It has been revealed that actor Ikeda Masashi, who gained popularity for playing Spider-Manus/Jeramie Brasili in the Super Sentai series "Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger," and Natsuki Hori of the dance and vocal group "FANTASTICS," will co-star in the drama series "Ameagari no Bokura ni Tsuite" (TV Tokyo, Wednesday midnight 12:30), which starts on July 2. This will be Ikeda's first time starring in a terrestrial TV drama series.
The original manga of the same name by Rakuta Shoko has sold over 300,000 copies in total (including e-books) and has been a hot topic for its "heartwarming, delicate psychological portrayal." Kanade Shinichiro (Ikeda), a working adult living in Tokyo, hides the fact that he is gay due to bitter memories from his school days and has resolved to "never fall in love again." One day, he reunites with his high school best friend, Mashiro Kosuke (Hori), for whom he once had "special" feelings. After meeting for the first time in six years, the two face their pasts and begin to move forward while reexamining themselves. It is a heartwarming boys' love story of awkward love that sometimes hurts each other but also shows affection for each other.
Ikeda's character, Kanade, hides the fact that he is gay and is timid when it comes to love. Ikeda said, "When I read the script, my heart clenched. I was touched by his strength, weakness, and quiet courage as he lives with loneliness and pain. I am carrying Kanade's unspoken feelings firmly on my shoulders and acting while carefully touching on each of them."
Hori-san's character, Mashiro, is Kanade's best friend from high school and the object of her unrequited love. He is a "strong, natural guy." Hori-san commented on his role, "The Mashiro Kosuke I play is honest and straightforward with his feelings, considerate of others, and takes action. However, behind that he is carrying sadness and pain, and I feel like the real Mashiro is coming into view with each filming session."
◇Comment from Masashi Ikeda
I will be playing the role of Kanade Shinichiro in the drama "About Us After the Rain". When I read the script, my heart clenched. I was touched by his strength, weakness, and quiet courage as he lives with loneliness and pain. I am carrying Kanade's unspoken feelings firmly on my shoulders and acting while carefully touching on each one of them.
I would be happy if you could support the clumsy couple Kanade and Mashiro. I'm sure everyone has feelings that can't be put into words. I would be happy if this could gently be a part of your daily lives.
◇Comment from Natsuki Hori
The character I play, Mashiro Kosuke, is honest and straightforward about his feelings, and is a man who cares about others and takes action. However, behind that is sadness and pain, and I feel like the real Mashiro is coming into view with each filming session.
I am very happy to be able to live in this wonderful work, "About Us After the Rain," which gives me the courage to be honest with my feelings and reveal my true self, and it has become an important experience in my life. I hope you will watch the pure and straightforward story of Kanade and Mashiro.
◇Comment from the original author, Rakuta Shoko
I am very happy that it will be made into a live-action drama. "About Us After the Rain" is a love story from everyday life, but it is also a work that was born from my loneliness. I can't help but feel excited at the possibilities that have been opened up by the involvement of so many people in this lonely story, carefully creating a film with such attention to detail and delivering it to everyone.
I'm sure that thanks to the efforts of the wonderful cast and staff, it will be a wonderful drama. As a viewer, I will do my best to enjoy it, so I hope that all readers, cast fans, and drama fans will enjoy it with me.
◇Comment from program producer Kanami Homma (TV Tokyo Distribution Business Department)
When I read Rakuta Sensei's original work, I was impressed by the pop charm of the characters, but at the same time, I felt the urgency of living.
We will treasure the world that Rakuta-sensei has created and weave it together with Ikeda-san, Hori-san, Axon-san who planned it, the director and all the other staff members. Please look forward to the love story of Kanade and Mashiro, who sometimes hurt each other but also have awkward feelings for each other.
