Wan Marui plays Sawa Nozu , a childhood friend of the heroine Toki Matsuno(Akari Takaishi ) in the NHK morning drama series " Bakebake " (General TV, Monday to Saturday 8am and others). She spoke about the role she plays, her collaboration with Takaishi, memorable scenes, and more.
◇ "The gods of Izumo called me" on being selected to appear
" Bakebake" is based on the story of Koizumi Setsu, the daughter of a fallen samurai from Matsue, and her husband Yakumo (Lafcadio Hearn), and depicts the heroine, who loves ghost stories, going about her everyday life with her foreign husband. The script is written by Fujiki Mitsuhiko, who has worked on NHK's "Asagaya Sisters' Relaxed Life" and WOWOW's "Shooting Break Series."
When asked how he felt when he was chosen to appear in the film, Marui said, "I was able to work with people who I feel a strong connection with, and I truly felt like the gods of Izumo had called me to appear in ' Bakebake'."
"I love ghost stories too, influenced by my mother, who is a big fan of Yakumo Koizumi and loves ghost stories. I was also invited to an Estonian film festival in 2019, and the director of this film, Murahashi (Naoki), also participated. I finally got to meet Akari Takaishi, who I had been hoping to meet but never got around to, and I thought this film had many moments where all the scattered elements came together. I'm so happy that I was cast, and I've been chatting with everyone every day. Okabe (Takashi) tells me stories about his early days on set that are as scary as ghost stories. I find myself screaming, "Ahhh!" as I listen (laughs)."
Sawa, played by Marui, is the daughter of a former low-ranking samurai and Toki's childhood friend. Born into a poor family, she carried the expectations of her family, who dreamed of one day living a comfortable life, and aspired to become a teacher in order to achieve a stable life. She is Toki's one and only best friend, and accepts him as he is.
Regarding Sawa, Marui explains, "Sawa is a good and cute girl. She really feels like a human being!"
"He's a very human character, with a side that anyone can relate to. He's also very insightful, so even in scenes where the eccentric Toki might make viewers go 'Huh?', Sawa is able to accept it and say, 'That's right. That's just the kind of person Toki is.'"
◇What are your impressions of your co Akari Takaishi?
Although this is his first time acting alongside Takaishi, who plays Toki, he reveals, "The four of us, including our respective managers, went out for yakiniku and became good friends."
"Because we play best friends, we often hug each other on set and say things like, 'Good work!' We both take the roles of Toki and Sawa seriously and aren't trying to act comically, but the script is interesting and our acting is on the same wavelength, so maybe that's what makes it comedic."
Regarding the Matsuno family, he said, "I think, 'Ahh (sigh), they're a terrible family,' but at the same time, I feel like I adore them as if they were my own family."
"I often think that Tsukasanosuke(Okabe) is the worst (laughs), but when I look at the Matsuno family, I get the feeling that happiness isn't just about money and things like that, so in a way they might be the ideal family. Sawa might be jealous too."
Regarding his relationship with the prostitute Nami (Honami Sato), he said, "I don't think he really wants to hate her. That's why he teaches her English when she asks him to (Week 5, Episode 21). But he does have a strong prejudice against prostitutes, so it will be interesting to see what kind of relationship Nami and Sawa will develop in the future."
◇Talk about memorable scenes and highlights
The most memorable scene during the filming of "Bakebake" was "the scene in episode 15 of the third week (broadcast on October 17th) where Toki becomes distraught."
"Toki's line, 'I want to lose it, but I don't know how,' really made me cry. I wasn't trying to cry as Sawa, but the tears just started flowing... You don't usually hear people say, 'You're losing it in a good way,' do you? I feel like I'm learning about humanity every time I read the script, thinking about how there are ways to comfort someone like this. Also, it was impressive how the staff waited for me to bring out my emotions during filming. Even when the plan and the actual performance differed, they watched over me without rejecting what the actors put out, so I was able to try things out very actively. It's a great set where I can act without holding back what comes out."
Regarding the drama, he laughs, "The scriptwriter, Fujiki Mitsuhiko, said, 'Nothing happens,' but it's a work in which a lot happens!"
"Even everyday life can make you laugh and cry, and you'll wonder why everyday life is so interesting. There are scenes that will make you think, 'Is this really a Asadora? I've never seen it before!' So viewers will definitely not be able to just skim through it! Please enjoy this story that will make you wonder, 'What does this mean?' in a good way."
Finally, she addressed the viewers, saying, "Osawa's character makes you feel anew the importance of being close to people and kindness towards them, so I hope you will pay attention to those aspects as well. I would be happy if, through ' Bakebake,' I can tell everyone, 'You are already wonderful just the way you are.'"
