On February 20, 2026, it was revealed that Simon Pegg will appear in NHK’s special drama 「魯山人のかまど」 (Rosanji no Kamado). Known worldwide for his role as Benji Dunn in the “Mission: Impossible” series, Pegg will 共演 (kyōen, co-star) with veteran Japanese actor Tatsuya Fuji.
For fans of both British cinema and Japanese drama, this unexpected collaboration is big news.
Simon Pegg as a 大富豪 Rockefeller III
In the drama, Pegg plays the American 大富豪 (daifugō, tycoon) Rockefeller III, who appears in Episode 4.
The story centers on Kitaōji Rosanjin, an artist who viewed Japanese cuisine as a form of beauty and art. Rosanjin is portrayed by Tatsuya Fuji. Actress Kotone Furukawa plays Tanoue Yoneko, a journalist who visits Rosanjin’s home to record his memoirs.
Rockefeller III deepens his 洞察 (dōsatsu, insight) into the Japanese 美意識 (biishiki, aesthetic sense) 〜を通じて (o tsūjite, through) Rosanjin’s hospitality. In other words, it is through being welcomed and served by Rosanjin that Rockefeller begins to understand something profound about Japanese culture.
Pegg commented:
「台本を読んでとてもワクワクしました。」 Daihon o yonde totemo wakuwaku shimashita. “I felt very excited when I read the script.”
The verb ワクワクする (wakuwaku suru) expresses a bubbling, positive excitement—like the feeling before a big event.
He continued:
「日本の出演者のみなさんとともに、このドラマに出られることをとても光栄に思っています。」 Nihon no shutsuen-sha no minasan to tomo ni, kono dorama ni derareru koto o totemo kōei ni omotteimasu. “I feel very honored to be able to appear in this drama together with the Japanese cast.”
Here, 光栄 (kōei) means “honor” or “privilege,” a word frequently used in formal Japanese speech.
According to Pegg, Rockefeller experiences a sudden understanding of the essence of Japanese culture in a beautiful scene that feels almost like a divine revelation and symbolizes reconciliation. Filming at the actual place where Rosanjin lived and cooked was, he said, a wonderful experience.
Rockefeller’s wife, Blanchette, is played by Lisa Stegmayr.
A Star-Studded Cast
The drama also features:
- Michitaka Tsutsui as artist Isamu Noguchi
- Hitoto Yo as actress and singer Yamaguchi Yoshiko (also known as Ri Kōran)
- Akira Emoto as politician Shigeru Yoshida
Other cast members include Yuko Nakamura, Masatō Ibu, Toshinori Omi, Shinnosuke Mitsushima, and Ryo Hiraoka.
The script and direction are handled by Yuji Nakae, known for films such as “Nabbie’s Love” and “The Zen Diary” (Tsuchi o Kurau Jūnikagetsu).
Broadcast Information
「魯山人のかまど」 (Rosanji no Kamado) will air:
- NHK General: Starting March 31, 2026 (Tuesdays, 22:00–22:45)
- NHK BS Premium 4K: Starting March 6, 2026 (Fridays, 20:15–21:00)
The drama will run for four episodes in total.
Cultural Context: Who Was Rosanjin?
Kitaōji Rosanjin was known not only as a ceramic artist but also as a culinary aesthete. He believed that food presentation, tableware, and the dining environment were all part of artistic expression.
This idea connects directly to the word 美意識 (biishiki). In Japanese culture, aesthetics are not limited to paintings or sculptures—they extend to everyday life, including how food is prepared and served.
The drama’s focus on a Western tycoon gaining 洞察 (dōsatsu) into Japanese values 〜を通じて Rosanjin’s hospitality highlights a common theme in Japanese storytelling: cultural understanding through shared experience rather than explanation.
Learn Japanese from This Article
Key Vocabulary
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 共演 | kyōen | co-starring; appearing together |
| 出演 | shutsuen | to appear (in a show, film, etc.) |
| 大富豪 | daifugō | very wealthy person; tycoon |
| 美意識 | biishiki | sense of beauty; aesthetic sense |
| 洞察 | dōsatsu | insight; deep understanding |
| ワクワクする | wakuwaku suru | to feel excited |
| 光栄 | kōei | honor; privilege |
Grammar Spotlight
1. 〜ことがわかった
Meaning: “It was revealed that…” / “It became known that…”
From the article: > サイモン・ペッグが出演することがわかった。 > Saimon Peggu ga shutsuen suru koto ga wakatta. > “It was revealed that Simon Pegg will appear.”
Structure: [Plain form verb] + ことがわかった
Example:
- 彼が来ることがわかった。 Kare ga kuru koto ga wakatta. It was discovered that he will come.
This pattern is extremely common in news reporting.
2. 〜を通じて
Meaning: “Through; via”
From the story: > 魯山人のもてなしを通じて、日本人の美意識への洞察を深める。 > Rosanji no motenashi o tsūjite, Nihonjin no biishiki e no dōsatsu o fukameru. > “He deepens his insight into Japanese aesthetics through Rosanjin’s hospitality.”
Structure: Noun + を通じて
Example:
- 仕事を通じて多くを学びました。 Shigoto o tsūjite ōku o manabimashita. I learned a lot through my work.
Useful Expression
- 〜を光栄に思う …o kōei ni omou “To feel honored about…”
Example:
- お会いできて光栄に思います。 O-ai dekite kōei ni omoimasu. I’m honored to meet you.
This phrase is especially useful in formal or professional settings.
Continue Learning
Working on your reading skills? Our Katakana Essentials: Adapting Global Words to Japanese lesson is a great next step.
Working on your reading skills? Our Introduction to Kanji: Pictorial Foundations of Japanese Script lesson is a great next step.
To understand more about entertainment, explore our Basic Vocabulary Building: Embracing Words Without Latin Ties lesson.
Cross-cultural collaboration, artistic philosophy, and language-rich interviews—this drama offers more than entertainment. It’s also a window into how Japanese media expresses respect, excitement, and aesthetic values.
これからもよろしくお願いします。 Kore kara mo yoroshiku onegaishimasu.