The protagonist, university student Kiko Tarayama (18), played by Nanoka Hara, is a minor internet celebrity known online as “Angry Kiko-chan.”
When Kiko was in elementary school and stopped attending school, her father began uploading videos on a video platform in an effort to make her smile again.
A video of Kiko shouting “That’s Enough, Dad!” became a massive viral hit and turned into an internet meme. She became widely known as "Angry Kiko-chan" from “Tara Channel.”
After Kiko eventually returned to school, she continued working as a family video creator with her father for the next 10 years, pursuing the shared goal they had set together: reaching one million channel subscribers.
However, the hidden problems of social media culture—such as a parent’s desire for validation, privacy concerns, turning family life into content, and the suffocating pressure of maintaining a public persona—begin to directly affect Kiko’s life as a university student.
Always watching her beloved father’s reactions and unable to express what she truly feels, Kiko struggles against a father who remains completely unaware of her pain. Determined to achieve their “family dream” of one million subscribers, he pours all his energy into creating videos designed to go viral.
Then, when he tries to turn a certain event involving Kiko into video content, a major incident occurs that creates a rift between father and daughter. And even after the camera stops rolling, her father’s obsession continues…
— This is your first leading role in a prime-time TV drama series. How did you feel when you received the offer, and what was your impression after reading the script?
I made my debut when I was six years old, and for a long time I went through many auditions without getting the results I hoped for. Even now, whenever I see myself on television, I still think, “No way, is that really me?” (laughs)
With that in mind, I was very happy to receive the offer to star in this drama, which had such an interesting script that I genuinely enjoyed reading. I immediately thought, “I definitely want to do this.” Every day on set, I’ve been approaching the role with the determination that I have to deliver a performance worthy of being the lead.
— How do you understand and portray the character of Kiko?
I see her as someone who is cheerful and cooperative, but also someone who has been constantly watched by others since she was young and is very sensitive to how she is perceived.
Rather than focusing on what she herself wants to do, I think she is more concerned with things like, “What will Dad think?” or being bound by the ideal image that the people watching their channel expect her to have. I keep that in mind as I play her.
— What was your impression of the actor playing your father before the casting was officially announced?
We actually worked together about 13 years ago, when I was still a child actor. Even though we met again after so many years, he was just as wonderful as ever. During filming, he talks with me a lot and even gave me some tea that he recommended because I tend to get cold easily. He truly treats me like a father.
He has a very relaxed and approachable presence, so in the best sense, I don’t feel overly nervous around him. I’ve been able to come to the set feeling relaxed and comfortable.
— Who would you like this work to reach?
Social media is such a familiar part of our lives today, but I thought the story of a parent and child who make it their profession was a fresh and fascinating concept.
Dad’s actions are unpredictable, and you can’t guess where the story will go next. I think viewers will be able to enjoy the excitement and anticipation from beginning to end. I really hope many people will watch it.
— What inspired you to write a story about a parent and child who create video content?
The inspiration came from my interest in the generation that has grown up with social media and video-sharing platforms since they were old enough to remember, as well as my curiosity about connections in society. I was interested in the differences between how children and their parents see and understand the world.
I had been developing the concept for four or five years, but as society changed—and as I myself had a child and my thoughts about video sharing evolved—the story continued to transform. Today, social media and video platforms have become a part of everyday life for both adults and children, haven’t they? Since this was a project I wanted to deliver to people in this particular moment, I’m truly glad it was able to become a reality now.
When video creators appear in fictional works, I often get the impression that they are portrayed negatively. However, with this project, I didn’t want to depict them from only one side. I wanted to portray them not as something simply good or bad, but as part of people’s lives and everyday activities.
— What was your impression of Nanoka Hara, who plays the protagonist, Kiko Tarayama?
I had always thought she was a wonderful actress who is able to portray any role accurately and appropriately for each project.
Kiko may appear at first glance to be a good, cheerful, carefree girl, but behind that she has a delicate and vulnerable side. I hoped to find someone who could carefully express the different layers of her personality, so I was very happy when Ms. Hara accepted the offer to play the role.
— What was your reaction when you heard about the casting of the father role before it was officially announced?
I spent my youth watching dramas that featured that actor, so I had this strange feeling of, “I can actually work with this person!” Once Ms. Hara and the actor playing the father were confirmed, I became certain that they would give wonderful performances, and there were even parts of the script that I rewrote because of that.
— Who would you like this work to reach?
I think this is a story that people of all generations can enjoy, so I hope it becomes a work that gives parents and children, or friends, an opportunity to start conversations. I would love for families to watch it together on a Sunday night before going to bed, and then discuss it from both the child’s perspective and the parent’s perspective—talking about how they each see things and sharing their thoughts.
