Interview with Akari Takaishi from " Bakebake ": What she learned from filming and the source of her rich expressiveness.

Akari Takaishi played the lead role of Toki in the NHK Asadora drama series "Bakebake " (NHK General, Monday-Saturday 8:00 AM, etc.), which aired its final episode on March 27th. The story of Toki and Heaven ( Tommy Bastow) has finally come to an end, with only a spin-off series remaining, airing for four consecutive nights starting March 30th. We asked Takaishi about what she learned through "Bakebake" and her future aspirations.

◇ "I want to use my experience in 'Bakebake' to help me in future acting roles."

Looking back on the approximately one year of filming, Takaishi said, "Toki is just like me." She also mentioned that screenwriter Mitsuhiko Fujiki encouraged her at the press conference announcing the heroine (October 2024), saying, "Just be yourself, Takaishi."

"When I actually stood on set, I didn't feel any discomfort at all with Toki's words and actions. Sometimes my own past would come back to me, or emotions I had felt in the past would well up, and there were times when I felt myself overlapping with the character. I've never had an experience like that before, and it was the first time I felt so close to a character. I definitely want to use the moments of emotional outbursts and the spontaneity I gained through filming ' Bakebake ' in my acting going forward."

She said she learned a lot through the filming process, and recalled, "When I saw the cast list before filming began, I thought, 'This is going to be tough, but it's also amazing!'"

"I knew it would be tough to keep up with all the senior actors I was filming with... But when I got to the set, everyone, including the staff, had the attitude of 'Let's enjoy making this.' It was because of that 'Let's create this together' atmosphere that I was able to act so freely and learn and receive so much from everyone."

In an interview conducted before the broadcast, she expressed her gratitude for working with Chizuru Ikewaki , a "senior" who played the heroine in the 2001 second half Asadora "Honmamon" and played her mother, Fumi, saying, "Rather than directly teaching me, Ms. Ikewaki is the type of person who subtly lends a helping hand and supports me. I think she understands (the heroine's) feelings, and there are many times when she helps me out."

When asked again about working with Ikewaki, she said thoughtfully, "I learned so much from Ikewaki. Not only did I get to experience her amazing acting firsthand, but on set, she was the one who paid the most attention to those around her, to us."

"Even without directly asking, she's very perceptive of even the slightest changes. For example, if she notices I seem down, she'll casually come over and talk to me, or show me a drawing she's made... I learned a lot about how to behave on set from her. I hope to continue being good friends with Ms. Ikewaki in the future."

◇What are the future prospects?

In " Bakebake," Ms. Takaishi showcased a wide range of expressions, from delicate emotional portrayals to overwhelmingly realistic performances and even comical acting that made you chuckle. Where does the source of her rich expressiveness lie?

"I've been a very imaginative person since I was a child. I like to dig up the past and think about things that are impossible in reality... Even when I'm walking around town every day, I find things I find interesting and make notes of them in my head. I often imagine, 'What would I think in this situation?' so I think that's what connects to my emotional repertoire. However, regarding ' Bakebake,' I think I was greatly influenced by the incredible acting of the other actors I worked with."

When asked about her goals after completing her role as the heroine in the Asadora, she said with sparkling eyes, "I want to become an actress who can surprise everyone. I want to challenge myself with roles that change people's image, so that when they see my work they think, 'Wow, that was Otoki-chan!' I want to change my image depending on the project and surprise everyone, and I would be happy if they find that interesting."

"I was chosen as the heroine of ' Bakebake' through an audition, and I feel that this was also a matter of fate. It was such a wonderful cast and script... My dream now is to be an actress who can appear in many more works like this in the future, and to become an actress that people want to work with again."

Having grown significantly as an actor through "Bakebake," Takaishi-san is a remarkable talent. We look forward to seeing what kind of works he will take on and what kind of expressions he will show us in the future. We can't wait to see what more Takaishi-san, who is sure to "transform" himself even further, will accomplish.