Today finally was the start of NHK’s new taiga dorama "Ryoma den" and featured actress Hirosue Ryoko (29) next to starring actor Fukuyama Masaharu (40). She plays Hirai Kao, the first love of Sakamoto Ryoma (Fukuyama).
Just like Ryoma, Hirosue was born in Kouchi as well and so there is a really big connection between her and the main character. "He is a beloved hero in our home town and like a relative to me, therefore I’m really glad to appear in this dorama." Even her own feelings are overlapping with that of Kao, "I like Ryoma-san’s straightforwardness as well and will try my best in portraying this pure love between them."
Another interesting fact from the first episode was that Hirosue had to play a 15 year-old Kao, the young and innocent slightly tanned Tosa girl who was able to capture the heart of Ryoma with her beautiful smile. However, she was anxious about playing such a young girl, because she herself is far from being 15 years old anymore and a 15 year-old with a lot of make-up would look out of place as well. "All I was allowed to put on was a dark foundation and I was really uneasy about how my skin would look like on a HD-TV. During the filming I wasn’t able to calm down at all, but luckily I was able to double-check all of my actions on a screen at the set." This allowed her to choose the best angles and lightning to make her look 14 years younger than her actual age.
Kao is the daughter of a samurai from Tosa who eventually got sent to Kyoto to escort the younger sister of the Tosa feudal lord due to the "sonno joi" movement during the Bakumatsu, a movement to overthrow the Tokugawa bakufu. She ended up having to part ways with Ryoma. "It was a love that cannot be, but she accepted her life without bearing a grudge against anyone or the time she lives in. We are currently living in a time where you are free to love anyone you want, so this part of the story portrays the painfulness and sadness inside of Kao."
Hirosue’s last taiga dorama was "Musashi" in 2003 and back then she said in an interview that she would be interested to play in a dorama about Sakamoto Ryoma. 7 years later, her wish finally came true. "In my childhood I often played at the Katsurahama beach (where you can find a statue of Ryoma) and everyone in my home town, including myself, see him as a relative. I’m really happy about being a part of this dorama."
The ratings for the past week/today aren’t out yet, but it’s probably going to be yet another new taiga dorama with (very) high ratings. The 4 heroines Hirosue Ryoko, Kanjiya Shihori, Maki Yoko and Aoi Yuu should be enough reason to tune in this year as well.
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Written by:KawaiiJoyuu
Sources: Sanspo
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I liked Sakamoto Ryoma’s character in the recent drama Jin. He was an interesting person. So I will be watching this latest Taiga drama. Thx Hpriest.