It has been revealed that actor Michitaka Tsutsui will play the husband of Satoko, played by Hikari Ishida, in the triple-starring film "Satoko wa Itsumo" (directed by Shuichi Okita, opening September 18th), which stars Kasumi Arimura, Hikari Ishida, and Hanaharu Himeno. 33 years after the legendary "Getsuku" drama "Asunaro Hakusho," in which the two actresses shared the lead roles, they will reunite in roles reminiscent of "Asunaro Hakusho," playing a couple who met in college and have walked together for many years.
"Satoko is Always" is a completely original new film from director Okita, marking his 20th anniversary as a director. It tells the story of three women named "Satoko" who are different in age and upbringing. There's Nakai Satoko, a 15-year-old third-year middle school student who is overwhelmed by her first love and whose imagination runs wild. Then there's Nishida Satoko (35), who works at a film distribution company and is in a slump with both her affair and her work. And finally there's Iijima Satoko (55), whose child-rearing responsibilities have eased and who has rediscovered her dreams during her rare free time. When these three "Satokos" begin to write their own stories about their free, embarrassing, and endearing days, their lives begin to intersect... The film stars Arimura as 35-year-old Nishida Satoko, Ishida as 55-year-old Satoko who is graduating from making bento boxes after 20 years, and Himeno as the third-year middle school student Satoko.
Tsutsui plays Shigeaki, the husband of 55-year-old Satoko Iijima, played by Ishida. Satoko married Shigeaki right after graduating from university and has been making lunches for her three sons for 20 years. On the last day of making lunches, Satoko is overcome with emotion, but no one in her family notices. Feeling unsettled, Satoko splurges on a bouquet of flowers at a flower shop and goes home. The tension finally breaks, and Satoko falls ill, but a certain encounter at the hospital reminds her of her past dream of becoming a writer. She then begins to write her "first love story" in a notebook... and the story unfolds from there.
Ishida commented, "When I think of Tsutsui-kun, I feel like, 'We've finally become husband and wife! Time has really passed!'" She continued, "I truly opened up to him, and I was surprised at how relaxed I looked in the film. I felt like my true life was coming out. I also think that this embodies the theme of 'writing your own story,' and it was quite moving to think that Tsutsui-kun was with me at that time."
Tsutsui also reflected on the filming, saying, "When I first read the script, I thought it was a very gentle story. And the finished work had a unique worldview and was a wonderful piece. The director was kind, and the atmosphere on set was pleasant and enjoyable." She added, "I was happy to be able to work with Hikari-chan. I respect her, and she's like a mentor to me in life."
