In NHK’s morning drama series “Bakebake,” Satoh Honami portrays Nami, a courtesan at the Tengoku pleasure district. In episode 79, Nami faces a marriage proposal from Fukuma and ultimately makes a long-deliberated decision. Reflecting on this moment, Satoh spoke about her approach to the character and her experiences during filming.
Nami was born into a poor farming family as the eldest of eight siblings and entered the pleasure district to support her debt-ridden household. Despite her harsh circumstances, she remains bright and resilient. Satoh describes Nami as someone who can quickly look ahead, maintaining a refreshingly positive and straightforward personality that refuses to dwell on bitterness or resentment.
One of Nami’s most striking lines, suggesting that women can only survive by selling themselves or relying on men, left a strong impression. Satoh interprets this not as cynicism, but as a reflection of reality for a woman working in a pleasure district during that era. Nami understands from an early age that her power does not extend beyond those walls, and that clarity allows her to speak with a calm acceptance born of long-standing resignation.
When an unexpected offer to be redeemed arises, Nami hesitates. According to Satoh, having known only life in the pleasure district since her youth, Nami fears the unknown world beyond it. Unlike earlier impulsive choices, this decision confronts her with the full weight of reality. Ultimately, Fukuma’s direct confession of love gives her the resolve to move forward.
Satoh also revealed that Nami’s ending was not fixed from the outset. During production, she expressed a hope that Nami could find happiness, while also recognizing that continuing to show strength within the pleasure district could have served the story. She ultimately felt grateful that Nami encounters someone who makes her want to pursue happiness.
Regarding Nami’s relationship with Sawa and Toki, Satoh sees her as a self-appointed supporter who cannot help but get involved. Even when her concern borders on being intrusive, it reflects Nami’s nature. In portraying her, Satoh consciously aimed for an energy that might seem troublesome at times, yet remains likable—what she describes as “annoying but endearing.”
Satoh also shared her joy at working alongside Chizuru Ikewaki, whom she has admired for many years. Although their scenes together were limited, interacting with Ikewaki and the actors playing the Matsuno family became a fond memory. Looking ahead, Satoh noted that the story will grow increasingly turbulent, blurring the lines between happiness and sorrow, and expressed her anticipation for seeing how these developments unfold on screen.
