It has been announced that the TV Asahi drama premium "Double Edge ~The Man Who Resurrected~," starring actor Yuji Oda, will air on June 27th at 9 PM. This will be Oda's first leading role in a TV Asahi drama, in which he will play a former detective from the First Investigation Division who is now confined to a wheelchair.
Oda plays Kosuke Gunji, a Showa-era detective whose motto is "100 visits to the scene." He was known as the "ace of the First Investigation Division," and his arrest and trouble-solving records were unmatched, but after being stabbed with a knife by a suspect in a certain case, he was transferred to the local police station's community safety division. He currently uses a wheelchair.
Teaming up with Gunji is Akutsu Karu, a financial investigator with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) played by Karin Ono, who has difficulty interacting with people. She possesses a genius-level intellect that allows her to remember everything she sees, but she has difficulty dealing with anything outside of her scheduled work and has always excelled at solitary desk work. When she is chosen to support Gunji, she is inevitably called upon to go into the field, and Karu herself begins to change. And that change gradually begins to change Gunji as well.
The story begins when the daughter of a powerful politician is murdered, and former homicide detective Gunji is called back to the force. By chance, Gunji and Akutsu team up, and the two, each with their own unique perspective, proceed with the investigation, eventually uncovering a shocking truth...
◇Comment from Yuji Oda
I was especially happy to be contacted again by the producer who I had worked with before on "Shikkou!! ~The Dog, Me, and the Enforcer~," but when I first heard about the premise of a "detective in a wheelchair" and an "investigator with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder)," I felt that it was "quite a challenging project."
However, in this age of diversity, this is a work that makes you feel like such an unlikely duo could actually exist in the police force. It's an enjoyable work, but with cynical humor in places, and I think there are many times when you'll think, "I see."
When I actually used a wheelchair for filming, I noticed many small "obstacles" in everyday life, such as the hassle of moving the "special poles" placed in wheelchair parking spaces, the front wheels getting caught on gravel paths, and the wheelchair moving on its own due to the slope of the floor in old buildings. It was a summer shoot, and being in the scorching sun made the wheelchair frame (metal part) too hot to hold, which made me acutely aware of the difficulties of using a wheelchair in the summer. I had so many experiences with wheelchairs that I could talk about them endlessly.
We've created a truly enjoyable drama that's unlike anything you've seen before, yet will make you say "wow" in admiration, chuckle, and feel a sense of sadness while also leaving you thinking, "Ah, what a wonderful story." Please do watch it.
◇Comment from Karin Ono
At first, I felt a bit intimidated to be given the opportunity to play the role of Yuji Oda's partner, but I was drawn to the "lovable mismatched duo" portrayed in the script, and I was really looking forward to filming.
This was my first time working with Mr. Oda, and I gained even more respect for him after seeing how he brightened up the set even during the toughest filming locations. As I was playing a character with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), I was given the opportunity to talk with people with ASD and their families, and I worked closely with the producers and director to fine-tune the character of Haru.
This is a slapstick comedy featuring an adorable, mismatched duo, and I think everyone will enjoy it and have a good laugh. I hope you'll pay attention not only to the truth behind the incident, but also to the deepening bond and teamwork between the two characters.
