" Anpan " is the NHK Asadora drama series starring Mio Imada , which will air 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), the manga artist and picture book writer who created "Anpanman," and Nobu Komatsu(1918-1993). The drama will start on March 31. Here, we will introduce Haruto Zama, played by Koichi Yamadera.
◇ Is Takashi Yanase's mentor the model?
Haruto Zama is a teacher at the art school that Takashi Yanai(Takumi Kitamura) attends. He is the mentor who taught Taku the basics of how to live and think about life. This will be Yamadera's fourth morning drama appearance in four years, following "Hanbun, Aoi" in the first half of 2018, "Natsuzora" in the first half of 2019, and "Okaeri Mone " in the first half of 2021.
When his appearance was announced in November last year, Yamadera commented, "First of all, I am very honored to be able to appear in this production! Although I failed the audition for Baikinman in 'Soreike! Anpanman' 36 years ago, I am grateful that I was able to become a regular in the role of Meiken Cheese. Zama Haruto is modeled after Yanase Sensei's mentor. I think he was a rare teacher at the time, who was not bound by convention and was able to see the essence of things, preaching true freedom to his students. In the drama, he seems to have a nonchalant yet unique and playful side to him.... To express my gratitude to Yanase Sensei, I would like to do my best in this role!"
◇What about the drama's script, narration, music, and theme song?
The drama depicts how two nobodys, Nobu Asada(Imada) 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.
