Noriko Eguchi stars in the TV drama series " Taigan no Kaji ~Kore ga, Watashi no Ikiru Michi~ of "housework" through the protagonist Shiho ( Mikako Tabe)'s interactions with "people on the other side of the river" who have different positions and ways of thinking than her. Eguchi plays Nagano Reiko, a "working mom" who struggles to balance her work and childcare. We asked Eguchi about what she keeps in mind when playing the role of Reiko and how she felt about appearing in this production.
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--Please tell us your thoughts after reading the original novel "Housework on the Other Side" (written by Akano Kiko, Kodansha Bunko).
I thought it was a really good story. When you walk around your neighborhood, you sometimes see mothers riding their bikes with their children on the front and back. But you just see them, and you have no way of knowing what kind of life those mothers are actually living or what problems they are facing. It gave me the opportunity to learn about those kinds of people, and even if you're not directly involved, the characters are people you might know, so there are parts of the story that anyone can relate to. I thought it was a really fascinating story.
--What kind of person is Reiko?
Reiko was working hard in the sales department, but after her maternity leave she is transferred to the general affairs department. Even so, she is working hard, refusing to give up her job just because she has two children. On top of that, she wants to do her housework and childcare properly, but her husband Ryohei (played by Kawanishi Kenshiro) is busy and works late into the night, so she doesn't have enough time to devote her passion to her work like before. She is a woman who is constantly frustrated and struggles between her ideals and reality, but she is doing her best to face them.
-Is there anything you keep in mind while acting?
I feel like we are all creating the character of Reiko together. In particular, when I act with Tabe-san, my understanding broadens and I often discover, "Oh, so that's what the scene was like." I am conscious of "This is the role, so I'll act like this," but more than that, there is something that unfolds on the set, and it's a very enjoyable shoot.
It's a play that can only be performed with other people. This time, there are children, so there are some scenes that don't go as expected. In those cases, the adults will have to act in accordance with the children's movements, so I hope that this process will be fun.
--I heard that you hold Yoshitama Honoka, who plays your daughter, Hoshina, in your arms even during breaks in filming.
Honoka-chan sometimes falls asleep while being held, and when I put her down she starts crying. Also, when she sees her mother's face she sometimes starts crying and says "I don't want to go back to the set." So I hold her during my free time until the scene is over.
--What scene in episode 1 left an impression on you?
There are many memorable scenes, but the scene where I raise my voice at the children and the scene where Shiho and Reiko talk on the rooftop are particularly memorable. Also, I have a strong memory of riding my bicycle the whole time (laughs).
In the first episode, Reiko was suffering for a long time, but Shiho noticed her suffering. I feel that it was because Shiho noticed that Reiko was able to finish the episode with a slightly brighter look on her face.
--This will be you working with Tabe-san again, so what are your impressions of this production?
When I heard about this production and that Tabe-san would be the lead, I accepted without hesitation. I thought, "I'm sure I'll be able to have fun acting with Tabe-san," and it was fun working with her after all.
--What do you think of Dean Fujioka, who plays Shiho's dad friend, Nakatani Tatsuya?
Dean and I are the same age, but when I listen to him talk, I can't believe we've lived the same number of years, because we've had completely different experiences. It's really interesting to hear stories from different worlds.
Also, Dean's charm comes from those experiences, and the lines he delivers resonate very directly. He's a type of actor I've never encountered before.
--What kind of conversations do you have with Kawanishi-san, who plays Ryōhei?
He's a very interesting guy when he's acting. However, we rarely talk about acting in our free time... Kawanishi-san published a book, so I gave him a copy. So we talked about how interesting the book was. Kawanishi-san had a long free day, so I asked him how he was going to spend the time, and he said, "I'm going to a coffee shop" (laughs). We often have these kinds of trivial conversations.
-In keeping with the title of this film, what are your favorite household chores, and what are the ones you tend to put off?
My favorite thing is washing dishes. I like touching water. On the other hand, what I always put off is folding the laundry and then tidying up. I'm fine with folding it, but then I have a hard time putting it away in the closet or in the drawer.
-What do you think is the significance of the "other side" depicted in this drama?
In the first episode, Shiho found Reiko on the "opposite shore". And that's how she was saved. From episode 2 onwards, many people are found and saved by Shiho. I think that the person you find at each moment is the "other person on the opposite shore".
-Please tell us what the highlights of this film are.
I think that viewers who watch this drama will feel like they can relate to the characters, regardless of whether they have children or a family. I think that this may change the way people look at those who are raising children or are busy, to be kinder and more considerate.
From the second episode onwards, Shiho will continue to find people in trouble and help them. Even while acting, I feel like this is a great drama, so please be sure to check it out.
