An interview with Naoto Ogata, who plays Takao Watanabe in the morning drama "Omusubi"

In the NHK morning drama "Omusubi" (General TV, Monday to Saturday, 8:00 a.m. and others), starring actress Kanna Hashimoto, Naoto Ogata plays Takao Watanabe, a shoemaker who lost his only daughter Maki (Miyu Oshima) in the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. This is his first morning drama appearance in 19 years since the morning drama "Fight" in the first half of 2005, and he talked about his thoughts when he was chosen to appear and the role he will be playing. ◇Delighted to appear in a morning drama for the first time in 19 years: "It feels good" Looking back on when he was chosen to appear, Ogata said, "This is my first morning drama appearance in 19 years since 'Fight'. While there are many social dramas and dramas about young people, I feel that this kind of story that carefully depicts daily life, like a chat-in-the-water conversation, is unique to morning dramas, so I am happy to have been asked to appear. The atmosphere at BK (NHK Osaka Broadcasting Station) is good. It feels comfortable." The character he plays is a skilled shoemaker who runs a shoe shop in Sakura-dori Shopping Arcade. He lost his wife and daughter and is isolated in the shopping arcade. Ogata explains about Takao, "It's an unfortunate role." "He's a hard-working man who grew up in a single-parent household, quit school for his younger brother, and supported his family. He struggled, but he got married, had a child, and finally felt happy, but then he lost his mother and wife, and raised his only daughter on his own. In this situation, he was affected by the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, lost everything, and 12 years later, he still hasn't been able to move forward. But there are probably many people like this in Japan, a country prone to earthquakes. Even if it were me, I think I would have been depressed." However, Takao's feelings change as the story progresses. Ogata said, "The story depicts how Takao, who was obsessed with his own misfortune, slowly starts to look forward. One of the reasons is when Masato (Kitamura Yukiya) asks him to repair his shoes. The shoemaker's instinct to repair them is awakened in him. But even so, he retreats into his shell of sadness. A man who hasn't been able to take a single step forward for years can't take a step forward. It's not that simple. I hope to portray the conflict and pain carefully." ◇Playing a role in a Kansai dialect "I was pulled in by another narration job" Ogata, who is from Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, said, "I haven't had much opportunity to act in the Kansai dialect until now. So I listened to the audio many times and practiced, and the other day, I was shocked to have my intonation pointed out for the first time during another narration job. I was pulled in by the Kansai dialect." Regarding his role, he said, "I try to be alone during and outside of filming so that I can get as close as possible to Takao. I also skim through the script except for the parts related to Takao. I don't want to add unnecessary information that will affect Takao's acting. I think Takao's world is closed off. I get invitations to eat out, but I want to be an outsider in the team, so I turn them down and try to be alone during my off time." Finally, he said, "This time, I will be working with Masami Horiuchi (who plays Akashi Taichi, the owner of the Chinese restaurant "Taikyoken"), and he taught me that 'Losing a parent is losing the past. Losing a lover or wife is losing the present. Losing a child is losing tomorrow.' Each person's mental recovery is different. I want people to never forget that there are people like this in reality, not only in the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, but also in Japan, a country prone to earthquakes. In that sense, I want to deliver a performance with a truly sad and painful face from the morning."