Tamura Meimi plays Yuzuki Risa, also known as "Lisapon," a member of the Hakata Gal Union (Hagaren), in the NHK morning drama "Omusubi" (General TV, Monday to Saturday, 8:00 a.m. and others), starring actress Hashimoto Kanna. Tamura talked about the audition secrets and highlights of the drama.
◇Second morning drama appearance: "I really want to be on the morning drama set again"
Tamura is known as a former member of the idol group "Angerme," and was selected for the role in the largest "young talent audition" to date. This is her second morning drama appearance, following "Ranman" in the first half of 2023. In the drama, she played Ohata Kayo, the only daughter of Ohata Printing Company.
"I was originally active as a musical actress, so I thought the world of film, especially morning dramas, was something that had nothing to do with me. Then I was approached to take part in 'Ranman,' and it was a production where I was able to concentrate only on my acting, so I really wanted to get back into the production of a morning drama."
Looking back on her audition for 'Omusubi,' she said, "There were many auditions I had wanted to pass, but my enthusiasm for 'Omusubi' was different. I wanted to show my enthusiasm, not just my acting, so I bleached my hair blonde for the first time in my life and auditioned for the audition. When I passed, I felt like my feelings were conveyed, and I was just so happy."
The character she plays, Lisapon, is a classmate of Yui. At school, she is a quiet high school girl who follows the school rules, but she is actually a hidden gal and a member of Hagaren. Her dream is to write a book about the history of gals.
Regarding Lisapon, she said, "She works hard, loves gal girls, and is so straightforward that she loses sight of everything else when it comes to the things she loves. I also think she has a charming personality and a good vibe that makes people around her love her for that. The director told me, 'It's okay to overdo it in this role, so it's just right to overdo it.' I'm playing the role exactly as he said, with a lot of energy." "Lisapon is in a strange position as a closeted gal. She likes gals more than anyone else, but she can't become a gal, she's like a gal otaku. She wanted to be a gal since elementary school, and finally got into a group called Hagaren when she was in high school. She didn't become a gal naturally, but it felt like she jumped into a world she dreamed of. I think it's similar to the feeling of admiring an idol group and wanting to join it. I'm sure she was attracted to gals at first because of their outer fashion and makeup, but her own mindset is a bit different from that of a gal. I think she wants to be with gals, so she tries her best to keep up."
◇Becoming friends with the Hagaren members through filming
In the 20th episode, which will air on October 25th, a scene will be depicted in which Hagaren performs parapara at the Itoshima Festival. Tamura recalled, "We filmed in a place where the sea was really beautiful and the air was clear. We had been practicing Parapara for days leading up to the actual shoot, so it felt like a club activity. On the day of filming, I remembered all the days we had practiced together and it really touched my heart, so I remember dancing while holding back tears."
"When we become adults, we start working and we often do things for society or for our companies. I think that creating something for ourselves and feeling a sense of accomplishment is an experience that only Yui-chan and Lisapon's generation can have. I don't think it's very common for people to work so hard for themselves, so it was a point that really touched me as an adult."
Through filming, she said, "I became really close with everyone in Fullmetal Alchemist," and "Everyone has their own unique personality and is different, but they get along really well and don't have to pretend. Rather than being friends that we chose to meet, we all talk about our relationship as more like cousins who grew up together, even though we have different personalities."
Regarding the highlights of the drama, she appealed, "Even though the turn I appear in is set in the present day, it's a story from over 10 years ago, but I think it's easy to empathize with the problems each person faces and the worries of the heroine Yui-chan. I especially want the younger generation and students to watch it."
"I think there are a lot of people who are anxious about the future in the present. While many people think that they have to live their lives thinking about the future and counting backwards, gals have the mindset of 'now is the only time, so let's enjoy it now.' It's true that you never know when life will end, so I think that way of thinking is really wonderful."
Finally, she sent a message to viewers, "I myself am learning a lot, and I think that 'Omusubi' brought something a little unusual to NHK's morning drama, gals, to convey the importance of that. So I want to convey to everyone watching at home through my role that it's important to live in the present and enjoy the present to the fullest."
