Akari Takaishi , who plays the lead role of Toki in the NHK Asadora drama series "Bakebake " (NHK General, Monday-Saturday 8:00 AM, etc.), which will air its final episode on March 27, spoke about her feelings reflecting on the approximately one year of filming, her thoughts on Tommy Bastow, who played her husband Heaven, and the highlights of the final week which starts on March 23.
◇ "Bakebake" means "Everything is perfect."
Takaishi-san said that becoming the heroine of a Asadora had been her dream since she was a child. When asked about her feelings now that filming has finished, she said thoughtfully, "I am so glad that it was ' Bakebake.' I think it was fun precisely because it was ' Bakebake,' and the staff, cast, subject matter, script, everything was perfect for me."
"I consider it a miracle that I was able to play the lead role in a Asadora, which was my dream. It suited me so well, I had so much fun on set, and everyone involved in the production respected each other. Being able to be a part of such a set for a year was a truly invaluable experience."
Takaishi began filming on April 2nd last year and wrapped up on February 7th this year. Reflecting on the moment of completion, she revealed, "After we finished shooting the last scene, the staff told me to wait a moment. When the door opened, many of the cast members I had worked with on ' Bakebake' up to that point had come out."
"Despite their busy schedules, they went out of their way to come all the way to Osaka, and I thought, 'Is it really okay for me to be this happy?' Everyone's expressions were so warm, and it was a strange feeling. Rather than a sense of accomplishment, it felt like I was witnessing an unbelievable scene, not quite grasping what was happening, and I had this floating feeling, wondering if it was really over. I also received instant photos with messages from the staff and cast. They were filled with messages, and reading each one brought me to tears; I think they've become a treasure I'll cherish for a lifetime."
After an intense year-long filming period, she commented on her own transformation, saying, "I've become much faster at memorizing lines."
"I think I've gotten about 200 times faster (laughs). We're filming every day, so there's no time to say that the lines are hard to memorize, so I memorized them desperately. Sometimes I had to memorize them in a hurry the day before, and I thought that was the 'initiation' of a Asadora. Also, sometimes I'd slip into dialect. I'd say 'washite' (why) a lot (laughs)."
◇What are your impressions of Tommy Bastow, who plays Heaven?
Toki said that when she first met Tommy Bastow, who played her husband Heaven, "I had a feeling that we could work together for a year, and that we really clicked." In the early part of the story, Toki and Heaven were in a relationship as maid and employer, but they gradually became attracted to each other and eventually became husband and wife.
"As our relationship in the play changed, I felt that we were increasingly supporting each other. It was like he was supporting me, and also supporting Tommy. It was very reassuring, and I gradually began to feel emotions similar to Toki's feelings towards Heaven, like 'I want to protect' and 'I want to support' him."
Regarding her impression of Basto, she said, "He's very free-spirited, but also very observant of those around him. I think the kindness and charm that Tommy possesses are overflowing in the character of Heaven."
"I think it was because of Tommy that the character of Heaven was so charming, so cute, yet so scary when he got angry, which made the role so convincing. I'm the type of person who wants to loosen up my rigid parts and let go of the idea that 'it has to be this way,' but Tommy is someone who has let go of all of that. I was often drawn in by Tommy's freedom. Heaven's lines came out because he was living the role, and that was something I learned from and something I really admire."
◇The final week will be "a fitting ending for ' Bakebake'"
In the 25th week, "It's a Spooky Thing, But It's Wonderful," which begins on March 23rd, "KWAIDAN," a book written by Toki and Heaven together, arrives from America. The family is filled with happiness, but a few days later, Heaven's health suddenly takes a turn for the worse... and the story unfolds from there.
Reflecting on the final week of filming, Takaishi said, "There's a crucial climax scene, but we did almost no rehearsals and went straight into the actual shoot, so I feel like what came out in that scene was 'Toki himself'."
"I'd always wondered how that moment, which I knew would eventually come, would be portrayed. When I read the script, the way that scene was depicted was different from what I'd imagined, and that's what made it so ' Bakebake'... It's not a grand story, but a work that depicts everyday life, and that's precisely why it leaves such a sense of loneliness."
In the final week, the book "Omoide no Ki" (Record of Memories), written by Setsu Koizumi, the model for Toki, recounts her memories with her husband, Yakumo.
Regarding the highlights of the final episodes, Takaishi says, "In week 24, the 'ghost story' is finally completed. I would be happy if you could watch it in real time until the very end to see what form it takes for the two of them."
"Thank you for watching for so long. I'm so happy that you've loved it so much. This final episode is the culmination of the six months we've gone through. I think it's a fitting ending for ' Bakebake,' so I hope you'll enjoy interpreting it in your own way."
