Mio Imada, who plays the role of the heroine Nobu's (Imada) younger sister (second daughter) Ranko in the NHK Asadora drama "Anpan" (General TV, Monday to Saturday 8:00 a.m. and others), starring Yuumi Kawai, is a hot topic. In the most recent episode, Week 5, Ranko's marriage proposal and love (or heartbreak?) were depicted, and Kawai delicately expressed the sense of balance of a "middle child" through her gestures and expressions. It made me think again, "I want to see more of her acting."Nanoka Hara, who plays the "other younger sister," Meiko (third daughter), has also added a touch of cuteness befitting a youngest child. Kawai and Hara are worthy of attention as "future heroine candidates," but what are the chances of this becoming a reality? Let's take a look back at the roles played by younger sisters in Asadora in recent years and consider the possibility.
◇What about Asadora from the past 10 years?
In the past 10 years of Asadora leading up to " Anpan ," there have been eight works in which the heroine had a younger sister: "Toto Neechan" in the first half of 2016, "Hiyokko" in the first half of 2017, "Warotenka" in the second half of 2017, "Natsuzora" in the first half of 2019, "Scarlet" in the second half of 2019, "Yell" in the first half of 2020, " Okaeri Mone" in the first half of 2021, and "Chimudondon" in the first half of 2022.
In "Toto Neechan," Sagara Itsuki and Hana Sugisaki Hana, in "Hiyokko," Miyahara Kazu, in "Warotenka,"Mayu Hotta, in "Natsuzora," Kiyohara Kaya, (at the time) Nanami Sakuraba and Fukuda Mayuko in "Scarlet," Mori Nana in "Yell," Aju Makita Aju in " Okaeri Mone ," and Kamishiraishi Moka in "Chimudondon" all played the role of the heroine's younger sister in their respective works.
Needless to say, of the "10 younger sisters" mentioned here, only Sugisaki and Kiyohara played the heroine of a Asadora later. Even if we include Tao Tsuchiya (who played the heroine's younger sister in " Anpan to Anne" in the first half of 2014), who played the heroine in "Mare" in the first half of 2015, exactly 10 years before "Anpan", it may be said that the route of "younger sister of a Asadora heroine → Asadora heroine" is by no means an "open gate".
◇ Names to look forward to
Still, fans can't help but have high hopes. Horita's name is often mentioned as a candidate for the role of a Asadora heroine, and she is known for her skill in capturing the "emotional subtleties" of her characters. Her dignified presence, which she sometimes shows in the drama, is also charming, and after appearing in the 2022 NHK Taiga drama "The 13 Lords of the Shogun" and the following year's "Drama 10 'Ooku'", she has now become a capable leading-class actor, exuding even a sense of dignity.
What is a bit troubling is that due to her recent success, the role of a Asadora heroine is gradually becoming ``unsuitable'' for Hotta.
Also, in terms of taking over the " Asadora heroine's younger sister → Asadora heroine" route from Kiyohara, who played the sister in " Okaeri Mone ," we cannot leave out Makida's name, who was also well-received in the TBS Sunday Theatre drama " Mikami Sensei" (in which Hotta also appeared) in January of this year.
Furthermore, Kamishiraishi, whose older sister Mone played the heroine in "Kum Come Everybody" in the second half of 2021, is actually the "younger sister of a Asadora heroine," and Mori, who was once "on a roll." These would also likely be candidates.
Who will make it to the Asadora heroine role, including Kawai and Hara from " Anpan "? It's going to be a secret pleasure to watch in the future.
