Fumiyo Kohinata plays Kan'emon, the grandfather of the heroine Toki Matsuno(Akari Takaishi ) in the NHK morning drama series " Bakebake " (General TV, Monday to Saturday 8:00 AM and others). He spoke about the appeal of Kan'emon, the character he plays, and the scene in episode 22 (broadcast on October 28th) where he first meets Lefkada Heaven ( Tommy Bastow).
◇ "I'm honored to have been given the role of a grandfather"
"Bakebake" is based on the story of Koizumi Setsu, the daughter of a fallen samurai from Matsue, and her husband Yakumo (Lafcadio Hearn), and depicts the heroine, who loves ghost stories, going about her everyday life with her foreign husband. The script is written by Fujiki Mitsuhiko, who has worked on NHK's "Asagaya Sisters' Relaxed Life" and WOWOW's "Shooting Break Series."
This is Kohinata's first Asadora in 10 years since "Mare" in the first half of 2015. Looking back on how he felt when he was chosen to appear in "Bakebake," he said, "I was honestly happy to be asked to do it again after such a long time, and I was also happy to be asked to play the role of a grandfather. There are many seniors who can play the role of a grandfather, so I was very honored to be given the role of Kan'emon."
Kan'emon, played by Kohinata, is Toki's grandfather and a true samurai who lived through the end of the Edo period. Even in the Meiji era, he believed that it was up to him to protect the country, and he continued to wear a topknot and practice sword fighting as the "last samurai." He is extremely weak against Toki...
Regarding Kan'emon, Kohinata explains, "Although Kan'emon's days as a samurai are over, he still clings to the status of a samurai. In the midst of all this, he calls Otoki 'Ojo' and really cherishes her."
"I think Kan'emon's charm is that he expresses all his emotions openly. He doesn't try to fit in or think about holding back like an adult, but rather speaks out everything that's on his mind. I thought that in 'The Last Samurai' he would be a more earnest and quiet character, but there are scenes where he plays like a clumsy old man (laughs). It's a bit out of step with the times, but personally I find his sad yet desperate efforts endearing."
◇What is your impression of Akari Takaishi and the Matsuno family cast?
Regarding Takaishi, who plays Toki, he said, "I feel like his whole body is overflowing with power, and I think he's amazing."
"I've never seen him look tired, and I think he's really enjoying the situation he's in, including his circumstances and the current workplace. He's always smiling."
Regarding the Matsuno family, he said, "I think Kan'emon and Tsukasanosuke(Takashi Okabe) would be in a terrible situation if Ofumi (Chizuru Ikewaki) wasn't there."
"Fumi-san is the so-called pivotal part of the Matsuno family. Ikewaki-san, Okabe-kun, and I often chat together during breaks, and it's a really good time. Acting is like a game of catch, so I think that makes it easy for us to work together. I would be happiest if viewers thought, 'I'm glad these people are the Matsuno family.'"
◇Looking back at the scene where he attacked Heaven
In episode 22, Heaven arrives in Matsue. Kan'emon confronts Heaven as the "last samurai," and Kohinata says of this scene, "When Heaven arrives in Japan, Kan'emon shouts, 'Perry! Prepare yourself!' and tries to slash at him with his wooden sword, but he doesn't hate Heaven; he hates Perry, who ended the era of the samurai."
"Heaven has a photo of a samurai and is really impressed by seeing a samurai in real life, but Kan'emon jumps on him, but he's completely serious. I think he's thinking, 'Don't make fun of the Japanese,' but no one is making fun of him (laughs)."
When asked about the highlights of the drama, he said, "What I like most is that the Matsuno family is poor but still manages to have fun.The story really portrays the bond between parent and child, and I hope that viewers will be able to appreciate the warmth of this family."
"I think the most important thing to Kan'emon is his family. He is attached to the status of a samurai, but that status gradually disappears as time passes. When that happens, I think his family will become an incredibly important presence, something he can rely on. I hope people will enjoy watching Kan'emon as he struggles through life while still being haunted by the Edo period."
