ManaKana, twins Mana and Kana Mikura, are television staples, frequently appearing together on variety shows and in the occasional drama as sisters who are always cheerful. This week, Mana steps away from her twin in the new daytime soap opera "Akai Ito no Onna" ("Red Thread Woman"; Fuji TV, Monday-Friday, 1:30 p.m.).
Mana plays against type as Yumi, a university student "who struggles with her darker desires." Yumi shares a dormitory room with Seria (Kae Okumura), who is from a well-to-do Tokyo family. Seria is not only the campus beauty, but kind and thoughtful, and Yumi is envious. Then, a third roommate (Natsuhi Ueno) enters the picture who is also beautiful. Yumi thinks they may have attended the same high school together, but the woman used to look different. In fact, she was bullied because of her appearance.
Ken Watanabe plays the late Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida in a five-part dramatization of Yoshida's postwar career in "Makete Katsu" ("Lose to Win"; NHK-G, Saturday, 9 p.m.).