The 26th episode of the NHK Asadora"Bakebake " (Monday to Saturday, 8:00 AM and other times), starring Akari Takaishi as the heroine, was broadcast on November 3rd, and viewers were drawn to the first appearance of debt collector Moriyama Zentaro (Maehara Mizuki).
In episode 26, Heaven ( Tommy Bastow) and Nishikori (Ryo Yoshizawa Yoshizawa) attend Matsue Junior High School for the first time, seeing off Toki (Takaishi) and the people at Hanada Ryokan. Meanwhile, Toki congratulates Sawa (Wan Marui), who will be teaching at an elementary school, by giving her flowers.
At that moment, Zentaro, the son of debt collector Zentaro Moriyama (Kenji Iwatani), bursts into the Matsuno household. Zentaro introduces himself as Zentaro's son and reveals that Zentaro has suddenly died.
Zentaro says, "Before my father died, he told me to collect the debts more strictly. He was a kind-hearted man, considering his face. But from now on, I'll be stricter on behalf of my father, so give me all you have!" and begins rummaging through the house. Fumi (Chizuru Ikewaki) pleads, saying, "That's this month's rent..." but he snaps, "But what happened? You'd better work more."
When Kan'emon (Fumiyo Kohinata) enraged, "How rude!", Zentaro retorted, "Who's the rude one? It's the one who is leisurely retiring without paying back the money he borrowed who is rude."
Maehara, who plays Zentaro, is a regular actor in Asadora who has also appeared in "Hiyokko" (first half of 2017), "Maiagare!" (second half of 2022), and "Ranman" (first half of 2023). He gained popularity for his role as "Mucchan" (aka Tsubakiyama Osamu) in "Maiagare!" and Fujimaru Jiro in "Ranman."
Comments on social media about Maehara's appearance included, "The debt collector line was awful lol and then suddenly his son appears," "Mucchi! Fujimaru! Great casting that shows he's definitely not a bad guy," "Maehara Mizuki looks so different I'm impressed," "Maehara keeps getting great roles," and "It's kind of funny to see Fujimaru, who used to look after Usagi-chan, turn up as Zentaro, the man who comes to collect the debt that Usagi-chan created."
