Mio Imada stars in the NHK Asadora drama "Anpan" (General TV, Monday to Saturday, 8:00 a.m. and others), starring Nanako Matsushima . She plays Tomiko, the "free-spirited mother" of Takashi Yanai (played by Takumi Kitamura ), who is modeled after Takashi Yanase Takashi Yanai , the manga artist and picture book writer who created "Anpanman." "Through Tomiko, I think it's okay if you can't explain all of your actions," says Matsushima, as she looks back on the broadcasts so far.
◇ Tomiko, who has a slightly unique way of thinking, says, "It's important to understand the fluctuations of the heart"
Tomiko is the beautiful, strong-willed and intelligent mother of Takashi who is well-educated and cultured. She lost her husband Kiyoshi (played by Kazunari Ninomiya) when Takashi was a child. She behaves in a free-spirited manner and leads Takashi astray.
This will be Matsushima's first appearance in a Asadora in six years since "Natsuzora" in the first half of 2019, and her second time playing Kitamura's mother.
"This time, I was looking forward to working with a mother with a different personality. Kitamura-san is very calm and composed. I really wish I had a son like that."
When asked about his impression of Tomiko, he said, "I think she has a slightly unique way of thinking."
"Even though he loves his children, he is unsure about his own life and is conflicted... I feel that it is important to understand those emotional turmoil when acting. In fact, I heard that Yanase's mother, who was the model for Takashi, also disappeared, leaving her sons behind. For Yanase, who created the work "Anpanman" despite having such a complicated background, his mother must have been an influential figure and a source of inspiration."
Tomiko is a free-spirited girl who suddenly appears, messes with those around her, and then disappears again, but Matsushima has her own ideas.
"If you just look at the setting, you might get the impression that she is cold. But I want to carefully portray her in a way that properly conveys her motherly love for Takami."
◇Taka's words resonated with me more than Nobu's criticism
In the 10th episode, which aired on April 11th, Tomiko is shown sending off Takashi, who came to see her using the address on a postcard, telling everyone around her that he is a relative and telling him, "You shouldn't come here anymore. Go back to your uncle (Yutaka Takenouchi, played by Hiroshi Yanai)." Matsushima revealed, "There were parts where I was unsure how to portray it."
"I talked with the staff about how, having lost her husband, Kiyoshi, at an early age, she couldn't fill the void that was left behind and was looking for love to fill that void, and that's why she was so preoccupied with her own concerns. However, given the times, if it would make the children happier, then leaving them (at Hiroshi's house) was the best choice for them, and perhaps she didn't contact them because she wanted them to fit in there. I imagined all sorts of things as I went along."
In the third week, Tomiko returns to town for the first time in eight years. In the 15th episode, which aired on April 18, there was a scene where Nobu (played by Imada Mio) criticized her for her actions.
"I didn't know how to respond. What struck me more than Nobu-chan's blaming was what Takashi said: 'Nobu-chan, you've never been abandoned by your mother, have you?'"
When asked why it struck her heart, Matsushima speaks for Tomiko, saying, "I didn't mean to throw it away..."
"But through Tomiko, who didn't say anything back to Nobu-chan, I thought maybe it's okay not to be able to explain all of your actions. I thought maybe it's okay not to have everything sorted out when it comes to sorting out your feelings."
After returning to town, Tomiko tried to make Taka a doctor. Matsushima accepted her feelings, saying, "She believed that her and Kiyoshi's child could do it. She wanted to repay the kindness of Dr. Hiroshi and Chiyoko (Naho Toda). She wanted to make herself more comfortable. I think all of these feelings were genuine, and she is what she says."
"People around me may see me as incoherent, and may be surprised by my words and actions... But Takashi is always kind and accepting of me. I always mess with him, but I hope to be able to express that so that every time we meet, there will be a moment when he can receive even a little bit of 'motherly kindness.'"
