The final episode of the NHK morning drama "Tora ni Tsubasa" (General TV, Monday to Saturday 8:00am and others), starring Ito Sari, aired on September 27th. The script, which carefully depicted various social issues such as the difficulties women face in life and sexual minorities, was often a topic of conversation, but the charm of the straightforward and strong-willed protagonist Torako made the story even more interesting. What is the "amazingness" of Ito, who was able to play Torako so vividly? We have unraveled it from the words of the scriptwriter and the production director.
◇Naturally playing the older Torako
Ito was born on May 4th, 1994. She started her career as a child actor at the age of 9, and has appeared in popular works such as the 2005 drama series "Queen's Classroom" (Nippon TV). She has been highly praised by the production team, but her name has probably only become widely known since the morning drama "Hiyokko" in the first half of 2017. Ito has played major characters in various works, but many people must have become fascinated by her talent when they first learned about her in "Hiyokko."
Since then, Ito has appeared in many popular works and has an outstanding presence. In "Wings of the Tiger," she plays Torako, a woman who enters the male-dominated world of the legal profession and experiences separation from loved ones, but who always respects those in a weaker position and upholds justice. Torako, who is full of curiosity and whose catchphrase is "Huh?", never compromises or softens even as she grows older. I think the appeal of this character is that, in a good way, her fundamental nature "doesn't change" even as she becomes an adult.
In previous morning dramas, when the protagonist's childhood is depicted, a child actor plays the role, and then the lead actor is often replaced, but in "Wings of the Tiger," Torako was 18 years old at the start of the series, so Ito was able to perfectly portray her life from the first episode to the last. She naturally portrayed the way Torako, a schoolgirl, gradually ages as she studies law, becomes a lawyer, and then a judge.
Erika Yoshida, who wrote the screenplay for this series, commented on Ito's acting, saying, "Torako's acting as an adult is really good," and, "Her acting is natural, not too mature, and while her tone is youthful, she plays different ages with her mannerisms, gaze, and smile. Every time I receive the finished package and watch it, I'm amazed by her delicate acting."
◇From comical to serious: "Her acting range is incredible"
One of Torako's charms is her rich facial expressions. I think Ito's comical acting was also a factor in the drama's enjoyment without feeling gloomy until the end, even though it dealt with a serious theme. I'm sure many viewers were captivated by Ito's ever-changing expressions and her bold "funny faces."
Regarding Ito, who is highly expressive, Yoshida praised her, saying, "Her acting is wonderful, not only when she speaks, but also when she stands there, and her acting is so rich that her emotions can be seen just by her facial expressions, and her range of acting is amazing."
The production manager of this work, Hirokazu Ozaki, has worked with Ito on the NHK special drama "Momo-san and the Seven Papagenos," which will be broadcast in 2022. When the production of "Wings of the Tiger" was announced in February last year, he praised Ito, saying, "She is an actor who made me want to watch her forever," and "She is a truly wonderful actress."
"The story is not all bright and fun, but even in that, I have an image of Torako as positive, charming, and bright. I thought that Ito was the only one who could fit the role, so I offered her the role," he explained the reason for the casting, and as he said, Ito's role as Torako was a perfect fit. Sometimes comical, sometimes serious, Ito carefully portrayed Torako's feelings, keeping viewers glued to the screen.
Filming began in September last year, and Ito played Torako for about a year. "Wings of a Tiger" may have come to an end, but the charming and cool image of Torako will remain in our hearts forever. We look forward to seeing Ito's efforts in the future, as she takes on a variety of different roles.
