Cast announcement press conference of new NHK 2017 morning drama "Hiyokko"

The cast announcement press conference of new NHK 2017 morning drama "Hiyokko" was held at the TV station's headquarters in Tokyo on 26 September where the lead actress Arimura Kasumi who plays the heroine Yatabe Mineko appeared with 10 of her co-stars. The drama which is the 69th morning drama to date, starts from 1964 after the Tokyo Olympics and describes how Mineko who was born in a big farming family in the northwestern part of Ibaraki Prefecture, goes to Tokyo to work after her father suddenly disappears. Sawamura Ikki will be playing Mineko's father while Kimura Yoshino will be playing her mother. Mineko's childhood friends will be played by Sakuma Yui and Izumisawa Yuki who are currently busy learning the Ibaraki dialect. Furuya Ikko will be Mineko's grandfather while Ging Nang BOYZ' Mineta Kazunobu will be playing her uncle. C0-stars also include Hada Michiko, Shibata Rie, Toyama Toshiya and Matsuo Satoru.

The script is written by Okada Yoshikazu who created 2001's "Chura-san" and 2011's "Ohisama". Filming is due to begin in November and the drama which consists of 156 episodes will be shown from 3 April to 30 September. Arimura is the first actress to be chosen as the heroine for a morning drama without going through an audition since Yoshitaka Yuriko was picked to star in 2014's "Hanako to Anne".

Sources: Nikkansports / Sponichi / Oricon