"Anpan" Episode 91: Sho Aoyagi makes his first appearance as the theater company leader

The 91st episode of the NHK Asadora drama "Anpan " (General TV, Monday to Saturday 8:00 AM and others), starring Mio Imada , was broadcast on August 4th. In the episode, Aoyagi Sho of the theater troupe EXILE, who plays the leader of the Daikon troupe, made his first appearance without prior notice, attracting the attention of viewers.

In February 1948, Takashi (played by Takumi Kitamura) was working in the advertising department of the Mitsuboshi Department Store and was a respected figure in the workplace. One day, Takashi was asked to draw a poster for a play to be performed at the Mitsuboshi Theater, and he had a meeting with the troupe's leader, Daikon, at a cafe.

Daikon began to speak passionately, "Rakuchu is always bustling, but for some reason it's deserted at night. Why? It's a demon. A tale spread that a demon appears every night and eats people. People were terrified, but then one man stood up. His name is..." To which Taka responded, "Watanabe no Tsuna. He's one of Yorimitsu's Four Heavenly Kings, right?" Daikon was impressed, saying, "You know a lot," and "I'm glad you're someone who understands."

When Taka revealed that he had been in the propaganda unit during the war, Daikon murmured, "I'm somehow deeply moved," and recalled, "I was sent to the battlefield, and saw a play by a visiting troupe there, and I thought to myself, if I returned alive, I would definitely enter the world of acting." He passionately continued, "I want the audience to experience the same emotions I felt then. To that end, I want to create a poster that will reach the hearts of even those who have never seen a play. You're alive, after all. I want to deliver a truly enjoyable experience to as many audiences as possible," to which Taka agreed, saying, "I think that's a wonderful idea."

Aoyagi, who plays Daikon, has appeared in numerous popular works, including the "HiGH & LOW" series, the Netflix original series "Alice in Borderland," and the film "The Blood of Wolves Level 2." He also co-starred with Daito Shunsuke in the NHK Premium drama "Virtual Ritual," which aired from 2023 to 2024.

On social media, people were saying things like, "Everyone's excited about Mrs. Green Apple's Omori-kun, but I was surprised to see Aoyagi Sho lol," "Aoyagi Sho is an actor in a Asadora!!!!", "When I looked closely, it was Aoyagi Sho. He has a different vibe," "It was Aoyagi Sho!? I didn't realize...," "He has such a wide range of roles. He's a chameleon actor after all," and "Every time I see him, he's a different person."