Kaito Miyachika to star in his first drama series "Honnou Switch" in January

It has been revealed that Kaito Miyachika of the popular group "Travis Japan" will co-star with Wakana Aoi in the serial drama "Honnou Switch" that will be broadcast on the Oshidora Saturday slot (TV Asahi) from January 2025. This is Miyachika's first lead role in a drama, and the story is a pure love story about a "delayed first love" between childhood friends who have become adults. The original work is the popular manga of the same name by KUJIRA (Kodansha). Akiyama Sei (Miyachika) and Hoshi Koa (Aoi) are childhood friends who have lived next door to each other like family for 26 years since they were old enough to understand. Sei has had a faint crush on Koa since childhood, but even now that they are adults, he has suppressed his feelings and maintained a childhood friend-like relationship. On the other hand, Koa is shocked to see that the moment Sei and her girlfriend broke up in junior high school, they became a relationship where they could not even look each other in the eye. At the same time, Koa, who had begun to realize that she was aware of her feelings for Sei, thought that if she were to date Sei and they would break up and be separated, she would rather be in the closest and safest position... They decide to remain childhood friends forever. Even now at the age of 26, the two continue their childhood friendship, but one morning, they wake up and find themselves sleeping in the same bed, practically naked. In fact, Sei has been drinking with Koa to comfort her after she was dumped by her boyfriend, but as he listens to her complaints and comforts her, the feelings he has kept hidden in his heart for many years, his "true feelings switch," is turned on, and they end up spending the night together. Sei tries to tell her that he has always loved her, not because he was drunk, but... This is the story. Miyachika, who plays Sei, commented, "I would like to do my best to portray his dazzlingly straightforward feelings, the way he conveys his slightly frustrating feelings, and the frustration and excitement that will be enjoyed by everyone through this drama." Aoi, who plays Kowa, said, "Because I'm an adult, I worry, I can't move because I'm too worried, and I struggle with my love with Sei, as if I'm redoing my first love. I hope that the viewers will empathize with these two, support them, and move forward together in this drama!" ◇Comments from Kaito Miyachika --How did you feel when you were decided to appear in this work? I was very honored to be given this opportunity, and I was very happy... Actually, at first, my manager just said, "The drama has been decided." This is actually my first time starring in a drama, so I wish they had made it a little more exciting, just a little more, but that's fine (laughs). I'm starring in Oshidora Saturday, a slot that many people are paying attention to, so I wanted to do my best in my performance. I hope that the fans will be happy, and I want to get excited together with them. --The original is a huge hit comic, but what were your thoughts when you read it? I really understood why many people become obsessed with this work, or rather, why they become fans. When I read "Honnou Switch" in the midst of busy days at work and various other situations, a wonderful world unfolds before me... The love between Kiyoshi and Koa is very straightforward, and it really made me feel like I was escaping reality, giving me a sparkling feeling. I felt that I absolutely had to convey that feeling 100% to the viewers through this drama. --This is your first time acting with Aoi since the drama "Influence." What impression do you have of her? In "Influence," we hardly had any scenes together. And the role Aoi played was really scary (laughs). She was the key person in the plot twist... In that sense, I respect her for being such a great actor. This time, we both have life-sized characters, and a pure love story is depicted, so I'm looking forward to seeing a different performance. The other day, during an interview together, I learned about her hobbies and favorite foods, and I felt a sense of closeness to her as a person, not just as an actor, Aoi Wakana. --What kind of character do you think Akiyama Sei is that you play? Sei is the same generation as me, so I think it's easy to overlap in terms of the stages of growth and background. Sei has always been in love with his childhood friend Koa, and has been hiding it. However, a certain incident triggers a "switch" to be flipped and he tries to express his feelings, but the relationship of childhood friends and the experience of being in love with that childhood friend don't overlap with me. I think the key is how the switch is flipped and how to express feelings, so I think I have to explore that part anew. I think Sei's kindness, his straightforwardness towards Koa, and the way he acts for her sake are very wonderful, and I respect his personality, so I think that if I can polish and project even one of my own good points, I will be able to overlap more with Sei. --Please give a message to the viewers who are looking forward to the broadcast. I would like to do my best to convey the dazzlingly straightforward feelings of Sei and the slightly frustrating way of conveying those feelings, and to make everyone enjoy those feelings and heart-pounding feelings through this drama. I will do my best to be as straightforward as Sei, so that it will become one of the joys of the viewers' daily lives on Saturday nights, so that I can create a wonderful work that will heal those who work hard at work and other things, and so that everyone can feel wonderful. Please look forward to it. ◇ Wakana Aoi's comment --How did you feel when you were decided to appear in this work? It's a very warm love story, and I don't have much experience with romance dramas, so I thought to myself, "This will be a great challenge." It's a drama in a popular time slot that many people are looking forward to, so I hope it will be a work that can deliver feelings to the viewers. --The original is a hit comic, but what were your impressions after reading it? For example, it's a work that I find myself reading at random times, such as before going to bed or while taking a bath, and before I knew it, I had finished reading it quickly. The relationship between Sei and Koa isn't one of "hate and hate," and as I read it, my heart warms and I really admire the pure love between the two. I thought that was a wonderful part of this story, so I hope I can express that atmosphere in the drama as well. --This is your first time acting with Miyachika since the drama "Influence." What impression do you have of him? In "Influence," Miyachika played a pretty heavy role, and the only scene we acted together was where I was watching him being violent (laughs). But when I saw the finished video, I got the impression that he was a person with a great atmosphere, including the atmosphere, and that he was a very wonderful actor, so I was excited when I heard that I would be working with him this time. Also, the other day, I happened to see him dancing on TV, and I was surprised at the gap with his heavy role (laughs). And when I met him this time, I thought he was a very level-headed and calm person. I hope to get to know more about her in the future. --What kind of character do you think Hoshi Kowa is, the character you play? I think Kowa's way of speaking clearly and her strong opinions are a little similar to me. Kowa is very boyish, but she's a real girl when she worries too much and can't move. Maybe she grew up with Sei, so she has a boyish side, and Sei, who loves games, influenced Kowa to work at a game company... It's interesting to imagine that they grew up influenced by each other in this way. What kind of people has Kowa dated in the past, what kind of view of love does she have... I thought that if I thought about those things, there might be some hints as to why Sei fits in, so I would like to think about it more in the future. --Please give a message to the viewers who are looking forward to the broadcast I think the show is full of episodes that you can sympathize with, such as the warm relationship between Sei and Kowa as childhood friends, the worries that come with being adults, and the worries that come with loving each other and can't move. I would be happy if the viewers can feel anxious, happy, and support the two of them together as they move forward in the drama. I will do my best to deliver a good work with a good atmosphere! ◇ KUJIRA (original author) comment It has been made into a drama. It is all thanks to all the readers who have read it and those who have been involved since the beginning of the serialization. I would be happy if the viewers can feel the cute exchanges between Sei and Koa in the drama just like in the manga. I am very much looking forward to seeing Sei played by Miyachika-san and Koa played by Aoi-san on screen.