NHK's 2025 Taiga Drama 'Berabou' Announces Unexpected Cast, Sparking Social Media Frenzy

New cast members have been announced for NHK's 2025 Taiga drama 'Berabou: Tsutaju Eiga no Yume Banashi,' and its star-studded yet unexpected casting has become a major topic of conversation, especially on social media. Among the announcements, it was revealed that Kuki! of the comedy duo 'Yasei Bakudan' will portray Katsushika Hokusai (Shunro Katsukawa), a ukiyo-e artist from the Edo period, sparking widespread surprise and anticipation.

The newly announced cast members include Kenjiro Tsuda as Kyokutei Bakin (Takizawa Okikazu), a writer known for works such as 'Nansō Satomi Hakkenden'; Yoshio Inoue as Jippensha Ikku (Shigeta Teiichi), author of the comic novel 'Tokaidochu Hizakurige'; and Kuki! as Katsushika Hokusai. Following this announcement, numerous surprised reactions appeared on social media, such as, 'When I saw the article saying Hokusai is Kuki!, I thought, 'Oh, he does have a Sharaku vibe,' but it's not Sharaku,' and 'Kuki! as Hokusai... seriously? LOL, it's so wild, I'm actually looking forward to it.'

On the other hand, given Kuki!'s background as an artist, some voices have praised his unique sensibility and expressive power as a perfect match for the role, commenting, 'Kuki! as Hokusai! 🥹 After seeing the diverse cast of 'Berabou' so far, it almost feels natural, even appropriate,' 'He's intense, haha! Kuki! also has artistic talent, so he's perfect,' 'I'm curious about Kuki! playing eccentric Hokusai,' and 'If Kuki! is Hokusai, it perfectly aligns with the idea of him adopting the name 'Gakyo Rojin Manji' (Old Man Mad About Art) in his later years.'

In particular, the collaboration between Kenjiro Tsuda as Kyokutei Bakin and Kuki! as Katsushika Hokusai is drawing significant attention. Comments like, 'So Bakin and Hokusai mean Tsudaken and Kuki! will be involved, lol?' and 'So Tsudaken and Kuki! will be arguing while creating that masterpiece...' express high expectations for the unique chemistry these two distinctive actors will bring.

'Berabou,' which has previously generated buzz with its bold casting choices, has further heightened anticipation with this latest announcement. Many viewers are already looking forward to the story of Edo-period cultural figures, brought to life by a blend of star-studded and unconventional talents.

The context

NHK's Taiga drama is a prestigious annual historical television series, broadcast for a full year, depicting historical figures and events. The 2025 series, 'Berabou: Tsutaju Eiga no Yume Banashi,' is expected to center on Tsutaya Juzaburo, a renowned publisher and cultural figure during Japan's Edo period (1603-1868), a time of flourishing arts and literature. The casting choices for Taiga dramas are always closely watched, but 'Berabou' has particularly made waves by casting popular comedian Kuki! (from the duo Yasei Bakudan) as Katsushika Hokusai, one of Japan's most famous ukiyo-e (woodblock print) artists, known for works like 'The Great Wave off Kanagawa.' Kuki!'s distinctive artistic style and eccentric personality, while unexpected for such a historical role, are also seen by many as a surprisingly fitting choice for the famously unconventional Hokusai. The drama also features prominent actors Kenjiro Tsuda and Yoshio Inoue in other key roles, promising an exciting and perhaps unorthodox portrayal of Edo-period intellectual and artistic life.