It has been announced that actor Rena Takeda will appear in the NHK drama series "Tokyo Salad Bowl" (General TV, Tuesdays at 10pm), which will begin on January 7th, 2025, starring Nao and Ryuhei Matsuda. She will play Momiji Imai, a Vietnamese interpreter working at the Metropolitan Police Department Interpretation Center.
Imai Momiji loves Vietnam and feels a sense of mission to become a bridge between Japan and Vietnam, so she became an interpreter, but when she witnesses the harsh reality surrounding Vietnamese people with specific skills, she finds herself conflicted about her role.
Other new cast members announced include Aoi Nakamura, Daisuke Nakagawa, Soichi Igense, Nomura Busso, Mandy Sekiguchi, Daichi Asai, Shinnosuke Abe, Tetsu Hirahara, Ayako Imoto, Sarutoki Minagawa, and Hiroshi Mikami. It was also revealed that overseas cast members include Han Chang, Li Ting Hsu, Qiao Chuanyuan, and Nguyen Truong Khang.
The drama's script is written by Kanazawa Tomoki. Kanazawa commented, "Tokyo Salad Bowl is a masterpiece by Kuromaru-sensei, with social issues and human subtleties woven into it. I had many discussions with the staff and created it carefully, with a sense of responsibility. Although I say this, it is still in the middle of being written. I will continue to write today, hoping that my feelings will reach those who watch it."
The drama is based on the manga "Tokyo Salad Bowl - International Investigation Case File" by Kuromaru, who is also known for "Kurosagi". The story takes place in Tokyo, where about 700,000 foreign residents live. In this metropolis where different languages, food, and cultures intersect, the green-haired international investigation police officer Mari Koda (Nao) and the troubled Chinese interpreter Ryo Yukino (Matsuda) team up in this socially conscious entertainment to pick up the lives of those who are about to fall through the cracks of Japanese society. There are a total of 9 episodes.
