A "baton-passing" ceremony for NHK's Asadora drama series was recently held at the NHK Broadcasting Center in Shibuya, Tokyo. Akari Takaishi , the star of the currently airing " Bakebake ," and Ai Mikami and Juri Kosaka , who will co-star in " Kaze,Kaoru, " which starts on March 30, were in attendance. Tommy Bastow , who played the husband of the protagonist Toki in " Bakebake ," also came to exchange gifts.
Takaishi commented, "My heart is full. I remember when I received the baton from Imada (Mio), who played the heroine in ' Anpan ,' and thatKaze,Kaoru,' and I hope that feeling comes through in the baton."
Reflecting on the filming, Takaishi said, "So many people were involved, and it was a work that everyone put their heart and soul into, to the point where I wondered, 'Is there any other work that is loved this much?' I'm glad I was able to be a part of such a work, and I hope that feeling reaches everyone who watches it until the end."
When asked by Mikami about "moments or episodes during filming that he will never forget," Takaishi replied, "I gained so much from acting with everyone, and there were many moments where I got goosebumps just by looking into their eyes. But as I filmed various scenes with Tommy, who plays Heaven, I felt that because I was living as Toki and as Heaven, acting that I wasn't trying to show came out spontaneously. That will be broadcast later, and I think we've captured something deeper, so I hope you'll watch it." His answer also touched on future developments.
When asked by Uesaka about what she was looking forward to and what she valued during the long filming period, she reflected as a "senior" actress, "I value my alone time, and on set, I think the staff members got to know that midway through, and they incorporated a little bit of my personal space, which made a huge difference. Also, when I had time off, just going out or taking a walk by myself made a difference, so I think it was just right to draw a line between the 'role' and 'myself' in a good way."
Takaishi presented Mikami and Uesaka with scarves dyed with peonies from Matsue City, the setting of "Bakebake," scarves spun on looms that supported the lives of the crested ibis, and fans made of Izumo folk craft paper with their names written in their respective image colors. Mikami said, "The colors are perfect for both of you, and I'll use this fan to cheer you on whenever Naomi (Uesaka) needs to do her best," and Uesaka also expressed her delight, saying, "I'm so happy that my name, Naomi, is on it. I'll cherish it."
Ms. Mikami and Ms. Uesaka presented Takaishi with a drawstring bag made of Kurobane indigo dye and Ozeki kumihimo, traditional crafts from Tochigi Prefecture, the hometown of Kazu Ozeki, the inspiration for Rin, played by Ms. Mikami, and a Yokohama scarf, referencing the fact that Naomi, played by Ms. Uesaka, grew up in a church in Yokohama. Takaishi smiled and said, "The charm has ' Bakebake' and 'Kaze , Kaze,Kaoru' written on it, and I never thought I would receive something that combines ' Bakebake' and ' Kaze,Kaoru,' so I'm very happy. Both programs are set in a time period close to the Meiji era, so I'm also happy to receive a scarf that evokes that."
After the baton-passing ceremony, Mikami commented, "Since we received the baton with two people for one person, it should be physically lighter, but I felt like I received something very heavy, and it really hit me that the broadcast is about to begin. ' Bakebake' and ' Kaze,Kaoru' are set in very similar eras, and I feel that Rin and Naomi were living somewhere different from the time when Otoki and the others lived, and that they were forging their own paths in nursing. I think fans of ' Bakebake ' will be able to watch ' Kaze,Kaoru ' while still thinking about ' Bakebake '. Now that we've received the baton, we want to do our best to properly carry it on to the next generation."
Uesaka said, "The day has finally come for me to receive the baton, and I am very happy to be able to receive it together with Mikami-san from ' Bakebake' to ' Kaze,Kaoru.' I can really feel the weight of this baton that has been passed down from all the previous actors. The broadcast will start soon and filming will continue, but I will not forget the weight of this responsibility and will do my best to run through to the end and pass it on to the next generation."
"Bakebake" is the 113th Asadora . Based on the lives of Lafcadio Hearn Yakumo Koizumi and his wife Setsu, it tells the story of Toki (played by Takaishi), a heroine who loves ghost stories, and her ordinary daily life with her foreign husband, Heaven (played by Basto). The final episode will air on March 27th.
" Kaze,Kaoru" is a buddy drama set in the Meiji era, centering on two trained nurses, Chika Ozeki and Masa Suzuki. The two graduates of the same nursing school struggle with how to interact with patients and doctors, clashing and growing together, eventually becoming the "ultimate buddy team." Rin Ichinose is played by Mikami, and Naomi Oya is played by Uesaka. It will premiere on NHK General and other channels on March 30th.
