Akiyoshi Nakao:Sayaka Yamaguchi and "Bun Black"Ryu Saito will appear again with Ryuta Sato in the October drama "New Tokyo Water Police" (full comment)

It has been revealed that actor Akiyoshi Nakao will be appearing in the October drama series "Shin-Tokyo Suijo Keisatsu" (Fuji TV, Tuesdays at 9pm), starring Ryuta Sato. Sato and Nakao have been close friends since co-starring in the popular drama "ROOKIES" (2008/TBS) as a passionate teacher and a baseball club student, and will be reuniting in "Mizukami".

The series is based on the novel of the same name by Yoshikawa Eri, which has been published in five volumes. The story is set in the Tokyo Water Police Station, which existed until 2008, but has since been resurrected as a police station. The Water Police Station team, made up of unique characters including detectives played by Sato and marine technical officers who operate boats, travels around in patrol boats, pursuing various crimes that occur in Tokyo's seas and rivers, making it a "marine x crime entertainment" series. The story is set in the Tokyo Bay area, and the Wangan Police Station will also appear as a rival to the Water Police Station.

The cast members of the "Mizukami Police Station" who will work alongside Sato's leader, Ikari Takuma, have been announced. Nakao will play Fujisawa Mitsuru, a detective at Tokyo Mizukami Police Station. He is a former forensic scientist and is a valuable asset to the Tokyo Mizukami Police Station, which does not have a forensic scientist department. He is the only member of the team who is married, living with his wife and son.

The cast members of the drama have also been announced: Sayaka Yamaguchi, Ryu Saito, Sarutoki Minagawa, and Kippei Shiina. Yamaguchi will play Yukiko Hosono, a detective at Tokyo's Mizukami Police Station. She is fearless and doesn't hesitate to speak out against both her superiors and juniors, and is also a good straight man at Mizukami Police Station.

Saito, who played Akuse Joe/Bun Black in the Super Sentai series "Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger," will play Endo Yasutaka, a detective at Tokyo Mizukami Police Station. He is the youngest member of the team, having recently been transferred from a police box to become a detective, and he strives every day to become a fully-fledged detective. He is a lovable character who works hard at everything he does, but sometimes he expresses his opinions too frankly, which can make those around him feel uncomfortable.

Minagawa plays Takahashi Soji, the section chief of the Tokyo Water Police Station, and Shiina plays Tamamushi Hajime, the chief of the newly established Tokyo Water Police Station. Takahashi is a middle manager caught between the wishes of the chief, Tamamushi, and the free-spirited Ikari and his gang. Although he often has trouble with the uncontrollable Ikari and Kusakabe, he sometimes shows his worldly side and is able to manipulate the chief well.

Tamamushi, played by Shiina, was not originally a police officer with the Metropolitan Police Department, but a maritime officer like Arima Reiko (Mizuki Yamashita). However, as a "professional who knows the sea," he switched to police and rose to the position of chief of Mizukami Police Station, an unusual career path. He sometimes puts a stop to Ikari and his team's investigations to avoid conflict with the nearby Wangan Police Station and the Metropolitan Police Department Headquarters, and is sometimes mocked as a "raccoon man," but deep down he has a passionate heart... This is his role.

"New Tokyo Water Police" will start airing on October 7th at 9pm every week. The first episode will be extended by 15 minutes.

◇Comment from Sayaka Yamaguchi

"New Tokyo Water Police"... The fresh sound of the song got me excited as I imagined a spectacular boat chase. Hosono Yukiko, who loves gossip and is always joking, is a free spirit that makes you wonder, "Is she really a detective?" However, I hope that Yukiko's light-hearted banter will provide a little break from investigating cases that involve complex social issues. I hope that you will enjoy the human drama of the unique "Team Ikari" as well as the deductions that lead to the solution of the case.

◇Akiyoshi Nakao

"The combination of Mizukami and the police is an unprecedented worldview that really got me excited. Each case sends a clear message to modern society, and I want to deliver that message directly and without wavering. I'm also really happy to be working with the seniors I've worked with on previous projects again this time. Even though I'm 37 years old, I thought I'd act as a junior on set and rely on them. Fujisawa Mitsuru (the character I play) is kind, and he's good at reading the mood while maintaining balance within the team. He cares for his family, and... he's just a really good guy. As a former forensic scientist, he's never directly faced violent criminals, but instead he tries his best to support the team from a different perspective. That's the kind of Fujisawa I like."

◇ Ryu Saito

When I received the offer, I initially suspected it was some kind of prank, and checked with my manager dozens of times. It's a dream come true that the first drama I've received without an audition, and one that's a regular cast member, is on Fuji TV at 9pm on Tuesdays. And what's more, I'd been playing the role of a police officer for about a year and a half just before starting this production, so including this show, that makes me have been playing a police officer for about two years. As a self-proclaimed young actor who suits the role of a police officer, I couldn't be more honored. My character, Endo Yasutaka, works hard at everything he does, but he's also a bit absent-minded, and has a lovable side that draws the attention of everyone on the team. I'm still inexperienced as an actor and have many areas where I need improvement, but I think that's something I share with Endo. I hope you'll enjoy the freshness that only a novice like me can bring to the role.

◇ Sarutoki Minagawa

When I was chosen to appear in the film, I read the original novel with great excitement. "It's interesting!" But then I was also a little nervous, thinking, "Wow! This is going to be a tough shoot! I'm afraid I'll get seasick!" But the main job of the Chief Takahashi I play is to stay at the police station while others are away. I'm super lucky! No, I'm kidding (laughs). I'm playing the role of the ultimate middle manager in a cool studio. I'm all wet. Thank you for your support.

◇ Kippei Shiina

I have worked on many police-related productions, but this was the first time I learned that there was a water police station that specialized in Tokyo Bay. I play the role of Tamamushi Hajime, the chief who is dedicated to reviving the water police station and loves the sea more than anything else. I hope to play a unique character who combines a sense of responsibility with indecisiveness.