Actors Tokihide Wakabayashi and Rina Kawaei are currently appearing in the TBS Friday drama "Fake Mummy" (Fridays at 10pm), co-starring actors Haru and Rina Kawaei. Wakabayashi plays Machida Daiki, a young employee at RAINBOWLAB, where Hidaka Mamie (played by Kawaei) is the president, while Asakawa plays Fujisaki Nagisa, a sales clerk at Itteki, the flagship store for Rainbow Juice, a juice brand sold by RAINBOWLAB. We spoke to Wakabayashi and Asakawa about their impressions of their co-stars and stories from the set.
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The drama is a serial adaptation of the winning work by Sonomura Mitsuru, who won the grand prize at the first TBS NEXT WRITERS CHALLENGE screenplay competition. Hanamura Kaoru (Haru), who suddenly quit her job and struggles to find a new one, meets Hidaka Makie, the company president and single mother, at an interview at the venture company RAINBOWLAB. Makie asks Hanamura to act as a substitute for her daughter Iroha (Ikemura Aoi), who is applying to a prestigious private elementary school...
-What were your impressions after reading the script?
Wakabayashi: The story, which begins with a fake mother contract, was so original that I couldn't stop reading the script. When I finished reading it, I felt that it was a work that could resonate with a wide range of people.
Asakawa: I also thought it was innovative. Everyone has their own circumstances and things they're dealing with, but no matter how they do it, they all complement each other, and I thought, "Oh, so there's another way to look at it." The more I read, the more I found it simply fascinating, and even as a cast member, I was excited to see what would happen next.
--Machida, what do you keep in mind when playing Nagisa?
Wakabayashi: The character I play, Machida, is clumsy but somehow lovable. Although he has the ability to propose plans, he does make mistakes and is still growing as a member of society, but I think he is able to work with the president and vice president because they like his natural personality. On set, I try to be the one to talk to Kawaei and Mukai (Koji) (who plays Kuroki Ryuma) so that they will like him, just like Machida (laughs).
Asakawa: When I first saw the character of Nagisa, I thought "this could be me," as there were many parts of her that overlapped with me. She's a gal who admires Momi, and I hope to become the life-sized presence in the series that is closest to the viewers. I'd be happy if I could add some color to the series as a character that provides a bit of a breather. I've always admired Kawaei, so I'm conscious of inheriting even a little of Momi's "Momi-ism."
-Please tell us your impressions of your co-stars.
Wakabayashi: I haven't had any scenes with Haru yet, but when I saw her acting during our first meeting, I was overwhelmed and thought, "She's just like Kaoru." Kawaei is very composed and delivered the long lines she was given two days before perfectly. She has the presence of mind to cover for the other person even if they make a mistake in their lines, so she's someone I can really rely on.
Asakawa: I have never seen Kawaei-san make a mistake with her lines either! I have many scenes with Kawaei-san, and she has a really nice personality and brightens up the atmosphere on set. I get a little nervous when I go to the set after a long time, but I am really saved by the enthusiasm with which Kawaei-san greets me, saying "Asakawa, good morning!" I myself started out as an idol and entered the world of acting, so we are in similar circumstances and I have a lot of respect for her and think she is a professional.
Wakabayashi: Mukai-san looks great in a suit! (laughs) Of course, he's great at acting, but when Mukai-san looks sharp in a suit, it really solidifies the atmosphere in the company and he has a great presence. He celebrated my birthday the other day and is always looking out for me during filming, so I'm really grateful to him. I really respect him for appearing in dramas and variety shows, even while he's active as Snow Man.
-What is your impression of Ikemura Aoi, who plays Iroha?
Wakabayashi: I met him during the recording of (information variety show) "Yoru no Brunch" (TBS), and I felt he was a real genius.
Asakawa: She was already in tears from the script reading stage. In the scene in episode 2 over the harmonica case, she was really filled with emotion, which was amazing. She truly lived there as "Iroha."
--What has impressed you in the broadcasts so far, and what are some highlights to look forward to in the future?
Wakabayashi: After the scene in episode 1 where Machida makes a mistake and cries and apologizes, I felt a little embarrassed when I saw Kaoru, Iroha, and the president all crying in a very convincing way (laughs). But I'm trying to think positively and think that it was a good baton-passing session. In episode 4, I found out that Machida was a YouTuber, and I couldn't help but laugh, thinking, "Is he from Generation Z?!" (laughs). I was quite enthusiastic about the scene where he confesses (laughs). In episode 5, AI is also used, and he really gives off the vibe of a modern young employee.
Asakawa: The true nature of characters like Shingo (Kasamatsu Masaru) and Sayuri (Tanaka Minami) is gradually revealed, and I think this is the moment when the story is about to take a turn. Episodes 4 and 5 in particular have a lot of dialogue overall, but there are some important lines that will lead to future developments, so they are all ones you can't miss. Since I am in the position closest to the viewers in the show, I enjoy the broadcasts more realistically because I don't know what is happening outside (the store). I'm really curious to see what will happen from episode 6 (broadcast on November 14th) onwards.
Wakabayashi: From episode 6 onwards, Machida will be involved in the growth of RAINBOW LAB, so I hope you will watch over him.
-Finally, please give a message to the viewers.
Wakabayashi: I think you'll enjoy it every week as entertainment, and I feel it's a drama that gives you a new perspective on what family is. I hope it warms your heart every Friday.
Asakawa: Many people around me have told me, "Fake Mummy is really interesting!" and I feel that it's a work that resonates not only with people who love dramas, but also with people who don't usually watch them.
The story will only get more interesting from here on out, and the script, direction, and acting of the cast are all truly amazing, so please be sure to watch until the final episode. If you can't watch it in real time, I hope you'll catch up on video streaming services and enjoy it with us. As Nagisa, I'll do my best to contribute to this work in any way I can!
