The NHK morning drama series "Omusubi" starring Kanna Hashimoto began its fourth week on October 21st. At the end of the 15th episode (broadcast on the 18th), Yui's (Hashimoto) sister by eight years, the "legendary gal" Ayumu (Naka Riisa), suddenly returned to her parents' home in Itoshima, Fukuoka. As the 18th was Naka's 35th birthday, there was excitement over whether this was planned from the beginning. Naka spoke about her character Ayumu, her sisterly relationship with her younger sister Yui, and what to look forward to in the future.
◇Why did Ayumu come to be called the "legendary gal"?
Naka reflected, "When I first heard about the role, I was only told roughly that I was playing the role of a "legendary gal," so I wondered what it meant (laughs). The mystery only deepened, as I wondered, 'Is this really a morning drama?'" After reading the script, she said, "I thought this was a morning drama that contains a message that can be delivered to everyone in this day and age. This time it's a challenging one as it's set in the Heisei era, which is fresh in the memories of a wide range of generations, so I hope it will reach even younger generations." She also appealed, "Just as the title 'Omusubi' suggests, it makes you want to go home early and eat dinner, and it reminds you of the importance of dining at the table with your family, so I think it's a good work for food education."
Of the "legendary gal" Ayumu that she plays, she said, "Just like her name suggests, I feel that she is walking her own path. If the main character Yui (Hashimoto) is the one who connects with her family, Ayumu goes her own way, and she seems to be making progress, which is unusual for the eldest daughter." "She has her own problems, but she also has a brightness that bounces back from them. She can be so bright that you think, 'What is with this girl?' I myself have the tendency to become cheerful when I feel a little defeated," she said, empathizing with her character and saying, "Ayumu is from the generation that lived through the Heisei era, and I was born in the first year of the Heisei era, so I feel like I grew up with her while acting."
Ayumu is said to be a "legendary gal," but it's not her appearance that makes her that way. "I think it's her personality and the influence she has on the people around her, combined with the rumors, that made her legendary among gals."
◇Yui and Ayumu's sister relationship: "I know because I'm one of three sisters myself."
Regarding her sister relationship with the heroine Yui, she speculated, "I think Yui has suffered because of her older sister's actions. Yui and Ayumu are completely different in terms of personality, and there must have been some things that she really didn't like about her. But I think somewhere deep down Yui is jealous of Ayumu."
"I know because I have three sisters myself," she said. "I think it's great to have a younger sister. But I'm sure the younger sister thinks, 'it's all about my older sister,' and 'it's all my sister's fault.' I think that can happen to any pair of sisters." She showed her understanding.
"For Ayumu, Yui is someone she envies, and sometimes she thinks she's a bit of a hassle... but she's still very important to her. Her importance is different from her relationship with her parents. In particular, the scenes with her younger sister Yui show her older sister-like qualities. She's flashy, she flies around, and it may not seem like that to an outsider (laughs), but Ayumu wants to pave the way for Yui, and I think she's a good older sister."
◇The story of why Ayumu became a gal is revealed, including a depiction of the 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake.
Regarding future highlights, she said, "She plays the role of a 'legendary gal,' but I hope you'll pay attention to the story of why she became a gal."
"I want to change the image of gals in this work to a positive one. Some people may have a negative image of gals because they are very flashy. But when you look at gals' rooms, clothes, and nails, they do it all for themselves. They cheer themselves up. I hope that the importance of being the best you can be, not for anyone else, will be conveyed. I hope that this will be an opportunity for older generations to think, 'People don't judge by their appearances. Gals are really cool too!'"
Furthermore, "From now on, we will be depicting the time of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. Not only those who were affected at the time, but also those who have since experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake and the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, and I think there are people who don't want to remember it. There are times when I wonder how to convey it, but I think we have to convey that this happened and we must not forget. Disasters come just when we have forgotten about them. Something similar may happen again, and as long as we live in Japan, we have to live with it. I hope that this will be an opportunity for everyone to think about it again."
