Tokio Emoto plays the role of Saiji Yamahashi, the owner of the Yamahashi Pharmacy, in the NHK morning drama " Bakebake " (Monday to Saturday, 8:00 AM and other Asadora ), in which Akari Takaishi plays the heroine. He spoke about his impressions of working with Takaishi again, and the behind-the-scenes of the confrontation scene between Toki (Takaishi) and Heaven ( Tommy Bastow) in episode 75 (broadcast on January 16th).
◇ I was lucky there were no cooking scenes. "I put my all into delivering the food (laughs)."
"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 was written by Fujiki Mitsuhiko, who has worked on NHK's "Asagaya Sisters' Relaxed Life" and WOWOW's "Shooting Break Series."
Regarding "Bakebake," Emoto said, "I think it's cute and has an approachable script. And I also think it's very mature. You can see the efforts of the actors to create a mature impression. When I read the script and then see the finished drama, the seniors sometimes do things that are different from what I had in mind when I read it, so I think, 'Ah, I see!' and it's very educational and fun."
Yamahashi, played by Emoto, is the owner of Yamahashi Pharmacy, the only pharmacy in Matsue. Toki and Heaven become frequent customers. In fact, the character has a "hidden side" other than being the owner. Regarding the character Yamahashi, he reveals, "He's a capable man who runs both a pharmacy and a Western restaurant. I think he's the kind of person who does what he wants, and isn't satisfied unless he does the things he enjoys himself. When I read the script, I got the impression that he spoke his lines in a vague way, so I tried to play him with the hope that he would come across as being either serious or not, making it hard to tell whether he's serious or not."
He also said, "I'm completely terrible at cooking. I'm not good at it at all, so I was lucky there were no scenes where I had to cook. I'm doing my best to deliver the food (laughs)."
Regarding the set of Yamahashi Pharmacy, he said, "The art was wonderful, and the way the traffic flow from Yamahashi Pharmacy to the Western restaurant was interesting. Beyond a hidden door there was a long corridor, and beyond that the Western restaurant unfolded. I'll never forget the excitement of seeing my line of sight expand from a small space."
◇ The exchange between Toki and Heaven: "Watching it live was so amazing it brought tears to my eyes."
Emoto had previously co-starred with Takaishi in the drama "Baby Warukyuure Everyday!" (TV Tokyo), which aired in 2024.
"This is the second time I've worked with Akari-chan since we both played assassins in the drama "Baby Warukyure Everyday!". In the scene in episode 74 (broadcast on January 15th) where Yamahashi was hit by Toki with a pineapple, the speed at which he turned around and shot, which must have been something he'd developed back then, was impressive (laughs)!"
Regarding Takaishi, he was impressed, saying, "She's as wonderful as ever, and is incredibly fast at reciting the lines written by the scriptwriter in a way that reflects Akari Takaishi's own personality. The speed at which she can express herself while still delivering her lines properly is overwhelming and amazing."
When asked about the most memorable scene, he said, "The meal scene where Toki and Heaven confront each other at Yamahashi's Western restaurant (episode 75) was the most amazing scene I've ever seen."
"The troubles they face after becoming a married couple are something that could happen to any married couple. Despite that, there is a dialogue exchange about them moving forward together that goes on for over 10 pages, and we shot it all in one go. Akari-chan and Tommy-san's concentration was really amazing. Also, no matter how long the gaps between lines, or how something a little different from what was planned happens, they support each other and cover for each other. I was really moved by the relationship that they have, which comes from having acted together for so long."
Regarding the filming of the scene, Emoto himself recalled, "When Yamahashi wasn't on screen, I was careful not to make any noise, like when I'm in the wings of a stage, and I watched the two of them acting intently, but watching it live was so amazing that it brought tears to my eyes. Meanwhile, Yamahashi, the character I play, had few lines, so if I made even one mistake I had to start over from the beginning. Serving the food was just a lot of pressure (laughs)."
Heaven concealed a secret soon after getting married, while Toki discovered the truth. The couple overcomes this and strengthens their bond once again.
