The drama series W-30 "Nagatan and Ao to - Ichika's Cooking Book - 2" (Fridays at 11pm), starring actor Mugi Kadowaki and co-starring Ryuto Sakuma of the popular group "ACEes", will be broadcast and streamed on WOWOW from February 20th. Official interviews with Kadowaki and Sakuma from the start of filming (end of June 2025) have been released.
The drama is based on the manga of the same name by Yuki Isogai (Kodansha). Set in Kyoto shortly after the war, the gourmet love story begins when the protagonist, chef Ichika Kuwanoki (played by Kadowaki), marries off in an arranged marriage to Shu Yamaguchi (played by Sakuma), the third son of a long-established hotel owner in Osaka, in order to keep her family's struggling restaurant, Kuwanoki, afloat. The previous series, "Nagatan and Ao to - Ichika's Cooking Book," was broadcast and streamed in 2023, and drew attention for the frustrating love story between a couple with a 15-year age difference and Ichika's "delicious-looking dishes."
The previous film depicted a couple who met through an unwanted marriage, gradually growing closer and becoming a real couple. This film begins immediately after that, and sees the arrival of a "new family member" in the couple's home. With the arrival of Sakae, the second son of the Yamaguchi family and Amane's older brother, Kuwanoki, which had begun to recover from financial difficulties, faces another challenge.
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-Please tell us your thoughts on the start of filming that just began.
Kadowaki: It's been three years.
Sakuma: It's been three years. We shot some intense scenes from the very first day.
Kadowaki: It was an intense scene that could not have been performed without having seen the previous film.
Sakuma: The scenes we're about to shoot are even more intense.
Kadowaki: That's true.
Sakuma: That's why it really feels like I'm "coming home." Many of the staff members were with us from the previous film.
Kadowaki: It really feels like home. It's been three years, but it feels like we're continuing filming from the previous film, and I think that's something only this team can do in this atmosphere.
Sakuma: There is a costume designer who is the same generation as my grandmother, and she was thinking of taking a break from work, but she decided to come back for "Nagatan to Ao to 2." I was so happy.
Kadowaki: He loved Sakuma like his own son. He was in tears when the previous film wrapped up.
--It's been three years since you last performed together. Has your impression of each other changed?
Kadowaki: I had the opportunity to meet Sakuma when he was playing a different role in a different production, but it feels like it's been a long time since I've seen Shu in this outfit with glasses, so I'm a little embarrassed (laughs).
Sakuma: Over the past three years, I've had the opportunity to see Kadowaki-san's stage performances several times, and of course I've also seen her film works, which has only strengthened my impression that she's an incredible actress. I was thinking, "This person is amazing!" in a good way, when today arrived, but Kadowaki-san was just so normal, just as nice as ever, that I didn't feel anything (laughs). The first scene we shot together today was the grave-visiting scene in episode 3 (broadcast and streaming on March 6th), and we immediately hit it off. It was thanks to Kadowaki-san that we were able to create that kind of atmosphere.
Kadowaki: It's a bit embarrassing (laughs). But as Sakuma said earlier, thanks to everyone on the Kyoto team, I'm happy to be able to work in such a warm atmosphere that it doesn't feel like it's just the first day.
Sakuma: That's true. This work is set in Kyoto, so I've been at the temple all day today, but the post-war Kyoto historical background and the clothing and all that has made me feel like "it's really begun." To be honest, until yesterday, I didn't really feel like "season 2 is starting." There are new cast members, so I thought it might actually feel like a different work. But today, filming with Kadowaki-san, I thought "This is it, this is it."
-Have you done any preparations before filming for season 2 began?
Kadowaki: I rewatched the previous series. It didn't really feel like the second season was starting, but when I came to Kyoto for the costume fitting, I was impressed by how much the director and the staff had studied, how they had reviewed the previous series, and how much effort had gone into making each and every prop reflect the historical background, and that really got me fired up. Up until then, I didn't want to include elements that would be like replicating myself from three years ago, and I didn't think I needed to rewatch the previous series, but I decided to rewatch it after all.
Sakuma: I also heard that the staff were very enthusiastic about the project, so I rewatched the previous film and, of course, read the original novel before reading the script for this one. After that, we started the actual script readings and costume fittings, and I'm getting more and more immersed in this world.
--Ichi-ichi's lines are in Kyoto dialect, and Amane's are in Kansai dialect. What do you think about the dialects?
Kadowaki: It's not like the Kyoto dialect is coming back, but there are some parts that remain that were different from when I started from scratch in the previous work, so my challenge this time is to approach the Kyoto dialect without forcing myself too much.
Sakuma: This time, Shu also has a lot of lines in Kansai dialect, so I thought I'd do as much as I could beforehand. That is, I just listened to the audio data given to me by the dialect instructor and memorized it like music. Kadowaki-san acts entirely in Kyoto dialect, so the amount of energy she uses is completely different from mine, and I think that's amazing.
--You filmed in Kyoto for two months. Is there anything you enjoy that is unique to Kyoto?
Sakuma: I've gotten so familiar with Kyoto that I can get around without a navigation system.
Kadowaki: Really?
Sakuma-san: Yes. Really. You don't need a navigation system anymore in the upper part of Kyoto.
Kadowaki-san: That's amazing. You have the map in your head.
Sakuma: Yes. So I'm not really in the mood for a trip anymore, so I'd like to find a niche place rather than a "Kyoto-esque place." I'd also like to find a niche public bathhouse in my free time.
Kadowaki: Also, since I'm working with Ohara-san (Chizuru Ohara, the food researcher who supervised the dishes) again, I'd like to ask her to recommend some good restaurants.
Sakuma-san: That's amazing! I haven't heard about it yet.
Kadowaki: I'd love to go out to eat with Ohara-san. And of course, I'd love to eat as much of the food she makes as possible!
Sakuma: Today's episode started with a scene where I was eating lunch at university, and honestly, the tamagoyaki was so delicious I almost cried. I seriously thought, "What is this tamagoyaki with no waste!" So instead of the lunch that was prepared for me, I ate Ohara's lunch. The only thing I ate during filming was the tamagoyaki, but the other side dishes, like the simmered eggplant, were all really delicious.
Kadowaki: So, did you ever think, "I have to share this!" and bring it over?
Sakuma: Not at all (laughs).
Kadowaki: Why?! (laughs)
Sakuma: I ate it all on the bus on the way there.
Kadowaki: It's true that Ohara's cooking is the highlight of this work.
-Finally, please give a message to our viewers.
Sakuma: There are quite a few developments that are different from the previous film, so I think it will be enjoyed by both those who are looking forward to the warm feeling of the previous film and those who want a bit more excitement. With the addition of new cast member Sakae, played by Toranosuke Kobayashi, the three Yamaguchi brothers will finally be reunited, so I hope everyone will look forward to that as well. First of all, we will cherish the atmosphere of the previous film, while also taking on the challenge of filming to make it an even better film.
Kadowaki: I think the main focus of the previous series was the story of running the shop and the relationship between the two characters, but in the second season, the two will be joined by a boy named Michiya (Mano Riku), who will be adopted by the two. I think the highlight will be seeing the two characters gradually become a family as they build a stronger bond of trust. And with Shu going to Tokyo, the two will be living apart, so there will be many developments that will make you realize the importance of family and test the bond between the two characters. While the series is packed with the careful production and warmth of the previous series, please look forward to the new story developments.
