It was revealed on February 26 that actor Chizuru Ikewaki will appear in the NHK Asadora drama series "Bakebake, " starring Akari Takaishi , in the second half of 2025. Ikewaki will play Matsuno Fumi, the mother of the heroine Toki (played by Takaishi). This will be Ikewaki's first appearance in a Asadora in 24 years, since "Honmamon," in which she played the heroine.
Matsuno Fumi, played by Ikewaki, grew up in the home of a senior official at Izumo Taisha Shrine. She is knowledgeable about the stories of the gods of Izumo, living and dead spirits, and invisible things, and often shares stories with Toki. Toki inherits his love of stories from Fumi. She wants Toki to be happy more than anyone else. Although she is confused by the changing times, she is a reliable person who supports her family by doing piecework, and looks at Toki and the Matsuno men with kindness.
Ikewaki said, "This is Asadora in over 20 years. I'm worried about whether I'll have the stamina to handle it (laughs). But ' Bakebake' is a bright and fun drama that you can watch without having to worry about anything. I don't know how it will all turn out, but I'm already feeling pretty excited. I will do my best to live as Fumi so that everyone watching on TV will look forward to it every morning. I hope you will all look forward to it!"
Production manager Hashizume Kuniomi commented, "I offered the role to Ikewaki because I thought that only Ikewaki could play the role of Fumi, the mother, who embraces the unique members of the Matsuno family with deep love, but also carries the responsibilities of a mother deep in her heart. Ikewaki-san appears in the heroines of 'Honmamon' as Yamanaka Konoha, Josee, and Jilba...I am impressed by how different Ikewaki-san is every time I see her. I can't wait for filming to begin to see what kind of Fumi Ikewaki will be playing now."
"Bakebake" is the story of a couple who love "ghost stories" together with their foreign husband, and who shed light on and speak for the "nameless people" who were forgotten in Meiji Japan as Westernization progressed. The script is written by Mitsuhiko Fujiki, who has worked on NHK's "Asagaya Sisters' Relaxed Life Together" and WOWOW's "Tokyu Series."
