View source for Oshiete Agetai! (Partially Found Japanese Live-Action TV Drama, 1989)

{{LMW
|title=Oshiete Agetai!
|description=Partially Found Japanese Live-Action TV Drama
|startyear=1989
|timeframe=Yes
|image=Myojo Promo.jpg
|imagecaption=A magazine promo for the series
|status=Partially found
|category=Lost TV
|tags=TV Series; Drama; J-Drama; Japan; Japanese; Retro; 1980s; 1989; TBS; Live-Action; Partially Found; Heisei
}}
Oshiete Agetai! (おしえてあげたい!) was a short-lived TV drama series produced and broadcast by TBS in Japan. The series focuses on the lives of three women working in an office as well as their romantic connections with colleagues.

[History]
During the 1980s, producer and broadcaster TBS aired many TV dramas aimed at older audiences. Oshiete Agetai was one of these many shows, focusing on the office worker's life with dreams to break out and follow your heart. The series could be compared to The Summer Story of 7 Men and Women (男女7人夏物語) an old 1986 TBS series focusing on workers having fun with their lives while they’re still young. The demographic for the show is believed to be younger adult women, based on the shows themes of romance as presented by its female leads.

The series aired on Wednesdays at 9 pm from April 5th until May 10th 1989 for 6 episodes. The show aired as a part of a block alongside Scrap and Let’s Start With I Love You. Shiseido, Bourbon, and Honda were some of the many companies credited as sponsors at the start and end of each episode.

The had an opening theme (Bus Stop – The Hollies) which played during the opening scene of the show instead of it having a traditional opening sequence. The series did have an ending sequence featuring Tricky by Minnie, as a form of promotion for her Sherry Moon album which was released the same month. The ending theme was also used in TV commercials as well as during the next time notices.

According to a post on X, the show was cancelled after 6 weeks of airing due to poor viewership ratings. The series was promoted in magazines like Weekly Myojo and on TBS’ local affiliates in the form of commercials and hosted breaks promoting the 9 pm where it initially aired.

Cast
Kiriko Kawashima: Mie Yamaguchi
Mariko Yokosaka: Keiko Saito
Noriko Kakinuma:Miho Takagi
Yusuke Sawano: Toshikazu Nunokawa
Saburo Nishioka: B Saku Sato
Yoichi Tanimura: Ken Ishiguro
Hideyuki Nakahara: Ryu Kano
Tamami Konno: Yami Arimori
Shiori Kawashima: Riori Doke
Shimizu International Department Manager: Kenji Sawara

[Episodes]

Ep01: Title Unknown
Broadcast Date: April 5th 1989
Availability: Lost

Ep02: Title Unknown
Broadcast Date: April 12th 1989
Availability: Lost

Ep03: Title Unknown
Broadcast Date: April 19th 1989
Availability: Lost

Ep04: ときめきの甘い夜  (A Sweet and Exciting Night)
Broadcast Date: April 26th 1989
Availability: Found

Ep05: Title Unknown
Broadcast Date: May 3rd 1989
Availability: Partially found

Ep06: Title Unknown
Broadcast Date: May 10th 1989
Availability: Lost

[Availability]
After the show was cancelled, very little is known about what happened to it. It appears that no home media for the series was released following its conclusion, likely due to the low ratings. The show also isn’t acknowledged on TBS’ website unlike many of their other produced shows and dramas. 

A promotional image from an April 89 issue of Weekly Myojo Magazine was posted to X in 2021, featuring some stills of the cast.

In March 2024, YouTube user The Davo Domain shared the ending credits of Oshiete Agetai! to his secondary account (The Davo Double). Later in May, the full 4th episode was uploaded to YouTube, as well as a hosted segment featuring a preview of the episode.

It’s likely more info on the show could be found through magazines like Weekly TV Guide, however due to it’s age and apparent lack of popularity, recordings of the remaining episodes are unlikely to be found…

It is possible TBS still possess copies of the show. In 2014 they rebroadcast Scrap, another drama that aired during the same block as Oshiete Agetai!

[References]
<ref name=”ja.wikipedia">[https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/おしえてあげたい! Japanese Wikipedia article for the series] Retrieved 12 Jun '24</ref> 

<ref name=”tv drama database">[http://www.tvdrama-db.com/drama_info/p/id-25218 Japanese TV drama database page] Retrieved 12 Jun '24</ref> 

<ref name=”tbs contents">[https://www.tbscontents.com/drama a catalogue of TBS produced dramas on their website, notably not including Oshiete Agetai!] Retrieved 12 Jun '24</ref> 

<ref name=”x.com">[https://x.com/natsukashi/status/1424369812642287620 A post on X including a Myojo Weekly promo for the series] Retrieved 12 Jun '24</ref> 

<ref name=”discogs">[https://www.discogs.com/master/2139013-Minnie-Sherry-Moon The Discogs page for Minnie’s Sherry Moon album, in which the track Tricky was used as the show’s ending theme] Retrieved 12 Jun '24</ref> 

<ref name=”oricon.com">[https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/16357/products/20779/1 Details on the Minnie album confirming the connection to the TV drama] Retrieved 12 Jun '24</ref> 

<ref name=”ameblo.jp">[https://ameblo.jp/goro-chayamachi/entry-11893009982.html An article about another drama with Oshiete Agetai! being mentioned] Retrieved 12 Jun '24</ref> 

<ref name=”youtube">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NP1eZR6XHg An upload of the show’s end credits] Retrieved 12 Jun '24</ref>