On October 29th, a press conference was held at the NHK Osaka Broadcasting Station to announce the heroine of the NHK morning drama "Bakebake" for the second half of 2025, where it was revealed that Akari Takaishi will play the heroine. She was selected from 2,892 people in an audition to play the heroine Matsuno Toki, the daughter of a fallen samurai from Matsue and modeled after Koizumi Setsu, the wife of Koizumi Yakumo (Lafcadio Hearn).
The press conference was broadcast live nationwide on "Retto News" (General), and Takaishi was overcome with emotion and shed tears, saying, "It has been my dream to become a morning drama heroine since I was a child."
She said that she has auditioned for the role of a morning drama heroine three times so far, and expressed her joy, saying, "I never thought I would be able to become one, so I am really happy that I have had this opportunity."
"Bakeke" is the story of a couple who love "ghost stories" together with their foreign husband, and who shine a light on the "nameless people" who had been forgotten in Meiji-era Japan as it became increasingly Westernized, and who speak for them as their spokesperson. The script was written by Fujiki Mitsuhiko, who also wrote NHK's "Asagaya Sisters' Relaxed Life Together" and WOWOW's "Shooting Day Off Series."
As for morning dramas, "Omusubi," starring Hashimoto Kanna, is currently airing, and "Anpan," starring Imada Mio, will air in the first half of 2025.
