A press conference announcing the production and lead actor of the 2028 Taiga drama was held on Getsuku at the NHK Broadcasting Center in Shibuya, Tokyo. It was announced that the title would be "John Manjiro" and that Kento Yamazaki would play the lead role. Executive producer Mio Ietomi explained the reasons for casting Yamazaki.
Yamazaki has starred in numerous major productions, including the "Kingdom" and "Golden Kamuy" film series. Regarding Yamazaki's recent success, Ietomi reveals, "I've always thought he's someone who really stands out and shines in the spotlight, appearing in numerous major films and streaming dramas."
When asked why Yamazaki was cast in the lead role, Ietomi replied, "It wasn't just because of his good looks or the fact that he's often played the lead role, but also because I felt that he's the kind of person who doesn't get in the way of the people next to him (in his works), but instead brings out the best in the troupe as a whole. Moreover, when I watched him act, I felt that he's the kind of lead actor who gently leaves it up to the viewer to decide how to interpret the role."
Furthermore, regarding his impression of meeting Yamazaki, he said, "His reactions and observations to each thing he sees and touches are pure, and he shows genuine, radiant surprise, joy, and a desire to learn more. I think the vividness of his reactions is his greatest charm. I believe that John Manjiro (played by Yamazaki) was exactly that kind of person."
"John Manjiro" is the 67th NHK Taiga drama, depicting the life of John Manjiro, who was active from the late Edo period to the Meiji era. The script is written by Yuki Fujimoto. Set in 19th-century Japan, America, and the Pacific Ocean, it is a grand and moving epic about ordinary people who become "castaways," depicting a series of life-or-death survival struggles and the romance of a long-awaited reunion. Yamazaki plays the protagonist of this work, Nakahama Manjiro, also known as "John Manjiro."
