The new cast for the NHK Asadora drama "Kaze,Kaoru ," starring Ai Mikami and Juri Kosaka , which will air in the first half of 2026, has been announced on the official NHK drama website (＠nhk_dramas), and it has been revealed that comedian Rei Maruyama will be appearing. This will be Maruyama's first appearance in an Asadora, and she will play Matsu Nakayama, a neighbor of Rin Ichinose (played by Mikami).
Maruyama commented, "I never thought I'd be given this role! When I read the script, I was so excited that I cried out loud at the moment when the life paths of Rin and Naomi (Uesaka), who have such different backgrounds, suddenly intersected! I was filled with anticipation, thinking, 'So this is what it means to have two leading roles in a Asadora,' and I wanted to cherish the role of Matsu, whose life paths intersect and who is close to Rin's life."
He continued, "The film stars Ai Mikami, who is my podcast partner, and I respect her for her richness both as an actor and as a person, so I'm a little nervous to be acting with her, but I'm also very happy.It seems there will be scenes where we have a lot of dialogue, so I'm really excited.I hope I can add color to the film!"
Regarding her first appearance in a Asadora, she revealed her feelings, saying, "I've auditioned for Asadora dramas in the past, and they auditioned in a variety of styles, so I got to see the performances of a variety of actors, which was also stimulating. I often went home with my shoulders slumped, thinking, 'I still have a long way to go. I didn't notice anything. I couldn't do it.' So I'm thrilled and honored to have been given this huge opportunity that I never expected."
"Kaze,Kaoru" is the 114th serial TV drama. Set in the Meiji era, it is a buddy drama featuring two trained nurses, Ozeki Chika and Suzuki Masa. The two graduated from the same nursing school, but struggle with how to interact with patients and doctors, and grow as they clash, eventually becoming the "strongest buddy."
