New cast members for " Blossom, " the NHK Asadora drama series for the second half of 2026 starring Shizuka Ishibashi, were announced on Getsuku. Kenichi Endo will play Daisaburo Kurosaki, the editor-in-chief of the literary magazine "Shuto Koron," where the protagonist, Tama Hano (Ishibashi), begins her career as a writer, and Arata Iura will play the deputy editor-in-chief, Yuzo Yamanaka. It was also revealed that the music will be handled by the three-member band "fox capture plan."
Endo plays Kurosaki, the editor-in-chief of "Shuto Koron," one of Japan's leading literary magazines, and a leading figure in the literary world with his bold personality and keen aesthetic sense. This will be Endo's fourth appearance in a Asadora, following "Romance" (first half of 1984), "Teppan" (second half of 2010), and "Shizuka Ishibashi, meets Kurosaki!"
Yamanaka, played by Iura, is Kurosaki's (Endo) right-hand man and a highly capable editor who supports "Shuto Koron," a publishing house with many top-tier writers, with his calm judgment. Iura describes him as "a person who witnesses the moment when Tama (Ishibashi) begins her journey as a writer and continues to watch over her growth." This will be his second appearance in a Asadora since the 100th series, "Natsuzora" (first half of 2019), and he commented, "' Blossom' is a milestone work, being the 50th production by the Osaka Broadcasting Station. I feel it is a strange twist of fate that I have been given a connection to such a milestone. I feel very honored to be a part of the history of Asadora that has been woven over many years and to be able to play a part in passing the baton."
Fox Capture Plan, who are in charge of the music, commented, "We are extremely honored to be involved in such a special work as a morning Asadora, which has been loved by so many people for so long. We will color the world of ' Blossom' with music while accompanying the journey of the main characters. We will deliver the music with all our hearts so that it will become one of the things you look forward to every morning."
Shunpei Murayama, the production supervisor, commented on the roles played by Endo and Iura, saying, "The two are contrasting characters, but they are a literary world strategist duo who are always driven by a 'hunger' to discover young talent and unleash that talent upon the world. How will they meet Tama, who has been forced to come to Tokyo from Iwakuni...? Please pay attention to that."
Regarding fox capture plan, they described it as follows: "The warm and deep tones and rhythms support Tama's all-out step forward. The playful incorporation of swing jazz, which was popular at the time, is also wonderful, creating a rich musical world that naturally encourages viewers of the drama."
"Blossom" is a story modeled after Chiyo Uno, a writer who lived through the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa eras and constantly sought freedom. The protagonist, Tama Hano, leaves her hometown of Iwakuni, Yamaguchi, and, through encounters with fascinating people, pursues her dreams and plunges into the turbulent times of the Taisho and Showa eras. The screenplay is written by Tsuyoshi Sakurai and Yoshiko Komatsu, known for their work on "Your Things Are Here" and "Boogie Woogie."
The full comments from Mr. Endo, Mr. Iura, and others are as follows.
◇Comment from Kenichi Endo
This will be my fourth appearance in a Asadora, "Blossom." This time, I'll be playing Kurosaki, the editor-in-chief of a magazine. Kurosaki eats and laughs a lot, and at first glance, he seems like a rough person who lives life in a hurry. However, deep down he has an exceptionally sharp energy that allows him to see people's talents. Please look forward to seeing what happens when Tama, played by Shizuka Ishibashi, meets Kurosaki!
◇Comment from Arata Iura
I will be playing the role of Deputy Editor-in-Chief Yamanaka of Shuto Koron in the NHK morning drama series "Blossom." Yamanaka is a character who witnesses the moment when the protagonist, Tama, begins her journey as a writer and watches over her growth. I am portraying the difficulty and preciousness of believing in new talent and potential, accompanying her as she spreads her wings and soars high, and illuminating her path. I myself participated in "Natsuzora," the 100th NHK morning drama series. And this time, "Blossom" is a milestone work, being the 50th production by the Osaka Broadcasting Station. I feel it is a strange twist of fate that I have been given the opportunity to be involved in such milestones by chance. I feel very honored to be a part of the history of Asadora that has been woven over many years and to be able to carry on the baton. Tama's figure, facing the changes of the times and forging her own path, will surely give courage to many people and resonate with their hearts. I look forward to the day when I can deliver this work to everyone every morning.
◇Comments from fox capture plan
We are fox capture plan, and we are honored to be in charge of the music for the 2026 fall season NHK morning drama "Blossom." We are deeply grateful to be involved in such a special work as a Asadora, which has been loved by so many people for so long. We will color the world of "Blossom" with music, accompanying the journey of the main characters. We will deliver music with all our hearts so that it becomes one of the things you look forward to every morning. We hope you will look forward to the broadcast.
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Three individuals with distinct personalities formed in 2011, aiming to create an uncharted piano trio sound. In parallel with their live performances, they have also worked on music production for numerous visual works, including dramas, films, anime, commercials, and games. In 2023, they were in charge of the grand opening of the 74th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen Gassen. In 2026, the drama "The Hot Spot," for which they composed the soundtrack, was nominated for the MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026. With "RE:FRAME" as their theme for their 15th anniversary year, they will be holding a nationwide solo tour starting this fall.
◇Comment from Production Supervisor, Shunpei Murayama
This time, we are pleased to announce that Kenichi Endo and Arata Iura will be playing the roles of the head editors of "Shuto Koron," the literary magazine that opens the door to the protagonist, Tama Hano, becoming a novelist. We are delighted that Mr. Endo will be playing the boisterous Kurosaki and Mr. Iura the calm and collected Yamanaka. The two are contrasting characters, but they are a literary world's mastermind duo who are always filled with a "hunger" to discover young talent and release that talent into the world. How will they meet Tama, who has been forced to come to Tokyo from Iwakuni...? Please look forward to it. The musical accompaniment for the film will be provided by fox capture plan. The warm and deep tones and rhythms support the protagonist, Tama Hano, as she takes a determined step forward in this turbulent era. The playful incorporation of swing jazz, which was popular at the time, is wonderful, and I can't wait to deliver this rich musical world to viewers as soon as possible, a world that will naturally encourage them as they watch the drama.
