It was revealed on May 12 that actor Ryo Yoshizawa will appear in the NHK Asadora drama series "Bakebake ," starring Akari Takaishi , which will air in the second half of 2025. Yoshizawa will play Nishikori Yuichi, who has a major influence on the lives of the heroine Toki Matsuno(Akari Takaishi) and her husband Heaven (Tommy Bastow). This will be Tsutsumi's first appearance in a Asadora in six years, since "Natsuzora" in the first half of 2019.
Nishikori Yuichi, played by Yoshizawa, is Matsue's most brilliant student, nicknamed "Daibanjaku." He is an English teacher at Matsue Junior High School, and supports Heaven, who came to Matsue as a foreign teacher, both in his private and public life. He also becomes acquainted with Toki through a strange connection and becomes deeply involved with him.
Yoshizawa said, "I was told that I would be an English teacher, so I would speak English to a certain extent, but when I received the script I was a little worried because the English was about 2.5 times stronger than I had expected, but I am having fun acting in the warm atmosphere on set. This is a time of great change in the times, and some people are amused by the ever-changing culture and common sense, some cannot accept it, and some have no choice but to accept it. This is a story of people who are tossed about, but who hold on to their treasures, laugh a lot, and sometimes cry. I hope you will look forward to it."
Production manager Kuniomi Hashizume commented, "The role of Nishikori Yuichi is based on Nishida Sentaro, one of Matsue's great men from the Meiji period. He was an irreplaceable and special figure to Koizumi Setsu and Hahn. Because it is such an important role, we had a strong desire to ask this person to play it, and asked Ryo Yoshizawa to appear at an early stage of planning. When I met him for a costume fitting the other day, he had already cut his hair short, and it was as if Nishida Sentaro from the Meiji period had appeared as he was, and I felt once again his deep understanding and passion for the role. What kind of depth and emotion will the character of Nishikori Yuichi, brought to life by Yoshizawa, bring to the story? I am confident that we will be able to deliver a wonderful scene that will stay in your memory."
Takaishi commented, "I think that Nishikori, played by Yoshizawa, will surely become something like a bridge between Toki and Heaven, connecting their hearts and languages," and added, "The other day, we filmed the scene where Nishikori and Toki meet. Every time there was a cut, laughter broke out, and even during filming, you could hear the staff laughing from somewhere... It was a crazy, fun scene that I love. I'm really looking forward to the day that we can share it with everyone!"
