It has been revealed that actor Kenta Kiritani will play the lead role in the April drama series "Itsuka, Hero" (ABC TV/TV Asahi, Sundays at 10:15 p.m.). Kiritani plays the protagonist, who at first glance appears to be a pathetic middle-aged man, but has a hidden past and confronts powerful people with his former students.
Kiritani plays the passionate staff member of an orphanage, Akayama Seiji. Seeing the children who grew up in an underprivileged environment but had dreams and hopes for the future, Akayama believed in a bright future. However, one day, due to certain circumstances, Akayama suddenly disappears. Then, 20 years later, having lost everything, Akayama returns to find his five students completely changed, having lost their dreams and hopes and standing on the brink of despair... This is the story.
The original work is written by Koji Hayashi, who has produced many hit social dramas such as the "Divorce Lawyer" series (Fuji TV) and the "Code Blue" series (Fuji TV). The director is Hidenobu Abera, who has produced popular works such as "Prison Boke" (ABC TV) and "That Child" (Fuji TV).
Kiritani commented, "The character Akayama that I play in this work is a man like the sun, who is kind-hearted and easily moved to tears, but in fact has the opposite side. He is by no means a hero. This work is very intense, and I feel that the only way to overcome it is to throw yourself wholeheartedly into it. The most important thing is 'now,' but we should believe in 'someday,' which will inspire us."
