In the NHK morning drama "Bakeke" (General TV, Monday to Saturday 8am and other times), starring Akari Takaishi, Wan Marui plays Nozu Sawa, a childhood friend of the heroine Toki (played by Takaishi). In the 16th and 17th weeks, Sawa has complicated feelings for Toki, who has married Heaven (played by Tommy Bastow) and moved to the "other side of the river." She spoke about her feelings when playing the role of Sawa and some behind-the-scenes stories from filming.
Sawa, played by Marui, is the daughter of a former low-ranking samurai and Toki's childhood friend. Born into a poor family, she carries the expectations of her family, who dream of one day living a comfortable life, and aspires to become a teacher in order to achieve a stable life. She is Toki's one and only best friend, who accepts him as he is.
In the 16th and 17th weeks, Toki's "Heaven Sensei Diary" is serialized in the Matsue Shimpo newspaper, and he becomes the center of attention in Matsue. Sawa begins to distance herself from Toki, who has become an instant celebrity, and the rift between them grows.
Marui reflects, "Sawa has always watched over the Matsuno family and Toki from a distance, but in weeks 16 and 17, there are scenes where her emotions waver. I'm the type of person who can see everything in a positive light, but when I had to portray Sawa's jealousy and complicated emotions, I realized I couldn't act the way I was."
When playing Sawa, Marui says, "I tried to take everything that was said to me in a negative way, even in my daily life." However, she confesses, "If I continued to do that every day, it would become very hard on me..."
"However, through my own experience, I thought that people who have pessimistic thoughts are probably people who are highly sensitive, have a strong ability to accept things, and are kind to others. When I thought about this, I realized that people aren't negative because they're weak, but that they may have many conflicts because they're kind, and that's why Sawa must have compared herself to others and felt pain. I'm really glad that Sawa was able to show her weak side, and for me, it was a memorable experience that made me realize once again how much I enjoy acting."
In the 80th episode (broadcast on January 30th), Sawa, who had rejected Shoda's (Hama Shogo) marriage proposal, bursts into tears into Toki's arms, saying, "I can't be you, O-Toki. I can't walk the same path as you. I can't be Cinderella." What were Marui's thoughts as she played Sawa, who has complicated feelings for Toki?
"At the end of the 17th week, Sawa says, 'I can't be like Toki.' I thought that this was what Sawa was thinking most of all. So, by being able to say that to Toki, I think Sawa was able to resolve the issue internally, and I also felt saved by the way Toki took it and responded afterwards."
In the film, there are scenes where Sawa seems to be avoiding Toki, such as pretending not to be home. Marui says, "When I was acting out the scene where I was avoiding Toki, I myself had stopped talking much to Takaishi Akari, who played Toki, so I was hoping that Sawa and Toki would make up soon."
"So, the moment the 17th week of filming finished, I thought, 'We can finally get along!' and we immediately said, 'Let's take a photo!' (laughs). Akari-chan and I have the same personal space, so it's really easy to work together, and it's fun to be together."
