Cast of "The Royal Family" announced

It has been announced that actors Koichi Sato and Wakana Matsumoto will appear in the October TBS Sunday Theatre drama "The Royal Family" (Sundays at 9pm), starring Satoshi Tsumabuki. Sato will play the role of a humane horse owner, and Matsumoto will play Tsumabuki's ex-girlfriend.

The story is based on the novel of the same name by Kazuma Hayami. Kurisu (Tsumabuki) has always looked up to his father, who runs a tax accounting firm, but after a certain incident he experiences setbacks in his career and loses all hope. However, when he meets Sanno Kozo, a horse owner, his life, which had come to a sudden halt, begins to move forward...

Sanno, played by Sato, is the founding president of Royal Human Co., Ltd., a staffing agency, and a well-known horse owner in the horse racing world. Although he is a typical autocratic president, he has an ability to foresee the future of the industry, and also values connections with people. He puts his family second as he becomes increasingly absorbed in horses. Sanno, who continues to passionately pursue his dreams, is an important character who will have a major influence on Kurisu's life.

Matsumoto, who is making her Sunday Theatre debut, will play Nozaki Kanako, who runs Nozaki Farm, a racehorse breeding farm in the Hidaka region of Hokkaido, with her father. Kurisu is her ex-boyfriend from her university days, and they are reunited for the first time in 10 years.

◇Comment from Koichi Sato

When I was chosen to appear in the role, I felt excited that in a sense a slightly specialized drama would be shown on Sunday Theatre, and I felt that I had to do my best. The character I will be playing, Sanno Kozo, is, as his name suggests, a man who is somewhat arrogant and a bit old-fashioned in nature, but who is very passionate, and I hope that this is what makes him so appealing to the audience.

I've been involved with horses as a rider for over 40 years, and although I've had some dangerous experiences, I've also learned how to get close to the horse and the joy of riding, and I even did a lot of horse racing when I was younger. The relationship between horses and people in horse racing is not a simple betting game, and I think horses know what it means to win. This story is not just about finding value in using horses as living creatures, but I hope to be able to effectively express a relationship between humans and horses that is one or two steps ahead of the rest. I want to make a drama that can be enjoyed by people who don't understand horse racing or have never ridden a horse.

◇Comment from Wakana Matsumoto

It was one of my dreams to appear in Sunday Theatre, so I was really happy when I heard about the role. When I read the script, it was filled with the passion of people who don't get caught up in conventions, and it was so fascinating that I read it all in one go, and I'm really looking forward to filming. Nozaki Kanako, the character I play, was born to a breeding farm in the Hidaka region of Hokkaido, and moved to Tokyo to attend university, where she meets Kurisu, played by Tsukamoto. She is a strong-willed woman who absolutely loves the people and horses of the Hidaka farms, and I think it will be interesting to see how she becomes involved in the story. It is a story filled with the passion of people who love horses and continue to challenge themselves to achieve their dreams, so please do watch it.