Keisuke Watanabe:"People can sympathize with me" - "Zaibatsu Revenge" press conference draws sympathy for "cuckold" character

Actor Keisuke Watanabe appeared at a press conference and fan meeting held in Tokyo on January 4th for the drama series "Zaibatsu Fukushu: To My Ex-Wife Who Became My Brother's Wife" (TV Tokyo, Mondays 11:06pm), which starts on January 6th and stars Miori Takimoto. When asked about the highlights of the show, Watanabe, who plays Yukiya Ise, the second son of a zaibatsu group and a "cuckold" who is burning with revenge against his ex-wife and family, said with humor, "The way he is treated (by his ex-wife and family) is awful. If you can see it from that perspective, I think you'll be able to sympathize with me," he said, drawing sympathy for his role and making the audience laugh.

Upon hearing Watanabe's remarks, Takimoto, who plays his ex-wife Erika, protested, "That's not fair!", and Takeda Kohei, who plays Yukiya's older brother Masayuki, who remarries Erika, chimed in, "That's not fair." Watanabe retorted, "It's my turn to speak now, so save that explanation for later," to which Takeda replied, "Then speak!", just like in the play, with a strong "Then speak!" comment, and Takeda said with a wry smile, "That's a strong hit."

When the MC gave her a chance to explain herself, Takimoto said, "In episode 1, there's a scene where she refuses a kiss from Yukiya, but I (Erika) clearly said, 'It's okay for me to be happy.' And Yukiya replied, 'Of course.'" She went on to explain her opinion that Yukiya's words were also a factor in Erika's behavior.

Takimoto further questioned "Yukiya" Watanabe, saying, "You properly acknowledged your happiness. But you've forgotten that," to which Watanabe threw in the white flag, saying, "That's true. I can't say anything more..."

The drama is based on an original vertical manga co-produced by TV Tokyo and Amuse Creative Studio. It features a story of love and hate reminiscent of Korean dramas and a turbulent development. Yukiya (Watanabe), the second son of one of Japan's leading Ise zaibatsu, grew up persecuted by his relatives because he was the child of a mistress. He meets the woman of his destiny, Erika (Takimoto), and for the first time in his life, he feels "happy". The two get married, but Erika, who will do anything to get what she wants, becomes pregnant with Yukiya's older brother Masayuki's (Takeda Kohei) child and remarries him in order to make the Ise zaibatsu her own. Persecuted by his family and betrayed by his beloved wife, the "cuckold" vows to take revenge on the Ise zaibatsu.

Nishigaki Takumi was also in attendance that day. After the press conference, a fan meeting was held, where there was a giveaway where fans could win tissues shaped like gold bars signed by the cast members, and there was also a corner where fans could ask questions that had been submitted in advance.