Yuriko Yoshitaka stars in the NHK Taiga drama "Dear Radiance (Hikaru Kimi e)" (General TV, Sunday 8pm and others). The 46th episode, "Toi no Nyuko," will air on December 1st, and as the subtitle suggests, it will depict the "Invasion of the Toi," a major incident in which foreign tribes invaded Kyushu in the mid-Heian period. The preview for the episode shows Fujiwara Takaie (Ryusei Ryo) shouting the command "Let's go to battle!" in front of the warriors, and viewers are excited, saying, "I never thought we'd see a battle in this Taiga drama." In the 46th episode, Mahiro (Yoshitaka) sets off on her long-awaited journey and arrives in Dazaifu, where her late husband worked. There, she reunites with Shumei (Matsushita Kohei), whom she had separated from in Echizen, and he tells her the truth about her disappearance. Afterwards, Mahiro visits the government office with Shumei, who works as an interpreter. Then, she finds Sojumaru (Ito Kentaro) among the warriors training. Furthermore, she is told by Dazai Gonsotsu Takaie that Michinaga (Emoto Tasuku) has given her instructions for Mahiro. Meanwhile, an emergency that shakes the country unfolds. Takaie is the central figure who confronts this national crisis. Ryusei, who plays the role, appeared with Yoshitaka, who plays Mahiro, at a talk show for the drama held on November 23rd in Dazaifu City, Fukuoka Prefecture. At that time, he said, "When I was offered the role of Takaie, I heard that it would depict the 'Toi Invasion,' but as it gradually drew to an end, I was half-believing that they would do the Toi Invasion. But it was in the script, so I thought, 'Let's do it!' Fujiwara Takaie will play a major role from now on, so please look forward to the broadcast." The new visual of Takaie has also been released on the "Character and Relationship Chart" on the drama's official website.
"Dear Radiance" is the 63rd taiga drama. The story is set in the aristocratic society of the mid-Heian period, and the protagonist is Murasaki Shikibu (Mahiro), who later wrote "The Tale of Genji," said to be the world's oldest novel written by a woman. The screenplay was written by Oishi Shizuka, who is writing a taiga drama for the second time since "Koumyou ga Tsuji" in 2006, and depicts the glittering world of the Heian aristocracy and the life of a woman who lived, wrote, and loved with all her heart.
