■ “Murasaki Shikibu probably never imagined that she would be played by a girl with a cropped pink hair across the ages.” (Utaha, Wednesday Campanella)
Wednesday Campanella’s Utaha has been chosen to star in the sci-fi period drama “Murasaki Shikibu’s Smartphone” (NHK General TV).
“Murasaki Shikibu’s Smartphone” is the latest in the “XX’s Smartphone” series, which has been a hot topic for its unusual setting of asking “What if historical figures such as Akechi Mitsuhide, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Minamoto Yoshitsune, and Tokugawa Ieyasu had smartphones?” and its unusual direction in which the entire program progresses centered on the smartphone screen. The story will be told in eight episodes, with Murasaki Shikibu, a Heian period genius who will also be depicted in the 2024 taiga drama “To You Who Shines,” as the main character.
The protagonist, Murasaki Shikibu, will be played by Shiba, who is active in a wide range of fields, including music as a member of Wednesday Campanella and as a solo artist, as well as acting and modeling. She is a literature nerd and has a tendency to fantasize. It will be interesting to see how she plays Murasaki Shikibu, who cannot stop ego-searching.
What is the relationship with Fujiwara no Michinaga? A conflict breaks out at the Imperial Court!? The true reason why “The Tale of Genji” was completed, and other unique interpretations by scriptwriter Takemura Takeshi are sure to keep your eyes peeled. Will that indispensable person from the “XX’s Smartphone” series make an appearance again this time? How is “The Pillow Book” translated in the story? Enjoy it from various angles.
■ Comment from Shiba (role of Murasaki Shikibu)
I don’t know much about history, and I only had the image of Murasaki Shikibu as “someone who wrote a story.” By acting this time, I was able to learn a little about what happened to her. However, I realized that smartphones can make things so uninteresting (laughs). Modern interpretations and gal-language translations that are only possible now because of smartphones, so I was happy to see such a world. When I first wore a junihitoe, it was heavy and hot. It makes me think of people who wore that on a daily basis… Murasaki Shikibu probably never expected that a girl with a cropped pink hair would play her across time, and I think it would be interesting if Murasaki Shikibu was looking at such a modern day world from somewhere.
Program Information
NHK General TV“Murasaki Shikibu’s Smartphone”
09/09 (Monday) – 12 (Thursday), 16 (Monday/holiday) – 19 (Thursday) 23:45 – 23:50
Cast: Shiwa / Soya Kaya (Kagaya), Sae Miyazawa, DOTAMA, Aoi Yuki (voice), Mai Aizawa (voice), Yuki Kaneko (voice), Shinya Kote, and others
Screenplay: Takemura Takeshi
Directed by: Chiaki Hikage
Drama “Murasaki Shikibu’s Smartphone” program site
https://www.nhk.jp/p/shikibu-smapho/
Wednesday Campanella OFFICIAL SITE
http://www.wed-camp.com/
