The drama series "Someday, a Hero" (ABC/TV Asahi, Sundays at 10:15pm) starring actor Kiritani Kenta started on April 6th, and Kiritani's passionate performance attracted a lot of attention.
In the first episode, Seiji Akayama (played by Kiritani), a staff member at a child welfare facility, is hit on the head by someone and falls unconscious. Twenty years later, Akayama suddenly regains consciousness and reunites with his former student, Yukari Higuchi (played by Neru Nagahama), who has lost her dreams due to low wages.
Before he lost consciousness, Akayama had been full of energy and vitality, but during his time unconscious he had turned 57 years old, and having been in a coma for 20 years, his muscles had completely deteriorated and he could no longer speak properly.
Viewers have been quick to comment on social media about Kiritani, who plays Akayama, a completely changed person, with comments such as, "Kiritani Kenta's acting is intense," "He really conveys the feeling of being bedridden!!," "Kiritani Kenta's acting is as good as ever...," "This is exactly what you see when you see someone with contractures or someone whose illness has progressed and weakened in many ways. He's so good. It's amazing. I'm moved," and "Kiritani Kenta's acting is so vivid it's almost awe-inspiring."
The drama depicts Akayama, who has been missing for 20 years, standing up against enormous power with his former students who have given up on the world. The original work is by screenwriter Koji Hayashi, who has produced many hits such as "Vulture" (NHK) and "Code Blue: Doctor Heli Emergency Lifesaving" series (Fuji TV).
