NHK's Asadora drama series "Bakebake ," starring Akari Takaishi , aired its final episode on March 27th (NHK General, Monday-Saturday, 8:00 AM, etc.), bringing the six-month story to a close. We spoke with Chief Producer Kuniomi Hashizume, who oversaw the production, about the "amazingness" of Takaishi's performance as she lived through half of the protagonist Toki's life in this series.
In " Bakebake," Takaishi demonstrated a wide range of expressive abilities, from comical acting that made viewers chuckle to compelling performances that stirred their emotions. Hashizume explained, "Takaishi is great at reacting to others. When someone throws a ball at him, he catches it and responds with his own acting. I think this back-and-forth of acting is wonderful."
"They receive the script first, create an acting plan, and then they don't just execute it exactly as planned; they truly embody the character. That's why a chemical reaction occurs when they act with their co-stars."
Takaishi says that the set of "Bakebake" was filled with Tommy Bastow who, like Takaishi, were skilled at "playing catch" with each other, and that "a lot of chemistry was happening" as he worked with them.
"She was speaking the lines exactly as written in the script, but the way it came across was completely different in rehearsals compared to the actual performance. I felt that this was the kind of set and cast where you could see those kinds of moments. I think that's what brought out the unique charm of ' Bakebake.' She responded to the ball that was thrown at her with her own words... I think that's what makes Takaishi-san so great. Her quick reflexes are amazing, and I think that's probably because she really embodies the character. Rather than technique, I think her greatness lies in her strong sensitivity and her ability to truly become the character."
Regarding Takaishi's leadership, he praised him, saying, "It was truly wonderful. I don't think he's ever worked on a project with such a long filming period before, and it was probably the first time he'd single-handedly starred in and led a show. At first, I was worried about how it would turn out, but those worries were unfounded, as he really did a great job of leading everyone."
"She didn't show it to us, but there may have been some very difficult times. But she seemed to be having fun from beginning to end, and she told us she had fun when filming wrapped up. We were saved by Takaishi's joyful demeanor, and she pulled us along, and everyone around her felt that we had to end the filming on a happy note."
In the final episode, Toki recounts her memories of Heaven to Jo (Rairin Sugita) while being watched over by Tsukasanosuke(Takashi Okabe) and Fumi (Chizuru Ikewaki). Realizing how much Heaven loved her, Toki is overcome with emotion and bursts into tears. Takaishi's crying performance in this scene was breathtaking.
Looking back on this scene, Hashizume said, "I think that realism is what makes Takaishi so amazing."
"If I cried too beautifully, it would seem a little fake, wouldn't it? I think this scene became the culmination of my life as Toki, and it's a scene that encapsulates the past year I've spent playing Toki."
Takaishi-san, who wholeheartedly embodied the life of Toki in "Bakebake," has grown even more as an actress after experiencing the lead role in a Asadora series. We are increasingly looking forward to seeing what she does next.
