The entire premise of the daytime soap opera "Mikon Roku-Shimai Part 2 (Six Unmarried Sisters Part 2)" (TBS, Monday-Friday, 1:30 p.m.) is right there in the title. The series is about a widower, Matsutaro (Shinyo Owada), who runs a traditional Japanese confectionery. He has six daughters who range in age from 19 to 40. His dream, of course, is to see all of his girls happily married, but by the end of the first series in 2006, none were. However, daughter No. 2, Futaba (Emi Hashino), had left to join her fiancee, who had just moved to the United States, so there was at least hope for her.
At the beginning of Part 2, which starts Monday and will continue on a daily basis for the next six weeks, fourth daughter Shimako is actually getting married, and obviously Matsutaro is ecstatic. However, during the reception, who should show up unexpectedly but Futaba, and in a soiled and ruined wedding dress, no less.
Japanese celebrities are not renowned for voluntarily taking on charity projects or getting involved in international relief efforts, especially if the related issue has any controversy attached to it. Actress Norika Fujiwara, however, has been actively taking part in efforts to establish educational facilities for children in Cambodia, and has done a lot of work with Afghan refugees.