A press conference for the drama "Shiawase na Kekkon," which will be broadcast in the July Thursday drama slot (Thursdays at 9 p.m.) on TV Asahi, was held on February 26th at the TV Asahi headquarters (Minato Ward, Tokyo), with screenwriter Shizuka Oishi and lead actor Sadao Abe in attendance. Oishi gave a frank talk.
Oishi-san's first drama script since last year's much talked about NHK Taiga drama "Dear Radiance (Hikaru Kimi e)". When asked about it, he said, "The previous work has already ended, so it doesn't help me in any way. I want to write something that the viewers will enjoy, of course, but also something that the actors will be glad to have been in, and the staff will be glad to have been involved in."
This work is a "marriage suspense" that questions the love between a husband and wife, between popular lawyer Harada Kotaro, played by Abe, and a woman with a secret named Suzuki Nerla. Regarding the title "Shiawase na Kekkon," Oishi said frankly, "Actually, I came up with the title "A Wife Called Nerla," but everyone (on the staff) opposed it (laughs). I felt like this was a safe bet. I'm competing with the content (laughs)."
She also revealed that "Dear Radiance" was not the title she proposed, saying, "My idea was 'Lady Murasaki.' In the West, Murasaki Shikibu is known as 'Lady Murasaki,' so I was very particular about the name, but after discussions with NHK, it became ' Dear Radiance.' So I didn't really have any attachment to the title ' Dear Radiance' (laughs)."
