Actress Imada Mio, 28, is set to take center stage as the heroine of NHK's upcoming morning drama "Anpan," which is scheduled to premiere on March 31, 2025.
The excitement kicked off over the weekend with a pretalk show held on March 10, 2025, at the NHK Hall located in Shibuya, Tokyo. Alongside Imada, the star-studded cast features Kitamura Takumi as the future manga artist Yanai Isamu, Kawai Yumi as the second daughter, Ranako, Hara Nanaoka as the third daughter, Meiko, Nakazawa Motoki as Isamu's younger brother, Yanai Chiaki, and Abe Sadawo portraying the enigmatic Iemura Sogichi.
The atmosphere was celebratory during the show, particularly as Kawai Yumi had the chance to reunite with Abe Sadawo, her on-screen father from last year’s TBS drama, “#Too Much of the Wrong Type!” They shared their first public encounter following the Élan d'or Awards ceremony earlier this February. The moment brought laughter to the audience when Abe greeted Kawai with, "Hello," and she playfully replied, "Hello."
Abe's character, Iemura, is described as a carefree bread maker who supports the family of Imada’s character, Nobu. Kawai remarked on Abe's dynamic presence, saying he acts like the ‘jam uncle’ character from popular folklore, adding depth to the story. She noted, "He is such a wonderful senior, bringing the element of bread to the narrative, acting as an unrecognized pillar of support for the family."
"Anpan" is the 112th morning drama produced by NHK and features original scripts written by the acclaimed Miho Nakazono, known for many successful series, including “Doctor X — Surgeon Michiko Daimon.” The drama portrays the realities of a couple grappling with their lives amid tumultuous times, inspired by the life of famed manga artist Takashi Yanase, the creator of the beloved character 'Anpanman,' and his wife, Baisho Chizu. Nakazono is making her second return to the morning drama scene after penning the script for "Hanako to Anne" back during the first half of 2014.
For Imada, this new role is especially significant as it marks her second appearance in NHK morning dramas. Her first was as the lead character in "Okaeri Mone" which aired during the first half of 2021. "I love the character, and I hope to portray her faithfully. This will be my first time leading the show, which is both thrilling and nerve-wracking," she expressed during the event.
Imada and her co-stars all expressed their anticipation and commitment to bringing this heartfelt narrative to viewers, hoping the tale resonates widely across generations. The put-together cast aims for each performance to honor living through a challenging period of history, pulling from personal stories and collective experiences.
The upcoming series has already garnered substantial attention, with reports indicating high enthusiasm among potential viewers, evident during the pretalk show where the audience engaged eagerly with the actors. This continues NHK's tradition of producing impactful and culturally relevant dramas.
"Anpan" is set to air every day from Monday to Saturday at 8:00 AM, with Saturdays featuring weekly recaps. With many eager for newly crafted narrative strands infused with nostalgia and emotion, anticipation is building as the debut looms closer.
Fans of Japanese television and literature alike are advised to mark their calendars for March 31 to catch this monumental narrative. With seasoned talents on board, expectations are high for this new series, as it dives deep not onlyinto fascinating character dynamics but also the lush backdrop of cultural history and personal evolution.