The sixth week of the NHK morning drama " Anpan " (General Asadora , Monday to Saturday 8:00am and others), "Kurushimu no Aisuru no Ka" (May 5-9), was broadcast, and the love story between Ranko, played by Yuumi Kawai, and "Go-chan", played by Kanata Hosoda, became a hot topic. Some on social media called it "the most famous scene in the history of Asadora," but let's take a look back at Hosoda's achievements so far, as he has attracted attention for his role as Go.
◇ "Dragon Zakura" left a strong impression on viewers with the final moments of "What will Ieyasu do?"
Hosoda was born on December 12, 2001, and began his entertainment career as a child actor at the age of four. He was selected from an audition of over 1,000 people to play the lead role in the 2019 film "Machida-kun no Sekai" (directed by Ishii Yuya), and has since appeared in a number of popular productions.
The role that attracted attention was the TBS Sunday Theatre drama "Dragon Zakura" that aired in April 2021. He played the main character, a kind-hearted student who loves insects, by shaving his head and gaining about 12 kilograms in weight.
Hosoda's acting, which had a completely different atmosphere compared to his previous roles, left a strong impression on viewers at the time. Perhaps that is why some viewers did not realize that the same person was playing "Go-chan" from "Anpan" and "Kenta-kun" from "Dragon Zakura", with comments on social media such as "So Go-chan was Kenta-kun from Dragon Zakura!", "Is Hosoda Kaito-kun, who plays Go-chan, the same person as Kenta from Dragon Zakura? I had no idea... I'm shocked!" and "Is Go-chan that kid from Dragon Zakura? I didn't realize."
Another work that further increased Hosoda's profile is the 2023 NHK Taiga drama "What Will Ieyasu Do?" In his first appearance in a Taiga drama, he played Nobuyasu, the son of the main characters Ieyasu (played by Matsumoto Jun) and Sena (played by Arimura Kasumi).
Nobuyasu was a kind and brave young man who supported his father, protected his family, and tried to live strong for the Tokugawa family, but as he lived in a time of war and endless killing, he lost his balance and fell into darkness. He went on a rampage, killing a passing monk with his sword, and in the end, he chose to commit suicide with his mother, Sena, which touched the hearts of viewers.
◇ Ranko's Yuumi Kawai reveals her true self, revealing her sincere attitude towards acting
" Anpan " is Hosoda's first time appearing in a Asadora . He plays Hara Go, a Go Hara who lives and works at the Asada Stoneworks, the family business of the heroine Nobu ( Mio Imada Mio), and develops a frustrating love story with Nobu's younger sister, Ranko. However, during the war, Go also receives a draft notice, and on the day before he goes off to war, he finally shares his feelings with Ranko.
"Go-chan" is an indispensable member of the Asada family, and the same can be said for viewers. On social media, there have been many voices praying for his safe return, but this is all thanks to Hosoda's excellent performance.
When Hosoda appeared on "Asaichi" broadcast on May Getsuku, Kawai, who plays Ranko, appeared on the video and revealed his true nature, saying, "He's very serious. Even after the cut was called, I was still wondering, 'Was that okay?'" This comment gives us a glimpse of Hosoda's sincere attitude towards acting. Currently 23 years old, he is one of the actors whose future success is sure to be exciting.
