Anpan:[Character introduction] Usako Ogawa, the hard worker behind the scenes, who is Nobu's childhood friend　Sara shida makes her first appearance at Asadora

" Anpan " is the NHK Asadora drama series starring Mio Imada , which will begin airing on March 31st in the first half of the 2025 fiscal year. It is a story of love and courage based on the married couple Takashi Yanase Takashi (1919-2013) and Nobu Komatsu(1918-1993), the manga artist and picture book writer who created "Anpanman." There are two days left until the series starts airing. Here, we will introduce Usako Ogawa, played by Sara Shida.

◇I dreamed of becoming a bride, but...

Usako Ogawa is a childhood friend and classmate of the heroine, Nobu Asada(Imada). When she attended high school with Nobu, she dreamed of finding a good partner and becoming a bride before graduation... This is Shida's first appearance in a Asadora as Usako.

When her appearance was announced in November last year, Shida commented, "I have tried out for auditions in the past and cried when I got the chance to appear in a morning Asadora, which has been my dream, so I am really happy and feel like I want to give myself a hug. Usako, the character I will be playing, is Nobu-chan's childhood friend and best friend. Although she can be a bit of a crybaby, she is inspired and influenced by the people around her, and is a hard worker behind the scenes who struggles to become stronger little by little. I will work hard and do my best to make Usako loved by many people!"

◇What about the drama's script, narration, music, and theme song?

The drama depicts how two nobodys, Nobu Asada and Takashi Yanai(Takumi Kitamura), overcome all sorts of obstacles to become "Anpanman," the embodiment of "irreversible justice."

The script is written by Miho Nakazono, known for the TV Asahi series "Doctor X: Surgeon Michiko Daimon." The narrator is NHK announcer Risa Hayashida Risa, and the music is by composer and musician Izutsu Akio. The theme song is a new song by rock band RADWIMPS called "Tamamono."

It will be broadcast on NHK General TV from March 31st, Monday to Saturday at 8:00 a.m. and other channels.