Actress Rikako Yagi attended a press conference for the TV Asahi Drama Premium "Hanae Mori Butterfly beyond" (to be broadcast on March 21 at 9pm) held at TV Asahi's headquarters in Minato-ku, Tokyo on March 15. Yagi, who plays the younger version of the late fashion designer Hanae Mori, became emotional when a comment from Hanae's eldest son, Akira, was read aloud.
The drama commemorates the 100th anniversary of the birth of the late Hanae Mori, the first East Asian to become a full member of the Paris Haute Couture (high-end tailored clothing) association, and who continued to spread "Japanese elegance" to the world. It depicts the "untold story of her youth," from her childhood spent in Shimane, to her passion for dressmaking sparked by making clothes for her son, and her eventual expansion into the world. Yagi plays Hanae Mori from the ages of 17 to 39.
The film features some precious items that were actually tailored by Hanae in her younger days. Yagi, who wore one of the pieces, reflected on the filming, saying, "It made me stand up straighter. I never thought I'd get to wear her actual clothes, so I was nervous about getting them dirty. Even now, they feel so new, the lines are beautiful, and I felt firsthand that beauty transcends time."
Even in short scenes, costumes appear one after another. Yuto Nakajima, who plays the husband Ken, said, "There are an incredible number of costumes. I thought 30 costumes was a lot for me alone, but I was surprised to hear that Yagi had over 50 (laughs). I think even people who aspire to be costume designers will enjoy watching it."
At the press conference, comments from Hanae's eldest son, Akira, and her granddaughter, talent Izumi, were read aloud. Akira commented on watching the drama, saying, "My memories were turned into a video, and I was moved to tears to see how meticulously it was depicted." He also expressed his gratitude to Yagi's portrayal of Hanae, saying, "It reminded me of my mother, and I felt her presence. Thank you."
With tears welling up in her eyes, Ms. Yagi listened intently to the comments, revealing her anxiety about "what her family would think," and then smiling as she added, "I feel so relieved."
