Keiko Toda plays Mio Imada, a representative from Kochi, in the Asadora drama "Anpan " (NHK General TV, Monday to Saturday 8:00am and others), in which Mio Imada plays the lead role. Toda, who was the voice actor for Anpanman in the popular anime "Soreike! Anpanman" (Nippon TV) and was also Takashi Yanase friends with Takashi Yanase, the model for Takashi Yanai , spoke about Kitamura's acting as Takashi.
" Anpan" is based on the married couple Takashi Yanase(1919-2013) and Nobu (1918-1993), the manga artist and picture book writer who created "Anpanman." It is a "story of love and courage" that will make you feel the joy of living, depicting how these two, who were once nobody, overcame all sorts of rough seas to become "Anpanman," the embodiment of "unreversible justice."
Toda said that appearing in "Anpan" made her feel once again how charming Yanase is. "It took a long time for the teacher's talent for drawing to blossom, but I think it's really amazing that he was able to see it through to the end. Also, through the drama I was reminded once again of just how big a thing meeting Nobu must have been for the teacher."
"The teacher is someone who cares deeply about others, so he always puts himself aside and is extremely modest. Kitamura-san has played this teacher brilliantly, and I think he has portrayed him very well."
Toda, who was originally a fan of Kitamura, laughed and said, "When I heard that Kitamura would be playing the role of the teacher, I was impressed that he had become an incredibly handsome man."
"I think that Yanase-sensei is in heaven, surprised and thinking, 'I've become a fine man.' Kitamura-san has skillfully expressed the sensei's sensitive aura, and speaking as someone who is close to Yanase-sensei, I don't know if these words are appropriate for a man, but he is a little reserved, or like a capable hawk hiding its claws...I think that many viewers are getting impatient and thinking that he could have shown more, but I feel that he has played that role very skillfully, including those aspects."
At the beginning of the first episode (broadcast on March 31), Taka appeared in his 50s. Kitamura's appearance, with his old-age makeup, knit cap and glasses, became a hot topic on social media, with people saying "he looks like Yanase." Toda also gave his stamp of approval to the high level of reproduction, saying "his appearance is just too good."
"The teacher is really delicate, and the contours of her face are completely different from Kitamura-san's, but the overall atmosphere is perfect. That's only possible thanks to Kitamura-san's acting ability, and although her original looks are completely different, her presence surpasses that... I was really surprised."
After learning about the relationship between Yanase and Toda, you will be able to enjoy the story even more deeply when watching the scenes featuring Taka, played by Kitamura, and Maki Tetsuko, played by Toda.
