Yumi Adachi plays the main character Yuko, who gets into trouble after a traffic accident in the currently airing Saturday drama "30 Million Man" (General TV, Saturday 10pm) on NHK. She made her breakthrough with the drama "Homeless Child" (Nippon TV) which aired in 1994 and 1995, and this year marks 30 years since then. "I don't know if I would be who I am today without that work," says Adachi. We asked her about the experiences that have nourished her as an actor and the highlights of the drama.
◇ "It's different from what I usually see" - she was surprised by the script
The drama tells the story of Sasaki Yuko (Adachi), who works as a temporary worker at a call center, her husband Yoshimitsu (Aoki Munetaka), and their son Junichi (Ajimoto Yodai), who get into a traffic accident and make a wrong decision on a whim, which completely changes their lives. It is a crime suspense drama that gets them mired in a quagmire.
Adachi said about her character Yuko, "Yuko is someone who makes choices in a completely different way than I do. I couldn't help but have a negative reaction of, 'Why?', and it was difficult to overcome that and act. Yuko makes unusual choices, but she's similar to me in that she's strong at the last minute and doesn't give up, so it's fun to play her."
This work is the first in the WDR (Writers' Development Room) project, a script development team launched by NHK in 2022. Incorporating methods from overseas dramas, four scriptwriters, Sakiko Yae, Tomomi Naka, Tomoyuki Yamaguchi, and Shu Matsui, exchanged ideas with each other and completed a highly polished script for all eight episodes.
Adachi said that when she read the script, she felt that it was "a little different from what I usually see." She continued, "The scripts I usually read have a clear story line and the character's feelings are often clear, but this script was so complicated that I couldn't predict what was going to happen. Just when I thought it was going in a certain direction, it suddenly changed direction 90 degrees, and unexpected emotions welled up inside me. It was so complicated that I couldn't predict what was going to happen."
"There were so many tense scenes that it was hard to play Yuko. Every time something happened, it got even harder, so I was worried, 'How much more should Yuko be pushed into a corner?' But as the story progressed, I was relieved because I was able to understand Yuko's actions in my own way. I think it's a work that makes you feel nervous, but also sympathetic, thinking, 'This could happen.'"
◇ Thoughts on "Homeless Child," the trigger for her breakthrough
Adachi entered the entertainment industry at the age of 2 and has been in the industry for 41 years this year. When she was in the first year of junior high school, she played the main character Suzu Aizawa in "Homeless Child" and rose to stardom in one fell swoop. Even now, 30 years later, "Homeless Child" is a special work for Adachi.
"I don't know if I would be who I am today without that work, and I really cherish it. The image of 'Homeless Child' was so strong that it was difficult for me at times. But that work has never changed the fact that it is important to me, and thanks to 'Homeless Child' people around the world have become aware of my name, so I am grateful."
Adachi also says that the work has been a source of nourishment for her as an actor, saying with a smile, "Even now, when I think about the feelings of the characters, memories of 'Homeless Child' come back to me, and I sometimes face the role based on that. I strongly feel that the experience of that time has shaped who I am today."
Adachi has played various roles since "Homeless Child," but this is actually her first time starring in an NHK drama series.
"I approached filming with the determination that this might be the last time I've had the opportunity to star in an NHK drama. I think I've created something that I can confidently recommend to everyone," she said, savoring her joy and determination.
"The story of '30 Million' unfolds in many different directions, so I think you'll be able to watch it all the way to the end without getting bored. Even in the midst of the suspense, the film depicts the bonds between couples and families, and shows both the beautiful and ugly sides of humanity. There will be scenes that make you feel like 'I know this happened to me and it hurts my heart,' but I hope you'll enjoy the interesting and scary aspects of humanity."
