TV Asahi to release new drama in July: "The Great Chase: Metropolitan Police Department SSBC Violent Crimes Unit"

It has been revealed that "The Great Chase: Metropolitan Police Department SSBC Violent Crimes Unit," starring Nao Omori, Masaki Aiba, and Nao Matsushita , will begin airing in July in the Wednesday 9pm drama slot on TV Asahi, known for " Tokuso9 " and "Tokusou 9." This will be the first new series to air in the same slot in 10 years, since "Detective Seven," which began airing in 2015.

The setting is the Sousa Sien Bunseki Center (SSBC), a newly established unit at the Metropolitan Police Department in 2009. It is a specialized unit that handles analysis and follow-up investigations to track down the footsteps of criminals in initial investigations. For the first time, the drama shines a spotlight on this cutting-edge department that is the "key to modern investigations," and depicts the activities and human drama of the SSBC Violent Crimes Unit, a newly established "separate unit that specializes in supporting the First Investigative Division" in charge of violent crimes such as murder, robbery, and arson, and the people surrounding it. The script is written by Yasushi Fukuda, who has also worked on "HERO" and "DOCTORS: The Strongest Name."

In this work, Omori plays Igaki Shuji, a mobile analyst in the SSBC Violent Crimes Division. He was originally a detective in the First Investigative Division, but three years ago he caused a problem and was transferred to SSBC. He takes pride in his job as a detective who arrests criminals with his own hands, so he is somewhat dissatisfied with his work in the SSBC Violent Crimes Division, but at that time he is put in charge of training the "career group" who have been seconded from the National Police Agency to the SSBC Violent Crimes Division... That's the role he plays.

Aiba plays the role of this "career" Nanami Rintaro. Nanami graduated from a top university and got a job at a foreign securities company, then passed the "National Civil Service Mid-Career Recruitment Examination" administered by the National Police Agency and joined the agency. Nanami, whose uncle is the former National Police Agency Commissioner General and current Chief Cabinet Secretary, eventually becomes a perfect partner with Igaki.

Matsushita plays Aoyagi Haruka, the chief of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's First Investigative Division. Three years ago, when Igaki was kicked out of the First Investigative Division, he was transferred from the local precinct to the headquarters, and after his excellence and leadership as a detective were recognized by the chief of the First Investigative Division, he was selected as the chief. However, in reality, he and Igaki were formerly married, and they divorced four years ago, leaving their only daughter, 13-year-old Misato, to live with Haruka. When Nanami arrives and the Igaki-Nanami duo starts to get out of control, he gradually becomes a nuisance.

◇Comment from Nao Omori

We felt some pressure to be appearing on TV Asahi's Wednesday 9pm time slot, a time slot that we've been watching for a long time, and we also had doubts about whether it was okay, but we were also happy.

This time, it's a "new series," so I'll be working with Aiba Masaki and Nao Matsushita. I hope it'll be a long series, so I thought we'd get along well and show off our individual characters... but from the first day, it already felt like we'd been doing it for 3 or 4 years (laughs). I hope we can keep this atmosphere going for a long time.

In Yasushi Fukuda's script, each character stands out, and the speed at which the story unfolds is also highly polished, so I was excited from the first time I read it. I also had a sense of trust with him because we worked together on a historical drama a long time ago, so I was able to read it with ease and confidence.

The character I play, Shuji Igaki, was born during the "second baby boom of the Showa era." He's a baby boomer junior. I think we have something in common in that we're both wondering if we've made it through to modern times or not (laughs). I feel like I'm still dragging along a bit of the Showa era. If I were a friend of his, I think we'd have a lot of fun talking about the past.

This will be my first time acting alongside Aiba-kun and Matsushita-san in a drama. Aiba-kun is already a star, so he has that kind of radiance, and I think he has individuality and greatness when it comes to acting. Matsushita-san is also a musician, so I have the impression that she is a wonderful actress who has that kind of sensitivity or sensibility. I hope to work with these two, paying close attention to the tempo and rhythm of their acting, and at the same time, creating a drama that really conveys the heart of the characters.

We're all looking forward to making something fun and interesting for the new series, so please look forward to it!

◇Comment from Masaki Aiba

This Wednesday 9pm time slot has been the starring role for many respected seniors, such as "Aibou", Noriyuki Higashiyama's "Detective 7" and Yoshihiko Inohara's "Tokuso9", so when I first heard about the role, I was surprised and honored. This time, I will be working with wonderful people such as Nao Omori and Nao Matsushita, so I am really looking forward to it and would like to cherish each and every day of filming.

Yasushi Fukuda's script is very appealing, not only because of the incident but also because each character is well-drawn, and there are some comedic touches in the profound atmosphere. Among them, Rintaro Nanami, who I play, is... I guess I think of him as a special kid (laughs). I wonder what he's thinking because he's smart... I feel like he'll be a presence that will disturb the team and those around him in a good way.

