Actor Shuri will star in the drama series "Monster" (Kantele/Fuji TV, Mondays at 10pm) which will start on October 14th (15 minutes extended for the first episode). Shuri, who will be starring in a primetime drama series for the first time in this work, talked about the behind-the-scenes of filming and her private life.
◇The protagonist, Kannami Ryoko, who does some unexpected things, says, "I guess she 'loves people'"
"Monster" is a unique legal entertainment story in which the mysterious monster lawyer Kannami Ryoko, who is not bound by "common sense" and faces her opponents by "eliminating emotions", faces various problems unique to the Reiwa era where the law sometimes does not keep up, and takes on court battles as if it were a game. The script is written by Atsuko Hashibe, who wrote the "Boku Series trilogy" including "Boku no Ikiru Michi" (Kantele/Fuji TV). Also appearing are Uno Shohei, Otozuki Kei, Nakagawa Tsubasa, and Furuta Arata. Each episode has a self-contained story, and various guests appear in each episode.
Regarding the character of Kannami Ryoko that she plays, Shuri commented, "My impression when I first read the script is a little different now. I felt that as I worked with the people around her little by little to solve the case and our relationships deepened, that Ryoko is someone who thinks about her clients more than anyone else. Even though she takes on the trial as if it were a game, I think that her actions and words are always thinking about her client. There are times when she is very unexpected, but I think that she "likes people.""
In the first episode, about Ryoko, who stands up for Shioya Ryo (Hagiwara Riku), who was indicted on charges of instigating suicide, Shuri said, "In the second half of the story, there is a scene in the courtroom where she mutters, 'Liar.' That scene was fun, including the lines that followed (laughs). Ryoko gradually becomes more foul-mouthed, so I enjoy that too." ◇ She often watches sports because her family watches them.
The first episode will be aired on the 14th, which is Sports Day. When asked about sports, Shuri said, "I've always liked sports, and my family used to watch them, so I have a lot of opportunities to watch them. I especially like figure skating, and I used to watch it a lot. I also enjoy the World Championships in Athletics, the World Aquatics Championships, and martial arts...I enjoy everything." She also commented, "I wasn't good at ball games, and I don't usually do much, just stretching, but I think I should do some kind of exercise."
The way she relaxes to get through the daily filming is, "Eating delicious food, of course. I haven't had much time lately, but if I force myself to go, it helps me change my mood, and talking to people at the restaurants I often visit is a good way to switch things up. My favorite foods are sushi and yakiniku, but there's nothing I don't like." Finally, when asked about the highlights of the first episode, she said, "I think you won't want to miss the first episode until the very end. I was very shocked. I felt that it really portrayed what it means to be a 'human being.' What Hashibe-san portrays doesn't end with the courtroom. I've recently felt that this drama isn't just a legal drama, but maybe it's a 'human drama.'" She added, "It's not like there will be easy-to-understand answers, but I'd love to hear what you all thought after watching the first episode."