The 21st week, episode 105 (aired February 28th) of the NHK Asadora drama "Omusubi " (General TV, Monday to Saturday 8am and others), starring Kanna Hashimoto , featured a scene from the wake of Yui's (Hashimoto) grandfather, Nagayoshi (Matsudaira Ken). Many people, including celebrities, came forward to say they had been taken care of by Nagayoshi, and there was even a scene where it was revealed that Nagayoshi's boastful stories, which were thought to be big lies, were actually true. We spoke to Manabe Hitoshi and Usagawa Takashi, the production supervisors, about this unusual wake scene.
◇Nagayoshi passed away one month after returning to Itoshima. What was the cause of death?
At the end of the 104th episode, which aired on February 27th, the narrator revealed that Nagayoshi had passed away. Viewers were shocked because Nagayoshi had appeared in good health until one month before his death, visiting his son Masato (played by Kitamura Yukiya) who lives in Kobe, going to Expo Commemoration Park with him, and taking photo booth pictures with his family.
Although Nagayoshi looked healthy, he was in his 90s, and although this was not revealed in the film, the backstory says that he "died of old age."
Manabe revealed that Nagayoshi had a "peaceful death," saying, "Although Nagayoshi was very energetic, he was already 92 or 93 years old. I would like Nagayoshi to pass away with that same healthy image. I hope that he would think of him as passing away peacefully in his sleep."
◇A former Japanese national soccer team member and a Red and White singer from Itoshima also attended!
For this reason, the atmosphere at Nagayoshi's wake was not sombre. Former Japanese national soccer team member Ramos Rui, who Nagayoshi said "taught me how to do loop shots," and singer Yamauchi Keisuke, who Nagayoshi said he knew "the enka singer from Itoshima who sang on 'Kohaku'," also attended the funeral, proving that they were not lies.
Nemoto Nonji said that the part where a special guest rushes to the wake was "something I had thought about from the beginning" when the script was being written, and Manabe laughed, saying, "I actually wanted to invite Oh (Sadaharu) too, but that was a bit of a stretch."
Ramos, who appeared regularly in the Asadora"Sakura" in the first half of 2002, said, "She had created a scene in her mind where she was attending the wake of someone who had been kind to her, and although she is an athlete, I was impressed that she approached things in that way when working on an acting role." Incidentally, the heroine of "Sakura" was played by Kitamura's wife, actress Takano Shiho. It seems that Ramos and Kitamura had been talking about such things intimately on the set.
Meanwhile, Yamauchi said, "Because he is from Itoshima, he really wanted to appear in this drama that was set on stage. He said it was an honor and sang a verse of Nagayoshi's favorite song at the wake. We were able to be involved in (Yamauchi's dream) in that way and we were really glad that he participated," Usagawa said. However, he also revealed an episode, saying, "Perhaps the joy of performing was stronger, because there were a lot of smiles during the rehearsals. We proceeded with the filming while talking about how we hoped that he would act while keeping in mind the solemnity of paying respects to the late Nagayoshi."
Manabe also received items related to Wang's bat, as well as Antonio Inoki and Tenko Hikita, but whether the items were real or just someone playing a prank "remains a mystery. I think that's what makes it so cool," he said with a smile.
◇The scene with Yoshitaka Ohtsuru and Yukiya Kitamura
Nagayoshi gave the saint's college admission funds to Komatsubara (played by Ootsuru Yoshitan), who was in trouble due to the floods in Gifu, but at the wake, Komatsubara's son (played by Ootsuru in a dual role) came to return the money. The exchange between Ootsuru Yoshitan and Kitamura in that scene was a heartwarming scene.
Regarding Ootsuru, who played the dual roles of the father who kneels down and begs for help, and the son, Usagawa praised him, saying, "I offered him the role because he is a veteran who can play both the father who risks his life by kneeling down and begging for help, and the son who grows up to be a fine, reliable man who never forgets his promises. Ootsuru's brilliant performance exceeded my imagination, and that scene really worked."
Usagawa said that they "spent a lot of time rehearsing" the scene with Kitamura, and added, "What I thought was amazing about Kitamura on set was that, when his father got angry at him for accepting the money that was returned, he imitated Nagakichi, saying, 'Hey! You saint, what are you doing?' I couldn't help but cry on set. I think that scene was Kitamura's way of expressing his determination to carry his father's feelings, and it left a strong impression on me. I'm really glad that I was entrusted with that scene."
◇His wife Kayo's "farewell words" were said in one take
The farewell words of Nagakichi's wife, Kayo (Miyazaki Yoshiko), was also a memorable scene.
"I made it a point to avoid making it too dark. I told people, 'He wasn't really at home that much anyway,' but I wanted to convey the feeling of the time they spent together in simple words. I wanted to send him off with a smile, and then have that smile suddenly turn into tears. That expression was decided on in just one take. I think Miyazaki probably felt a sense of accomplishment as well." (Manabe)
By the way, Usagawa revealed a little tidbit of information behind the scenes, saying, "Among the attendees are actually Masato's sisters, Mayuko and Yuiko. The two appeared in the flashback scenes from the 1970s, but they are now married and no longer living in their hometown, but they are attending this time and are in the family seats."
"Omusubi" will enter its 22nd week, "What are ideals and reality?", on March 3rd. How will Yui (Hashimoto), who works hard as a registered dietitian at a hospital, and the people around her end up in the next four weeks? With Fullmetal Alchemist also appearing in the preview, it will be exciting to see how the story unfolds.
