On March 13, 2026, Akari Takaishi will appear on NHK’s morning program 「あさイチ」 (Asaichi) for a special 「プレミアムトーク」 (puremiamu tōku, Premium Talk), where she reflects on the 10-month filming journey of the morning drama 「ばけばけ」 (Babekake).
Takaishi played the ヒロイン (hiroin, heroine) Matsuno Toki in the NHK 連続テレビ小説（朝ドラ） (renzoku terebi shōsetsu (asadora)), Japan’s long-running serialized morning drama format. During the program, she will 振り返る (furikaeru, look back on) what she describes as a period filled with both tears and laughter.
Looking Back on “Babekake”
The March 13 broadcast of Asaichi will feature Takaishi revisiting the 10-month shoot of 「ばけばけ」—a production that lasted 10カ月にわたる (jukkagetsu ni wataru), meaning “spanning over 10 months.”
The drama tells the story of Toki, a heroine modeled after Koizumi Setsu, the daughter of a former samurai family. She meets an English teacher named Heaven, a character modeled on Lafcadio Hearn (also known in Japan as Koizumi Yakumo). Actor Tommy Bastow portrays Heaven in the series.
Toki and Heaven gradually 心を通わせる (kokoro o kayowaseru, connect emotionally) through their shared love of ghost stories. This theme of cross-cultural exchange—between Japan and the West—adds depth to the historical setting of the drama.
During the program, viewers will see 秘蔵映像 (hizō eizō, rare archival footage) from the production. Takaishi will also share stories about what she calls a “miracle day” when all her dreams came true at once, as well as behind-the-scenes anecdotes from the staff. One staff member reportedly said, “Every night at 9 p.m., Takaishi would…”—a story that will be revealed during the broadcast.
Another highlight is the 誕生秘話 (tanjō hiwa, behind-the-scenes story of how something was born) of a famous scene filmed at Lake Shinji in Shimane Prefecture. Takaishi will also 打ち明ける (uchiakeru, open up about) a personal “my boom”—a hobby or trend she was into—that supported her throughout the demanding shoot.
What Is an “Asadora”?
To fully appreciate this news, it helps to understand the cultural weight of an 朝ドラ (asadora).
An 連続テレビ小説 (renzoku terebi shōsetsu) literally means “serialized TV novel.” These morning dramas air daily on NHK and often run for about six months. For many actors, landing the role of ヒロイン (hiroin) is a major career milestone. The role often brings nationwide recognition.
Because asadora are watched by a wide range of viewers—from students to retirees—the actors become familiar faces across Japan. Appearing on 「あさイチ」 (Asaichi), which airs right after the morning drama, is almost a tradition for leads wrapping up or promoting their series.
Broadcast Information
Here are the details for Takaishi’s appearance:
- Program: 「あさイチ」プレミアムトーク (Asaichi Premium Talk)
- Date & Time: March 13, 2026 (Friday), 8:15–9:55 a.m.
- Channel: NHK General
- VTR Guest: Tommy Bastow
- Guest: Akari Takaishi
- Hosts: Hakata Daikichi / Suzuki Naoko
- Caster: Hakata Hanamaru
For fans of Babekake, this episode promises both emotional reflections and rare glimpses behind the scenes.
Learn Japanese from This Article
Key Vocabulary
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 連続テレビ小説（朝ドラ） | renzoku terebi shōsetsu (asadora) | serialized TV novel (morning drama) |
| ヒロイン | hiroin | heroine, female lead |
| 振り返る | furikaeru | to look back on, reflect |
| 秘蔵映像 | hizō eizō | rare/archival footage |
| 心を通わせる | kokoro o kayowaseru | to connect emotionally |
| 誕生秘話 | tanjō hiwa | behind-the-scenes origin story |
| 打ち明ける | uchiakeru | to open up, to confess |
| 〜にわたる | ~ni wataru | spanning over (a period of time) |
| 〜というN | ~to iu N | called / known as / that |
Grammar Spotlight
1. 〜にわたる (Spanning Over)
Structure: 期間 + にわたる + 名詞
Used to describe something that continues over a certain period.
Example from the article: 10カ月にわたる撮影 Jukkagetsu ni wataru satsuei Filming spanning 10 months
More examples:
3年間にわたる研究 San-nenkan ni wataru kenkyū Research spanning three years
全国にわたるツアー Zenkoku ni wataru tsuā A tour across the entire country
This pattern often appears in news reports and formal writing.
2. 〜というN (Called / Known As)
Structure: 言葉 + という + 名詞
It adds explanation or definition to a noun.
Example:
「奇跡の1日」というエピソード “Kiseki no ichinichi” to iu episōdo An episode called “The Miracle Day”
朝ドラという番組 Asadora to iu bangumi A program called a morning drama
You’ll see this pattern constantly in articles, interviews, and conversations when introducing new terms.
Useful Expressions
泣いて笑った (naite waratta) “Cried and laughed” — used to describe an emotional experience.
撮影を振り返る (satsuei o furikaeru) To look back on filming.
心を通わせる (kokoro o kayowaseru) To build a heartfelt connection.
These expressions are natural and frequently used in entertainment interviews.
Continue Learning
Working on your reading skills? Our Introduction to Kanji: Pictorial Foundations of Japanese Script lesson is a great next step.
Ready to dive deeper? Our lesson on Basic Vocabulary Building: Embracing Words Without Latin Ties will help you master these concepts.
Working on your reading skills? Our Katakana Essentials: Adapting Global Words to Japanese lesson is a great next step.
Moments like these—where actors openly 打ち明ける (uchiakeru) their struggles and joys—give you more than entertainment. They give you real, living Japanese filled with emotion and cultural nuance.
Keep noticing how grammar like 〜にわたる and expressions like 心を通わせる appear in authentic contexts. That’s how you move from textbook Japanese to the language people actually use.
これからもよろしくお願いします。 Kore kara mo yoroshiku onegaishimasu.