It was revealed on the 7th that former "Nico☆Puchi" model, 17-year-old Hiyama Arisu, will play a high school student hospitalized at the Shin Kanna Hashimoto Memorial Hospital in Osaka where Yui (Hashimoto) works in the 19th week of the NHK Asadora drama "Omusubi" (General TV, Monday to Saturday 8:00 am and others), starring Hashimoto Kanna. This is Hiyama's first appearance in a Asadora, let alone a TV drama.
In the film, Hiyama plays Sone Marie, a high school student who, after going on an extreme diet in the hopes of becoming more attractive, is forced to be hospitalized for tests due to malnutrition, hypoglycemia, and low blood pressure. Marie begins her extreme dieting due to a certain incident, which forces her to be hospitalized, but even while in hospital she continues to be rebellious towards her mother and Yui by "refusing to eat." In order to get closer to her slim, photoshopped image and become more attractive, the high school girl continues to diet, relying on information she finds online. Marie clashes with her mother and Yui over their different ways of thinking, but how will her state of mind change through "food"?
Hiyama was born on September 20th, 2007, is from Fukushima Prefecture, and is 17 years old and lives in Sendai City. Her special skill is drawing, and her hobby is playing the saxophone. When she was in the second grade of elementary school, she won the grand prize at the 2015 Pucchigumi Model Audition, and began her entertainment career as a model for the monthly magazine for girls, Pucchigumi (Shogakukan). After that, she became an exclusive model for the elementary school fashion magazine, Nico☆Puchi (Shinchosha), and has since been active on stage and in advertisements. "Omusubi" will be her first TV drama appearance.
Hiyama introduced the character Marie, whom she plays, saying, "She's a high school girl who loves cute things and is very fashion-conscious, but her feelings tend to go too far and she ends up feeling insecure about her appearance. Marie is on a diet to lose weight, but I also have times when I restrict my food intake, although my goals are different, so I can empathize with her in a lot of ways and with her feelings. I think the highlights of the story will be the relationship between Marie and her mother, and whether or not she will be able to open up her tightly closed heart!"
Regarding her appearance, she said, "This is the first time I've had the opportunity to appear in a Asadora, which I've always wanted to do, and I've learned a lot both in terms of acting and how to approach entertainment activities! I'd be happy if I can convey to everyone watching Marie's feelings that I've grown, even if just a little. I hope you'll look forward to it!"
"Omusubi" is a "Heisei youth graffiti" in which the heroine, born in 1989, connects people's hearts and futures as a nutritionist, with the "gal spirit" of valuing one's individuality at all times.
