"Anpan" Episode 119: Editor-in-Chief Tokaibayashi sends a heartfelt message to Nobu and Taka, viewers are moved but worried about "exiting"

The 119th episode of the NHK Asadora drama "Anpan " (General TV, Monday to Saturday, 8:00 AM and other times), starring Mio Imada , was broadcast on September 11th, and viewers were drawn to the words and actions of Tokaibayashi (Tsuda Kenjiro), Nobu (Imada) and Taka ( Takumi Kitamura Kenjiro Tsuda)'s boss from their days at Kochi Shimpo.

In episode 119, Tokairin visits the Yanai family. Having already retired from the Kochi Shimpo, Tokairin has come to Tokyo because he has too much free time on his hands. Tokairin, who has seen all of Taka's works, happily tells Nobu about his achievements, who is happy to see him again.

Tokairin began by saying, "But there is one piece of work that just doesn't make sense to me," and began talking about Anpanman, "It's a story about On-chan that was featured in a magazine quite some time ago. He's wearing a brown cape and wobbly flying through the sky..." When Taka asked why he drew Anpanman, Nobu replied, "I think a true hero isn't someone who shows off his strength and defeats the enemy, but someone who doesn't care about himself and saves the weak and those in trouble. But Anpanman is uncool, so that's fine. He's weak, so that's fine. His cape is tattered, so that's fine. Anpanman is the only ally of justice that Taka can trust."

Tokaibayashi said, "I finally found it. It's what you mentioned during the interview at Kochi Shimpo," recalling the "unreversible justice" that Nobu and Taka had spoken of during the employment exam, and asked, "After decades of trying...I finally found it. Isn't that right?"

At that moment, Takashi came home, and Tokairin told the two of them, "You guys have finally found it. A turnaround." He then told Takashi, "Draw that guy more, big time," and told Nobu, "Support him big time."

Tokairin said, "There's no way I'd make a mistake with something you guys have spent so much time finding. I'll take responsibility for it," and then said he had to catch a Shinkansen, and quickly headed for the entrance. Nobu offered to walk them to the station, but Tokairin raised one hand and said, "It's okay. Don't worry about it. It's good for Anpanman," and "Here you go," and went home without looking back.

Comments on social media included, "I've been crying since this morning," "The development where Tokairin is entrusted with the final piece of Anpanman's creation was so exciting!", "I'm glad Tokairin is their boss," "He did a great job acting like an older man," "He gave a powerful performance, and then the way he left with his right hand raised...I was worried that an ominous narration would come in," "Wait, wait, Tokairin's exit like that is a death flag for the narrator..." and "I hope it's not a flag. A lot of people say nice things and then disappear..."