The NHK Asadora drama series "Bakebake " (General TV, Monday-Saturday 8:00 AM and others), starring Akari Takaishi , began airing on September 29th. The story follows the ghost story-loving heroine and her foreign husband as they navigate their everyday lives. The first two weeks have aired, but one character who has been grabbing the spotlight at key points is Toki's (Takaishi) father, Tsukasanosuke(Takashi Okabe). A "fallen samurai" living in the Meiji era, Tsukasa started a business but failed, leaving his family in debt. He also shed his topknot and transformed into a fallen samurai in an attempt to help his daughter secure a successful matchmaking. Despite his flaws, Tsukasa is a lovable father to the Asadora's heroine.
When it comes to the fathers of Asadora heroines, there are two types: either someone like Tsukasanosuke who "has some flaws but is lovable," or someone like Yutaro ( Ryo Kase ) from the previous work " Anpan " who "is a man of great character but dies young." Among these, the one who still holds the title of "the worst father" in the history of Asadora is Teruo, who appeared in the second half of 2020's "Ochoyan." He was given a passionate performance by Tortoise Matsumoto of "Ulfuls."
"Ochoyan" is the 103rd morning drama, and is based on the life of actress Naniwa Chieko, who is synonymous with Kamigata actresses and fondly known as "Osaka's mother." The story is boldly reconstructed and depicted as Asadora. Filming was temporarily suspended due to the spread of COVID-19, and the broadcast period was irregular, from November 30, 2020 to May 14, 2021. The lead role was played by Hana Sugisaki, who plays the father of the heroine Chiyo, played by Sugisaki, who plays Teruo.
Teruo makes a living by raising chickens, but leaves all the care of the chickens and housework to his daughter Chiyo. Eventually, he sends the young Chiyo to work as a servant at a teahouse, and from then on he frequently shows up to beg for money, sometimes even taking it himself. His refusal to change his ways and his scumbag behavior far exceeds that of a "useless father" has led viewers to call him "the worst father in the history of Asadora." Teruo, who has continued to be portrayed as the "worst father," eventually passes away due to a worsening illness, leaving the story midway through the 75th episode. In his final conversation with Chiyo, Teruo promised to see a play in which Chiyo was appearing, but he passed away before this could be fulfilled, and viewers expressed their regret, saying things like, "Teruo, we still won't be able to see a play," "Teruo stole the show at the end of the day," and "I really hated Teruo, but seeing something like this makes it all worth it," so there's no doubt that he had an overwhelming presence, for better or worse.
Perhaps due to some concern about Teruo's "worst character," when the drama first aired, the official website ran a segment called "Teruo's Excuses," in which Tortoise Matsumoto spoke on Teruo's behalf. Meanwhile, Hiroyuki Yatsu, who wrote the script for the series, said at the time that he "wanted to portray Teruo as a toxic parent," and further commented that Tortoise Matsumoto's acting was "in a word, the best."
Will there ever come a day in the future when a "scumbag dad" who surpasses Teruo appears in a Asadora?
