Sadao Abe and Takako Matsu star in the TV Asahi drama series " Shiawase na Kekkon " (Thursdays 9pm) which will start in July. The two, who will be playing the role of a married couple for the third time, were interviewed and talked about their impressions of each other and the highlights of the drama.
◇ Matsu Takako: Sadao Abe is "someone who makes me sad when I watch him"
The drama is an original work by Shizuka Oishi , the screenwriter who also wrote the popular NHK Taiga drama " Dear Radiance (Hikaru Kimi e) " last year. A bachelor lawyer, Harada Kotaro (Abe), is attracted to and marries Suzuki Nerla (Matsu), a mysterious high school art teacher, but Nerla has a huge secret... This is a "marriage suspense" that questions the love between a married couple.
--Please tell us how you felt when you heard about the project for this work.
Abe: This is my second time appearing in Oishi's work, but this time it's a "marriage suspense" (laughs)! His ideas are always interesting, and the women he portrays are attractive. And this time, I'm really looking forward to it because my partner is Matsu.
Matsu: This is my first time appearing in Oishi's work. I was worried that I couldn't find any mystery in myself, but with Abe in the lead role and the other cast members being all very charming, I was looking forward to seeing how I would perform among them.
--This is the third time that you two have played a married couple.
Abe: It's amazing, there's never been anyone like that until now.
Matsu: I'm honored! I didn't think I'd be working with him that long, but we all have different relationships, and I'm really happy that I'll be able to play a different kind of husband-wife relationship this time too.
--What are your impressions of each other?
Abe: I'm looking forward to seeing how she will act, and she always exceeds my expectations. It's good to see works that I'm not involved in! Like playing with a dog (movie "First Kiss"). She has a sense of comedy, so I'm looking forward to seeing how she will portray a mysterious woman this time.
Matsu-san: I don't know... I feel sad when I watch him. I think everyone already knows that he can make funny things funny, but when I watch him, there are certain moments when I feel sad. He's a very charming actor.
◇ Sadao Abe, doing research on a variety show?
--Did Mr. Oishi ever say to you, "I want to make a film like this!?"
Matsu-san: Oishi-san said, "It's a family drama!" Oh, it's a "marriage suspense" and the title is "Shiawase na Kekkon"... I don't know what's going on anymore! (laughs). But since Oishi-san said that, I think it's a work where everything is connected by a fine line.
Abe: The second half seems like it might turn into a bit of a legal drama... (laughs)?
Matsu: I hope that in the end we can end up with a Shiawase na Kekkon(laughs).
--Have you already done anything to prepare for the role?
Abe: I'm playing a lawyer who appears on TV variety shows, so I watch TV variety shows and study them. Also, I'll probably hold a pen in the TV variety show scenes.
Matsu: You definitely wouldn't (laughs)!
Abe: Yes, I do (laughs).
--What are the highlights of the drama?
Abe: It's a story that becomes increasingly mysterious. Kotaro, who I play, gets married and lives with Nella's family, who are also mysterious people.
Matsu: The story unfolds at a rapid pace from the first episode, and I thought it would depict the process leading up to their marriage, but it's strange that Kotaro is a part of the family as if that's the most natural thing to do (laughs). The story unfolds in a mysterious way, so I hope you'll find it interesting.
