Parachute Regiment Saito:Her first appearance in a TV drama series was in "Who saw the peacock dance in the jungle?" "She becomes involved in the main part of the case in episodes 8 and 9."

The seventh episode of the drama series " Who saw the peacock dance in the jungle? " (TBS, Friday 10pm) starring Suzu Hirose will be broadcast on March 7th. Saito Yu of the comedy duo "Parachute Regiment" plays Nishijin Makoto, one of the detectives in charge of the arson and murder case of Komugi Haruo (Lily Franky), the father of Kokoro Mugi (Hirose). Nishijin is a character who often acts together with Akazawa Tadashi (Takahiro Fujimoto), a detective from the First Investigation Division who is also in charge of the case, and young detective Akisada Takao (Soichi Itose). This is Saito's first appearance in a commercial TV drama series, and we asked him about his thoughts on appearing in this work.

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-Please tell us how you felt when you were decided to appear in this film.

When I heard about it, I thought, "Am I really the right person for the role?" because it's a suspense drama. I usually work in Fukuoka, so it's been a while since I've been on a set with so many new people. I was also nervous because it was a drama shoot, but coincidentally everyone on the detective team was from Fukuoka, so we had a lot in common and it was very helpful. It seems that both of us use our dialects when we go back to our hometowns, but when we're talking between shoots, we're concentrating on our roles so the dialect doesn't come out. It would be funny if the detective team suddenly started speaking in dialect, but that would change the subject (laughs).

-Was there anything you kept in mind when playing Nishijin?

I try to act seriously. I think my role in this production is to add humor to serious scenes, like dropping a drop of water with a dropper.

Few people may have noticed this, but when Nishijin expresses his opinion at the investigation headquarters, he always looks at Akisada and makes sure Akisada nods before he speaks. Nishijin is an original character, so when we wanted to give him a personality, we decided to make him someone who can't say anything without first checking with someone.

--In episode 3, I was impressed by Nishijin picking up the magnet that fell when Akazawa hit the whiteboard.

The director whispered to me, "Shall we include a scene where I pick up a fallen magnet?" (laughs). There are many such things, but some have been cut. I'm in a different field, and I'm allowed to work, so I try to do my best to do what everyone tells me to do. It's the same as Nishijin. Maybe I'm trying to read people's faces.

--Have you received any feedback from the broadcasts so far, Mr. Saito?

When I'm shooting on location in Fukuoka, I want people to say, "You were there," or "That's amazing," but the most common thing I get is, "That's interesting. So, who is the culprit?" (laughs). Even at the recording site, the staff and co-stars ask me about the drama, but I only know the same information as everyone else, so they're disappointed. They say, "I was planning to ask you a lot of things!" (laughs). Everyone is speculating, and there are all kinds of theories, like "Akazawa's son Mamoru (Kota Nomura) is suspicious," "Haruo (Lily Franky) is actually alive?", and so on, but when I reply, "I don't know," they say, "You're the one who's suspicious." Everyone on the street seems like a detective (laughs).

--Mr. Saito, who do you think is the culprit?

There was a battle of theories on set, and when I heard from Matsuyama Kenichi, who plays Matsukaze Yoshiteru, that Komugi's father, Haruo, was still alive, I thought, "That's novel," but when I thought about it, it all made sense, so I was totally carried away and thought, "Haruo might be the culprit" (laughs). Genseki-kun is also great at speculating, and when I hear him talk, I think, "That's right." I'm completely swayed by other people's opinions (laughs).

--The theme of this film is "belief," but what is important to you when believing in something?

I believe in "what the people I believe in believe in." I don't have many friends, but I trust the people they introduce to me. When choosing a tax accountant or a hospital, or when trying something new, I ask people I trust. I trust those people so much that I don't mind being deceived. I'm kind of like Nishijin Makoto (laughs).

--What can we look forward to in the future?

People on social media have been saying that "Nishijin is suspicious," and it even became a trend for a while. Nishijin, however, becomes involved in the main part of the case in episodes 8 and 9. Also, in the most violent scene in episode 9, Nishijin makes a ridiculous joke (laughs). I wonder if it will be aired without being cut... Please look forward to it!