It was revealed on January 25th that Matsuda Genta of the popular group "Travis Japan" will be starring in Fuji TV's April drama series "Jinji no Hitomi" (Tuesdays at 9pm). This will be Matsuda's first time starring in a terrestrial TV drama, and he expressed his joy by saying, "I think a lot of people will watch it, so I'm really happy and grateful. I thought, 'Tuesday 9pm is brutal!'"
The announcement was made on the same day on "Celebrities Thought About It Seriously! Surprise GP." The surprise was an audition for a supporting role in a fictional Indian movie, and although he lost the audition, the real surprise was that he was told he would play the lead role in "Hitomi from Human Resources." At the end of the show, there was another surprise: it was announced that Matsuda would be a regular member of "Surprise GP" from this episode onwards.
This is Fuji TV's first "exhilarating office entertainment" that focuses on the human resources department. Set in a long-established stationery manufacturer where the voices of the sales and product development departments, who have a sporty temperament, take top priority, the story begins when Matsuda plays Hitomi Ren, a human resources expert, who is headhunted by a foreign company to the human resources department of the administrative division, which is struggling to "change this hot-blooded culture" and "make the working environment fair." However, contrary to everyone's expectations, Hitomi is a foolish and overly pure person who constantly manipulates those around him with his unconventional behavior...
Matsuda's character Hitomi was rumored to have been headhunted from overseas and was brought to the company with much fanfare, but in reality he is "a foolish and overly pure-hearted man." Not only does he lack business manners and clerical skills, he also lacks common sense, cannot do simple calculations, does not know the language, and often forgets things. However, he is too honest and incredibly compassionate. Because he is not bound by common sense, he proposes unusual solutions, which causes trouble within the company, but somehow he ends up solving problems and resolving the worries of those he consults with... This is his role. The cast of the heroine, Mano Naoki, who struggles every day with the desire to change the company, and the unique members of the human resources department will be announced in the future.
The script is said to have been written specifically for Matsuda, and is an original work by playwright Tomo Tomisaka, head of the theater company "Agarisk Entertainment," who will be the main writer for a serial drama for the first time in his career. The drama will be directed by Keita Kono, who has directed many popular works such as "Marumo no Okite" (2011), "Freeter, Ie o Kau" (2010), and the "Furuhata Ninzaburo" series (1994-2013 / Fuji TV).
◇Comment from Genta Matsuda
-About how you were surprised to find out that you'd been chosen to star in this film.
To be honest, even now I'm a little skeptical and wondering if it was a prank... But I love dramas and acting, so I was happy to receive this offer at a time when I wanted to try more and more. I think that being the lead role is a very big role, so I want to give it my all.
--After reading the script, what was your impression of this work?
I thought the character "Hitomi Ren" was "Matsuda Genta!". It was a role I could play by overlapping myself with it, but there were unexpected gaps in it. Hitomi may have the desire to help people, but I think his core is having fun and working hard. There are many parts where I thought "Hitomi is an interesting person," and it would be interesting if Hitomi's straightforward words struck a chord with many people. I think this will be a work that will help and encourage those who watch it, brighten up their daily work and lives, and make them more positive.
--This will be your first lead role in a terrestrial TV drama and your first lead role in a Fuji TV drama. Please tell us about your enthusiasm.
I'm so happy! A little while ago, I appeared in "Billion x School" starring Yamada (Ryosuke) as a student, but this time I'm the lead! And it's at 9pm (prime time)! I think "starring at 9pm" is really intense. I think a lot of people will watch it, so I'm really happy and grateful. Anyway, I thought "Tuesday 9pm is intense!"
--Is there anything you try to keep in mind when acting?
I want to not think too much, but to value the warmth of the person I'm talking to and the emotions I have when I'm facing them, and to give it my all in every moment. I want to make sure that the lines are natural and have a human feel to them. It's a drama, so it's fiction, but it's like non-fiction...? Does that make sense? "I'm going straight at it!" Just straight at it! As Hitomi Ren, if someone in front of me is in trouble, I want to go straight at it with all my might, be there for them, and solve it in my own style!
--I think 2024 was a year of great progress, but what kind of year do you want 2025 to be?
2024 was a year in which I was encouraged and energized by all my fans and viewers. 2025 will start with this drama, so this time I want to give back to all my fans who always support me and to all those who watch the drama by giving them a little bit of energy and positivity. First of all, I will give my all to the drama and make everyone happy!!
- Please give a message to our viewers.
I'm Matsuda Genta, who plays Hitomi Ren. I'm going to work on this drama in a fun and cheerful way so that I can deliver a lot of positive feelings, happy feelings, happiness, gratitude, and heartwarming moments to everyone, so I hope you enjoy watching it!
◇ Comment from scriptwriter Tomo Tomisaka
I am writing the script for "Jinji no Hitomi." This is my first time working on a one-hour drama series, and I'm feeling a little nervous and nervous about suddenly being put in such an environment. This is a work drama with a so-called "unconventional protagonist," but if you think about it, it seems like the protagonist of a drama is unconventional by default, so I'm going to be conscious of breaking the mold and making it into a comedy. At the same time, it's a story about human rights and labor issues, so I hope to write a story that is honest and doesn't let go of tolerance and compassion.
◇Comment from Hiroyuki Goto, project planner and producer
・Planning Intention
I think most people living today have some worries, hardships, or sadness at some point. I wanted to deliver hope, courage, and energy to everyone working hard in such a stressful society, so I planned this drama. I think a company is a miniature version of society. The main character and the other unique members of the HR department cut through the various problems, such as accidents and troubles that occur every day in any company, in one fell swoop. Look forward to "Jinji no Hitomi," a delightful office entertainment with laughs and tears!
Reason for appointment
The main character, Hitomi Ren, has been wandering the world as a backpacker since graduating from junior high school, so he has no experience working in a company and knows neither common sense nor company rules. Therefore, he is a very humorous character who faces various difficult problems brought to the HR department with his unique purity and instincts, and takes bizarre and absurd actions every time. Whenever I see Matsuda Genta, who is active in various genres, mainly on TV, his pure and natural nature leaves a strong impression, and shortly after this project was launched, I was convinced that Hitomi Ren is just like Matsuda Genta himself, so I offered him the role. The script was written specifically for Matsuda, so I hope you will keep that in mind when watching!
