Shizuka Ishibashi Captures Chiyo Uno’s Spirit in NHK’s Blossom
Chiyo Uno’s eccentric image of womanhood
“Oh my God——!!!”
Actor Shizuka Ishibashi (30) updated her Instagram on May 29, expressing her joy at being cast as the heroine in NHK’s 2026 second-half morning drama Blossom with these words. She wrote:
“Hanotama-chan is based on Chiyo Uno, who lived from the Meiji to the Heisei era.”
She revealed that the protagonist, Tama Hano, is modeled after the writer Chiyo Uno (1897–1996), who was active through the Taisho, Showa, and Heisei periods.
Uno is known as a multi-talented woman—not only a novelist, but also an editor, kimono designer, and entrepreneur. She went through multiple marriages and divorces, including with novelists Shirō Ozaki and Takeo Kitahara, totaling four divorces. She was also romantically involved with many prominent cultural figures such as painter Seiji Togo, Kan Kikuchi, and Kazuo Dan. Her passionate, turbulent love life was often laid bare in essays and interviews, contributing to her image as an eccentric and bold woman.
Among all the real-life models of past morning drama heroines, Chiyo Uno may have lived the most dramatic life. Naturally, this raises interest in how NHK will portray the life of the fictional Tama Hano.
“Recent morning dramas, which are often set during Japan’s modernization—from the Meiji and Taisho periods through the wartime era—tend to depict the tragedy of war and the protagonist’s struggles in line with historical facts. In the current show Anpan, for instance, some viewers on social media have expressed discomfort with the lead character NOBU, played by Mio Imada (28), who holds positive views about the war. Comments like ‘The drama is good, but I’m starting to dislike Nobu,’ or ‘I’ve stopped watching because the wartime storyline is too long,’ are common.
Even so, NHK remains committed to depicting historical truths accurately. With Chiyo Uno’s life as the basis, there’s interest in how far NHK will go. The fact they chose her suggests a bold creative stance—they might take it to the very edge.” (Commercial TV drama producer)
That brings attention to how Ishibashi will portray such a character. Typically, morning drama heroines are chosen through auditions, but in this case, the production team made a direct offer.
Her brilliant portrayal of Shizuka Gozen
“That’s exactly why I think there will be some pretty bold directing choices,” said the aforementioned producer.
Expectations from people in the drama industry are running quite high.
As is widely known, she is a second-generation actress, born to Ryo Ishibashi (68) and Mieko Harada (66). She turns 31 this year, but her career as an actress spans only about 10 years.
She began taking classical ballet lessons in early childhood and went abroad to study ballet at the age of 15. After returning to Japan, she worked as a contemporary dancer. In an interview with Shukan Josei eight years ago, she talked about why she decided to become an actress:
“I started ballet when I was four, but I never thought it would lead to acting. Watching my parents, I knew it was a tough job and not an easy world. But when I went to study ballet in the U.S. and Canada in my teens, I was struck by how fascinating acting could be. I thought, ‘If acting can be like this, I want to try it.'”
While continuing to work as a dancer, she was filled with the desire to meet more people and experience interesting things. That’s when her current agency approached her and said, “Why don’t you try acting?”
She made her stage debut in 2015 in the theater group ROGO’s production Night on the Galactic Railroad 2015, and in 2017 landed her first film lead role in The Tokyo Night Sky Is Always the Densest Shade of Blue. The film won first place in the 91st Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese Film category), and she received numerous awards, including the Blue Ribbon Award for Best Newcomer. Incidentally, her mother Mieko Harada also won the Blue Ribbon Best Newcomer Award in 1976.
From there, her rise as an actress began. She continued appearing in plays and films, and in 2018, starred in her first drama on NHK General TV’s You May Dream. That same year, she played the wife of the heroine’s childhood friend in the NHK morning drama Half, Blue. In 2019, she was selected by Forbes Japan as one of the “30 Under 30 Who Will Change the World,” and was praised as a born performer who becomes her roles as naturally as breathing.
In 2022, she played Shizuka Gozen in the NHK Taiga drama The 13 Lords of the Shogun, captivating viewers with her elegant dance performance and significantly raising her public profile.
In 2023, she starred in the drama Tsubame wa Modotte Konai (Swallows Don’t Return), winning Best Actress at the Tokyo Drama Awards 2024—solidifying her status as a serious acting talent. Now she’s set to portray the life of Chiyo Uno, and expectations are understandably high. However, there’s also a faint concern about how she will portray Uno’s deeply complex femininity and passionate love life. Film journalist Harumi Nakayama offers her thoughts:
Acting that doesn’t pander the audience
“Her acting skills are beyond doubt. In the drama Tsubame wa Modottekonai, for which she won Best Actress at the 2024 Tokyo Drama Awards, she played a woman who becomes a surrogate mother due to poverty. Even while portraying a woman hardened by harsh circumstances, she never came across as degraded—that’s likely thanks to the natural grace she possesses. And having once aspired to be a ballet dancer and studied abroad, she carries a strong will, which is reflected in her dignified posture.
Surely, when she shifted her path from dancer to actress, she must have been fully prepared for criticisms of riding on her famous parents’ coattails—not just the glow of their spotlight, but an exaggerated ’14-lights’ worth. Even so, she chose to stand in front of the camera, projecting an attitude of not caring what others think, ready to face any role, any direction. That strong resolve and dignified presence is something she shares with Chiyo Uno.”
She is, in every way, a perfect fit for the role. The fact that NHK directly offered her the part also speaks to their seriousness in producing a quality drama.
“You can see NHK’s level of commitment through this casting. Instead of quickly grabbing high ratings by casting trendy stars, they’re betting on talent. In the past, NHK has cast over-30 actors like Sakura Ando (32 at the time), Erika Toda (31), and Shuri (33), which marked a break from the tradition of casting younger ‘up-and-coming’ actresses for morning dramas. The results were critically praised and generated buzz. When Blossom begins airing, Ishibashi will be 32—an age that brings stability and credibility as a lead in a long-running drama. She’s a reassuring presence.” (says journalist Harumi Nakayama)
How far will NHK go in depicting the tumultuous life of Chiyo Uno? And how will Ishibashi bring her to life? The broadcast is still a ways off, but anticipation for Blossom continues to grow.
