The new cast for the NHK morning drama "Blossom," starring actor Shizuka Ishibashi, which will air in the second half of 2026, was announced on February 13th. It was revealed that Atsuro Watanabe, Ryoko Kuninaka, Honoka Matsumoto, Tomohito Yashima, Kaoru Kusumi, Aso Kiryu, Yuki Hana, Chisato Nakai, Asuka Kudo, Masami Miura, Maho Yamada, and Daichi Kaneko will appear as the family of the main character, Tama Hano (played by Ishibashi), and the people she meets in her hometown of Iwakuni. This will be Watanabe, Kiryu, Nakai, and Kaneko's first appearance in a morning drama.
Watanabe plays Tama's father, Hano Seiji. Despite being the eldest son of Hano Sake Brewery, one of Iwakuni's leading breweries, he has chosen not to take over the family business. He is strict in disciplining his family, including his daughter, Tama.
Kuninaka plays Ryo Hano, Tama's stepmother. She is Seiji's second wife and comes to live with young Tama after her mother dies. She later gives birth to Tama's younger brother and sister, and devotedly supports her family.
Matsumoto plays Iwata Ume, Tama's childhood friend. She lives next door to the Hano family and is the poster girl for Iwataya, a store that sells vegetables and household goods. She is the only daughter of cheerful parents and is a laid-back person.
Yashima plays Ume's father, Iwata Kozo, the owner of the local store "Iwataya." He has been watching over the Hagano family since Tama was a child and encouraging her with all his might.
Kusumi plays Iwata Katsu, Ume's mother. She is the wife of Kozo, the owner of Iwataya. Along with Kozo, she is a good supporter of Tama and her family.
Kiryu plays Shinobu Tsunoda, a classmate at the high school Tama attends. She has a rebellious spirit, is full of energy, and has a strong personality.
Hana plays Morioka Ineko, Tama's classmate at the girls' school. She comes from a good family and has a gentle personality.
Nakai plays Hashimoto Tae, Tama's classmate at the girls' school, who is a bright and sociable person.
Kudo plays the role of Shimamura Tatsuhiko, an elementary school teacher. He is a fellow teacher at the elementary school where Tama works. After graduating from a normal school in Hiroshima, he returns to his hometown of Iwakuni with enthusiasm.
Miura plays Seiji's younger brother, Hano Kiyoshige, who takes over the Hano family business in place of his older brother Seiji and runs the Hano Sake Brewery.
Yamada plays Tama's aunt, Kimura Teruko, who is Tama's late mother's younger sister. She appears in front of her niece, Tama, and begins to take care of her.
Kaneko plays Tama's cousin, Kimura Tamotsu. He is Tama's aunt Teruko's second son and her cousin. He is an excellent student and has a unique side to him. He is calm and collected, and his honest personality gives him a mysterious aura.
Ishibashi, who plays the heroine Tama, said, "Iwakuni is where Tama began. In communities at various levels, such as family, village, and school, Tama learns with her whole body about both the sunny love and the heart-breaking harshness of the world...I thought to myself, how lucky Tama is to be able to take such an important first step with such encouraging and cool people! I would like to fully absorb the incredible power of everyone's expressions and play Tama to the best of my ability. I can't wait for the big ship that is 'Blossom' to begin moving!"
Production manager Murayama Shunpei commented, "We have introduced the people who live in Iwakuni, the hometown of our protagonist, Hano Tama, and who have a major influence on Tama's youth. The Hano father and mother, who have a unique atmosphere; the cheerful Iwataya family, the neighbors; relatives who suddenly appear; and the friends who support Tama. In Iwakuni, where the story begins, events that could be said to be the origins of Tama, the novelist, unfold one after another. I am very excited and can't wait to start filming 'Blossom' to see what kind of flowers the passionate cast will instill in their characters, add color, and make them bloom."
"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."
