Actor Marika Matsumoto attended a press conference for the drama "Ubai Ai, Manatsu" (TV Asahi, Friday 11:15pm *excluding some regions), in which she plays the lead role, held at TV Asahi headquarters (Minato Ward, Tokyo) on July 18th. Matsumoto revealed that she plays a high school student in the drama, which starts on the same day, saying, "I'm 40 years old and I'm wearing a sailor uniform (lol)!"
She revealed that she received an offer from screenwriter Osamu Suzuki to play the role of a high school student, and said with a smile, "Each department told me not to do it, but Osamu said to do it, so I said I'll do it! And I played a high school student." She introduced the scene as one where she co-starred with Miki Mizuno, who played her mother, and looked back on the filming, saying, "This scene made me feel the worldview of 'Ubai Ai'."
The drama is a new installment in the "Ubai Ai" series, which has become a hot topic every time due to its messy love-hate drama and the cast's bizarre acting. The creator of the series, Suzuki, who retired from his work as a television writer and scriptwriter in March last year, had promised the production team a sequel even before announcing his retirement, and this time he has taken up his pen specially. After breaking up with her lover with whom she had an affair, Umino Manatsu (Matsumoto) makes a fresh start by switching from her job as a photo magazine reporter to working in PR for watch manufacturer "TOWANI". However, TOWANI's president, Sorachi Taimu (Yasuda Ken Yasuda), looks just like her ex-boyfriend. Despite the fact that Taimu has a wife, Mirai (Maryjun Takahashi), she falls in forbidden love.
The main cast members Matsumoto, Yasuda, Takahashi, Shirahama Alan, Mori Kasumi, and screenwriter Suzuki also attended the press conference.
