" Anpan " (General TV, Monday to Saturday 8:00am and others), the NHK Asadora drama series starring Mio Imada , will begin airing on March 31st in the first half of the 2025 fiscal year. The story is based on the life of the couple Takashi Yanase Takashi (1919-2013), the manga artist and picture book writer who created "Anpanman," and Komatsu Nobu Komatsu(1918-1993). Here we introduce the 21 main cast members and characters (roles) who color the drama.
◇ Heroines Nobu Asada and Takashi Yanai
Imada plays the heroine Nobu Asada, the eldest of three sisters who grew up in Kochi, surrounded by the love of her grandparents and parents. She is fast enough to win the prefectural tournament, and is full of energy and speed, overcoming the rough waves of life with power. Due to her naturally tomboyish and competitive personality, she is also known as "Hachikin Onobu" and "Idaten Onobu."
He meets the slightly timid and lacking in confidence Takashi Yanai(Takumi Kitamura) and lives with him through turbulent times, encouraging and leading him through all times.
Takashi Yanai , played by Kitamura, lost his father, a newspaper correspondent, at a young age and was taken in by his uncle, who met Nobu at the school he transferred to. He loved manga and drawing from a young age. He got a job in the advertising department of a pharmaceutical company, but was drafted and sent to war.
After the war, he met Nobu again at a newspaper company in Kochi Prefecture. After following Nobu to Tokyo, he worked in the advertising department of a department store, and then, with Nobu's encouragement, he decided to become an independent manga artist and began to engage in a variety of activities.
◇The Asada family
Yutaro Asada , played by Ryo Kase , is Nobu's father. He works for a trading company and travels all over the place for work. He cares deeply for his wife and three daughters.
Hatako Asada , played by Noriko Eguchi , is Nobu's mother. She is a homely and charming mother who continues to support the Asada family. She respects her husband and treats her children equally.
Ranko Asada , played by Yuumi Kawai , is Nobu's younger sister (second daughter). She is a serious, skillful and reliable second daughter. She can understand what everyone is thinking and takes appropriate action.
Meiko Asada , played by Nanoka Hara , is Nobu's younger sister (third daughter). She is a cheerful young lady who loves to sing. She makes everyone in the Asada household happy.
Kamaji Asada , played by Kotaro Yoshida , is Nobu's grandfather. He is the third generation of the "Asada Stonemason" and a stonemason who has been dedicated to his profession. He is skillful with his hands, but clumsy when it comes to interacting with people.
Kura Asada , played by Miyoko Asada , is Nobu's grandmother. She is the "Grandma Asada" who has supported the "Asada Stonemasonry" together with Kamaji. She is gentle and a little absent-minded.
Go Hara , played by Kanata Hosoda Kanata, is a disciple of Kamaji. He is a young stonemason who has great respect for Kamaji. He lives in one room of the Asada family home.
◇The Yanai family
Tomiko Yanai , played by Nanako Matsushima , is Taka's mother. She is a beautiful, strong-willed and intelligent woman with a rich cultural background. She lost her husband, Kiyoshi, when Taka was young. She behaves in a free-spirited manner, and leads Taka to confusion.
Kiyoshi Yanai , played by Kazunari Ninomiya , is Taka's father. After working at a publishing company, he was sent overseas to work for a newspaper company before dying of an illness. Taka's beloved father, who had a deep knowledge of literature and art, has already passed away. The story begins with Kiyoshi having passed away.
Chihiro Yanai , played by Motoki Nakazawa , is Taka's younger brother. As a child, he was physically weak and lived in the shadow of his older brother, but as he grew up, he became a kind, family-oriented young man who excelled in both academics and sports.
Shin Uto , played by Himari Hitomi , is a maid for the Yanai family. She devotedly supports the Yanai family, who run the Yanai Clinic in Kochi. She is loved by the members of the Yanai family.
Chiyoko Yanai , played by Naho Toda , is Taka's aunt. She is a woman who is both strict and kind. Together with her husband Hiroshi ( Yutaka Takenouchi ), she takes care of her nephews Taka and Chihiro.
Hiroshi Yanai , played by Yutaka Takenouchi , is Taka's uncle. He is a local doctor who serves as the director of the Yanai Clinic. He is also the adoptive father of Taka and Chihiro ( Motoki Nakazawa), and he always encourages them and shows them the way of life.
◇The main people that Nobu and Taka met during their student days and the "wandering baker"
Kentaro Karashima, played by Fumiya Takahashi, is a classmate of Takashi. He is originally from Fukuoka. He becomes a true friend to Takashi, who had no friends when he was young. He also becomes involved with Nobu and the Asada family.
Usako Ogawa, played by Sara Shida, is Nobu's classmate and childhood friend. When she attended high school with Nobu, she dreamed of finding a good partner and becoming a bride before graduation.
Sonim plays Yamashita Sanemi, a teacher at the high school for girls that Nobu attends.
Kuroi Yukiko, played by Takiuchi Kumi, is a teacher at the women's normal school that Nobu joins after graduating from high school.
Haruto Zama, played by Koichi Yamadera , is a teacher at the art school that Takashi attends. He is the mentor who taught Takashi the basics of how to live and think about life.
Sokichi Yamura , played by Sadao Abe , is a wandering baker. He is a mysterious man who suddenly appears in Kochi from nowhere. He is strict about money and has a bad mouth, but he is a skilled baker. He has a big impact on the lives of Nobu and Taka.
