It has been revealed that the latest installment of the "Occupy Series" (Nippon TV), "XXX Occupy", in which Sakurai Sho plays the hot-blooded detective Musashi Saburo, will be broadcast on Saturdays at 9pm in July. This is the third installment, following "Large Hospital Occupy" in 2023 and "New Airport Occupy" in 2024. "XXX" will include the name of the occupied location that will be the setting for this work, which will be announced in the future. A campaign to guess the new occupied location has started on the official SNS.
"Big Hospital Occupation" is set in a huge hospital that has been occupied by a mysterious armed group hiding their faces behind masks, and the story follows Musashi, played by Sakurai, as he throws himself into rescuing the hostages and solving the case. As the story progresses, the perpetrators remove their masks, and the elements of speculation such as the mystery and conspiracy behind the incident captivated viewers, leading to a sequel, "New Airport Occupation," set in a newly completed airport, being broadcast in 2024. Also, "Undercover Brothers and Sisters: Special Fraud Special Investigator," which is set in the same world and with the same staff, and co-stars Ryusei Ryo and Yagi Rikako, was also broadcast in the same year.
This "XXX Occupation" is set one year after "New Airport Occupation." Musashi, a detective in the Kanagawa Prefectural Police First Investigative Division's Violent Crimes Unit, is transferred to the Metropolitan Police Department's Criminal Affairs Division BCCT, but he gets caught up in another occupancy case and begins an investigation with new colleagues.
◇Story
One year has passed since the "New Airport Occupation" incident... Summer 2025. An armed group hiding their faces with masks has taken 500 hostages and occupied a "new location." Facing the armed group is the same detective, Musashi Saburo. Who is this new enemy? And what is their purpose...? Musashi Saburo's "worst day" begins once again. ◇Comment from Sakurai Sho
What were your thoughts when you heard about the offers to star in the sequels to "Big Hospital Occupy" and "New Airport Occupy"?
I thought, "That's a lie!" Three films in a row. That's a fast pace, almost one per year. It's an original work with no original source material, so I was surprised at the high pace. I myself have no experience with a series of three sequels, so in that sense I think it's a new challenge. Today, with the makeup and costume, I have become the appearance of Detective Musashi, and I feel like I'm gradually starting to get into the swing of things.
--When I saw that outfit, I immediately thought it was Musashi.
That's right. I also looked in the mirror and thought, "It's Musashi!" I was in the winter season in January for the hospital and the new airport, but this time in July it's summer, so my costume is actually summer-style. It's hard to tell, but the material is a little thin, so it's summer Musashi (laughs).
--What do you want people to pay attention to when reading the script?
The Occupy series depicts a day in Musashi's life, and then a group of people wearing masks, whose identities are unknown, appear. It's more tense, fits the era of 2025, and has a tense, poignant content, so I think we'll be able to show an upgraded version of the Occupy series.
--Any hints as to where the location will be occupied?
How should I explain it... It was followed by a large hospital and a new airport, and on the set we were talking about what we would do next. I think it's quite difficult to come up with the right answer. I think it's a place that can be seen as familiar in a sense to the viewers. Is it not familiar? It's difficult. How should I explain it (laughs).
--The perpetrator this time was also wearing a mask, right?
The first work was about demons and was color-coded. Like red and blue. The second work was about the Chinese zodiac, so I thought there would be no more material, but it turns out there is, a new masked being! I was surprised!
--Has anything recently made you think "That must be a lie" based on Musashi's catchphrase?
I went skiing for the first time in a while in April, and I was so excited to see the silvery white snow that I ran and jumped in, but it was ice... I was like, "You're kidding me!" It wasn't fluffy at all, and since it was already April, it was frozen (laughs). It was the biggest "You're kidding me!" I'm regretting that I got too excited.
--Please give a message to the viewers who are looking forward to the drama.
I think XXX Occupy will be a work that allows you to enjoy the thrill of an hour of suspense every week. I, Musashi, will be worn out every week, so I hope you will enjoy it and support it. Please look forward to XXX Occupy.
◇Comment from Producer Takahiro Onoue
The third installment... I remember when I first explained the plan for "Occupying a Large Hospital" (2023) to Sho Sakurai.
"A group of armed men wearing masks entered the hospital..." I explained in one go, and then Sakurai muttered, "They're trying to do something incredible... (laughs)." His expression was calm, but I could sense his sincerity in his gaze as he approached the project.
I blurted out, "Yes! If possible, after the hospital, I'd like to occupy an airport or something in the second phase..." in the heat of the moment, and I'm sure Sakurai-san must have thought I was a really strange person.
It's already been three years since that day.
"Occupy" will have its third installment. There may be some crossover with the previous two works ("Occupying a Major Hospital" and "Occupying a New Airport") and the drama "Undercover Brothers and Sisters" that aired in October last year.
The cast and staff are working together to surpass the previous work. We are working every day with the sole desire that everyone "have a great time at 9pm on Saturday." A new occupation will begin in July. Please look forward to it.
◇Comment from Director Taro Otani
It has been decided that the third installment of the "Occupy" series will be produced. I couldn't help but cry out in joy, "No way!" I am truly happy to be able to return to this world of tension and negotiation once again. The enthusiastic support and expectations of our viewers have made this series so great. Thank you so much.
And once again, the lead actor, Sho Sakurai, will powerfully lead this story. His manly and humane performance as Saburo Musashi throughout the series has given the work depth and tension. I am personally looking forward to seeing an even more evolved version of Sakurai in this third installment.
How will the characters live and fight in the extreme situation of "occupation"? The staff and cast are working together to deliver a breathtaking story with unexpected twists and turns.
As a director and as a fan of the Occupy series, I'm very excited to see how this work will evolve, including where the "XXX" in Occupy XXX will stand. I aim to create an entertaining work that can be enjoyed by everyone, whether they're experiencing the series for the first time or have seen it before. Please look forward to Occupy this summer!
