Teen actress Mikako Tabe has been named as the heroine in NHK's next morning drama series. "Tsubasa," first announced in April, will be the network's 80th Asadora, and its first set in Saitama.

At the age of 19, Tabe is the first Asadora heroine to be born in the Heisei era (1989-present). She was chosen by audition from a pool of almost 1,600 applicants to play Tsubasa, the daughter of a sweets shop who becomes a host on a community radio station.

Filming will start in mid-October. "Tsubasa" is scheduled to run next year from March 30 to September 26.