The music and narration staff for the NHK Asadora drama "Anpan ," starring actress Mio Imada , which will air in the first half of 2025, have been decided. It was announced on January 27 that the drama will begin airing on March 31 and will have a total of 26 weeks and 130 episodes. Ahead of the release of the main visual, a one-shot visual of the main character, Asada Nobu ( Mio Imada), was released in advance.
"Anpan" is written by Miho Nakazono, who is known for the "Doctor X: Surgeon Daimon Michiko" (TV Asahi) series, and tells the story of love and courage that will make you feel the joy of living as Yanase Takashi, who was still a nobody at the time, and his wife Nobu Komatsu overcome all sorts of rough seas to reach Anpanman. Imada will play Asada Nobu, who is based on Nobu, and Kitamura Takashi Yanai Takumi Kitamura, who is based on Yanase.
Regarding the visual, Imada commented, "The poster is finally finished! The whole ' Anpan' team had a lot of fun shooting it, discussing this and that, and it was a lively shoot! The poster is full of Asada Nobu's unique style, as if it had jumped out of Taka's painting. I hope you enjoy the story of Nobu and Taka's married life."
The music will be handled by composer and musician Akio Izutsu. After debuting as an artist under the name Fab Cushion, Izutsu began working as a composer for film and commercials. His work includes the dramas "Tamiou R" (TV Asahi), "Hakozume: Tatatakau! Koban Joshi" (Nippon TV), "99.9 -Criminal Lawyer-" (TBS), and "Tokusatsu Gagaga" (NHK).
The narrator will be NHK announcer Risa Hayashida. Born in Nagasaki and raised in Kanagawa, Hayashida joined NHK in 2014. After working at the Nagasaki and Fukuoka broadcasting stations, she is currently based in the Tokyo announcers' office. She has previously hosted shows such as "Bura Tamori," "NHK News 7," and "News Watch 9," as well as "Hoshino Gen's Music Koron," "Minna no Uta 60 Special," and other music shows, including classical music. She currently serves as the anchor for the Saturday 9pm news program "Saturday Watch 9."
◇Comment from music director Akio Izutsu
I am extremely honored to be in charge of the music for "Anpan." Kochi, where the story is set, is also where I spent several years of my impressionable childhood, so I feel a strong connection to the project.
Yanase's work and Anpanman are close to my life and are certainly still with me today.
The theme of this composition is the "will to live" of people who have overcome the turbulent times of war and postwar after the vivid prewar era, but the lively and strong brightness of Nobu played by Mio Imada and the various imaginations of Takashi played by Takumi Kitamura are a ray of hope that will someday touch the hearts of many people. I have taken the liberty of expressing that light in music, powerfully, gently and joyfully.
◇Comment from narrator Risa Hayashida
I never dreamed that one day I would be the narrator for a Asadora, so it was a big surprise.
I have loved "Anpanman" since I was a child, and in my middle and high school years, I was exposed to Takashi Yanase's poems in the choir club and was encouraged by their kindness.
I cried many times when I read the script. Nobu and Takashi never lost their dreams, even though they lived through a turbulent era and were at its mercy. I think Yanase's message about "what is justice" was born because of these two people, and I think it has something to teach us who live in the current era.
We will be reporting on this with all our hearts for the next six months, as if we were watching over you all quietly together with our viewers.
