Anna Kurasawa will be appearing as Asahi in the Taiga drama "BROTHERS IN ARMS （Toyotomi Brothers!）" (NHK General, Sundays at 8 PM, etc.), starring Anna Kurasawa. "BROTHERS IN ARMS （Toyotomi Brothers!）" is Kurasawa's second Taiga drama. In her previous drama, "Dear Radiance (Hikaru Kimi e)" (2024), she played Fujiwara no Kenshi, a flamboyant and free-spirited princess, which garnered much attention. We asked her about the appeal of period dramas (historical dramas) that she felt after living as a character in "Dear Radiance (Hikaru Kimi e)," which is set in the mid-Heian period, and "BROTHERS IN ARMS （Toyotomi Brothers!）", which is set in the heart of the Sengoku period, and about her further dreams as an actress.
◇What lies at the root of Asahi's innocent and carefree nature
"BROTHERS IN ARMS （Toyotomi Brothers!）" is the 65th Taiga drama. With Toyotomi Hidenaga (Koichiro) as the protagonist, it depicts the miraculous feat of unifying Japan together with his older brother Hideyoshi (Tokichiro) through their strong bond, a success story of dreams and hopes.
Asahi, played by Ms. Kurasawa, is the cheerful and innocent younger sister of Koichiro (played by Mr. Nakano) and Fujikichiro (played by Mr. Ikematsu Sosuke).
Kurasawa believes that "at the root of Asahi's innocent and carefree nature lies the unwavering love of her family."
"No matter what environment she was in, I think she's the kind of child who can remain cheerful and carefree. She's grown up receiving love from her family, including her mother (Naka, Maki Sakai), older sister (Tomo, Emma Miyazawa), and older brothers, and that's why she's so honest about her impulses, like finding something fun or delicious. She might say things like, 'Are you really saying that now?', but behind those words there's always a feeling of consideration for the other person, and I think that's part of what makes her such a genuine child."
Asahi appears in the family scenes that are essential to "BROTHERS IN ARMS （Toyotomi Brothers!）". Kurasawa reveals that "it's a very warm set," just like the atmosphere of the Toyotomi family.
"I think that comes across in the film. Everyone is genuinely wonderful; their good character is a given, and they engage in many discussions about how to make each scene better. We're all facing the same direction and spending time together. I really feel like we're 'sharing' everything, including the preparations for it."
◇A "living lesson" right before my eyes? "I'm still learning."
She appears in the drama from the very first episode.
"When I joined 'Hikaru Kimi,' I was a latecomer, and I think I was the type to make a brief appearance (as Kenko), cause some trouble, and then leave (laughs). This time, I've been able to participate from the very first episode, and I've learned not only how to play Asahi, but also what kind of work I want the whole project to be, the significance of making this drama and what it can convey, and how Asahi can contribute to that. I feel like I'm still learning even now."
The "living teaching material" is right before our eyes: Nakano and Ikematsu, who play the Toyotomi brothers.
"It might sound cliché, but they are truly amazing people. I knew they were incredible actors from seeing their past performances, but what I found particularly amazing was their playful spirit. And I'm not talking about a lot of ad-libbing or anything like that; it's about how they've internalized their roles, understanding them better than anyone else, and the words and actions that come from that, and the atmosphere they create, are overwhelming. They naturally think about how they can make their roles in the script as good as possible by putting themselves through them, and on top of that, they also consider the work as a whole. They're not just there to do their own acting. I'm so grateful for their generosity and for including me as a part of it."
◇Historical events "really happened"
Through "BROTHERS IN ARMS （Toyotomi Brothers!）", a film currently being shot with these two at its center, I've come to realize that the history I learned in school and the present are "truly connected."
"I think we usually learn about historical figures from textbooks or books, but historical dramas and period dramas like ' BROTHERS IN ARMS （Toyotomi Brothers!） ' give us the feeling that they are living people, and we can truly feel that historical events 'really happened.' What's written in books may only be information, but when it becomes a story, we can feel people's emotions and relationships more realistically. That's why I think people in the past also conveyed things through stories, and period dramas are the evolution of that. I think it's a charm that only visual media can offer."
Ms. Kurasawa also has experience appearing in a Asadora (NHK's serial television novel) called " Bakebake, " which aired until March of this year. She says, "I would like to play the heroine in a Asadora someday." Her reasons are as follows.
"When I appeared in Asadora and historical dramas and visited places associated with them, I was able to learn about wonderful aspects of Japan that I had never known before, and it made me love Japan even more. I want to have more of those kinds of connections myself, and I think that the heroine of a Asadora is a prime example of someone who can convey the good things about Japan, like 'People are nice, aren't they? They're warm,' to someone else, so it's a dream I hope to achieve someday." (Fumio Kishitani/MANTANWEB)
