Topeng Kaca (Glass no Kamen)

• Title: ガラスの仮面 （ガラスのかめん）
• Title (romaji): Glass no Kamen
• Also known as: Garasu no Kamen / Glass Mask / Mask of Glass
• Broadcast network: TV Asahi

Season 1

• Episodes: 11
• Viewership ratings: 11.9
• Broadcast period: 1997-July-07 to 1997-Sept-15
• Theme song: Calling by B'z / Polar Star Kimi Dake Shinjite by Harubara Yuuki

Synopsis

The Glass Mask drama is based on a very popular manga of the same name by Suzue Miuchi, about a young girl named Maya whose dream is to be an actress. A legendary former stage actress, Tsukikage Chigusa, watches Maya as she reenacts drama episodes she's seen on TV. She approaches Maya and has her join her acting company, Tsukikage Theater. Tsukikage holds the production rights to a legendary masterpiece called "The Crimson Goddess," in which she had played the title role until a terrible accident burnt her face beyond surgical repair. She's been searching all of these years for someone to play the role which only the most talented actress could play, and maybe she's found that someone in Maya... --synopsis by awrittensin

Episode Titles

• Ep 01: "The Girl Who Possesses a Thousand Masks"
• Ep 02: "The Lonely Battle Starts Now!"
• Ep 03: "Everything Depends on This Fateful Week"
• Ep 04: "The Purple Rose Man! The Heroine Whose Life is at Risk"
• Ep 05: "Special Training! The Actress With Bamboo Splints"
• Ep 06: "Clash!! Portraying a Triple Handicap - Eternal Rivals"
• Ep 07: "The Miraculous Moment! The Miraculous Girl!!"
• Ep 08: "A Black Shadow Threatens the Future Crimson Goddess"
• Ep 09: "First Love is Too Painful... Is Someone Out to Get Me!?"
• Ep 10: "Farewell, First Love... Goodbye Forever to Mom"
• Ep 11: "Tsukikage on the Verge of Death...!? Purple Rose Man's True Identity!? Maya's Disappearance From Acting, What is Her Fate!? Will Another Miracle Happen?"

Season 2

• Episodes: 12
• Viewership ratings: 11.3
• Broadcast period: 1998-Apr-13 to 1998-June-29
• Theme song: Happiness - B'z

Synopsis

The continuation of Glass Mask. Maya attempts to re-enter the entertainment industry after losing all backing. She decides that nothing will stand in her way of becoming The Crimson Goddess, and resolves to regain her status in the industry so she can fight on equal ground with Ayumi. After everyone is blown away by Maya's monodrama, Tsukikage agrees to recognize her as a candidate for the Crimson Goddess only if she receives a Best Actress Award at the Japanese Academy of Acting Award ceremonies, or an award of equal prestige. But Maya has to compete with Ayumi for it! The Purple Rose Man is still watching her from the shadows... will Maya ever find out his true identity? Just who will become the true successor for the role of the Crimson Goddess?

-- synopsis by awrittensin

Episode Titles

• Ep 01: Miraculous Comeback at Stake... The Curtain Rises on a New Battle!!
• Ep 02: Rediscovered Passion! Fateful Encounter!!
• Ep 03: My Comeback Depends on This Play! Dangerous Brother's Secret...!?
• Ep 04: Farewell Tsukikage Theater! The Successor for the Crimson Goddess is... !?
• Ep 05: A Premeditated Trap!? I'll Never Forgive You!!
• Ep 06: Fateful Clash of Rivals! The Two Princesses!!
• Ep 07: The Purple Rose Man... Finally, I Get To Meet Him
• Ep 08: Painful Kiss... Miracle! The Birth of 3 Crimson Goddesses!!
• Ep 09: Don't Die! Scream of Life!! The Wolf-Girl Jane
• Ep 10: Intent to Kill a Rival!? I Am a Wolf - a Wild Wolf
• Ep 11: The Union of Two Souls...!? Purple Rose Man's Shocking Confession
• Ep 12: The Truth About the Purple Rose Man!! The Impressive and Miraculous Final Chapter

Cast