The new cast for the NHK Asadora drama "Kaze,Kaoru, " starring Ai Mikami and Juri Kosaka , which will air in the first half of 2026, has been announced on the official NHK drama website (＠nhk_dramas), and it has been revealed that Akiko Iwase will be appearing. She will play Sakae Takeuchi, the mother of Kotaro Takeuchi (Toranosuke Kobayashi), a childhood friend of one of the main characters, Rin Ichinose (Mikami).
Sakae Takeuchi is the powerful mother who supports the Takeuchi family and is someone they can rely on in times of need.
Iwase commented, "I am truly honored to be able to appear in this Asadora, which has been loved by so many people for so many years. This time, I feel a special joy in being able to film in my hometown of Tochigi Prefecture and to be able to act in the familiar Tochigi dialect. I will do my best to act in a way that resonates deeply with viewers, surrounded by the beautiful local nature and warmth of the people. I am very much looking forward to being able to share this story, along with the charm of Tochigi, with the whole country."
"Kaze,Kaoru" is the 114th serial TV drama. Set in the Meiji era, it is a buddy drama featuring two trained nurses, Ozeki Chika and Suzuki Masa, as its two protagonists. The two graduated from the same nursing school, they struggle with how to interact with patients and doctors, and grow together through clashes, eventually becoming the "strongest buddy." Uesaka plays the other protagonist, Oya Naomi.
