Spicy Cucumbers and Yamada-san

Thank you to everyone who watched the October 2018 drama series "We Are Made of Miracles," even if it was a little late.

My role was Yamada-san, the live-in housekeeper for the protagonist, Kazuki. It's later revealed she's his mother. She was a great cook, and her "Spicy Cucumbers," Kazuki's favorite, were so popular that the recipe was posted online. Of course, I made them too!

It wasn't a home drama, but for me, it had the scent of home after a long time. The food prepared by Yamada-san in the studio was so delicious. I always stayed late to eat it with Issei Takahashi. (laughs)


I enjoyed talking about various things with Issei-san during breaks in filming. We had so much in common, like the plants we were growing and our interests in theater, and we always had endless conversations.

I also shared a relaxed and wonderful time with Min Tanaka, who played my grandfather, another member of the family. And I co-starred with Nana Eikura again after a long time. We were actually mother and son before. She's become a mother herself, so here I am, a grandmother again. (laughs)

The script for each episode had such cute illustrations, I couldn't help but want to show them to others.

What I can't forget is that at the end of September, I caught a cold and strained my vocal cords. It was the first time in my life, and I was surprised and shocked! After a period where I couldn't speak at all, my voice became husky, and I apologize for the inconvenience I caused. During this time, I caused trouble not only with the drama series but also elsewhere.

I went around apologizing with "Seppuku Monaka" (a type of sweet). I bought a lot of "Seppuku Monaka," you know. (laughs)



I can talk about it now, but when I had absolutely no voice, I filmed scenes without being able to speak, considering the schedules of the filming and my co-stars. And later, there were scenes where I dubbed my own voice to match. (crying)

I am truly ashamed as a professional. Nevertheless, everyone was very kind to me, and I am sincerely grateful.
The drama was very well-received, and thanks to that, I was called by my character's name after a long time. "Yamada-san, Yamada-san." (laughs)

"Could you teach me the recipe for Spicy Cucumbers?" (laughs)
Each episode of the drama had lines that resonated deeply; I thought, "This is profound!" Most importantly, I think saying "Eeeeh!" before sleeping is a good thing. (laughs)

The drama was also very interesting. It became a memorable work in many ways. Thank you for your support.

Page02.Kineko International Film Festival

Kineko International Film Festival

In November 2018, the 26th Kineko International Film Festival was held with great fanfare! Since moving its base to Futako Tamagawa, it has been steadily progressing with a wonderful atmosphere. During the festival, there were various fun attractions from the station to the venue, and the sound of everyone's laughter filled the air.

This time, the main live dubbing was for "Surviving," a 93-minute film. It was a co-production of Ireland, Canada, and Luxembourg. It was a sad and poignant story, a little different from usual, but the children watched it with rapt attention.


The film festival always passes by in a blur, but the joy of being able to introduce such wonderful films each year is truly irreplaceable. I can only hope that as many people as possible will see them. I confidently recommend it to children and adults who haven't yet had the chance to attend.

Please come to the Kineko International Film Festival. It is scheduled for November again this year. We look forward to seeing you there.