It has been revealed that actress Ai Yoshikawa will star in the TV Asahi drama series "Stay as a Great Detective" (Fridays at 11:15 PM), which will begin airing in July. The drama is a human mystery about a granddaughter who is a mystery enthusiast and her grandfather with dementia who only becomes a "great detective" when solving mysteries. This will be Yoshikawa's first leading role in a drama on the TV Asahi network.
The original work is the novel of the same name by Masateru Konishi, which won the 21st "This Mystery is Amazing!" Grand Prize. It is an armchair detective mystery woven by Kaede, an elementary school teacher who loves mysteries, and her grandfather, a former elementary school principal who suffers from Lewy body dementia but brilliantly unravels mysteries when the topic comes up. The grandfather, a mystery enthusiast, and Kaede unravel the mysteries as if weaving a story, saving those involved in the case and warming their hearts, but at the same time, Kaede senses the progression of her grandfather's illness and realizes that their "farewell" is surely approaching...
The role of the grandfather will be played by a "renowned actor" who has delivered deeply moving performances in numerous masterpieces, and this will be announced at a later date.
◇Comment from Ai Yoshikawa
The moment I saw the title "Stay a Great Detective," questions arose in my mind like, "Is the title a reflection of the protagonist's feelings?" and "What kind of feelings does this character have when they say that?" With those images in mind, I read the original work and understood the meaning behind the title! It really touched me... and I was so happy to receive the offer.
The original story was so engaging that time flew by, and it was a bittersweet yet heartwarming tale. That was carefully preserved in the script, and from the very first episode, it was deeply moving, making me even more determined to give it my all!
The character I play, Kaede, is bright and cheerful, but she carries emotional scars from the past, and she's also witnessing her grandfather's dementia progressing little by little each day... If you ask if she's strong, she's not that strong, and she has a somewhat vulnerable side. But she gives the impression of being a very kind-hearted woman who puts on a smile to be considerate in front of her grandfather.
While I hope you enjoy the mystery, I would also be delighted if you would witness the warm family dynamic between Kaede and her grandfather, and see how their destinies unfold. Please look forward to it!
◇Comment from Masateru Konishi (original author)
When I read the script for the drama adaptation, I was convinced it would be interesting! Ai Yoshikawa plays the protagonist, Kaede, and that famous actor plays the grandfather who sees the truth in the hallucinations of a dementia patient. In my mind, I've already replayed the bittersweet smiles and conversations between the granddaughter and grandfather, a relationship that will inevitably end in separation. It's almost like a hallucination. Take this opportunity to read the "Stay a Great Detective" series.
