In the suburban town of Shimizu, Shizuoka Prefecture, in 1974, a nine-year-old girl named Momoko Sakura, known to everyone as Maruko, lives a simple but eventful life with her family. She is a troublemaker, lazy, disorganized, and often late for school, which contrasts sharply with her older sister Sakiko, who is calm, tidy, and studious. Maruko shares a room with her sister and frequently gets into mischief, causing trouble for her parents, Hiroshi and Sumire. Her grandfather Tomozou dotes on her, while her grandmother watches over the household with a quiet presence.

The live-action television adaptation aired as specials on Fuji Television, with the first special broadcast on April 18, 2006, created to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the franchise. The production was noted for its faithful recreation of the original manga's costumes and hairstyles. The first live-action adaptation starred Ei Morisako as Maruko and was followed by a sequel that October. A later special, titled Special Drama Chibi Maruko-chan, aired on October 1, 2013, featuring eight-year-old Maki Shinta, a real third grader, in the lead role. This later adaptation was structured as an omnibus of four stories: Maruko, Congratulate Your Grandfather, Maruko, Moving to New Seats, Maruko, Let's EAT Natto, and Maruko and Tama-chan, Find a Balloon Letter.

The narratives focus on the everyday struggles and comedies of childhood. Maruko constantly clashes with her father, Hiroshi, who is an egoist and speaks bluntly, such as when he scolds her for not liking natto, calling her a disgrace to Japan. One notable storyline involves Hiroshi winning a car in a lottery and taking the family on a drive, though only Maruko, her sister, and grandfather join him because her mother gets carsick. Hiroshi drives recklessly, constantly nearly crashing, which terrifies the passengers while the grandfather dramatically compares his pulse to his youthful heart rate. After a long drive, they end up in Chinatown only to eat plain noodles, disappointing the sister so much she falls into shock. After that trip, the car was only ever used for Hiroshi to go fishing.

At school, Maruko is a third grader whose best friend is the gentle and intelligent Tamae Honami, called Tama-chan. Her classmates include the wealthy Kazuhiko Hanawa, who is driven to school in a limousine, and the overly serious class president Sueo Maruo, who wears thick glasses and constantly fears someone will take his position. The live-action adaptations capture the same nostalgic and humorous tone as the original work, turning small, relatable moments from daily life into engaging stories about family, friendship, and the small disasters of growing up in suburban Japan.