Rikuoh (Japanese Drama)

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Drama: Rikuoh
Romaji: Rikuoh
Japanese: 陸王
Director: Katsuo Fukuzawa
Writer: Jun Ikeido (novel), Hiroyuki Yatsu
Network: TBS
Episodes: 10
Release Date: October 15 - December 24, 2017
Runtime: Sundays 21:00-21:54 (54 min.)
TV Ratings: 16.0%
Language: Japanese
Country: Japan

Plot Synopsis by AsianWiki Staff ©

Koichi Miyazawa (Koji Yakusho) runs a small, but longstanding company which makes tabi (traditional Japanese socks). He is the CEO of the fourth generation company with about 20 employees. Due to a decrease of demand for tabi, the company is struggling to keep afloat. Koichi Miyazawa thinks about launching a new product line. The new product is running shoes. For the company's surival, Koichi Miyazawa begins to develop running shoes using their accumulated knowledge for making tabi.

Notes

"Rikuoh" takes over TBS' Sunday 21:00 time slot previously occupied by "I'm Sorry, I Love You" and followed by "99.9 Criminal Lawyer Season II" on January 14, 2018.
Based on novel "Rikuo" by Jun Ikeido (published July 8, 2016 by Shogakukan).

Cast



Koji Yakusho	Kento Yamazaki	Haruka Uchimura	Ayako Yoshitani	Yasuko Haru
Koichi Miyazawa	Daichi Miyazawa	Toshimitsu Yasuda	Misaki Nakashita	Yoneko Mizuhara



Terue Shoji	Yoriko Kamimura	Sawako Agawa	Kotaro Shiga	Mone Kamishiraishi
Fukuko Nishii	Yoshiko Hashii	Akemi Masaoka	Genzo Tomishima	Akane Miyazawa



Fumi Dan	Ken Mitsuishi	Yoshihisa Amano	Akira Terao	Midoriko Kimura
Mieko Miyazawa	Tooru Arimura	Kohei Ebata	Haruyuki Iiyama	Motoko Iiyama



Ryoma Takeuchi	Takuma Otoo	Masato Wada	Kentaro Uno	Kou Maehara
Hiroto Mogi	Akihiro Kido	Takao Hirase	Hayato Tachihara	Naoyuki Kase



Masato Hanazawa	Toshihiko Sato	Takanari Ishii	Yuga Ando	Gaku Sano
Hisao Naito	Kawai	Mizuki	Hashii	Naoyuki Kezuka



Pierre Taki	Kazutoyo Koyabu	Udanji Ichikawa	Shunsuke Kazama	Toru Baba
Kenji Obara	Junji Sayama	Takahiko Murano	Taro Sakamoto	Hiroshi Ohashi

Jakujaku Katsura

Toru Ienaga

Additional Cast Members:

Ryosuke Yamamoto - Yoshida
Atsushi Ogata - Hiroki

Trailers

Episode Ratings

Episode	Date	Ratings (Kanto Region)
01	10/15/2017	14.7%
02	1029/2017	14.0%
03	11/05/2017	15.0%
04	11/12/2017	14.5%
05	11/19/2017	16.8%
06	11/26/2017	16.4%
07	12/03/2017	14.7%
08	12/10/2017	17.5%
09	12/17/2017	15.7%
10	12/24/2017	20.5%
Average		16.0%

Source: Video Research, Ltd.

Comments

George Nov 18 2025 3:04 am Thankfully, this amazing drama has finally gotten so much attention from global audience since Netflix released it.

I remember back in 2017, when I was watching it on WakuWaku Japan. Man!! Everyone should watch this drama before they die. It has so much potential in every aspect, yet so underrated and has never left Japan.

Skip to now, I feel so proud and satisfied that this drama has finally brought so many positive values to the world. Rikuo isn't just a drama, it's totally a life-changing experience that will knock out of your head and change your mindset.

elliemae207 Aug 17 2025 6:07 am I am mostly a Kdrama fan, but this Jdrama is an absolute must-see show! I never thought that a show about shoemaking and running marathons would be this emotional. This show is about the persistence and resilience of the human spirit to achieve triumph against all odds! I'm glad that I watched this after reading so many positive reviews about this show.

I think I have just become a Jdrama fan.. and would start watching other shows of Koji Yakusho and Kento Yamazaki that I could find on Netflix (since that's where I'm streaming Asian dramas these days)..

If you're still undecided, you don't have to take my word for it. Watch this show... you won't regret it!!

Kemberly Apr 14 2025 7:10 pm thank you team Rikuoh for making me cry huhuhu salute all the cast.

Armando Mar 29 2025 10:03 pm I'm not fond of any Japanese dramas only action movies but Rikuoh is an example of true to life stories of a small struggling company beat down by giant rivals but still stand steadfast amidst of the challenges. The writer was just brilliant that every conversations and events are filled with heartfelt emotions and uplifting moments. Never give even when you're down and out. The cast and actors and actresses were really good. I watched the whole episodes with paper towel on my side

Kaye Lu Mar 23 2025 10:50 pm I usually don’t gravitate toward series that aren’t action-packed, bloody, or fast-paced, but Ricouh proved to be an incredible exception. The story was masterfully written—never boring, always compelling—and it had me hooked emotionally from start to finish. I cried a lot while watching this.

