Mikako Tabe, who plays Sutematsu Oyama, known as the "Flower of the Rokumeikan," in the NHK Asadora drama series "Kaze,Kaoru " (NHK General, Monday-Saturday 8:00 AM, etc.), which stars Ai Mikami and Juri Kosaka Mikako Tabe, spoke about her role and her impressions of the set of a Asadora, her first since playing the heroine in "Tsubasa."
Tabe plays Sutematsu, the wife of the then Minister of War, Oyama Iwao, and a noblewoman who symbolized the era, known as the "Flower of the Rokumeikan." Her role will have a profound influence on the lives of Rin (Mikami) and Naomi (Uesaka).
Regarding the offer to play the role of Sutematsu, Tabe said, "Sutematsu had a harrowing experience when she was besieged during the Boshin War, and then she studied in America at a young age, so she experienced a great deal early on." She added, "I imagined that she was someone who, based on those experiences, thought about what she wanted to do and lived her life contemplating how a woman could live without relying on men," explaining how she approached the role with that in mind during filming.
"In Japan at that time, while ideas like Sutematsu's had influence on those around her, it seems that she was also the target of gossip and backbiting. However, her attitude of pursuing the path she believed in after returning to Japan is very cool, and her way of life is fascinating, so I really wanted to play this role."
"As she's known as the 'Flower of the Rokumeikan,' I had to be someone who commanded respect from those around me, so it was very difficult to portray that atmosphere through my mannerisms and way of speaking," Tabe said, reflecting on the filming. "There's a scene where Sutematsu, who studied nursing while abroad, influences the two main characters, and I wanted to portray the atmosphere that the two of them had built up properly," she revealed.
Tabe played Tamaki Tsubasa, the heroine who works as a radio personality in "Tsubasa," which aired as the Asadora in the first half of 2009. This marks her first appearance in a Asadora since "Tsubasa," and she says, "It's been so long since I've been on a Asadora that I feel mostly refreshed. It's nostalgic to see the staff I worked with when I was 20..."
For both Mikami and Uesaka, she is a "senior" to the heroines of Asadora, but she commented, "I don't have any advice to give the two main characters, but when I played the heroine in 'Tsubasa,' I thought that I was the one who understood the emotions of the character Tsubasa the most." She reflected on her feelings at the time, saying, "It may sound like a bold statement, but it might be more accurate to say that I was trying to be confident because I was reading the script from the character's perspective more than anyone else."
"That's why I think the two characters played by Ai Mikami and Juri Kosaka, who spend the most time with Rin and Naomi, are everything. As someone who plays a character around the protagonist, I find it very enjoyable to follow in their footsteps."
"There will be more ups and downs as filming continues, but I think if you just speak the lines based on what you feel when you read the script, you'll become a wonderful Rinto Naomi," she said, offering encouragement to her "junior."
