The new cast for the NHK morning drama series " Bakebake " (General TV, Monday to Saturday, 8am and others), starring actress Akari Takaishi , was announced on January 13th. The cast announced this time is for the "Kumamoto Arc" which will be broadcast from the 20th week (airing February 16th). Renbutsu Misako Renbutsu , Toki Matsuno , Imo Yu, Shukugawa Atomu and Jun Hashimoto will appear as people that the heroine Matsuno Toki ( Tommy Bastow ) meet in Kumamoto. This will be Natsume and Imo's first appearance in a morning Asadora.
Renbutsu plays Ran, the wife of Haven's fellow English teacher, Robert. As the Japanese wife of a foreigner, she becomes a role model for Toki and a good friend he can talk to about anything.
Natsume plays Kuma, a maid at the Matsuno household. She is a hard worker who single-handedly supports the lives of the ibises in Kumamoto... but sometimes she works too hard.
Imo plays Yoshino Ise, a woman living in the countryside of Kumamoto who is well versed in the various legends of a certain rural village that seems to be cursed.
Shukugawa plays Arakane Kyushuo, a businessman from Kumamoto who looks suspicious from every angle.
Hashimoto plays Sakuyama, a fellow teacher at Heaven. He is an English teacher at Kumamoto Fifth High School and a rationalist.
"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."
◇Comment from Production Director Kuniomi Hashizume
The story moves from Matsue to Kumamoto, where we will be featuring some fascinating people.
Ran, like Toki, is a woman married to a foreigner. She is the first woman Toki meets who is in the same situation as him, and she becomes a good friend and understanding friend. Renbutsu plays a dignified Meiji-era woman, yet she also accepts Toki with her broad-minded acting. She exquisitely portrays the discrepancy between the feelings she holds deep in her heart and the feelings she expresses outwardly.
The newly hired maid, Kuma, was played by Towa Natsume, who was selected after another audition. She is fresh and unintimidated, and she perfectly portrays a life-sized young girl.
I think Ise is a very difficult role. She is a slightly unusual woman who is "supposedly cursed," but she portrays a character that is never far from reality. I have seen her give wonderful acting in many films, and this time she showed off her skills to the fullest. As she is originally from Kumamoto, I am very grateful that she was able to appear in this film at this time.
Arakane is a strong character, just as he looks. I think Shukugawa-san was a perfect fit for the role. Anything I write will be a spoiler, so please enjoy the main story.
We asked Jun Hashimoto to play Heaven's fellow teacher, Sakuyama. He moves to Kumamoto and works with Heaven in Nishikori's absence. However, unlike Nishikori, he is an "ordinary teacher." He portrays this "ordinary" character in a very "ordinary" way. The occasional glimpses of humanity are also wonderful.
The Matsuno family has moved to Kumamoto, and together with the new cast, the drama will become even more exciting. Please be sure to check out the Kumamoto edition.
