Press conference and screening event of NHK Taiga fantasy drama "Seirei no Moribito"

The press conference and screening event of NHK Taiga fantasy drama "Seirei no Moribito" was held on 24 February which was attended by cast members Ayase Haruka, Takashima Reiko and child actor Kobayashi Kai. The drama which consists of three parts spanning 22 episodes, will be screened over three years until 2018. Part 1 which contains 4 episodes, will be shown from 19 March at 9pm on Saturdays.

Ayase plays the lead character of a female bodyguard tasked to protect the young prince of a fictitious kingdom where human beings and spirits co-exist in this adventure story. In preparation for the filming, Ayase went through six months of physical training but found herself unable to wield the heavy spear and couldn't stand properly on the sandy beach so she was quite discouraged on the first day of filming. As she needed to do many action scenes, she was so exhausted by the end of the day that she fell asleep as soon as she laid down. Nonetheless, Takashima praised Ayase for doing well in her action scenes and didn't use any doubles at all.

Source: Nikkansports 1 / Nikkansports 2 / Sanspo 1 / Sanspo 2