The sixth episode of the drama series " Who saw the peacock dance in the jungle? " (TBS, Friday 10pm) starring Suzu Hirose will be broadcast on February 28th. Takiuchi Kumi plays Anan Yuki, a prosecutor in the "Headquarters Section" of the Public Prosecutor's Office. Anan is a character who seems to have a hidden side, as in episode three she knows that Kokoro Mugi (Hirose) had handed over a letter left by her father, Yamashita Haruo (Lily Franky), to the police, and in episode five she talks about Kokoro Mugi with the mysterious "man with a backpack." We asked Takiuchi about what she keeps in mind when playing the role of Anan.
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-What do you keep in mind when acting?
I think Anan is one of the key characters in the story. I think who Anan is connected to and what his purpose is will be important points for viewers.
The final development, who the culprit is, and the actors are all kept in the dark, so when I first read the script, I was confused because I didn't know what kind of relationship the person who confronts Anan had, or what kind of background he had. Even after reading the original work thoroughly, I was still stuck in the story (laughs), and it was my first time playing a role where the development was unpredictable, so I was worried about how to act.
Only the production team knows the whole story, so I consult with them on how to act and what role I should play. Usually, there is a reason for a character's actions, but there are some parts where I don't know what that reason is. I often wonder what tone I should use, so I check the direction and work to match it.
In addition, because the character is a prosecutor, I received guidance from the supervisor and actually attended trials to learn about the behavior of a prosecutor and the relationship between a defense attorney and a judge. I am also working on the character by watching and studying other videos that feature prosecutors.
--It seems like this is a difficult role to face.
Since it is not clear who he is involved with and how, I am worried about how to create the emotions of the character. Since it is a work with a strong suspense flavor, it is required to have elements that will attract the viewers, but since I am playing the character without knowing the whole picture, it is difficult to balance it.
-Please tell us your impression of Hirose, who plays the lead role.
I've been watching Hirose since the movie "Our Little Sister" (2015), and every time I meet her I'm amazed at how much that girl has grown. As she has experienced various works, her presence has grown year by year, and she is an actress who is stable in any situation. She always seems level-headed and has a philosophical perspective on things.
-How do you think Kokoromugi appears in Anan's eyes?
In the original work, the character had strength within his weakness, but Kokoro Mugi, played by Hirose, seemed to be a stronger and more consistent person.
--There is a scene where you confront detective Akazawa Tadashi, played by Fujimoto Takahiro. What is your impression of Fujimoto?
In the play, he acts with a mature and passionate personality, but he's also like a "teddy bear" and when the director calls "cut," he says "I'm sorry!" with a sense of embarrassment, which is cute and charming. He's a very earnest person, and seeing him always practicing so hard makes me want to emulate him.
-Is there any scene that has made an impression on you so far?
I like the lively exchanges between Kokoro Mugi and lawyer Matsukaze Yoshiteru, played by Matsuyama Kenichi. In works with strong suspense elements, the overall tone tends to be dark, but the exchanges between the two are light-hearted and pop, and I felt that they played a role in balancing the entire work.
Also, I get excited when the reporter Takashi Kamii, played by Hayato Isomura, appears. I've always been a fan of Isomura and have seen almost all of his work, but I especially love the way he uses his body. He's an actor who gets me excited just by watching his movements.
--At the moment, it doesn't seem like Kamii will be involved with Anan.
Who knows? (laughs) If we were to appear together, I would like Kamii-san to appear with that indescribable "sluttiness" and "frivolous" atmosphere.
-- Anan has come into contact with the mysterious "backpack man." What kind of person is he?
To be honest, I still don't know for sure (laughs). I think there will be more scenes in the future where Anan and the man with the backpack confront each other, so please look forward to them. My friends and acquaintances around me often ask me, "Who is that man?"
--"Believing" is a key point in this drama, but what do you personally consider important when believing in something?
"Don't have expectations." I think that betrayal after believing in someone is ultimately a matter of "expectations." If you expect something to happen, you'll be shocked when it's not. If you don't ask for anything and just believe in someone with an innocent heart, you'll be able to calmly accept their choice.
So I try to "believe because I have decided to believe." By doing so, I think I can respect the choice of others without getting too excited or upset about their actions. Of course, I don't expect anything from myself, I don't worry about the outcome, I just believe in things as they are.
--Please tell us what the highlights of Episode 6 are.
This episode tells us about Anan's background and why he became a prosecutor. We also gradually learn about the past of other characters. Personally, there is a scene where Anan confronts Kokoro Mugi and Matsukaze before questioning Kokoro Mugi, and the exchange between Anan and Matsuyama was very interesting, and I had a lot of fun acting, so it's one of the highlights.
