Actor Hayate Ichinose discusses NHK drama ‘Ao no Hana: Utsuwa no Mori’

Actor Hayate Ichinose recently participated in a talk show in Nagasaki to promote the NHK drama ‘Ao no Hana: Utsuwa no Mori’. The series, based on the manga by Yuki Kodama and starring Rena Matsui, is set in Hasami, Nagasaki Prefecture, and follows a love story centered around pottery making.

Ichinose, who portrays the character Ryusei Manabe—a young potter who previously worked in Finland—shared insights into his preparation for the role. He noted the challenges of learning pottery techniques on a limited schedule and the difficulty of portraying a character who is outwardly cool and stoic while maintaining internal emotional depth.

The production involved filming in both Nagasaki and Finland over approximately two months. Ichinose highlighted the beauty of the Hasami landscape and the profound nature of the craft, noting that the experience of working with clay and local artisans added authenticity to the performance.