Five new cast members announced for "Bakebake"

The new cast for the NHK morning drama series " Bakebake, " starring actress Akari Takaishi , which will begin airing on September 29th in the second half of 2025, was announced on September 11th. The cast members announced this time will be Katsuhisa Namase, Nobue Iketani, Maru Nouchi, Udai Iwasaki from "Kamomentaru," and Mayumi Asaka, who will be appearing as the people living in Matsue with the heroine Toki Matsuno(played by Takaishi). This will be Nouchi and Iwasaki's first appearance in a Asadora.

Heita Hanada, played by Namase, is the owner of the Hanada Inn in Matsue, where Heaven (Tommy Bastow) is staying. He is also friendly with Toki, who comes to sell clams, and watches over him with kindness. He is a kind-hearted man, but sometimes he can cause trouble with an inappropriate remark.

Ikeya plays Hanada Tsuru, the proprietress of Hanada Ryokan who runs the inn together with Heita. She is very fond of Toki, and her cool and tough personality is a source of comfort to Toki.

Ume, played by Nouchi, is a maid who takes care of Heaven at Hanada Inn. She has a gentle and laid-back personality. She is not intimidated by foreigners she meets for the first time.

Iwasaki plays Goro Kajitani, a self-proclaimed accomplished reporter for the Matsue Shimpo newspaper. He closely follows Heaven when she visits Japan. He is a man of his own making, turning even small stories into big news.

Asaka plays Ueno Tatsu, the grandmother of a neighborhood child whom Kan'emon (played by Fumiyo Kohinata) adores. She occasionally comes to Tengoku Tenya and becomes a good conversationalist for Kan'emon.

"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 Production Director Kuniomi Hashizume

Filming at Hanada Ryokan is always a lively and cheerful experience, always filled with laughter. Namase Katsuhisa plays the innkeeper, Heita, following his appearance in "Boogie Woogie." He delivers a truly captivating performance, living up to expectations and delivering a truly captivating performance. Iketani Nobue, who plays the innkeeper Tsuru, is an actor I had longed to work with again. Her unique presence captivates those around her simply by being there, and it's truly impressive. Nouchi Maru, who plays the maid Ume, exudes both solid acting ability and a somewhat mysterious aura, adding a uniquely subtle edge to the story with a uniquely subtle quality. The interactions at Hanada Ryokan, woven by these three accomplished actors, are exceptionally entertaining. For Toki, Heaven-sensei, and Nishikori, the inn becomes an irreplaceable place, providing warm support and, at times, companionship, despite the many challenges they encounter.

Kajitani, the elusive newspaper reporter, is played by Iwasaki Udai of Kamomentaru. Sometimes he is Toki's ally, and other times his enemy. Behind his unreadable words and actions lies his own firm beliefs. It's a difficult role, but Iwasaki's unique approach makes him an extremely charming character. Asaka Mayumi plays Ueno Tatsu, who occasionally drops by the tenement house where Toki and his friends live and becomes Kan'emon's conversation partner. Asaka and Kohinata's heartwarming and adorable exchanges bring a wonderful sense of peace to the story. Stay tuned to see what kind of impact they will have on the Matsuno family.