Mio Imada plays Noriko Eguchi Nobu Asada (played by Asadora drama series "Anpan " (General TV, Monday to Saturday, 8:00 a.m. and others), starring Mio Imada. She talked about episodes from the filming and her impressions of Imada.
◇Hatako is a "strong and kind mother"
Hatako is a homely and charming mother who continues to support the Asada family. She respects her late husband, Yutaro ( Ryo Kase), and treats her children equally.
Eguchi laughs and says, "When I first received the offer, I wondered why, because no matter how I thought about it, I don't seem like the type of person who would be like the mother in a Asadora."
"Hatako is a strong and kind mother. While she takes care of the household, she also treasures the idea her husband Yutaro told her: 'Girls should not be shy and should be ambitious.' If there is something her three daughters like, she supports them so that they can pursue that path, and she is always watching over them from behind. That is the feeling I get."
In the first week, Yutaro dies, and then in the fifth and sixth weeks, there are scenes where they talk about the letters Yutaro sent them every time he went on a business trip.
Eguchi revealed, "I was shocked that (Yutaro) passed away on the first Thursday." She recalled, "Of course it was sad for Hatako, but her first priority was to get her livelihood in order. She had three small children and no time to grieve. I am still imagining what kind of couple they were... That's because, in the story, the only times she spoke directly to Yutaro were things like 'Thank you for your hard work on your business trip,' 'Take care,' and 'Take care.'"
"But I think that the time that Yutaro spent thinking about Hatako and writing her letters on business trips was the only time he had time to relax. For Hatako, too, the time she spent reading those letters was the most fulfilling time for her. When she returned home, she was engulfed in the stresses of life, so perhaps their time apart only strengthened their love for each other."
◇ "The bread is really delicious" - Revealing the behind the scenes of the shoot
After Yutaro's death, Hatako starts a bakery at the Asada family home with the help of "Yam-onchan"Sokichi Yamura(Sadao Abe). Eguchi speculates, "Yamura is a vagabond, but he has been baking bread at the Asada family home for such a long time. It's strange, isn't it? But without Yamura, the bakery wouldn't have been possible, and I think Hatako cherishes him very much."
"There is a baker named Takeya who is giving me guidance in my role as a baker, and the bread that Takeya bakes is really delicious.It's bread with a deep flavor like nothing I've ever tasted before.I'm happy to be able to eat it," he revealed an episode from filming.
She also said about her daughter Nobu, "Nobu is a really good girl. She doesn't just think about herself, she's always thinking about her family. So, while she is her own child, she also feels like she is someone who helps Hatako. I feel like Nobu is a shining light for the Asada family."
When asked about her impression of Imada, the person she plays, she said, "I worked with Miou on a drama a few years ago. At the time, I was Miou's boss, and my role was to watch over her growth. So, I've already developed an immunity to the idea of 'watching over Mio Imada' (laughs). She's a very honest and sincere person, so I think she's perfect for the role of Nobu. Just watching her makes me feel like Hatako, so I'm very happy to be playing the role of Miou's mother."
