Akari Takaishi Tommy Bastow , who plays Lefkada Asadora, the husband of the main character Toki (Takaishi), in the NHK morning drama series "Bakebake " (NHK General, Monday-Saturday 8:00 AM, etc.), starring Takaishi Akari, spoke about his current feelings and future prospects. The drama has only its final week of broadcasting left, and Basto, who stayed in Osaka for filming and says he "became more like a Kansai person,"
◇Appearing in a Asadora is "like a dream come true"
Bastow, now 34 years old, was selected for the role of Heaven from among 1767 applicants after an audition. He started his acting career at the age of 14 and gained attention for his role as Father Martin Arvit, one of the main characters in the drama "SHOGUN," which was produced and starred in by Hiroyuki Sanada.
Bastou's 20-year acting career hasn't always been smooth sailing, and there have been times when he had no work. He smiles and says, "I'm very grateful to have been chosen as a regular cast member for the Asadora and to have work for a whole year."
"Since I was a child, my father showed me movies from all over the world, and I watched a lot of Japanese films. I especially love the films of director Akira Kurosawa and Toshiro Mifune. I've always wanted to be an actor since I was a boy who loved movies. I studied Japanese for over 10 years, and I've loved Japan since I was a child, so being able to appear on a Japanese TV program, especially a Asadora, felt like a dream come true."
While savoring the joy of appearing in "Bakebake," Bastou admitted to feeling some apprehension before filming began. "Yakumo Koizumi was a great man, so I felt a sense of responsibility and nervous about how to portray him," Bastou recalled.
"But, interestingly, my feelings changed after visiting his grave. Instead of seeing Lafcadio Hearn as a great man, I began to see him as just a human being. Like me, Hearn came to an unfamiliar country and gave it his all. I really empathized with that. He was just a human being, and so am I. Once I came to think that way, I was able to fully immerse myself in the role."
◇What are your impressions of Akari Takaishi?
Basto said that he and Takaishi, who plays his wife, had great chemistry from the start of filming. "From the moment we met, she spoke to me very kindly. Acting with Akari has been a truly meaningful experience. My acting is thanks to Akari; emotional acting comes out naturally," he said.
In the early part of the story, Heaven and Toki were employer and maid. They gradually fell in love and became husband and wife, but when exactly did Heaven fall in love with Toki?
To this question, Bastou replied, "When Heaven got sick, she recovered thanks to Toki's care, and I think Toki thought, 'Ah, she'll make a good wife.' Also, it was thanks to Akari's acting."
"Akari's expressions and gestures were so cute, and I was charmed not only as Heaven but also as Tommy. I think I might have fallen in love too (laughs)," he said jokingly, praising Takaishi's acting.
◇What are the future prospects?
Basto, who is fluent in Japanese and known for his love of Japan, reflects on his time in Japan while filming "Bakebake" and laughs, saying, "I lived in Osaka, so I think I've become more like a Kansai person."
"I've had experiences where phrases like 'I don't know,' 'Why?' and 'I don't get it' just naturally came out of my mouth (laughs). The staff took me out to eat, and I made a lot of friends in Osaka. People in Osaka are friendly and easy to talk to, and the atmosphere is more relaxed than in Tokyo, so maybe that's why it suits me."
In preparing for the role of Heaven, Yakumo Koizumi spent a year reading countless biographies and letters from Lafcadio Hearn, and even changing his posture and gait to embody the character. When asked about the actors who served as his role models, Bastow replied, "Christian Bale and Malcolm McDowell."
"I think Christian Bale is amazing because he's so committed to his roles that he even gains or loses weight depending on the film, changing his appearance completely. Malcolm McDowell is the actor who played the lead in the movie 'A Clockwork Orange.' My father showed me this movie when I was eight years old, and that's what sparked my desire to become an actor. It's a radical film, but I was drawn to the protagonist's anti-heroic nature. As for Japanese actors, Toshiro Mifune. He's simply so cool."
Having become completely accustomed to Japan, he spoke of his future plans, saying, "I want to continue working in Japan until the day I die."
"Even after the Asadora ends and I return to England, I want to come back to Japan to do more work. In Japan, I'd like to try my hand at stage acting someday. TV and movies are great, but I want to feel the audience's reaction more directly. Also, I want to do a world tour with my band, 'FranKo,' where I'm the vocalist."
Finally, she sent a message to the viewers saying, "I am truly grateful and honored to have been able to work in Japan and to have received such positive feedback from everyone. Thank you so much!"
