Sakura Yoshiyanagi plays Shiiba Haruno, a student in class 2, 3rd year at Rintoku Gakuen, where Mikami (Matsuzaka) is the homeroom teacher, in the Sunday Theatre drama " Mikami Sensei " (TBS, Sunday 9pm) starring actor Tori Matsuzaka . We asked Sakura Kiryu, who is making her first appearance in a Sunday Theatre drama, about her memories of the show, the atmosphere of filming, and what to look forward to in the future.
◇What is your most memorable Sunday Theatre performance? Hikari Mitsushima was "very cool"
The drama is an original "great reversal education revival story" in which Takashi Mikami (Matsuzaka), a bureaucrat in the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology who wants to change education in Japan, teaches at a private high school and leads 18-year-old high school students living in the Reiwa era while standing up to authority. The script is written by Roba Shimori, who will be teaming up with Matsuzaka for the first time since the movie "The Journalist." Kazutaka Iida, who has been in charge of popular Sunday Theater shows such as "Anti-Hero" (2024) and "VIVANT" (2023), is the producer.
This was Yoshiyanagi's first appearance on "Sunday Theatre." What are her memories of the time slot? "I really loved 'Gomen ne Seishun!' (2014) and watched it a lot, and I've been rewatching it recently too. That work is also about school, and I love how cool Hikari Mitsushima is. It's a work that holds a lot of memories for me, and it's no exaggeration to say that it's 'a page of my youth.'"
When it was decided that she would be making her first appearance in "Sunday Theater," she said, "Just the fact that it was Sunday Theater made me feel nervous. When I thought about taking this step now, I felt really nervous, but I was also genuinely happy to be able to appear in a school-related story. I was really excited, thinking that there would surely be a lot I could learn here."
◇How does Shiiba wear his uniform, which “becomes one with his desk”?
Shiiba, played by Yoshiyanagi, has a strong sense of responsibility and is strict with others and himself. Originally, she was a bright and strong-willed girl, but for some reason, she tends to become depressed. In class, she is good friends with Haruka Chigira (Akari Takaishi). In the classroom, "She just endures everything alone and becomes depressed. She only says, 'Ah, yeah.'"
During the filming of the classroom scene, he revealed, "(Takaishi) Akari has this amazing expression that makes you wonder how she can convey so much, even without any lines. When they watch the other people's acting, everyone is really moved and really 'taken' (overwhelmed) by it. Even when they themselves are not on screen, they go and look at the monitor to see what kind of expression the other people are making as they act. Some people feel frustrated by this, and everyone learns as actors and uses it as nourishment for themselves. They are able to do that because they respect each other. They are able to switch between having fun and learning, and I think it's a wonderful set."
How do you wear the blazer uniform of Rintoku Gakuin?
"Each student has their own unique style, and I dress to suit their character, but Shiiba dresses in a very normal way. He has his tie fastened, even to the first button. When I was a student, I had the impression that many students took off their blazers in the classroom, but Shiiba basically wears his blazer all the time, and he always sits at his desk, becoming one with it."
◇What are the highlights of the episode that focuses on Shiiba?
We asked him about the highlights of the episode (episode 7) in "Mikami Sensei" in which Shiiba's character is portrayed.
"It's an episode where the plot moves forward quite a bit. Lots of things are happening for Mikami Sensei himself, and in contrast to the atmosphere of the classroom, which is one with it, there are moments when Shiiba feels somewhat alienated. While the atmosphere of the classroom is one with it, Shiiba is unable to confide anything. He continues to fight alone. The highlights will be how Mikami Sensei will save him, and whether he will create an environment where he can share his experiences with everyone. I think this episode will see a big change for Mikami Sensei himself."
Why has Shiiba become so depressed? What kind of expression will Yoshiyanagi-san show in the episode depicting Shiiba? What is his relationship with Mikami Sensei? I can't wait to see how things develop.
*The "taka" in Akari Takaishi.
