"Anpan" 120th "Anpanman" is born

The 120th episode of the NHK Asadora drama series "Anpan " (General TV, Monday to Saturday, 8:00 AM and other times), starring Mio Imada, was broadcast on September 12th. In this episode, "Anpanman" was finally born, and viewers responded to the scene that seemed to connect to the opening scene of the first episode (broadcast on March 31st).

In episode 120, shortly after Tokairin's ( Kenjiro Tsuda) visit, he receives a letter from his former colleague at Kochi Shimpo, Kotoko (Yui Narumi). The letter informs him of Tokairin's death and explains the true reason he came to Tokyo. After reading the letter, Nobu (Imada) is left speechless, saying, "This is..." and Taka (Takumi Kitamura) murmurs, "He risked his life... to come and see me."

That night, Takashi draws with his pencil as if driven by something. Even in the morning, Takashi continues to draw. Nobu comes over and says, "Good morning, Takashi. It's morning." This scene is directed in a way that connects to the beginning of the first episode (broadcast on March 31st), and Nobu's lines are the same as in the first episode.

Nobu gazes at the illustration of Anpanman that Taka has completed and smiles, saying, "His face is Anpan," and "I've never seen a hero like this before." When Nobu sees a picture of Anpanman flying through the sky with half his face missing, he murmurs, "I see. So he feeds his face to people who are hungry and in need, then he turns around his tattered cape and flies through the evening sky. Even if it means his own life is over."

Taka tells Nobu, "It's okay. Anpanman's life isn't over. It continues," and urges him to look at the next illustration. Nobu is surprised to see "a new face on the bread-making guy," and laughs with tears in his eyes, saying, "I feel like I've been waiting forever for a hero like this."

Immediately afterwards, the station's announcer, Risa Hayashida, who was narrating the show, said in a narration, "In October 1973, Taka's new creation, Anpanman, was published as a monthly picture book for children and was placed in kindergartens and libraries."

Viewers responded on social media with comments such as, "At the beginning of episode 1!", "This is episode 1!!", "It leads to the first episode. And Anpanman is born." Comments such as, "We finally see the familiar Anpanman," "This is the current Anpanman we know!" and "Hmm! This Anpanman looks like he'll be a hit!" were also posted, along with comments such as, "We have this book at home too!", "Ah, this is the one I saw in the picture book at the library," "He's a character that will be loved by children for a long time to come," "Everyone loves Anpanman, right? Of course I do too," "No way, I'm already crying," and "I've run out of tears within the first nine minutes."