Mari Hamada plays Fumika Tsukamoto, head of the nutrition department at Osaka Shin-Yodogawa Memorial Hospital where Yui (Hashimoto) works, in the NHK Asadora drama "Omusubi " (General TV, Monday to Saturday 8:00 a.m. and others), starring actress Kanna Hashimoto . She talked about the appeal of the role she plays and her impression of Hashimoto.
◇ Expressing Tsukamoto's "pressure felt because of his calmness"
Hamada, who is from Hyogo Prefecture, has appeared in three Asadora: "Carnation," "Massan," and "Come Come Everybody." "Omusubi" will be her fourth, and she recalls, "I was asked to appear in the drama about two weeks after I started watching it, so it felt strange to think, 'I'm just a viewer now, but I'll eventually be Yui-chan's boss.'"
"' Omusubi' focuses on the unavoidable themes of 'food' and 'health', as well as 'disasters', so I think it's a work that feels close to home. There are a variety of themes, but what I like most about it is that it's a work that depicts a family. This time, there may not be many scenes with the other members of the Yoneda family apart from Yui-chan, but as I watched the show I felt very envious of the Yoneda family, so I hope I can share some of those feelings with everyone."
Tsukamoto, played by Hamada, is Yui's reliable boss and one of the members who founded the NST (Nutrition Support Team). His hobby is reading historical novels, and he uses examples of warlords in the Sengoku period to leave those around him dumbfounded.
Hamada says, "Tsukamoto doesn't nag or raise his voice, but I think, 'I'm sure no one can go against me.' Like, if I say we should do something, everyone will listen (laughs). He's a very passionate person who founded NST, and there may have been scary times at times, but he's come full circle now and is calm. I hope that the pressure that people feel because he's so calm can reach everyone."
"I had never played the role of a registered dietitian before, and I thought it would be difficult because it required specialized knowledge, but Nemoto (Nonji)'s script was very easy to imagine. There were a lot of specialized lines, but he also wrote a lot of lines that reflected the character and personality, so it was very easy to act out."
◇Tsukamoto recommends Yui as an NST member
In the 88th episode (broadcast on February 5th), Tsukamoto is shown recommending Yui to be a member of NST.
Hamada explained, "I think Tsukamoto believes that communication is just as important as food. Patients are people too, so if they're in a bad mood they might not eat. But if you get along with them, their hearts will soften and they'll eat. From Tsukamoto's perspective, Yui-chan has great communication skills and is a reliable subordinate he can be proud of, and says, 'See what I mean? Isn't she amazing!'"
"On the other hand, I want her to acquire the knowledge she still lacks and gain the experience she still lacks. Although Yui-chan is still a little immature as a registered dietitian, I think she feels confident that she can overcome any obstacles and that is why she feels comfortable leaving the rest of her to her."
She said that this is her first time acting alongside Hashimoto, who plays Yui, and revealed, "When I actually got to work with her, I thought, 'Wow, her human scale is huge!'"
"I've been in a few Asadora, so I have a lot of respect for the heroines. To be honest, I'm a very considerate person, so I found it hard to get close to the heroines, but that's not the case with Hashimoto-san. I think it's Hashimoto-san who gives off that kind of vibe. It's cool that she can do it so naturally."
Hamada said that through filming "Omusubi," she began to think more about the order and balance of her meals, and commented on her own changes, saying, "When I eat, I try to think, 'What would Yui say if she were in front of me?' (laughs)."
Finally, he sent a message to the viewers, saying, "These days, athletes are becoming conscious of taking care of their bodies and what they eat, but I think that from now on, it's not just special people who will have to manage their diet in their daily lives. I think food is more important than anything else. We eat three times a day, so if we are careful every day, we should be able to prevent illness before it happens. I hope that this drama will convey that message. "Omusubi" depicts many different things, so it's fine no matter what you focus on. Let's go into the world of Omusubi together!"
