It was announced on March 20th that freelance announcer Yumiko Udo will appear in the TBS Tuesday drama "Toki Sude ni Osushi!?" (Tuesdays at 10 PM), starring Hiromi Nagasaku, which will begin airing on April 7th. This will be Udo's first appearance in a television drama series, and she will play Izumi Isoda, a high school classmate and best friend of Minato Machiyama (Nagasaku).
The drama tells the story of Minato, who, having finished raising her children, is bewildered by the newfound free time she has at the age of 50, but begins her second life and jumps into a "sushi academy" where she can become a sushi chef in three months.
After working as an announcer for NHK, Ms. Udo went freelance. She has experience appearing in video productions as a news Caster and narrator, but this will be her first time appearing in a TV drama series and taking on a full-fledged acting role. The character she plays, Izumi, is the one who invited Minato to the sushi academy with the idea of "Let's become sushi chefs!" Unlike the steady Minato, she is a free-spirited woman who comes up with outlandish ideas and rushes headlong into them. She currently works as a Pilates instructor.
It was also announced that Nekozawa Tsubaki will play the role of Komiyama Ranko, the owner of "Beteranko," a snack bar that Izumi frequents.
◇Comment from Yumiko Udo
I thought that playing the role of Hiromi Nagasaku's best friend was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so I mustered up the courage to jump in, thinking, "I don't care if I make a fool of myself or what people say!" This is almost my first time acting, and since filming began, I've been surprised by the careful shooting and the accumulation of acting, which is so different from live broadcasts. When I get nervous on set, Ms. Nagasaku kindly speaks to me and creates an environment that makes it easy for me to work. Guided by her natural demeanor, I'm able to approach the filming with ease.
Izumi, the character I play, is a refreshingly straightforward woman who, despite struggling in a male-dominated society, gracefully takes the next step forward. Having someone like her nearby—someone who brightens up those around her and makes you think, "Oh well, it's okay" even when you're feeling down—would be incredibly reassuring.
These days we're often told to relax, but I think there are times when we really have to persevere with all our might. This drama is like an aromatherapy scent for people who are working hard, and it gives you a gentle push in the back during those times. I would be happy if watching the drama makes you think, "I'll do my best tomorrow too!"
