The production and lead actor announcement press conference for the NHK Asadora drama "Blossom" for the second half of 2026 was held at the NHK Osaka Broadcasting Station on May 29th, and it was revealed that actor Shizuka Ishibashi will play the lead role in the series. Production manager Murayama Shunpei responded to an interview after the press conference and spoke about the reason for Ishibashi's casting.
Ishibashi was cast through an offer rather than an audition, and was chosen to play the lead role of Hano Tama, who is modeled after the writer Chiyo Uno.
Murayama commented, "She has a unique aura while remaining natural, and her strong gaze is very impressive and powerful enough that you can't take your eyes off her. I just wanted to see Ishibashi live out her life as the main character, Hana (Tama). That was the only reason I offered her the role."
He further explained the reason for casting her, saying, "When I think of the main character as being modeled after Chiyo Uno Chiyo, I feel that the subtleties of life in your 30s and 40s will be extremely important. With that in mind, I wanted to cast someone who could express those aspects one by one."
The 115th serial TV drama, "Blossom," is about the protagonist Tama Hano, who is modeled after the writer Chiyo Uno, who continued to seek freedom throughout the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa eras. She leaves her hometown of Iwakuni, Yamaguchi, and meets fascinating people to pursue her dreams and move forward into the turbulent times of the Taisho and Showa eras. The script is written by Tsuyoshi Sakurai, who is known for "Your Goods Are Here" and "Boogie Woogie."
