Shiro Sano plays the role of Shimane Prefecture Governor Yasumune Eto in the NHK morning drama series " Bakebake " (General TV, Monday to Saturday, 8:00 AM and other times), starring Akari Akari Takaishi . He spoke about his thoughts on his first appearance in a Asadora, the work, the role he plays, and his impressions of his co-stars.
◇ First Asadora drama role as governor: "It's actually quite a lot of pressure"
"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."
Sano, who will be appearing in a Asadora for the first time, recalled how she felt when she was chosen to appear in the drama, saying, "I'm from Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture, and I've appeared in several Asadora in Shimane before, such as 'Dandan' and 'GeGeGe no Nyobo,' but I hadn't been asked to appear in any more morning dramas, so I thought, 'I guess I'll never be in another Asadora' (laughs). But then I was offered the role in ' Bakebake ,' and I realized that this was why I hadn't been able to appear in any before."
"I have been reading the works of Yakumo Koizumi for 18 years, supervised by his great-grandson, Bon Yakumo Koizumi , and produced by his wife, Sachiko. I have long spoken to NHK's Matsue branch about my desire to one day make a drama about Yakumo Koizumi and Setsu, so when the production of ' Bakebake' was announced, everyone was excited, and I was also happy to be asked to take part."
Eto, who plays the role of Governor, is a passionate lover of Shimane and is determined to elevate it to a top-tier prefecture that Japan can be proud of. He believes that improving English education is essential for the young people who will lead the future, and invites Heaven to Shimane as a foreign teacher.
Sano said of his impression of the role, "Although he was not the direct model for Eto, Koteda Yasusada, who invited Yakumo Koizumi to be a teacher, was a fine man who served as governor of Shiga, Niigata, and Shimane, and was also a master of martial arts. He had an image of being a simple and strong man. So when I first read the role of Eto in the script, I thought he was a very silly person (laughs). But it does capture the fact that he loved Shimane very much and was one of the first to adopt modern Western civilization."
"The governor at the time was actually sent by the national government, and Mr. Koteda was originally from Nagasaki. I don't think he spoke much Izumo dialect. However, as I'm from Matsue, I'm playing the governor, and in the drama he's portrayed as a Matsue native with a strong love for Shimane. I don't want the locals to say, 'That's a strange Izumo dialect,' so I actually feel a lot of pressure."
Regarding his feelings towards his daughter Rio (Kana Kita), he said, "He wants to encourage modernization, but is worried about his daughter Rio, who is in love with a man from a foreign country. I think he is a person who simultaneously promotes modernization and values tradition in a turbulent era. I have a daughter myself, so I can understand his feelings, and it sometimes feels like fiction and reality overlap...Including the fact that I continue to recite Yakumo Koizumi's works, I feel like I'm not content with just living the drama of ' Bakebake'; I feel like I'm living reality and fiction, the present and the Meiji era, at the same time."
◇My impression of "Bakebake" is that it delves deep into things and is coherent.
Sano has been reading the works of Yakumo Koizumi for many years. What impression does he have of the work "Bakebake"?
"I'm no researcher, but I've read quite a few books about Yakumo Koizumi, so I think I have a general grasp of the story. But even so, it delves into deeper aspects that I didn't know about, and is very solid and coherent. Of course, because it's fiction, there are parts that are different from the facts or distorted, but it doesn't stray from the essence. Even people who know a little about Helne and Setsu will be impressed by this drama and think, 'Wow, they've gone that far!'"
Regarding Koizumi Setsu, who was the model for the main character Toki, he said, "I can only imagine what the real Setsu was like from her writings such as 'Memories', but she seemed like the kind of 'ghost story geek girl' who loved reading ghost stories and books. If she were still alive, I'm sure we would have become good friends (laughs). I feel that Takaishi's easygoing personality is a perfect fit for Toki Matsuno, who is modeled after Setsu, in this drama."
Regarding Tommy Bastow, who plays Haven, he praised his portrayal of the character, saying, "I think he's done a lot of research. I haven't seen the real Hern, but he's not only good-natured, he's also good at expressing his tough side, not just his posture, but also his temperament. He's not just a kind man, he's also a tough guy. I really admire him, as you'd expect from the leader of the rock band FranKo."
Regarding Ryo Yoshizawa, who plays Nishikori, who is modeled after Nishida Sentaro, he said, "Every time we act, I am drawn in by his honest and straightforward attitude. I feel that the guilt and torn feelings that Nishikori carries are actually the hidden protagonist, and that he represents the historical darkness that modern Japan has carried."
◇What are the highlights of "Bakebake"?
Regarding the highlights of "Bakebake," Sano said, "All the characters in "Bakebake" care about each other."
"These days, it often feels like people are becoming more and more assertive about their rights and positions, and are attacking others. However, as values change, this is a story about two people who are asking themselves anew what is important to people, and the characters surrounding them are also struggling with their own conflicts. The answer may not be easy to find, but I think that if we can view reality as fiction in the form of a 'ghost story,' we can find salvation."
He added, "I think the theme of this event is asking the question: how can people with different values coexist together? Shouldn't we live without giving up?"
"While playing Eto, I feel like I'm constantly being asked about the conflict between the character and myself. I hope that viewers can empathize with that."
Finally, he addressed the viewers, saying, "As an actor from Matsue, and also as Governor Eto, I would be happy if viewers would become interested in Matsue, a city with a rich history dating back to ancient times, and visit the city."
