Akari Takaishi plays the heroine in the NHK Asadora drama "Bakebake" (Monday to Saturday, 8:00 AM and other times). In the 12th week, Toki (Takaishi) and Heaven (Tommy Bastow) are shown connecting with each other through ghost stories. Takaishi and Bastow have both delicately portrayed the subtleties of the heart. We spoke to Hashizume Kuniomi, the production manager for this series, about the incredible acting of the two actors that he felt in the 12th week.
Toki first told a ghost story to Heaven in episode 58 (broadcast on December 17th). He delivered a stunning rendition of "The Futon in Tottori," but it turns out that Takaishi and Bastow had both performed this scene before filming began as part of their final auditions for "Bakebake."
"Her co-star was another actor who was called in for the audition, but Takaishi was the narrator and Tommy was the listener as they made their final selection. When they started filming this scene, Takaishi and Tommy said, 'The day has finally come when we'll act together.' Both of them were of course brilliant in their auditions, but their first time working together on 'Tottori no Futon,' the synergistic effect made it even more wonderful and moving."
He said that the acting between the two was "completely different from the audition," and reflected, "The relationship between the two is completely different from an audition where you're acting with someone you've just met. They came to the play with more than six months of experience living as Toki and Heaven."
"It seems like Toki is telling a ghost story one-sidedly, but in fact he changes the tone of his speech depending on Heaven's expressions and reactions. Even though Heaven isn't speaking, it's like they're having a back-and-forth conversation, and I designed the script with that in mind, but when I saw it unfold in front of me at 100, 120 percent, it was more moving than I could have ever imagined."
In the 12th week, in addition to "Tottori Futon," scenes of Toki telling ghost stories and Heaven listening intently were repeatedly depicted. Hashizume was amazed at the acting skills of both Takaishi and Tommy, saying, "I was impressed by how great actors they are."
"Even though they don't speak the same language, and even though they don't understand Japanese perfectly, they are able to have a proper conversation. There aren't that many actors who can act like that. They created an atmosphere just for the two of them, and the timing of their acting is superb. I hope that this was conveyed to the viewers."
