The second episode of TBS's Sunday Theatre series "Diamonds Sleeping in the Sea" (Sundays at 9pm), starring actor Kamiki Ryunosuke, will air on November 3rd. The story is a tale of love, friendship and family spanning 70 years, set on Hashima Island (commonly known as Gunkanjima) in Nagasaki Prefecture, which developed through coal mining from the beginning of the Meiji era until the postwar high economic growth period, and in modern-day Tokyo. The series is being produced by the same team behind the TV dramas "Unnatural" and "MIU404" (same network) and the film "The Last Mile", with screenwriter Nogi Akiko, director Tsukahara Ayuko and producer Arai Junko. When the first episode aired, the footage, which recreated Hashima Island 70 years ago, was met with praise for its "quality that goes beyond the scale of a TV drama". We spoke to producer Arai about what went on behind the scenes in filming. ◇The reason for setting the story on Hashima was a trip to Nagasaki with Nogi-san
The reason for setting the story on Hashima was that Nogi-san and Arai-san went on a trip to Nagasaki that Nogi-san received as a prize for winning the Ichikawa Moriichi Screenwriting Award in 2018 for "Unnatural." When the three of them were thinking about what to make for Sunday Theatre, they remembered that trip to Nagasaki.
On the trip, they visited famous places and sites in Nagasaki, such as Glover Garden, Oura Cathedral, and Mount Inasa, and ate champon in Chinatown. They visited Hashima on a "Gunkanjima tour."
Arai-san reflected on his impression of Hashima, saying, "It feels like time has stopped. It's a tourist destination, but it doesn't feel like a tourist destination. It can be summed up in one word: stunning."
"When we went on the Gunkanjima tour by boat to the island, the stories told by the guide, a former islander, were really interesting. We heard a lot of funny stories, like things that used to happen in the past, or things that were swept away by high waves and then returned with the next wave. Nogi-san bought a lot of souvenirs, and I thought, 'Nogi-san, you really like this island, don't you?' (laughs)"
◇It was hard to choose a location to recreate the bare island
When the three of them thought, "We want to do a 'Sunday Theatre' with the three of us. We want to create a grand story in TBS's flagship time slot," Nagasaki, Hashima Island came to mind. However, the site is in ruins, so of course it's not possible to film there. All the sets were built, and the scenery surrounding Hashima was recreated with VFX.
Regarding "Hashima Ginza," where the staircase where Rina (Ikeda Elaiza) sang in the first episode is located, he said, "It took a long time to find a place to build that set. We had to build it over a long period of time so it wouldn't collapse, so we used a place with a solid structure, but it was really difficult to build the set."
As for the garbage dump called "Megane," where Teppei (Kamiki) and Shinpei (Saito Takumi) drank cider in the first episode, "That place was also built by the sea. Everything was difficult." He proudly said, "However, once it was completed, it was really realistic and 'just like' (Hashima), and it was overwhelming."
Hashima is an island surrounded by concrete, so there are no trees, grass, or other greenery. It was also difficult to recreate the unique environment.
It was also difficult to choose the location, saying, "(Hashima) is an island without greenery, so we couldn't go to a place with greenery. So no matter where we went to shoot, there was greenery, and it was like, no good." Even when filming in a schoolyard that is not usually used, "There was a lot of grass growing there. All the staff spent a day weeding it," he said, showing his thoroughness.
Director Tsukahara was also particular about the visuals. In the first episode, which shows a scene in one shot, introducing the billiard hall, movie theater, and beauty salon on Hashima, "we talked about using actual photos, but Director Tsukahara wanted to make it live-action," and he was particular about decorating and recreating them for the one shot.
"Because of the attention to detail, it turned out rich, and it's easier to imagine that there were places like this in the town of Hashima. I think it was really hard for the art department and the staff, with about six trucks coming every day and it taking five and a half hours to get there, but I think they took some great pictures. People around me said, 'It's like a movie.'"
◇The set had a large pool big enough to swim in
A typhoon scene appears in the second episode. Here too, a large device that uses a lot of water was installed to create a sense of realism.
Arai reflected, "I wonder how many tons of water they used. There was a big (large enough to swim in) pool on the set, and a row of shower-like things were hung on the set. When they said, 'Please make it rain,' they spent an entire day setting up a device that would make rain fall on the entire Hashima Ginza from above. We also made a device that used five drums for the scene where water was splashed all over. Once you get that wet, it never dries. We shot it in the summer, but we had to bathe our feet. It was very difficult."
Arai exuded confidence, saying, "We spent a lot of time and money on this luxurious shoot."
◇ Hints of what's to come can be seen from the first episode
The story has a part set in the past on Hashima Island and a part set in modern-day Tokyo, and it's not clear from the first episode alone what direction the story will take.
When asked for hints about future developments, Arai replied, "There are many gradations, and the second half depicts a particularly turbulent life.... The first episode has a very happy feel, but as various things occur, it moves in an increasingly unexpected direction. The middle and second half have a different flavor, and it feels like love. It really has a Nogi-san feel to it."
Were there hints about future developments in episode 1? "It's really difficult, but please take a guess. The first episode is already littered with mysteries. I think when you watch it again you'll think, 'Oh, that's it!' The staff even said, 'Huh?' (laughs). So after watching until the final episode, I hope you'll watch it again from episode 1."
