Actor Matsu Takako appeared at the production announcement press conference for the New Year's special drama "Slow Train" (TBS, January 2, 2025, 9:00 pm), in which she plays the lead role, held in Tokyo on December 10th. In the drama, Matsu plays the main character Yoko, the eldest of three siblings, the second daughter Miyako played by Mikako Tabe, and the youngest son Ushio played by Tori Matsuzaka. As the youngest child with an older sister and brother, she revealed, "I was happy to have such a wonderful younger sister and brother, but I was a little nervous about whether they would see it that way."
Matsu said, "I was the youngest child, so I saw my two older sisters getting scolded for all sorts of things, and I grew up sneaking around, thinking that if I did that, I'd get scolded too, so I wasn't sure if I had the temperament to be a big sister." She recalled, "I always imagined what it would be like to be an older sister, and I was a very happy eldest daughter."
Tabe said, "I don't have a younger brother myself, but I really liked the character of Miyako, who treats her younger brother roughly." She said that the relationship between her and Matsuzaka, with whom she has worked together in various productions, "is the most fitting one we've ever had (laughs)."
Matsuzaka agreed, saying, "I thought the same," and commented about the setting of Matsu and Tabe playing sisters, "It's almost too luxurious. No matter how roughly we were treated, I felt really comfortable, and it was a bit like the feeling I get when talking to my own older and younger sisters, so I didn't feel any discomfort (with the lines)."
Matsu plays Shibuya Yoko, a freelance editor. As the head of the Shibuya family, she lives in her parents' home in Kamakura, where she used to live with her parents and grandmother. Yoko's younger sister, Miyako, played by Tabe, is over 30 and keeps changing jobs and places, and suddenly announces that she wants to go to Korea, causing a stir in the Shibuya family. Matsuzaka plays Ushio, who works as a track maintenance worker for the Enoshima Electric Railway.
Also attending the press conference were Hoshino Gen, who plays Momeki Ken, a popular writer who plays a major role in the lives of the three siblings, and Joo Jung-hyuk, who has attracted attention for his work in "Lawyer Woo Young-woo is a Genius" and "I'll Tell You the Truth!?" and is making his first appearance in a Japanese drama.
The story begins when Miyako suddenly confesses to Yoko and Ushio that she is going to Korea, bringing about a crossroads in the journey of life for the three siblings. Through the story of the families of Yoko, Miyako, and Ushio, who move from their previous "happiness as a trio" to "individual happiness," a thrilling and exciting family drama is depicted that will leave you smiling in the end. The director is Doi Yudai, who has worked on films such as "We Made a Bouquet of Love," and the script is by Nogi Akiko, known for TV series such as "Unnatural" and "MIU404."
