Bakebake Isn’t Afraid to Shock—Akari Takaishi’s Line Proves It

When Sano Shirō read the script, he said, “This is bold.”

The NHK morning drama “Bakebake” is now stirring intense controversy.

It was revealed that the event leading heroine Toki, played by Akari Takaishi (22), to become romantically involved with Mr. Heaven (Tommy Bastow, 34) originated from rashamen—essentially a foreigner’s mistress. Viewers reacted with comments such as:

“Bakebake is pushing things too far.”
“It’s painful to watch.”

The series is a turbulent epic set in Matsue, Shimane, during the Meiji era. Through the eyes of Setsu, wife of Lafcadio Hearn (Koizumi Yakumo)—known for his collection of supernatural tales Kwaidan—the drama portrays the dramatic transformation from Edo to Meiji and the couple’s struggle to navigate it.

At the start of Week 6, tensions rise as Mr. Heaven, angered by the Hanada Inn where he had long stayed, expresses to interpreter Nishikori (Ryō Yoshizawa, 31) his desire to move into a rented house. From here, the story takes a sharp turn.

Governor Etō (Shirō Sano, 70), upon hearing the report, grants permission for Mr. Heaven to live in a rental house. However, assuming that living alone would be inconvenient, he instructs that a maid be assigned to take care of him. Then, with an utterly casual tone, he murmurs:

“It should be a maid who can do either.”

When Nishikori asks, “Either meaning what, exactly?”, the governor stays silent, leaving Nishikori sighing in exasperation. Through this exchange, viewers immediately grasp what either means.

“Either refers to finding a rashamen. In ports like Yokohama at the time, it was historically common for Western men to have rashamen—Japanese women who served and also engaged in intimate relations with them.

In the drama, the courtesan Nami (Honami Satō, 36) volunteers herself. She recounts that rashamen were despised, stoned, and driven to suicide by the shame and hatred directed at them.

When Shirō Sano read the script, he reacted with, ‘This is bold.’ But as a scholar of Koizumi Yakumo, he also remarked, ‘Everyone has known about this, but it has always been kept hidden.’” (production company director)

A fallen samurai family so impoverished that the daughter of an Edo-era senior retainer was reduced to begging

A producer from the production company revealed the thoughts of executive producer Kuniomi Hashizume.

“He believed that people of the Meiji era—including the fallen samurai class—had to survive no matter what hardships they faced. Depicting that way of life was essential to conveying the drama’s core theme. With that in mind, Hashizume sought permission from Koizumi Bon, the great-grandson of Lafcadio Hearn.

Bon responded, ‘From what I’ve seen in the historical records, that seems accurate. I understand its importance, so please portray it.’ His approval gave the production team confidence. Week 6 reflects the resolve to confront historical reality head-on. It is superb.”

Entering Week 7, Toki (Akari Takaishi) steels herself to become a rashamen, visiting Mr. Heaven despite fear and tension. Several scenes appear on the verge of turning into intimate moments, keeping viewers on edge.

However, when Toki’s furious family bursts in, it becomes clear that Mr. Heaven had been employing Toki purely as a housekeeper, not as a rashamen. Relieved, Toki lets out a deep breath.

Then comes Episode 35. Toki’s foster mother Fumi (Chizuru Ikewaki, 43) is shocked that Toki was prepared to sell herself not for her sake, but for her biological mother Tae (Keiko Kitagawa, 39). Seeing Fumi’s reaction, Toki passionately declares:

“Even if anyone in my family had become a beggar, I would have become a rashamen for them.”

Later, when Sannojō (Rihito Itagaki, 23) tries to return the money Toki offered to help Tae, Toki cries out with burning intensity:

“Look at me. I threw myself away. I threw away everything and tried to become a rashamen for my family. If you truly want to save Aunt Tae, then throw yourself away and take this money!”

This fierce, unforgettable scene became a highlight of Week 7.

“The real-life model for Toki’s story, Chie, mother of Koizumi Setsu, actually became a beggar. It’s true history. Chie was born into an elite Edo-era samurai family, served by 30 attendants, and was known as the most beautiful in the clan—a genuine aristocratic young lady. The unimaginable reality she endured gives Toki’s determination incredible emotional weight.” (same producer)

By refusing to shy away from historical truth and confronting it honestly, the drama makes the ghost stories that Toki and Mr. Heaven create together even more meaningful. Though some viewers say the series is too bold, it remains a work worth watching with bated breath.