It has been revealed that model and actor Shiraishi Mai will appear in the October drama series "Okura" (Fuji TV, Tuesdays at 9 p.m.), co-starring Sorimachi Takashi and Sugino Yosuke. She will play Yuki Rinko, a former delinquent female detective who is competitive, quirky, and good at fighting. This will be Shiraishi's second time playing a detective since "Kazama Koshin - Kyojo 0" (Fuji TV, 2023).
The story centers on a generation gap buddy duo from the Showa and Reiwa eras, and depicts detectives belonging to the department known as "Okura," which pursues unsolved cases that have essentially been "shelved," as they take on difficult cases. The kind-hearted Hidaka Chizu (Sorimachi), whose motto is "investigation is done on foot," and the cool, type-conscious Fuwa Riki (Sugino) solve the case that is on the verge of fading into obscurity. The story is a completely original one, and the script will be written by Muto Masago, who has worked on "3-nen A-gumi - Ima kara Mina wa, Hitachi Desu" (Nippon TV), among others.
Shiraishi plays Michiko, a former delinquent with a strong fighting spirit. She was rumored in the Metropolitan Police Department to have sent 30 yakuza gang members to the hospital when she was in the Organized Crime Division (Gumi Tai) before joining Okura. After Rikimi comes to Okura, she becomes the middleman between Chizu and Rikimi, who often clash over their differences in thinking. She is also the daughter of Yuki Shinichi, Chizu's former colleague who died in the line of duty in a serial murder case of police officers that occurred 10 years ago.
◇Mai Shiraishi's comment
--Please tell us your enthusiasm for this work.
This is my second time playing a detective since "Kazama Koshin - Kyojo 0". I love all detective dramas, so I'm looking forward to this one. And I'm really happy to be able to co-star with Sorimachi and Sugino, who are the perfect match for each other as detectives from the Showa and Reiwa eras! Sorimachi-san is from the generation that watched "GTO" and "The Beach Boys," so I think there are many things I can learn from watching him as a senior actor, and I would like to steal them from him. I would also like to work hard to create a good atmosphere with Sugino-san and the other co-stars!
--Please tell us about your role
Since Michiko has a strong tone and uses strong words, I would like to add a yankee feel to her, especially in her way of speaking, so that she will become a strong woman. The yankee part is the opposite of me, so I tried searching "female yankee" on my smartphone (laughs). When I searched, I felt that people who are called "yankees" have a deep humanity that values their friends, they value their attitude toward work, protect what needs to be protected, and give a scolding to those who need to be rehabilitated... they are very warm people. I want to use that feeling in my role, and the director asked me to turn it on and off with the expression in my eyes, so I would like to keep that in mind as well.
--What do you think after reading the script?
The characters are really unique, and there are many scenes that are likely to be interesting just by watching the dialogue. It's not just a human mystery detective drama, but there are also some comedic parts within the human mystery, and I think the atmosphere of the scenes within Okura will also be important. I would like to explore and create it as we film together. There are also mysteries scattered throughout the story, and I find myself becoming more and more absorbed in the story every time I receive the script.
--Please give a message to those looking forward to the broadcast!
It's a detective drama, but it's also an entertainment piece, and it seems like it will have a social aspect as well. How will each character act in solving the case? I think the unique characters of each character will also make it a worthwhile piece to watch. I'm looking forward to it myself, so please look forward to it! I'll do my best on filming too!
◇Producer: Adachi Ryotaro (Fuji Television Network, Drama Production Department)
Yuuki Rinko, played by Shiraishi Mai, is a headstrong character who mediates between Chizu and Riki, and is the character that supports the bright mood of the series. She lost her father in an incident, and is more sympathetic to the feelings of the bereaved than anyone else. We offered Shiraishi the role, as we thought she would be able to portray Rinko charmingly with her sharp, strong eyes and soft, gentle expressiveness. We want Rinko to go wild as a former delinquent! We think you will see a new Shiraishi, so please look forward to it. And look forward to the exquisite exchanges between Chizu and Riki!
