like a Polaroid come to life. It’s intimate, almost invasive, as if we’re not just watching these people but living alongside them. The New York Times called it "a detailed, human-scale domestic drama with plenty to say, fascinating characters to say it and the stylishness to make it sing."
Audience Opinions
Audience 8.1/10
"A deeply emotional family drama that resonates through its raw performances and Kore-eda’s signature humanism."
Viewers praise the series for its authentic portrayal of familial bonds and conflicts, highlighting the cast’s ability to convey complex emotions with subtlety. While some find the pacing slow and the narrative occasionally meandering, the depth of character development and the series’ ability to evoke empathy keep audiences engaged. The adaptation’s faithful yet fresh take on the original material is widely appreciated, though a few wish for more narrative urgency.
What viewers praise
- Powerful performances The ensemble cast, particularly Rie Miyazawa and Yu Aoi, delivers nuanced and deeply moving performances that anchor the series.
- Emotional depth The series excels in exploring the intricacies of family dynamics, making the characters’ struggles feel relatable and poignant.
- Kore-eda’s direction Hirokazu Kore-eda’s sensitive and humanistic approach to storytelling elevates the material, creating a richly textured drama.
- Faithful adaptation The series honors the spirit of the original 1979 work while adding modern sensibilities, resonating with both new and returning fans.
- Visually compelling The cinematography and visual storytelling enhance the emotional weight of the narrative, creating a immersive experience.
Common complaints
- Slow pacing Some viewers find the series’ deliberate pace too slow, particularly in the middle episodes, which may test patience.
- Lack of narrative drive A few feel the story meanders at times, lacking a strong central conflict to propel the plot forward.
- Underdeveloped side characters While the main cast shines, some supporting characters feel underutilized or one-dimensional.
- Emotionally heavy The series’ unflinching exploration of family strife can feel overwhelming for some, making it a difficult watch at times.
Recommended for
Family drama enthusiasts Fans of emotional storytelling Admirers of Kore-eda’s work Lovers of ensemble casts Slow-burn character studies Japanese drama aficionados
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsHirokazu Kore-eda’s Asura Brings Family Drama to Netflix with a Star-Studded Cast
Hirokazu Kore-eda, the Oscar-nominated auteur behind Shoplifters and Broker, is back with Asura (2025), a seven-episode Netflix series that promises to dissect family bonds with his signature humanist touch. The project reunites Kore-eda with some of Japan’s most celebrated actors, including Rie Miyazawa, Machiko Ono, and Yu Aoi, latestnetflix.com contends, in a story that explores the fractures—and fleeting connections—within a family rocked by betrayal.
A Family in Crisis, Directed by a Master
Asura centers on four sisters forced to confront their aging father’s affair, a revelation that upends their already fragile relationships. The series draws its title from the Buddhist demigods known for their rage and conflict, a metaphor for the sisters’ turbulent emotions as they clash over love, loyalty, and differing worldviews 
. Kore-eda, known for his intimate character studies (Still Walking, Like Father, Like Son), adapts the story from a 1979 Japanese series of the same name, though details about how closely it hews to the original remain scarce .
The director’s involvement alone has generated buzz, especially after his recent foray into television with The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House (2023). Asura marks his second Netflix collaboration, following the streaming giant’s acquisition of Broker (2022) for global distribution. Early reactions suggest the series lives up to Kore-eda’s reputation: The New York Times called it "so good it makes other shows look bad," praising its emotional depth and nuanced performances .
The Cast: A Who’s Who of Japanese Cinema
Leading the ensemble is Rie Miyazawa as Tsunako Mitamura, the eldest sister grappling with the fallout of her father’s infidelity. Miyazawa, a veteran of films like The Twilight Samurai and Pale Moon, brings gravitas to the role, anchoring the series’ emotional core . Alongside her, Machiko Ono (Drive My Car), Yu Aoi (Hula Girls), and Suzu Hirose (Our Little Sister) play the other sisters, each portraying distinct perspectives on family and forgiveness.
The supporting cast reads like a roll call of Japanese acting royalty. Masahiro Motoki (Departures), Ryuhei Matsuda (Norwegian Wood), and Jun Kunimura (Kill Bill: Vol. 1) round out the family’s orbit, while Kisetsu Fujiwara and Seiyo Uchino add further star power . The sheer talent involved has fueled speculation about potential awards buzz, though Netflix’s track record with international dramas (e.g., The Glory, Squid Game) suggests Asura could find a global audience.
Behind the Scenes: Kore-eda’s Vision
Little is known about the production process, but Kore-eda’s approach to storytelling—often characterized by improvisation and long takes—likely shaped the series’ naturalistic tone. His films frequently explore themes of found family and societal outcasts, and Asura appears to extend that focus to the complexities of blood ties. The Netflix Tudum snippet hints at a "domestic drama" label, but given Kore-eda’s filmography, viewers can expect layers of moral ambiguity and quiet devastation .
One unanswered question is whether Asura will expand beyond its seven-episode first season. The original 1979 series ran for 26 episodes, leaving room for speculation about a longer arc . For now, Netflix has kept details about a potential second season under wraps.
What to Expect
- Release Date: Unconfirmed, but the 2025 tag suggests a late-year premiere.
- Tone: A mix of Kore-eda’s signature warmth and the simmering tension of a family at odds.
- Themes: Betrayal, forgiveness, and the messy ties that bind.
- Streaming: Exclusive to Netflix, with potential for global awards attention.
With Kore-eda at the helm and a powerhouse cast, Asura is poised to be one of 2025’s most talked-about international series. Whether it will match the acclaim of Shoplifters or Broker remains to be seen, but early praise suggests it’s a must-watch for fans of character-driven drama.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.