It was announced on August 27th that actress Anna Kurasawa will be appearing in the NHK morning drama series " Bakebake ," starring Akari Takaishi , which will begin airing on September 29th in the second half of 2025. This will be Kurazawa's first time appearing in a Asadora. She will play the role of Chiyo, a coworker at a textile factory of the heroine Toki Matsuno(played by Takaishi).
Kurazawa is 20 years old, born on March 18, 2005. She recently made waves with her performance as Fujiwara Kenko in the 2024 taiga drama "To Dear Radiance (Hikaru Kimi e), the Light." It has also been announced that she will play the role of Asahi, the younger sister of the Toyotomi brothers, played by Nakano Taiga and Ikematsu Sosuke, in the 2026 taiga drama "Toyotomi Brothers!"
In "Bakebake," Kurazawa plays Chiyo, a female factory worker at a textile factory and a close colleague of Toki. She is a kind, reliable, straightforward and cheerful girl, but because of this, she sometimes speaks her mind honestly. Despite being at the mercy of the changes in samurai society, she is an impressive character who talks about marriage proposals and visits shrines together, living happily and to the fullest.
"Bakebake " tells the story of a couple who, together with her foreign husband, love ghost stories and shed light on the "nameless people" who had been forgotten in Meiji-era Japan as it became increasingly Westernized, and who acted as spokespeople for them. Takaishi, who stars in the film, plays the heroine, Toki Matsuno , the daughter of a fallen samurai from Yakumo Koizumi, modeled after Lafcadio Hearn 's wife, Setsu. The script is written by Fujiki Mitsuhiko, who has worked on NHK's "Asagaya Sisters' Laid-Back Life" and WOWOW's "Shooting Break Series," among others.
◇Comment from Anna Kurasawa
My name is Anna Kurasawa, and I will be playing the role of Chiyo. I had always dreamed of working on a Asadora, and every day was exciting and truly dreamlike. Chiyo, the character I play, works at a textile factory with Otoki and Osen. There are times during the day when they are excited, and times when they are tired. Seeing these three life-sized characters live full of energy, even as they are at the mercy of the changes in samurai society, gives me courage and makes me feel positive. I would be happy if I can bring even a little smile to the mornings of those who watch. Thank you!
