The perils of modern motherhood are explored in the news drama series "Namae wo Nakushita Megumi" ("The Goddess Who Lost Her Name"; Fuji TV, Tues., 9 p.m.), whose promotional catchphrase is "Welcome to mamatomo hell." "Mamatomo" is a word that describes women who become friends through their children.
Yuko (Anne, the single-monikered daughter of Hollywood star Ken Watanabe) moves to a new neighborhood and enrolls her little boy, Kenta, in a local preschool. She makes friends with a group of young mothers who send their kids to the same school, and is particularly attracted to the very well-off Reina (Yoshino Kimura). But as they become closer, Yuko is perplexed by these women's distinctive outlook on life: They are obsessed with their children's status, and exist in a world cut off from reality.
Ryo Nishikido of the boy band News stars in another new family-oriented drama series, "Inu wo Kau to Iu Koto" ("Keeping a Dog"; TV Asahi, Fri., 11:15 p.m.). Nishikido plays Yuji, a young breadwinner living under the shadow of the new Tokyo Sky Tree whose family can barely make ends meet.