NHK Drama 'Massan' Episode 120 Depicts Navy Officer Confronting Secret Police Over Foreign Wife

A rebroadcast of NHK's serial drama 'Massan' on June 17, 2026, drew strong viewer reactions for its depiction of a navy officer named Kashihara Shuuji confronting and turning back secret police (Tokkou) attempting to take away his Scottish wife, Ellie. The scene resonated with audiences as a satisfying reversal of power, reminiscent of the popular variety show 'Sukkatto Japan.' The drama, featuring actor Tamayama Tetsuji as protagonist Kameyama Masaharu and American actress Charlotte Kate Fox as Ellie, was set in December 1941 as Japan prepared for war with the Allied powers. Amid heightened social tensions and growing suspicion of foreign nationals, Ellie faced intense scrutiny from society. When a police chief named Sakurada conducted a house search, he ransacked the home and threatened to detain Ellie, treating her with contempt and questioning whether a person of her appearance could truly be Japanese. Masaharu initially persuaded Ellie to divorce temporarily as a protective measure until the war's end, though both understood it as provisional. The navy officer's firm defense of Ellie's character and dignity, combined with his refusal to allow the police's abusive conduct, marked a turning point in the episode. His direct confrontation—stating that their rough methods were unacceptable—and assertion that Ellie was a 'genuine Japanese person' who had made genuine efforts to become Japanese provided viewers with a cathartic moment amid the oppressive wartime setting.