Antique (2001 Japanese Television Drama)

Antique, known in Japanese as Antique ~Seiyō Kottō Yōgashiten~, is a Japanese television drama series that aired on Fuji TV from October 8 to December 17, 2001. The series, which ran for 11 episodes, was directed by Katsuyuki Motohiro and Eiichiro Hasumi, with a screenplay by Yoshikazu Okada.

Background and Development

The drama is based on the manga series Seiyō Kottō Yōgashiten by Fumi Yoshinaga, which was serialized in Wings magazine between 1999 and 2002. While the original manga explores themes surrounding the personal lives and sexual orientations of its characters, the 2001 television adaptation notably diverged from the source material by omitting many of these elements. The production also introduced a new character, Momoko Izuka, a sports journalist portrayed by actress Koyuki.

Plot

The story centers on a small, distinctive confectionery shop called "Antique," situated in a residential area and known for staying open until 2 a.m. The shop is managed by four men, each with a unique background and personality:

• Keiichiro Tachibana (Kippei Shiina): The owner of the shop.
• Yusuke Ono (Naohito Fujiki): A highly skilled baker with a mysterious aura.
• Chikage Kobayakawa (Hiroshi Abe): A waiter who also serves as Tachibana's bodyguard.
• Eiji Kanda (Hideaki Takizawa): A former boxer who joins the shop as a waiter due to his love for cake.

The series explores the professional and personal dynamics between these four men as they navigate their lives, friendships, and the various stories brought to the shop by its customers.