It has been revealed that TV Asahi will be co-producing the original drama "Mamono" (Fridays at 11:15pm) with Korean production company SLL, known for "Itaewon Class" and "SKY Castle: Upper Class Wives", on April 18th. The drama will be a love suspense story in which the main character, a lawyer played by Aso Kumiko, is consumed by forbidden love with a charming man played by Akihisa Shiono.
The two companies signed a collaboration agreement in the content business field, mainly dramas, in May 2024, after TV Asahi remade "Itaewon Class," produced by SLL, into a Japanese version called "Roppongi Class" in 2022, which caused a buzz. In July of the same year, the two companies remade "SKY Castle" into an original Japanese version, which also gained popularity.
This work is not a remake of an existing original work, but an original work in which the Japanese side sublimated the original idea by a Korean creator into a script. The drama production staff of both companies brought together their know-how and worked as one team to produce the drama.
Jin Hyuk, director of "Master's Sun" and "Lady Ok", will come to Japan from Korea to direct, and Yusuke Taki, director of "Towako Mameda and her three ex-husbands" and "Tanabata no Kuni", will also be directing. The script will be written by Erika Seki, who also worked on "Gossip # The Real Thing She Wants to Know", "Second Wife Business", and the remake of the Korean drama "My Love from the Star".
"Mamono" depicts the extreme themes of love and desire such as adultery, domestic violence, sex, etc., and the distorted human relationships of unfulfilled people with beautiful images. A beautiful and seductive man, Minamoto Iteya (Shiono), appears before Hanajin Ayame (Aso), a strong and beautiful female lawyer who lives alone. Iteya believes that "love = possession" and is a dangerous man with a hidden passion, who is not only suspected of domestic violence against his wife, but is also suspected of murdering a famous university professor. The two were never supposed to be together, but they fell in love, which is forbidden, and Ayame works hard to prove Toya's innocence... This is the story. In order to express the love between Ayame and Toya, who passionately desire each other, an intimacy coordinator was introduced. It is said that Aso and Shiono, who are acting together for the first time, will take on a beautiful and intense scene.
◇Comment from Kumiko Aso
-This is an original drama jointly produced by Japan and Korea. How did you feel when you received the offer to appear in the role?
I love Korean dramas and watch them often, so I was excited at first. I felt some pressure, wondering if I was the right person for the role, but I was so excited that I thought, "I definitely want to do it!" and decided to appear in the role.
I'm not the type of person who is good at expressing myself, so I was worried about whether I could get close to the Korean staff, but everyone was very cheerful and warm... the moment I met them, I had an intuition that "it'll be fine." They also communicate their opinions clearly, so I'm sure it will be a trustworthy team. I'm also looking forward to seeing how my acting will change under Director Jin's direction.
-What do you think about the characters of Hanajin Ayame, played by you, and Minamoto Toya, played by Shiono?
Ayame is an independent, strong woman. She is a skilled lawyer and ambitious. However, after meeting Touya, she falls into a forbidden swamp and is a character who struggles to confront a new self that she never imagined before. This is a role that is a challenge I have never played before, so I don't know how it will feel, how far I can push forward, or what I will become... While I'm looking forward to it, there are also parts that I feel a little scared of.
Touya, played by Shiono, is a bundle of charm. He is a man who attracts people just by his presence. At heart, he is as pure as a child, and he is overly honest about his feelings for Ayame. Although he is so lovable and boyish, he also has a cold side, creating a contrast... Ayame herself knows that she shouldn't fall for him, but she can't help but fall in love with him. That's how charming he is.
--This is your first time acting alongside Shiono-san. What are your impressions?
When I first met her at the "script reading", I thought she was a very beautiful person, and I felt that she was the one who would play Touya. But when I caught a glimpse of her profile, she was so beautiful that I couldn't look at her face properly... I kept sneaking glances at her profile and was shocked by how beautiful she was (laughs). I can't even imagine what the intense scenes will be like, but I hope I can bring out her beauty.
