YELL

Yell was produced by the Japanese public broadcaster NHK as a morning television drama, or asadora, airing throughout 2020. The series was conceptualized to celebrate the 2020 Tokyo Olympics by dramatizing the life of Yuji Koseki, the prolific composer responsible for the Olympic March and the official anthems of various Japanese professional baseball teams. It captures the resilient spirit of the Shōwa era, specifically focusing on how music served as a source of emotional solace during the turbulent years of World War II and the subsequent national reconstruction.

The production design team aimed to evoke a sense of nostalgic authenticity, meticulously recreating the aesthetics of the early 20th century in Japan to mirror the evolution of Koseki’s musical career. The show was well-received for its uplifting narrative and the integration of Koseki’s actual compositions, which remain culturally significant. While the filming faced logistical hurdles due to the global pandemic, the series successfully anchored NHK's programming during a period of national uncertainty, positioning the act of musical creation as a vital communal experience.