The ninth episode of the drama series " Who saw the peacock dance in the jungle? " (TBS, Friday 10pm) starring Suzu Hirose will be broadcast on March 21st. We asked Izutsu Soichi, who plays Takahiro Fujimoto Takao, a detective in the First Investigation Division who is always working alongside Komugi Tadashi (Fujimoto Takahiro) as his subordinate and is also in charge of the arson and murder case of Yamashita Haruo (Lily Franky), Kokoro Soichi Itose) father, about what he kept in mind when acting and his impression of Fujimoto.
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-Is there anything you keep in mind when playing Akisada?
The character I play, Akisada, is a police officer assigned to the First Investigative Division at a young age, and I thought he would look sharp in a suit, so I first worked hard on muscle training, focusing on the upper body in terms of appearance. By doing muscle training, I gained confidence in myself, and I naturally became more conscious of holding my chest out, so I think that ultimately led to the imposing aura of the character Akisada.
--What kind of person was Akazawa in Akisada's opinion?
Akazawa is a man of firm conviction that he will never let those who have committed a crime get away, even if he must use force. That conviction can be felt not only when he is next to him, but also through the screen. The reason Akisada has always admired Akazawa is because he was drawn to his convictions, more than his forcefulness. He was someone that made him think, "I can't go wrong if I follow this person." Akisada, who became a detective in the First Investigation Division at a young age, also has ambitions and wants to be recognized by Akazawa and become a top-class police officer.
However, Akazawa-san is not someone who talks much about himself. Even though we spend a lot of time together, there is something mysterious about him. I was shocked when it was revealed in episode 7 that Komugi was actually Hayashikawaka and that Akazawa-san was involved in that. Rather than thinking, "That can't be...", I felt, "There must have been something after all."
-Have you ever been inspired by working with Fujimoto-san?
Akazawa and Akisada are in a boss-subordinate relationship, but Fujimoto is usually very cheerful, smiles a lot, and has a playful side. I love that about him, but when he gets into character, he gives off an aura that keeps people away. I thought it was really amazing how he naturally created an atmosphere that Akisada couldn't step into, an overwhelming sense of intimidation and presence.
Fujimoto himself said, "How do you play a scary person? It's difficult," but I thought, "No, it's totally scary!" (laughs). On the first day of filming, he said to me, "I'm going to keep a scary face the whole time, so I'm sorry if it's a little scary." In reality, he's a very kind person, so I was really inspired by that contrast.
--What do you talk about during breaks in filming?
All of the police team members, including Fujimoto and Saito Yu (from the comedy duo "Parachute Regiment"), who plays Nishijin Makoto, have ties to Fukuoka, so naturally there is a lot of talk about Fukuoka.
Also, because we don't know who the culprit is, people often say, "Akisada seems a little suspicious." But from my perspective, I feel like, "No, isn't Akazawa the more suspicious one?" (laughs)
-What is your impression of the lead actress, Hirose?
I didn't have many opportunities to film with Hirose-san, but the scene that left the biggest impression on me was when Akazawa-san explained that Endo Tomoya (Narita Ryo) was definitely the culprit in episode 2. Looking into Hirose-san's eyes, I could feel her desire to believe in her father (Haruo) even without her saying anything, and I was drawn in.
--What kind of feedback have you received, Gense-san?
I was also appearing in a different work at the same time, but I received a lot of nice comments, such as "Are you really the same person!?" and "That's a good role." I'm often asked, "Who is the culprit?" (laughs). Some people also say, "It's really interesting, so I'm curious to see what happens next," so I feel that they have high expectations for the work.
-This will be your first appearance in a TBS production, following the Sunday Theatre "Gekokujo Baseball Player" (2023) and the Tuesday Drama "Eye Love You" (2024).
I'm very happy to be able to appear in a Friday drama slot this time. In "Eye Love You," I played Aihara Kotaro, who often wore a suit, but even if you're wearing the same suit, just by changing your mindset to "puff out your chest" or "be confident," the atmosphere can be completely different. I'm really grateful to have had the opportunity to play the wonderful role of Akisada, who has a different charm from my previous roles, in this production.
--The theme of this film is "belief," but what is important to you when believing in something?
I believe in people. I trust my family, friends, and managers very much, so I never doubt them. For example, if my father says "It's okay," I think "Oh, is it okay?", and when I'm feeling anxious, if my manager says "You can do it," I think "Then I can do it." I'm the type of person who values the words I'm given.
Being an actor allows me to live a life I would never be able to experience. The scenery and words I learn from them all stay with me. That's why I believe in people and can think positively about things.
--Please tell us what the highlights of episode 9 are.
I'm sure many of you have been shocked by the developments so far, but it seems there are more surprising developments to come. Don't miss episode 9, which also depicts each character's past.
