Usagawa Takashi, production manager of the morning NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen series "Omusubi" (General Asadora, Monday to Saturday at 8:00 am and others), which uses "Illumination" as its theme song, was interviewed and gave an emotional comment about the surprise that the rock unit "Omusubi" pulled off at the 75th NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen on New Year's Eve last year.
After the two members of B'z finished singing "Illumination" in the studio at the NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen, they suddenly walked out and made a surprise appearance on stage at the NHK Hall during the live broadcast. They sang "LOVE PHANTOM" and "Ultra Soul" with great enthusiasm, and the venue became a melting pot of excitement.
Usagawa revealed that there was excitement on the set of the morning drama, saying, "The surprise of the two members of B'z appearing (at Asadora Hall) was a huge surprise for us on set. Although we were 'parties' performing the theme song, we were also 'audiences' at the same time, and even after the New Year, everyone on set was talking about it, haha."
Nemoto Nonji, who wrote the script for "Omusubi," is also a B'z fan. "Nemoto and I have always been big B'z fans, and I even wrote the proposal for this drama while listening to a B'z song," he said. "Nemoto was truly moved after watching the Kouhaku, saying, 'I've watched the Kouhaku every year, but this was such a shock and emotion that I'll never forget it for the rest of my life.'"
He continued, "What I thought was really amazing about Nemoto-san is that in the episode that aired on January 9th, right after the New Year, he included a scene in which the chef Tachikawa (Hiroki Miyake) sings "Ultra Soul." Of course, at the time he wrote the script, he had no idea that the two members of B'z would be appearing on Kohaku, and as a fan, he knew that they take a break every year over the New Year holidays. Still, something in Nemoto-san made him write that scene. It was like an obsession, and I was really moved by that."
Regarding the songs they performed, they said, "Illumination is the theme song for this Asadora, and it is a song that expresses the world of this story. And "LOVE PHANTOM" and "Ultra Soul", which were sung at the Kohaku, are masterpieces that remain deeply in the memories of those of us who lived through the Heisei era. Until now, we have portrayed the sisters Yoneda Yui (Kanna Hashimoto) and Ayumi (Riisa Naka Riisa) as being encouraged by the songs of Namie Amuro and Ayumi Hamasaki, but the performance of the two B'z members at the Kohaku once again taught us the power of song, that "one song can become that person's hope for life", and the power to "love the things you love". This is exactly what we have expressed in the drama, and I am truly moved."
He also said, "Incidentally, 'LOVE PHANTOM' was released in 1995 (the year the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, which is depicted in the Asadora, occurred). It may be a coincidence, but I was grateful and moved by that reference."
"Omusubi" is the 111th drama in the NHK serial TV series. The heroine, Yui Yoneda (played by Hashimoto), was born in the year the era name changed to "Heisei". After growing up as a gal in Fukuoka, she aims to become a registered dietitian in Kansai. This is a "Heisei youth graffiti."