This is my first time acting alongside both Omori-san and Matsushita-san in a drama, but they've both been at the top of their game for a long time, so I'm very happy to be working with them this time. Filming with Omori-san has only been going on for a few days, but it doesn't really feel like the first time we've worked together... (laughs). It's the same with Matsushita-san, but the on-set atmosphere is great, with the kind of teamwork that would produce a great work. I hope that the atmosphere will be conveyed to everyone who watches!

The story develops very quickly, is fun to watch, and has a satisfying ending, so please look forward to it!

◇Comment from Nao Matsushita

I have the impression that this "Wednesday 9pm" time slot has been used by TV Asahi to produce detective dramas with a long history, and I am from the generation that grew up watching them, so I am very happy to be able to participate in a new series in that time slot. It's a detective drama, but it's a bit different from the previous ones... There are a lot of things to look forward to!

This time, I will be working with Nao Omori and Masaki Aiba, and the atmosphere has been really good since day one (laughs). I think this will be a great team, and I want to act in a way that reflects that teamwork in the film. Not only the three of us, but various characters from the First Investigation Division and SSBC will appear. There are many different environments... I'm looking forward to seeing the way these various people live their lives.

Yasushi Fukuda's script carefully depicts the characters, and you can almost hear their voices. I'm sure that will be helpful in my acting, and I was happy to get a glimpse of that side of him, thinking, "Oh, Fukuda-san, you probably know me." There were some parts that made me chuckle, some parts that made me feel warm, and some parts that made me tear up... I got the impression that the script was well-mixed with various elements.

The character I play, Aoyagi Haruka, is "a straightforward person who is very passionate about things and runs with all her heart." I don't think that's easy to do, so I think that's amazing, and through Haruka, I want to be like that too. While everyone has the same desire to protect people and protect their lives, Haruka is a bit dry, but there's also a sense of warmth in her - she's someone who never forgets to be there for others, and I think that's what the character shows at key points. I want to cherish the parts that are unique to a female detective, and I hope that female viewers will feel refreshed when they see Haruka like that.

This is my first time working with Omori-san and Aiba-san on a drama, but so far Haruka has been angry at them all the time (laughs). I'm looking forward to seeing how this will play out in the future. I wonder if there will be an opportunity for these three people, who are in different departments and in different positions, to get closer to each other...? Both of them are very reassuring people, and they have already absorbed their roles, so I felt like I was able to fit right in.

When you think of detective dramas, you think of someone running around coolly and solving a case, but this "Big Chase - Metropolitan Police Department SSBC Violent Crimes Unit" doesn't end there, it also depicts in great detail the feelings of the people involved and how they feel after the case is over. It's a heartwarming work, and each character is very charming, so I hope everyone will find a character they like, and I hope I can grow through this drama along with my role as Haruka.

◇ Comment from scriptwriter Yasushi Fukuda

This project is one that I have been researching and discussing for the past two years. This year marks my 30th year as a scriptwriter, but I am writing with the feeling that I am using a part of my brain that I have never used before. As it is my first new work in 10 years, which will be broadcast on TV Asahi Wednesdays at 9pm, I feel nervous and under pressure in a good way. Normally, my writing will stabilize by the middle of the story, but I am writing every episode with the feeling that I am giving it my all.

Creating a new drama with a new theme like SSBC poses many challenges and is honestly difficult, but the cast, director, and staff give me the sense of security that it will become an interesting drama once the script is written.

Drama is entertainment, so I think the most important thing is for viewers to enjoy it. Compared to 10 or 20 years ago, people are actually moving away from drama, but creators are constantly taking on new challenges, and I believe there is still a lot of potential if new vein of potential is discovered. I hope viewers can feel that entertainment challenge in this drama.

・About the triple lead actors

The first reading was a great image in my mind. Omori-san is strong yet has a strong softness to him. I think it will be interesting to see how Omori-san shows his detective spirit and gets passionate even while at SSBC. Aiba-san has an overwhelming aura. I hope that Nanami will become a beloved character just like his public image, without being too mysterious. Nao Matsushita is just so cool. I think a big part of this drama is that we get to see Aoyagi's many different sides, such as how he treats the First Division Chief with courtesy, and how he acts as a wife and mother.

◇Comment from Ezo Fujisaki, Producer, TV Asahi

This summer, a new detective drama will be broadcast on Wednesdays at 9pm! The setting is the SSBC (Investigative Support and Analysis Center), a group of professionals who are the key to modern investigations, but who usually support the detectives from behind the scenes. These people unleash their inner detective spirit and step onto the front lines to perform thrilling acts.

The SSBC duo, played by Nao Omori and Aiba Masaki, and the ace of the First Investigative Division, played by Nao Matsushita, sometimes clash and sometimes cooperate as they pursue the culprit to the end, making it a must-see.

And the lively exchanges between the unique characters, written by Yasushi Fukuda, a screenwriter who has created many popular national dramas, are sure to become addictive! The cast of actors, who have yet to be announced, is also a stellar lineup! Please look forward to this work that will bring a breath of fresh air to detective dramas!