It was revealed on April 30th that actor Tsutsumi Shinichi will appear in the NHK Asadora drama series "Bakebake ," starring Akari Takaishi , which will air in the second half of fiscal 2025. Tsutsumi will play the role of Den Ushimizu, who supports the heroine Toki (played by Takaishi) and her family behind the scenes. This will be Tsutsumi's first appearance in a Asadora in 11 years, since "Massan" in the second half of fiscal 2014.
Tsutsumi plays Den Ushimizu, a high-ranking samurai who is well-known in the Matsue domain and an elite in both the arts and martial arts. He is very fond of his relative Toki and has been concerned about him since he was a child. He is a man of such character that everyone in Matsue knows him, and in the midst of changing times, he works hard to reach out to Toki and many other fallen samurai.
Tsutsumi said, "It's been about 10 years since my last appearance in a Asadora, since 'Massan.' The character I play in ' Bakebake,' Den Ushimizu, goes from being a samurai to becoming a businessman as the times change, but I think he is a generous person who cares about the people who work for him rather than pursuing productivity. The story depicts people who are forced to live extremely difficult lives as the times change, but it is a story of a poor but cheerful family bound by ties, and is full of vitality for life. That atmosphere spread directly to the set, and I feel that the whole thing is bright and cheerful and the story is progressing smoothly. The script is also very interesting to read, so I am sure it will be a good production, and I personally have high expectations for it!"
Production manager Hashizume Kuniomi commented, "Den is an elite samurai from the distinguished Matsue area who cares about Toki and is someone Toki looks up to. The exchanges between Tsutsumi and Takaishi are a masterpiece to watch, as you wonder what move they will make next. Tsutsumi's performance makes Den's portrayal of someone who carries the hopes of many people and survives through the times very convincing."
"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 had been forgotten in Meiji Japan as Westernization progressed. Takaishi plays the heroine Toki Matsuno , the daughter of a fallen samurai from Matsue, modeled after Lafcadio Hearn 's wife Setsu. The script is written by Fujiki Mitsuhiko, who has worked on NHK's "Asagaya Sisters' Relaxed Life Together" and WOWOW's "Tokyu Series."
