Actor Issei Takahashi appeared alongside Anne Nakamura and others at a talk event held at TOHO Cinemas Roppongi (Minato Ward, Tokyo) on April 14th for the TV Asahi drama "Reborn ~The Last Hero~" (Tuesdays at 9 PM), which premiered that evening. He revealed a "strict side" of his co-star, Shingo Yanagisawa.
Yanagisawa is said to be the mood maker on set. Takahashi expressed her gratitude, saying that Yanagisawa has made the atmosphere on set so pleasant. When asked by the host, announcer Naoko Kubota, "Is he just like he is on TV?", she replied, "I think he's exactly the same. He's always chatting with me!" and spoke happily about what it's like on set.
Then Nakamura smiled and said, "But Yanagisawa is very strict about yawning. If you yawn even a little, he'll get really angry and say, 'You yawned!' So I do it secretly." Takahashi nodded in agreement and joked, "I've been drilled with the idea that yawning is bad. I've been grabbed by the collar a few times (laughs)," to which Nakamura added, "Issei-san often gets grabbed by the collar, doesn't he (laughs)?"
In addition to Ouji Suzuka, Mayu Yokota, and Fumiyo Kohinata, surprise guests Yanagisawa and Kayoko Kishimoto also appeared at the event. The venue was filled with laughter as Yanagisawa delivered a series of jokes and gags in what was called the "Yanagisawa Show."
The drama tells the story of a man who is reborn as someone else and given a second chance at life. Mitsumasa Neo, president of the IT company "NEOXIS," was supposed to have died after being pushed off a cliff, but he time-slips 14 years into the past, to 2012, and is reborn as Hideto Nomoto, the heir to a dry cleaning shop in a run-down shopping district. Hideto (with Mitsumasa's mind) searches for the person who killed him while standing up to the upper class from the perspective of an ordinary person. Takahashi plays both Mitsumasa and Hideto in the drama.
Takahashi said, "This project started when I was talking with the producer about what would happen to a person's individuality and personality if they went to a different place, a different environment." He added, "It's a comedy, but I think of it as a human drama. I hope you enjoy it."
