Takashi Okabe plays Matsuno Tsukasasuke, the father of the heroine Toki (played by Takaishi Akari) in the NHK morning drama "Bakeke" (General TV, Monday to Saturday 8:00 AM and others), starring Takaishi Akari. He spoke about his thoughts on playing Tsukasasuke, memorable scenes, and what to look forward to in the future.
◇ The reaction from those around me made me realize that everyone was enjoying it.
Regarding the reaction from those around him, Okabe said, "I often receive positive feedback from viewers and people around me, such as 'it's interesting,' and I feel every day that people are enjoying it."
"There were scenes on air that I didn't recognize, and I was laughing as I watched the scene where they were searching for Heaven's beer, thinking, 'Oh, so that's how they were doing it,' or 'How were they skipping?' I'm thoroughly enjoying 'Bakeke' as a viewer. I think Fujiki Mitsuhiko's book is interesting, and even though I've done it myself, I think it's amazing when you look at it as a whole."
Okabe's character, Tsukasasuke, was a high-ranking samurai in the Matsue domain, but as the Meiji era began, he lost his income and found himself living in poverty. He struggles despite his clumsiness for the sake of his beloved family. He wants Toki to say he's "cool!"... That's the kind of character he is.
Tsukasa nosuke once tried his hand at selling rabbits, which ended up with him being in huge debt. In episode 97 (broadcast on February 16th), he was shown getting involved in a suspicious money-making scheme, leaving viewers dumbfounded.
Okano revealed, "While I was acting, there were times when I thought to myself, 'Enough is enough' and 'Grow up more' (laughs). But I love Tsukasasuke in my own way, and I act faithfully to the script."
"Tsukasa is an honest man who says what he thinks straight away. Because he is honest, what comes to mind instantly translates into action and words, and I think that this is for the sake of his family and for his own sake. This can irritate those around him, but I think he is serious and believes he is right. So when I play Tsukasa, I want to make sure that I don't come across as an idiot."
◇What scene left the most impression on you?
When asked about the most memorable scene, she recalled, "It was the scene at 14 weeks where we all yelled, 'Damn it!'"
"I think this scene was the moment when the Matsuno family realized, 'Finally, this time has come.' It was here that Toki called Tae 'Mama' for the first time, and the look on his face really touched me. I've seen Akari's incredible side many times, but that day was especially amazing. Toki, now an adult, was crying out like a child, and it reminded me of the scene when Toki first came to the Matsuno family home. Even now, when I think about it, tears well up in my eyes."
Regarding Tsukasa nosuke's decision to move from Matsue to Kumamoto, Okabe says, "Even today, I think it takes a lot of courage to leave your hometown and move somewhere else. I think it must have been a huge decision for Tsukasa nosuke as well."
"Family is important to Tsukasa, and he wants to be with them. He says he doesn't want to go back to the tenement house, and I think it's true that there are superficial calculations of pros and cons to it, but I think that at a deeper level, he cares about his family. I think that both of these factors contributed to his decision."
There is only about a month and a half left until the broadcast of "Bakeke." Regarding the highlights of the second half, he said, "When Tsukasasuke goes to Kumamoto, he has nothing to do and is bored. Because he doesn't have much to do, he makes even the smallest things into big incidents, and I think the development of the story around that will be interesting as well. I wonder if Tsukasasuke will live like this for the rest of his life, and I want him to live his life to the fullest. I hope that in the end, he lives in a way that makes people think, 'That person had a happy life.'"
"As a family, I think the highlight of the show is when the students and maids join in in Kumamoto and the people say this and that. I think the dialogue here is the true essence of Fujiki's script. I think the Matsuno family structure will continue to change, but I think it will be an interesting change, so I hope the viewers will enjoy watching it."
