The 94th episode of the NHK morning drama "Bakeke" (General TV, Monday to Saturday 8:00 AM and others), starring Takaishi Akari, was broadcast on February 12th, and viewers were drawn to the demeanor of Nishikori, played by Yoshizawa Ryo, towards the end of the episode.
Nishikori, who wants Heaven (Tommy Bastow) to stay in Matsue, gives her a specially made coat, saying, "This will help you get through the winter in Matsue." When Heaven says, "But, I'm going to Kumamoto," Nishikori desperately tries to stop her, saying, "No, no, no."
Heaven cites the bitter cold of Matsue as the reason for her decision to go to Kumamoto, but in reality, she was worried about Toki (played by Takaishi), who had been traumatized by the Rashamen incident. Since the incident, Toki has become self-conscious about what others think of her, and can no longer go out without covering her face with a shawl.
Towards the end of the film, when Toki is vehemently opposed to going to Kumamoto, Heaven asks, "Without that (shawl)... can you bear it?" She then says, "You don't know... let's go," and "No one knows about us... Kumamoto... let's go." Kan'emon praises Heaven, saying, "Well said," and tells Toki, "Go with Perry." Toki replies, crying, "Yes..." and Heaven gently embraces him.
Nishikori was outside, eavesdropping on their conversation. The camera captured his back, his expression unclear. Nishikori then left the insect book and insect cage he had brought for Heaven in front of the gate and walked away.
During a comment on the morning drama on the regular morning information program "Asaichi," Hakata Hanamaru of the comedy duo "Hakata Hanamaru and Daikichi" commented, "I feel so sorry for Nishikori. Nishikori's nape... Nishikori's nape looked lonely."
"Nishikori-san" and "Nishikori-san's nape" became trending topics on X. Comments on social media included, "It's so sad...", "The eavesdropping scene, a famous feature of morning dramas, has become such a sad scene", "Yoshizawa Ryo's acting is incredible, I feel like I've just seen something incredible", "This is the first time I've seen acting that can be conveyed just by the back of his head", "Yoshizawa Ryo can say so much just by looking at the nape of his neck, he's almost inhuman...", "It's so wonderful to see Yoshizawa Ryo as a yandere heroine", "Everyone is thinking about Nishikori's sadness. She's a heroine. A true heroine", and "What's going to happen tomorrow..."