Koji Yakusho’s portrayal of the father was absolutely phenomenal; he delivered all the feels and, in my opinion, deserves Best Actor recognition.

For entrepreneurs or anyone interested in business, Ricouh is a must-watch. It’s a powerful and inspiring testament to persistence in the face of failure after failure and despair after despair. This series opens your eyes and uplifts your spirit—truly inspiring and encouraging. Highly recommended!

Rachel Jones Mar 11 2025 8:32 pm This show was Great!!!! I Loved watching this show it was so relatable to life and simply inspiring! Thank for this show and I'm so happy to have watched it.

Cherry Mar 07 2025 9:45 am I cried on every episodes. Every scene is touching. Koji Yakusho's act is top tier.

James Mar 02 2025 8:02 am This series is not good, cause it is soooo Great! I want another 30 episodes please…???

MMM Feb 27 2025 6:32 am I'm not sure this J-Drama is kind melancholic of drama or not but I was crying almost episode ???

Linus Feb 25 2025 2:22 am It's on Netflix now and I'm enjoying it. It really shows the craftsman spirit. Way more heartwarming and authethic than the shows nowadays

NABIL JAMAL Feb 23 2025 2:41 am I do not speak Japanese, but I really enjoyed this Japanese TV series, because of the many lessons it subtly provides.. Never giving up on your dream or idea Persistence, persistence, persistence Looking for solutions, and following through with them Finding all the right support people who believe in your drive to succeed and will help you achieve it: the junior bank officer, the shoe-sole material inventor/maker, the sports-shoes retailer, the marathon runner, the specialized running-shoes fitter, the dedicated manufacturing team, and the driving force behind all, the CEO himself. .. A great story of achievement.

Rafi J Dec 16 2022 9:33 pm I never actually understand why the Japanese so passionate about working for a company...until I watched this drama.

They really put heart and soul for the sake of the company. Even the banker and shop owner were putting their effort to help out Rikuoh. The whole idea might be novel, but I do love how they actually sharing the same objective, to revive Rikuoh and support athlete Mogi.

The struggle, challenge, and success were shared with each workers. I'm inspired by it. Still, I'd prefer work-life balance though.

George May 13 2022 12:33 am This drama is criminally underrated.

I watched it back then in 2017. The best drama I ever watched so far with realistic (mild fantasy) plot, amazing casts, wonderful soundtracks, great cinematography, and so on.

I do highly recommend to watch this drama if you like the 'value of life' themed drama. Start Up and Itaewon Class are great, but Rikuoh is on another level. This drama should be known by many people outside Japan and shown in some OTT streaming sites.

ailee Jul 26 2018 9:32 am A wonderful slice of life themed drama.enjoyed it to the fullest.there wasn't any dull moment that one wants to skip.if you are a realistic drama lover,then this is a must watch drama.loved it....

E Jan 16 2018 7:55 am @yogesh

Shuzo Matsuoka, former tennis player

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuzo_Matsuoka

Yogesh Jan 14 2018 12:00 pm What is the name of the actor who has played the director of Felix Company? He is just amazing... Thank you

Dani chan Dec 24 2017 10:27 am @nikkimaysmays nonton dimana ep 10?

Nikki MaysMays Dec 24 2017 8:12 am All 10 episodes finish today, thanks for Jun Ikeido from Indonesia. This movie very inspirational for me

Anonymous Dec 18 2017 11:18 am kamen rider drive, kamen rider gaim and kamen rider spectre are all here. LOL!

JLO Nov 30 2017 2:24 am Every time watching this drama always drives me to tears. It was from ep1, many touching scenes, even though there's no one dead. The struggles from Miyazawa Koichi to save his workers and his hundred year company are a good depiction to our own story and daily lives. This drama tells good things and I can learn so much from Koichi's life. What else? YamaKen improves a lot here, as I'm not his fan and thought low of him ever since Death Note. Yakusho Koji is the best actor to depict Koichi. He can expresses happy and sad feelings very well. Takeuchi Ryoma is as always, becoming one of great actor in Japan. Anyway, I really recommend this drama to people. Not about romance, but about hardworking and improvement.

122am Oct 18 2017 10:19 pm I have watched ep 1.

It was great.

Both Yamaken and Ryoma did their best.

As they are the 2 of my top most favourite young actors of their generation, I'm so happy that they are acting together. And that they gave their best shot.

This drama seems like it has super high budget, and is endorsed or sponsored by some government culture committee.

The highlight of my weekly watching for J drama for sure.

122am Oct 14 2017 10:11 pm Oh my the release date is today!!!!

I really can't wait to watch Yamaken and Ryoma together in one show!

I hope their air time and scenes are the most and not so focused on the old actors!!

I'm really looking forward to this one.

a Dec 29 2016 6:51 am Sounds a bit like Kinky Boots. :) Which is a good thing. Looking forward although there is time.

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Rikuoh (Japanese Drama)

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Plot Synopsis by AsianWiki Staff ©

Notes

Cast

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Episode Ratings

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