Nanako Matsushima Shines as a Stunning Beauty Witch in Morning Drama Anpan

She takes everything with her.

The NHK morning drama Anpan has entered its fifth week of broadcast.

Looking at social media posts, the drama seems to be receiving great reviews, with many people commenting, “This is what a morning drama should be. I look forward to it every time.” A TV magazine writer explains why:

“For a drama to be highly rated, the theme and content are important, but the key factor is casting. In Anpan, not only the lead role but the entire cast seems perfectly suited for their roles. When people talk about the drama, they aren’t mentioning ‘Mio Imada (28) and Takumi Kitamura (27)’ but rather ‘Nobu and Takashi’ by their character names. It’s said that when the talk around a drama shifts to using character names, it means the drama has truly sunk into viewers’ minds. Anpan is exactly that.”

At this point, it’s said that the drama has deeply penetrated into the viewers’ hearts. The supporting actors are also top-tier, making for a truly luxurious cast.

“Ryo Kase (50) passed away early on, so he will appear only in flashbacks moving forward. Kazunari Ninomiya (41) was in a flashback scene from the beginning. On social media, there were comments like, ‘Such a luxury! What a waste of talent!’ However, with this many talented actors, the drama has a sense of stability, and viewers can relax and enjoy it,” says the TV magazine writer.

Among them, the actress who stands out the most with her presence is Nanako Matsushima (51), who plays the role of Takashi’s mother, Tomiko Yanai.

She appears in extravagant kimonos every time, with bold red lipstick and striking makeup, and viewers have expressed their amazement, saying, “Whenever she appears, she steals the show with her beauty.”

Matsushima first rose to fame 29 years ago, when, at 22, she was cast as the heroine in the 54th NHK morning drama Himawari (1996). Since then, she has appeared in numerous dramas and films, quickly becoming one of Japan’s most popular actresses. Following Himawari and the 100th NHK morning drama Natsuzora (2019), Anpan marks her third appearance in an NHK morning drama.

Playing the villain is where she truly shines

In Natsuzora, Nanako Matsushima played Fujiko Shibata, the adoptive mother of the heroine Natsu Okuhara (portrayed by Suzu Hirose, 26), who lost her parents. The character was a dairy farmer in Hokkaido, but Matsushima’s fair skin and beauty sparked criticism on social media at the time: “This is right after the war and she’s a farmer. Maybe there was makeup, but no hand cream or sunscreen,” and “Her makeup is perfect, and her hands and face are too white and flawless to be believable.” However, this time around, such criticism is nowhere to be found.

“Unlike her nurturing role in Natsuzora, she now plays a completely different character—a toxic mother, essentially the villain. The flashy kimonos and her beauty witch aura fit the role perfectly. Many people are saying, ‘Matsushima suits these kinds of roles far better than playing a good person. This is her true strength,’” says the same TV magazine writer.

Film journalist Harumi Nakayama also offers insight into why Matsushima is receiving such high praise for playing the hated role:

“I interviewed her during her swimsuit campaign model days, and even among her peers, she stood out as being extremely ambitious. She wasn’t shy in interviews and had a calm, confident presence. That drive is likely what helped her reach where she is today. The phrase ‘Beautiful Big Sister’ (from a 1997 Panasonic ad campaign) matured with her, and now she brings a dignified presence as an actress. That sense of unattainable beauty makes her perfect for roles that are snobby and mean.

Because she understands that image so well, she can fully commit to playing unlikeable roles. Of course, being able to portray down-to-earth, age-appropriate characters is important too, but actresses who can embody a kind of noble arrogance without seeming overbearing are rare and valuable.”

It seems that the current drama is making full use of what makes Matsushima unique. On NHK’s official website, she commented:

“Tomiko, I think, has a rather unique way of thinking. Though she loves her child, she also has her own inner confusion and struggles. When playing her, I feel it’s important to understand those emotional fluctuations.”

Will Matsushima’s Tomiko make a return?

The drama also touches on how the real-life mother of manga artist Takashi Yanase—on whom the character Takashi is based—disappeared, leaving her children behind. Matsushima commented on this aspect of her role:

“Tomiko’s sudden appearances, disrupting those around her before vanishing again, might seem cold if taken at face value. But I want to portray her carefully, in a way that conveys a mother’s love to Takashi.”

In the story, Tomiko remarries after abandoning Takashi and his younger brother Chihiro. When Takashi seeks her out, she dismisses him as a relative’s child and coldly tells him, “You can’t come here anymore. Go back to your uncle,” sending him away (Episode 10, aired April 11). In Episode 20, after they begin living together again, she says, “Takashi, farewell. Goodbye,” and leaves without much emotion.

While viewers have reacted with outrage—“Unforgivable!” and “How could she?”—it’s a sign of just how strongly Matsushima’s performance has drawn them in.

“Her acting succeeded in engaging the audience. Tomiko is a compelling character. And in morning dramas, it’s said that there are no true villains. No matter how disliked a character may be, in the end, they all become good people,” says the TV magazine writer.

Many characters in the show have names inspired by Anpanman characters—Haneko, Uncle Jam, Usako, among others. There’s even speculation that Tomiko is modeled after Dokin-chan. Though both Baikinman and Dokin-chan are villains, they’re never truly evil—there’s something lovable about them.

So, the question remains: what kind of woman will Matsushima’s Tomiko return as? Expectations continue to rise.