It has recently been revealed that Erika Ikuta, a former member of the idol group "Nogizaka46" who is currently active as a singer and actor, will be starring in the NHK special drama "Going Over Amagi." Taking on the role of Seicho Matsumoto's timeless masterpiece, which has previously been made into a film and a TV drama, Ikuta revealed, "When I received the offer and watched his previous works, I was a little scared as to whether I could handle the role."
Hana Otsuka, the main character played by Ikuta, is a prostitute at the brothel in Shuzenji, Izu. Although she has a beautiful and glamorous appearance, she has a strong competitive spirit and is constantly getting into trouble with her colleagues and customers. One morning, she sneaks out of the establishment and tries to cross the Amagi Pass. On the way, she has a fateful encounter with Jiro Mochizuki, a boy who has run away from home in Shimoda.
Born in a poor village in Ibaraki, she was sold to a brothel in Yoshiwara at the age of 12 due to poverty. She later escaped to Izu, but her clumsy personality caused her to be deceived and betrayed by men one after another. In the midst of her despair, she was touched by Jiro's pure eyes and thought about his future.
However, his modest happiness is short-lived when he is arrested on suspicion of murder. He stubbornly maintains his innocence during police questioning, but...
When asked why she was scared, Ikuta confessed, "I wondered how much I, living in the Reiwa era, could imagine the circumstances Hana had lived through and what was going on inside her heart." Looking back, she added, "However, I was able to have many discussions with the staff before filming began, and when I first put on the costume and stood in front of the camera, the director said, 'It's Hana,' so I was able to wipe away my worries and get started." She continued, "I think there will be many more days of conflict from here on out, but I want to throw myself into it with all my heart. I hope everyone will look forward to it."
The story is set in 1956. Jiro Mochizuki, a printer in Shizuoka Prefecture, is asked by Detective Tajima, who is nearing retirement, to print out "criminal investigation materials." Among the criminal cases is a description of the murder of a construction worker whose statute of limitations has expired. The case involves Otsuka Hana, a prostitute from Shuzenji, and a 14-year-old boy who was spotted near the Amagi Tunnel. Reading the materials, Mochizuki's sealed memories are revived. The "boy" is himself from 31 years ago. And Otsuka Hana is the woman he fell in love with for the first time. They crossed the Amagi Pass together, barefoot, for a few hours. Hana's smile, her beautiful singing voice, the warmth of her hands - after a dreamlike time, Hana breaks up with him, kills the construction worker, and is arrested. During Tajima's forceful interrogation at the police station, Hana confesses to the murder, but it is an unnatural confession. It is as if she is covering for someone...
And now, 31 years after the incident, why has Detective Tajima come to visit Mochizuki? Why does he pursue Mochizuki with such tenacity? Eventually, the "truth" of the incident is revealed, and Mochizuki has a fateful reunion with Hana... and so the story unfolds.
The drama will be broadcast on NHK BS from 9:00 pm on June 14th. It will also be broadcast on BS8K from 9:00 pm on March 23rd and BS Premium 4K from 7:30 pm on May 10th.
