It was revealed on February 26 that actor Fumiyo Kohinata will appear in the NHK Asadora drama series "Bakebake, " starring Akari Takaishi , in the second half of 2025. Kohinata will play Matsuno Kan'emon, the grandfather of the heroine Toki (Takaishi). This will be Kohinata's first appearance in a Asadora in 10 years, since "Mare" in the first half of 2015.
Matsuno Kan'emon, played by Kohinata, is a true samurai who lived through the end of the Edo period. The era of the samurai ended with the Meiji era...or so it should have been, but he believes that he will be the one to protect the country from foreign powers in times of emergency, so he wears a topknot and continues to practice sword fighting as the "last samurai." He is confident that he will never lose to any opponent in sword fighting, but he is extremely weak against his grandson Toki...
Kohinata said, "I'm happy to be able to take part in a Asadora for the first time in 10 years. When I had my costume fitted, I put on a topknot wig and felt strange, thinking, "In a Asadora?" I have once again felt a sense of attachment to the role of Matsuno Kan'emon, who has not forgotten his samurai spirit and continues to wear his topknot even after the era name changes to Meiji, and who dotes on Toki as the grandfather of the main character, Toki, and wishes him happiness. I am really looking forward to starting filming ' Bakebake'."
Production manager Hashizume Kuniomi commented, "Kanemon is not just a strict character; he has a passionate heart and is also somewhat endearing. The other day, when I was fitting Kohinata-san for the costume, I saw him in a kimono and topknot, happily swinging a wooden sword, and I thought, "No way!" No matter how much the world around him changes, Kannemon maintains the spirit and pride of a samurai, and I can't wait to see him live in the Meiji era."
"Bakebake" is the story of a couple who love "ghost stories" together with their foreign husband, and who shed light on and speak for the "nameless people" who were forgotten in Meiji Japan as Westernization progressed. The script is written by Mitsuhiko Fujiki, who also wrote the NHK "Asagaya Sisters' Relaxed Life Together" and WOWOW's "Shooting Day Off Series."
