In the NHK morning drama series "Omusubi" (General TV, Monday to Saturday, 8am and others), starring actress Hashimoto Kanna, Aso Kumiko plays Yoneda Aiko, the mother of the protagonist Yui (Hashimoto). Aiko helps with the housework of Yui's grandmother Kayo (Miyazaki Yoshiko) and supports the farm run by Yui's father Masato (Kitamura Yukiya), and is good at drawing. Aso spoke about her thoughts on her first appearance in a morning drama and anecdotes from filming with members of the Hakata Gals Union (Hagaren).
◇ First appearance in a morning drama in "Omusubi" - "Lots of thoughts ran through my head"
Asou, who will be appearing in "Omusubi" for the first time in a morning drama, said, "I've always wanted to appear in a morning drama, so I was very happy. But I still can't believe it (laughs). Even after filming began, I couldn't believe it, but once the show started airing, I got a lot of contact from friends, and some people told me their thoughts, so it gradually started to feel like it was real."
"When I was younger, I probably thought it would be nice to be the heroine, but before I knew it, I got older, and now I'm appearing in a morning drama for the first time as the heroine's mother. Lots of thoughts ran through my head, like how I've been able to continue working until this age. Also, my mother contacted me, which is rare, saying 'Congratulations,' so I think the influence of morning dramas is amazing."
Regarding Aiko, who she plays, she explained, "I think she's a very charming woman. Aiko is very understanding, and she's a mother who is calm and has a certain detachment."
"Because he was a former delinquent and had a lot of hardships when he was young, I think he has his own thoughts about how to treat children. It's not that he doesn't worry about the children, but I think he is a person who has a very strong belief in them."
◇Filming with Fullmetal Alchemist "turned the set into a place filled with energy all at once"
In episode 14 (broadcast on October 17th), the Fullmetal Alchemist members visited the Yoneda family and practiced parapara in front of Aiko and Kayo.
Asou reflected on the scenes where she co-starred with the Fullmetal Alchemist members, "Actually, there aren't that many scenes where we filmed together with the Fullmetal Alchemist members. But when everyone is on set, it's very lively and colorful, and the set is filled with energy all at once. The Fullmetal Alchemist girls are good and cute with a gyaru mindset. When I was young, gyaru were at their peak, so now I think I should have been a gyaru too."
Finally, she addressed the viewers, saying, "I really want everyone to watch it however they like. But I think watching it will really cheer you up. It's a work that will nourish your soul, like grandma's rice balls, so I hope you enjoy it. The family scenes have a great atmosphere, the grandpa is funny, and grandma's tsukkomi is great. There are also scenes that are typical of me as a former delinquent, so I hope you will look forward to it."
