 |
| NHK Picks Ishibashi Shizuka (No Audition!) for 115th Asadora ‘Blossom’ (Oricon) |
The next NHK asadora heroine has been announced, and it’s none other than Ishibashi Shizuka! She’s stepping into the lead role of "Blossom" (ブラッサム) — the 115th morning drama, set to hit telly in Autumn 2026. And get this — she didn’t even audition. NHK just picked her straight up for the part. Legendary behaviour.
The drama’s inspired by the extraordinary life of Uno Chiyo (1897–1996), a woman who lived through the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa eras — and left a bold legacy across literature, fashion, and more. She wasn’t just an author — she designed her own kimonos and even launched her own fashion mag in 1936. Talk about ahead of her time.
 |
In Blossom, Ishibashi plays Hano Tama, a fictionalised take on Uno. Born in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture in 1897, Tama loses her mum young and grows up under her stepmother’s care. After finishing girls’ school, she becomes a substitute teacher, but things take a turn when she’s dismissed and booted out of her hometown. From there, she heads to Tokyo, chasing her dream of becoming a novelist.
The story doesn’t shy away from the messiness of her life either — the Great Kanto Earthquake, war, marriage and divorce, going broke, racking up debts... you name it. Through it all, Tama keeps writing, no matter how mad the world gets. And slowly but surely, she blossoms into a full-fledged writer.
 |
The script’s being penned by Sakurai Tsuyoshi, known for blending human grit with warmth, and the drama’s all about self-worth, resilience, and chasing your truth — no matter how tough it gets. The title "Blossom" symbolises not just literal blooming, but Tama’s own journey to embrace herself, flaws and all.
At the announcement presser, Ishibashi looked genuinely floored. “When they called me, I thought, ‘This must be what they mean by a bolt from the blue!’ I’m still surprised, to be honest,” she laughed. “The more I read about Uno Chiyo, the more I realise what an amazing person she was. I’m really grateful I get the time to dive deep into her story with the team.”
 |
Currently, NHK’s got "Anpan", starring Imada Mio, on air as the 113th asadora. Then it’s "Kaze, Kaoru" with Miake Ai fronting the 114th next spring. Blossom will follow right after that in the autumn slot, coming out of the Osaka production camp.
With a stacked legacy behind it and a bold lead who’s ready to dig in, Blossom is already looking like one of the ones to watch. If you’re into fierce female leads, dramatic life stories, and period vibes done right — keep your eyes peeled come next autumn.