Japanese comedian Bakarhythm appeared on Nippon Broadcasting's "Bakarhythm The Radio Show" on March 25, 2025, discussing the casting of Akira Kakuta from the comedy trio Tokyo 03 in the popular Japanese TV drama "Hot Spot." This revelation came during a filling-in appearance, as the regular host of "Nights The Radio Show" was absent due to spring break. Bakarhythm's insights provided a humorous and candid outlook on the production process behind the series.
As a surprise twist, Nobuyuki Tsuru, known for being a dedicated fan of the show, also joined the discussion. Tsuru experienced a face fracture during a pilgrimage to a location featured in the drama, illustrating his commitment to the series. During the show, Bakarhythm went further, revealing a singular concern he had regarding Kakuta’s participation in what is known as a comedic role. A specific scene raised eyebrows: a bath scene where the character, Takahashi, played by Kakuta, finds himself hiding naked in the ceiling of a large bathhouse. Bakarhythm joked about the potential awkwardness of the situation, remarking that Kakuta has a very noticeable umbilical hernia. "You all may not know this, but Kakuta has a hilarious outie belly button, almost cartoonish in its appearance," Bakarhythm shared, setting the stage for laughter.
The discussion took an interesting turn when Tsuru asked Bakarhythm if Kakuta was the only viable actor for the role, to which Bakarhythm hesitated, admitting that he had initially considered other actors but found nothing quite as suitable. "I had been looking for someone who could manage both the comedic aspects effectively, and it was during a brainstorming session that I thought of Kakuta. When I called the producer, he informed me that Michi Mizuno had also just suggested Kakuta, and it was a perfect coincidence that encouraged the ultimate decision to cast him," Bakarhythm explained.
This unanimous decision was made, although Bakarhythm confessed to having been concerned about how this portrayal might affect Kakuta’s character, particularly due to the humorous notion that the alien's traits might stem from Kakuta’s visible physical quirks. "If an alien character is depicted with an outie belly button, viewers might think it is part of his alien abilities or something," Bakarhythm noted, laughing throughout the exchange.
Mizuno, the series director, chimed in with his experiences filming the bath scene, admitting the challenges they faced to keep Kakuta’s belly hidden from the camera for the sake of the narrative’s coherence. "It was tough to film that scene since we needed to avoid showing Kakuta’s stomach completely", he explained. "In a normal scenario, you would want to cut away from the waist down, but for Kakuta, we had to be cautious given that the positioning needed to be very specific. The cameraman had to become quite creative with angles and placements to ensure Kakuta’s stomach wasn’t visible during filming".
As the episode concluded, both Bakarhythm and Mizuno impressed upon their audience the genial relationship they utilize during filming. The playful discussion and comical anecdotes revealed not only the behind-the-scenes view of a comedy show brought to life on screen but also heightened audiences’ anticipation for the series as its episodes progress.
With such entertaining stories emerging from the production, it is clear that the comedic aspect of show business extends beyond mere performances into the realm of storytelling and camaraderie among actors and minds behind the scenes. The insights from Bakarhythm and Mizuno ultimately left listeners looking forward to more from "Hot Spot" and the forthcoming episodes featuring the unique humor of Toky 03 and Bakarhythm’s writing.
