It has been revealed that actress Mana Ashida will be playing the younger version of Tetsuko Kuroyanagi in the drama special "24 Hour TV 48" (Nippon TV), which will be broadcast on August 30th and 31st.
The drama is based on Kuroyanagi's autobiographical essay "Totto no Kakuretsucho" (Shincho Bunko), and depicts her youth from her time at girls' school, to her time at music school, and up until she became an exclusive actress for NHK. Tetsuko was restless since childhood, and when she became absorbed in something she was interested in, she completely ignored her surroundings. Her reckless drive caused many mishaps even as a schoolgirl. Nevertheless, she believed in the words of her father, a violinist, and tried her hand at everything from opera singer to cellist to director to music critic in an attempt to find her own unique talent.
However, although these are all things she "wants to do," they are not "the person she wants to become." Tetsuko's mother and father continue to patiently watch over her. Eventually, Tetsuko finds her one big dream. It is not to become an actress or a celebrity... The screenplay is by Sato Yuji and the director is Inomata Ryuichi.
Kuroyanagi commented, "It was a time in Japan after the war, and not much time had passed, but I was filled with dreams and hopes. At the same time, I feel like I also had a lot of failures and mistakes. So, I'm a little scared to watch it, but I'm really looking forward to it."
Ashida, who played Kuroyanagi, said, "The more I get to know Kuroyanagi Tetsuko, who is always working hard, interested in many things and pushing forward, the more I find her to be sometimes beautiful, endearing and very charming."
"24 Hour TV 48 Drama Special" is scheduled to air around 9:00 p.m. on August 30th.
◇Drama Overview
1946. A year after the end of the war, Tetsuko (Ashida Mana), who had been living with her mother in Aomori, where they had evacuated, leaves her mother behind and travels to Tokyo alone to find what she wants to do. She begins attending Koran Girls' School in Tokyo.
Tomboyish and loud, Tetsuko's personality is such that she can't be satisfied unless she does whatever she is interested in right away. Even after she starts attending a girls' school, this tendency shows no signs of improving, and in fact only intensifies. After school, she would sneak into the cinema, which was banned, to watch movies, and she was captivated by the free and beautiful world projected on the screen.
Meanwhile, her long-awaited house in Tokyo is completed and she starts living with her mother again. Furthermore, she learns that her father, who was rumored to have been detained in Siberia after the war, will soon be returning to Japan. Now the whole family can live together again! Tetsuko is happy, but the time has come when she must seriously consider her future...
◇Comment from Tetsuko Kuroyanagi
I'm really excited that my time at girls' school and music school, which have never been depicted before, will be made into a drama. It was a time when not much time had passed since the end of the war in Japan, but I spent my days with many dreams and hopes. At the same time, I feel like I also made a lot of mistakes and failures. So, I'm a little scared to watch it, but I'm really looking forward to it.
◇Comment from Mana Ashida
I heard from the producer that the theme of this year's 24 Hour TV, "Tell me about yourself," contains the message "I want people to know more about themselves."
The more I get to know Kuroyanagi Tetsuko, who always works hard, is interested in many things, and pushes forward, the more I find her beautiful, endearing, and charming at times. I think the warmth of her mother and the people around her, who understand her and accept her without laughing at her, makes her even more charming. After reading the script, I also want to work hard towards my dreams and become someone who can understand and accept others. I hope that the viewers will also feel warm inside.
