Takashi Sorimachi:"I hope I don't turn into a noisy old man" says Sugino Yosuke, starring in a Fuji TV drama series for the first time in 20 years - full of energy for his second consecutive lead role

Takashi Sorimachi and Yosuke Sugino will be co-starring in Fuji TV's drama series "Okura: Unsolved Case Investigation" (Tuesdays at 9pm, 15 minutes extended for the first episode), which starts on October 8th. With the filming about to begin, we spoke to the two about their enthusiasm for filming and what the show's highlights are.

◇What are your thoughts about filming as filming is about to begin?

The drama follows detectives from the department known as "Okura," which pursues unsolved cases that have essentially been "shelved," as they take on difficult cases, focusing on a generation gap buddy duo from the Showa and Reiwa eras. Kind-hearted Chizu Hidaka (Sorimachi), whose motto is "investigation is done on foot," and cool, type-conscious Riki Fuwa (Sugino) solve cases that are on the verge of fading into obscurity.

This will be Sorimachi's first lead role in a drama produced by the same station in about 20 years, since the 2004 drama series "Wonderful Life." Sugino, who has starred in the 1998 drama "GTO" (Kansai TV network), was broadcast in April as a special drama "GTO Revival" to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the launch of Kansai TV and Fuji TV, commented with humor, "It's been a while since I've been to Fuji TV. Since I did 'GTO' last time, I think I'll continue playing the roles of teacher and detective (laughs)."

"The director and producers this time are all younger than me, so I'm trying not to come off as a difficult, noisy old man, and I'm going to just say 'yes' to whatever they ask me, and listen to everything," he said with a smile.

This is Sugino's first time starring in a detective drama series for the second season in a row on the same network. "There are quite a few things I'm doing for the first time, so I'm looking forward to it, wondering, 'How will it turn out?', but I'm still nervous," he said.

She continued, "The script is really great, and I'm nervous, but I feel like I can relax a little bit, so I think I'll be able to start filming in a more relaxed state, including the fact that I'll be working with Sorimachi," she said, exuding her trust in Sorimachi. "However, I do feel like I'm being a bit of a jerk when it comes to doing two seasons in a row (laughs)."

◇This is the first time they've worked together, what are your impressions of each other?

This is the first time the two have worked together. Sugino said of her impression of Sorimachi, "From the first time we met, I felt that his atmosphere, aura, and the experiences he's had oozed from within," and added with a sparkle in her eyes, "I hope that when it's over, I'll think, 'I learned this from working with him on set for three months."

In response, Sorimachi expressed his expectations for his pairing with Sugino, saying, "Both my roles have a wide range, so I hope that the chemistry between us will come out in a good way." He continued, "Detective dramas have their own unique aspects, so I hope that we can help each other out and have fun."

When asked what kind of young man Sorimachi, who is now 50, was the same age as Sugino, who turned 29 this year, he confessed, "I was already married, and I started acting when I was 19, so I guess I started acting early. Looking back now, there are times when I think, 'Maybe it's better to be a late bloomer.'"

"As a man and as an actor, if you try a lot of things early, there are times and waves when you think, 'What should I do?' That's why Sugino has the air of someone who takes his time and makes progress, so I think that's great," he said with a smile.

On the other hand, when asked about his ideal image when he turns 50, Sugino said, "I want to be calm. If I could be greedy, I would like to be an adult who can say, 'I get it,' to anything. I would like to gain a lot of experience and grow as a person. I also don't want to become an adult who lies."

◇Highlight is "Men's clash"

Finally, Sorimachi said about the highlight of this work, "I think it's the clash of men. Even though there is betrayal, I wonder how I can express that exchange in an appealing way. I would be happy if people think that the sight of two men working towards the same goal is 'somehow good.'"

Sugino also commented, "Above all, I want to play a relationship that makes people think, 'What a wonderful couple,' and to that end, I want to talk (with Sorimachi) about 'What can I do?'"

"The members of 'Okura' are all very unique, and I like to have fun, so I'm hoping we can do something together, even if it's just a little at a time. It's interesting right up to the end, so I hope you'll watch all the episodes," he said.