The Overwhelming Reason Why Keiko Kitagawa Was Chosen to Play Oichi no Okata in the Taiga Drama

On July 13, it was announced that Keiko Kitagawa (35) will appear as Oda Nobunaga’s younger sister, Oichi, in the NHK historical drama “Dousuru Ieyasu” to be broadcast in 2023, starring Matsumoto Jun (38).

This is Kitagawa’s second appearance in a Taiga drama since “Saigodon” aired in 2018. In the announcement of the cast, she revealed her enthusiasm as follows.

Oichi (Oichi no Kata) is a person who gave her life in the turbulent days of the Warring States period to protect her family and to ensure the survival of her lineage. I want to express her intelligence and strength to make calm decisions, her love for her family, and the pride of her family.”

Many actresses have played the role of Oichi no Okata in NHK’s historical drama series. Among them, Masako Natsume (27 years old) in “Onna Taikoki” broadcast in 1981 is regarded as the best actress of all time. The two have many things in common.

One of the most important aspects of Oichi’s beauty is her good looks. She was called “the most beautiful woman under heaven” and “the most beautiful woman in the Warring States period,” and was so beautiful that she was the subject of rumors in neighboring countries. According to “Keishininbun,” she looked 22 to 23 years old even at the time of her death at the age of 37.

Kitagawa, on the other hand, is a regular in beauty rankings. She was ranked No. 1 six times in Oricon’s “Women’s Choice Faces They Want to Be,” and in 2020, when she gave birth to a baby girl at the age of 34, she was again ranked No. 1. She is one of the most beautiful women of our time.

That is not the only resemblance. Oichi no Kata is said to have been so intelligent that Nobunaga Oda said, “If Oichi had been a man, he would have been a good warlord. She was also a person who remained true to her love for her family to the very end. Just before she and her husband Katsuie Shibata committed suicide, she sent a handwritten letter to Hideyoshi Hashiba asking for protection for their three daughters. The elements of “intelligence, strength, love for family, and family pride” that Kitagawa spoke of when announcing her appearance in the film are essential episodes in the story of Oichi no Okata.

However, when it comes to stoutheartedness and intelligence, Kitagawa was not to be outdone. When she returned to the lead role in “Rikokatsu” (NTV), which will air in April 2021, six months after giving birth to her first daughter, people at the TV station were surprised by the overly stoic attitude she displayed on the set.

In order to play the role of a hard-working fashion magazine editorial staff member, she worked out at a personal gym frequented by celebrities and returned to her pre-baby figure. She later said in an interview, “I didn’t want to cause trouble for those around me,” which I thought was typical of her strong sense of responsibility, since she had already decided to shoot the drama.

At the location where this magazine met Kitagawa, she was filming a scene in which she repeatedly ran through the streets. Although she occasionally looked tired, it was impressive to see her continue at full speed, not cutting corners until the very end. He was also a presenter at the “Star Audition” hosted by the office last November, and he said, “The office is family-friendly and the staff is warm.

The office is family oriented and the staff is warm, so you are not alone, and I don’t think you will fall behind,” she said.

She is a big sister and has a strong love for the office,” she said, offering advice to the candidates.

Behind their outstanding beauty, the two have intelligence and love for their surroundings. How will Kitagawa play the role of Oichi no Okata? We can hardly wait to find out.