The 97th episode of the NHK Asadora drama "Omusubi " starring Kanna Hashimoto was broadcast on February 18th. In the episode, shoemaker Takao (played by Naoto Ogata), also known as "Nabebe", made his first appearance in a long time, which became a hot topic among viewers.
Takao was once a skilled shoemaker who ran a shoe store on Sakura-dori Shopping Street. After losing his only daughter Maki (Miyu Oshima) in the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, he became depressed and isolated in the shopping street. However, thanks to persistent urging from Maki's best friend Ayumu, he was able to bounce back, give up his familiar home, and move to Tokyo, where a shoe brand approached him to collaborate.
In episode 97, Masato went to the hospital for a detailed examination and found a sore on his stomach lining, and was sent for a biopsy to see if it was malignant. One day, during his break at work, Masato, who was worried that he might have stomach cancer, stopped by "Girlies," a second-hand clothing store run by Ayumu's ( Riisa Naka) friend, Chanmika (Reina Matsui). There, Takao was there, and as soon as he saw Masato, he greeted him with a bright smile, saying, "Oh! It's been a while!"
Takao said he had come to Kobe from Tokyo for a meeting regarding original shoes for "King of Gal," a fashion brand launched by Ayumi, and Chanmika explained, "Nabebe is a very popular shoe designer who is currently receiving a flood of orders from various brands."
Ayumu is concerned about the depressed Masato, and says he will cheer him up by helping him change into flashy clothes. When Masato, completely transformed, says he wants to go somewhere, Takao, who had heard him, decides to take Masato out into the city. When Masato seems uneasy and asks, "Is everyone watching?" Takao responds, "It's fine, even if people see us. It's no use."
Upon seeing Takao for the first time in a while, comments were posted on social media such as, "It's great to see that he looks healthy," "He looked lively and radiant!", "Nabebe looks slimmer," "Nabebe is now a top shoe designer! That's amazing," and "I can only imagine how proud Maki must be of Nabebe's move into Tokyo and his step up in the ranks."
