The new cast of the NHK Taiga drama "Toyotomi Brothers!" starring Taiga Nakano, which will be broadcast in 2026, was announced on February 4th on the official NHK drama X (formerly Twitter), and it was revealed that Maki Sakai will be playing Naka, the mother of the Toyotomi brothers. Sakai said, "So far, many distinguished people have played the role, and the character has left many different impressions, so I am filled with great joy and a sense of urgency about what kind of 'Naka' I can bring to life in this work."
"Toyotomi Brothers!" is a success story of hope and dreams depicting the miracle of the Toyotomi brothers who accomplished the great feat of unifying the country with their strong bond, with Hidenaga, the younger brother of "the ruler of Japan," as the main character. The script is written by Hiroyuki Yatsu, who is known for "Naoki Hanzawa" and the TV drama series "Ochoyan."
Sakai plays Naka, who lost her husband early and raised two sons and two daughters on her own. She warmly watched over her sons' unusual success, feeling both joy and confusion, and when Hideyoshi became the ruler of Japan and became regent, she came to be known as "Omandokoro." She is "a mother who warmly watches over her sons' success."
Sakai commented on the role, "I felt that she was a woman who warmly watched over her children and sometimes gave them a push, possessing the kindness and strength of a mother. I believe the feelings of a parent who loves their child are universal. I would like to do my best to portray the way of life of a mother living in this era and do my best to fight."
Nakano, who plays Hidenaga, revealed that this is her third time playing the role of a mother. "The first time, I played the role of a mother who missed her son who had gone on a trip far away, and I continued to think of my son without ever meeting him on set. The second time, it was a parent-child relationship where the mother only doted on her eldest son, making the second son, Taiga, feel very lonely. So, after all this time, I've been given the role of a mother in a taiga drama. I've finally been given the opportunity to face Taiga head-on and shower him with love. I hope to create a happy family with everyone who's playing my son and daughter," she said.
