The final two-hour special episode (56 minutes extended) of the TBS Sunday Theatre drama " Diamonds Sleeping in the Sea " (Sunday 9:00 p.m.), starring actor Ryunosuke Kamiki , will be broadcast on December 22nd. Ahead of the final episode, producer Junko Arai gave an interview.
◇ The final episode links the present and past of Hashima. "It's fun and rewarding to solve the mystery."
The drama is a story of love, friendship and family spanning 70 years, set on the island of Hashima (Gunkanjima) in Nagasaki Prefecture, which developed through coal mining from the beginning of the Meiji era to the postwar high economic growth period, and in modern-day Tokyo. The scriptwriter is Akiko Nogi, the director is Ayuko Tsukahara, and the producer is Arai, the team behind the dramas "Unnatural" and "MIU404" (same series) and the movie "The Last Mile".
The inspiration for this film came from a trip to Nagasaki by Nogi and Arai. We asked Arai what he thinks about Nagasaki now.
"We were able to hear a lot of stories from former residents of Hashima, and they also helped with the filming, and based on those stories, Nogi-san created the structure, mixing factual events with fiction. The link between the present and the past is quite a sophisticated development, and at first viewers may have wondered where they were being taken, but from episode 8 the links between the present and Hashima begin to form, and although the final episode was originally intended to be episodes 9 and 10, it turned out to be a combined version, and by linking the present and Hashima, there's a mystery worth solving, so I think it will be enjoyable," he says confidently.
By the way, in his hometown of Nagasaki, the average household viewership rate for episodes 1 to 6 was 17.4% (according to Video Research, Nagasaki area). The first episode had a viewership rate of 25.1% (according to Video Research), and he revealed that the excitement is building, saying, "It seems that tours of Hashima and Nagasaki are also difficult to book."
◇ Asako turns her back to the camera and bursts into tears. The confession scene, reminiscent of a love reality show, was directed by Kamiki.
The scene in episode 6 where Teppei (Kamiki) confesses his love to Asako (Hana Sugisaki Hana) became a hot topic, with people saying it was like a love reality show. This scene was shot with a super telephoto lens at Kamiki's suggestion.
Arai smiled and said about the scene, "It was directed by Kamiki, in Kamiki style, and it was a long take of about five minutes. It's a little shorter on TV, though. I would love to see the full version."
"When Asako is confessed to, she instinctively turns her back to the camera and wipes away her tears. Kamiki and I had talked about wanting to shoot this scene in a long take with a great long lens, in an improvised manner. How Asako would react would be up to Sugisaki to decide. I think that's when the tears just fell. She herself said, 'I'm sorry, I started crying. Should we do it again?' but the director (Tsukahara) said, 'No, it's OK as it is.' It felt like she was acting from her heart."
Regarding Kamiki, he praised his acting, saying, "In episode 8, Reo (Kamiki, playing a dual role) takes a step forward, and his expression changes at that point. I felt like Reo had somehow broken out of his shell."
◇ Witness the characters' lives
In the final episode, Izumi (Nobuko Miyamoto) tells Reo that Teppei has eloped with Rina (Elaiza Ikeda) and has never been seen since.
Teppei and Rina had a secret that they could not tell anyone. One day, Asako (Hana Sugisaki) was called by Teppei, who said that he had something to talk about. However, on the appointed night, when Asako had finished work, Teppei did not show up...
A big secret was still hidden in the 10 volumes of Teppei's diary that Izumi had. Words blacked out, pages torn out... Meanwhile, Reo and Izumi visit Nagasaki again. There, the two of them learn about Teppei's feelings... and so the story unfolds.
I asked about the highlights of the final episode without giving away any spoilers.
"The story depicts what kind of life Teppei has lived and what thoughts he had. I am looking forward to seeing how the viewers will react to it. And what path will Reo choose? I hope you will watch to see for yourself," he answered, leaving room for possibility.
Finally, he sent a message saying, "The eras are connected, and there is a future at the end of each person's path. Reo walks towards the future in search of diamonds, the sparkling things like those back then. I hope that everyone can find something that leads to the future that is connected to the present. After watching the final episode, I would like you to watch it again from episode 1. If you have been thinking about it, please check if it is correct, and if you haven't, please reexamine your life. You will find out what is happening in the present not only to Teppei but also to the other characters, so please be sure to watch their lives."
