The final episode (episode 20) of NHK's night drama "Hirayasumimi" (General TV, Monday to Thursday, 10:45 PM), starring actor Okayama Amane, will be broadcast on December 4th. Okayama spoke about his impressions of playing the main character Hiroto, his co-starring with Mori Nana and Riho Yoshioka, and the highlights of the final episode.
◇Hideki and I fell into a fishing pond! Acting with Yoshimura Kaito was "exciting"
The drama is based on the manga of the same name by Shinzo Keigo, which has been serialized in Weekly Big Comic Spirits since 2021. The story follows 29-year-old part-time worker Ikuta Hiroto (Okayama) who inherits a single-story house from his neighbor, Wada Hanae (Negishi Tokie), and begins living with his 18-year-old cousin Kobayashi Natsumi (Mori Nana), who moved to Tokyo from Yamagata. People with difficult life problems gather around them...
Okayama played the final fifth week (December 1st to 4th), and recalls, "Hiroto usually spends his time in a fairly calm manner, but Hideki (Yoshimura Kaito) was doing a lot of things, and in response, he was spending his time in an irregular manner that was different from usual.It was a different atmosphere from the usual holiday, so it's one that has stayed with me."
This week's story focused on his relationship with Hideki (Yoshimura Kaito), and he said, "The scene where Hideki and I both fell into the fishing pond was a lot of fun. It's not often you fall into a fishing pond (laughs). Yoshimura Kaito has a very unique way of acting, and it was stimulating to act with him. It was a very memorable scene, confronting Hideki as Hiroto."
◇ Mori Nana and Riho Yoshioka, who are acting together for the first time, have a "lifelike" quality, and their acting is "three-dimensional."
Regarding Mori, who played his cousin Natsumi, with whom he had many scenes together, he said, "This is the first time I've acted with Mori, but I've had many opportunities to see her previous works and I thought she was very unique and interesting. This time we played the roles of Hiroto and Nacchan in a very close relationship, and there was a sense of them being alive, and you never know what's going to pop out. I've learned a lot from her. It was a very exciting set."
What is your impression of Riho Yoshioka, who plays Yomogi, a real estate company employee who is considered the ace at work? "I only had very specific interactions with Yomogi, played by Yoshioka, but I felt that she had added many more elements to the image of Yomogi that I had from the original work. It's like the character's charm has been further expanded, and Yomogi has become more three-dimensional. I think that's a charm that only Yoshioka could bring to the role. I was also shocked by how outstanding Yoshioka's attitude and gaze towards everything is. Acting alongside her made me stand up straighter, and I sensed a sincerity that I couldn't imitate," he said.
◇A drama that teaches us where to find "everyday brilliance" and "the sparkle of the world"
With only the final episode (episode 20) on December 4th remaining, she sent a message saying, "While most dramas are broadcast once a week, I think this 'Yorudora' time slot, which airs for 15 minutes each Monday through Thursday, and 'Hira Yasumi' are perfect for people to watch at the end of the day after their routine. I think this drama shows us the 'brilliance of everyday life' and 'the sparkle of the world' that busy people tend to overlook. The time I spent in the world of 'Hira Yasumi' was very special to me, and I hope everyone was able to experience a piece of that as well. I would be happy if you could watch until the end."
In the final episode (episode 20), Hiroto (Okayama) and Natsumi (Mori) receive a cardboard box from their family home in Yamagata. Inside is a large amount of taro. Hiroto and Natsumi decide to hold an imoni party and invite Hideki (Yoshimura) and Akari (Mitsushima Nazuna), respectively. While searching for a large pot for imoni, Hiroto happens to find a pressed white hydrangea left behind by Hanae (Negishi). It turns out that Hiroto had brought it as a get-well gift when Hanae was injured and hospitalized...
