The 105th episode of the NHK Asadora drama "Omusubi " (General TV, Monday to Saturday 8:00am and others), starring actress Kanna Hashimoto, was broadcast on February 28th. In the episode, the wake of heroine Yui's (Hashimoto) grandfather Nagayoshi (Matsudaira Ken) was held, and enka singer Yamauchi Keisuke appeared as himself as a mourner who had a past connection with Nagayoshi. Yamauchi talked about how he felt about appearing in " Omusubi," one of the settings of which is in his hometown of Itoshima City, Fukuoka Prefecture.
During his lifetime, Nagayoshi had said things like, "I gave advice to an enka singer who appeared on the Red and White Song Battle," and "I taught Ramos how to do a loop shot," but Yui and her family thought they were just lies. However, in the episode, at Nagayoshi's wake, people who said they had been helped by Nagayoshi in the past came one after another. Among them were Yamauchi and former soccer player Ramos Rui... and so on.
When Yamauchi appeared at rehearsals for the 75th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen last year, she said about "Omusubi," "I never thought that my hometown would be the setting. With the 25th anniversary (of my debut as a singer) just around the corner, being able to see the scenery of my hometown like this is soothing every morning. I see it as a production like a reward for myself for working hard for the past 24 years." She also appealed, "I'd like to be in another one. I haven't been in one yet. I don't mind any role, so I'd like to be in one."
Yamauchi, who was able to fulfill his long-cherished dream of appearing in "Omusubi", said, "It was like a dream to be able to appear as myself. On set, I was warmly welcomed by the head of the household, Kitamura Yukiya, and all the other cast members, and I truly felt like I was in my hometown of Itoshima. I was able to thank everyone in person for their love for Itoshima, and at the end, I naturally bowed my head and said, 'Please continue to support Itoshima,' which became an unforgettable episode."
"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.
