Riho Yoshioka plays Koreeda Fumika, assistant teacher of class 2 at Rintoku Gakuen, where Mikami (Matsuzaka) is the homeroom teacher, in the TBS Sunday Theatre drama " Mikami Sensei " (Sundays at 9pm), starring actor Tori Matsuzaka . Regarding Koreeda, Yoshioka smiles at the students who are growing rapidly under Mikami's influence, but says she feels that "he may be the slowest to grow." We spoke to Yoshioka about Matsuzaka and the other cast members who play the students, the atmosphere during filming, and the highlights of the seventh episode, which will air on March 2nd.
◇ An open workplace with lots of dialogue
The drama is an original "great reversal education revival story" in which Takashi Mikami (Matsuzaka), a bureaucrat in the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology who wants to change education in Japan, teaches at a private high school and leads 18-year-old high school students living in the Reiwa era while standing up to authority. The script is written by Roba Shimori, who will be teaming up with Matsuzaka for the first time since the movie "The Journalist." Kazutaka Iida, who has been in charge of popular Sunday Theater shows such as "Anti-Hero" (2024) and "VIVANT" (2023), is the producer.
After reading Shimori's script, Yoshioka said, "I was so moved by the movie 'The Journalist' when it was released that I went to the cinema twice. At that time, I wondered what kind of screenwriter it was, and that's how I first came to know Shimori Roba. The entire script was completed from the first episode to the finale at a very early stage, and I was really impressed by how well-made it was. Roba had a very clear idea of what she wanted to achieve."
The atmosphere on set is open and there is "a lot of dialogue," he said.
"Producer Iida-san is someone who keeps a close eye on the set, so I think a distinctive feature of the set is that there is a lot of dialogue. The students were chosen through auditions, and the adult team is made up of people who empathize with the script and have a strong desire to 'deliver' the message. We exchange opinions with everyone, and through my own character I try to think about how to best convey the good points of the script, so I take on the challenge of filming with a sense of tension and ingenuity."
Although the classroom scenes have already been filmed, there is an "exciting atmosphere" during the actual shoot, with sensitive issues being discussed by the entire classroom. Meanwhile, in the anteroom, where the cameras are not rolling, the students seem to be relaxed and lively. "It has the realism of both, different aspects of student life, and although most of the students are older than high school students, they look only 18 years old both in the classroom and in the anteroom, so we watch over them warmly," he says, narrowing his eyes.
◇The charming side of Tori Matsuzaka
She also co-starred with Matsuzaka in the 2016 drama "Yutorimasenashigegenanika" in which they appeared in many scenes together as the homeroom teacher and assistant homeroom teacher.
"In 'Yutori,' Matsuzaka-san was the homeroom teacher and I was a student teacher, so I played characters who ran side by side with him, and I learned a lot from him. Matsuzaka-san is very generous, and he listens to what people have to say, so it was easy to consult him about worries about the play or how I thought about a scene. I really feel that it's because of the time I spent in 'Yutori,' that I can live in this world."
On set, she seemed to be comforted by Matsuzaka's smile, saying, "Mikami Sensei has a blank expression, but Matsuzaka himself has a huge grin when he laughs. The real Matsuzaka bursts into laughter like a child when something funny happens, and I think he's charming and wonderful."
◇ The main character of episode 7, “Shiiba,”Sakura Kiryu, is “a character that encapsulates social issues”
Regarding the cast playing the students, he said, "The way everyone approaches their work with initiative is linked to the growth of the students in the film, and I feel that a real, uncontrived feeling and an attitude of tackling social issues as if they were personal concerns were developed during filming."
"Watching the students' acting up close, I thought how fresh it was. They were all performing acts that could only be done at this impressionable age, so I'm sure when they grow up they will think that that time was incredibly precious. It made me feel like I was witnessing a special moment," she said, her eyes shining.
In episode 7 (broadcast on March 2nd), the story revolves mainly around one of the students, Shiiba Haruno (Sakura Kiryu).
"Shiiba-san is a character that encapsulates social issues. There's the issue of menstruation, but also inequality, poverty and so on, and she carries it all by herself in her small body. I thought the problems were too big for one person to shoulder, so I wanted to make sure that she wouldn't feel alone and that she could find hope. I'm sure that many of the viewers will be able to sympathize with some of the problems Shiiba-san faces, or are currently struggling with, so I wanted to make this episode a relief for those people."
Regarding Yoshiyanagi, who plays Shiiba, he was impressed, saying, "His acting is truly magnificent."
"I was watching from the closest position, and it really felt like Shiiba was there. Her power and delicate heart inspired me a lot. Normally she is very polite, but she is also funny. She is considerate of everyone, talks to them cheerfully, has lots of interesting stories to tell, is polite and consistent. It's amazing that a girl like this really exists. She's also a good singer. I thought her everyday personality was wonderful, and I felt her power."
Finally, we asked about the highlights of episode 7.
"How will the students, who have grown up under the guidance of Mikami Sensei, confront and resolve Shiiba's family environment, which is full of social problems? Yoshiyanagi himself has been working on this since they first met, and he delivers a wonderful performance that really hits deep in the heart, so I would like you to pay attention to Shiiba, played by Yoshiyanagi. Koreeda makes another mistake. I really think he is the slowest to grow, but there is a scene where Koreeda supports Shiiba with what he is dealing with, and it makes you worry about him and makes you think. I would be happy if everyone could think about it together with me," he said.
