It was revealed on May 19th that actress Mei Nagano has declined to appear in the NHK Taiga drama "Toyotomi Brothers!" to be broadcast in 2026. The announcement was made on the official NHK website on the same day.
An official statement said, "On May 18th, the agency of Mei Nagano, who was scheduled to appear in the 2026 Taiga drama 'Toyotomi Brothers!', requested that she withdraw from the show." "After careful consideration at NHK, we have decided to accept this request," the agency said.
"Toyotomi Brothers!" is a success story of hope and dreams depicting the miracle of the Toyotomi brothers who accomplished the great feat of unifying the country with their strong bond, with Hidenaga, the younger brother of "the ruler of Japan," as the main character. The script is written by Hiroyuki Yatsu, who is known for "Naoki Hanzawa" and the TV drama series "Ochoyan."
Nagano was scheduled to play Nao, a childhood friend of the main character Hidenaga (played by Nakano Taiga). Nao is the daughter of a local lord in Nakamura, Owari, the hometown of Koichiro (later Hidenaga) and Fujikichirō (later Toyotomi Hideyoshi). She is the same age as Koichiro and is a childhood friend, and although she has a tomboyish personality, she secretly adores him. Her role is that of a tragic heroine who is at the mercy of turbulent times.
