The Ghost Writer's Wife
| The Ghost Writer's Wife | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama |
| Written by | Mitsuhiko Fujiki |
| Directed by | Naoki Murahashi and others |
| Starring | |
| Narrated by | Eriko Watanabe Miho Kimura |
| Opening theme | "Warattari Korondari" by Humbert Humbert |
| Composer | Kensuke Ushio |
| Country of origin | Japan |
| Original language | Japanese |
| Production | |
| Producers |
|
| Running time | 15 minutes |
| Production company | NHK |
| Original release | |
| Network | NHK General TV |
| Release | September 29, 2025 – present |
The Ghost Writer's Wife (ばけばけ, Bakebake)[1] is a Japanese television drama series and the 113th Asadora series,[2] following Anpan. This is a work of fiction modeled after the life of Setsu Koizumi, wife of the Greek-Irish writer Lafcadio Hearn, known for works such as Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things.[3]
Plot
Toki Matsuno was born into a prestigious samurai family, but the Meiji Restoration brought an end to the age of the samurai. Her father's new business ventures failed, and the family was forced into poverty. It was at this time that a job as a maid to a foreign English teacher named Heavin came to Toki. Though there were barriers of language and culture between them, they grew close through their shared interest in "Kaidan" (Japanese ghost stories).
Cast
Principal
- Akari Takaishi as Toki Matsuno
- Miharu Fukuchi as young Toki
- Tommy Bastow as Lefkada Heavin, Toki's husband
Matsuno family
- Takashi Okabe as Tsukasanosuke Matsuno, Toki's adoptive father
- Chizuru Ikewaki as Fumi Matsuno, Toki's adoptive mother
- Fumiyo Kohinata as Kan'emon Matsuno, Toki's adoptive grandfather
Ushimizu family
- Shinichi Tsutsumi as Den Ushimizu, Toki's birth father
- Keiko Kitagawa as Tae Ushimizu, Toki's birth mother
- Rihito Itagaki as Sannojo Ushimizu
Others
- Ryo Yoshizawa as Yūichi Nishikōri
- Rairu Sugita as Joe Nishikōri
- Kanichiro as Ginjiro Yamane
- Wan Marui as Sawa Nozu
- Honami Sato as Nami
- Shirō Sano as Yasumune Etō, the Governor of Shimane Prefecture
- Kana Kita as Riyo Etō, Yasumune's daughter
- Anna Kurasawa as Chiyo
- Kono Adachi as Sen
- Kenji Iwaya as Zentaro Moriyama, debt collector
- Mizuki Maehara as Zenitaro Moriyama, Zentaro's son
- Katsuhisa Namase as Heita Hanada
- Nobue Iketani as Tsuru Hanada
- Maru Nouchi as Ume
- Udai Iwasaki as Goro Kajitani
- Mayumi Asaka as Tatsu Ueno
- Taisei Sakai as Morimichi Nakamura
- Tokio Emoto as Saiji Yamahashi
- Yukito Hodaka as Seiichi Masaki
- Kyohei Shimokawa as Haruo Kotani
- Charlotte Kate Fox as Eliza Belsland
- Shogo Hama[a] as Takichi Shoda
- Hosaki Tanaka as Hatsuemon Kanenari
- Meisha Brooks as Martha, Lefkada Heavin's first wife
Voice cast
- Eriko Watanabe as the Snake
- Miho Kimura as the Frog
Production
Akari Takaishi was chosen for the lead role of Toki Matsuno from among 2892 auditionees.[4]The role of Toki's husband, Lefkada Heavin, was also filled through an audition rather than a direct offer. The casting call was announced in Japan, as well as in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, attracting 1767 participants. Ultimately, British actor Tommy Bastow was selected for the part.[5] He heard about the audition from his co-star on the American TV series Shōgun, Moeka Hoshi.[6]
TV schedule
| Week | Episodes | Title | Directed by | Original airdate | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1–5 | "Bushi-musume, Urameshi." (ブシムスメ、ウラメシ。) | Naoki Murahashi | September 29–October 3, 2025 | 15.5% |
| 2 | 6–10 | "Muko, Morau, Muzukashi." (ムコ、モラウ、ムズカシ。) | October 6–10, 2025 | 14.8% | |
| 3 | 11–15 | "Yōkoso, Matsuno-ke e." (ヨーコソ、マツノケヘ。) | Takamasa Izunami | October 13–17, 2025 | 14.7% |
| 4 | 16–20 | "Futari, Kurasu, Shimasuka?" (フタリ、クラス、シマスカ?) | Hitofumi Matsuoka | October 20–24, 2025 | 15.2% |
| 5 | 21–25 | "Watashi, Heaven. Matsue, mo, Heaven." (ワタシ、ヘブン。マツエ、モ、ヘブン。) | Naoki Murahashi | October 27–31, 2025 | 15.4% |
| 6 | 26–30 | "Doko, mo, Jigoku." (ドコ、モ、ジゴク。) | Takamasa Izunami | November 3–7, 2025 | 14.9% |
| 7 | 31–35 | "Otoki-san, Jochuu, OK?" (オトキサン、ジョチュウ、OK?) | Naoki Murahashi | November 10–14, 2025 | 15.7% |
| 8 | 36–40 | "Kubi no, Kawa, Ichimai." (クビノ、カワ、イチマイ。) | Hitofumi Matsuoka | November 17–21, 2025 | 15.9% |
| 9 | 41–45 | "Sukippu, to, Uguisu." (スキップ、ト、ウグイス。) | Takamasa Izunami | November 24–28, 2025 | 15.7% |
| 10 | 46–50 | "Toori, Sugari." (トオリ、スガリ。) | Hitofumi Matsuoka | December 1–5, 2025 | 15.8% |
| 11 | 51–55 | "Ganbare, Ojou-sama." (ガンバレ、オジョウサマ。) | Toyo Kojima | December 8–12, 2025 | 15.7% |
| 12 | 56–60 | "Kaidan, Negaimasu." (カイダン、ネガイマス。) | Takamasa Izunami | December 15–19, 2025 | 15.8% |
| 13 | 61–65 | "Sanpo, Shimashouka." (サンポ、シマショウカ。) | December 22–26, 2025 |
Notes
- ^ Hiroya Shimizu was initially cast, but after his arrest for cannabis possession, Shogo Hama took over the role.
References
- ^ "The Ghost Writer's Wife". NHK Enterprises. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
- ^ "来秋朝ドラ『ばけばけ』ヒロインは高石あかり 涙ながらに大役決定を喜ぶ「夢だった」". Oricon (in Japanese). 29 October 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
- ^ "2025年度後期の朝ドラ「ばけばけ」制作決定、モデルは怪談を愛した小泉八雲の妻". Natalie (in Japanese). 12 June 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
- ^ "来秋朝ドラ『ばけばけ』オーディション過程 2892人→最終9人→「この子なんだな」". Oricon (in Japanese). 30 October 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
- ^ "『マッサン』の3倍!『ばけばけ』ヒロイン夫役に1767人応募 脚本・ふじきみつ彦氏「出会えました」". Oricon (in Japanese). 27 November 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
- ^ "ばけばけ:"ヒロインの夫"トミー・バストウの選出理由は? 制作統括「関わった人がみんなベタぼれに」演技力&人間性を絶賛". Mantan-web (in Japanese). 27 November 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2025.