It was revealed on February 13th that actress Kuninaka Ryoko will be appearing in the NHK morning drama "Blossom," starring Ishibashi Shizuka, in the second half of 2026. Kuninaka will play the role of Hano Ryo, the stepmother of the heroine, Hano Tama (played by Ishibashi). This will be Kuninaka's first appearance in a morning drama in 25 years, since "Churasan" in the first half of 2001, in which she played the heroine.
Ryo, played by Kuninaka, is Tama's stepmother. She is the second wife of Seiji (played by Atsuro Watanabe), who came to live with young Tama after her mother passed away. She later gives birth to Tama's younger brother and sister, and devotedly supports her family.
Kuninaka commented with joy, "As I continued this job, I began to strongly feel that I wanted to play the role of the mother of a morning drama heroine in my 40s. This is because Tanaka Yoshiko, who played the mother role in the morning drama 'Churasan,' was a huge presence for me and supported me both professionally and personally at the time. When I was offered the role of Blossom's mother, I was so happy that tears came to my eyes."
"I think I understand very well the pressure and anxiety that the heroine carries. I hope to be by Ishibashi's side and build a good relationship within the film. 'Blossom' is a work that is full of energy. I would be happy if I could bring even a little bit of energy to the morning, the start of the day," she said enthusiastically.
"Blossom" is a story based on the life of writer Uno Chiyo, who continued to seek freedom throughout the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa eras. The protagonist, Haono Tama, leaves her hometown of Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, and, through encounters with fascinating people, pulls her dreams closer and plunges into the turbulent times of the Taisho and Showa eras. The script is written by Sakurai Tsuyoshi, known for works such as "Your Goods Are Here" and "Boogie Woogie."