--Please give a message to our viewers!
The script is really interesting, so you won't regret watching it! I have a feeling that it will definitely be an interesting work, and the cast, including Shiono-san, are all unique and great actors, so I think you will enjoy it.
◇Comment from Akihisa Shiono
-This is an original drama jointly produced by Japan and Korea. How did you feel when you received the offer to appear in the role?
Co-producing with South Korea was a completely unknown world to me. I received the plot for all the episodes at an early stage, but it was written in more detail than I had ever seen before, and it took me a while to read through it all.
In Japan, we have a culture of indirectly expressing meanings and guessing, such as "The moon is beautiful, isn't it?", but I felt that the careful detailing of the plot was a different production style from Japan, and I was very excited. Like "The moon is beautiful, isn't it?", we try to convey the emotion of "love" through actions and depictions rather than expressing it in words, but this script has lines and developments that directly expose emotions. I wonder what kind of chemical reaction will occur if we film it in the Korean style... I'm looking forward to it.
At first, I was worried about the language barrier with the Korean staff, but they expressed their opinions so clearly that I didn't notice it, and when we tried on the costumes, the director shared his preferences and vision with us, so I thought it would be a good set and I myself am even more excited about filming. I also have expectations that our communication will deepen as filming progresses.
-What do you think about the characters of Minamoto Toya, played by you, and Hanajin Ayame, played by Aso?
Toya is a person who has the power of attraction to attract people without any calculation. He is a man who is a mixture of cold-heartedness and innocence, but since he is not calculating, I would like to express that kind of charm in an unexpected moment. It is a very challenging role for me, so I would like to take on the challenge with the intention of jumping into the world of the work.
Ayame, played by Aso, is someone who, from Toya's point of view, "sees me." She is a dignified, strong-willed woman who has always lived her life dedicated to her work. I think it will be interesting to see how her character's character gradually changes.
--This is your first time acting alongside Aso-san. What are your impressions?
I get nervous too and have a hard time making eye contact... I have the image that I lose my cool with the actors I'm working with, regardless of whether they're older or younger. But I really understand that feeling. He's very level-headed and I feel comfortable being next to him, so I have a feeling we'll make a great team. I hope that in the scenes with the two of us, we'll be able to show a beautiful and flavorful exchange like we've never seen before... I'd like to create a great scene together with Aso-san.
--Please give a message to our viewers!
It's a work filled with a lot of charm, and my biggest wish is that everyone watch it. We have a wonderful cast, so please look forward to it. ◇Comment from Executive Producer Park Jun-seo (SLL Production Representative)
We are very pleased to be able to present to our viewers "Mamono," the first original drama jointly planned and produced by TV Asahi and SLL.
"Monster" is a love thriller jointly produced by top creators from Korea and Japan, and is an intricately woven story that explores the psychology of human love, desire, jealousy and mercy.
The truth hidden behind each character's mask... and the suspenseful developments will provide a new sense of immersion to viewers of TV Asahi's traditional Friday night slot. I hope that through continued cooperation between TV Asahi and SLL, we will be able to present even more diverse works in the future.
◇Comment from TV Asahi Executive Producer Seiko Uchiyama
We have had the wonderful opportunity to work with SLL on remaking Sky Castle and Itaewon Class. We had been talking about wanting to create something together from the seed of the project for a while, but we are pleased that top creators from Japan and Korea came together very quickly, a framework was created, and we were able to take the first step.
Why do Korean love stories and romantic suspense fascinate people all over the world? I think it's the strength of the storylines that delve deeply into human instincts and are written in a sensitive manner.
A beautiful and stimulating love suspense. The cast is also very attractive, and I think they will bring this world to life vividly. The powerful Japanese and Korean staff will clash and stimulate each other to create the story. The story is full of mystery and is sure to be an interesting and unpredictable drama. Please enjoy it on Friday night!
