Anpanman Seiyuu Toda Keiko Makes Awaited Appearance! NHK Renzoku Terebi Shoujo “Anpan” “Ureshikute Nakete Kimashita”

Beloved Anpanman Voice Actress Toda Keiko Joins NHK Morning Drama ‘Anpan’

Exciting news for fans! Toda Keiko, the iconic voice behind Anpanman in the long-running anime **Sore Ike! Anpanman**, is set to appear in the NHK morning drama **Anpan**. She joins a cast that already includes a roster of talented voice actors such as Yamadera Kouichi, Shimaboto Sumi, Nakao Ryuusei, and Tsuda Kenjirou.

The serial television novel **Anpan** is a drama inspired by the lives of the married couple, Yanase Takashi and his wife, who created the beloved character Anpanman. Rather than being a strict biography, the drama reconstructs their journey, changing some character and organization names, and portrays their story as a more dramatic work of fiction. This approach has garnered significant attention.

Imada Mio stars as the lead, playing Wakamatsu Nobu, the woman who captured the heart of Yanai Takashi (the character based on Yanase Takashi). The story follows the lives of these two individuals, Wakamatsu Nobu and Yanai Takashi, weaving the tale that eventually leads to the birth of Anpanman.

That highly anticipated drama will now feature Toda Keiko, who voices Anpanman in the anime **Sore Ike! Anpanman**! She will portray Maki Tetsuko, a lawyer from Kouchi Prefecture whom Wakamatsu Nobu encounters. Maki Tetsuko is characterized by her lively personality and a strong belief in “lending a hand to those in weak positions,” and she becomes a significant influence on Nobu’s later life.

Regarding her casting, Toda Keiko shared the following comment:

「TVアニメの『それいけ！アンパンマン』スタート時、初回の台本を読んでアンパンマンの台詞に涙しました。同様に、今回の台本を手にしたときもうれしくて泣けてきました。こんなにも立派な正義の台詞をいただいて、とても幸せに思います。全国のアンパンマンファンの皆さん、天国のやなせ先生にも喜んでいただけるよう、ハチキン薪鉄子！精一杯、頑張ります！」（※ハチキンとは土佐ことばで「快活な女性」を意味）

“When I first read the script for the initial episode of the TV anime ‘Sore Ike! Anpanman,’ I cried at Anpanman’s lines. Similarly, when I held the script for this role, I was so happy it brought me to tears. I feel incredibly fortunate to be given such magnificent lines about justice. To all the Anpanman fans across the country, and hopefully to Yanase-sensei in heaven, I will do my absolute best as Hachikin* Maki Tetsuko! I will give it my all!”
(*Hachikin is a Tosa dialect word meaning a lively, spirited woman.)

Chief Producer Kurasaki Ken also shared his thoughts on the casting:

「2023年10月に『あんぱん』の企画発表をしてから、戸田恵子さん登場への期待の声をずっと受け続け、必ずどこかでご出演いただきたいと考えておりました。実は、随分前からあくまで“取材”で戸田さんにはやなせさんやアンパンマンに関して、たっぷりとお話を聞かせていただきました。その愛に触れるたびに、『あんぱん』は戸田さんにチームに入っていただくことでピースがはまるのだと確信しました。きっと、やなせさんも暢さんも天国で喜んでくださっていると思います。
のぶを超えるハチキンっぷりの薪鉄子役を演じる戸田恵子さんの登場を、今からお楽しみに！」

“Since the ‘Anpan’ project was announced in October 2023, we’ve continuously received voices of anticipation for Toda Keiko-san’s appearance, and we’ve always wanted her to appear somewhere in the series. In fact, quite a while ago, we spoke extensively with Toda-san, primarily for ‘research’ purposes, about Yanase-san and Anpanman. Each time we touched upon that love, I became certain that ‘Anpan’ would be complete with Toda-san joining the team. I’m sure both Yanase-san and Nobu-san are rejoicing in heaven. Please look forward to the appearance of Toda Keiko-san, who will play the role of Maki Tetsuko, a woman even more ‘Hachikin’ than Nobu!”

With a character name like “Tetsuko” (meaning ‘iron child’), her upcoming role promises to be impactful. Fans are eagerly anticipating how this truly indispensable presence will shape the narrative.

‘Anpan’ Drama Information and Cast

Here is the key information about the NHK serial television novel **Anpan**:

《Kigazawa Masashi》

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