The fourth episode of the Sunday Theatre drama " Mikami Sensei " (TBS, Sunday 9pm) starring Tori Matsuzaka was broadcast on February 9th. Makino, a bureaucrat at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, played by Masaki Okada, became a hot topic on social media.
◇The following contains spoilers
Makino accompanies Vice Minister of Education Takizawa (Hajime Inoue) to inspect the culture festival of Rintoku Academy. His superior Tsukada (Mitsuhiro Oikawa) stresses to him, "Don't embarrass them."
The day of the school festival. Takizawa is to see the exhibition by Class 3-2, but becomes upset when he learns that it is a "textbook examination." Furthermore, Takizawa is interviewed directly by Kanzaki (Daiken Okudaira) as part of the press club. Makino expresses his anger, saying to Okami, "What were you thinking?"
Afterwards, Makino called Ogami and said, "Since you've jumped right into the middle of education reform, you can do whatever you want. However, I think you're getting a little too excited about getting involved in textbook screening." When Ogami asked, "What's the problem?" Makino responded, "Of course there was a vice minister. Ever since the Cabinet Personnel Bureau was established, bureaucratic personnel have been controlled by Nagatacho. Even Ogami should know that." However, Ogami pushed back, saying, "Is that a threat? You can do whatever you want. But I won't forgive you if you lay a hand on the students."
Makino was listening to his conversation with Mikami on a speaker for Tsukada. "It's as you heard. If you're not careful, you might get tripped up." When Tsukada pressed him about his responsibility for not being able to stop Mikami, Makino was shown confirming, "I won't let this go like this. I won't let Mikami do what he wants. Got it?"
On social media, comments were made such as, "Is Masaki Okada an ally or foe?", "It's hard to tell from Masaki Okada's actions whether he's an ally or foe", "I think Masaki Okada fits the golden pattern of Sunday Theater, where he makes the viewers think he's an enemy, but is actually an ally", and "Okada Masaki Okada and Tori Matsuzaka are definitely friends! I really hope that's the case."
