It has been revealed that Kaito Takahashi from the popular group "King & Prince" and actor Tomoya Nakamura will co-star in the TBS Friday drama "DOPE: Special Investigation Unit of the Narcotics Control Department" (Fridays at 10pm) in July. This will be their first time acting together, and they will play a righteous rookie narcotics control officer and his unconventional senior who serves as his instructor in this action drama that investigates a case involving a new type of drug.
The original work is a novel of the same name by Kizaki Chiaki, who made her debut as a novelist after winning the grand prize at the 20th Dengeki Novel Award. Set in a near-future Japan where the mysterious new drug "DOPE" is rampant, the story follows rookie narcotics agent Saiki Yuto, played by Takahashi, who is transferred to the undisclosed Narcotics Control Department's Special Investigation Division, commonly known as the "Special Investigation Division," and Jinnai Teppei, the "Special Investigation Division's" instructor who gives the worst first impression, played by Nakamura, as they team up to solve the mysterious cases caused by DOPE with the unique members of the Special Investigation Division. This is a "narcotics control action entertainment" story.
Takahashi, who will be starring in his first TBS drama, plays Saiki, a straight-laced character with a strong sense of justice who takes everything seriously. He believes that criminals who take DOPE should also be given a chance to rehabilitate. He aspires to a career in helping people, inspired by the police officer who helped him during a random terrorist attack that occurred when he was a child, but after seeing his mother suffer from DOPE addiction, he becomes a drug enforcement officer to eradicate DOPE.
Meanwhile, Nakamura will be starring in a TBS drama for the first time in three years since the Friday drama "Ishiko and Haneo - Are you going to sue me for that?". Jinnai, played by Nakamura, is a character who has higher fighting ability than anyone else, and unlike Saiki, has a ruthless side to those who take DOPE. He also has a background in that he came to strongly hate DOPE due to a "certain incident" that happened in the past.
Takahashi commented, "When I first received the offer, I was a little worried, wondering 'Am I the right person for the role?' But when I heard I'd be working with Tomoya, I felt incredibly relieved and said, 'Please!' Tomoya provides me with some kind of nourishment every day on set...he's really like a mentor for Takahashi (laughs)."
Nakamura revealed how close the two are, saying, "Kaito, who plays my buddy, is adorable not only because of his personality and humanity, but also because he's a younger guy who works so hard. At first, Jinnai treats Saiki quite roughly, but behind the scenes I carefully nurture Kaito like a hand-kneaded hamburger steak (laughs)."
◇Comment from Kaito Takahashi
The character I play, Saiki Yuto, is a rookie narcotics agent who has just been transferred to the Special Investigations Division. He is a straightforward person with a strong sense of justice, but he also has some human qualities, weaknesses, and a bit of a lame side... But somehow, those are the things that make him cool.
When I first got the offer, I was a little worried, wondering if I was the right person for the role, but when I heard that I would be working with Tomoya-san, I felt incredibly relieved and said, "Please!" Tomoya-san is someone I get some kind of nourishment from every day on set...he's really like a mentor to Takahashi (laughs).
When I first read the script, I was excited and anxious, wondering, "What will happen?" Every episode has an action scene, but I was reading it while wondering how they would film it... so now that I'm on set, I'm learning something new every day as I go about filming.
There have already been days when we've shot over 100 shots, and I think that as we get to the second half of the filming the action will become more and more spectacular, so I think it will get more difficult, but the atmosphere on set is very friendly.
It's a summer drama, so the temperature is hot, but I think it's a really cool series that will warm your heart, so please do watch it! Thank you!
◇Comment from Tomoya Nakamura
I've been working with Producer Hasegawa for a long time and have worked with him on a few occasions in the past, but this time he was very enthusiastic about the offer, so I thought if he was that motivated I might as well go for it (laughs).
This work has action scenes and CG elements, and I think the key to this work is how compelling it is to make it something you can't take your eyes off of. I think there have been some terrestrial TV serial dramas that have cool action and amazing CG, but this drama needs both, so I think it's an ambitious work. As for my role, as a buddy who is the polar opposite, how will I stimulate Saiki with my words and actions, and what choices will Saiki make in response? I think that's the central pillar of this drama, so I thought I was given a very rewarding role.
At first glance, Jinnai seems to be unserious and unmotivated, and he doesn't even seem to do much investigation, but he also has a "past". I think that past is the second pillar of this drama, next to the pillar of Saiki's growth. He is a character who is quite stimulating, dramatic, and of course a key person.
Kaito, who plays my buddy, is adorable, not only for his personality and humanity, but also simply because he is a hard-working younger guy. At first, Jinnai treats Saiki rather roughly, but behind the scenes, I carefully nurture Kaito like a hand-kneaded hamburger steak (laughs).
I hope to create a show that you can look forward to every week leading up to the broadcast.
Comment from producer Haruhiko Hasegawa
When I was writing the proposal for this work, I was the only one in the room. I remember crying as I pictured Saiki and Jinnai's adventures in my head. Then, screenwriter Tanaka and the plot team joined us, and actors I trust joined us, and staff members who are my old friends joined us, and now Saiki and Jinnai are in action right before my eyes.
Although this film is full of lively words such as near future, action, and polar opposites, the main focus is on the human drama spun by Kaito Takahashi and Tomoya Nakamura. I have already cried several times watching their acting in the one month of filming. Needless to say, the number of tears is greater than the amount I cried when I was writing the proposal.
Furthermore, the cast, theme song, insert song, and background music will be announced in the future. And the truth of a "certain secret" will be revealed with each broadcast. We will continue to weave the story together so that this work will enrich your Friday nights.
◇Comment from the original author, Chiaki Kizaki
I am very grateful that the original novel "DOPE" was first selected in a planning competition, then serialised in a magazine, and then given the opportunity to be made into a TV drama, which was an incredibly lucky piece of work. Since this is a work that has been blessed with so many connections and good fortunes, I think it will become a wonderful drama that will bring something good to the staff and cast, those involved in the production, and of course the viewers.
I am very much looking forward to the broadcast of the spectacularly reborn drama "DOPE", but as the original author, I would be very happy if even one more person could enjoy it. Let's all watch it together on Friday at 10pm!
