Ryo Nishikido (錦戸亮) is joining the cast of NHK’s new morning drama series “Blossom” (ブラッサム), marking his first appearance in the network’s asadora slot in 23 years. He will play Ginji Natsui, a free-spirited Western-style painter modeled on the real-life artist Seiji Togo.
“Blossom” follows Tama Hano, an aspiring writer loosely based on the real novelist Chiyo Uno, as she pushes through hardship to find her voice as an author. Actress Shizuka Ishibashi (石橋静河) stars as Tama. In the story, Ginji becomes the subject of one of Tama’s interviews and ends up deeply entangled in her life and work.
Nishikido last appeared in an NHK morning drama in 2003’s “Teru Teru Kazoku.” Marking his return, he said, “I’d like to carefully portray Ginji so that, along with the show itself, everyone comes to love him as a character.”
Series chief producer Shumpei Murayama described Nishikido’s take on the role, saying, “The emptiness he sometimes shows in his gaze, and the laughter he lets slip, make the character feel even more mysterious. Tama gets pulled around by Ginji, but that encounter also gives her, as a writer, a new way forward.”
“Blossom” premieres September 28 on NHK General, airing weekday mornings with a Saturday recap. The cast also includes Mariko Kaga, Takako Matsu, Ryoko Kuninaka, Atsuro Watabe, Shota Sometani, Arata Iura, and Kenichi Endo.
Who is Ryo Nishikido?
Ryo Nishikido is a Japanese actor and singer who first rose to fame as a member of the Johnny & Associates idol group NEWS. He later became known for dramatic roles, most notably starring in “1 Litre no Namida” (1 Liter of Tears), and has continued to build a film career, including an upcoming big-screen version of the same title.
Author’s Comment
Twenty-three years between morning drama gigs — that’s basically a full generational gap in Japanese TV years, and NHK brought him back to play a guy described as having an "empty gaze" and a creepy little laugh. Bold casting, or someone in the production office really likes a mystery man. Either way, asadora slots love recycling real historical figures as thinly veiled fictional love interests, and Seiji Togo’s estate is probably thrilled. I’ll be watching just to see how much of Nishikido’s brooding energy from his idol days sneaks back into this. Welcome back to the 8am slot, sir.
